Celebration March 4 for late environmentalist

AMHERST - A celebration of Alexandra Dawson's life will be held March 4 at 2 p.m. in the Parish Hall of Grace Church, 14 Boltwood Ave. in Amherst.

Dawson, a longtime environmental activist, attorney and Gazette columnist who lived in Hadley, died Dec. 30.

Easthampton eyes four finalists to fill planner post

EASTHAMPTON - Two former employees of Northampton's planning department, a staffer with a regional planning agency and a lecturer for the University of Massachusetts Amherst are the four finalists Mayor Michael Tautznik is considering for the open city planner position.

Longtime Hadley Board of Health member David Farnham will step down

HADLEY - After 26 years of service on town boards - including more than 20 on the Board of Health - David G. Farnham is calling it quits. Farnham, 80, said this week that he will not run in the April 10 town election. He declined to elaborate on his decision to vacate the post he has held since 1989. He said in making the announcement now, he is seeking to give residents interested in his seat ample opportunity to take out nomination papers by Feb. 17, gather signatures and make campaign preparations.

Area police news

11-year-old arrested for alleged assault

NORTHAMPTON - Police arrested an 11-year-old West Farms Road boy Thursday after he allegedly threw a bottle at his mother during an argument.

The boy, whose name was not released because of his age, is to face charged in juvenile court of assault and battery and assault with a dangerous weapon.

Towns use community preservation funds for housing renovations

HADLEY - Even the director of the housing authority had to admit it: Conditions at the Golden Court apartment complex were appalling.

When a maintenance team replaced a sink in one unit, vibrations from the work caused tiles to fall from the wall in the adjacent apartment.

Three students bruised in Hadley school bus incident

HADLEY - Three elementary school students suffered minor injuries following a near accident involving their school bus on Roosevelt Street Monday morning, the district's superintendent said.

Gill man arrested after allegedly taking money from Domino's in Hadley

HADLEY - A Gill man allegedly walked into a Domino's Pizza on Route 9, opened the cash register, stole $135 and fled in his car before being arrested by Granby police a short time later Wednesday.

Joseph Fuller, 29, was charged with breaking and entering into a depository, larceny under $250 and trespassing, according to Hadley police.