News

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.

1,000 Amherst regional students greet education officials, legislators in advance of legislative hearing on school funding

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — At least 1,000 students, staff and faculty, many from the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools, descended on the Campus Center at the University of Massachusetts Monday morning, rallying to preserve 18 positions at the middle and high schools that could be lost due to budget cuts.

Irate Valley farmers sound off over ag cuts at ‘Attack on Small Farms’ rally

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HADLEY — Irate farmers, waving signs and pitchforks, gathered in front Town Hall on Sunday afternoon as tractors rolled in and the Expandable Brass Band played at the start of a “Attack on Small Farms” protest.

Uphill climb: Amherst-Pelham Regional School budget proposal would reduce staffing cuts, but boost assessments

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Amherst-Pelham Regional School Committee is putting forward a $37.08 million fiscal year 2026 budget that would limit some anticipated staffing cuts at the middle and high schools, a proposal that would significantly increase assessments for the four member towns.

Feds target UMass over charges of antisemitism on campus

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Alleging there has been antisemitic discrimination and harassment at 60 colleges and universities across the country, including at the University of Massachusetts campus in Amherst, the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights is warning of potential enforcement actions, according to a letter sent on March 10.

Officials will assess mold problem at Amherst Regional Middle School

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Mold and mildew that may be developing at the Amherst Regional Middle School, possibly related to the poor condition of the roof that could be fixed as part of the Massachusetts School Building Authority’s accelerated repair program, will be examined by school district officials.

Red Fire Farm joins lawsuit opposing federal fund freeze

By CHRIS LARABEE

WASHINGTON — As federal dollars continue to be frozen for projects across the nation, a Pioneer Valley farm has joined a federal lawsuit demanding the government lift the “unlawful and indefinite freeze of congressional appropriated funds,” according to documents filed Thursday in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia.

MDAR commissioner pens letter to USDA over uncertain funding and impact on farmers

By CHRIS LARABEE

BOSTON — As farmers prepare to head out to the fields for the season, Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources Commissioner Ashley Randle sent a letter to the new U.S. agriculture secretary expressing concerns over uncertain federal funding and other actions taken by the federal government.

Shutesbury poised to hire Amherst senior center director as new town administrator

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Hayley Bolton, who for the past six years has led senior centers in Amherst and Bernardston, is poised to become Shutesbury’s town administrator in April.

Decade of work in Deerfield bears fruit with solar agreements, generating $6M for town

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — More than $6 million in revenue is expected to come to the town’s coffers over the next 20 years following the March 5 approval of a lease amendment for a solar array on the former landfill on Lee Road.

Sunderland discovers capital override amount not raised through taxes

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — When preparing the fiscal year 2026 revenue sheets, town officials discovered an omission on residents’ tax bills.

Professors with UMass ties land tech’s top prize

By MATT O’BRIEN

MARRIAGE INTENTIONS

 Marriage intentions filed with the Amherst town clerk.

Feather-friendly: Hitchcock Center partners with Fish & Wildlife to reduce deadly avian impacts at building

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Life-threatening dangers are posed any time a migratory bird approaches a building, unaware that it could be on course to strike a window.

Chinese language school advancing plans for second campus building as applications surge

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A $2.5 million loan being sought by the Pioneer Valley Chinese Immersion Charter School should provide the funding to create 14 classrooms inside a second campus building at 300 Venture Way, allowing an expansion of enrollment and possibly new initiatives as student applications to the school surge.

Crocker’s culture shift: Elementary school taking new approach to incidents of bullying, disruption

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A shift in culture has occurred at Crocker Farm School over the past decade, where even those students having a challenging time in their classrooms and in interactions with their peers are not sent to the main office.

Natural Resources Conservation Service office in Amherst for 45 years ID’d for closure

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The Natural Resources Conservation Service office for Massachusetts, located at 451 West St. since 1980, could close as part of 748 lease terminations posted online this week by the Trump administration.

UMass cites policy in ordering Pride flag at campus transit center taken down

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An administrative request by the university demanding that a Pride flag flying from a flagpole at the UMass Transit Services area of the University of Massachusetts campus be removed is leading to the circulation of a petition calling out campus leaders.

Override possible for Hadley’s ‘bare bones’ budget

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A proposed $23.31 million fiscal year 2026 operating budget will maintain existing staffing and services at the public schools and in municipal departments, while supporting the continued transition to a town-operated Advanced Life Support ambulance.

Pre-St. Patrick’s Day revelry leads to 29 arrests, 23 medical transports to hospital

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Annual pre-St. Patrick’s Day celebrations in Amherst, where numerous college-age people dressed in green began consuming alcohol early Saturday morning, led to 29 arrests and 23 medical transports to the hospital, according to information supplied by town and University of Massachusetts officials.