Smith College to close Fort Hill childcare center, leaving families reeling

Amethyst Brook trailhead to undergo accessibility and infrastructure improvements

AMHERST — Already a popular spot for walkers, many with dogs in tow, the Amethyst Brook Conservation Area trailhead will undergo work to improve access to hundreds of acres of permanently protected land in Amherst, Pelham and Shutesbury. With Kestrel Land Trust and The Trustees for Reservations last year placing a conservation restriction on the 1,094-acre contiguous forest now known as the Sarah Cowls Forest at Pelham Hills, the town’s conservation department, in partnership with Kestrel, is upgrading the 132 Pelham Road site. Assistant Town Manager David Ziomek said that some of the phase one work this fall will include installing […]

Ballot Question 1 battle may not end at ballot box

BOSTON — If voters approve a sweeping public records law in November and Beacon Hill tries to replace it, supporters are ready to sue, adding to a web of possibilities heading into the next legislative term. State Auditor Diana DiZoglio says she would “absolutely” consider legal action if lawmakers pass a narrower bill after Question […]

Easthampton declares state of emergency as Ferry Street sinkhole repair costs top $500K

EASTHAMPTON — The city has declared a state of emergency to address the Ferry Street sinkhole as repair cost estimates have grown to nearly $500,000 and a timeline for the end of construction remains undetermined. After the sinkhole formed on Oct. 1 shutting down Ferry Street, crews have been working on weekends and overnight to […]

Ancestral Bridges exhibit reclaims overlooked Black, Indigenous history in Amherst

AMHERST — As the 250th anniversary of the United States and the American Revolution is celebrated, leaders of Ancestral Bridges say the contributions of Black and Afro-Indigenous peoples often remain invisible or wiped from the historical narrative, even in Amherst. In a continuing effort to confront this challenge, the Cottage Street museum has launched “Revolutionary […]

Guest columnists Wendy Berg and Jay Kilbourn: No on Question 3

The path to hell is paved with good intentions. We think we can all agree that our political system is flawed, but Question 3’s proposal will make it worse. Question 3 would eliminate party primaries and replace them with an all-party primary, also known as an open primary system. It is a hedge fund manager’s […]