Guest columnist Rutherford H. Platt: Recalling Alex Polikoff — civil rights warrior and special friend
Guest columnist James Lomastro: Remembering pandemic’s victims: a lesson from the Vietnam War
Sunderland zoning board says it prefers new Dollar General design
Deerfield Academy reaches settlement with sexual abuse victim
Election season continues to heat up in Northampton, as number of candidates for council, school committee up to 28
Immigrant allies ask Amherst officials to call rapid-response hotline, confront ICE when agents are active in town
Educators call for return of School Equity Task Force in Amherst
Whately to consolidate ZIP codes on Jan. 1
My Turn: Why English?
Committee not yet ready to act on assisted suicide proposal
Representatives on one legislative committee are not ready to decide whether one of the most controversial proposals on their plate should move forward early in the lawmaking term.
Holyoke hosts inaugural Paper Festival: Crafts, exhibitions, tours, contests and more in the ‘Paper City’ this Saturday
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Holyoke was known for its thriving paper industry – that’s how it got the nickname “Paper City.” Now, over a century later, the city will celebrate the legacy and impact that paper production had on the area with the inaugural Holyoke Paper Festival.
Most Read
Protesters seeking answers to ‘troubling’ ICE action in Amherst, as federal officials tout 1,500 arrests in Mass.
ICE chief outlines May crackdown in Massachusetts in which 1,500 immigrants taken into custody
Celebrate, reflect: Northampton High School says goodbye to 226 graduates on Sunday
Belchertown voters sign off on school budget at TM that draws 1,100 residents; district saved from massive cuts
Guest columnist Peter Bloom: Academic integrity
Columnist Joanna Buoniconti: I have something to share with the class
Editors Picks
A Look Back, June 4
Good art for good deeds: Belchertown Trash Gala next weekend will showcase three newly commissioned transfer station murals
Arts Briefs: Jazz doc and plein air paintings in Northampton, photo workshops in Easthampton, and more
Technology for all: Holyoke Community College partners with CanCode Communities to offer free classes on AI essentials
Sports
Fresh off program’s first state title, Amherst girls lead local contingent at MIAA Meet of Champions
The Hampshire County contingent of outdoor track and field athletes will lace them up at the MIAA Meet of Champions at Fitchburg State University, beginning Thursday afternoon at 3 p.m., then finishing off on Saturday with Day 2 of competition.
NECBL: Gregory Shaw, Valley Blue Sox edge Newport 1-0 for season-opening win
Div. 5 baseball: Shorthanded Hopkins Academy ends season with 5-0 loss to Monson in Round of 32 (PHOTOS)
Local briefs: Amherst Regional captures state middle school ultimate frisbee championship
Fit to Play with Jim Johnson: The lure of sport gambling
Opinion
Heidi Zahra: Rethinking Harris' honorary Smith College degree
I am an alumna of Smith College. On May 21, I saw this headline in the Daily Hampshire Gazette: “Musician Evelyn Harris returns honorary degree to Smith College after plagiarized speech.” On May 22, I saw this headline on the back of the Smith Alumni Quarterly: ”Cancelling Cancel Culture.” There are surely as many viewpoints on what constitutes plagiarism or “cancellation” as there are possible paths forward now. I graduated 25 years ago and chose to stay in the Valley largely because of its culture of inclusivity and care. I think Smith is an important contributor to that culture and has an opportunity to reconsider this situation now with an ethic of care at the center.
Thea Paneth: Standing with Rev. Peter Kakos
Columnist J.M. Sorrell: Terrorism apologists or useful idiots?
Guest columnist Jenny Adams: Why English?
Joshua Berk Knox: Immigrants are not criminals
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
Business
Rising costs push small businesses to closure as they demand sweeping reforms from legislators
Over 50% of small business owners said they were likely to close or sell their business in the next five years, citing high costs across their businesses as a driving factor, a recent study from UMass Donahue Institute showed.
UMass startup to open in Northampton Industrial Park
Cornucopia plans exit from Northampton after 40 years
Area property deed transfers, May 30
Consumer Corner with Anita Wilson: Home projects: A little homework can fend off a lot of headachese-Edition
Arts & Life
Speaking of Nature: Ghosts in the treetops: Getting to know the great crested flycatcher
Anyone who has spent any time birding will understand that there are certain birds that are more difficult to find than others. Anyone who has spent a lifetime birding will understand that there are certain species that are diabolically difficult to find. Anyone who has spent any time trying to photograph birds will understand that there are some species that are diabolically difficult to find, but even more difficult to spot in the viewfinder of a camera. Today I introduce you to just such a bird, the great crested flycatcher (Myiarchuscrinitus).
Profiling ‘The Raider’: New book by UMass history professor Stephen Platt explores the life of a celebrated but unconventional Marine
Beyond the bottle: Pioneer Valley Wine Festival to feature wine tastings and more
Fabric of history: PVMA painting included in the Met’s ‘Superfine: Tailoring Black Style’ exhibition 
Local tragedies, set to song: Historic Northampton will stage ‘Northampton Stories: From the Operas of Sawyer & Erdman’ next weekendObituaries
Raymond M. Sharick
Granby, MA - Ray Sharick, 57, of Granby, passed away at his home surrounded by family on May 29, 2025 after a five year battle with cancer. Ray was born and raised outside of Pittsburgh, PA where he lived with his eight siblings and... remainder of obit for Raymond M. Sharick
Linda E. Barron
Belchertown, MA - Linda (Eastman) Barron, formerly of Belchertown, Massachusetts, died on Sunday, June 1 at the age of 85. Linda was born in Winchester, Virginia; raised in Barre, Vermont; and attended college in Boston, Massachusetts b... remainder of obit for Linda E. Barron
Henryka Miastkowski
HATFIELD, MA - Henryka Miastkowski, 98, passed away peacefully on Monday, June 2, 2025, at home. She was born November 13, 1926 in Poland. She retired from Pro-Brush after many years of work. Henryka and her daughters came from Poland t... remainder of obit for Henryka Miastkowski
Mary Ann Phoenix Austin
Mary Ann (Kacprzynski) PHOENIX Austin Port St. Lucie, FLA. & easthampton, MA - Mary Ann (Kacprzynski) PHOENIX Austin, 88, of Port St. Lucie, Florida and formerly of Easthampton passed away peacefully with her daughter and grand daughter ... remainder of obit for Mary Ann Phoenix Austin
