Guest columnist Steve Fox: A feeling of genuine hope, even for skeptics

Hadley property tax bills to rise $781 as Select Board keeps single tax rate

HADLEY — A homeowner living in an average single-family home, assessed at $510,723, will pay nearly $800 more in property taxes in the coming year, according to information provided to the Select Board at its Nov. 4 meeting. At the annual tax classification hearing, the Select Board voted unanimously to set a single tax rate of $12.21 per $1,000 valuation, following a presentation by Principal Assessor Cheryl Hollway and Jeff Mish, who chairs the Board of Assessors. If that rate is approved by the state’s Department of Revenue, the average single-family home, which has increased in value from $475,929 to $510,723, […]

Amherst mother charged after letting 12-year-old daughter drive pickup truck

AMHERST — An Amherst woman is facing a criminal charge after allegedly allowing her 12-year-old daughter to drive her pickup truck on a public way Friday afternoon, police said. At 4:15 p.m. Friday, police were notified by another parent that, about 10 minutes earlier, a girl was seen driving a half-ton pickup truck to a […]

Hyperion Systems LLC hoping to install 2.14-acre solar array in Whately

The Whately Zoning Board of Appeals held its first public hearing regarding Hyperion Systems LLC's proposal to install a 2.14-acre solar array at Chang Farm.

Amherst College plans Dickinson Street building for daycare, faculty housing

AMHERST — A three-story building that will be affiliated with Amherst College, which will include first-floor space for the Woodside Children’s Center and residential units on the upper levels, is being planned for two parcels on Dickinson Street. Developer Barry Roberts, represented by attorney Thomas Reidy of Bacon Wilson, is seeking to build at 24 […]

Smith College adds drug take-back box to keep medications out of waterways, wrong hands

NORTHAMPTON — In an effort to keep old or unwanted prescription medications out of the water supply or wrong hands, a drug collection drop box has been installed at the Smith College Public Safety office building. Hampshire Sheriff Patrick Cahillane and Northwestern District Attorney David Sullivan joined Northampton and Smith College’s police chiefs along with […]