Politics

Hatfield re-elects incumbents Marcus Boyle, Stanley Pitchko

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

HATFIELD — Some 598 voters turned out Tuesday, re-electing both incumbents in the races for the Select Board and Board of Assessors. Christopher G. Smith had challenged incumbent Marcus J. Boyle for a seat on the Select Board, but Boyle defeated his opponent 475-103. Smith had also tried to unseat Assessor Stanley Pitchko, but lost that race 427-150. “I thank the town of Hatfield and all of the voters who … 0

Southampton Town Meeting OKs $14.5 million budget but no money for public safety equipment

Tuesday, May 21, 2013

SOUTHAMPTON — Voters at Tuesday’s annual Town Meeting unanimously approved a $14.5 million budget for the fiscal year that starts July 1, but voted to pass over four spending articles because officials said the town could not afford them. The purchases the town did not fund were all requested by public safety departments: $33,000 for a police cruiser, $10,000 for police emergency equipment, … 0

Massachusetts US Senate candidates clash over votes by Congressman Edward Markey, campaign ads

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

BOSTON — In their contest for Massachusetts’ open U.S. Senate seat, Republican Gabriel Gomez and Democrat Edward Markey continued to clash Tuesday over votes Markey cast against two resolutions honoring the victims of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. At the same time, Gomez ramped up his attacks on Markey in a new 30-second ad criticizing what Gomez describes as Markey’s “dirty politics.” In … 0

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Doug Laroche of Hampshire Regional, right, gets tagged out at first by Matt Serra of Monson on a pick from the pitcher Tuesday at Hampshire.
JERREY ROBERTS

Tuesday’s high schools: Hampshire baseball qualifies for postseason

The Laprade's game is kept in a box covered with pictures of their family that ran in the local papers.

Custom trivia game reveals generations of Laprade family lore

Left, Dawud Lubieddin's things are laid out where a bench used to be on Main Street Northampton. Lubieddin talks with Abd Lomax of Northampton.

Fewer Northampton benches in effort to curb loitering

Other Local News

Seventeen candidates submit nomination papers to run for Boston mayor

Wednesday, May 22, 2013

BOSTON — The race to succeed retiring Mayor Thomas Menino could feature the largest field of candidates in a generation. Seventeen mayoral hopefuls submitted nomination papers by Tuesday’s 5 p.m. deadline, according to city election officials, who must now certify the signatures. Candidates need the certified signatures of … 0

Myndi Bogdanovich unseats Beverly Phaneuf on Belchertown School Committee

Monday, May 20, 2013

BELCHERTOWN — Belchertown welcomes newcomer Myndi Bogdanovich to the School Committee this year in an election marked by low voter turnout. Bogdanovich unseated incumbent Beverly Phaneuf with 344 votes to Phaneuf’s 121. The third candidate, Thomas Soja, received 30 votes. Phaneuf had been a member of the school … 0

Goshen Town Meeting approves $2.4 million budget

Monday, May 20, 2013

GOSHEN — Fifty-nine of 742 registered voters turned out for Monday’s annual Town Meeting, passing a fiscal 2014 budget of $2,423,530, which includes $630,888 for the Chesterfield-Goshen School District, $399,350 for the Hampshire Regional School District and $229,294 for Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School. Much of the … 0

Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., left, campaigns with Massachusetts Republican candidate for U.S. Senate Gabriel Gomez, second from left, at the Boston Police VFW Post in Boston, Monday, May 20, 2013. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)

Massachusetts US Senate candidates spar over homeland security

Monday, May 20, 2013

BOSTON — The candidates running in the special U.S. Senate election in Massachusetts traded barbs Monday over homeland security in an exchange that pointed to an increasingly sharp tone between the two. Republican Gabriel Gomez said it was … 0

Cardinal Sean O’Malley skips Boston College commencement to protest honor for Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny

Monday, May 20, 2013

BOSTON — Cardinal Sean O’Malley skipped Boston College’s commencement Monday to protest its decision to honor Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny, who backs legislation to permit abortion, and O’Malley’s views were echoed outside the ceremony by a few dozen anti-abortion activists. The protesters gathered at an entrance to … 0

In this photo taken Tuesday, May 14, 2013, Medical marijuana prescriptions vials are filled at the Venice Beach Care Center medical marijuana dispensary in Venice, Calif. Los Angeles politicians have tried and failed for so long to regulate medical marijuana that it was only a matter of time before voters got a chance to control shops that have proliferated. Complicating matters, there are three measures on Tuesday's ballot that would allow sick people to get the drug, but either limit the number of shops, raise taxes or do both. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Voters to determine fate of LA’s numerous pot shops

Sunday, May 19, 2013

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles politicians have struggled for more than five years to regulate medical marijuana, trying to balance the needs of the sick against neighborhood concerns that pot shops attract crime. Voters will head to the … 0

Massachusetts US Senate candidates spar over gun-control ad

Friday, May 17, 2013

BOSTON — Republican U.S. Senate nominee Gabriel Gomez defended his stance on gun control Friday and lashed out at Democratic nominee and veteran Congressman Edward Markey for alluding to the Connecticut school massacre in a TV campaign ad that criticized Gomez on the gun issue. The Markey ad … 0

Outside groups pour money into US Senate race between Democrat Edward Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez

Thursday, May 16, 2013

BOSTON (AP) — Outside groups are beginning to pour money into the U.S. Senate battle pitting Democrat Edward Markey and Republican Gabriel Gomez. The Service Employees International Union’s political action committee has reported spending more than $340,000 on voter canvassing efforts designed to encourage Markey supporters to get … 0

Republican US Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez pays 2005 fee

Thursday, May 16, 2013

QUINCY (AP) — Republican U.S. Senate candidate Gabriel Gomez says he has paid an appraiser a $1,000 fee for an appraisal on his Cohasset home eight years ago, while saying he doesn’t remember the bill. Gomez said Thursday he paid the fee after The Boston Globe reported that … 0

University of Massachusetts Amherst Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy

GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Amherst, UMass to share $60,000 cost of development study

Friday, May 17, 2013

AMHERST — A new study is expected to provide a long-term view for shaping development of the town and University of Massachusetts and creating a better and more vibrant host community. UMass Chancellor Kumble Subbaswamy came before Town … 0

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Politics

Hatfield re-elects incumbents Marcus Boyle, Stanley Pitchko

Fewer Northampton benches in effort to curb loitering

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Tuesday’s high schools: Hampshire baseball qualifies for postseason

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Editorial: Healing the IRS

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Custom trivia game reveals generations of Laprade family lore

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11th annual Sojourner Truth event Sunday in Florence