A faithful calling: Rev. Vicki Kemper to step away from pulpit at First Church Amherst

MWRA withdraws request to take 20M more gallons a day from Quabbin

BELCHERTOWN — The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority on Thursday dropped its proposal to withdraw an additional 20 million gallons a day from the Quabbin Reservoir in response to loud opposition from communities surrounding the watershed. Opposition boiled over in September, when more than 130 people packed Belchertown Town Hall to speak against the request. Commenters […]

‘Telling is healing’: New audio-video podcast gives voice to survivors of sexual violence

Donna Jenson used to harbor a horrible secret. She couldn’t tell anyone that her father was sexually abusing her. She didn’t even want to acknowledge it herself. It took decades before she could reckon with the abuse privately, let alone speak publicly about it. But now, she’s helping other survivors amplify their own paths to […]

Atkinson Family Practice founder abruptly departs after 21 years; Northampton office closes

AMHERST/NORTHAMPTON — Dr. Katherine Atkinson has left the Amherst and Northampton family practice she ran for more than two decades, a year and a half after selling it to keep it out of bankruptcy.  “I would never leave my patients on short notice if I had any option,” Atkinson said in a phone interview with […]

UMass football: Pop Watson propels Minutemen past Ball State in 31-30 OT victory

AMHERST — The UMass football team desperately needed a boost in its return home on Wednesday against Ball State. Sitting on a four-game losing streak, the Minutemen suffered through a one-point loss to Miami (OH) and an overtime defeat to Buffalo in previous weeks. Against the Cardinals, the Minutemen found themselves in overtime once again, […]

Amherst bus route plan draws parent pushback ahead of Nov. 30 rollout

AMHERST — Revised bus routes meant to get Amherst’s elementary students to school on time could launch Nov. 30, the superintendent told the School Committee last week, as parents push back on proposed earlier pickups and a roughly 60% cut in stops. Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman told the Amherst School Committee at its Oct. 27 meeting that an adjustment in routes, which remains in the planning stages as feedback is gathered from families, could be formalized by the end of the month. “I think we’re on a good path,” Herman said. “I’m hoping as we can continue to work through this, […]