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By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst is moving forward with a process for creating a third local historic district, in the East Amherst village center, where homes, buildings and other structures could receive enhanced protections.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Exactly two months after closing the 43 Amity St. location to the public to make way for an expansion and renovation project, the Jones Library reopens at a temporary site at 101 University Drive on Monday.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Following a performance evaluation that gave her mostly proficient ratings in meeting various standards set by the state’s Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and her own goals, Amherst-Pelham Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman is receiving a revised contract that will boost her annual salary above $180,000.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Vacant land on either side of Atkins Farms Country Market has long been eyed for its development potential to create a village center, where housing, along with shops and restaurants, would serve Applewood Apartments and Upper Orchard residents, as well as students, faculty and staff at Hampshire College.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Despite recent repairs on Moody Bridge Road, including installation of a new culvert pipe, members of the Select Board say they are not inclined to support a full, end-to-end, reopening of the street.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — Town and school employees are being advised not to provide assistance toward any Immigration and Customs Enforcement actions or offer help to any other federal official who might come to Leverett tasked with removing undocumented immigrants.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Despite a concern from the teachers union’s executive board that school staff are continuing to be hired and retained without state licenses, Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman is confirming a commitment to being in compliance with state law and Department of Elementary and Secondary Education regulations when making appointments.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A hotel that has been a fixture of Route 9 for almost 60 years is being converted into extended-stay lodging under new ownership.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst is another step closer to ensuring that those residents whose ancestors were enslaved in the United States and who continue to be impacted by the harms caused by slavery and post-reconstruction discrimination will benefit from a stabilization fund for reparations.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A memorial concert at Wildwood Cemetery recently recognized what would have been the 95th birthday of Fred Tillis, a composer, poet and educator who led the Fine Arts Center at the University of Massachusetts for almost 20 years.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Boaters on the Connecticut River between the Coolidge Bridge and the Holyoke Dam have for decades depended on channel markers and buoys as navigational aids while traveling along the waterway, protecting them from dangers, like rocks lurking below the surface, as well as alerting them to no-wake areas where they must move at slower speeds.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HATFIELD — Bringing more than 28 years of experience in public works, including nine years in leadership positions, Marlo Warner II of Greenfield is being tabbed as Hatfield’s next Department of Public Works director.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — With some members of the Town Council suggesting the need for younger voices who are more supportive of housing development initiatives that can encourage families to come to town, two residents who moved to Amherst with their own families in the past year will be joining the Planning Board.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A revised leadership structure for the Amherst-Pelham school district, known as an executive director model, is being put in place this week as part of an effort to streamline the central office administration.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A federal investment of close to $4 million, to support a ground source heat pump at the town’s new elementary school under construction on South East Street, could be at risk from the Republican reconciliation bill being considered by Congress.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A push by the state Legislature to reduce single-use plastics across the state, cutting down on the use of straws, carryout bags and utensils and at the same time increasing recycling and composting, is winning support from fifth graders at Fort River School.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A youth empowerment initiative for Amherst students attending the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, in which they will also learn entrepreneurial skills, will take place for two weeks in July.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A May 2 vote by trustees for the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School to add two new members is being temporarily nullified by the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A proposed demolition of a two-story commercial building in downtown Amherst, to allow for development of a new mixed-use project, will be considered by the Historical Commission on Monday.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Concerns over possible cuts in federal financial support to the University of Massachusetts, and tax legislation being considered by Congress, is leading campus officials to call for various belt-tightening measures, including spending reductions of 3% and 5% in all academic and administrative departments.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A timeline is being proposed so that all families with elementary-age students will know by the end of 2025 which school their children will be attending the following fall.