News

Granby superintendent to depart for position in Greenfield schools

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — Granby’s superintendent of schools is expected to become Greenfield School Department’s assistant superintendent of teaching and learning next school year. Stephen Sullivan, who is currently serving his third year as Granby’s school...

Hadley briefs

Drive-through shredding eventHADLEY — A townwide, drive-through shredding event is taking place at the Hadley Senior Center, 46 Middle St., Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon.A town-sponsored event, the shredding is only open to Hadley residents, who will...

Shutesbury library lands $10K accessibility grant

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — A project to improve accessibility for patrons at the current Shutesbury library and the new library building that will break ground in June is being supported by a $10,000 grant from the American Library Association.Library Director Mary...

Amherst selects finalists for police chief, will meet public next week

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An Amherst police captain who has been the department’s temporary police chief since last May and a Chelmsford police lieutenant who has led the department’s wellness division are finalists to become the next chief for the Amherst Police...

Amherst regional school board reaches for $1M add to budget

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A $35.75 million fiscal year 2025 budget for the Amherst-Pelham Regional School District that preserves 14 educator positions at the middle and high schools, but requires each of the four district towns to more than double their projected...

Amherst councilors accused of racism, disrespect over heated meeting on cease-fire

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Even with Town Council adopting a resolution calling for a cease-fire in the Israel-Hamas war, supporters of the measure are calling for apologies from some councilors and anti-racism training because of their actions at that March 4...

30-home affordable complex in Amherst gets go-ahead

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An affordable housing development giving 30 families an opportunity to own their own homes is on track to be constructed over the next few years after receiving a comprehensive permit from the Zoning Board of Appeals, with a condition that,...

Three finalists in running for Amherst Regional Middle School principal

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst Regional Middle School’s dean of students and administrators at middle schools in New Bedford and Wrentham are finalists to become principal at the middle school, a position that has been filled on an interim basis this school year...

Amherst housing trust wants $1.1M in cash in lieu of 3 affordable units at downtown development

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Members of the Amherst Municipal Affordable Housing Trust are recommending that a developer proposing a mixed-use building at 45-55 South Pleasant St. be allowed to donate more than $1 million to the trust fund instead of setting aside three...

The Lehrer Report: March 22, 2024

Garden report: I will cut forsythia branches and force them inside. Some friends told me they did this last month. Other friends said the pussy willows are out. However, I don’t have them in my yard.There is one bud on my Thanksgiving cactus. Maybe it...

Hadley nearing settlement over campers dispute along Connecticut River

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A Land Court lawsuit in which a Holyoke resident is seeking to overturn a Zoning Board of Appeals decision preventing him from parking five campers at a long-used campsite along the Connecticut River appears to be nearing a resolution that...

Around Amherst: Woman’s Club Flower Show heralds spring

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Spring’s arrival is being celebrated by the Amherst Woman’s Club, which is holding its annual Flower Show and Sale on Saturday at the Hills Memorial Club House, 35 Triangle St.The event runs from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and will feature classic...

Biologists, governor visit bear den in Pelham

State biologists took the governor for a visit to a black bear den in Pelham earlier this month that is part of ongoing statewide research throughout the state.Each winter, biologists from the Massachusetts Department of Fish & Game Division of...

Yankee Candle settles $1.2M class action lawsuit over time clock rounding

By CHRIS LARABEE

SPRINGFIELD — More than 2,400 current and former Yankee Candle employees are eligible to split $1.2 million from a class action lawsuit brought forward by an employee alleging the company failed to pay workers for “thousands of hours of work” due to...

Longtime employees buy Kitchen Garden Farm in Sunderland

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — The change of the seasons, as farmers know, often brings a slew of other changes along with it, and at Kitchen Garden Farm, this spring brings the largest change of all.Soon the farm will change hands for the first time since its founding...

National Park Service to survey Deerfield River

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — The National Park Service will conduct a reconnaissance survey on the Deerfield River to see if it is eligible to be designated as a National Wild and Scenic River.A designation would protect free-flowing sections of the Deerfield River —...

Can you get there from here? Online tool tracks how reach to food pantries and stores without a car — or not

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Food and other necessities can be found at the Goshen General Store on Route 9. For low-income individuals in Goshen and surrounding communities, the Hilltown Food Pantry, at the nearby Town Office Building, distributes food every...

Reimagining the Hampshire Mall: UMass architecture students share their visions

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — What would Hampshire Mall’s expansive 33-acre property off Route 9 in Hadley look like as mostly a housing complex? A class of budding architects and landscape architects at the University of Amherst have spent the last couple of months...

Plan advances to overhaul nuisance property bylaw in Amherst

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Town officials would be empowered to work with property owners to coordinate corrective action plans when their properties receive three nuisance property infractions in a year under a revised nuisance property bylaw being proposed.The...

Retired Holyoke firefighter picked to lead Amherst police alternative CRESS

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A retired Holyoke firefighter who has worked as a licensed clinical social worker is being appointed as the director of the Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service department, pending review by the Town Council.Camille Theriaque...