Around Amherst: Town celebrates $4.6M track and field complex

Coming home to compassion: Richard Gere returns to UMass for ‘Wisdom of Happiness’ film screening

AMHERST — Actor and humanitarian Richard Gere is perhaps best known for playing characters with dubious morals, like Billy Flynn in “Chicago” or Julian Kay in “American Gigolo.” But on Wednesday night, he returned to the University of Massachusetts Amherst — his alma mater — to screen a movie that encourages compassion and cooperation for […]

Leverett board discusses cooling centers and cultural district plans

LEVERETT — With an aging population often affected by heat waves and extreme weather, the Council on Aging is requesting the town establish a policy to ensure there are places in town for residents to stay cool, such as the Leverett Library and the Leverett Public Safety Complex. Judi Fonsh, who chairs the Council on […]

Book Review: ‘What Do I Feed the Birds?’: Bernardston author releases guide to attract feathered friends

For Kelley Manson, bird-loving is only natural. Listen to their songs. Revel in the colors of their feathers. Be quiet, and let them talk. Birds invite you into the moment. “With all the stress and chaos in the world, birds are calming, and visually beautiful, and they help us relax and maybe escape a bit […]

A life unraveled: Playwright Elizabeth LaPrade explores life on death row in one-woman show at 33 Hawley

Performer and writer Elizabeth LaPrade will bring her original one-woman show “Her Final Hour” to 33 Hawley in Northampton on Friday, Sept. 18, at 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 19, at 4 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 20, at 2 p.m. Each performance will be followed by a talkback with LaPrade, director Jean Devereux, and professionals whose […]

Guest columnist Lawrence Pareles: The president vs. Canada — everyone loses

President Donald Trump’s new tariffs on Canada are not just a bad idea — they are a destructive and probably illegal policy that hurts Americans, weakens our economy, betrays our closest ally, and undermines our standing in the world. If these tariffs remain in place, American families will pay more for everyday goods, from groceries […]