News

Around Amherst: Middle school roof fix could change plans

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Having the Amherst Regional Middle School roof placed on the accelerated repair program by the Massachusetts School Building Authority is prompting a possible delay in considering whether seventh and eighth graders should move to the high...

Shutesbury’s Dudleyville Forest poised for preservation

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Kestrel Land Trust is permanently protecting a forest featuring more than 200 acres of white pine and mixed hardwoods on Montague Road, where a centuries-old dam was removed over the summer.A $327,000 grant from the Executive Office of...

Amherst’s Jones Library project wins critical extension

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Town officials will have until the end of March to hire a general contractor to handle the $46.1 million expansion and renovation of the Jones Library.The Massachusetts Board of Library Commissioners voted unanimously on Dec. 5 to approve a...

Climate activist Bill McKibben’s light in dark times: Solar

By EMILEE KLEIN

AMHERST — The past few weeks have been tough for climate activism, and longtime climate activist Bill McKibben, who makes his home in Vermont, is feeling the heat.This year will be the hottest year on record, breaking the record-setting temperatures...

Amid falling sales, Mycoterra Farm in Deerfield ends food distribution service

By CHRIS LARABEE

DEERFIELD — With folks confined to their homes in the early days of the pandemic, but still looking for local produce, Julia Coffey and her team at Mycoterra Farm branched out to bring products to their doors in the form of Mass Food Delivery.While...

At ‘Walkout for #ERA rally’ in Amherst, young feminists worry about future under Trump presidency

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — For one patient, the question centered on whether it would be appropriate to stockpile medicines, such as hormones, before Inauguration Day. For another patient, the question focused on getting a hysterectomy scheduled before Jan. 20,...

Leverett residents rap Kittredge compound plans, urge caution as negotiations for 400 homes move forward

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — Leverett residents are asking town officials to be skeptical of plans for turning the sprawling, 60-acre estate of Yankee Candle founder Michael J. Kittredge II into a 400-home development reserved for people 55-and-over, even if a portion...

A ‘trailblazer’ honored: One of the first African Americans hired to faculty at UMass bestowed with study, gathering space in his name

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — On the cusp of celebrating his 100th birthday in January, Edwin D. Driver, emeritus professor of sociology at the University of Massachusetts and one of the first two African Americans ever hired to the faculty at a flagship state...

Around Amherst: ARHS track and field plans moving along

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Contractors for the $4.47 million renovation of the track and field at Amherst Regional High School are expected to be sought beginning in January, when bids are posted, with construction on schedule to start in summer 2025.The Town Council...

Photos: Merry Maple aglow

Amherst Commission considers hunting prohibition on conservation lands

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Hunting on Amherst conservation lands would be prohibited under rules being considered by the town’s Conservation Commission, which, if adopted as written, would closely mirror land-use regulations related to hunting in the city of...

Valley Bounty: It’s the season of tree-ditions: Kingsbury Christmas Tree Farm in South Deerfield offers cut your own and pre-cut varieties

By JACOB NELSON

The Christmas season, for people who celebrate, tends to be full of traditions. Maybe it’s watching the same corny holiday movies every year. Maybe it’s making Grandma’s special cookies, a yellowing index card with her faded cursive handwriting...

Bittersweet Bakery & Cafe in Deerfield reopens with smaller menu, renewed focus on dinners

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...

‘Poverty wages have to go’: Some 200 rally at UMass flagship, calling for fair pay and full staffing

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...

Hadley housing fund ponies up $100K to support Econo Lodge affordable housing

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...

Amherst officials highlight achievements, look ahead in State of the Town

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A series of affordable housing developments in progress, construction beginning on a new elementary school and the possibility that an expanded and renovated Jones Library will get underway are being highlighted by town officials in their...

UMass Amherst profs pilot new PFAS detection method

By ZICHANG LIU

AMHERST — University of Massachusetts professors Chang Liu and Xiaojun Wei have discovered a new method to detect per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — “forever chemicals” found in water, soil, air, food, and other consumer products, paving the way...

UMass football: Joe Harasymiak formally introduced as Minutemen’s next head coach

By RYAN AMES

AMHERST — “Coach Joe” is now on the job.Joe Harasymiak was officially introduced as UMass’ new head football coach Friday morning with a press conference at the Martin Jacobson Football Performance Center.The 38-year-old Harasymiak becomes the 32nd...

Amherst’s Merry Maple lighting Friday kicking off holiday downtown

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A traditional celebration that has been part of Amherst’s holiday season since the 1960s, the Merry Maple lighting is back at its usual location on the North Common on Friday, with a newly lit maple tree.A year after continued construction...

State overrules Shutesbury bylaw limiting grid batteries

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — A general town bylaw creating a licensing process for large-scale battery storage in Shutesbury has been struck down by the state attorney general’s office, for both unreasonably regulating renewable energy and improperly regulating...