Here are today's headlines:

Virtual tour spotlights little-known historic Plainfield house

PLAINFIELD - The Shaw Hudson House is a historical treasure that few people have gotten a chance to see, something the Plainfield Historical Society hopes will change with the launch of a virtual tour that's set to officially go live Monday."It was time to really get the word out," said Lori Austin,...

Health board approves vaccine mandate for Hadley Senior Center

HADLEY - Senior citizens and other people participating in activities offered by the Hadley Senior Center will be required to show proof of their COVID-19 vaccinations beginning Jan. 10, based on an order adopted by the Board of Health.With support from several seniors active at the center, but in...

Despite warm temps, Berkshire East in Charlemont open for the season

CHARLEMONT - Snow has been made and crowds have turned out to ski and snowboard at Berkshire East despite relatively balmy daytime temperatures and rain throughout the past week."Mother Nature may be on strike," said Berkshire East Manager Jon Schaefer by phone, "but if it's cold enough, we can make...

Katya Schapiro settles in as Emily Williston Memorial Library's new director in Easthampton

EASTHAMPTON - Katya Schapiro was 7 years old when she ran her first card-catalogued library in the attic of her family home. Little did the Northampton native know that when she sorted the one and only shelf of the "Bookworm Library" that several decades later she'd tackle the same role in the next...

PHOTOS: Frontier, Hampshire and Northampton race at Roots Athletic Center

WESTFIELD - Northampton sophomore Theodore King-Pollet stuck his tongue out and threw up the "hang loose" sign with both hands as he crossed the Roots Athletic Center finish line.He and teammate Jude Mourad teamed with two West Springfield runners to complete a 4x800-meter relay in 9 minutes, 46.41...

Guest Column Gene Stamell: Medicare wellness checkup

Last month, I had my annual Medicare wellness check-up. As some readers know, once you reach 65, you no longer have a physical exam; you have a Medical wellness checkup. It's like they're purposely rubbing salt into the wound - do I really need reminding that I'm an old man? Having a "physical" soun...

Sounds Local: Looking back and forward on the local music scene

It's time to bid farewell to 2021, a roller coaster ride of a year if there ever was one! And as we inch our way toward 2022 all I can say is tighten your seatbelts because this ride shows no sign of slowing down. Just when it seemed that life was getting back to normal, the omicron variant arrived...

Champions in a pandemic: UMass hockey, Hopkins Academy baseball and Easthampton High soccer capture major titles in 2021

As we moved through another year where the pandemic continued to wreak havoc on all aspects of life in Hampshire County, there were, at least, a few moments in the sports world where fans had reason to cheer in 2021.Perhaps the most memorable came in April, when the UMass men's hockey team won the...