South County Notebook: Aug. 18, 2026

UMass football: Minutemen ramping up offseason work

AMHERST — The UMass football team moved into the more contact-oriented part of the preseason in the last week. With the road opener against Rutgers fast approaching, the Minutemen are progressing as planned. “I think we are right where we are supposed to be,” UMass coach Joe Harasymiak said. “We had a great first scrimmage. […]

My Turn: We can do better addressing climate change

I write today in response to Daniel Lyons’ Aug. 1 piece regarding the economics of the renewable energy transition. While monitoring the effects of the energy transition on Massachusetts residents is a valid concern, I believe he fails to consider some important points. 1) The economic concept of externalities: The study of economics acknowledges that […]

My Turn: The stakes of decarbonization

Daniel Lyons’ Aug. 1 column (“The economic reality of net-zero ambition“) consolidates three different critiques of energy decarbonization: A.) that aiming for net-zero carbon emissions is too ambitious, B.) decarbonization is generally too costly, and C.) local decarbonization will have next to no real effect on climate change.  I’ll start where I’m closest to agreeing. Reducing […]

With three new hires in Orange, chief says 'the Police Department's whole again'

Three new officers were sworn in at an Orange Selectboard meeting, bringing the Police Department back to its full staff of 13 officers.

Northfield doctors speak to benefits of family medicine residency, struggles of rural employment

Northfield residents Dr. John Romano and Dr. Rachel Anderson discussed the expansion of the Greenfield Family Medicine Residency Program and its role in addressing physician shortages and healthcare accessibility in western Massachusetts.