Patrick lights up Yankee Candle with speech on jobs

SOUTH DEERFIELD - The campaign trail ran through the Scenter of the Universe on Friday, with Gov. Deval Patrick shaking hands with Yankee Candle shoppers, watching candles being made and fielding questions from about 200 candlemakers on topics from casinos to containing health-care costs.

Amherst board urges 'no' vote on Question 2

AMHERST - Officials are urging residents to vote against a Nov. 2 ballot initiative that, if passed, would eliminate the state's law promoting construction of affordable housing.

The Select Board Monday voted unanimously to encourage voters to preserve the system under which so-called 40B comprehensive permits are issued.

Amherst vote tally delayed by 'hand ballots,' other issues

AMHERST - More than four hours after polls closed in Amherst, unofficial results from Tuesday's election were reported by the town clerk's office.

Chewing over the presidential election

NORTHAMPTON - Even after the people had spoken, there was still a lot to talk about. The election was on everybody's lips Wednesday at the Miss Florence Diner, where brunch and lunch crowds digested the voting results along with their lasagna, chicken parmesan and scallops.
--See all of GazetteNET's election coverage at the Election 2008 page

U.S. goes the Valley's way on progressive politics

How many times have you heard it said that Northampton residents, with their progressive politics and reputation for tolerance, live in a bubble?

I've lost count, and people frequently offer similar sentiments about the entire Pioneer Valley. You know the caricature: the Birkenstocks, the granola, the left-wing politics.

Local voters back non-binding measures on health, greenhouse gases

Voters in the region overwhelming supported two nonbinding referenda Tuesday which back universal health care and control greenhouse gases.

Valley experts consider win, road ahead

On Tuesday, America made history with the election of its next president, Barack Obama. In this space today, GazetteNET features nine short essays solicited from area academics. They were asked to share thoughts on Obama's historic run to the White House. Professors wrote about rejoicing at Obama's selection, how he was able to achieve the highest position in the U.S., the historic significance of his presidency and what challenges lie ahead.

UMass's Bair on Treasury list as Obama fills jobs

WASHINGTON - An Amherst woman who has been working in the thick of the financial crisis is on a short list to become President-elect Barack Obama's new Treasury secretary, according to several news sources, including NBC News and CNN.

Post-election vigil calls for unity in U.S.

AMHERST - About 25 people gathered at First Congregational Church Wednesday to pray for Americans to put aside the differences that arose during the presidential campaign.

UMass students of slavery assess Tuesday victory

AMHERST - Election night celebrations went to 3 a.m. Wednesday for Barack Obama enthusiast Henry J. Allen Jr. And when he woke up later that morning, the Amherst man and University of Massachusetts graduate student went out and bought seven newspapers to read up on the nation's reaction.

Voters save income tax, decriminalize marijuana

Massachusetts is keeping the state income tax, softening penalties for marijuana possession and ending dog racing.

In addition to choosing Barack Obama for president and deciding a variety of state races, Bay State voters weighed in on three binding ballot questions Tuesday.

Hayden tops field for Amherst Select Board

AMHERST - Former Planning Board Chairman Aaron Hayden easily outdistanced three challengers to claim a seat on the Amherst Select Board at Tuesday's town elections.

Euphoria grips local supporters

"Historic," "euphoric," "momentous" were some of the words people in the Pioneer Valley used to describe an Election Day that turned out to be one for the ages.

Clapp Library expansion passes first step in Belchertown

BELCHERTOWN - Voters passed a Proposition 2½ debt exclusion ballot to expand and renovate the Clapp Memorial Library by a wide margin Tuesday.

The vote was 4,445 in favor and 2,953 against to raise taxes about $95 a year for the average household to pay the town's estimated $5 million share of the $10.6 million project.

Hayden takes easy path to Amherst Select Board with win over three challengers; CPA measure fails

AMHERST - Former Planning Board Chairman Aaron Hayden easily outdistanced three challengers to claim a seat on the Select Board at Tuesday's town elections.

Amherst elects Hayden, rejects CPA hike

AMHERST - Former Planning Board Chairman Aaron Hayden easily outdistanced three challengers to claim a seat on the Select Board at Tuesday's town elections.

Confused UMass voters get help from MassPIRG

AMHERST - University of Massachusetts students arrived by the busload all day at the Bangs Community Center in Amherst, which houses Precincts 4, 5 and 10. For many of the students, this was the first year they have voted, among them Eli Nunes, 18, who cast an absentee vote in his hometown of Swampscott last week -- but Nunes was also on the other side of the table Tuesday, helping student voters as a volunteer with MassPIRG.

Evening Update: All day long, they came to cast ballots

NORTHAMPTON - There was no rest for the weary at polling places across Hampshire County on Election Day as a morning rush of voters turned into a lunch rush, which evolved into an after-work surge.

Afternoon Update: Valley voters turn out in droves

In precincts in every corner of Hampshire County Tuesday, voters entered their polling booths - some after waiting in lines before polls even opened - and left smiling broadly, as voters flocked to the polls in record numbers. There was an almost tangible sense of history in the making, even while the outcome of a presidential election in this state was hardly in question.

Valley Morning Update: High hopes, long lines as V-Day arrives

NORTHAMPTON - Today, the early birds had to wait in line. Early voters at the Northampton Senior Center, the new poling place for Wards 3 and 4 this election, had wrapped around the back of the building by the time polls opened this morning. They moved through at a steady clip, though, and the line dissipated before 8 a.m.