
‘For the love of music’: Florence Community Band set to hold first-ever multigenerational concert
NORTHAMPTON — The Florence Community Band has put on many concerts in its nearly quarter-century of existence, but the longtime group of volunteer musicians is about to embark on a first as it prepares for this spring’s annual concert.

Div. 3 Women’s Ice Hockey: Amherst College falls to Wisconsin-River Falls 3-1 in national title game
Bailey Olson’s goal and two assists lifted the Wisconsin-River Falls women’s hockey team past Amherst College, 3-1, in the NCAA Division III national championship game on Sunday afternoon in River Falls, Wisconsin.
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Sports

Fit to Play with Jim Johnson: Too late to turn back
There was a time when 18-year-old boys and girls joined a college athletic team and left four years later as 22-year-old men and women, confident, trained, and effective team members. Coaches had time to focus on long-term development, looking at the big picture rather than short-term gains. Coaches helped individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses, set goals, and worked to help them improve, enabling them to reach their potential. The successful coach had a basic philosophical understanding of the place of sport in the student’s life. Good coaches understood that their athletes were also students and that achievement in the classroom was paramount to success.
Opinion

Michael John Kowalchuk: Make Massachusetts a sanctuary state
Many Valley residents assume that Massachusetts is already a sanctuary state that is doing as much as possible to defend immigrants from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The truth is that Gov. Maura Healey, the country’s first openly lesbian governor, does not believe that Massachusetts should be a sanctuary state, and that collaboration between ICE will continue under her governorship. Gov. Healey also wants to make it harder to access housing assistance and the state’s shelter system. There is not a shortage of resources; there is a shortage of justice.




Your Daily Puzzles

An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."

A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.

Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.

Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.

Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Business

Hopeful buyers emerge for Magic Wings butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield
SOUTH DEERFIELD — One of the prospective owners of Magic Wings often thinks back to fond memories of celebrating a life milestone at the nearly quarter-century-old butterfly conservatory and gardens on Routes 5 and 10.



Arts & Life

‘His notes will linger forever’: Remembering Young@Heart accordionist and Springfield College professor Chris Haynes
Chris Haynes, longtime accordionist for the Young@Heart Chorus and associate professor emeritus of music at Springfield College, died on Wednesday, March 12.
Obituaries

Nancy (Otte) Anson NORTHAMPTON, MA - Nancy Otte Anson of Northampton, Massachusetts, left the world on Monday, March 24, 2025. She was born March 22, 1955, in Cherokee, Iowa, to Norita (Sholly) and Evan Otte. Nancy and her sister, Susan,... remainder of obit for Nancy Anson

Brewster, MA - Susanne (McPeck) Gavin, also known as "Auntie Sue," to those who knew her, passed away in Hospice care in Brewster, Massachusetts, at the age of 89. A native of Boston, she was born to John and Thelma (Shaw) McPeck. Susan... remainder of obit for Dawn Susanne Gavin

Barbara Anne "Barb" Murnane Leeds, MA - Barbara Anne "Barb" Murnane died peacefully in her sleep at Linda Manor in the early morning hours of March 24, 2025. She was 97. Born on July 25, 1927 in Somerville, MA to John D. and Jessie Polle... remainder of obit for Barbara Anne Murnane

Eugenia W. ("Fi") Herbert South Hadley, MA - EUGENIA W. HERBERT, Historian of Africa and South Asia Eugenia "Fi" Herbert died peacefully on March 10, 2025, surrounded by her family and friends. Fi was 95. Following her graduation from ... remainder of obit for Eugenia W. Herbert