Latest News
Comerford: $1.33B Fair Share spending plan for education, transportation to give region boost
Developer secures approval for 2-building, 11-unit condo complex in downtown Florence
Bombyx, others who maintain cultural spaces in region secure significant grants from state
UMass lacrosse: Minutewomen ousted by Princeton in NCAA tourney opener, 19-10
Community Action could see significant service loss under Trump cuts
‘Blessing from heaven’: A day after the election of first pope from US, local Catholics react with joy, tears
‘Devastating’: Cuts to public broadcasting will be felt here
Federal funding cuts announced earlier this month to National Public Radio and The Public Broadcasting Service would have serious implications for public media viewers and listeners in western Massachusetts, experts in the region say.
Mother’s Day extra eventful on the diamond for Hampshire Regional softball super-mom Becky Dubay
WESTHAMPTON — Becky Dubay could never pack lunches for her four daughters without hearing some sort of complaint. Whether it was her oldest daughter, Josie, her twins, Raegan and Ryanne, or her youngest, Kalin, each of them would always let their mom know if something about their lunch wasn’t right before she shipped them off to elementary school.
Most Read
Northampton florist sends message to robbers: ‘Karma is coming’
Rekindling White Rose resistance: Rally draws some 100 to steps of Northampton City Hall
Congestion concerns raised over plans for drive-thru coffee shop at Mountain Farms Mall in Hadley
Judge denies Rintala’s motion to reduce prison sentence
Mother’s Day extra eventful on the diamond for Hampshire Regional softball super-mom Becky Dubay
Northampton school union votes for work-to-rule over stalled contract talks
Editors Picks
Area briefs: Call for artisans to join Haydenville sale; Salsa in the Plaza set for return; 58th Shad Derby May 17-18
‘Space is the place’: Sun Ra Arkestra plays the Academy of Music, May 18
Arts Briefs: ‘Aladdin’ ballet, choral works by teenagers, and more
‘So much pride when people ask where I’m from’: ‘Hacks’ creator, Lucia Aniello, reflects on western Mass upbringing
Sports
MIAA power ranking updates for Hampshire County teams
The MIAA released its most recent power rankings of the 2025 spring season on Friday morning, and several Hampshire County teams are slotted pretty high in their respective sports/divisions. The Hampshire Regional softball team is the lone local squad to earn a No. 1 ranking, as the Raiders check in as the top seed in Division 4 after appearing at No. 2 in the previous edition.
HS Roundup: Josh Misiaszek blasts walk-off, 3-run home run to give Belchertown baseball eighth straight win
HS Notebook: Amherst girls track could have program’s ‘best team ever’
UMass women's lacrosse gears up for Princeton in NCAA Tournament
HS Roundup: Amherst track sweeps rival Northampton (PHOTOS)
Opinion
Columnist Bill Newman: A stroke of good luck
I initially decided to not talk about this except with my family, closest friends and work colleagues who needed to know. But I changed my mind. If hearing about my experience might save someone’s life or future, well, that consideration should far outweigh any potential embarrassment or some random unkind comment. Let’s start at the end.
Rachael Cowan: Medicaid HCBS needs your support
Alanna Hoyer-Leitzel: South Hadley Welcoming Community
Columnist Olin Rose-Bardawil: Conversations about Christianity in time of discord
Guest columnist Rob Okun: The hopeful math for saving democracy
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Business
Making News in Business, May 9
BELMONT — Mariellen Morris of Easthampton has been appointed executive director of The LSP Association (LSPA), a nonprofit volunteer-based organization representing licensed site professionals and related practitioners including attorneys, laboratory personnel and contractors, involved with hazardous waste site cleanup in Massachusetts.
Area property deed transfers, May 9
Smithland Pet & Garden Center shutting down all 13 stores, including in Northampton and Hadley
Valley Bounty: Wild Life Flowers building community for people and pollinators
Area property deed transfers, May 2
e-Edition
Arts & Life
Block and roll: Roller Derby, the ‘sport for misfits,’ finds a home in the Valley
The floor of Interskate 91 South is often filled with young skaters teetering around the track, but the athletes on it now are sure on their skates, focused and ready to battle. Two jammers sit poised, their bodies coiled in anticipation; in front of them, two bunches of blockers gaze at them intently, trying to determine the best strategy for locking them down. For a second, there’s quiet. Then a sharp whistle slices through it and the two skaters explode forward, trying to duck and weave between a mass of bodies to escape the pack and rack up points for their team. Their teammates and fans yell and cheer from the sidelines, their voices echoing around the rink, but skater Lilith of the Valley (government name: Lisa Andras) doesn’t hear any of it.
Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: A blooming ribbon leads the eye: Landscape architect planted 1,500 daffodils in Amherst’s Orchard Arboretum
‘Here, Now’: Moroccan artist Younes Rahmoun holds first North American exhibition at Smith College Museum of Art
Speaking of Nature: Motivated mother mink
Sew cool: Quilting is more than ‘grandma’s little hobby’ at biennial Hands Across the Valley Quilt Guild show, May 3 and 4Obituaries
Priscilla Blier
Amherst, MA - Priscilla Marie (Violette) Blier died peacefully in her sleep on April 6, 2025. She was 95. Born on September 8, 1929, in rural Keegan, Maine, to Severin and Marguerite (Martin) Violette, she was the youngest of nine surv... remainder of obit for Priscilla Blier
James E. Newton
Easthampton, MA - James E. Newton, age 73, died on May 4, 2025 at home surrounded by his family. In December Jim was diagnosed with a rare neurodegenerative disease that had no cure or treatment. His loving family provided him care at h... remainder of obit for James E. Newton
Paul Thomas Hartwell
May 29, 1949 ~ March 9, 2025 Amherst, MA - Paul Thomas Hartwell, of Amherst, Massachusetts, passed away peacefully on March 9, 2025. Born in Methuen, Massachusetts, to Everett Hartwell and Teresa Judge Hartwell, Paul spent most of his ... remainder of obit for Paul Thomas Hartwell
Jean Hartwell Pelkey
Jean Pelkey April 25, 1936 ~ April 10, 2025 Northampton, MA - Jean Hartwell Pelkey passed away peacefully on April 10, 2025, surrounded by her family. Born on April 25, 1936, to Teresa and Everett Hartwell, Jean led a life of kindness, quie... remainder of obit for Jean Hartwell Pelkey
