WinterFest in Easthampton returns for 12th year

By ALEXA LEWIS

EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton’s annual WinterFest has returned for the 12th time, bringing a slate of fun activities for all to enjoy while raising funds to benefit the city’s iconic Nashawannuck Pond.

Whately highway superintendent Bardwell to retire after 45 years of service

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — With the upcoming retirement of the town’s longtime highway superintendent, the Selectboard has kicked off the search process for a replacement.

Early educator recruitment lags amid low wages, licensure delays

By SYDNEY TOPF

Rosa Hernandez-O’Neil was surrounded by early educators growing up. Her mother ran a child care center in their home and her sisters all worked in the field. So, at 16 years old, Hernandez-O’Neil decided she wanted to join the family business as a teacher’s assistant.

A Look Back, Jan. 20

Northampton police and the state fire marshal’s office today are probing the cause of an explosion in the Norma-Lee building at 90 King St. Police listed the cause as “suspicious” and said it had nothing to do with the heating system or natural gas.

Photos: Carving masterpieces at Northampton Ice Art Festival

Warming centers in region open as cold front enters

By Staff Report

Several communities in the region are opening warming centers for the first part of this week, as a cold front swoops in on the heels of a snowstorm Sunday night.

South Hadley unveils zone changes in works for busy Route 33/202 corridor

By SAMUEL GELINAS

SOUTH HADLEY — As they head toward finalizing proposed rezoning regulations along the Route 202/33 corridor, town officials invited residents to weigh in on the plans at a public forum late last week, and weigh in they did, citing concerns about traffic, affordable housing, pedestrian safety and housing density.

Union: Faculty pay not keeping up with community college enrollment

By SAM DRYSDALE

BOSTON – As enrollment at community colleges booms under the state’s new free tuition program, the faculty that teach and support the burgeoning population are asking for their first wage equity adjustment in 25 years.

‘Keep on Pushing’: MLK remembered at breakfast, but speaker highlights need to address division in America

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

HOLYOKE — For Shannon Rudder, the theme of civil rights in the year 2025 could be summed up with a Curtis Mayfield song: “Keep on Pushing.”

South Hadley adopts traffic calming policy

By EMILEE KLEIN

SOUTH HADLEY — Residents worried about drivers speeding through their neighborhoods now have a new way to request traffic calming measures from the town.

Belchertown launches new branding effort

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — A new project called Branding Belchertown aims to overhaul the visual identity of the commuter community in hopes of distinguishing Belchertown as a destination for tourism and business.

Deerfield residents discuss noise, summer concert series with Tree House Brewing reps

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

DEERFIELD — As Tree House Brewing Co. prepares for its next summer concert series, company representatives recently met with residents to hear their concerns.

Whately residents to weigh in on marijuana manufacturing bylaw change

By CHRIS LARABEE

WHATELY — Residents will soon have an opportunity to provide input on a proposed marijuana manufacturing bylaw amendment put forward by Debilitating Medical Condition Treatment Centers (DMCTC).

Photos: Art for all at Campus School at Smith College

A Look Back, Jan. 18

By JIM BRIDGMAN

On Tuesday of last week, the question respecting Amherst Institution was brought up in the House of Representatives and referred to Tuesday of the present week. The committee of investigation suggest in their report that a college should be immediately incorporated at Amherst, and provision made for uniting Williams College with it, should the trustees of that college deem such union desirable.

For local TikTok users, angst and uncertainty as clock runs out on wildly popular app

By ALEXA LEWIS

TikTok users around the region were greeting the looming U.S. ban of popular social media platform TikTok with emotions ranging from sadness to anger to skepticism, with many arguing that a government ban constitutes a limit on free speech.

Sports on chopping block? Amherst athletic fund deficit raises tough choices

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A deficit in the revolving fund that covers costs associated with the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools’ athletics program could be addressed by eliminating certain sports, according to school leaders, even as the Regional School Committee is likely to be asked to make a $175,000 transfer to the account before the end of June.

Saying goodbye to Vox: Hilltown Sleddogs lose Alaskan husky to cancer

By SAMUEL GELINAS

CHESTERFIELD — Vox, an Alaskan husky who raced with the Hilltown Sleddogs, died last Friday after a GoFundMe account raced to raise funds for surgery to remove his spleen cancer that had been uncovered just days before.

Granby Select Board appoints new town administrator

By SAMUEL GELINAS

GRANBY — For the first time in 23 years, Granby has a new town administrator after the Select Board this week unanimously agreed to appoint Shelley Poreda to the position.