Guest column: State conserved lands benefit everyone: Local communities should be fairly compensated for their stewardship

Write on: Local literary organizations offer seasoned scribes and undercover word-lovers opportunities to keep busy

The Valley is a land of writerly possibility. Whether creators are new to the area or new to the page, or published and looking for professional peers, they will find that meet-ups, workshops and readings abound. As the fall goes into full swing, here are five organizations for creatives to consider. Pioneer Valley Writers’ Workshop […]

Guest Column: ICE: Immigrant Cruelty Enforcers

With tactics reminiscent of the round-ups of Jews, Roma, and gays in Nazi Germany, Immigrant Cruelty Enforcers (ICE) are snatching green card holders, undocumented workers, and longtime residents driving to work or dropping off their children at school bus stops — yanking them from their cars as soon as their children board the bus. The […]

Move-in week: UMass welcomes strongest freshman class in a decade with 5,300 new students

AMHERST — Around 5,300 new students are being welcomed to the University of Massachusetts this week, with the freshmen described by UMass officials as one of the most academically strong classes in the past decade. Assisted move-in for students living on campus began Wednesday and continues through Friday, with students not needing help able to arrive Saturday, Sunday and Monday. […]

Around and About with Richard McCarthy: Six words that choked me up

A while back, I was at the dedication of an elementary school in the city where I was raised. The school was being named in honor of a deceased local political figure whom my father thought the world of. I was there as part of my work and as part of my father.  During the […]

Valley Bounty: Putting their own stamp on the soil at River Maple Farm

For many family farms, each new generation brings a wave of change. Whether they’re responding to shifting market conditions, the changing climate or just following their own passions, each generation puts its own stamp on the business. River Maple Farm, located on Route 5 in Bernardston, is no exception. Rena Grover runs the farm alongside […]