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By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — A perhaps unexpected byproduct of last week’s culinary training program for middle schoolers came when Chef Nelson Lacey realized how unanimously memorable cleaning the kitchen floor was for campers.“Out of everything we do, they like...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — One famous area of the Mill River once had a rope swing, but now it has something safer: a bench. Washington Avenue residents Marjorie Senechal and Stan Sherer saw the area along Mill River Greenway, whose paths are frequented by walkers...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — Longtime Hampshire County resident Niberd Alzendi Abdalla has been held for deportation for seven weeks, and advocates say he now needs a wheelchair to get around the halls of the facility containing him.Organizers expressed concern for...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — A pool of four mayoral candidates dwindled to two on Monday, as two candidates did not submit the required number of signatures to the city clerk’s office by the deadline.Signatures submitted by incumbent Mayor David Narkewicz and...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — A dispute is unfolding between the city and the founding owner of Harold’s Garage over a drain line that runs under the longtime Pleasant Street business.“They’re doin’ me dirty,” Harold Willard, a 94-year-old crane operating legend,...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — The City Council has elected an interim city clerk to serve the remainder of Wendy Mazza’s term. Mazza retired earlier this month after 45 years in the office.“The institutional knowledge she takes with her will never be replaced,” Pam...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — The city’s Human Rights Commission sees need for a civility pledge in the city, and as of Thursday the City Council agrees.Commissioners told councilors they proposed the measure in light of an increase in denigrating and hateful...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — Ellen McShane said she’s been instructed to pack her fiance’s bag in preparation for what could be his deportation to Iraq later this month.Niberd Alzendi Abdalla, 57, came to the U.S. at 15, and now after over 40 years here, the...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — A city attorney is among the first graduates of a leadership program offered by the Massachusetts Bar Association.Jesse Adams, who served for seven years on the Northampton City Council, stands among the new program’s 21 fellows who...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — From the High-Five Friday controversy to a major structural overhaul at the elementary level, School Committee members praised Superintendent John Provost for his strong leadership in turbulent times during the first phase of his annual...

By AMANDA DRANE

Ah, farts. Can’t live with ’em and can’t live without ’em. When I started this column nearly two years ago, I knew that at some point I would have to broach the issue of passing gas in yoga class. It’s an endless point of fascination for folks who...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — Lisa Evans’ knowledge of medieval history landed the Easthampton woman another win and an additional $28,001 Thursday on the TV game show “Jeopardy!”Though a few bumbles set her back — “sometimes you can get an itchy finger,” she said of...

By AMANDA DRANE

BOSTON — Approving changes that legislators say maintain the spirit of the voter-approved law, the Massachusetts Senate passed a bill Thursday proposing amendments to the state’s recreational marijuana legislation.Much of the pre-vote discussion...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — It was late October 2016, and then FBI Director James Comey had just reopened the investigation into Hillary Clinton’s emails.In a press box at a Donald Trump campaign rally in New Hampshire sat reporters from the New York Times, ABC...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — An event coordinated by  Hampshire HOPE and the Northwestern district attorney’s office aimed to offer just that: hope in the fight against the opioid crisis.And that’s exactly what it did for Deb McNeice, who said she was devastated...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — Artists of many kinds graduating from the Pioneer Valley Performing Arts charter school took a final bow as a student body on Thursday.From violin trios to knockout vocals, the 60 students graduating from the South Hadley high school...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — A lot has changed for Mike O’Brien, Sam Caruso and their friends in the past 10 years, but basketball at Ryan Road isn’t one of them.The group played ball at the school throughout their time at Northampton High School. Then, shortly...

By AMANDA DRANE

GREAT BARRINGTON — The last of 24 pipeline protesters arrested in Sandisfield earlier this month — the majority of whom are from the Pioneer Valley — had their criminal charges reduced to civil infractions Thursday at the Southern Berkshire District...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — The city is well on its way to becoming the first “blue community” in the country. And no, that doesn’t mean residents are down in the dumps.Blue communities are scattered across Canada, and those with the title vow to protect water as a...

By AMANDA DRANE

NORTHAMPTON — Another downtown retail clothing store is going the way of the market: online.Cindy Hackworth, owner of Ci Ci Boutique at 112 Main St., said it no longer makes sense to sell her wares in a permanent brick and mortar space. She’ll close...

By AMANDA DRANE

SANDISFIELD — Climate activists continue to stand their ground against preliminary construction of a pipeline in the Otis State Forest.Police arrested six more over the weekend, including five from the Pioneer Valley. All members of the Sugar Shack...