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Articles by Max Marcus
Singlet Triplet-Pair Production and Possible Singlet-Fission in Carotenoids
Download Hi-Res ImageDownload to MS-PowerPointCite This:J. Phys. Chem. Lett. 2022, XXXX, XXX RETURN TO ARTICLES ASAPPREVPhysical Insights in...Physical Insights into Quantum Phenomena and FunctionNEXT Dilhan Manawadu* Dilhan Manawadu Department of Chemistry, Physical and Theoretical Chemistry Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QZ, United Kingdom Linacre College, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3JA, United Kingdom * , Darren J. Valentine Darren J.
The Recorder - Importance of youth perspectives highlighted in Four Rivers graduation ceremony
Published: 6/6/2021 4:42:38 PM GREENFIELD — For the 28 seniors graduating from Four Rivers Charter Public School on Saturday, their final year of high school felt like the sixth, final year of a multi-season television show, one that they weren’t sure would be filmed at all. “We weren’t even sure if season six was going to happen,” Class of 2021 graduate Fiona Bird said. “When it did happen though, it went all the way,” added fellow graduate Charlotte Roberts.
The Recorder - Ashfield moves forward with full-time fire chief, approves $6.4M budget
Published: 6/6/2021 4:41:45 PM ASHFIELD — The 97 voters at Annual Town Meeting approved a $6.4 million budget on Saturday, including a somewhat controversial assessment for the Mohawk Trail Regional School District and funding to establish the fire chief as a full-time position rather than a part-time one. All 25 articles on the meeting warrant were approved, with voters gathering on the town common.
The Recorder - Charlemont develops mosquito control plan centering on education
Published: 6/6/2021 4:48:03 PM CHARLEMONT — A town plan for mosquito control that centers on education has been proposed as an alternative to a state Department of Agricultural Resources program that several local towns have opted out of due to public health concerns. The state’s program includes an option for aerial spraying of insecticides in case certain viruses are found in local mosquito populations.
The Recorder - Turners Falls honors grads’ perseverance, talents: ‘We have accomplished major successes’
Published: 6/4/2021 8:47:16 PM TURNERS FALLS — Though their senior year was disrupted by the pandemic, seniors at Turners Falls High School got to graduate in person Friday night. Fifty-one seniors were celebrated in a ceremony held in the school gymnasium. Each graduating student entered the gym and posed for a photo under an archway, then put their mask back on for the majority of the ceremony. “We must not wallow in the past,” said Class President Catherine Reynolds.
The Recorder - Activists seek to extend June 15 eviction moratorium
Published: 6/4/2021 5:05:47 PM Political activists and government officials advocated for extending the state’s moratorium on eviction in an online meeting Friday morning. The group was organized by the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness, and included activists and organizers in the Western Massachusetts region, as well as state lawmakers and government officials.
The Recorder - McGovern talks development with Montague officials
Published: 6/4/2021 5:07:35 PM TURNERS FALLS — U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern, D-Worcester, visited the village Friday afternoon to hear about priorities for development. “This is a neat community,” McGovern observed. Part of the occasion for his meeting with Montague town officials and state Rep.
The Recorder - Sustainable farming, food availability to be focus of Charlemont Forum discussion
Published: 6/4/2021 5:03:29 PM CHARLEMONT — Sustainable farming and the availability of healthy food will be the discussion points in the Charlemont Forum’s online event on Wednesday, June 9. The forum will feature Jessica O’Neill, executive director of Just Roots farm in Greenfield, and Jeff Tkach, a soil specialist and the chief impact officer of a Pennsylvania agriculture research organization called the Rodale Institute.
Activists seek to extend June 15 eviction moratorium
Published: 6/4/2021 9:18:04 PM Political activists and government officials advocated for extending the state’s moratorium on eviction in an online meeting Friday morning. The group was organized by the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness and included activists and organizers in the western Massachusetts region, as well as state lawmakers and government officials.
The Recorder - Greenfield man is final winner of ‘$100,000 a Year for Life’ game
Published: 5/31/2021 11:52:10 AM GREENFIELD — James Barnes of Greenfield happened to purchase two winning lottery tickets on the same day back in April, securing him over $1.5 million before taxes. The first was a winner for $10, and the other was the sixth and final winner of the Massachusetts Lottery’s “$100,000 a Year for Life” game.
