News
A Look Back, May 17
50 Years Ago■A small gray box containing a radioactive isotope was turned over to police last night by a Northampton man who said that he found it lying in the Northampton Meadows. The words “Caution Radioactive Material” were taped to the top of the...
A groundbreaking anniversary: Northampton couple reflects on lead role in legalization of same-sex marriage in Massachusetts 20 years ago
By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
NORTHAMPTON — Friday, May 17, marks 20 years since Gina and Heidi Nortonsmith were married, although the couple is quick to clarify that their real anniversary dates back to more than a decade before that.The two women met at a conference for LGBTQ...
State grants bolster local community development agencies
By JAMES PENTLAND
CHESTERFIELD — Highlighting the work of Hilltown Community Development Corp., Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll came to Chesterfield on Thursday to announce a $300,000 award that allows the agency to leverage up to the same amount from donors to support the full...
Shaping Amherst responders’ role: CRESS chief emphasizes ‘community’
By SCOTT MERZBACH
AMHERST — One-on-one attention for a resident with hoarding issues was recently offered by members of the Community Responders for Equity, Safety and Service department to illustrate the focus they can bring for someone experiencing a crisis.“We can...
Photos: Welcome to the Iron Horse stage
Area briefs: Free repair event in Northampton; sheep to visit Historic Deerfield; horse ride in Belchertown
Free community repair event to take place Saturday NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton RePair and ReUse group will host a Repair Café on Saturday from 12-4 p.m. at the Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School cafeteria.Northampton RePair & ReUse is...
Photo: Sharing the bounty
Walk for Peace in Gaza set for Saturday in Leverett
By SCOTT MERZBACH
LEVERETT — A Walk for Peace in Gaza, bringing participants from Leverett Town Hall to the New England Peace Pagoda, takes place Saturday, an event that organizers view as a way to stand with those experiencing loss and grief.Sponsored by the Village...
It’s official: Fasoli sworn in as Southampton’s new fire chief
By Alexa Lewis
SOUTHAMPTON — Standing against the gleaming red backdrop of Engine 3, Richard Fasoli was sworn in as the Southampton Fire Department’s new fire chief in a brief ceremony on Wednesday. “I couldn’t do it without all of your help,” Fasoli said to those...
West Springfield man arrested in Pelham in November held on weapons, drugs charges
By JAMES PENTLAND
NORTHAMPTON — A West Springfield man facing additional charges in Franklin County will remain jailed without the right to bail after his arraignment Wednesday in Hampshire Superior Court on drug and weapons charges.Michael Ruiz, 37, was indicted by a...
A Look Back, May 16
50 Years Ago■Wayne Rogers, a sophomore at Smith’s Vocational High School, has received the George Bean Trust Fund $1,000 award at the Future Farmers of America parent and member banquet held last week at Smith’s School. ■Former Rep. Edward M....
The Mill River Flood 150 years later: ‘The whole valley was a wild torrent’
By JAMES PENTLAND
WILLIAMSBURG — Like many mill owners before and since, the consortium that created the Williamsburg Reservoir in 1866 wanted more power for their factories, and they wanted to pay as little as possible for it.Eight years after the dam began its...
Iron Horse gets its liquor license just in time for Wednesday opening
By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL
NORTHAMPTON — Ticket holders for the Iron Horse Music Hall’s grand opening Wednesday night will be able to order a drink from the venue’s newly-designed bar after the nonprofit worked through state bureaucracy to obtain a liquor license just hours...
A year after antisemitic incidents rocked Jabish Brook Middle School in Belchertown, a new program is having positive effect
By EMILEE KLEIN
BELCHERTOWN — One day this spring as she was walking past the gymnasium at Jabish Brook Middle School, guidance counselor Jennifer Parker heard something that made her do a double-take — in a good way.A group of eighth grade girls were calling out a...
Multiverse of style: Volante Design in Easthampton has a mission to make jackets that anyone can wear anytime
By Alexa Lewis
EASTHAMPTON — When David Volante posted a photo to his blog of a custom jacket he was working on in 2012, he wasn’t expecting it to go viral.The interest in his design made him realize that people wanted what he was selling, and he could sell even...
Bike-pedestrian crashes flagged as emerging threat as bike lanes expand
By Sam Doran
BOSTON — As bike lanes have expanded across Massachusetts, Transportation Secretary Monica Tibbits-Nutt said safety concerns are cropping up along the new public ways — but, perhaps surprisingly, not just with cars.Cyclists moving quickly are...
A tree whisperer: Chesterfield 16-year-old becomes youngest certified arborist in state
By JAMES PENTLAND
CHESTERFIELD — Being home-schooled for much of her secondary school career gives Priya McSweeney some measure of choice over how she spends her time.Still, that alone doesn’t fully account for the 16-year-old’s expertise in the field of arboriculture,...
Consumer Corner with Anita Wilson: AT&T breach a cautionary tale
In recent months, millions of current and former AT&T customers received notices that their personal data had been stolen and then published on the dark web.Generally speaking, personal data refers to personal information such as names, email and...
Making news in business, May 16
Florence Bank donates $100K to the Iron Horse FLORENCE — Florence Bank donated $100,000 to the Iron Horse Music Hall, supporting a $750,000 capital campaign for renovations and updates to the music venue in downtown Northampton that opened Wednesday....
Area briefs: Sensory garden open house; Goshen tag sale; Hadley Library bake, book sale
Sensory garden in Belchertown to hold open house BELCHERTOWN — An open house at the McPherson Sensory Garden in Belchertown on Saturday will feature a collection of local artists. The event at the Garden, 47 State St., will take place from 10...
