Area Briefs: Heavy rain closes portion of Potwine Lane in Amherst

WMass field hockey: Belchertown upends South Hadley, 3-1, for Class B title

WEST SPRINGFIELD — After seeing No. 1 South Hadley score to tie the game in the third quarter, No. 2 Belchertown’s Kian Roy only needed 30 seconds to respond in the Western Mass. Class B field hockey championship. Following the score, Kian Roy received a pass from the center line to the left wing. He […]

UMass wide receiver Dallas Elliot out for season with rare cancer diagnosis

UMass football head coach Joe Harasymiak announced during a press conference on Friday that wide receiver Dallas Elliot will miss the remainder of the season after being diagnosed with “a rare form of cancer.” Elliot, a Leeds native and former Williston Northampton standout, appeared in the Minutemen’s first five games this season. “He’s a fighter,” […]

Amherst begins discussion on data center ban or regulations

AMHERST — Amherst officials are considering either a prohibition on construction of data centers or regulations that would guide their development, such as limitations on their size. While a ban on all new data centers has been referred from the Town Council to the Planning Board and Community Resources Committee, the initial discussion at an […]

Smith College will keep Fort Hill childcare center open until at least summer 2029

NORTHAMPTON — Following nearly two weeks of community outcry, Smith College will keep its Center for Early Childhood Education at Fort Hill open through at least summer 2029. President Sarah Willie-LeBreton announced the decision in an email to the center’s families and staff Friday afternoon, thanking members of both the campus and larger communities for […]

Gaming for good: New tabletop gaming convention Next Turn to support media education, public access

A library of more than 300 tabletop games that guests can check out. “Playshops” for learning how to develop a game, and workshops about turning gameplay into podcasts, videos and livestreams. A game auction, a vendor market — a gamer’s paradise. Northampton Open Media will host Next Turn, a new convention celebrating tabletop gaming, at […]