The Recorder - Nobel Prize winner Kaelin: ‘Opportunities came in unexpected ways’
DEERFIELD — The Class of 2021 certainly had its challenges, but they weren’t unprecedented, Deerfield Academy’s Head of School John Austin said at the school’s commencement ceremony on Sunday. “I’ve never been more proud of a student body, a faculty, a community and a senior class than I am today,” said Austin, who has over 30 years of experience as an educator. “One thing is clear. You’ve been tested.
The Recorder - Repair of faulty streetlights in Erving expected soon
Published: 5/28/2021 6:11:45 PM ERVING — Streetlights in Erving Center that have long been malfunctioning were partially repaired during a recent survey of wiring, and might be totally repaired in a few more weeks, depending on the extent of the problems. The lights on Main Street (Route 2) have been experiencing problems since last fall, according to Administrative Coordinator Bryan Smith. Some of the lights either don’t turn on at all, or don’t turn on at the right times.
The Recorder - Expo brings career opportunities to Franklin County Technical School students
Published: 5/24/2021 5:27:14 PM MONTAGUE — Franklin County Technical School’s career expo, usually held in November, would have been canceled this year because of the pandemic. But there was so much demand for new workers that it was rescheduled at the last minute for this spring. “I’ve been getting phone calls like crazy,” said Raye Young, Franklin County Technical School’s co-op coordinator. “There’s a huge demand for employees.” About 25 employers were at the school’s career expo Monday.
The Recorder - Father, 2 sons injured in Conway crash
Published: 5/23/2021 3:42:48 PM CONWAY — A father and two young sons were injured in a traffic accident Saturday night. All three were transported to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield. At about 10 p.m. Saturday night, a pickup truck driving in the area of 1720 Whately Road went off the road and hit a tree head-on, said Conway Fire Chief Robert Baker. The cause of the accident is under investigation, Baker said.
The Recorder - FRTA plans new maintenance facility in Montague
Published: 5/21/2021 5:15:01 PM MONTAGUE — A new building that the Franklin Regional Transit Authority (FRTA) has been pursuing for years is expected to come to fruition by next year on a piece of land on Sandy Lane, off Turnpike Road. Improvements to the infrastructure of Sandy Lane are expected to be part of FRTA’s deal to purchase the land from the town of Montague. FRTA’s current maintenance garage is on Deerfield Street in Greenfield, near the city’s wastewater treatment plant.
The Recorder - Affordable housing series addresses energy efficiency in finale
Published: 5/20/2021 6:22:15 PM GREENFIELD — A series of talks on affordable housing concluded Wednesday with a discussion on energy efficiency. The series, called “Housing is a Human Right,” was organized by the environmental advocacy group Greening Greenfield and the political group Franklin County Continuing the Political Revolution (FCCPR).
The Recorder - $27.1M budget, ongoing infrastructure projects to be considered at Montague Town Meeting
MONTAGUE — A proposed fiscal year 2022 budget of $27.1 million and several articles related to ongoing town projects, such as reuse of the former Public Works building and reconstruction of the Fifth Street pedestrian bridge, will be considered at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday. The meeting will start at 9 a.m. at Franklin County Technical School. It will be outside under a tent.
The Recorder - Montague Center park improvements on horizon
MONTAGUE CENTER — The Montague Parks and Recreation Department wants to refurbish and improve the Montague Center Park behind the Montague Village Store, though a timeline and the scope of the work will depend on funding. Refurbishment of the baseball field in particular has been identified as a goal that could be achieved within the next year, according to Parks and Recreation Director Job Dobosz.
The Recorder - In line with state requirement changes, local businesses rethink mask policies
Published: 5/20/2021 3:29:36 PM GREENFIELD — Requirements for masks and social distancing in public places are expected to be lifted on May 29, as Gov. Charlie Baker has announced a plan to end the COVID-19 state of emergency by June 15. But are local businesses ready to drop their own rules on masks? “Absolutely. We’re going to ditch the masks as soon as we can,” said Bill Baker, owner of Baker Office Supply on Main Street in Greenfield. “I think it’s time to lose the masks.
The Recorder - Montague police review criticized for lack of diversity and expertise
Published: 5/18/2021 9:00:26 PM MONTAGUE — A public forum on the town’s recent review of its Police Department revealed at least two major sources of dissatisfaction with the process — the two committees’ limited ability to administer a survey and the relative lack of ethnic diversity on the committees. The review of the Police Department was started last summer in the midst of national unrest and discussion around the role of police and the potential for systemic racism in police practices.
