News

Amherst Regional School Committee proposes new budget that lowers assessments for towns

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Amherst Regional School Committee agreed on Wednesday to a new budget proposal for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools next year that is nearly $500,000 less than a spending plan approved in March. The new budget means smaller 6%...

Is Steam Mill Road in Deerfield a public way? Land Court to decide as trial begins

By CHRIS LARABEE

GREENFIELD — The long-running saga of seeking to determine the status of Steam Mill Road in Deerfield has reached the courtroom, as the 2021 lawsuit began its bench trial at the Franklin County Justice Center on Wednesday, with opening statements and...

Around Amherst: Town cleanup day being organized for Saturday

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A townwide cleanup day, organized by Amherst’s community participation officers and University of Massachusetts work study students, is taking place Saturday.Rain or shine, volunteers will fan out in town to remove trash and debris beginning...

Photos: Roofing Rigger

A Look Back, April 26

50 Years Ago ■A lecture and question period on Transcendental Meditation (TM) will be presented Tuesday night at Northampton High School by the Students International Meditation Society to acquaint the community with TM and discuss the possibility of...

Police report details grisly crime scene in Greenfield

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

SUNDERLAND — Police located a cabin in the woods around Clark Mountain Road Thursday afternoon believed to belong to Taaniel Herberger-Brown, the suspect accused of murdering a man at 92 Chapman St. and storing his body in a plastic barrel for an...

Haydenville residents resist Greenway trail plan, float alternative design

By JAMES PENTLAND

WILLIAMSBURG — With decision time nearing on the first section of the long-planned Mill River Greenway that will one day create a trail connection from Northampton to Williamsburg, a dispute over the project’s design through Haydenville’s residential...

Super defers Amherst middle school principal pick to successor; one finalist says decision is retaliation for lawsuit

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Interim Superintendent Douglas Slaughter has opted against hiring a permanent middle school principal despite a search that yielded three finalists, a decision one of those finalists says is retaliation against her because she recently filed...

Supreme Court seems skeptical of Trump’s claim of absolute immunity but decision's timing is unclear

By MARK SHERMAN

WASHINGTON — The Supreme Court on Thursday appeared likely to reject former President Donald Trump’s claim of absolute immunity from prosecution over election interference, but it seemed possible Trump could still benefit from a lengthy trial delay,...

Hatfield eyes reserves to cover unexpected spike in payments to Smith Vocational

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HATFIELD — Town officials are recommending the use of free cash to cover a significant and unanticipated increase associated with the cost of tuition and transportation for Hatfield students attending Smith Vocational and Agricultural School in...

Ashfield considers seeking ‘Climate Leader’ designation

By DOMENIC POLI

ASHFIELD — The town is seeking a “Climate Leader” designation from the state that would help it reduce emissions by increasing its use of equipment run on electricity rather than those requiring fossil fuels, and maximizing the efficiency of...

Photos: Remembering the Armenian genocide

Building conversion, battery storage bylaws up for vote at Sunderland Town Meeting

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — Bylaw proposals concerning battery storage facilities and converting existing buildings into multi-family dwellings will come before voters at Friday night’s annual Town Meeting.Residents will decide on the 18-article warrant at...

Area briefs: Bonifaz to speak at Law Day events; Easthampton Film Festival preps for third year; Granby Candidates Night

Law Day events to focus on ‘preserving democracy’NORTHAMPTON — The public is invited to 2024 Law Day at the Hampshire and Franklin county courthouses next week, with public presentations on the topic of “preserving democracy.” Constitutional law...

More arrested in pro-Palestinian campus protests ahead of college graduation ceremonies

By JIM VERTUNO, ACACIA CORONADO and NICK PERRY

AUSTIN, Texas — With graduations looming, student protesters doubled down early Thursday on their discontent of the Israel-Hamas war on campuses across the country, with multiple arrests made at campuses in Massachusetts and California as universities...

Amherst regional superintendent candidate stresses collaboration, experience

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Experience in teaching, administration and establishing collaborative relationships, coupled with a professional background in sales before becoming an educator, are qualities Joanne Menard says she would bring to the Amherst, Pelham, and...

A Look Back, April 25

50 Years Ago ■For Paul Walker, executive director of the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, yesterday was a “memorable day.” Walker traveled to Washington, D.C., to present plaques to Congressman Silvio O. Conte, expressing appreciation to three...

Locking up carbon for good: Easthampton inventor’s CO2 removal system turns biomass into biochar

By JAMES PENTLAND

HOLYOKE — Like many people, Michael Garjian believes global warming is a pressing issue of our times.Unlike most, he’s putting his ideas for reducing carbon dioxide in the atmosphere into practice — and at the same time bidding for a share of the $100...

William Strickland, a longtime civil rights activist, scholar and friend of Malcolm X, has died

By MICHAEL CASEY

BOSTON — William Strickland, a longtime civil rights activist and supporter of the Black Power movement who worked with Malcolm X and other prominent leaders in the 1960s, has died. He was 87.Strickland, whose death April 10 was confirmed by a...