
Close call: Belchertown override vote passes by 21 votes
BELCHERTOWN — In counting that came down to the wire, voters at town election on Monday approved a $2.9 million Proposition 2½ override by a mere 21 votes, according to unofficial results compiled Tuesday morning.

Search underway in Connecticut River for kayaker whose boat capsized near bridge connecting Holyoke, South Hadley
HOLYOKE — Teams of emergency personnel were scouring the Connecticut River Tuesday in search of 27-year-old Niklas Delisle, who was carried away by the current Monday night after his kayak capsized.
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Sports

HS Roundup: Raine Wonsey strikes out 18, hits home run in Frontier softball’s 4-2 win over South Hadley (PHOTOS)
SOUTH DEERFIELD — The current No. 2 and No. 3 ranked softball teams in the Western Mass. Class B tournament met at Zabek Field on Monday to close out the regular season.
Opinion

Alex Kent: A call for leadership
I have sent the following message to Congressman Jim McGovern and Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, and I would like to share it here: I am honored to have you as my representative in Congress, but I must ask you now to step outside of your comfort zone as a representative and a lawmaker. I am asking you to become a leader. Our country is now under the control of a man of the lowest, most dangerous character. In the Trump regime, as they say in Russian, “Dna ne sushchestvuet,” which means “there is no bottom.” I am asking you, imploring you, to join with other Democratic leaders in the House and Senate to call a general strike. It is time to shut the country down, even at risk that MAGA cult members will bring out their guns and shoot people in the streets, even at risk that the regime will declare martial law and order American troops to use violence to suppress protest by the American people. It is time for millions and millions of Americans to take to the streets and take down this vile and intolerably corrupt regime. At a recent town hall meeting in Northampton, a member of the audience shouted out a question to Jim McGovern: “How will you lead us?” Perhaps as your constituents, it is incumbent on all of us to rise up in massive protest. But the fact remains that we need we need leadership to make these protests happen. Without action now, our democracy will be permanently destroyed and the entire world put in jeopardy. Please lead us!





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

Chipotle opens on King Street in Northampton
NORTHAMPTON — Chipotle Mexican Grill opened its first location in Northampton on Wednesday.




Arts & Life

Speaking of Nature: Celebrating 28 years of Speaking of Nature: A new resolution for the future of my bird-watching
Last Saturday was a bit of a milestone for me. It might easily have come and gone without me realizing it, but thanks to my obsessive record keeping I happened to see a notation in the pages of my 2025 field diary and avoided an embarrassing oversight. Last Saturday marked the 28th anniversary of Speaking of Nature, an event that I don’t think I could have ever imagined back in 1997 when I sent in my first column.
Obituaries

North Hatfield, MA - Gerald Alvin Sweet passed away peacefully at home with his daughters by his side after a courageous fight with pancreatic cancer. Gerry was born on January 14, 1956 in Buckland, MA to the late Gordon and Goldie ... remainder of obit for Gerald Sweet

Westhampton, MA - Carolyn Ann Keating, 72, a longtime resident of Westhampton, MA died in the early hours of May 13 from complications related to COPD. Known to friends and family as Lyn, she was the third of five children born Marc... remainder of obit for Carolyn Ann Keating

West Hatfield, MA - William Thomas "Bill" Bodge, 70, of West Hatfield, MA passed away at Brigham & Women's Hospital in Boston with his brother Greg by his side, after a two-year period of declining health. He handled his recent illnesse... remainder of obit for William Thomas Bodge

Southampton, MA - Susan Gilbert Kozub of Southampton, MA passed away peacefully on May 12, 2025 surrounded by family and friends. Sue was born on April 4, 1941 in Wareham, Massachusetts to Sayward Hall Gilbert and Esther Henshaw Gilbert... remainder of obit for Susan G. Kozub