The Recorder - Shady Glen owner elected to Gill Selectboard in uncontested race
Published: 5/18/2021 4:05:47 PM GILL — Charles Garbiel was voted onto the Selectboard in an uncontested election on Monday. Garbiel takes the Selectboard position formerly held by John Ward, who did not run for re-election. The election also included a ballot question on whether to allow a debt exclusion for the purpose of replacing damaged flooring in the Gill Elementary School building. The question passed by a vote of 65 to 9.
The Recorder - Franklin County Hand Crew helps battle Williamstown forest fire
Published: 5/16/2021 6:23:58 PM WILLIAMSTOWN — About 25 local firefighters responded Sunday to help contain a forest fire in northern Berkshire County that was estimated to span about 270 acres by late Sunday morning. The fire is in the area of North Adams, Williamstown and the Vermont border. Fire officials believe the blaze started on Friday, though the cause is unknown.
The Recorder - Education: ‘The gift that can never be taken away’
GILL — Northfield Mount Hermon School’s 138th commencement ceremony this Sunday was a hybrid event. While students, school staff and a limited number of guests were able to hold the ceremony in person at the school, it was also live-streamed online. Head of School Brian Hargrove made some passing mention of the unique conditions in his address to the Class of 2021. But neither he nor the other speakers dwelt on it. For the most part, the ceremony went as it would have in almost any other year.
The Recorder - Shady Glen owner running unopposed for Gill Selectboard seat
Published: 5/14/2021 3:16:50 PM GILL — A Selectboard position will be opening with Monday’s town election. Only one person is on the ballot for the seat, making for a non-contest unless someone campaigns as a write-in candidate. John Ward, who has been on the Selectboard for four terms, said he will not be running for re-election this year. “I’m taking a break,” Ward said simply.
The Recorder - Erving Town Meeting voters approve all articles, including $5.1M operating budget
Published: 5/14/2021 11:02:14 AM ERVING — A general operating budget of $5.1 million for fiscal year 2022 was approved at Annual Town Meeting on Wednesday, with one small amendment — an extra $100 for the town moderator. The moderator’s salary, originally proposed at $250 for the year, was increased to $350 in an amendment proposed by resident Robert Bitzer. “You do a great job,” Bitzer said to Moderator Richard Peabody. The amendment passed easily, with no opposing opinions expressed.
The Recorder - Bars to reopen, sooner or later: Owners speak to concerns about capacity limits, ability to hire staff
Following news that bars will be allowed to reopen starting May 29 for the first time since the onset of the pandemic, a handful of local bar owners have expressed relief, but not all are totally optimistic. Some remain skeptical that they’ll be able to draw enough customers or hire enough staff members. One complicating factor is that the May 29 date is only for allowing bars to open.
The Recorder - Nolumbeka Project’s Day of Remembrance to honor 345th anniversary of massacre
Published: 5/13/2021 4:17:01 PM TURNERS FALLS — In honor of the 345th anniversary of the Great Falls Massacre, a Day of Remembrance gathering will be held at Peskeomskut Park on Saturday from 1 p.m. to 3:30. The event, intended to recognize the often untold story of the conflict of May 19, 1676 at the falls, is organized by the Nolumbeka Project.
The Recorder - Pandemic provided Greenfield coffee shop with ‘creative opportunity to dive in’
Published: 5/13/2021 3:24:31 PM GREENFIELD — For Catalpa Coffee on the corner of Main Street and Bank Row, the business shutdown caused by the pandemic offered a surprise opportunity to rethink, says owner Annie Lytle-Rich. “When you reopen a business after it’s closed, you’re making a commitment,” she explained. “What do I want this to be? What do I want it to look like?” Perhaps the most obvious change visible to passersby is the exterior sign, which just changed within the past two months.
The Recorder - Hawley weighs state mosquito control program
Published: 5/12/2021 3:35:36 PM HAWLEY — The state Department of Agricultural Resources’ mosquito control program that several local towns have opted out of is now being considered by Hawley. While the Selectboard heard opinions from residents in its Tuesday meeting, the board will not decide whether to propose an alternate program until its next meeting, which has not yet been posted to the town calendar.
The Recorder - Pedestrian struck on Route 2 in Erving
Published: 5/12/2021 3:00:41 PM ERVING — A male pedestrian on Route 2 was struck by a vehicle and airlifted to Baystate Medical Center in Springfield on Tuesday evening. Erving Police Chief Robert Holst and Erving Fire Chief Philip Wonkka declined to provide identifying information on the pedestrian or the driver. First responders were called at about 8:20 p.m. on Tuesday to the stretch of Route 2 between Millers Falls and Erving Center, where the pedestrian had been struck by a vehicle.
