Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: Hidden in plain sight: The secret gardens of Grace Episcopal Church

'Can't Afford Not To': Grammy award-winning Jon Carroll celebrates release of first album in 18 years

Musician Jon Carroll, co-founder of the Starland Vocal Band, won two Grammy Awards in 1977 for the hit song “Afternoon Delight,” but his musical accomplishments extend far beyond that breakout success. His résumé includes performing with The Chicks and Mary Chapin Carpenter and writing songs recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Tom Jones and Kenny Rogers. Now, […]

Western Mass magic: Ashfield author drops fourth fantasy novel

Ashfield author Jorma Kansanen is partial to magic. For the past decade, he’s developed a young adult fantasy series based in western Massachusetts that centers on fraternal twins with supernatural powers. While the siblings navigate the perils of adolescence, they must answer to a higher calling. On Tuesday, Aug. 25, fans can pre-order the fourth […]

Amherst delays middle school opening due to roof and air quality issues

AMHERST — Amherst’s new Chestnut Street Academy and the Amherst Regional Middle School will have a delayed opening for the semester due to ongoing work on the roof of the building and concerns about air quality inside it. Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman announced in a message sent to families Wednesday that the first day of […]

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Jodi Hnyda of Leeds

Jodi Hnyda of Leeds shared this photo. “I’m beating this summer heat with my homemade Smoked Blueberry ice cream! I used my smoker to get the flavor just right. I used eggs and hand-picked blueberries from Rocky Bottom Farm in Holyoke.” How to enter: Snap a pic of something delicious-looking and send it with your name, town […]

Amherst greenhouse gas emissions drop 13%, falling short of 2025 climate goal

AMHERST — Greenhouse gas emissions in Amherst dropped by nearly 13% below 2016 levels last year, well short of a 25% goal included in the Climate Action, Adaptation and Resilience Plan adopted by the Town Council five years ago. But even though a greenhouse gas emissions inventory report provided to the Energy & Climate Action […]