News
‘We can just be who we are’: Thousands show support for LGBTQ community at Hampshire Pride
By ELISE LINSCOTT
NORTHAMPTON — While the focus was on celebrating and supporting the LGBTQ community on Saturday during Hampshire Pride, there were also calls for Palestinian liberation, disrupting the mayoral proclamation with chants calling for a cease-fire and...
Bringing the Haitian vibe: Haitian Multicultural Day at Hopkins features Boston dance troupe
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — Filling the Hopkins Academy gymnasium with sounds from the Haitian tanbou — the traditional cowskin and goatskin-covered barrel drums — students jumped, waved and did push-ups as they learned various folkloric dances, movements and exercises...
A Look Back: May 7
50 Years Ago■Members of the Living Theater Collective of New York City and area college students staged a combination political demonstration and theatrical performance in front of the Hampshire County Courthouse yesterday afternoon to protest “racism...
Proposed Hatfield pickleball/tennis building raising eyebrows
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HATFIELD — A large indoor tennis and pickleball building, proposed to take up a portion of a nearly nine-acre business-zoned site just north of 253 West St., is raising concerns for neighbors about the potential neighborhood impacts.But the Planning...
Building agricultural resiliency: During tour with Senate leaders, Oliveira shows off research at UMass Cold Springs Orchard in Belchertown
By EMILEE KLEIN
BELCHERTOWN — Among UMass Cold Springs Orchard’s 35 acres of apple trees hang little orange tents at the top of the trees that, despite the blazing color, are discretely managing pesky moths.These prism-shaped moth traps release pheromones to attract...
Rose wins reelection in Worthington
Staff Report
WORTHINGTON — Voters reelected Charley Rose to his fourth term on the Select Board and approved the budget and other articles on the warrant at Town Meeting Saturday, according to information on the town website.Rose received 196 votes, while...
Funding will limit ARHS track/field makeover to cheapest option
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Widening the existing track from six to eight lanes and rejuvenating the interior grass field appears to be the extent of renovations that can be done to Amherst Regional High School’s track and field because of limited funding.While the...
Northampton bans auto dealerships near downtown; zone change won’t affect Volvo operation on King Street
By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
NORTHAMPTON — Auto dealerships close to downtown are now banned after the City Council’s recent decision to adopt new zoning that councilor’s say better aligns with the city’s ideals of sustainability.Though the zone change approved at the council’s...
South Hadley man killed in I-91 crash
Staff Report
HATFIELD — A South Hadley man was killed in a crash on I-91 Sunday, state police reported. Daniel Ducharme, 31, was southbound on the interstate in Hatfield and lost control of his 2016 Honda Civic, for reasons that are still under investigation,...
Retired superintendent to lead Hampshire Regional Schools on interim basis while search for permanent boss continues
By ALEXA LEWIS
WESTHAMPTON — An experienced educator who recently led the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District has been offered the job of interim superintendent for the Hampshire Regional School District, giving the district another year to find a permanent...
A Look Back, May 6
By JIM BRIDGMAN
50 Years Ago ■Preservation Week, a nationally celebrated event sponsored by historic preservation groups, will be observed in Northampton by an inventory of buildings and a tour of historic downtown sites. The Northampton Historical Commission will...
‘Home away from home’: North Amherst Library officially dedicated, as anonymous donor of $1.7M revealed
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — An avid reader throughout her life, who often brought her three children to the North Amherst Library as they were growing up, Hilda Greenbaum saw the need to improve the 1893 building to ensure it would continue to serve future generations,...
School budget tops busy Town Meeting agenda in South Hadley
By EMILEE KLEIN
SOUTH HADLEY — A zoning change to allow multifamily housing in the town’s business district along major corridors, a town budget encompassing a new Department of Human Services, a feasibility study for a new elementary school, and a school budget that...
Community Action Pioneer Valley presents awards to volunteers and supporters
By CHRIS LARABEE
GREENFIELD — For the first time since the pandemic, Community Action Pioneer Valley welcomed volunteers, legislators and community partners for its annual meeting — and celebrated an important milestone, too.The regional supportive service agency...
Doors open at Tilton Library’s temporary home at South Deerfield Congregational Church
By CHRIS LARABEE
SOUTH DEERFIELD — It was business as usual at Tilton Library on Wednesday morning — just in a slightly different location.The library reopened Wednesday in its temporary space at the South Deerfield Congregational Church, 71 North Main St., just a few...
Public to weigh in on amenities they’d like to see at War Memorial Pool site in Amherst
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — An ongoing feasibility study is examining how the area around the War Memorial Pool, a 2-acre site in downtown Amherst close to Amherst Regional High School, can be revitalized into a popular destination for families.While the pool was...
Loan program aims to ease burden of home energy retrofits
By COLIN A. YOUNG
BOSTON – Hoping to accelerate the switch to clean energy technologies, the climate bank at MassHousing recently announced a new financing product that aims to make $20 million in loans available over the next two years to help homeowners cover the...
A Look Back, May 4
By JIM BRIDGMAN
200 Years Ago ■Lord & Hutchinson (two doors north of Warner’s Coffee House) keep constantly on hand a complete assortment of ladies’ shell combs; also, a great variety of fancy articles, fruits, toys for children, etc. Shell combs mended with or...
State legislative panel spurns ballot measures
By CHRIS LISINSKI
BOSTON — The next phase in the fight over half a dozen major and pressing policy proposals kicked off Wednesday with a common feature on Beacon Hill: lawmakers recommending that the Legislature not take action.A special committee tasked with...
Holyoke Police Chief Pratt retiring: ‘It’s time to go’
By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
HOLYOKE — After more than 30 years of serving on the force, Holyoke Police Chief David Pratt has announced he will be retiring from his post, effective the end of July.Pratt, who has served as chief since 2021, announced his resignation at a press...