The Recorder - Public invited to ask questions on Montague police review next week
Published: 5/11/2021 6:22:48 PM MONTAGUE — After beginning to discuss a recent review of the Montague Police Department this week and last week, the Selectboard is incorporating a public forum on the results as the main agenda item for its May 17 meeting. The review of the Police Department began late last summer, prompted by national discussion and concern following the highly publicized murder of George Floyd by a police officer in Minneapolis.
The Recorder - Gill opts out of state-provided mosquito control program
Published: 5/11/2021 4:08:25 PM GILL — The mosquito control program provided through the state Department of Agricultural Resources will not cover Gill, as the Selectboard has opted out, citing concerns related to health and the environment. An alternative plan, which the town is obligated to provide if it is to opt out of the state’s program, has not been finalized yet. The deadline to provide an alternate plan is May 28, which was extended from May 15.
The Recorder - Hope & Olive welcomes back moms for Mother’s Day
Published: 5/9/2021 5:44:34 PM GREENFIELD — Mother’s Day brunch is typically one of the bigger holidays for Hope & Olive. This year, it was a return to normal for the restaurant, in some ways. “Serving food on plates is what we do best. We are very happy to be back at it,” said Jim Zaccara, one of the co-owners of Hope & Olive. Hope & Olive remained open through the pandemic in different capacities, either with takeout ordering or outdoor seating when the weather was good.
The Recorder - Erving Town Meeting voters to consider capital projects, building reuse
Published: 5/6/2021 8:08:44 PM ERVING — A proposed fiscal year 2022 budget that represents roughly a 5 percent increase over the current year’s budget and a handful of ongoing infrastructure projects will come before voters at Annual Town Meeting on Wednesday. Town Meeting will start at 7 p.m. outside Erving Elementary School.
The Recorder - Voters to consider budget with new school maintenance costs at Heath Town Meeting
Published: 5/6/2021 3:47:02 PM HEATH — A proposed fiscal year 2022 budget that represents an increase of 8 percent over this year’s budget and that includes money to maintain the former elementary school will be the key article at Annual Town Meeting on Saturday. Town Meeting will start at 9 a.m. under a tent at the former Heath Elementary School building, at 18 Jacobs Road.
The Recorder - Erving opts out of state’s mosquito control program, proposes town-run alternative
Published: 5/5/2021 10:06:35 PM ERVING — Mosquito control services will likely be handled internally by the town this year, as the Selectboard has moved to opt out of a state program that has raised concerns in several other local towns. The state’s program, through the Department of Agricultural Resources, includes an option for aerial spraying, in case certain diseases are found in local mosquito populations.
The Recorder - Montague police review to be discussed Monday
MONTAGUE — A review of the Montague Police Department’s policies and practices that started last year in the wake of a national movement to reconsider the role of police departments has finished, and is set to be publicly discussed starting next week. The review, which was conducted by two separate committees investigating different aspects of the Police Department, did not find any significant points of concern, according to the facilitators of each of the two groups.
The Recorder - Selectboard, Finance Committee races top Heath election ballot
HEATH — Contested races for Selectboard and Finance Committee top the town election ballot on Friday. Polls will be open from noon to 6 p.m. at 18 Jacobs Road, the former elementary school. Karen Brooks and Susan Lively, both of whom have previously served in Heath town government, are running for Selectboard. The previous board member, Gloria Fisher, is not running for re-election. Fisher was elected for a three-year term in 2018. She had previously worked as the Heath town coordinator.
The Recorder - More traffic backups possible with Turners Falls-Gill Bridge inspection
Published: 5/4/2021 5:52:34 PM TURNERS FALLS — Traffic at the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge may get even more congested next week. The bridge is scheduled for inspection by the state, but it remains unclear if the bridge will have to be reduced to one lane. With the recent closure of the General Pierce Bridge, the Turners Falls-Gill Bridge is the only major road between Turners Falls and Greenfield. Other detours would involve traveling through Millers Falls or Sunderland.
The Recorder - Former board member re-elected to Erving Selectboard after hiatus
Published: 5/4/2021 11:58:39 AM ERVING — Scott Bastarache has been re-elected to the Selectboard, after a two-year hiatus. He said he expects to continue serving on the board in future terms as well. The Selectboard race was the only contest in the annual town election on Monday. Voter turnout was about 6 percent, with 71 people out of the 1,195 registered voters casting their ballots, according to Town Clerk Richard Newton. Bastarache received 45 votes, and his opponent Janice Vega-Liros had 25.
