Failed agency's board in limbo

NORTHAMPTON - More than three years after its financial collapse, Hampshire Community Action Commission's board of directors still can't dissolve the defunct anti-poverty agency because it owes creditors more than half a million dollars.

Members of the volunteer board called upon in 2005 to save the agency are growing weary of their assignment to wind down the nonprofit's affairs.

ARHS grad is freed after Syrian arrest

A 1999 Amherst Regional High School graduate was one of two American journalists found safe in Damascus, Syria, after they reportedly entered the country with the help of a smuggler.

Disney publications chief moves to Carle museum

NORTHAMPTON - A veteran of two Disney magazines headquartered here will soon take the helm at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in Amherst.

Alix Kennedy will begin in the museum's new executive director role Oct. 27, taking over administrative duties while founding director Nick Clark becomes a full-time chief curator.

Foundation hails Amherst artist's microscopic world

AMHERST - Colleen Champ's award-winning digital image depicts the familiar scene of Lewis Carroll's Mad Hatter enjoying tea with his Wonderland friends.

Upon closer inspection, you might notice that Champ didn't use paint.

The trees are common bread mold and the grass blades are images of crystallized vitamin C.

Amherst officials rethink parking plan

AMHERST - A proposal to abolish downtown parking meters and make up the revenue by issuing tickets for exceeding a two-hour limit would not be economically feasible, town officials have concluded.

New St. John's minister feels at home already

NORTHAMPTON - After globetrotting to Israel and Great Britain, Northampton should seem pretty dull. Not so for the new rector at St. John's Episcopal Church, the Rev. Catherine "Cat" Munz.

"I have such a heart for this community," Munz said in a recent telephone interview. "I was very warmly welcomed." She said she already feels at home.

After accident, UMass reviewing safety on Massachusetts Avenue

AMHERST - University of Massachusetts officials are studying safety improvements to Massachusetts Avenue a week after a graduate student was struck by a vehicle and critically injured while crossing the street.

Amherst board discusses town manager evaluation

AMHERST - While the Select Board seeks to complete the annual evaluation for the town manager in an open and fair manner, it is trying to solicit feedback from town employees, department heads and residents to better shape this review.

Music Center offers ‘musical feast'

SUNDERLAND - The Northampton Community Music Center will host "Autumn in New England: A Musical Feast," Oct. 26 at 5 p.m. at the Blue Heron Restaurant in Sunderland.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the music center's programs and services.

Around Belchertown: New and improved ambulance ready to hit the streets

A new ambulance will take to the streets this week.

The new vehicle, said Craig Bodamer, director of the Emergency Medical Services Department, will have a few more modern features such as LED lighting and a camera for the driver when backing up, but is essentially replacing a worn-out ambulance.

Around Granby: Public safety project could get under way soon

Officials are hoping work on the site and foundation for the new combined police and fire station could still begin before the snow flies.

"It's moving along at a snail's pace," said James Trompke, chairman of the Public Safety Building Committee. The committee, however, is pushing for a faster pace.

NRC faults Vermont Yankee plant for repair to cooling tower

MONTPELIER, Vt. - The federal Nuclear Regulatory Commission is scolding the Vermont Yankee nuclear plant for an inadequate fix after the partial collapse of one of its cooling towers.

And it said Friday it had found a new problem during inspections of sagging in the cooling towers that came nearly a year after the partial collapse of one of them.