Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Easthampton, MA
Nearby: Easthampton, MAEasthampton, MA – Jonathan S. Watling, age 35, passed away on Sept 29. He was born in Northampton MA, on Feb 26, 1991, the son of Kevin Watling and the late Denise Ann LeBeau.Jonathan attended Easthampton public schools and went on to graduate from Smith Vocational High School of Northampton in 2009. He worked for Boulanger’s Plumbing, Pelican Products, and other various jobs in the community over the years.Growing up in Easthampton, Jon enjoyed spending time with his friends, creating music and films, skateboarding, and taking walks with his dog’s Oreo and Scout. He was a free spirit whose company will be greatly missed by those who knew him. Especially his grandmother Gloria. He is survived by his grandmother Gloria LeBeau, father Kevin Watling, grandparents Kenneth & Carol Roberts, and Aunt Tina LeBeau.He was predeceased by his mother Denise A.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Easthampton, MA
Nearby: Easthampton, MAEASTHAMPTON — Robert “Bob” Biardi went by many nicknames: The Bread Man, Elbows, Bingo Bob. While each has its own story, perhaps what his friends and family remember most was simply how much joy he brought to everyone. Biardi died Nov. 2 at 91, having lived in Easthampton for 65 years. Biardi’s friends and family gathered at the Northampton Elks Lodge to reminisce and spend time together after his funeral on Monday. Asked what she remembers most about her father, Terri Brodeur barely knew where to begin. “Oh my gosh. Every good thing that you can possibly imagine. Where to start?” she said. Biardi spent his life showing up for his friends and family, and his care for the Easthampton community shone through his involvement with youth sports and the spirit he brought to everything he did. “Everybody knew him,” said Biardi’s wife, Judy Biardi.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · South Hadley, MA
Nearby: South Hadley, MASOUTH HADLEY – The PVIAC Class B Championship football game stood still in the third quarter. The field was quiet as medical personnel tended to South Hadley linebacker Joe Quatacker, who lay motionless at the 10-yard line after tackling Springfield International Charter School running back Ashton Chambers. Quatacker came around and gave his teammates a motivational jester before leaving in an ambulance. South Hadley then made all the noise down the stretch to pull away and win the championship, 22-0, on a rainy Thursday night. “It feels great. We (just) played Lee and Rockland – two tough losses. It feels great to win again, being the Western Mass. Championship,” South Hadley senior Lincoln Belsky said. “We get a plaque in our school, and it feels awesome being able to walk past it every day and see that.” The Tigers rallied for Quatacker. “He went down and went unconscious. It’s an injury you don’t see happen a lot, especially in high school sports,” Belsky said.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · South Hadley, MA
Nearby: South Hadley, MASOUTH HADLEY — Town Meeting voters this week rejected a proposal to install cameras on school bus stop arms to catch drivers who illegally pass stopped buses, with many residents citing concerns about surveillance and data breaches. The article failed 70-24, with two abstentions. In January 2025, Gov. Maura Healey signed a law allowing cameras mounted on school bus stop arms to record vehicles that illegally pass buses. Municipalities that adopt the law can contract with a third-party company that uses artificial intelligence to review footage and issue citations. Student safety at bus stops is a concern across the region, including in South Hadley. Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen previously told the Gazette that with six or seven buses carrying children each day, one violation per bus per day over a 180-day school year would total 1,080 to 1,260 violations.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAGorth joins Eric Carle Museum board of trustees PHILLIP GORTH AMHERST — The Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art has appointed Phillip W. Gorth to its board of trustees. Gorth is an Amherst native and a graduate of Amherst College, where he studied law, jurisprudence and social thought. He subsequently built a career in finance and investment management in New York City and attended Columbia Business School, participating in the Value Investing Program. Since 2014, he has focused on managing personal investments and philanthropy. Gorth maintains deep ties to the Amherst community and a strong commitment to supporting the people and institutions that have shaped him. He established a scholarship at Amherst College that gives special consideration to students who demonstrate excellence in writing and service to the Amherst community.
Amherst Bulletin · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAAMHERST — During World War II, a recruiting slogan stated, “She’s a WOW.” For those playing for the East Amherst Eggheads team, knowing that WOW stood for “Woman Ordnance Worker” earned five points. It also crowned Tim Hope, Josh Polak and Kurt Sundeen as champions at the recent Amherst Trivia Bee. In what organizer John Page of the Amherst Education Foundation said was a record-setting year, 24 teams and more than 100 players faced off for recognition as mavens of arcane knowledge, with many local businesses, nonprofits and community organizations sponsoring teams. Held at The Drake in downtown Amherst, the 32nd contest raised $14,140 to support grant applications from teachers and staff at the Amherst, Amherst-Pelham Regional and Pelham, Shutesbury and Leverett schools, to bring students innovative projects and learning opportunities.
