Amherst regional school board seeking to limit staff cuts by boosting spending
Hatfield Housing Authority board presses for removal of ‘toxic’ member
Federal judge orders White House to rehire probationary workers let go in mass firings across multiple agencies
Olin Rose-Bardawil: Why local government matters more now
E-bike battery explodes in Holyoke apartment, prompting fire officials to issue safety advisory
Area briefs: Marking spring equinox at UMass Sunwheel; Treehouse to host ‘Women Leading Change’ panel; Holyoke launches wayfinding sign survey
Compassionate barbers: Easthampton shop Hero Barber is growing thanks to its inclusive atmosphere
Area property deed transfers, March 14
Ashfield’s historic Elmer’s Store seeing new life with opening of Wicked Good Café
Special commission gauges climate for Jews in region during visit to WMass
Members of the state’s Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism held its fifth meeting this week in the western part of the commonwealth, hearing testimony from local experts and residents, including several from Northampton, on their experience dealing with antisemitism.
Pioneer Valley upgraded to critical drought status, months of sustained precipitation needed
Despite a recent increase in precipitation, the Connecticut River Valley region has been designated as experiencing critical drought conditions, which will continue to persist until sustained precipitation over a much longer period of time is able to restore water table levels.
Most Read
Northampton council to discuss censure of member Rothenberg for behavior during dispatch call
‘Everything is on the line’: Some 800 attend Northampton rally, where Markey fires up activists to resist against Trump
Northampton City Council censures Rothenberg over storm call
Shelburne Falls veteran pleads guilty to stealing benefits, lying about service
PVPA students walkout to demand school fire teacher over sexual misconduct allegations
No state plans to offset $12 million federal food aid cut
Editors Picks
A Look Back, March 13
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
Smith College basketball heads to Maine to face top-seeded Bowdoin in NCAA Division 3 Sweet 16
When the NCAA Division 3 Women’s Basketball bracket was released on March 3, Smith College was thrilled to be hosting yet another opening weekend, just as it had done the previous three tournaments. But despite earning the right to play first and second round games at home, the Pioneers were given an extremely rigorous path to a potential third straight Final Four.
UMass football: New defensive coordinator Jared Keyte pleased with Minutemen’s opening week of spring practice
UMass hockey: Minutemen hold off Vermont 2-1, advance to Hockey East quarterfinals
Div. 4 girls basketball: Kate Phillips’ late bucket lifts No. 3 South Hadley past No. 2 Millis 45-42, into state title game (PHOTOS)
UMass basketball: Offense sputters, Minutemen fall to La Salle in Atlantic 10 first round, 78-71Opinion
Guest columnist John Paine: No refuge from climate change
Evan Naismith: Keep funding progressivism
Suzanne Lijek: But there was no one left to speak for me
Lundy Bancroft: Negotiate, don't escalate
Guest columnist Rob Okun: Could low-wage whites spark Trump’s undoing?
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
Kristopher Johnson
Westfield, MA - Kristopher Blackwood Johnson, 48, died March 4, 2025 from cardiac arrest at Baystate Medical Center. He was born in Northampton on February 13, 1977 to Robert Johnson and Linda Longtin and grew up in Florence, MA. Kris g... remainder of obit for Kristopher Johnson
Wendy Walsh
Agawam, MA - Wendy Butler Walsh, 80, of Agawam, recently of Northampton, and formerly of Madison, CT, peacefully passed away on February 22, 2025, surrounded by family. Wendy was born at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton on Septe... remainder of obit for Wendy Walsh
Valerie Grace Gracechild
Amherst, MA - Born and christened Valerie Grace Eckardt in Salzburg, Austria, Valerie legally changed her last name to Gracechild in 1973. She grew up in Amherst, MA; Athens, Greece; Palo Alto, CA; Sagamore Beach, MA; and Newton, MA. ... remainder of obit for Valerie Grace Gracechild
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.
