Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Tracey Culver of Florence

Beyond the curtain: How 15 Valley artists are building sustainable careers

Being an independent artist comes with its fair share of challenges, but a Springfield organization has just given 15 local artists a way to help mitigate some of them with grant money and professional development opportunities. Earlier this summer, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, a Springfield nonprofit, announced the members of the ValleyCreates 2026 […]

Earth Matters: Bangers on the bog

What makes a good song? What kind of teaching makes learning sink in and stay with us? Recently, as these two spheres in my world began to overlap, I realized making music and teaching my students had more in common than I originally thought. This story began as I was making a ukulele out of […]

Amherst Rotary Club Fair holds first ceremonial opening as rides, games return to Town Common

AMHERST — For the first time in the Amherst Rotary Club Fair’s more than 70-year history, organizers staged a ceremonial opening Thursday evening before the rides, games and food booths welcomed visitors to the Town Common. Marking its 100th anniversary as an organization, the Rotary Club, which has coordinated the community fair with Fanelli Amusements since taking over that role from the Amherst Jaycees in 1995. Club members joined town and state officials, along with representatives from the business community, in cutting a ribbon to open the fair. At a ceremony held below the Ferris wheel and between the Berry-Go-Round and […]

Amherst illuminates Town Hall with purple lights for International Overdose Awareness Day

AMHERST — Town Hall is being illuminated with purple lights for the next week as Amherst recognizes International Overdose Awareness Day. The lighting started Friday. Purple is the color of recovery, symbolizing hope and support. The awareness day aims to honor and remember those who have lost their lives to overdose, to support families, friends and […]

Don't mail it now, Galvin tells voters as primary turnout climbs

BOSTON — Massachusetts will see higher turnout in Tuesday’s primary elections than it did in 2022, Secretary of State William Galvin predicted Thursday while urging voters who have not yet returned their mail-in ballots to avoid putting them in the mail and instead vote in person or use a drop box. Speaking at a press conference […]