Valley Advocate
Speaking of Nature: Rare sighting: Evening grosbeak spotted at feeders amid population decline
A rare evening grosbeak visit highlights declines from habitat loss and budworm pesticide use; feed large seeds to help these dwindling winter visitors from the boreal forests.
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6mRelief in sight for Amherst’s aging DPW ‘Barn’
AMHERST — Inside the main vehicle bay at the Department of Public Works building, often simply referred to as the “Barn,” a puddle on the concrete floor that developed from a recent rainstorm has nearly dried up, even as the underside of the roof in a nearby storage area remains soggy — with tiles were […]
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8mA fresh start: Amherst ready to open first new elementary school since 1970s
AMHERST — Letters spelling “welcome” on the door and the phrase “change your words, change your mindset” on the bulletin board are displayed in the classroom where Catherine Moss will teach second graders at Amethyst Brook Elementary School. As she finished setting up the space last week inside the first new elementary school opened in […]
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4mUMass football: Minutemen preparing for season-opener against Rutgers
When the UMass football team travels to Rutgers for its season opener on Thursday, Sept. 3, coach Joe Harasymiak will have intimate knowledge of the opponent at SHI Stadium in Piscataway, New Jersey. The gameplan should be simple for the Scarlet Knights. Rutgers went 5-7 last season and 2-7 in the Big Ten. The team […]
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Amherst College completes demolition of two historic properties
AMHERST — Amherst College recently completed demolition of two historic homes it owns, including the 14-room Arthur H. Dakin Estate, according to a spokesperson. The larger of the two buildings, the Dakin property at 355 South Pleasant St., featuring a Georgian Colonial home with an attached garage, was largely screened from the road by trees […]
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4mA kernel of truth: New England dairy farmers use high-tech data to earmark harvest day
HADLEY — Corn silage stalks that will become the main sustenance for dairy cows during the winter months are nearly ready to harvest from fields throughout New England. While farmers could make educated guesses on when to harvest the corn using their own instincts and knowledge, many are instead turning to scientific data to pinpoint […]