Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: Fall is the perfect time to plant trees for a thriving landscape

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 […]

On the Run with John Stifler: From the village green...

Dear lovely bowers of innocence and ease, Seats of my youth, when every sport could please, How often have I loitered o’er thy green, Where humble happiness endeared each scene! Readers of 18th century English poetry may recognize those lines from Oliver Goldsmith’s poem “The Deserted Village.” If words like “o’er” and “bowers” don’t suit your post-modern taste, forgive the poet — he was writing in 1770 — and let me tell you that the sport in Montague Center on Aug. 15 certainly pleased 125 people who ran in the 45th annual Montague Mug Race or the Mini-Mug Race, along with […]

Hampshire County faces moderate West Nile risk as virus found in local mosquitoes

Mosquitoes in two Hampshire County and neighboring communities, including Holyoke, have tested positive for West Nile virus. The Holyoke Board of Health released an advisory on Thursday stating that a total of 18 mosquitoes testing positive for the virus had been trapped in Hampshire and Hampden counties: one in Northampton, two in South Hadley, three […]

New policy protects Amherst students from civil law enforcement on school grounds

AMHERST — An emergency response plan under provisions of the Massachusetts PROTECT Act and state law is in place for the Amherst, Pelham and Amherst-Pelham Regional schools, ensuring additional protections for students who could be targeted. The committees for the three districts, at a joint meeting Tuesday, unanimously enacted the policy, which establishes procedures for […]