South Hadley's Ella Schaeffer records 1,000th career strikeout in 4-0 win over Pittsfield (PHOTOS)
Easthampton’s $62M budget for fiscal 2026 includes no layoffs, wage reductions
Chicopee man pleads guilty to 2023 crash that killed Belchertown man
Super: Savings from school elementary consolidation may be limited
UMass commencement to bring traffic delays, road closures in Amherst
Korean War vet’s home heads to auction in Hatfield
Cannabis competitor flowering in convenience stores
Amherst’s unarmed police alternative, or CRESS, to get in-depth assessment amid tight budget next year
Amherst officials rethinking how to fix or replace bathhouse at War Memorial Pool
Feds cuts funding for TerraCorps, whose workers help Kestrel, Hilltown land trusts manage conservation property
Mariel Hohmann spent a day late last month welcoming a group of 40 people to a new hiking trail in Goshen where she had spent thousands of hours coordinating volunteer trail construction over the last year and a half.
Northampton school union, city far apart on new three-year contract
NORTHAMPTON — The demand for school district spending in the city could be further compounded if the Northampton Association of School Employees (NASE) union is successful in obtaining additional wage increases its leadership is asking for in a new contract with the city.
A Look Back, May 14
‘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 upbringingSports
UMass athletics: Men’s swimming and diving team to join Missouri Valley Conference as affiliate member
AMHERST — Every UMass athletics program has finally found a home for next season.
Boys lacrosse: Hoosac Valley holds off Northampton 9-8 in battle of WMass heavyweights
HS Roundup: Easthampton baseball continues late-season success in win over Amhe
Amherst, Northampton players shining for Ultimate Frisbee Association’s Boston Glory
Victory Lap with Jessica Lapachinski: Breaking the silence
Opinion
Joshua Wachtel: Town Meeting — what democracy looks like
As town moderator of Cummington, the following is a statement I read to open annual Town Meeting on May 2: Tonight we convene to maintain and renew a tradition of self-governance practiced for 400 years. But we meet tonight at a time when many are gravely concerned about the future of democracy in America. Many may be inclined to ask, so to be reminded, “What does democracy look like?” “Can you tell me what democracy looks like?” I would like to affirm that tonight, what we convene to do here, this tradition of town meeting — “this is what democracy looks like.” Local participatory democracy. One person, one vote.
Stephen Armstrong: Lies and Trump's fantasies
Lois Ahrens: The final nail in the coffin of housing economic diversity
Jeanne Allen: Call to Conscience
Guest columnist Jonathan Kahane: ‘It’s the acronym stupid’
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
Speaking of Nature: Learning bird songs: Ninety percent of bird-finding is done with one’s ears
The great spring migration is in full swing and millions upon millions of birds are flying northward across our entire continent every night. The weather will always play a big role in the exact timing of the movements of the birds, but every morning offers up the opportunity to detect the presence of yet another new arrival. Birds often “surf” on waves of air associated with storms, so the first clear morning after a couple days of rain can be particularly exciting.
Block and roll: Roller Derby, the ‘sport for misfits,’ finds a home in the Valley
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
Obituaries
Charles Asher Jr.
Charles Asher, Jr Westfield, MA - Charles W. Asher, Jr (Charlie, Chars) left this world on May 6, 2025 with his loving wife and family by his side. Born in Northampton, MA on February 20, 1954 to the late Charles W. Asher, Sr., and Dorot... remainder of obit for Charles Asher Jr.
Charles Perry
SOUTHAMPTON, MA - Charles Frank Perry passed away peacefully on May 8th. Charles was born on November 1st, 1943 in Portsmouth NH to William Perry and Frances Perry. Charles attended Newton High School and graduated in 1962. After high s... remainder of obit for Charles Perry
Dominic L. DeMello M.D.
Dominic L. DeMello MD NORTHAMPTON, MA - Dr. Dominic L. DeMello, 56, of Barrett Street was called safely home on Saturday May 3, 2025 at Cooley Dickinson Hospital after a long illness. His unwavering catholic faith and his many dear frien... remainder of obit for Dominic L. DeMello M.D.
Carol Ann Wojcik
Carol Ann (Godek) Wojcik WORTHINGTON, MA - Carol Ann (Godek) Wojcik, 82, of Kinnebrook Rd. passed away at home on Sunday, May 11, 2025, after a brief illness. Carol was born in Adams, MA. The daughter of Floyd and Dorothy (Baker) Godek. ... remainder of obit for Carol Ann Wojcik
