Deerfield officials dive into potential impacts ahead of Oct. 6 vote on new Franklin Tech building

Smith College remembers Gloria Steinem, the alumna who called campus her 'enormous refuge'

For Gloria Steinem, a renowned feminist activist, organizer, reporter and author, Smith College wasn’t just a school — it was “an enormous refuge.” “It was the first time that I felt free,” she said in a 2007 oral history. Steinem’s alma mater gave her mental and physical distance from childhood years spent taking care of […]

Hadley Planning Board skeptical of Historical Commission pitch for demo delay bylaw

HADLEY — Once standing at the southwestern corner of Route 9 and East Street, an 1830 farmhouse and barn were torn down two years ago to make way for a new dentist office, despite appeals from the Historical Commission that the buildings be saved. With the future of both the former Russell School building and […]

Columnist Martin Medina-Elizalde: When preparation crowds out childhood

As educators and parents, we want children to learn, be challenged, and develop the abilities they will need as adults. But there is a question we may not ask enough: At what point does preparing children for the future begin to interfere with their development in the present? Much of modern education is organized around […]

Shutesbury select board votes to accept bequest of local home

SHUTESBURY — The Select Board is accepting a late Shutesbury resident’s bequeath of his home, with hopes that its future sale could provide a revenue boost for the town. The board last Wednesday voted 3-0 to proceed with becoming owner of the 1,400-square-foot dwelling at 41 Cooleyville Road, located on a half-acre property just east […]

H.S. golf preview: Hampshire County squads feature no shortage of talent

Local high school golfers returned to the links for the start of the 2026 season last week, marking the beginning of the MIAA fall sports season. Several golf squads have started strong, including Hampshire and Belchertown, while others are still ironing out the kinks through the early portion of the season. While Hampshire County only […]