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Keyword search: Pioneer Valley

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

According to a 2024 study by the American Psychological Association, nearly 50% of American adults report feeling more stressed out than ever. A national campaign, Meditate America, is looking to lower the collective blood pressure through...

By SCOTT MERZBACH

LEVERETT — The Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) is launching a new weekday round-trip service from Amherst to Greenfield that, for the first time, will include a stop in Leverett.The agency announced this week the start of the...

By CHRIS LARABEE, MADISON SCHOFIELD, ANTHONY CAMMALLERI, ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN and DOMENIC POLI

The MCAS scores for 2024 have been released, showing that approximately 30.1% of Franklin County and North Quabbin students met or exceeded expectations, 48.5% partially met expectations and 21.5% did not meet expectations in the math and English...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — How can a school’s institutional practices and physical spaces position a district to better serve teachers and students alike? A team from the Pioneer Valley Regional School District is taking a trip to Kentucky in October to see how...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — As schools kicked off around the valley this week, Pioneer Valley Regional School District students likely saw the biggest change among schools.The district implemented the use of magnetic Yondr pouches to curb cellphone use among...

By DOMENIC POLI

Community Action Pioneer Valley will be awarded $1.25 million from the federal government to help low-income senior citizens remain in their homes through low-cost home modifications.Energy Director Peter Wingate said the nonprofit plans to use the...

By CHRIS LARABEE and DOMENIC POLI

With a $165,000 grant, 18 formerly incarcerated individuals in Franklin and Hampshire counties can participate in a training program with their respective sheriffs’ offices and Community Action Pioneer Valley to prepare them to re-enter the...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — The 54 members of the Pioneer Valley Association of Support Personnel (PVASP) will see what administrators say is a “record” pay increase for the union following the approval of a three-year contract.The contract, which was approved by...

By ALEXA LEWIS

Fare-free bus rides could be here to stay now that millions of dollars have been set aside in the state budget that will allow regional transit authorities to waive fees, and politicians and others who support the idea say it has the potential to be...

By PAIGE HANSON

Ska music has always had a niche following within western Mass, especially during the ’90s with students playing their own small ska shows in college dorms, underground DIY venues and locations such as Daddy-O’s in Springfield and Pearl Street...

By SHERYL HUNTER

A year ago, Eric Coles launched 413Ska, an event production and marketing organization in Northampton. He booked his first show at JJ’s Tavern in Florence. It was a small show but it was a start, and over time the shows and audiences have grown. He’s...

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

Following an overall decline in teacher retention in 2023, Franklin County and North Quabbin school districts saw a mix of increased and decreased retention rates in the 2023-2024 school year, according to data from the state Department of Elementary...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — Three years after the idea was tabled, the Pioneer Valley Regional School District School Committee voted to reinitiate discussions regarding the transition of the district’s sixth grade classes from the elementary schools up to Pioneer...

By ANTHONY CAMMALLERI

GREENFIELD — What was once the site of an old farmhouse is now being transformed into an affordable, all-electric one-bedroom home at 184 Petty Plain Road with help from Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity.The idea for the project, funded using...

By MELISSA KAREN SANCES

The founder of the Body Liberation Outdoor Club saw “The Fat Babe Pool Party” in “Shrill,” the Hulu series about a heavy woman’s journey to embracing her body, and felt like she was in a dream. In the fourth episode of Season 1, the main character has...

Seventh Grade Highest Honor: Isabella Allen, Zeevah Andrews, Kailyn Arsenault, Brody Bartak, Greyson Bellville, Nathan Bloom, Jaelyn Boliski, Hayden Brechenser, Serenity Brown, Lucianne Burnap, Kaelynn Chabot, Taylor Chase, Kaylan Costello, Judy...

By SHERYL HUNTER

Here at Sounds Local, we’ve been so busy talking about all the live music this summer that the new releases have been piling up. So, let’s get to a few of these.The Stone Coyotes of Greenfield recently announced the release of their final song, “Play...

By CHRIS LARABEE

BERNARDSTON — As work continues on the Pioneer Valley Regional School District’s district agreement, town officials in the three member towns are conducting their own review of the revisions at the same time.At the Bernardston Senior Center Thursday...

By LIESEL NYGARD

NORTHFIELD — Speakers motivated the 41 Pioneer Valley Regional School graduates Friday night by using Winston Churchill and Benjamin Franklin quotes. Principal Matthew Sullivan kicked off the celebration by telling the graduates, who were dressed in...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — Beginning in August, Pioneer Valley Regional School District students will be prohibited from using cellphones at any time during the school day.In a unanimous vote Thursday, the School Committee approved a policy charging district...

By CHRIS LARABEE

NORTHFIELD — The district is welcoming a veteran educator to Pioneer Valley Regional School this summer as Annie Scanlan-Emigh takes the helm as principal.The assistant principal at Michael E. Smith Middle School in South Hadley and educator of 17...