A Look Back, March 22

By JIM BRIDGMAN

We are informed that at a late meeting of the trustees of Amherst Academy, it was voted that the trustees consent to and approve of the act to establish a college in the town of Amherst; and that all the property of every description pertaining to the Collegiate Institution be transferred and delivered to the trustees of the college.

Multi-town contingent organizes education funding appeal for UMass legislative hearing

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley and Ludlow are organizing municipal and school leaders, students and community members from at least eight communities to attend a hearing Monday at UMass to persuade the state Legislature’s House and Ways Means Committee to support altering the state’s municipal education funding formula.

Land trusts eye purchasing Beaver Brook Golf Course, plan on ‘rewilding’ 288-acre property

By ALEXA LEWIS

WILLIAMSBURG — The Trustees of Reservations and its affiliate Hilltown Land Trust are working to raise $1.5 million by June 30 to purchase Beaver Brook Golf Course in Williamsburg and Northampton with the ambitious goal to “rewild” the 288-acre property, turning it into an area for both recreation and conservation.

Social Security fears foremost at McGovern town hall stop at retirement home

By SAMUEL GELINAS

AMHERST — U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern continues to tour the state, holding town halls across his district, and will again appear in Hadley on Sunday to rally farmers facing losses of federal aid as grants are put on hold or canceled by by the Trump administration. But his stop Friday brought him to the Applewood Retirement Living community in Amherst, where residents were especially concerned about President Donald Trump’s and Elon Musk’s unpredictable, potentially disastrous tinkering with Social Security.

Sprinkler system contains Granby house fire

By EMILEE KLEIN

GRANBY — Firefighters arrived at a Chicopee Street house fire on Thursday night to find that a sprinkler system had already contained the blaze, keeping damage to a minimum.

Holyoke Rotary to expand Flags of Heroes to South Hadley this spring

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — The Holyoke Rotary Club will give South Hadley residents a chance to honor their personal heroes during its Flags for Heroes fundraiser from May 17 to July 5 on the South Hadley Commons.

Beacon Hill Roll Call, March 10-14

By BOB KATZEN

THE HOUSE AND SENATE: Beacon Hill Roll Call records local senators’ votes on roll calls from recent debate on the joint House-Senate rules. There were no roll calls in the House or Senate last week.

Planners call bid to carve off Trader Joe’s and Chase Bank sites from mall problematic

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — An effort to carve off the commercial sites of Trader Joe’s grocery store and Chase Bank from the Hampshire Mall property could be hindered by town zoning rules related to parking, access and setbacks, according to members of the Planning Board.

Building healthy bones: Retired nurse starts free program in Goshen to help seniors prevent falls

By SAMUEL GELINAS

GOSHEN – Retired nurse Marie Calderone has spent her life witnessing falls and seeing the impacts – events that for those over 55 can be fatal. But this phase of her life is about balance.

Five-story building set to rise at former Rafter’s site in Amherst

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Site work related to construction of a five-story, mixed-use building at the corner of Amity Street and University Drive is expected to begin before summer, following final approvals from the Planning Board last week.

Around Amherst: Regional schools weigh higher fees for sports, parking

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A series of fee increases for school-related activities, which cover participation in athletics and parking at the high school, are being considered by the Amherst Regional School Committee.

A Look Back, March 21

Leader of Food Bank of Western Massachusetts worried about SNAP reductions

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Though Massachusetts is not one of at least six states that will lose out on $500 million in food deliveries promised by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the leader of the region’s largest food bank remains concerned about future cuts.

‘Budget buster:’ Spiking health insurance costs burdening local municipal budgets

EMILEE KLEIN

NORTHAMPTON — Cities and towns in Hampshire County are facing spikes in health insurance costs between 10% and 20% for fiscal year 2026, an increase in a normally stable cost that promises to eat into bottom lines during an already tight budget season.

It’s all about the Irish: Holyoke ready for annual St. Patrick’s Day road race, parade this weekend

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HOLYOKE — The city’s population this weekend is expected to go from 50,000 to half a million, as the Irish, and those who are Irish for the weekend, get ready to run, march, and drink in honor of Ireland’s patron saint.

Inspired by late civil rights activists, Good Trouble Democracy Brigade forms

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — As protests against the Trump administration proliferate across the U.S., a new group of voices is rising in South Deerfield, on the corner of Route 116 and Sugarloaf Street.

State pilot program puts restaurant takeout meals on food aid menus around region

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — More than a half-dozen restaurants in Hampshire County are partnering with survival centers in Northampton and Amherst to provide free meals to those facing food insecurity in the region as part of a larger initiative taking place statewide.

Amherst councilor to seek revisions to budget guidelines so schools can get more money

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Best-case scenarios for the Amherst elementary and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools, in which the budgets are around $2 million short of providing level services for the 2025-2026 school year, are leading a member of Amherst’s Town Council to suggest town officials find a way to get more money to local public education.

Holyoke mayor pitches PILOT policy for tax exempt properties

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HOLYOKE — Some 16% of the city’s properties are exempt from paying property taxes — a potential source of revenue Mayor Joshua Garcia is looking to tap into next fiscal year via a new payment in lieu of taxes policy.