News

Property taxes in Amherst to jump $200 for average home, to $9,600 a year

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Average residential property tax bills in Amherst are projected to exceed $9,600, but the year-over-year increase for homeowners is likely to be under $200, which is less than half the jump seen in 2023.At a tax classification hearing...

Belchertown residents salute vets with cards, songs, appreciation

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — Dozens of cards with hearts, stars and American flags covered a small white table in the Belchertown High School auditorium, each written by middle or elementary school students to express gratitude for veterans in their community who...

Around Amherst: Senior Center reaching out with holiday bags, pen pal effort

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Two programs aimed at building connections for Amherst’s senior citizens during the holiday season and over the winter months are being put together at the Amherst Senior Center.Returning this year is Claus for a Cause, a pick-me-up around...

Electricity program in Hadley extended three years

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — A group purchasing program for electricity, designed to increase renewable energy use while also providing electricity supply options that help residents and businesses manage their costs, will be extended another three years.Hadley officials...

Hadley special TM to consider expanding senior housing district

By SCOTT MERZBACH

HADLEY — Expanding the senior housing overlay district to accommodate a development off North Maple Street, adjusting the accessory dwelling unit bylaw and providing funding for a protective area beneath the new playground at Hadley Elementary School...

South Deerfield bridge closed indefinitely as rebuild plans develop

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — The bridge carrying North Main Street over the railroad tracks will remain closed indefinitely, although progress is being made, as the state Department of Transportation is in the process of reviewing construction plans.The agency...

Area briefs: UMass Baldwin celebration to feature Princeton scholar; Coolidge Museum discussion to break down Immigration Act of 1924; Hadley TM forum

UMass Baldwin celebration AMHERST — Noted scholar Eddie Glaude Jr. of Princeton University will deliver the keynote talk at a dinner celebrating the centennial of the birth of writer and civil rights activist James Baldwin at the University of...

Veteran touts healing power of art at Amherst’s annual breakfast

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Completing tattoo art sketches and illustrating cartoons became a creative outlet for U.S. Navy veteran Evelio “Evan” Velez when dealing with high-pressure situations during his time in the military.A Springfield resident who continues to...

Filling the java void: Amherst resident opens West Street Coffee & Tea

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Hearing a frequent lament from friends and neighbors that getting high-quality coffee between Atkins Corner and downtown Amherst is nearly impossible, the proprietor of the recently opened West Street Coffee & Tea, at 450 West St., is hoping...

Colleagues remember Mary Stokarski as one of Deerfield’s ‘best friends’

By CHRIS LARABEE

SOUTH DEERFIELD — Ask any longtime Deerfield residents and they’ll probably say they worked with Mary Stokarski in one form or another.Perhaps it was at the town clerk’s office, or they were paying their tax bill. Maybe they’re a member of the South...

Questions simmer over downtown Amherst project: Some question whether new building is a dorm

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A downtown mixed-use building under construction, to house Amherst College students starting next fall under an agreement between the college and the developer, is continuing to raise questions from residents and members of the Planning...

Amherst planners consider modifying University Drive rezoning to protect shopping plaza

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Redevelopment projects that could threaten the well-being of a prominent University Drive shopping plaza are prompting town planners to consider modifying a proposed overlay district, running on both sides of the road from Route 9 to Amity...

$5.7M Amherst surplus rankles strapped school officials

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — The town’s ending fiscal year 2024 with a $5.7 million surplus on June 30 is prompting some members of the Amherst and Regional school committees to question whether this leftover money means education is being shortchanged.Concerns were...

Amherst police arrest, ticket dozens for noise, drinking over weekend

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Halloween celebrations over the weekend led to numerous large parties, fights and assaults, and both underage drinking and public consumption of alcohol, in areas around the University of Massachusetts campus, according to Amherst police.One...

Fauci to speak at Amherst College as part of 10th annual LitFest

AMHERST — Dr. Anthony Fauci, the longtime director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases who rose to prominence during the COVID pandemic, and actor and alumnus Jeffrey Wright, nominated for a Best Actor Academy Award earlier...

River Valley Co-op members overwhelmingly say no to boycott of Israeli products

By ALEXA LEWIS

EASTHAMPTON — After months of emotional debate surrounding a proposed boycott of Israeli goods at River Valley Co-op, the results of an advisory poll among co-op members show overwhelming opposition to the “Apartheid-Free River Valley Co-op”...

Around Amherst: Pocket translators helping with municipal outreach

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — In a town where many languages are spoken, handheld translation devices are helping municipal employees who interact with the public to better support residents.With the success of Pocketalk Translators bought two years ago for Amherst’s...

Plans for new cannabis dispensary moving along in Sunderland

By CHRIS LARABEE

SUNDERLAND — With a special permit amendment, a retail cannabis dispensary’s plans to open early next year at 267 Amherst Road are moving along. Altai Alternative Care Inc. received unanimous approval from the Zoning Board of Appeals on Oct. 23 to...

Amherst elementary school bid challengers claim winning contractor misled town

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Lawyers representing both statewide unions and a Springfield construction company are calling on the Massachusetts attorney general’s Fair Labor Division to disqualify the apparent low bidder for Amherst’s $97.5 million elementary school...

New Jones Library bid comes in under target

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A general contracting bid below the $36 million estimate for expanding and renovating the Jones Library was received by the town by Thursday’s deadline.At $35.77 million, the bid from Fontaine Brothers Inc. of Springfield, one of two...