Sports Briefs: UMass, Amherst College to host badminton tournament

Judge denies defense bid to independently examine Hotel UMass murder suspect's phone

NORTHAMPTON — A Superior Court judge denied a defense attorney’s motion to independently examine the cellphone of murder suspect Jeffrey MacDonald following a lively debate in Hampshire Superior Court on Thursday. MacDonald, a Wilbraham chef accused of murdering his wife at the Hotel UMass in April, appeared in court alongside his attorney Mary Saldarelli for […]

Northampton weighs demolition of historic house owned by Cooley Dickinson Hospital

NORTHAMPTON — The Historical Commission is deciding whether to delay Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s plans to demolish the 150-year-old “Louise Finn” house at 1 Denniston Place, which was dedicated to a community pillar in 2009 and is believed to have ties to the early abolitionist movement. John Atwater, facilities manager at Massachusetts General Hospital, which owns […]

A new path to homeownership: Amherst Community Homes officially opens

AMHERST — After more than 25 years in North Amherst, the last 17 as a renter at Riverside Apartments, Cat Stryker never expected to own a home here. This fall, she will. Next month, Stryker will acquire a duplex at Amherst Community Homes, where she’ll share a dwelling with her grown daughter. “I could never […]

Write on: Local literary organizations offer seasoned scribes and undercover word-lovers opportunities to keep busy

The Valley is a land of writerly possibility. Whether creators are new to the area or new to the page, or published and looking for professional peers, they will find that meet-ups, workshops and readings abound. As the fall goes into full swing, here are five organizations for creatives to consider. Pioneer Valley Writers’ Workshop […]

Around and About with Richard McCarthy: Six words that choked me up

A while back, I was at the dedication of an elementary school in the city where I was raised. The school was being named in honor of a deceased local political figure whom my father thought the world of. I was there as part of my work and as part of my father.  During the […]