Small art, big adventure: New Northampton festival turns downtown into a tiny art scavenger hunt

Mount Tom venue Tavern on the Hill sold in Easthampton

EASTHAMPTON — The Tavern on the Hill has officially closed after being the city’s most scenic dining destination for years, sold to a buyer planning to renovate the property into luxury condominiums. The property located at 100 Mountain Road was put up for sale last fall by husband-wife owners Amy and Lawrence “Larry” Guyette, priced at $995,000. However, the property was officially sold last week for nearly half that amount, $475,000. The broker for the sale, Paul Gallagher of Gallagher Real Estate, said the price drop is a sign of the times. “Bars and restaurants are struggling tremendously,” Gallagher said, a trend […]

Chesterfield finalizes battery storage bylaw

CHESTERFIELD — In an empty meeting room at town offices, the Planning Board burned the midnight oil Monday night as they finalized a battery energy storage system, or Bess, bylaw that will be taken up in a special Town Meeting. On Sep. 30, a special Town Meeting will be held in Town Hall, 403 Main […]

Private wells get added safeguards in Amherst

AMHERST — Private wells will get the same protections as public drinking water supplies from construction of solar arrays and installation of battery energy storage systems in Amherst’s bylaw that facilitates development of clean energy projects. Despite concerns from members of both the Town Council and Planning Board that offering 200-foot no-disturbance zones for all […]

Driver escapes serious injury in one-car rollover crash

WESTHAMPTON — A driver received minor injuries in a one-car rollover crash at the intersection of North and Chesterfield roads on Tuesday at around 10:15 a.m. The woman was the only occupant of the vehicle, a Ford Explorer, traveling northbound on Chesterfield Road, according to Westhampton Deputy Fire Chief John Bridgman. The driver sustained minor […]

‘Hillywood Award’ to shine spotlight on female filmmakers at Ashfield FilmFest

Ashfield Town Hall will host the Ashfield FilmFest this weekend, featuring a Friday documentary screening and panel, followed by a Saturday short film competition with various awards, including the new Hillywood Award.