US >Massachusetts >Hampshire
June is Pride month, a month that, like many formerly closeted queer people, I look forward to every year.Earlier this month, I attended a Pride celebration at my first grader’s elementary school in western Massachusetts. The celebration was led by the fifth grade Rainbow Club, a group of courageous...
Gov. Charlie Baker is headed to the nation’s capital Thursday for a meeting with Air Force brass and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal as Barnes Air National Guard Base in Westfield awaits word on whether it will host the newest F-35 fighter jets.The governor’s office said Baker was heading to Washington, D.C....
NORTHAMPTON — The driver charged with hitting and killing city musician Charlie Braun last year as he rode his bike near Northampton High School will serve probation, perform 200 hours of community service and lose her right to drive for 15 years after she pleaded guilty Wednesday to motor vehicle...
SOUTHAMPTON — Throughout most of her formative years, 17-year-old Abby Thibodeau has drawn inspiration from and looked up to a handful of people. Their impact has left such a definitive mark on her life that she has made it her goal to one day become that same influential person to someone else.As...
WORTHINGTON — The town’s celebration of its 250th anniversary in 2018 was so successful that an annual tradition emerged from it called Founders’ Day. Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and no Founders’ Day celebration was held for the past two years.This year, however, Founders’ Day is returning, and...
Micah Bruner’s life revolves around cross-country skiing.The (up until recently) Amherst resident attends the Stratton Mountain School in Vermont, where he and his teammates, which includes Northampton’s David Shycon, train all year long with a particular focus during the winter months.“I definitely...
The Northampton Cycling Club is hosting its 23rd annual Tour of the Hilltowns Race on Saturday, beginning at 10 a.m. at the Notchview Reservation in Windsor. The race is between 53 and 85 miles, depending on rider ability. The course runs through Windsor, Savoy, Plainfield, Ashfield, Charlemont and...
BOSTON — Brad Stevens knows the Celtics need to make changes this offseason if they hope to remain in the mix of what is expected to be a retooled group of teams competing at the top of the Eastern Conference next season. Just don’t expect Boston’s president of basketball operations to blow up a ros...
TAMPA, Fla. — Rob Gronkowski won’t be joining Tom Brady for a third season with the Buccaneers.The four-time All-Pro tight end announced his retirement for the second time in three years on Tuesday. In an Instagram post, Gronkowski thanked his teammates and coaches over the years and said he’s going...
WORTHINGTON — Sheriff Patrick Cahillane, who is running for a second term as Hampshire County sheriff, will be speaking this Sunday in the town Democratic Committee’s Sundays with the Candidates series.“I have always had an open dialogue with anyone who wants to call,” Cahillane said. “There are no...
It was quite a year for the Hampshire Regional girls lacrosse program.The Raiders, in their first year as the host school in a cooperative program after previously operating under the St. Mary’s umbrella, posted an 11-9 record and reached the MIAA Division 4 state tournament for the first time. Whil...
An estimated 70 million Americans have a criminal record. They’ve committed a crime sometime in their past and, when they’ve satisfied the terms of their sentence, the law declared them fit to retake their place in society.Except that society is not convinced that the law is harsh enough, and it oft...
Pickleball fanaticism is reaching a fever pitch in the Pioneer Valley.The country’s fastest growing sport has already found a home at Easthampton’s Nonotuck Park, where two pickleball courts have hosted more than 60 players since their inaugural match in April. In South Hadley, construction is under...
SOUTH HADLEY — A meeting of the Prudential Committee of a South Hadley fire district generally doesn’t elicit tons of excitement. Most of the meetings are quick, perfunctory affairs.But sparks flew at a tense special meeting Wednesday of Fire District No. 1’s Prudential Committee — the elected body...