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By SCOTT MERZBACH

SOUTHAMPTON — The cause of a brush fire that consumed more than 12 acres in Southampton on Easter Sunday has been ruled accidental, said Fire Chief John C. Workman.Investigators pinpointed an old railroad bed as the origin of the fire, which burned...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A South East Street farm that borders the Norwottuck Rail Trail and the Lawrence Swamp Conservation Area is being permanently conserved as agricultural land.The 63-acre Foxcroft Farm, at 908 South East St., was recently placed into the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A blaze that damaged the porch of a multi-family home in the town’s Cushman neighborhood early Saturday morning remains under investigation, said officials with the Amherst Fire Department.Firefighters responded to the 99 Bridge St. building...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — With various appointments by President Donald Trump still not made and continued reversals and flip flops in the administration’s objectives, a sense of chaos and drama exists in the nation’s capital that Massachusetts congressmen...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Preparing to row the equivalent of a marathon or more every day for 50 straight days, Jim Brassord will soon embark on solo journey, along much of the eastern seaboard, that will test the limits of his endurance.But it’s a 1,400-mile quest that the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Customers of a community supported agriculture farm share program have enjoyed the fruits of Simple Gifts Farm owner Jeremy Barker-Plotkin’s labor for more than a decade. Soon even more people will have the opportunity.Barker-Plotkin, who...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — With terms such as “grotesque,” “bizarre” and “folly” being used, the concept of a 60-member town council, a compromise proposal between those who want to preserve Town Meeting and those seeking a shift to a mayor-council form of government,...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Six teenagers are being summoned to court for being minors in possession of alcohol after officers from Amherst and the University of Massachusetts police departments monitored a gathering in North Amherst Tuesday afternoon.With...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The last vacant parcel on University Drive could become a mixed-use development, but such a project may depend on whether town officials can grant a new entry point to the site.Amherst developer Barry Roberts is considering a construction...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A popular gathering spot in North Amherst for off-campus parties again attracted some 1,500 college-age revelers Saturday afternoon, even though a 7-foot-tall fence installed on the property last month is designed to limit access for...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A town council that would be the largest in Massachusetts is being proposed by the Charter Commission as part of sweeping changes for Amherst municipal government that would also see a mayor and chief administrative officer replace Town...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

PELHAM — As other cities and towns across the state push to become official sanctuaries, Pelham could be the first town to support making all of Massachusetts a safe and welcoming place for all immigrants. When Town Meeting convenes May 6, voters will...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Back from the supermarket with four bags of groceries, Joyce Silverstone was confronted by a pond in the middle of her street, and a dilemma: should she drive through the deep water to get home, or would it be wise to park the vehicle on...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — As one of the youngest state legislators in the history of Massachusetts, Solomon Goldstein-Rose, 23, is happy to share his interest in politics with both his constituents and those who aren’t yet old enough to vote. Hoping to inspire high...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

President William McKinley's visit to Northampton, South Hadley and Holyoke in 1899 came with great fanfare: parades, public gatherings and accolades at the commencement ceremonies at Smith and Mount Holyoke colleges.Nearly 118 years after the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Highlighting their concerns about how the selections President-elect Donald Trump is making for his Cabinet could accelerate climate change and environmental degradation, about 100 protesters lined the Coolidge Bridge Monday...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

As the new state representative for the 3rd Hampshire District, Solomon Goldstein-Rose plans to make himself available to residents in Amherst, Pelham and Precinct 1 in Granby on a regular basis.Goldstein-Rose, who dropped by the Bangs Community...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A proposal to expand and renovate the Jones Library will be submitted to the Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners in less than three weeks, even as issues with preliminary plans continue to be addressed.But Austin Sarat, president of...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Amherst Democratic Sen. Stanley C. Rosenberg is pledging that the state Legislature will continue to make positive changes for residents of Massachusetts, addressing education funding, income inequality, energy needs and climate change, as well as the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The union representing Amherst firefighters is using social media to raise concerns that the Amherst Fire Department is already overwhelmed by emergency calls three days into 2017. On New Year’s Day, Amherst Firefighters Local 1764 wrote on...