State reaches out to fired federal workers with new website; MassHire gears up to offer local help in region
Healey taking executive actions to address rising energy bills
Shutesbury poised to hire Amherst senior center director as new town administrator
Area briefs: Sen. Comerford’s committee assignments; Applications open for Carlos Vega Fund mini-grants; Celtic band concert coming to Northampton
Conceptual repair plan discussed for Old Deerfield Wastewater Treatment Plant
Columnist Karen Gardner: Stop the coup!
Shelburne Falls veteran pleads guilty to stealing benefits, lying about service
No state plans to offset $12 million federal food aid cut
Cummington receives boost for old school rehab; Plainfield, Belchertown also secure rural grants
Salute to ‘Nurse Jean’: State organization names Hatfield Elementary’s Jean Hobbie school nurse of the year
HATFIELD — Inside Jean Hobbie’s nurse’s office at Hatfield Elementary School on a recent morning, second grader Arun Bun drops by to make sure he can successfully address his low blood sugar level, a challenge of being having Type 1 diabetes.
Feather-friendly: Hitchcock Center partners with Fish & Wildlife to reduce deadly avian impacts at building
AMHERST — Life-threatening dangers are posed any time a migratory bird approaches a building, unaware that it could be on course to strike a window.
Most Read
‘Everything is on the line’: Some 800 attend Northampton rally, where Markey fires up activists to resist against Trump
Northampton council to discuss censure of member Rothenberg for behavior during dispatch call
PVPA students walkout to demand school fire teacher over sexual misconduct allegations
Retiring VA doc lets DOGE ire fly: List details deleting pronouns, making Musk dartboard
Pre-St. Patrick’s Day revelry leads to 29 arrests, 23 medical transports to hospital
Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra announces run for 2nd term, will face at least one challenger
Editors Picks
A Look Back, March 12
She’s every woman: Meet the western Mass chapter of the International Order of Mrs. Ropers
Arts Briefs: Carle puppet show at UMass, seawall paintings in Easthampton, and more
They ‘don’t come to play around’: Ten local students will compete in Third Annual Academy Regional Youth Poetry Slam next month
Sports
Div. 4 girls basketball: South Hadley’s pursuit of a second straight state final trip goes through Millis in Wednesday’s semifinal round
The Final Four is set in the MIAA girls basketball Division 4 state tournament, and No. 3 South Hadley will square off with No. 2 Millis in the semifinals on Wednesday at Worcester State University.
UMass hockey: Minutemen looking to get past pesky Vermont in Hockey East opening round
UMass basketball: Minutemen open final Atlantic 10 tourney with first round game against La Salle
High school basketball: 12 area players selected for Western Massachusetts Senior All-Star Games at Hall of Fame
UMass football: Minutemen open spring season with first practice under new coach Joe HarasymiakOpinion
Daniel Czitrom: Jewish soul? Conflating criticism, antisemitism
While I appreciate Gazette columnist J.M. Sorrell’s honest look into her own roots, as well as her commitment to fighting antisemitism, her column “Jewish neshamah” [March 5] essentially endorses the idea that any criticism of Israel is tantamount to hatred of Jews.
Amber Clooney: Northampton school funding debate is democracy
Judson Brown: Kudos for veteran’s story
Liz Suozzo: Double standards?
Paula Rigano: Last time I checked, the First Amendment still stood
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
Making News in Business, March 7
NORTHAMPTON — The Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce has hired Nia Stimage-Norwood as a program assistant and promoted Jack Brown to marketing director.
Food is in their DNA: New Holyoke restaurant Casa del Pollo offers African American soul food and Latin cuisines 
Clothing retailer J. Crew eyes summer opening at Mountain Farms Mall in Hadley 
Collective Copies renovating Florence store into new headquarters, will close Amherst location 
Business of video games: Digital Development Management has found success helping game developers find larger audience e-Edition
Arts & Life
The globalization of Irish traditional music: Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in our own Happy Valley
A few decades ago, we would have been grateful for any kind of pub gig or a hospitable venue that would allow us to play any day, but especially Saint Patrick’s Day.
Speaking of Nature: It’s enough already: Mallards bring signs of spring
‘On Golden Pond,’ directed by a therapist: Easthampton Theater Company will stage play about complex relationships later this month
Arts Briefs: Magical opera at UMass, ‘Hedwig’ filmmaker at Mount Holyoke, and more
Speaking of Nature: Opportunity taken: Omnivorous scavengers eat just about anything during the tough months of winterObituaries
Walter Peret Jr.
Northampton, MA - Walter Peret Jr., age 78, of Northampton, MA, passed away peacefully on Friday, March 7, 2025, at Cooley Dickinson Hospital, surrounded by his loving family. After attending Northampton High School and earning his GED... remainder of obit for Walter Peret Jr.
Ronald Nault Jr.
Florence, MA - Ronald J. Nault Jr. died on March 9, 2025 peacefully at home with his family. He was born in Northampton on November 27, 1971 to Ronald and Judith Nault. Ronald graduated Smith Vocational High School and was a member of ... remainder of obit for Ronald Nault Jr.
Barbara Petcen
BARBARA "Barb" PETCEN HATFIELD, MA - Barbara "Barb" Joyce Petcen, 84, longtime resident of Hatfield, MA died March 9, 2025 at Linda Manor Extended Care of Leeds surrounded by her family. Born in Northampton on Nov 6, 1940 she was the dau... remainder of obit for Barbara Petcen
Carolyn J. LeVay
Carolyn J. (Bevis) LeVay LEEDS, MA - Carolyn J. (Bevis) LeVay 89, passed away on March 10, 2025. Carol was born in Northfield, MA on August 17, 1935 to Julia (Zavorotny) Bevis and Cedric A. Bevis. Carol grew up in Hinsdale, NH and after ... remainder of obit for Carolyn J. LeVay
