Guest columnist Laurie Loisel: Erasing people is not acceptable

Easthampton Porchfest 2026: 66 performers at 25 locations across four neighborhoods

EASTHAMPTON — It’s not an everyday occurrence to mosey into a stranger’s backyard, stumbling into a live concert with neighbors and friends. But that is exactly what will happen across the city on Saturday for Easthampton’s fourth annual Porchfest, starting at noon and lasting through the afternoon. “Easthampton is called the ‘Little City With a Big […]

Guest columnist Rachel Markowitz: Cultivating respectful dialogue in Northampton

If you’ve lived in Northampton for at least the last few years, you’ve likely noticed that we in Paradise City at times descend into Hadestown. We did for sure in the spring of 2025, when Northampton High School staged the Broadway musical Hadestown and it seemed like everyone in town was there. But I’m speaking […]

Shutesbury panel to study Leverett Road berm after Highway Department safety concerns

SHUTESBURY — A decorative berm featuring bushes, shrubs and flowers in front of the Highway Department may need to be removed or scaled back to improve traffic safety on a section of Leverett Road, according to a draft assessment completed by the Franklin Regional Council of Governments. Yet while the vegetation on the berm is […]

Three Publicans to raise the bar with new Northampton music venue

NORTHAMPTON — Years ago, musician and at-large City Councilor Garrick Perry would stare out the window of his old job at the now-closed Spaghetti Freddy’s at 125 Pleasant St. at the Bishop’s Lounge balcony across the street. Now he and two partners are bringing the space back to life. More than two years after Bishop’s […]

Area Property Deed Transfers, Oct. 2

AMHERST Julian M. Marinus and Megan A. Oshea to Douglas R. Gibson and Judith A. Gibson, 590 Middle St., $590,000 Helen Mary Lou EST and Luke A. Thelen to Mark F. Montagna and Seraphina Montagna, 208 Rolling Ridge Road, $650,000 Alex K. Phakos and Lis M. Minter to Yining Feng and Jinwei Zhang, 28 Trillium […]