News
Regional farming alliance strengthens educational, networking opportunities for apprentices
By CHRIS LARABEE
In 1994, a new movement began to grow out of the Pioneer Valley, Berkshires and Hudson Valley, as a group of organic farmers banded together to form a cooperative educational program for farm apprentices.That year marked the birth of the Collaborative...
Around Amherst: Primary schools piloting foundational reading program
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A foundational skills reading program, known as Magnetic Foundations, is being piloted by eight teachers in the four Amherst and Pelham elementary schools as the focus of an elementary literacy curriculum review this school year.Mary Kiely,...
Amherst officials outline vision for Hickory Ridge: fire station, community center, affordable housing among options
By SCOTT MERZBACH
A fire station, possibly combined with a new community center, or an affordable housing development are among the concepts unveiled for the front portion of the former Hickory Ridge Golf Course on West Pomeroy Lane, the 150-acre town-owned site where...
Boards balk at limiting use of Hadley Town Common
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — Significant work and time for municipal staff associated with preparing for New England Public Media’s annual Asparagus Festival is prompting Hadley officials to examine whether fees should be increased and other adjustments made to how...
The Lehrer Report: May 3, 2024
Cinco de Mayo greetings for all our Mexican friends and neighbors. The day marks the military victory over Napoleon III in 1862.***Reminder — take down your bird feeders.***Nancy Blair of Amherst sent me an email about an open house at Cherry Hill...
$100,000 theft: Granby Police seek help in ID’ing 3 who used dump truck to steal cash from ATM
GRANBY – Granby Police are asking for the public’s help in identifying three suspects who allegedly used a dump truck to steal $100,000 from a PeoplesBank stand-alone ATM machine in January. On Tuesday, Jan. 16, at 1:26 a.m., police responded to 77...
Leverett residents back Gaza cease-fire resolution at Saturday’s Town Meeting
By AALIANNA MARIETTA
LEVERETT — Residents elected town officials, signed off on a $7.56 million budget for fiscal year 2025 and passed a resolution calling for a permanent cease-fire in Gaza during their Annual Town Meetinglast Saturday.After uncontested elections, the...
The Beat Goes On: A trombone celebration in Holyoke, Lord Russ shifts gears, and the Hampshire Young People’s Chorus turns 25
By STEVE PFARRER
The Holyoke Civic Symphony has titled its 2023-2024 season “The Brass Menagerie,” not to be cute but to highlight a series of concerts dedicated to celebrating the family of brass instruments: the horn, the tuba, the trumpet, and the trombone.On May...
Pro-Palestinian encampment disperses at UMass, but protests continue
By ALEXA LEWIS
AMHERST — At 6 a.m. on Tuesday, representatives of the University of Massachusetts administration arrived at the pro-Palestinian encampment that went up the previous day on the school’s South Lawn and issued a warning to protesters — take down their...
Flair and flavor: Couple draws on European, regional travel and food expertise to bring gourmet Aster + Pine Market to Amherst
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — From their own journeys in Europe and across New England and the Northeast, and their experience in the hospitality industry, a Northampton couple is creating a market featuring wines, pantry staples and fresh local produce in downtown...
Reyes takes helm of UMass flagship amid pro-Palestinian protests
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — On a Friday morning filled with music, ceremony and speeches by state leaders to inaugurate Javier Reyes as the 31st leader of the University of Massachusetts Amherst, and the first Hispanic chancellor of the flagship campus, protesters...
Sole over-budget bid could doom Jones Library expansion project
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A lone $42.7 million bid by a general contractor for expanding and renovating the Jones Library building, coming in more than $7 million over cost estimates, could be putting the entire project at risk.“We are disappointed to have received...
First look at how little Amherst’s police alternative being used called troubling
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — The tiny number of emergency dispatch calls directed to the Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service since mid-December, when the department began taking 911 calls, is prompting worries by members of the Community Safety and...
Quabbin region studied for MWRA expansion
By SAM DRYSDALE
As House Democrats eye the expansion of its public drinking water service area, the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA) is considering whether the communities where that water comes from should finally get to reap the benefits of the...
Amherst officials examine Quincy shelter for ideas to develop former VFW property
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A Quincy-based temporary shelter that includes transitional housing, along with a resource center for people to find jobs, medical care and permanent homes, is being eyed as a model for how Amherst might redevelop the former VFW site at 457...
Deerfield residents petitioning to fix ‘dangerous’ intersection
By CHRIS LARABEE
DEERFIELD — With 12 collisions between 2021 and 2023 and likely an even greater number of close calls at the intersection of Routes 5 and 10, North Main Street and Mill Village Road, two residents have launched a petition asking the state Department...
Around Amherst: Town cleanup day being organized for Saturday
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — A townwide cleanup day, organized by Amherst’s community participation officers and University of Massachusetts work study students, is taking place Saturday.Rain or shine, volunteers will fan out in town to remove trash and debris beginning...
The Lehrer Report: April 26, 2024
Reminder: Real estate taxes are due May 1, which is Wednesday next week.***Garden report: I filled four hanging planters with pansies. I will wait before I do the wave petunias.The lilac bush that bloomed in October has green buds. However, there are...
Hadley planners advance battery storage bylaw
By SCOTT MERZBACH
HADLEY — A bylaw that would allow standalone energy storage systems in most zoning districts in Hadley, but which would prohibit them in aquifer protection areas, is being brought to annual Town Meeting next month, with an endorsement from the...
Hampshire County youth tapped to advise governor’s team
By XINYI YANG
Three Hampshire County students are among 60 young people statewide who will advise Gov. Maura Healey and her administrative team on issues important to young people as members of the newly minted Youth Advisory Council.The young people, ages 16-21,...
