Educational fair in Northampton will focus on history, current state of democracy

By ALEXA LEWIS

NORTHAMPTON — Election years often make apparent the most divisive aspects of politics and partisanship. For Dave Roitman, it’s important to keep in mind that democracy is a perpetual work in progress, and one that requires meaningful collaboration...

Area briefs: Williamsburg Cultural Council accepting applications; Quabbin Photo Group to meet; wine-tasting classes at HCC; estate planning classes

Williamsburg Cultural Council taking applicationsWILLIAMSBURG — The Williamsburg Cultural Council is accepting applications for Mass Cultural Council’s fiscal 2025 cultural grants. The new grant cycle opened Sept. 1. Grant applications must be...

School boss gets marching orders: Committees set four main goals for new Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools superintendent to work on this academic year

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — New Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman must strive to rebuild community trust so healing and stabilization take place this academic year in the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools, one of four broad goals spelled out this week...

Wanted in South Hadley: Ideas for rezoning Route 202/33 corridor

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — A committee studying rezoning along Routes 202 and 33 will host the first of four public forums on Monday to gauge resident opinions on growth and development along the town’s most heavily trafficked corridor.Monday’s forum, hosted by...

Milestone reached: Cooley Dickinson Hospital holds ‘topping off’ ceremony for expanded ER

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — City, state and hospital officials gathered in front of Cooley Dickinson Hospital on Tuesday to, quite literally, mark a major milestone toward the completion of a new emergency department and to celebrate the more than $11 million...

Golden anniversary for Broadside Bookshop, a Northampton staple that’s still going strong

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — Walking downtown you might catch a glimpse of Broadside Bookshop’s front windows displaying artifacts collected over their past 50 years in operation. Once inside, you’ll find a store encapsulating the progressive, artsy vibe of Paradise...

Zulu Pods moves R&D facility from Amherst to Northampton

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — A research-and-development laboratory previously in Amherst, where studies and tests were ongoing to improve lubrication systems in military jets and helicopters so they will last longer and use less oil, recently relocated to a larger...

Photo: Never forget 9/11

State’s abuse registry effectiveness, expansion debated

By ALISON KUZNITZ

BOSTON — Three years after the state launched a registry of providers found to have abused individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, some advocates warn that too many workers are slipping through the cracks and staying employed in...

UMass grad students turn to Amherst Town Council for help with contract

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Graduate students at the University of Massachusetts are asking for Town Council’s support as they seek a new contract that calls for better pay and more affordable housing options — a cost-of-living campaign that has secured 860 signatures...

Taking pulse of a potent potential danger: Airbase briefs municipal officials on electromagnetic pulses

By ALEXA LEWIS

CHICOPEE — Imagine waking up to find that electronic technology has stopped working. Cellphones are down, traffic signals are dark and navigation systems are offline. The infrastructure behind modern life would be completely shut down, eventually...

Deerfield officials to begin work to address wetlands violation

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — Deerfield is working with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection to address a Wetlands Protection Act violation stemming from emergency work done in the aftermath of the July 2023 flooding.MassDEP issued a notice of...

Easthampton begins superintendent search with goal to select permanent leader in December

By ALEXA LEWIS

EASTHAMPTON — The search for a permanent superintendent is kicking off in Easthampton, and the School Committee anticipates announcing a job offer as early as December.At a School Committee meeting on Tuesday night, committee chair Laura Scott said...

Photos: Signs of fall

PVTA pilot to expand bus service on Amherst-Sunderland line to Hadley malls

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A year-long trial by University of Massachusetts Transit and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority is expanding weekend bus service on Route 31, bringing riders on the Amherst-to-Sunderland buses directly to the shopping malls in Hadley.The...

Area property deed transfers, Sept. 12

BELCHERTOWN Ralph P. Guisti Jr. to Alison C. Averette and Duane H. Averette, 565 George Hannum Road, $625,000 Claire A Gingras RET and Claire A. Gingras to Belchertown Town Of, State Street, $125,000 CHESTERFIELD Tessier Ft and Melissa A. Betsold...

A Look Back, Sept. 12

By JIM BRIDGMAN

50 Years Ago■Richard C. Carnes, chairman of the Northampton Conservation Commission, announced today that the commission has discussed using railroad rights-of-way as bike paths in the city. Carnes said a meeting would be scheduled soon with the...

Harris, Trump spar in Philadelphia presidential debate

By ZEKE MILLER, MICHELLE L. PRICE, JILL COLVIN and JOSH BOAK

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Kamala Harris and Donald Trump showcased starkly different visions for the country Tuesday on abortion, immigration and American democracy as they met for the first time for perhaps their only debate before November’s presidential...

A Look Back, Sept. 11

50 Years Ago ■The construction of an 11-acre shopping center on Northampton Street in Easthampton has apparently been stalled indefinitely by the tight economic situation. A year ago, the Sanland Development Corp. bought a parcel of land off O’Neill...

Police find skimmer at Cumberland Farms in Williamsburg

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WILLIAMSBURG — Another skimming device was detected in the area, this time in Williamsburg, only a day after one had been found mounted to a cash register at a Cumberland Farms in Southampton.Officer Peter Fisher was purchasing a drink on his normal...