Edwin R. Johnson

UMass men's basketball: Martin hails 2026-27 roster as 'most complete team' during summer session

AMHERST — College basketball is slowly appearing on the horizon, as the UMass basketball team got some work in during an hour-long summer practice at the Champions Center on Monday afternoon. The focus of the practice was introductory defensive principles. The Minutemen return seven players from last year’s team. Five freshman and three transfers fill […]

Amherst captain appointed new Charlemont/Rowe fire chief

The Charlemont Selectboard unanimously voted to appoint Chris Goodhind as the new shared fire chief for Charlemont and Rowe, with his official start date set for August 14.

Candidate forums for 1st Franklin District rep, Governor's Council on the horizon

As the November general election approaches, Franklin County residents will have the chance to hear from a few candidates at several local forums. 1st Franklin District rep. After state Rep. Natalie Blais resigned on Jan. 19, Speaker of the House Ronald Mariano opted not to call a special election to replace her, leading Blais’ seat to remain open until […]

Pushback: State housing projections are the floor, not the ceiling

Massachusetts needs more housing, but how much more? On July 28, 2026, the Recorder published a front-page story in which five local housing developers and municipal planners questioned the accuracy of state data on projected housing need that were originally presented 17 months ago in a report from the Healey Administration called “A Home for Everyone.” The state’s […]

Speaking of Nature: Tuning into an ancient symphony: A wild ride into the 'dog days' of August with the musical cicada

Last week, I was invited to appear on WHMP’s “Talk The Talk” radio show with Brian Adams. This was my fourth appearance on the show, and I had an absolutely wonderful time. Though we’ve only met a few times, I consider the entire gang a group of great friends and I hope that comes through […]