Youth baseball: Northampton blasts Brattleboro Maroon behind Dylan Lawrence-Riddell's seven strikeouts

Columnist Johanna Neumann: After 250 years, here’s one thing that still makes Americans happy

For Bay Staters, “the pursuit of happiness,” as the Declaration of Independence put it, has often taken place in nature. In 1836, Boston-native Ralph Waldo Emerson described the benefits of time spent outdoors on the human soul in his essay, “Nature.” A few years later, Henry David Thoreau’s “Walden” inspired more Americans to connect with […]

Canadian wildfire smoke triggers unhealthy air quality across Hampshire County

Smoke from Canadian wildfires blanketed Hampshire County on Wednesday, bringing unhealthy air quality, orange skies and cancellations of outdoor activities. “What you see outside are pollutants that are coming from a number of forest fires, including some more than 1,500 miles away in Saskatchewan, Canada,” said Richard Peltier, a professor in the University of Massachusetts […]

'Meet the moment,' disability advocates urge at statewide session held in Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — Monica Samano, a 37-year-old Easthampton woman with disabilities, enjoys an active, independent life in her community. But she worries about what will happen when her mother and caregiver is no longer able to care for her. “I’d like to live in our house with people helping me, but I don’t know if that will be possible. It is expensive,” she said. Gene Traver of Greenfield shares similar concerns for his son, Noah, who is autistic. Traver wants more disability services available in Franklin County so Noah can remain in the community where he grew up. Currently, Noah travels to […]

bankESB parent to expand into New Hampshire with new acquisition

EASTHAMPTON — The Easthampton-based parent company of bankESB is getting bigger, acquiring New Hampshire-based Primary Bank in a deal that expands its footprint into a third state. The acquisition comes just months after bankESB announced a name change to TruNorth Bank that involved a three-bank merger. Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of the parent company, Hometown […]

Search ends after body of missing Connecticut man found in Northampton

NORTHAMPTON — A man believed to be 36-year-old Jonathon Maxwell was found dead along the shoreline of the Connecticut River Tuesday afternoon three days after he was reported missing. First responders were dispatched to the area of Shepherds Island and Middle Meadow Road at 3 p.m. Tuesday following a report a body found along the river’s shoreline, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. Upon arrival, emergency personnel used a boat to access the area and recover Maxwell, who was pronounced dead at the scene.  Maxwell, of Connecticut, was reported missing and last seen in Northampton on Saturday, July 11, prompting a […]