Speaking of Nature: A fond farewell: The last song sparrow of the season

My Turn: Grieving through nature

The viburnum leaves are now a rich garnet red. The goldenrods’ greying, frizzled heads tentatively touch the frosted earth, and the venerable maple reluctantly drops her golden leaves, strewing an unkempt pelt of brown and bronze and rust across the lawn. Koo is my Inuit carving. He lives on the kitchen windowsill, silent companion to […]

My Turn: Violence against women is real

October is Domestic Violence Prevention Month and a grim reminder of the reality that a leading cause of death for women ages 20-44 is homicide by an intimate partner. In June, the State Domestic Violence Fatality Review Team found domestic violence homicides in Massachusetts jumped 20% to a five-year high in 2025, with an additional […]

Western Mass. towns push back on state solar siting rules at Shutesbury forum

SHUTESBURY — When five solar projects were proposed that could have cleared some 29,000 trees from 190 acres in Shutesbury, town officials were left on their own to cover the costs of the Land Court litigation that followed. Planning Board member Jeff Weston said the town got “no help from anyone” at the state level […]

Clifford F. Roberts Jr.

<html><head></head><body>Clifford F. Roberts, Jr.<br /><br />West Simsbury, CT - Clifford F. Roberts, Jr. passed away peacefully in his sleep at home on October 20, 2026.<br /><br />Cliff was born on December 17, 1926, to Clifford F. and Hazel R. (Vot ...

H.S. Roundup: Pioneer girls volleyball moves past Ware in Class D

NORTHFIELD — With the outcome of the match teetering on the brink of a win or a loss, the Pioneer Valley Regional girls volleyball team needed playmakers on Monday night. The Panthers got clutch plays from Corrie Glenn and Ryleigh Goodwin in the fourth set against Ware, leading to a 3-1 win over the Indians [&hellip;]