Latest News
South Hadley man arraigned on cocaine, weapons charges
Arizona man indicted on slew of stalking, threatening charges
‘Every second counts’: Lions Club buys AED machines for Northampton’s public libraries
State Sen. Velis alarmed over pharmacies limiting Narcan access
New campaign to push toward Tilton Library’s $2M goal for expansion project
UMass basketball: La Salle rallies from big deficit, hands Minutewomen 8th straight loss
Meta, TikTok and other social media CEOs testify in heated Senate hearing on child exploitation
State report emphasizes flexibility, tech in education
Families, colleges stalled on financial aid info
‘Worst food anywhere’? Amherst leaders quick to crack back at dining diss
AMHERST — Chicken cordon bleu pizza and slices topped with tortellini are among the food offerings J. Mascis, an Amherst native and founder of the rock band Dinosaur Jr., says he can get when dining in town, likely a reference to what is available at...
PFAS, slew of other agriculture-related bills on the move on Beacon Hill
NORTHAMPTON — Prohibiting PFAS forever chemicals from consumer products sold in Massachusetts remains an objective for Northampton state Sen. Jo Comerford, who sees a recently advanced legislative bill to protect soil and farms from such contamination...
Top Picks
Photos: Lining them up for sugaring season
Area news briefs: UMass Amherst Springfield Center to be named after former trustee; and more
College notebook: Hatfield’s Lynne-Ann Kokoski has Bryant women’s basketball back in the mix during first season as a head coach
Guest columnist Gene Stamell: Is my friend Peter a narcissist?
The Evergreens house is ready for its close-up after preservation work at Emily Dickinson Museum
Arts Briefs: New exhibits and a gallery expansion in Easthampton, a musical cabaret in Amherst, and more
A Look Back: Feb. 1
“Nice call, ref”: Pulling back the curtain in regard to the high school basketball officiating situation in western Massachusetts
Sports
UMass hockey returns to action against Merrimack, Maine this weekend
After a week off to rest and recharge, the UMass hockey team is back on the ice this weekend. It comes with a twist, however.Unlike most weekends in Hockey East where UMass will play a home-and-home series with one opponent, the Minutemen will be...
UMass football: Minutemen announce transfer additions for 2024 season
As the spring 2024 semester officially kicked off at UMass on Thursday, head coach Don Brown and the Minutemen were able to announce the next set of roster additions with 19 transfer student-athletes joining the team. Among the 19 transfers, 12 are on...
High schools: Smith Voc edges Frontier in evenly-contested wrestling match (PHOTOS)
It was an even match between the Smith Vocational and Frontier wrestling teams on Wednesday in Northampton. Of the eight matches that were wrestled, the Vikings won four and the Redhawks took four. With Smith Vocational taking 18 points from forfeits,...
H.S. Basketball Notebook: Which bubble teams are most likely to punch state tournament tickets?
As the calendar flips from January to February, it’s now officially time to say that playoff basketball will be played this month. The race to the postseason is always hottest during the second month of the year, and that’s again the case in 2024 with...
High schools: Hampshire pushes league-leading Athol to the brink in tight loss (PHOTOS)
With the top team in the Hampshire League North in town, the Hampshire Regional boys basketball team had an opportunity to shake things up in the league standings on Tuesday night.Visiting Athol did just enough to stay atop the HL North however, as...
Opinion
Guest columnist Justin Pelland: Hadley should house people, not junk
In a recent column, “They paved paradise and put up a storage facility,” [Gazette, Jan. 30], Aubrey Menard highlighted what is arguably one of Hadley’s most embarrassing truths: The town has no regard for the intrinsic value of land and the importance...
Peter Lincoln: Teachers, not trophy projects
Instead of spending millions on bike lanes that maybe 1% of the population will use, how about hiring a few more teachers?Peter LincolnFlorence
Jane Myers: Northampton Planning Board’s site plan approval threatens our neighborhood
Many neighboring residents attended and spoke at the Jan. 25 public hearing on the Nu-Way Homes proposal for 14 Garfield St. in Florence. We unanimously opposed this project because its density, appearance, and safety are completely inappropriate for...
Grant Ingle: Caution needed regarding plant-based foods
A recent front-page article, “Spicing up breakfast,” [Gazette, Jan. 23] explained how Smith College Dining Services is attempting to make 50% of breakfast and brunch offerings plant-based. While this effort is to be applauded, there is a downside to...
