Search Results

Keyword search: MA

By CARRIE N. BAKER

After World War II, German Lutheran pastor Martin Niemöller famously said, “First they came for the socialists and I did not speak out— because I was not a socialist. Then they came for the trade unionists and I did not speak out — because I was not a trade unionist. Then they came for the Jews and I did not speak out — because I was not a Jew. Then they came for me — and there was no one left to speak out for me.” We are watching this happen in real time with the Trump administration.

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

NORTHAMPTON — The City Council is once again asking the state Legislature for permission to prohibit landlords and real estate brokers from charging prospective tenants a broker’s fee to rent property in the city.

By EMILEE KLEIN

GRANBY — On any given night, Ted Hathaway plays board games with his two daughters, but he struggles getting his youngest to pick up a book long enough to get past the cover.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — With planned improvements to modernize and make accessible the Simeon Strong House at 67 Amity St., along with anticipated disruptions from the expansion and renovation at the neighboring Jones Library, Amherst Historical Society operations will be relocating to a downtown commercial building this spring.

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — Residents at Friday’s annual Town Meeting will consider a $10.56 million budget and a $472,173 Community Preservation Act allocation for the proposed restoration of the Graves Memorial Library, as well as a citizen’s petition regarding land acknowledgment.

By DEB HENSON

Do you agree that it’s time for new leadership in our city? That’s why I’m running for at-large city councilor in Northampton. I want to solicit the opinions, values, and priorities of all our residents and bring your voices to the decision-making table. We can change the way our tax dollars are being spent. Please join my campaign if this notion appeals to you (www.vote4debhenson.com).

Fitzgerald Lake Conservation Area offers our community the rare privilege of observing beavers in their natural habitat. Unfortunately, this privilege is now at risk. Visitors have been walking directly on beaver lodges, crushing these carefully constructed homes and forcing the animals to expend valuable energy on repairs. Also concerning, a sign explaining this harm was placed and quickly disappeared. Causing further harm, unleashed dogs disturb wildlife throughout the conservation area, despite clear regulations.

I have been very troubled that so much of our social and political discourse has become confrontational and hostile. In an effort to set a different tone in the upcoming election in Deerfield, I reached out to Tim Hilchey and Dave Wolfram, the two candidates for the Selectboard in Deerfield, and asked both of them if they would be willing to jointly plan and hold an informational meeting in the spirit that we can have our differences but we can discuss them in a respectful and civil manner. They both agreed and they will hold an informational gathering on Friday, April 25, at the Polish American Citizen’s Club located at 46 South Main St. in South Deerfield.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Supporters of the Jones Library building project are condemning a letter sent to both the Trump administration and National Endowment for the Humanities requesting termination of a $1 million grant going toward build-out of a humanities center within the expanded building. 

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

The Massachusetts congressional delegation is demanding answers from the federal government after hundreds of arts grants under the National Endowment for the Humanities, including dozens earmarked for institutions in the Pioneer Valley, were canceled on the seeming recommendation of billionaire Elon Musk.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SPRINGFIELD — A Hadley man who authorities allege sold plutonium in 2023, and used hazardous black powder to ignite a fireball and detonate a dishwasher in his backyard during gatherings, has been indicted by a federal grand jury for allegedly possessing ammunition and explosives, after previously being convicted of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison.

By ALEXA LEWIS

City councils in Easthampton and Holyoke have unanimously passed resolutions opposing the siting of a lithium battery energy storage system, or BESS, project over the Barnes Aquifer in Westfield.

By SARA WEINBERGER

The Jewish holiday of Passover, which ended on Sunday, recounts the story of the Jewish people’s escape from slavery in Egypt. Recounting the exodus from Egypt is a call to rise against all the pharaohs, including the pharaoh who occupies the White House. His thin disguise as a crusader against antisemitism is a ruse for decimating free speech and higher education, by scapegoating pro-Palestinians and the country’s most respected universities.

A vision of Deerfield’s future.

We are writing to celebrate and express our heartfelt gratitude for our incredible Amherst community! On a drizzly Sunday, April 6, nearly 200 residents joined forces all over town for the annual Amherst Rubbish Roundup! Volunteers from all Amherst districts came in support of this community cleanup to beautify our beloved town. These amazing volunteers braved busy roadsides, bustling sidewalks, downtown parking areas, quiet conservation trails, and public school lands to collect an impressive 184 bags of garbage and recycling.

When in the past I have been asked where I went to college I usually respond Boston … maybe mumble something about Cambridge. Now though, I am proud as hell to say, yes, I went to Harvard!

In July, I typically spend time in the garden, pruning back overgrown shrubs and flowers. They are just at that point where the plant is busting out all over, and becoming huge; but the flower is about to pass by. Kind of like when you know you need your haircut, because it’s starting to annoy you. But when you make the appointment, you feel a pang because it just looks so — perfect right now. It would feel worse to be ruthless if it wasn’t grounded in some real knowledge. And expertise. And yes, it is indeed (you guessed, clever reader) an analogy for many other things in life.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A yearly event to promote energy efficiency, recycling, electric and hybrid vehicles and solar power is being held on the Town Common Saturday, alongside the Amherst Farmer’s Market.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Four candidates are being tabbed to move to the next phase of the search for a permanent town administrator for Hadley, though the Select Board this week may ask for a reduced number of finalists.

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Creation of a 6th Grade Academy inside the Amherst Regional Middle School, coinciding with the opening of the new elementary school building on South East Street, will be supported by $450,000 in capital spending.