A Look Back, July 18

By JIM BRIDGMAN

The City Council last night approved the purchase of 96 acres of conservation land in Leeds as part of the “Mill River Greenbelt.” Purchase of the land would be the first large conservation acquisition in the city’s history and would mark the beginning of a long-range open-space program planned by the conservation commission.

Area briefs: De la Luz’s free, two-day SalsaFest in Holyoke; DCR Summer Nights program for youth; Mt. Tom B-17 crash remembrance on Saturday

HOLYOKE — LightHouse Holyoke will hold the Race Street SalsaFest, a two-day community celebration and cultural festival taking place Friday and Saturday at De la Luz, a new performance space housed in the former Gateway City Arts building at 92 Race St.

Seniors at Hadley apartment complex plea to legislators for help as they grapple with sharp rent spikes

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Karol and Fred Burgos have seen modest, less than $100, year-to-year increases in their monthly rents since moving four years ago into Woodland Crossing/ Vesta Apartment Homes, an affordable housing complex restricted to individuals and couples age 62 and over.

Housing advocates, tenants decry rent hikes in Easthampton

By SAM FERLAND

EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton tenants and advocates gathered outside the Municipal Building Wednesday with signs and megaphones, calling for city councilors to support their opposition to out-of-state property owners increasing rents.

Youth leaders stir ‘Good Trouble’ at Northampton rally in honor of civil rights activist and congressman John Lewis

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — Alice Jenkins, Marisol Pierce-Bonifaz and Joey Pisani are still technically teenagers. But in Pulaski Park on Thursday, the three youths led a rally of more than 100 participants with all the verve and vigor of veteran organizers.

Amherst developer, Hadley farmer pitch duel-use solar array with 1,248 panels on River Drive parcel

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — An Amherst solar developer and a Hadley farmer could team up on a new agrivoltaic project on farmland on River Drive, continuing what they see as the success of an existing dual-use solar array on Shattuck Road.

In letter to community, Williamsburg officials vow fix after chaotic Town Meeting

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WILLIAMSBURG — It’ll be awhile before residents forget the chaos of last spring’s annual Town Meeting — and town officials are intent on ensuring it doesn’t happen again.

Amherst mulls changes to hunting policies on town conservation land

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Conservation Commission is poised to discuss a range of options for addressing hunting on town conservation land, from prohibiting the activity entirely to placing more restrictions on some of the public sites where hunting is currently allowed.

Elevated E. coli again closes Puffer’s Pond for swimming

By Staff Report

AMHERST — After several weeks with Puffer’s Pond being open for swimming, town officials announced Thursday morning that the North Amherst site would be closed immediately due to high levels of E. coli bacteria.

Photo: Dino with a drink at Gombo in Northampton

Area property deed transfers, July 18

AMHERST

Making News in Business, July 18

NORTHAMPTON — The Sphere Northampton has been awarded a $50,000 grant to launch the Sphere Westfield Mindshift Business Accelerator, an intensive business development program designed to support low- to moderate-income entrepreneurs in the Westfield community.

A Look Back, July 17

Williamsburg officials raise concerns about comprehensive plan consultants

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WILLIAMSBURG — Three weeks after holding an open house to gather feedback about creation of the town’s first comprehensive plan, Planning Board members are expressing reservations about the work compiled so far by a Boston consulting company the town hired to advise the process.

‘Without us, there is no UMass’: Unions representing staff decry bargaining tactics by administration at campus rally

By Grace Chai

Easthampton forms committee to explore permanent Sept. 11 memorial; idea came in wake of flag controversy over pond

By SAM FERLAND

EASTHAMPTON — Nearly 24 years after the Sept. 11 attacks, the city is forming a tribute committee to develop a permanent memorial to honor the lives of those who served that day — an idea that emerged from a recent debate about flying the American flag over Nashawannuck Pond.

Holyoke man sentenced to state prison for violent attack of Northampton man in business parking lot

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — A Holyoke man has been sentenced to state prison after pleading guilty to a violent armed robbery in the parking lot of the Northampton Walmart last year.

Arbiter orders reinstatement of Amherst middle school counselor involved in alleged anti-trans actions

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A former guidance counselor at the Amherst Regional Middle School, removed from her position for alleged anti-trans actions during the 2022-2023 school year, was wrongfully terminated and must be reinstated to her previous role, according to a ruling by an arbitrator.

Water, sewer rates on rise in Hatfield to cover operating budgets, capital work

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HATFIELD — Average residential water and sewer users in Hatfield will see their combined bills increase by about $96 as the result of rate adjustments aimed at covering both the operating budgets for the departments and ensuring sufficient money is being saved for emergency repairs and capital projects.