Planting the ‘care farm’ seed: ServiceNet touts its therapeutic farm in Hatfield a model for first-ever conference at UMass

By SAMUEL GELINAS

AMHERST — As visitors from throughout the country toured ServiceNet’s successful Prospect Meadow Farm in Hatfield on Monday to learn about “care farming” — a therapeutic approach that combines agriculture and health care — Shawn Robinson shared the story of an employee who was thriving while working at the 18-acre property.

Photos: Leafing through the greens

A Look Back, Jan. 16

Susan Triolo: Envisioning a brighter world

More than 30 groups come together this Saturday, Jan. 18, for a free event called “Our Projects for 2025, Envisioning the World We Want,” at the Second Congregational Church, just off the Greenfield Common.

Amherst Regional school board warned that schools face 2026 deficit, job cuts

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Up to 24 staff positions would be eliminated at the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, including four teachers and three paraprofessionals at both the middle and high schools, based on a possible deficit of $1 million or more in the schools’ $37.7 million fiscal year 2026 budget.

Ed secretary pledges gender identity protections

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON – The state’s top education official pledged Tuesday that Massachusetts schools would protect transgender students, even after a federal judge scrapped President Joe Biden’s expanded Title IX protections of LGBTQ students last week.

ARHS track and field project finally out to bid as Town Council OKs additional $800K

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Rebuilding Amherst Regional High School’s track and its interior field, both in poor condition and identified as priorities for replacement in a town study released more than six years ago, should be underway by late June, shortly after the school year ends.

Amherst resident takes reins as New Salem town coordinator

By DOMENIC POLI

NEW SALEM — The new year means a new town coordinator for New Salem.

Israel, Hamas agree to pause in fighting

By NAJIB JOBAIN, SAMY MAGDY and JOSEF FEDERMAN

Planner pitches lifting big box retail size cap in Hadley

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — While Hadley has several shopping centers and malls on its commercial corridor, for nearly 20 years the town has prohibited construction of any new retail store exceeding 75,000 square feet.

Area briefs: Unitarian Society to celebrate gender identity as civil right; Power-Greene to lead MLK Day lecture; Cahillane elected to leadership post with sheriffs’ association

Power-Greene to lead MLK Day lecture

NORTHAMPTON — The Unitarian Society of Northampton & Florence at 220 Main St. will celebrate Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy on Sunday with a service to honor the stories of transgender and nonbinary people in the community.

Area briefs: Amherst Dog Park event for Survival Center; March to end Israel-Hamas war; Banned books talk in Northampton; Fire safety reminder during open burning season

AMHERST — Friends of the Amherst Dog Park are organizing a soup drive on behalf of the Amherst Survival Center running Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.

A Look Back, Jan. 15

UMass Foundation chided for small step on fossil fuel investment

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A University of Massachusetts campus organization pushing for more socially responsible investments by the UMass Foundation, manager of the university’s endowment, is claiming a small win after the nonprofit organization made a commitment to invest in fossil fuel-free funds.

Photos: Seasonal storefront

Head Start director to fill vacant post on Northampton School Committee

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — The director of Head Start and early learning programs in the city is joining the School Committee as Ward 2’s representative.

Bevy of events on tap to honor MLK’s legacy

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Area residents will have an opportunity to celebrate the legacy of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., both in the lead up to the Jan. 20 holiday and during a National Day of Service on Monday, as well as participate in the National Day of Racial Healing the following day.

MassDOT issues 3rd warning about texting scam called smishing; UMass prof offers tips on what to do

By JANE KAUFMAN

It looks so benign.

Dozens of Amherst homes snapped up by LLC’s over past 5 years

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Companies, rather than families or individuals, acquired an average of more than 10 single-family homes each year from long-term residents over a recent five-year period, according to information presented to the Amherst Affordable Housing Trust on Thursday.

Menard named Amherst police captain; Gaughan is town’s new assistant fire chief

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A 30-year member of the Amherst police force, and two firefighters with extensive experience, are taking on new leadership roles at the town’s public safety departments.