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By MICKEY RATHBUN

The word “herbarium” sounds a bit quaint, even antiquated. We may think of Emily Dickinson’s herbarium, which she created during her year at Mount Holyoke in 1847-48. Although she had begun studying plants at age 9 and was helping her mother in the...

By GARY MICHAEL TARTAKOV

 I have been a Jew for 83 years. Though I’ve only known it for around 78. My parents explained it to me at Christmas in 1945, as the reason that I was not going to get a Christmas tree, like my playmates, in Los Angeles. It was at the end of the...

By STEVE PFARRER

April is shaping up to be a busy month for the University of Massachusetts Theater Department, beginning with a symposium that honors Latinx theater and closing with a fresh interpretation of a classic Shakespeare comedy.On April 8-9, theater...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A municipal resettlement commission that would help to find housing for up to 90 individuals who are seeking asylum in the United States is being proposed by an Amherst resident.For the first time in writing, after pitching a similar concept...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Both Chelmsford Police Lt. Todd Ahern and Amherst interim Police Chief Gabriel Ting are citing their lived experiences, as well as their significant service to public safety, as reasons they should become the next police chief of the Amherst...

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — When customers walk into the Hope and Feathers framing shop, owner Michelle Raboin knows that there’s a story behind each request for one of the shop’s custom-built frames.“It could be framing something that they hate, but their...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Construction of a new trail system on portions of the former Hickory Ridge Golf Course, including a loop trail for recreation and a north-south trail that will provide a more direct connection for East Hadley Road residents to Pomeroy...

By JOHN VARNER

Freedom without responsibility is anarchy. Sadly, Amherst has been getting repeated lessons that illustrate this maxim. The most recent incident: The Town Council’s attempt to get involved in global politics by passing a resolution on the horrendous...

Farmers’ Markets in Holyoke to give info on HIP programHOLYOKE — Residents can learn more about the state’s Healthy Incentives Program (HIP) at several upcoming Pop-Up Holyoke Farmers’ Markets this spring.HIP offers additional monetary incentives for...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Parents, educators and members of the Regional School Committee are making direct appeals to the Amherst Town Council to support a $35.75 million fiscal year 2025 budget that is nearly $1 million above the financial guidance provided by...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A University Drive office building will be the temporary location for the Jones Library during the renovation and expansion of the library’s home at 43 Amity St. over the next year and a half.Trustees for the Jones Library and town officials...

AMHERST — Ceramics students in an art class at Amherst Regional High School are among the professional and amateur artists whose bowls will be available for the Amherst Survival Center’s largest annual fundraiser, the Empty Bowls event, taking place...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A Belchertown resident with experience in promoting economic development, leading community events and building coalitions begins his tenure as executive director of the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce this month.Jacob Robinson, most...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Featuring a horn extending from its violet-colored head and a lower body resembling that of a lobster, with elements of a dolphin and turtle thrown in for good measure, the creature is quite a sight in its doll-like form.“It flies. It has...

By MARIETTA PRITCHARD

Recently I decided I would face up to cleaning up my recipe collection. You know, those clippings and notes that most cooks accumulate over the years. My mother had a neat wooden box with handwritten notes on file cards. She would often include the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An Amherst councilor may seek to place some restrictions on how public comments are made at Town Council meetings, such as requiring advance sign-up for those participating remotely, as a way of combating potential hate speech.At a Town...

Staff Report

HADLEY — At least three churches in Hadley and Amherst will be lighting luminaries to brighten the exterior of their buildings and remind passers-by of this weekend’s Easter services, while also collecting canned food for local food pantries.An...

AMHERST — Popularity of recent tours giving the public peeks into all areas of the Jones Library, including some places set aside only for staff, is prompting the Jones Library Capital Campaign to continue the initiative through mid-April.More than 50...

We were excited to read the March 22 Gazette article “Libraries turning the page: They’re still in the business of books, but embracing new role as community ‘third space,’” because reporter Maddie Fabian eloquently described what we have anecdotally...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Skepticism and uncertainty from officials in Pelham, Leverett and Shutesbury over Amherst Regional School Committee’s appeal for nearly $1 million more from the four member towns is prompting the convening of a four-town meeting next month...