Guest columnists Max Page and Harris Gruman: Massachusetts High Tech Council’s 2026 ballot initiatives aren’t ‘reform.’ They’re a hostile takeover

State Rep. Kelly Pease faces challenge in 4th Hampden from Democrat Colby Hoffman

Voters in Westfield and Southampton will decide on Election Day whether to reelect Republican state Rep. Kelly Pease, who has served the 4th Hampden District for six years, or supporting newcomer Colby Hoffman, a Democrat who did not want to leave the incumbent unchallenged. Ahead of Tuesday’s election, the Gazette interviewed the two candidates, both […]

Author Connie Senior may be a wolf in sheep's clothing. 'Blue Moon,' her third werewolf detective novel, is compelling evidence

A wolf’s sense of smell is about 100 times stronger than that of a human, according to the International Wolf Center. There aren’t any stats on what this might mean for werewolves, but Northampton-based author Connie Senior has penned her best guess. In “Blue Moon,” the third book in her fictional trilogy following “half-man and […]

From living rooms to longevity: Northampton Community Music Center to celebrate 40th anniversary with special guest Ken Burns

When the Northampton Community Music Center (NCMC) first began, it didn’t have a permanent space — students took music lessons in living rooms. Now, the organization is getting ready to celebrate its 40th anniversary, joined by a household-name special guest. NCMC will host its 40th anniversary gala at Mill 1 in Holyoke on Sunday, Nov. […]

Small world, big connections: Students from Kanegasaki, Japan, arrive in Amherst for 35th year of cultural exchange

AMHERST — Junior high school students from Kanegasaki, Japan, will likely go trick-or-treating with their peers from Amherst and experience seasonal frights on Saturday, while also visiting some of the region’s year-round attractions. Amherst Regional Middle School eighth grader Eric Losier, whose family is hosting Sota Onodera for four days, said the Trail of Screams […]

Guest columnist Steve Bloom: History is our brand

Mattoon Street. If you live in Amherst and have had to schlep your kids back and forth to school and athletic events, you’ve driven it countless times. But ever wondered where the name comes from? Born and bred in Amherst, Ebenezer Mattoon (1755-1843) fought in the Revolutionary War, rising to the rank of major. Returning home, he married […]