New minister aims to bring spark back to Westhampton Congregational Church

Around Amherst: Towns celebrates Halloween with spooktacular events

AMHERST — Halloween will be arriving a few days early, both in downtown Amherst and at the Amherst Dog Park, with events happening this weekend. On Saturday at 2 p.m., the Friends of the Amherst Dog Park hosts the fifth annual dog costume “Halloween Pawty” at the Old Belchertown Road site. The contest, with a […]

Hundreds of UMass staff, faculty rally for higher pay, other benefits

AMHERST — Caroline Coley and Adam Feldman work in offices next to each other in the chemistry department at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Aside from a shared job — managing the financial records, overseeing budgets for 200 grants annually and overseeing the acquisition of million-dollar equipment — they have something else in common: They […]

Guest columnist Rachel Tapley: Smith College: Don't close Fort Hill childcare center

Smith College has announced the planned closure of its Center for Early Childhood Education at Fort Hill in June 2027. Per the college’s letter, the reason for the closure is not financial, and they intend to provide “flexible childcare benefits” to employees that can be used at other childcare providers. This is cold comfort to […]

A Look Back, Oct. 23

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H.S. football: Defense steps up in Smith Voc's 22-6 victory over McCann Tech

NORTHAMPTON — Smith Voc sophomore Cole Bruso heard his coaches loud and clear in the fourth quarter against McCann Tech. Up 16-6, the Vikings needed to stop the Hornets one more time to end the game with a few minutes to go. The Vikings’ coaching staff made it clear the secondary had to know where […]