News

Amherst committee says track project can forge ahead, as booster organization continues fundraising

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A $4.74 million project to rebuild and reorient the track at the Amherst Regional High School, installing a synthetic turf playing field in its interior, can move forward, even though community fundraising is short of the amount needed to...

Jewish Federation reviving Ride to Provide fundraiser

By EMILY THURLOW

AMHERST — After an eight-year hiatus, a former annual fundraising event by the University of Massachusetts Hillel that helped support local, national and international service projects, will be making its return.Through a partnership with UMass...

Details emerge in shooting of Hadley farmer

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — The Connecticut man accused of shooting a Hadley farmer on Mill Valley Road on the afternoon of Dec. 31 allegedly is in a relationship with the farmer’s ex-girlfriend, and was previously involved in a confrontation with the farmer at the same...

Forms for running in May election at Hadley Town Hall

HADLEY — Nomination forms to run for various elected positions in town, including the Select Board, School Committee and Planning Board, are available at the town clerk’s office.Town Clerk Jessica Spanknebel announced this week that papers for the May...

New van to boost food delivery services at Amherst Survival Center 

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Area families depending on the Amherst Survival Center for staples like milk, eggs and bread will be among those benefiting from a new delivery van recently bought by the agency.Using $76,500 collected from 117 community members during a...

Amherst schools may delay 6th grade move to middle school

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Despite significant planning over the past two years to relocate sixth graders from the town’s elementary schools to the Amherst Regional Middle School this fall, district leaders are broaching the idea of delaying the move, possibly for...

Amherst resident turns to GoFundMe to raise $1K in effort to access communications of town officials

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A resident seeking a variety of communications from town officials over the past several months is providing the town the money to begin the process of getting text messages, rather than appealing to the state’s supervisor of public records...

McGovern: Amherst a reparations role model, hopes work locally will push feds to create a commission

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Whatever model Amherst creates for offering reparations to Black and African heritage residents could set an example for other cities and towns, states and the federal government, according to U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern.Taking part in the...

New school cost up to at least $108M; town officials looking for ways to cut expenses

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A continued spike in the anticipated costs of building a new elementary school, pushing the total project to well in excess of $100 million, is prompting the Elementary School Building Committee and its design team to begin considering a...

Amherst makes new round of ARPA grants available to new businesses and for professional services

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A second round of new business and technical assistance grants, using federal American Rescue Plan Act money that came to Amherst, is being initiated this winter.Amherst Business Improvement District Executive Director Gabrielle Gould...

Mandela’s grandson celebrates King’s legacy at UMass

By EMILY THURLOW

AMHERST — The light from the torch for social justice burned bright as the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. was celebrated at the University of Massachusetts on Tuesday morning.The inaugural “Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Racial Healing Community...

Yogurt mogul, alum gifts $1M to Hampshire College

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A $1 million donation from the co-founder of Stonyfield Organic is pushing the Hampshire College capital campaign to nearly two-thirds of the $60 million goal set for June 2024.The college recently announced that alumnus Gary Hirshberg and...

Around Amherst: Public input on new school project welcome at forums

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Two public forums on the elementary school project expected to be subject to a Proposition 2½ debt-exclusion override vote in the spring are being held next week.After cost estimates and other updates on the project from the designer and...

Jones Library panel planning all-gender bathroom

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — In an effort to accommodate the widest range of patrons, and limit lines during public events such as after-hour meetings and Burnett Art Gallery openings, the expanded and renovated Jones Library is expected to do away with bathrooms...

Critic of Amherst officials irked at fee for records request

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A vocal critic of some members of the Town Council and government officials is describing the town’s latest action to charge her more than $300 to fulfill a public records request “petty and unfortunate.”Vira Douangmany Cage of Longmeadow...

Hot commodity: Liquor license up for grabs in Amherst

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — With the first all-alcohol, off-premises liquor license back in the town’s hands in recent memory, those interested in opening a new package store in Amherst are invited to begin submitting applications to obtain it.Town officials announced...

Amherst council: Closed-door meetings with police above-board

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Amherst Town Council denies that it violated the state’s Open Meeting Law when it met with police officers in closed-door meetings last month, though some councilors contend that giving the officers a private forum violated the council’s...

Amherst Town Council keeps leadership intact for coming year

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Members of the Amherst Town Council are keeping the body’s leadership intact for another year.While the 13 councilors gave near unanimous support to having District 2 Councilor Lynn Griesemer remain as president, a role she has...

Business council in works in Hadley

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A Hadley-specific business organization that would serve as a conduit of getting information between businesspeople and town officials is in the early stages of formation.The Select Board voiced its encouragement on Jan. 4 for the creation of...

Hadley planners give final OK to Route 9 coffee shop

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A proposed drive-thru coffee shop on Route 9 near the Coolidge Bridge, on a small lot once used as a gas station, can proceed to construction.At a Planning Board meeting Tuesday, members gave their unanimous approval to site plans for the...