Guest columnist Tristram W. Metcalfe III: Don't demolish the Gare garage — Reuse 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, […]

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

EASTHAMPTON — Two years ago, the owners of the Pleasant View apartment complex dealt $400 rent increases to multiple tenants. In August, another increase arrived after a change in ownership: Multiple residents received notices ranging from $100 to $200. They were notified of these rent hikes through an online property management app as they were […]

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 […]

'We can keep this going': Hampshire girls soccer trio eyes one last state tournament run

Reaching a state semifinals in high school is a rare enough accomplishment on its own. Since most varsity careers last two, maybe three, seasons, making it a second time is even harder for athletes. Even fewer have the opportunity to lead a long playoff run four years after their first appearance. Three seniors on the Hampshire girls soccer team are hoping to accomplish just that. This fall the Raiders are 14-4-1 and ranked No. 4 in the Division 4 MIAA power rankings headed into the Western Mass. tournament. Both are the best for the Raiders since 2022. That year, they reached […]

Amherst seniors want gym, parking and possibly new building to replace Bangs Community Center

AMHERST — More than half of the people 50 and older who responded to a town survey say a gym and better parking would make them more likely to become regulars at the Amherst Senior Center. Of the 595 people who responded to the 2025 survey, 56% cited a gym as a need and 54% […]