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By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — An average homeowner will have a higher-than-usual $272 increase in property taxes next year, due in part to the costs for renovating the locker rooms at Hopkins Academy.The Select Board approved a series of recommendations Wednesday from the...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Amherst came close to a perfect score on the Municipal Equality Index from the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, earning 99 out of a possible 100 points.The Municipality Equality Index is a nationwide evaluation of cities and towns on how...

After dropping three games in a row, the UMass women’s basketball team was very much in need of a bounce back performance on Thursday night.The Minutewomen certainly got that – and then some.UMass stormed out to a 26-8 lead after one quarter and...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — As someone who takes care of and cleans buildings on the University of Massachusetts campus, Sun Chong’s workload doubles when her colleagues call out sick or leave university employment.“They don’t hire people, so then we have to cover each...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A nearly $20 million redevelopment of a former Route 9 hotel into a mix of 51 one-bedroom and studio apartments for low- and moderate-income residents will get an infusion of $100,000 from the Hadley Affordable Housing Trust Fund.At the...

By ALISON KUZNITZ

Thousands of older Bay Staters could lose access to home care services this spring or see support scaled back due to looming funding shortfalls totaling millions of dollars, elder advocates and providers say.Elder services organizations are urging...

By ALEXA LEWIS

EASTHAMPTON — From public murals and sculptures to galleries full of paintings and handcrafted items, Easthampton is known for the vibrancy cultivated by its eclectic community of artists. To show off that work, artists at Cottage Street Studios will...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A project to update downtown design standards for both public and private properties, as well as determine what the streetscape will look like, is continuing with both an in-person workshop set for Monday evening and an online survey...

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — With the incoming presidential administration campaigning on transformational changes to the way government functions, the Whately Select Board recently issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to serving residents. Brought forward by...

By DARCY DUMONT

 It may seem odd not to address the expected reversal of progress on climate and what that will mean at home and abroad, but pardon me while I take a breath. My latest thought is to simply to keep moving in a positive direction, doing whatever we can...

Soon history may repeat itself with the images of the brown shirts of 1938, and will the silence of that time be repeated? I will not be silent as our immigrants — lawful or so-called unlawful — are rounded up, broken up, herded, and deported and I...

Gary Michael Tartakov really nailed it in his Nov. 29 guest column, “Dems must truly become the party of the working class.” Progressive Democratic politicians must revolutionize their party or start a new one to counter the authoritarian drift of our...

In today’s sacred freedom of America, there are this month three religious/ethnic celebrations of origin, joy, introspection and devotion. First is the Christian Christmas, then the Jewish Hanukkah begins that evening, while African American Kwanzaa...

It’s hard to find a better example of the Peter Principle in action than the pending appointment of Pete Hegseth to be secretary of defense. Despite the fact that he is a Princeton graduate with an impressive record in the National Guard (having...

I was saddened and angry by the time I finished reading the Nov. 5 Gazette article regarding the proposal of rezoning the entire stretch of University Drive in Amherst [“Planners consider modifying U-Drive rezoning”]. The focus of rezoning is to build...

On Dec. 3, 1860, President James Buchanan delivered his State of the Union address justifying the fugitive slave laws, denying the right of the territory of Kansas to abolish slavery, and blaming Northern abolitionist agitators for inciting slave...

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — After a few months of a temporary closure in which its owner was determining the next steps, Bittersweet Bakery & Cafe recently reopened its doors with a revamped business plan.Laura Thiem, who owns and operates the 6-year-old bakery and...

By GARRETT COTE

AMHERST — It may be time to lower expectations for the 2024-25 UMass men’s basketball team.The Minutemen have had a tough start to the year – a five-game skid sandwiched in between their season-opening win over New Hampshire and a pair of sluggish...

By JOE GANNON

While the shock wears off, again, from our presidential election, it is a suitable time to just take a breath before we decide — that is, lock down — our reaction.And we do decide our reaction. We will throw up our hands, rip out our hair, or just...

Toying around with the English language can be both a fun and formidable enterprise. On the surface, the erudite and studied will argue until they are blue in the face that socialism is different than fascism. Better still, try to bring up comparisons...