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By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A $4 million price tag for rebuilding the bathhouse connected to War Memorial Pool is prompting Amherst officials to put off for a year applying for a state grant to cover up to a quarter of the construction costs, as well as to begin...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A Boston architect will develop various cost savings for the $46.1 million planned expansion and renovation of the Jones Library, in advance of the project going back out to bid for a general contractor later this year.At its June 17...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Even as members of the Town Council acknowledge frustrations over the size of the Amherst-Pelham Regional schools assessment increase, and the need to use one-time American Rescue Plan Act money to cover a portion of the obligation, a $35.27...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — New water use restrictions in Amherst that will limit outdoor water use at times, mandated by the state during times when levels of drought are declared, are going into effect.The Town Council was recently informed by Assistant Department of...

By EMILEE KLEIN

AMHERST — Responding to fall enrollment numbers that are lower than anticipated, Hampshire College plans to temporarily freeze retirement contributions for all employees and cut salaries for senior staff members next school year to meet the college’s...

STEVE PFARRER

The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has displayed the work of dozens and dozens — or more likely hundreds — of illustrators and writers over the years, in solo exhibits and group shows.Among them have been a fair number of artists from other...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — An 11-acre parcel off Sand Hill Road in Shutesbury is being purchased by the town of Amherst to protect the drinking water at Atkins Reservoir and to preserve the land.The acquisition of the so-called Gage property was approved unanimously...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A committee to review Amherst’s home-rule charter and propose possible adjustments to the 37-page document, based on feedback it receives from the public over the next year, is being formed by the Town Council.The charter, published in...

By STEVE PFARRER

After generating some local news in 2022 when scenes were filmed in a number of locations around the Valley, “Janet Planet,” the debut film by celebrated playwright Annie Baker, made its deThursday.The movie, first screened last summer at the...

Two decades ago, Republicans harnessed American symbols to secure George W. Bush a second term, persuading voters that supporting him equated to backing the nation and its troops. Through ubiquitous stars and stripes branding, they cemented their...

I am writing to express my appreciation for columnist Tolley Jones, but also for all your regular columnists. Facing what we all know are limited resources, you consistently present compelling journalism on your opinion page. The latest example is...

I urge the Town Council to support the motion by Cathy Schoen, to stop the library project by telling the town manager to not sign a contract with FAA architects, so that there will not be another $500,000-plus spent on more “value engineering” to...

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

AMHERST — UMass Amherst Chancellor Javier Reyes has announced the creation of a Campus Demonstration Policy Task Force and an independent review of police activity on campus following events this spring that led to more than 130 arrests on campus amid...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — University of Massachusetts officials violated provisions of the state’s Taxpayer Protection Act law when moving fundraising operations from the Advancement office to the private University Amherst Foundation, according to a final...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A $30,000 Cultural Facilities Fund grant is going to the Amherst Historical Society to create an access plan and conditions assessment for the 1750s Simeon Strong House at 67 Amity St.The Historical Society, aiming to make one of the oldest...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — For the first time since 2011, the Amherst Historical Society will have an executive director overseeing the nonprofit’s work in the community, including maintaining and improving the 1750s-era Simeon Strong House at 67 Amity St.Liz Larson,...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A fiscal sustainability committee that will undertake strategic planning and identify potential cost savings and new revenue sources for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools is being established by the Regional School Committee.Even though...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Regional School Committee members are expecting Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman will hit the ground running and begin a successful tenure overseeing the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools as of July 1, even if she is not...

Even with proposed cuts to the Jones Library renovation and expansion plans, the result will be a net-zero ready building. Plans remain in place to eliminate the fossil fuel HVAC system. Solar panels were not in the original bid documents; the...

By CATHY SCHOEN

 When I voted to support the Jones Library expansion project in December 2023, I was assured there was high confidence in the $46 million total estimate and that trustees would be able to close the $7 million gap that remained to pay for their share...