Amherst Bulletin · Amherst, MA
Nearby: Amherst, MAAMHERST — Suggestions related to transportation and parking in Amherst can be made through a new online request form, with any ideas submitted to get a reviewed and discussed by the Transportation and Parking Commission. The service requests, which can be made at amherstma.gov/TPR, include any permanent changes to roads and sidewalks, such as placement of crosswalks, speed limits and truck restrictions, and improvements, amenities or traffic-calming measures. Bicycle and pedestrian safety concerns can also be noted, along with requests to change parking or to close roads and sidewalks for the long term, though for more immediate issues, such as potholes or missing street signs, residents should continue to use SeeClickFix. After review, any recommendations for change will be sent to the Town Council and Town Manager Paul Bockelman for approval and implementation.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Westhampton, MA
Nearby: Westhampton, MAWesthampton has 47 miles of road and two Highway Department employees to take care of them. That math is at the center of a growing debate at Select Board meetings, fueled by a resident’s push to widen Spruce Hill Road, neighbors’ complaints about the condition of Northwest Road and an unannounced repaving of Hooker Road. The disputes have sparked accusations of micromanagement and questions about oversight, all while the town, after two failed overrides this year, continues to struggle financially. Heading into fiscal 2027, the town cut one of four Highway Department positions, along with funding for road materials. The overrides would have restored the position. With another position vacant, that leaves one crew member and Superintendent Bill Jablonski, who did not respond to requests for comment for this article, left to cover every road in town.
Amherst Bulletin · Belchertown, MA
Nearby: Belchertown, MABELCHERTOWN — The Massachusetts Water Resources Authority on Thursday dropped its proposal to withdraw an additional 20 million gallons a day from the Quabbin Reservoir in response to loud opposition from communities surrounding the watershed. Opposition boiled over in September, when more than 130 people packed Belchertown Town Hall to speak against the request. Commenters said MWRA had not justified the size of the withdrawal or disclose the destination. The outcry continued throughout the monthlong public comment period, culminating in more than 1,000 submissions from residents, municipal officials and legislators. These concerns ultimately led the agency to rescind its request, MWRA Interim Executive Director Stephen Estes-Smargiassi wrote in a Thursday letter to the Water Resources Commission.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Chicopee, MA
Nearby: Chicopee, MAROBERT SAMUEL BAZLUKE WILLIAMSBURG, MA – Robert Samuel Bazluke, 71, of Williamsburg, passed away unexpectedly at home Monday.Bob was born in Chicopee to the late Jane (Kuziak) Bazluke and the late Robert S. Bazluke. He spent his early years as a child in Chicopee and the family moved to Haydenville when Bob was 9 years old. Bob attended the Williamsburg and Hampshire Regional School Systems.He held many jobs over the years, most notably the Hazen Paper Company, PKC Plumbing, USA Recycling, and most recently Valley Recycling. Bob enjoyed hunting, fishing, camping, boating, cornhole, cards, bowling, and golf. Also, Lois and Bob loved going to tag sales.Bob was an avid hunter and he had two deer that were officially recognized by the NortheastBig Buck Club, which qualified him to make it into the record book. He also was a longtime member of the Williamsburg Rod and Gun Club and the Beaver Brook Golf Course.
The Berkshire Edge · West Springfield, MA
Nearby: West Springfield, MALend Me a Tenor Majestic Theater in West Springfield, Mass. Written by Ken Ludwig Directed by Myka Plunkett “Ridi, Pagliaccio” Eight talented actors make up the cast of this farcical comedy. On a set designed by Daniel David Rist, with six doors defining two rooms in a very blue Cleveland hotel suite, the company play out the story of a single night at the Opera House, where a visiting celebrity is singing the title role in “Pagliacci.” Through a series of errors, the singer is presumed dead and must be replaced at the last minute. Comedy ensues. Director Myka Plunkett has pulled out the stops and has added a sense of reality to this show that makes it all the funnier. Doors slam, but not as often as in other productions; mistakes in judgement rule; women emote and men react. The production is as funny as it needs to be, and the company gives us enough joy to make the experience very worthwhile. In fact, this is a better production than any I have seen in recent years.
