Easthampton tenants band together to fight rent hikes at Pleasant View apartments

Guest columnist J.M. Sorrell: What then must we do?

The western world seems much more troubled than it was 10 years ago. At the end of October in 2016, I took a solo trip — spending three days with my friends in Reykjavik and a week in Paris in a rented flat. Hope was in the air. Magazine covers in newsstands all over Paris […]

Antisemitic sticker found in child's Halloween candy bag in Southampton

SOUTHAMPTON — A parent reported to police Monday that she found an antisemitic sticker in her child’s candy bag after trick-or-treating in town on Halloween. Southampton Police Chief Ian Illingsworth said the parent came to the Police Department in person Monday to report the incident. Police have not determined who distributed the sticker or how it […]

Amherst bus route plan draws parent pushback ahead of Nov. 30 rollout

AMHERST — Revised bus routes meant to get Amherst’s elementary students to school on time could launch Nov. 30, the superintendent told the School Committee last week, as parents push back on proposed earlier pickups and a roughly 60% cut in stops. Superintendent E. Xiomara Herman told the Amherst School Committee at its Oct. 27 meeting that an adjustment in routes, which remains in the planning stages as feedback is gathered from families, could be formalized by the end of the month. “I think we’re on a good path,” Herman said. “I’m hoping as we can continue to work through this, […]

Nearly 1.17 million Bay Staters voted before Election Day

By the time polls opened at 7 a.m. Tuesday, almost 1.17 million Bay Staters had already cast their ballots — a 22.3% turnout rate for early in-person and mail-in voting in this year’s statewide contests.  Secretary of State William Galvin’s office said 1,168,590 ballots had been submitted early — 821,244 (70.3%) of them came in […]

Guest columnist Tristram W. Metcalfe III: Don't demolish the Gare garage — Reuse it

Northampton is about to make a costly decision that cannot be undone: tearing down the E.J. Gare Parking Garage. Before the city commits, I urge the mayor and City Council to take a harder look at reuse. I have practiced architecture for more than 50 years, mainly renovating, rehabilitating and preserving historic and existing buildings. […]