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By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — A general town bylaw creating a licensing process for large-scale battery storage in Shutesbury has been struck down by the state attorney general’s office, for both unreasonably regulating renewable energy and improperly regulating...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A series of affordable housing developments in progress, construction beginning on a new elementary school and the possibility that an expanded and renovated Jones Library will get underway are being highlighted by town officials in their...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Town officials will have until the end of March to hire a general contractor to handle the $46.1 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library.The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners voted unanimously Thursday to approve a...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — An average homeowner will have a higher-than-usual $272 increase in property taxes next year, due in part to the costs for renovating the locker rooms at Hopkins Academy.The Select Board approved a series of recommendations Wednesday from the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst came close to a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, earning 99 out of a possible 100 points.The Municipality Equality Index is a nationwide evaluation of cities and towns on how...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — As someone who takes care of and cleans buildings on the University of Massachusetts campus, Sun Chong’s workload doubles when her colleagues call out sick or leave university employment.“They don’t hire people, so then we have to cover each...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A nearly $20 million redevelopment of a former Route 9 hotel into a mix of 51 one-bedroom and studio apartments for low- and moderate-income residents will get an infusion of $100,000 from the Hadley Affordable Housing Trust Fund.At the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A project to update downtown design standards for both public and private properties, as well as determine what the streetscape will look like, is continuing with both an in-person workshop set for Monday evening and an online survey...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Whether it was helping to make birthday cakes or being called “Grandpa Paul,” Paul Roberts, and his wife Candy, often provided affection and attention for the children of family friends.Paul Roberts, who died Nov. 21, is being remembered...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Town Manager Paul Bockelman met or exceeded expectations in all 13 policy and management goal areas set by the Town Council this year, with more than two-thirds of the 13 councilors giving him high marks on climate action, economic vitality...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Department of Public Works is seeking money to pay for a study to determine if gaseous chlorine should continue to disinfect wastewater, as a growing number of discharge violations at the town’s wastewater treatment plant occur.The Town...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A recent collection of 758 pounds of nonperishable food for the Amherst Survival Center by members of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity at the University of Massachusetts is part of the ongoing work being done to bring the chapter back to campus...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A graffiti-covered section of the Berlin Wall sits side by side with the Taj Mahal and the Ming Dynasty’s Imperial Vault of Heaven, and nearby is a large rat representing its role in the Great Plague.They are among sites and events from...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — An overhaul of the two locker rooms at Hopkins Academy is expected to be scaled back as the result of rising costs associated with the project.With voters in December 2023 approving a $1.07 million debt exclusion to cover the refurbishing of...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Douglas Slaughter, who served as temporary superintendent for the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools for the 2023-2024 academic year, is joining the Hampden-Wilbraham Regional School District as its assistant...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Jacqueline Wallace and the Amherst Area Gospel Choir she has directed are earning the Jean Haggerty Award for Community Engagement and Social Justice from Amherst Media.The presentation will take place as part of the second annual Amherst...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Reflecting on his time volunteering at the Amherst Survival Center when it was housed in the basement of a former school building, sorting clothes and doing some cooking, Sky Lloyd appreciates how the annual Thanksgiving meal brings people...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — After nearly a quarter-century as an assistant fire chief for operations and having twice led the department on a temporary basis, Lindsay Stromgren will become Amherst’s next fire chief, pending Town Council review on Monday.Town Manager...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Northampton, Amherst and Hadley are among area communities that have lifted the outdoor burning ban that has been in effect for most of November.The ban was enacted during drought-like conditions that set the stage for numerous brush fires — including...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A five-story, 68-unit project is ready to break ground at 47 Olympia Drive, which when complete will provide another housing option for local college students.Archipelago Investments LLC of Amherst this week received approval for both the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Using a role-playing exercise on a recent day at an Amherst elementary school, an upper-grade student was shown ways to build social skills and resolve conflict, abilities that continue to be diminished in the wake of remote learning during...