Latest News

Nearly all of South Hadley High’s student body holds ‘walkout to walk-in’ rally to oppose cuts, call for funding reform
SOUTH HADLEY— Almost the entirety of the 479 members of South Hadley High School student body walked out of the building on Monday afternoon to advocate for changes to the state education funding formula.

MTA president offers ways for legislators to address ‘unprecedented dangers’ to K-12 education in state
AMHERST — Potential layoffs of educators at K-12 schools across the state next fiscal year, which Massachusetts Teachers Association President Max Page said could be catastrophic, is prompting his organization to ask the Legislature to take a three-prong approach to addressing the problem — use Fair Share Amendment surpluses, find ways to increase corporate tax revenues and dip into the state’s reserves.
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Sports

HS Roundup: Kaleb Jorritsma tosses complete-game shutout, Smith Voc baseball beats Gateway 7-0
The visiting Smith Vocational baseball team scored two runs in the first inning, and that was all the Vikings would need as Kaleb Jorritsma threw a gem on the mound. Jorritsma gave up just two hits and struck out 12 in a complete-game shutout, then reached base four times and added two RBIs at the plate to lead Smith Voc to a 7-0 win over Gateway on Monday afternoon.

Opinion

Michael John Kowalchuk: Make Massachusetts a sanctuary state
Many Valley residents assume that Massachusetts is already a sanctuary state that is doing as much as possible to defend immigrants from ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). The truth is that Gov. Maura Healey, the country’s first openly lesbian governor, does not believe that Massachusetts should be a sanctuary state, and that collaboration between ICE will continue under her governorship. Gov. Healey also wants to make it harder to access housing assistance and the state’s shelter system. There is not a shortage of resources; there is a shortage of justice.




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

Hopeful buyers emerge for Magic Wings butterfly conservatory in South Deerfield
SOUTH DEERFIELD — One of the prospective owners of Magic Wings often thinks back to fond memories of celebrating a life milestone at the nearly quarter-century-old butterfly conservatory and gardens on Routes 5 and 10.



Arts & Life

‘His notes will linger forever’: Remembering Young@Heart accordionist and Springfield College professor Chris Haynes
Chris Haynes, longtime accordionist for the Young@Heart Chorus and associate professor emeritus of music at Springfield College, died on Wednesday, March 12.
Obituaries

Nancy (Otte) Anson NORTHAMPTON, MA - Nancy Otte Anson of Northampton, Massachusetts, left the world on Monday, March 24, 2025. She was born March 22, 1955, in Cherokee, Iowa, to Norita (Sholly) and Evan Otte. Nancy and her sister, Susan,... remainder of obit for Nancy Anson

Brewster, MA - Susanne (McPeck) Gavin, also known as "Auntie Sue," to those who knew her, passed away in Hospice care in Brewster, Massachusetts, at the age of 89. A native of Boston, she was born to John and Thelma (Shaw) McPeck. Susan... remainder of obit for Dawn Susanne Gavin

Barbara Anne "Barb" Murnane Leeds, MA - Barbara Anne "Barb" Murnane died peacefully in her sleep at Linda Manor in the early morning hours of March 24, 2025. She was 97. Born on July 25, 1927 in Somerville, MA to John D. and Jessie Polle... remainder of obit for Barbara Anne Murnane

Eugenia W. ("Fi") Herbert South Hadley, MA - EUGENIA W. HERBERT, Historian of Africa and South Asia Eugenia "Fi" Herbert died peacefully on March 10, 2025, surrounded by her family and friends. Fi was 95. Following her graduation from ... remainder of obit for Eugenia W. Herbert