South Hadley's Ella Schaeffer records 1,000th career strikeout in 4-0 win over Pittsfield (PHOTOS)
Easthampton’s $62M budget for fiscal 2026 includes no layoffs, wage reductions
Chicopee man pleads guilty to 2023 crash that killed Belchertown man
Super: Savings from school elementary consolidation may be limited
UMass commencement to bring traffic delays, road closures in Amherst
Korean War vet’s home heads to auction in Hatfield
Cannabis competitor flowering in convenience stores
Amherst’s unarmed police alternative, or CRESS, to get in-depth assessment amid tight budget next year
Amherst officials rethinking how to fix or replace bathhouse at War Memorial Pool
Feds cuts funding for TerraCorps, whose workers help Kestrel, Hilltown land trusts manage conservation property
Mariel Hohmann spent a day late last month welcoming a group of 40 people to a new hiking trail in Goshen where she had spent thousands of hours coordinating volunteer trail construction over the last year and a half.
Northampton school union, city far apart on new three-year contract
NORTHAMPTON — The demand for school district spending in the city could be further compounded if the Northampton Association of School Employees (NASE) union is successful in obtaining additional wage increases its leadership is asking for in a new contract with the city.
Most Read
Fire at downtown Amherst apartment building displaces two dozen residents
‘Devastating’: Cuts to public broadcasting will be felt here
Developer secures approval for 2-building, 11-unit condo complex in downtown Florence
Races continue to shape up for Northampton’s fall election
New homeowners wanted for Holyoke Housing Authority development in South Holyoke
Congestion concerns raised over plans for drive-thru coffee shop at Mountain Farms Mall in Hadley
Editors Picks
A Look Back, May 14
‘Space is the place’: Sun Ra Arkestra plays the Academy of Music, May 18
Arts Briefs: ‘Aladdin’ ballet, choral works by teenagers, and more
‘So much pride when people ask where I’m from’: ‘Hacks’ creator, Lucia Aniello, reflects on western Mass upbringing
Sports
UMass athletics: Men’s swimming and diving team to join Missouri Valley Conference as affiliate member
AMHERST — Every UMass athletics program has finally found a home for next season.
Boys lacrosse: Hoosac Valley holds off Northampton 9-8 in battle of WMass heavyweights
HS Roundup: Easthampton baseball continues late-season success in win over Amhe
Amherst, Northampton players shining for Ultimate Frisbee Association’s Boston Glory
Victory Lap with Jessica Lapachinski: Breaking the silence
Opinion
Joshua Wachtel: Town Meeting — what democracy looks like
As town moderator of Cummington, the following is a statement I read to open annual Town Meeting on May 2: Tonight we convene to maintain and renew a tradition of self-governance practiced for 400 years. But we meet tonight at a time when many are gravely concerned about the future of democracy in America. Many may be inclined to ask, so to be reminded, “What does democracy look like?” “Can you tell me what democracy looks like?” I would like to affirm that tonight, what we convene to do here, this tradition of town meeting — “this is what democracy looks like.” Local participatory democracy. One person, one vote.
Lois Ahrens: The final nail in the coffin of housing economic diversity
Stephen Armstrong: Lies and Trump's fantasies
Jeanne Allen: Call to Conscience
Guest columnist Jonathan Kahane: ‘It’s the acronym stupid’
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
Making News in Business, May 9
BELMONT — Mariellen Morris of Easthampton has been appointed executive director of The LSP Association (LSPA), a nonprofit volunteer-based organization representing licensed site professionals and related practitioners including attorneys, laboratory personnel and contractors, involved with hazardous waste site cleanup in Massachusetts.
Area property deed transfers, May 9
Smithland Pet & Garden Center shutting down all 13 stores, including in Northampton and Hadley
Valley Bounty: Wild Life Flowers building community for people and pollinators
Area property deed transfers, May 2
e-Edition
Arts & Life
Speaking of Nature: Learning bird songs: Ninety percent of bird-finding is done with one’s ears
The great spring migration is in full swing and millions upon millions of birds are flying northward across our entire continent every night. The weather will always play a big role in the exact timing of the movements of the birds, but every morning offers up the opportunity to detect the presence of yet another new arrival. Birds often “surf” on waves of air associated with storms, so the first clear morning after a couple days of rain can be particularly exciting.
Block and roll: Roller Derby, the ‘sport for misfits,’ finds a home in the Valley
Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: A blooming ribbon leads the eye: Landscape architect planted 1,500 daffodils in Amherst’s Orchard Arboretum
‘Here, Now’: Moroccan artist Younes Rahmoun holds first North American exhibition at Smith College Museum of Art
Speaking of Nature: Motivated mother mink
Obituaries
Kenneth Richard Johnson III
Kenneth Richard Johnson, III Amherst, MA - With unbearable sadness we announce the death of Kenneth Richard Johnson III, 70, who left us on Sunday, May 4, 2025. Ken bravely lived with ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) for 3 years. Time... remainder of obit for Kenneth Richard Johnson III
Tommie Joyner Jr.
Amherst, MA - Tommie Joyner Jr, 74, passed away peacefully surrounded by love at home on Monday May 5th, 2025 after a lengthy battle with Pancreatic Cancer. Tommie Joyner was the definition of a Gentle Giant. He was a quiet man with a l... remainder of obit for Tommie Joyner Jr.
Charles S. Talenda
Easthampton, MA - Charles Stanley Talenda age 82, a loving and devoted husband, Father and Grandfather died peacefully with family by his side on Wednesday April 30, 2025. He was a United States Airforce Veteran and a longtime employee ... remainder of obit for Charles S. Talenda
Frank Szawlowski Jr.
Hatfield, MA - Our hearts are heavy as we announce the unexpected passing of Frank Szawlowski, Jr., of Hatfield, on Monday, May 5, 2025. Born on July 2nd,1977, Frank was a true son of Hatfield, a place he called home throughout his life... remainder of obit for Frank Szawlowski Jr.
