News
‘The stage is yours’: Belchertown High School sends 135 graduates out of the nest
By EMILEE KLEIN
BELCHERTOWN — The 90-degree weather heated the sea of camping chairs and umbrellas that covered Belchertown High School’s Stadium Field Thursday evening, and people were doing their best to keep cool.
UMass student is Gazette’s Young Community Leader for work with youth, domestic violence survivors
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A University of Massachusetts student majoring in sociology, Prachi Dayal regularly interacts with survivors of domestic violence as a legal intern at Safe Passage in Northampton, talking to these individuals and ensuring they and their families get the help they need.
Shaping young lives: Hadley’s Dave Wintsch named Person of the Year
By EMILEE KLEIN
HADLEY — One evening years ago at a Young Life Camp in the Adirondack Mountains, Dave Wintsch and the merry band of teenagers under his watch walked into a dining hall to big bowls of spaghetti and sauce, but not a single utensil.
Juan Rodriguez named permanent principal at Amherst Regional Middle School
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Juan A. Rodriguez, Amherst Regional Middle School’s interim principal, will become the school’s permanent principal starting July 1.
One voyage ends, another begins for Amherst Regional High School’s 190 graduates
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — After concluding her valedictory remarks reflecting on the last weeks of senior year, Daniella Sherman suggested taking a final high school selfie, which she did by taking out her cellphone and posing alongside her five fellow valedictorians and the full 190-member class on stage at the Tillis Performance Hall at the Bromery Center for the Arts.
Immigrant allies ask Amherst officials to call rapid-response hotline, confront ICE when agents are active in town
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — One resident is suggesting that any time federal Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents are active in Amherst, town officials should immediately call a hotline that activates a network of immigrant-rights advocates.
Quabbin towns call for better state support for what they do to protect Boston-area drinking water
By SCOTT MERZBACH
SHUTESBURY — Even though located at the edge of the Quabbin Reservoir that provides drinking water for millions of residents in and around Boston, Shutesbury has no municipal water supply and has spent almost $700,000 to address contamination from PFAS, or forever chemicals, in private wells.
Sneak peek: Cooley Dickinson shows off progress on hospital’s new Emergency Department
By SCOTT MERZBACH
NORTHAMPTON — Only steps away from where ambulances will be bringing patients to Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s expanded Emergency Department are two dedicated resuscitation rooms.
Vacant former school in South Amherst could become anchor for housing development
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Even with several residential developments in the pipeline or under construction in Amherst, including some aimed at providing homes for low- and moderate-income individuals and families, the town is looking at creating new opportunities for addressing a continued housing shortage.
Around Amherst: Longtime Town Hall clerk Susan Audette bids adieu
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A regular presence at Amherst Town Hall for 20 years, Town Clerk Susan Audette recently retired after more than four years overseeing town elections and vital records.
Amherst maintains strong bond rating
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Amherst’s strong financial position and prudent fiscal management are being recognized by S&P Global Ratings, which recently gave the town an AA+ bond rating with a stable outlook, the second highest rating it assigns.
Jones Library groundbreaking set for June 18 in Amherst
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A ceremonial groundbreaking for the $46.1 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library, which is already closed to the public to make way for the project, is set for June 18.
Outdoor recreation in spotlight as state labor secretary visits region, takes canoe ride on Lake Warner
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — Two canoes circling Lake Warner in North Hadley on a mild and sunny Wednesday morning last week provided a chance for those on board to paddle the 70-acre pond and appreciate the sights and sounds of the area, from fish swimming through the water to birds flying overhead, and even a large snake briefly coming onto the lawn next to the boat launch.
Architects: Hadley’s old school could be rehabbed for $8M
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — An historic school building in town center that has been vacant for a decade could be rehabilitated into micro apartments, office space or classrooms and art studios at a cost of less than $10 million, according to a report presented to the Select Board last week.
Five-year water chestnut control plan approved for Lake Warner in Hadley
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — A five-year plan for addressing the continued growth of water chestnuts at Lake Warner in North Hadley will include use of the weed killer Diquat on nearly 11 acres of the 70-acre pond.
Around Amherst: Youth Hero Awards to highlight Race Amity Day
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A presentation of the Human Rights Commission’s Youth Hero Awards and a picnic will highlight Race Amity Day: A Celebration of the Oneness of the Human Family, taking place Sunday at Mill River Recreation Area, 95 Montague Road.
‘PVCI kids’ ready for next adventure: Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School sends 30 graduates off to ‘transform our world’
By ALEXA LEWIS
HADLEY — Beneath rows of glowing lanterns and string lights, students of the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School bustled about Wednesday evening — untangling multicolored cords, securing pins and caps, and taking photographs with both the families they live with at home and the family they built during their time at the school.
Belchertown voters sign off on school budget at TM that draws 1,100 residents; district saved from massive cuts
By EMILEE KLEIN
BELCHERTOWN — When the high school’s television projected 941 votes in favor of the School Department’s $34.54 million fiscal year 2026 budget to 154 votes against, a majority of the nearly 1,100 in attendance at a packed Town Meeting on Saturday erupted into cheers.
Iconic Asparagus Festival returns to Hadley on Saturday
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — Asparagus and polka music, which have helped define Hadley culture in recent generations, are coming together during New England Public Media’s Asparagus Festival on Saturday, June 7, being held from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on the historic Town Common on West Street.
ICE takes two into custody in Amherst
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — Amherst officials are notifying the community about U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions in which two individuals were taken into custody, in separate incidents on May 28 between 7 and 8 a.m.
