No one injured after wrong-way crash in Northampton

Easthampton navigates 'growing pains' over new short-term rental regulations

EASTHAMPTON — Cease-and-desist notices were posted on the front doors of dozens of local Airbnb and Vrbo listings earlier this summer, blindsiding short-term rental owners across the city. “If you were renting a place and you saw a cease-and-desist letter, what are you going to think?” said John Losito, a short-term rental owner in Easthampton. The […]

Belchertown mobile home park water overhaul hits setbacks

BELCHERTOWN — Pine Valley Plantation, a 389-home community for residents 55 and older on 147 acres in Belchertown, has lost a chunk of its state funding to overhaul its failing 45-year-old water system and now faces a looming wetlands violation. The state revoked $1.2 million of a $6 million loan awarded to replace the system, leaving the property without money to complete road paving.  At the same time, the Belchertown Conservation Department expects to issue a notice of violation to the resident-owned mobile home community over erosion control during construction. Heavy rains over the past week have carved 2- to 3-foot […]

Fatal crash closes I-91 southbound near Hatfield, causing major delays

NORTHAMPTON — A five-mile section of Interstate 91 southbound between Whately and Northampton closed Monday morning following a fatal car crash in the highway median in Hatfield at 6:25 a.m., according to state police. Troopers from the Northampton barracks were dispatched to the scene, where the operator of the vehicle, identified as a 30-year-old man […]

Whately, Hatfield begin talks of police regionalization

The Whately and Hatfield police departments are considering a multi-phase regionalization plan to address officer shortages, beginning with the potential for a shared police chief following Michael Dekoschak's retirement in December.

Lightning strike destroys Smith Academy shed storing field hockey equipment

HATFIELD — All field hockey equipment for Smith Academy and the town’s recreation department was destroyed after an apparent lightning strike early Saturday evening totaled a shed at the school, according to Hatfield Fire Chief Robert Flaherty. The fire department responded to the School Street site at 5:47 p.m. with Engine 1, with two firefighters aboard, and, along with state police, found the shed fully involved. Firefighters stretched a hand line to protect an nearby electrical shed that houses well pumps for irrigation of the athletic fields, and also made sure the school’s commercial field mower parked close by wasn’t damaged. […]