Here are today's headlines:

Hadley Select Board rules no vaccinations needed for town buildings

HADLEY - Vaccinations against COVID-19 will not be required to enter Hadley municipal buildings, including the Hadley Senior Center, Hadley Public Library and Town Hall, after the Select Board adopted a recommendation this week from the town's lead safety team that contravenes a pending order from...

Area politicians weigh in on Healey's entrance into governor's race

NORTHAMPTON - The much-expected entrance of Attorney General Maura Healey into the race for the Democratic nomination for governor caught the attention of politicians and political observers from across the state, and western Massachusetts was no exception."She's instantly become the front-runner,"...

Tiers of joy: Easthampton baker opens new cake shop

EASTHAMPTON - What helps make a special occasion worth celebrating? Some may say it's the decorations. Others may say it's the theme. For Brandee Simone, it's the cake that takes the cake.The Easthampton woman officially opened her business, Many Layers Cake Shop, in December after graduating from...

Classical comeback: Valley Classical Concerts returns after two-year absence

When he stepped down from WFCR-FM (now part of New England Public Media) in late 2013 after almost 25 years as the station's classical music director, John Montanari said he'd continue work in a similar vein that he'd also been doing awhile: serving as the artistic director of a concert series that...

UMass basketball takes down Saint Louis to end 4-game losing streak

AMHERST – Deep in the hole, the UMass men's basketball team kept digging to come out the other side.The Minutemen went 7-of-7 from the free throw line and made 3-of-3 shots from the field over the final three minutes to beat Saint Louis 91-85 on Thursday at the Mullins Center. It snapped a four-game...

Hilltown Land Trust harvest used to build Easthampton co-op

WESTHAMPTON - In 2007, the Hilltown Land Trust provided hemlock timbers for the entrance of River Valley Co-op's Northampton location, part of the wood harvested from the nonprofit's Stevens property.That collaboration was renewed when, more than a decade later, the Land Trust donated wood from a ha...

Wellness with Barry Bouthilette: Making gravity a fitness friend

Life is hard enough without making it any harder, right?Yes and no.Yes, because we already have plenty on our plate with work and family and other responsibilities. If anything, making life easier would seem to be the goal.On the other hand, there is good rationale for making our day more physically...

Alpine skiing: Hampshire Regional's Edward Przybyla captures victory at PVIAC Race No. 3 (PHOTOS)

CHARLEMONT – It was perfect night for skiing at Berkshire East Resort on Thursday, a welcome respite for many of the competitors after some early weather made a couple earlier races ruddier and more difficult to navigate.Much of the local talent continued to impress on the course, as Hampshire Regio...