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By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An enhanced Strong Street crosswalk to make it safer to get to and from Wildwood Cemetery, Station Road improvements aimed at bettering connections to the Norwottuck Rail Trail and enhancing the use of a community garden at Butternut Farm are among more than $200,000 in resident requests coming before the Joint Capital Planning Committee.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A new Department of Public Works headquarters, featuring 23,000 square feet of office space and bays to store, service and wash vehicles, could be constructed for around $21.6 million.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Her class in Amherst College’s Science Center over, first-year student Zalia Salley pulled up a chair at a table set up near the building’s cafe, took some of the available blue, purple, violet and white yarn, and began crocheting.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Although only half the amount originally sought by the town manager, the Town Council is providing an extra $500,000 from free cash for resurfacing roads and doing sidewalk repairs this spring, summer and fall.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A Greenfield resident hired by the town to compile minutes for meetings, including Town Council sessions, is contending that Amherst officials are violating the state’s Open Meeting Law by not posting minutes in a timely manner.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

PELHAM — A preliminary report showing how the 12 of the communities in the Quabbin Reservoir watershed might be able to get potable water from the resource falls short of a comprehensive study being sought by legislators representing the Quabbin region.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SOUTH HADLEY — Families at the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts Charter School are raising concerns to state officials after an educator, removed from a classroom for six weeks following allegations of sexual misconduct, was reinstated in December when a school investigation determined there was no wrongdoing.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — More money to get the long-awaited renovation of the steeple at the First Congregational Church on Middle Street underway, and a financial match to ensure new doors can be installed at all 40 apartments at Golden Court, top $400,700 in requests for funding from the town’s Community Preservation Act account.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Before local and school celebrities took time out of their day to read stories to classes at Wildwood School this week, two sixth graders reflected on the power of dreaming and the importance of self expression.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Members of the Amherst Pelham Education Association remain divided over whether to offer support to Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman in the face of an ongoing investigation, led by the Regional and Union 26 school committees, into accusations of mismanagement and abusive behavior in the central office.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A fabric, yarn and craft supply store that has been part of the Hampshire Mall since the Route 9 shopping center opened in 1978 is likely to close as part of a corporate restructuring.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A consignment store to serve college campuses, offering inexpensive clothes and low-priced household items, was an idea hatched by students in a University of Massachusetts classroom.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Construction on a new track and field at Amherst Regional High School, at a cost of $4.11 million, should begin in late June.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — WinterFest Amherst, being called eight days of frosty fun, is beginning with cold-weather games and activities at Mill River Recreation Area and the Mill District in North Amherst on Saturday afternoon.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — New sprinkler and fire alarm systems, upgraded heating, ventilation and air conditioning, and accessibility enhancements are among $2.8 million in improvements planned for the Bangs Community Center — upgrades that fall short of addressing calls from members of the Council on Aging and senior residents to improve Senior Center facilities and immediately provide more space for activities.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Over the course of two hours Monday at the State House in Boston, legislators sitting on the Special Commission on Combating Antisemitism presented numerous pro-Palestinian exhibits — resources that educators might use in their classroom — drawn from a members-only section of the Massachusetts Teachers Association website.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Families of students at Amherst Regional Middle School are being notified about an antisemitic incident that occurred Monday when a student gave a Nazi salute during class — the latest in a series of incidents that have occurred at area schools in recent years.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Unless state aid increases, other sources of funding are found or member towns can contribute more, a fiscal year 2026 budget that eliminates around 17 positions may be the best-case scenario for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, according to information presented at a “Four Towns Meeting” Saturday.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A significant majority of elementary school teachers, paraprofessionals and clerical staff are disavowing a recent statement, released by the executive board for the Amherst-Pelham Education Association, offering support to Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman in the face of allegations made by 12 administrators whose identities have not been made public.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Approvals from the Select Board and School Committee to use a portion of land along Route 9 next to Hopkins Academy could set the stage for the construction of up to four outdoor pickleball courts and a full-size basketball court.