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By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Banners recognizing the town’s past and present military veterans, as well as those continuing to actively serve in the armed forces, lined Hadley streets for the first time in 2024.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Work on the $46.1 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library is expected to begin in mid-June after low bidder Fontaine Brothers, Inc., of Springfield signed a contract with the town to be the project’s general contractor.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A $103.3 million fiscal year budget that goes most of the way toward meeting the spending requests from the Amherst and Regional school committees, while leaving six full-time and one part-time municipal positions vacant and assorted Jones Library staff positions unfilled, is being delivered to the Town Council.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Town Manager Paul Bockelman is proposing sizable increases in water and sewer rates, which if adopted would add $211 to the $1,033 annual bill for an average homeowner.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst officials are renewing appeals to residents to step up to fill numerous vacancies on municipal boards and committees.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

In one sculpture made from fired terracotta, with a natural patina, life holds and cradles life. In another sculpture, life holds and grasps death.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst Recreation Department’s work at expanding accessibility and empowering youth is being recognized through an award presented by the Massachusetts Recreation and Park Association.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — A restructuring of the progressive New College of Florida by that state’s Republican leadership in 2023 prompted Hampshire College to offer students there a respite and opportunity to continue their studies in Amherst.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Revising the senior overlay district to encourage more 55-and-over housing developments on Route 9, protecting in perpetuity almost 43 acres of farmland and increasing the local-option meals and hotel taxes, pending legislative approval, will be items considered by voters at annual Town Meeting on Thursday.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Residents will not be asked to consider a new Department of Public Works headquarters at annual Town Meeting Thursday, with the warrant article associated with the $18.7 million project to be delayed.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — With planned improvements to modernize and make accessible the Simeon Strong House at 67 Amity St., along with anticipated disruptions from the expansion and renovation at the neighboring Jones Library, Amherst Historical Society operations will be relocating to a downtown commercial building this spring.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — More than 100 residents at Applewood Retirement Community made their voices heard on the Saturday morning before Easter, appealing to preserve democracy and fight against actions by the Trump administration during a “No King” protest.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Creation of a 6th Grade Academy inside the Amherst Regional Middle School, coinciding with the opening of the new elementary school building on South East Street, will be supported by $450,000 in capital spending.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Recent demolition of a former bank at 5 South Maple St. will make way for a new building housing a fast-food restaurant specializing in Nashville hot chicken.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A yearly event to promote energy efficiency, recycling, electric and hybrid vehicles and solar power is being held on the Town Common Saturday, alongside the Amherst Farmer’s Market.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst will be seeking a new finance director, as Melissa Zawadzki leaves the position overseeing the town’s financial team later this spring, less than a year after her appointment, to return to work at the University of Massachusetts.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Opioid harm reduction services aimed at stopping fatal overdoses and getting individuals the care they need, already offered across the region by Tapestry Health Systems, will soon be provided in Hadley.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst Town Council is allowing the Jones Library expansion and renovation project to continue moving forward, nixing a measure that could have rescinded the borrowing authorization to pay for the work.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Before 2,000 cases of V-One Vodka produced in a Kamień, Poland, factory can be unloaded from a cargo ship, set to arrive in Port Elizabeth, N.J., next week, company founder Paul Kozub will have to pay the U.S. government an $8,000 fee.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A $23.07 million budget for fiscal year 2026 that uses more than $300,000 from the town’s stabilization account, but will likely result in the loss of several municipal positions unless voters approve a Proposition 2½ override, will be brought to annual Town Meeting on May 1.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — After a contentious debate, the Town Council agreed last week to recommend the town spend nearly $422,000 more on schools next year than originally recommended.