Paul Garvey: Code of conduct needed for kids sports fans
Gazette sports writer Garrett Cote did a great job relating to a serious problem with kids sports [“Officials face fan criticism,” Gazette, Jan. 25]. I think the schools should consider a “code of conduct” for everyone at school games. A sign near the...
UMass
UMass basketball: Matt Cross leads balanced Minutemen past Saint Louis for first A-10 road wi
Matt Cross led four players in double figures, scoring 19 points to propel the UMass men’s basketball team to an 84-73 Atlantic 10 Conference victory over Saint Louis on Saturday night at Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Mo.The Minutemen won on the road...
UMass basketball: Minutewomen drop 7th game in a row in 63-48 loss at Rhode Island
The UMass women's basketball team fell on the road at Rhode Island on Saturday afternoon in the Ryan Center, 63-48.It was the seventh loss in a row for UMass, which fell to 3-18 overall, 1-8 in the Atlantic 10.Stefanie Kulesza led the Minutewomen in...
UMass basketball: Minutemen look to rebound against Saint Louis; Minutewomen hope to snap skid at URI
After winning two of its first three Atlantic 10 Conference games, the UMass men’s basketball team has now lost three of its last four – including two crushing defeats at the buzzer stemming from an inability to rebound down the stretch.The Minutemen...
Slow start dooms UMass women’s basketball against Davidson
A slow start plagued the UMass women’s basketball team in its 72-42 road loss to Davidson on Wednesday night. The Minutewomen scored just eight points in the first quarter and found themselves down nine at the end of the frame. Although UMass played...
UMass basketball: Minutemen to host La Salle, Minutewomen on the road at Richmond
AMHERST — The effort and no-quit attitude that the UMass men’s basketball team showed against Dayton on Sunday was a promising sign for the Minutemen moving forward.UMass’ 64-60 loss on the road was the closest the Minutemen have come to beating the...
e-Edition
Arts & Life
In time for downbeat: Jazz record designer Jack Frisch hosts new jazz show on Valley Free Radio to ‘get the music out there’
Back in the 1980s, Jack Frisch, then in his early twenties, got bitten pretty hard by the jazz bug, taking the ferry from his home in Staten Island, New York, over to Manhattan with some friends and haunting record shops.His interest had been...
Earth Matters: Queering the outdoors: The Venture Out Project empowers LGBTQIA2S+ people through community and adventure
Affinity spaces for queer people are essential, to share the things we carry. To meet friends, trade craft and clothing, talk about our lives, how to find doctors and well-sewn binders, how to come out, change a tire, ask for a raise, or cook for a...
‘Creole love call’: Gombo launches new music series starting Feb. 2 with jazz reedman Evan Arntzen
When John Piskor opened his Cajun-style restaurant, Gombo Nola Kitchen & Oyster Bar, in Northampton last year, he said he eventually wanted it to turn it into something akin to a New Orleans cafe, where people come out for a drink and live music after...
Earth Matters: Facing the ‘age of humans’: Should a new epoch, the Anthropocene, be initiated to reflect human impact on Earth?
As I concentrated on the computer screen, the news played in the background. A story about the environment got my attention, causing me to sit back and listen more carefully. I played the piece again to be sure I heard it correctly.In summer 2023, the...
Staying in the game: Veteran actors and teachers Raye and Candace Birk are still involved with theater after decades of performance
Looking for some talented older actors who can play a wide range of roles? Who have decades of experience in theater, film and television?Raye Birk and Candace Barrett Birk are at your service.The Florence couple, relatively new transplants to the...
Obituaries
Diana L. Adair
Amherst, MA - Diana L. Adair, 70, passed away January 22, 2024. Born in Northampton, MA on July 26, 1953, she was the daughter of Howard I. Mann Sr. and Marietta Tataro. Diana grew up in Be... remainder of obit for Diana L. Adair
Eugene Sheehan
Hatfield, MA - Eugene (Gene) Michael Sheehan passed away at age 80 on January 23,2024 after fighting a valiant 6-year battle with colon cancer. He leaves behind his wife of 31 years Marcia,... remainder of obit for Eugene Sheehan
Phyllis Forsander
ENFIELD, CT - Phyllis Halket Forsander, 90, of Enfield, CT, passed away peacefully on January 29, 2024. Phyllis was born on January 8, 1934, the daughter of Robert L. and Clara Stocks Halke... remainder of obit for Phyllis Forsander
Gary M. Straw
Deerfield, MA - Gary M. Straw, 56, of Lower Road in Deerfield left this world and the love of his life much to early on Sunday, January 7, 2024. Gary was the devoted life partner of Renee H... remainder of obit for Gary M. Straw
