Here are today's headlines:

'You made it': Easthampton High hands out diplomas to 100 of the 'strongest, most resilient' graduates

EASTHAMPTON - Horns blew, crowds cheered and balloons swayed in the wind as 100 of Easthampton High School seniors clad in maroon robes and clutching a single rose, processed two-by-two onto Daley Field for the school's 2021 graduation ceremony.For parents, students, teachers and administrators the...

Holyoke High School's 'Class of champions' ready for next chapter

HOLYOKE - Natalia Feliciano, a few moments away from receiving her high school diploma, described the past year as "rara, pero feliz" - "strange, but happy" - in Spanish.She was one of 272 seniors graduating from Holyoke High School on Sunday, an occasion she felt lucky to reach, saying "después de...

Congratulate your graduate! Starting at $29

'You have all made history': Belchertown High School celebrates 171 graduates

BELCHERTOWN - As president of the Belchertown High School class of 2021, David Hulme admitted that coming up with the right words for his commencement speech proved difficult."I feel like there really isn't anything left for me to tell you," Hulme said Thursday evening with his fellow classmates sea...

Bridge Street School students take stand against litter

NORTHAMPTON - Third graders from Bridge Street School took a stand against littering and staged a rally to raise awareness of its harmful impacts on Sunday morning.Around a dozen students held signs and waved at drivers passing by on Bridge Street with the goal of urging people to be more conscienti...

Girls Lacrosse: 100th point just the beginning for Granby's Ella Laliberte

Her 100th career point is likely just the start for Granby girls lacrosse sophomore Ella Laliberte.She reached the milestone in a 10-5 home win over Chicopee Comp on Thursday.After entering the game with 94 career points, Laliberte factored into the Rams' first five scores with an assist and four go...

Guest columnist Andy Jaffe: Observations on China and Taiwan

Recently Richard Fein ("Taiwan and China: Will there be war," May 26) joined The Economist, New York Times and various U.S. military officials in raising the possibility of China invading Taiwan. Having lived and worked in Taiwan for several months annually over the past few years, here are my obser...

Columnist Chelsea Kline: Let's honor Tulsa by acting on policing locally

June 1st, 2021 marked the centennial of the Tulsa Race Massacre. Over 35 city blocks of Black-owned houses, businesses and even churches were looted, burned and destroyed.According to witness accounts, white citizens were deputized by law enforcement, and encouraged to harm and murder people of colo...

Valley Bounty: A splendid strawberry season is on tap at Kosinski Farms

It's strawberry season in the Valley. Maybe the earliest in recent memory, and certainly one of the most prolific if early signs can be believed. But this story actually starts in the blueberry patch."That's where my husband Gene and I met," says Sue Kosinski, now co-owner (with Gene) of Kosinski Fa...

High schools: Belchertown boys volleyball outpaces Chicopee

Andrew Cowles fired seven aces to go along with two kills and three assists, as the Belchertown boys volleyball team bested Chicopee 3-1 at home Friday.The Orioles rallied to win the first set 25-23 then took a 2-0 lead with a 25-21 win in Set 2. Chicopee kept the match a live with a 25-20 victory...