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.

Area briefs: Neal to headline ‘Building & Sustaining Livable Communities’ event; Comic show to benefit Tides for Reproductive Freedom; Father’s Day concert for the children of Gaza

HOLYOKE — OneHolyoke CDC will host a lunchtime event, “Building & Sustaining Livable Communities” featuring U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, on Monday, June 16, at 12 p.m., at Wyckoff Country Club, 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke.

Marijuana product manufacturing proposal rejected at Whately Town Meeting

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — Eighty-six residents approved all but one of the 25 articles on Tuesday’s Annual Town Meeting warrant, rejecting a petition that would have added a “Marijuana Product Light Manufacturer” to the town’s table of use regulations.

Highway chief: work zone ‘crisis’ demands blue lights solution

By ELLA ADAMS

BOSTON – Massachusetts is mired in a work zone safety “crisis,” and allowing state transportation vehicles to utilize blue lights at sites on high-speed roadways would slow down drivers and save lives, the state’s top highway official told lawmakers on Tuesday.

‘That’s my graduate!’: Granby High School celebrates its 52-member Class of 2025

By Lily Reavis

GRANBY — Hundreds of family members, friends, former teachers, and loved ones filled the Granby Junior Senior High School gymnasium on Saturday morning to celebrate the school’s Class of 2025.

‘Small-town’ roots will carry Hampshire Regional High School’s 103 graduates far

By Lily ReAvis

WESTHAMPTON — Hampshire Regional High School graduated 103 seniors Friday evening in its 53rd annual commencement ceremony, an unexpectedly indoor event that celebrated the class’s school spirit, perseverance, and unity despite differences.

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.

Easthampton High School’s Class of 2025 survive, show up

By CAROLYN BROWN

EASTHAMPTON — As thunder rumbled outside, 93 Easthampton High School seniors prepared to take the next step into adulthood.

A Look Back, June 7

A harmonious farewell: PVPA grads dance, since their way across graduation stage

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — Students of the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School made their way onto stage for the last act of their high school performance on Thursday — a graduation equally theatrical and ceremonial.

Northampton council postpones vote on $145M budget for two weeks, hopes to avoid delays that plagued body last year

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — The City Council on Thursday postponed a vote on the $145 million city budget for the 2026 fiscal year, in the hopes of avoiding the more contentious budget process that took place the previous year.

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.

‘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.

Worthington Town Meeting to consider $6M budget; override on the table in July

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WORTHINGTON — The 32 articles on Saturday’s annual Town Meeting will set the stage for the town to find a path out of a potential Proposition 2½ override request in approximately 35 days.

Night work on Interstate 91 bridges in Northampton will force detours from June 8-15

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

Anyone planning an overnight road trip through Northampton within the next week should begin preparations to take a detour.

Spreading the love of cycling: NHS teacher taking group of students on four-day, 125-mile bike trek

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — At a parent’s home by the Montview Conservation Area, Brant Jones gathers the group of 14 high school students who have assembled that morning before they embark on their planned four-day adventure.

Appeals court sides with Easthampton, other plaintiffs in suit seeking to stop cuts to US Department of Education

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

The U.S. First Circuit Court of Appeals has maintained a previous court injunction that blocked the Trump administration from enacting significant layoffs at the U.S. Department of Education, part of a lawsuit whose plaintiffs include the Easthampton School Committee.

Granby’s Town Meeting on Monday will discuss West Street Building, annual budget, stormwater bylaw

By EMILEE KLEIN

GRANBY— Town Meeting attendees will consider a $27.5 million operating budget, a new stormwater bylaw and the future of West Street Building during the second half of the annual Town Meeting on Monday.

Unopposed candidates up for election on Saturday in Goshen

By SAMUEL GELINAS

GOSHEN — Fourteen unopposed candidates for office are on Saturday’s town election ballot, including nine people who are up for reelection and five who are caucus nominees.

Hadley discussing major water, sewer fees increases, including moving away from tiered billing

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Among the ways Hadley officials recognize farming as the backbone of the town is by charging much lower rates for water used for agricultural purposes than municipal water provided to homes and businesses.