Valley Bounty: Cultivating community wellness: Sweet Birch Herbals offers herbal products, education, and consultations in Ashfield

Keeping Hadley small while thinking big: New town administrator sees opportunities for growth

HADLEY — Even with over one-third of its land area permanently protected and wide expanses of farmland preserved in perpetuity, significant possibilities exist for enhancing Hadley’s tax base, while at the same time maintaining the character of the community. That’s the take from new Town Administrator Nate Malloy’s vantage point. As Malloy settles into the job — in May he became the first person to hold the position on a permanent basis in nearly two years — he is examining ways to stabilize and strengthen municipal finances, preserve existing town services and continue the forward momentum enjoyed by the public schools. […]

A cinematic homecoming: Director Jay Craven to host Q&A for locally filmed ‘Lost Nation’ at Greenfield Garden Cinemas

The historical drama filmed partially in Colrain and Leyden in 2022 is getting something of a homecoming this month when it plays at the Greenfield Garden Cinemas. “Lost Nation” is slated for a screening at 6:30 p.m. on Aug. 20, followed by a question-and-answer session with director Jay Craven. “We love the Q&As, because they are about the film and, of course, about the history,” he said. Kingdom County Productions, which Craven co-founded in Vermont with his wife, Bess O’Brien, wrapped up filming in May 2022, having visited Colrain and Leyden the previous month. “We’ve been touring it now for two […]

Amherst zoning board orders changes to oversized Newell Court accessory unit

AMHERST — The Zoning Board of Appeals has ruled that an accessory dwelling unit under construction at 27 Newell Court is too large under the town’s zoning bylaw, ordering developer Alan St. Hilaire to either shrink the unit’s living space or have an owner live on site. The board’s unanimous vote at its Thursday, Aug. 13 meeting, acting on a petition brought by neighbor Noah Kuhn of 9 Newell Court, overturned a May 4 decision by Building Commissioner Rob Morra, who had excluded attic space from the project’s gross floor area calculations. The board upheld a related May 12 decision by […]

Book Review: ‘What Do I Feed the Birds?’: Bernardston author releases guide to attract feathered friends

For Kelley Manson, bird-loving is only natural. Listen to their songs. Revel in the colors of their feathers. Be quiet, and let them talk. Birds invite you into the moment. “With all the stress and chaos in the world, birds are calming, and visually beautiful, and they help us relax and maybe escape a bit […]

‘Give us more of that socialism’: Markey, Warren rally Democrats in Holyoke

HOLYOKE — As President Donald Trump derides the growing influence of socialism within the Democratic Party, U.S. Sen. Ed Markey and Sen. Elizabeth Warren did not shy away from the word early Saturday morning in Holyoke. Instead, they fully embraced it. “Give us more of that socialism,” was Markey’s mantra as he spoke before a […]