'Anybody and everybody can do it': New murals to capture the memories, values and culture of the Valley

Northampton to form 10-member data center study committee

NORTHAMPTON — As the city weighs whether to implement a year-long moratorium on the development of commercial data centers, the City Council voted unanimously on Thursday to form a 10-person committee tasked with studying the impacts a data center would have on the city. The decision came as the proliferation of artificial intelligence data centers […]

Sports Briefs: SuperHero Run & Fall Fair coming to Northampton on October 4

The 10th annual SuperHero Run & Fall Fair, hosted by Cutchins Programs, is set for Sunday, Oct. 4 in Northampton and the window to register is closing soon. Three races will take place including a professionally timed 10K road race, a 5k race/walk as well as a free kids’ fun run. Following the conclusion of the races, the fall fair will feature activities such as face painting and family games with the accompaniment of food trucks and live music. Register at cutchinssuperherorun.org and use code CUTCHINS10 at checkout for a discount. Golf The 78th Annual Rollie Jacobs Western Mass. Tee Party […]

Amherst gets free access to Hampshire College pool

AMHERST — Even as Hampshire College is nearing the end of its operations, Amherst Recreation is using the campus swimming pool for a variety of programs. With the usual indoor swimming pool for the aquatics program closed until at least October, due to the ongoing roof replacement at Amherst Regional Middle School, Town Manager Paul […]

Columnist Rev. Andrea Ayvazian: Contempt divides, dignity unites

I did not quite understand what I was signing up for.  I had complained to trusted colleagues that I was distressed by the divisiveness, polarization, and hurtful language that I have been experiencing in Northampton, a city I love and have called home for 45 years. In response to my hand-wringing, colleagues encouraged me to attend a […]

Belchertown gets unexpected $500K boost

BELCHERTOWN — Belchertown received a welcome fiscal surprise when the state’s fiscal year 2027 budget allocated an additional $500,000 of state aid above the predicted amount. Town Meeting already approved a $62 million budget for fiscal year 2027 in May. This included estimated state aid based on the governor’s budget, which was $19.5 million. However, when the actual state budget came out of conference committee on June 30, the cherry sheet was $502,571 above the governor’s numbers. “This is not a common occurrence,” Town Accountant Jill Rossi said. Municipal leadership will suggest where to allocate the money in the next couple […]