South Hadley man pleads not guilty to murder charge in Holyoke shooting

Northampton breaks ground on $11.6M geothermal system to cut high school’s emissions in half

NORTHAMPTON — Within a year, Northampton High School expects to cut its carbon emissions in half by drawing heat and cooling from 850 feet underground, under an $11.6 million geothermal project the city broke ground on Thursday. Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra joined city and school officials outside the school for the ceremony. The system will pump water through pipes sunk deep into the earth, tapping the ground’s stable temperature to replace the school’s conventional heating and cooling. Officials said the system is also expected to save the city millions in maintenance costs. “A ground source heat pump is simply the most efficient […]

Around the Hamptons: Medical office approved in Southampton

SOUTHAMPTON — A medical office has been approved for land off College Highway, though no medical provider has been chosen to occupy the building. The proposal for the development at 38 College Highway cleared its final permitting hurdle at the Planning Board’s Oct. 7 meeting. Mike Kent of KBIP, the applicant and owner of the land, told the Gazette in an email that he intends to seek a specific medical provider for the property now that the project has been approved. “We’re pleased to have received the site plan and special permit approvals for 38 College Highway. Our goal is to […]

Three women, three generations, one gutsy thing in mind

When we speak of “lifetime” sports, those that you can still do with creaking body parts, doesn’t kayaking spring to mind, or snowshoeing, cornhole, playing catch with the dog or bocce? Jumping out of an open airplane at 14,000 feet, with facial muscles flapping like flags on a speeding pickup, would not seem a natural […]

Easthampton approves 41 housing units across three projects

EASTHAMPTON — Three different projects were recently given the green light for construction by the Planning Board, adding another 41 housing units to a growing list of planned developments in the city. The projects, which are unrelated, were each granted a special permit at the Planning Board’s Sept. 15 meeting. The largest of the three […]

Shutesbury special TM Saturday: Voters to weigh short-term rental fees, sale of donated home

SHUTESBURY — At a special Town Meeting Saturday, residents will act on potential new revenue sources for Shutesbury from the sale of a home that is being donated to the town and the assessment of community impact fees on short-term rental properties. The session, which starts at 9 a.m. at the Shutesbury Elementary School, will […]