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By SAMUEL GELINAS

AMHERST — Change is a theme common enough at college commencements — a beginning and an end. But for the UMass Amherst class of 2025, change seemed more pressing and obvious when they received their diplomas Friday night.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

When Memorial Day was established in 1868 after the Civil War, no specific observance was prescribed or recommended other than decorating the graves of those who died in defense of the country — hence its original title of “Decoration Day.”

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HOLYOKE — Teams of emergency personnel were scouring the Connecticut River Tuesday in search of 27-year-old Niklas Delisle, who was carried away by the current Monday night after his kayak capsized.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HOLYOKE — For decades, millions of gallons of the city’s sewage have flowed into the Connecticut River on a regular basis during periods of heavy rain.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WORCESTER — According to Oxford Dictionary, baseball refers to both the game and the ball used in it. It’s a popular sport played by two teams of nine players, who take turns batting and fielding. The game involves hitting a ball with a bat and running around four bases before the other team can return the ball.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — Adam Gagne, once an Eagle Scout troop leader who impacted the lives of hundreds of Northampton area scouts, is being returned the favor by many of his former scouts who are embarking on yet another community service project — but this time, to help their former troop leader.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

BOSTON — Indigenous leaders took the podium in the State House this week to voice united support for five pieces of legislation filed on behalf on their communities, including bills that would say goodbye to Columbus Day in favor of Indigenous Peoples Day and bar the use of Indigenous-themed mascots in public schools.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

SOUTH HADLEY — Leo Ortiz took to the microphone at a rally Tuesday afternoon to share how he supplements his income as a cook at Mount Holyoke College.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

Mariel Hohmann spent a day late last month welcoming a group of 40 people to a new hiking trail in Goshen where she had spent thousands of hours coordinating volunteer trail construction over the last year and a half.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HOLYOKE — Terry Keeler was sweeping the polished wood floor of the sanctuary at Our Lady of the Cross parish in Holyoke early Friday morning ahead of Mass. The lights weren’t even on yet as devotees dotted the pews of the immense cross-shaped Gothic church and prayed the rosary together.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

CHESTERFIELD — At annual Town Meeting Monday, the town’s electorate will be asked to approve a 3% budget increase that calls for boosting salaries of town employees, among other measures.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

SPRINGFIELD — Bishop William Byrne was just as caught off-guard as everyone else Thursday when white smoke marked the election of Pope Leo XIV, who will reign as the next pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — A third candidate entered the race to become the city’s next mayor when business leader Jillian Duclos announced her bid late Monday night.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WORTHINGTON — Deb Rocque skirted past Walter Fritz in Saturday’s town elections by 27 votes for a one-year spot on the Select Board.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

CHESTERFIELD — Laura Somes reclaimed her seat for three more years on the Hampshire Regional School Committee in Monday’s election, receiving 103 votes to beat challenger Jesse McMillan, the former principal of New Hingham Regional Elementary School, who received 68 votes.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

CHESTERFIELD — Town elections, which will be held Monday, feature a single contested race for a spot on the Hampshire Regional School Committee between incumbent Laura Somes and Westfield Middle School Principal Jesse McMillan.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WILLIAMSBURG — A total of 23 uncontested spots for town positions will be on the ballot at Monday’s town election, when polls will be open for residents to cast their votes from 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. in the second floor auditorium of the Town Offices on Main Street.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WORTHINGTON — On Saturday morning, residents will have a four-hour window to cast their ballots for town officials, with the most prominent being a race for a one-year spot on the Select Board after Steve Smith stepped down earlier this year, whose term continues until 2026.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

PLAINFIELD — The town’s government kicks into high gear on Saturday when residents tackle a 25-article warrant at annual Town Meeting and cast their votes for town election.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

CUMMINGTON — When annual Town Meeting is called to order on Friday at 7 p.m. in the Community House at 33 Main St., voters will be asked to approve a budget for next fiscal year that’s $500,000, or 17%, higher than the current year.

By SAMUEL GELINAS

WORTHINGTON – With projected revenues falling short of expenditures, the town is “certainly” headed for an override, Select Board Chair Charley Rose said last week.