The Recorder - New mural’s message at Clinical & Support Options: ‘Hope is Welcome Here’
Published: 5/3/2021 4:47:49 PM GREENFIELD — A graffiti artist had a field day over the weekend at Clinical & Support Options’ building at 1 Arch Place, creating a colorful mural that welcomes and encourages those seeking mental or behavioral health care. The artist, Wane One, had previously done a similar painting at Clinical & Support Options’ building in Springfield. The agency’s staff members liked it so much they hired him back to decorate the Greenfield building.
Poet, UMass prof Donald Junkins dies at 89
Donald Junkins — a poet, professor and longtime Franklin County resident — died last Thursday from complications of heart disease. He was 89 years old. Though he and his wife, Kamei Zheng, had moved to California in 2019, Junkins spent most of his life in Massachusetts, and lived in Franklin County for his entire three-decade tenure at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, plus about 10 years after his retirement, according to his son Daniel Junkins.
The Recorder - No candidates on ballot for Colrain Selectboard seat
Published: 4/30/2021 3:47:19 PM COLRAIN — Write-in votes will likely decide the town’s next Selectboard member, as there are no candidates on the ballot running for the position in Monday’s election. Polls will be open from noon to 7 p.m. at the Town Offices. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing protocols will be required. Mark Thibodeau, who has been on the Selectboard for 12 years, is not running for re-election this year.
The Recorder - Former board member, political newcomer vie for Erving Selectboard seat
Published: 4/30/2021 3:52:56 PM ERVING — A former Selectboard member and a political newcomer are vying for a Selectboard seat in Monday’s town election. Polls will be open at Town Hall from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. The contested Selectboard seat is for a one-year term, finishing the term of Pete Sanders, who resigned from the board in January. Also on the ballot, current Selectboard Chair Jacob Smith is running unopposed for another three-year term.
The Recorder - Bridge of Names in Lake Pleasant reopens; construction and fundraising continue
Published: 4/29/2021 5:21:37 PM LAKE PLEASANT — The Bridge of Names has reopened for the first time since October, when it was badly damaged in a storm and rendered unusable. But construction is still underway, and the community continues to raise money to pay for the repairs.
The Recorder - Unexpected love for leather inspires Barefoot Leatherworks in Millers Falls
Published: 4/29/2021 3:51:38 PM MILLERS FALLS — Barefoot Leatherworks started unexpectedly after owner Grace Martenson, who recalls she rarely wore shoes as a child, took an apprenticeship with a local cobbler. As an archer and outdoor enthusiast, Martenson had wanted to make her own leather quiver, which holds arrows during archery practice. That started a love of working with leather, she said.
The Recorder - New internship program at Turners Falls High School helps students explore health care
TURNERS FALLS — A new internship program at Turners Falls High School for students interested in health care professions launched with its first class of six students this year, and is expected to grow in the years to come. The program, which is administered by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), covers the students’ four high school years, and culminates with a 100-hour internship during their senior year.
The Recorder - A growing tradition: Montague to mark Arbor Day with tree for each village
Published: 4/28/2021 5:01:34 PM MONTAGUE — Five new trees, one in each village, will be planted on Friday and Saturday in public ceremonies to celebrate Arbor Day as part of what the Tree Advisory Committee hopes is a growing tradition. Arbor Day is typically recognized on the last Friday of April, said David Detmold, chair of the Montague Tree Advisory Committee. This year and in recent years it was officially recognized by the Montague Selectboard.
The Recorder - Montague to pursue alternative mosquito control plan
Published: 4/27/2021 3:28:04 PM MONTAGUE — A mosquito control plan proposed by the state Department of Agricultural Resources has raised concerns among town officials, who are now leaning toward opting out of the state plan and instead pursuing an alternative. The cause for concern in the state’s program is that it includes an option for spraying insecticides, either on a truck-mounted machine or from an airplane or helicopter, if certain viruses are found in local mosquito populations.
The Recorder - Leyden shed fire quickly extinguished
Published: 4/27/2021 1:05:04 PM LEYDEN — A shed on East Glen Road caught fire Monday evening, but there were no injuries and no major property damage. The fire seemed to have been caused by embers from a wood stove that were blown to the wooden shed, according to Leyden Fire Officer-in-Charge Brian Pelletier. The dry weather likely made the area more flammable, he said. The building was built on a wood frame, and a metal surface on the roof had to be removed to fully douse the fire.
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