Search Results

By Line search: By SCOTT MERZBACH

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — The Blueberry Patch, a former Christmas tree farm where beef cattle were raised many years ago, is a popular place to walk, pick blueberries and enjoy nature and birding — and for years visitors have done just that, taking advantage of easy...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — Every child should be able to thrive educationally, develop socially and emotionally and benefit from inclusive practices at Leverett Elementary School, according to the school’s new principal.For Siby Adina, who began her tenure in early...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — After a spring semester that came to a close with the arrests of 134 students, faculty and community members at a pro-Palestinian encampment, and nearly 500 faculty members and librarians subsequently taking a no-confidence in Chancellor...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Invasive and destructive, the growth of Japanese knotweed along town roads and municipal rights of way is an increasing concern for some residents, due to its potential for reducing animal and insect biodoversity, lowering water quality...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Continued staffing challenges for small-town fire departments that depend on on-call and volunteer firefighters to respond to emergencies is prompting officials in Shutesbury, Leverett, Wendell and New Salem to examine ways to potentially...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

NORTHAMPTON — Dr. Lynnette M. Watkins, who has served as Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s president and chief operating officer for nearly three years, has left the position.Reached by phone last week, Watkins, who began her tenure at the hospital on Sept....

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A University of Massachusetts Amherst union representing 1,500 employees is calling out the administration for “authoritarian” actions and cracking down on free speech after learning that two student leaders of the Students for Justice in...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Lake Wyola State Park’s beach continues to be closed to swimming this week due to high levels of Enterococci bacteria, with red flags placed on the beach and visitors informed about the situation at both the park entrance and by...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — A collision involving two boats that injured one person on Lake Wyola in June is prompting officials to consider forming a committee to examine overhauling a bylaw that governs use of the 128-acre site.But with the Selectboard proposing a...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Another $800,000 in Community Preservation Act money is being recommended by Amherst officials so the $4.41 million plan to rebuild and reorient the Amherst-Pelham Regional High School’s track and its interior field can proceed.While...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — In the company of young donkey friends, miniature donkey Franklin has perked up, overcoming the grief of losing his life mate of 20 years.In a similar way, Rosie, another miniature donkey, who had once been left alone and without companions...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — More than 37% of annual global greenhouse gas emissions are produced by the billions of tons of concrete, asphalt, steel, glass and other construction materials used in buildings and other infrastructure projects, according to U.S....

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Canceled non-urgent surgeries, procedures and medical visits at Cooley Dickinson Hospital in Northampton, postponed cases in the Massachusetts court system and delayed in-person services at Registry of Motor Vehicles locations are among the impacts...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

A Senate-passed bill featuring a streamlined approach to permitting and siting solar and energy storage projects in Massachusetts, with a consolidated permit for approving clean energy infrastructure instead of multiple local, regional and state...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — A ceremony to kick off the construction of Shutesbury’s new public library, which will replace the 122-year-old M.N. Spear Memorial Library when it opens in fall 2025, is set for early August.Library trustees and the Library Building...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — Numerous floats representing local organizations such as the Rattlesnake Gutter Trust, joined by community groups and officials, will be part of a 53-group parade celebrating the town’s 250th anniversary and stepping off Saturday at 10...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

SHUTESBURY — Anne Magill Diaz is starting her tenure as the new principal at Shutesbury Elementary School on Monday.“I am thrilled to become the new principal of Shutesbury Elementary School,” Magill Diaz wrote in a June 3 letter to the school...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — A retired University of Massachusetts economics professor from the School of Public Policy is being awarded $20 million from Melinda French Gates’ philanthropic foundation, money that will go toward advancing women’s power on a global...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — With the interim Leverett Elementary School principal on a leave that began in March after being criticized for a lack of transparency, representatives of the teachers union are seeing the leadership situation as contributing to a “very...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

AMHERST — Nearly 500 members of the faculty and librarians are expressing no confidence in the leadership of University of Massachusetts Chancellor Javier Reyes stemming from the breakup of a pro-Palestinian encampment on May 7 that led to the arrests...