Stories from surrounding communities, closest first.
Rockland Review News · Florida, MA
Nearby: Florida, MAFlorida voters approved a sweeping property tax cut on Tuesday, and the margin was thinner than the headline suggests. Amendment 3, which raises the homestead exemption from $50,000 to $150,000 in 2027 and then to $250,000 in 2028, cleared the 60% threshold with exactly 62%, according to WLRN. Two points of slack is not a mandate. It is a win that squeaked. Why should Rockland County readers care about a Florida ballot measure? Because the argument that decided it — homeowner relief versus the services property taxes pay for — is the same argument every town board here faces every budget season, just compressed into one dramatic vote. The result is a live experiment in what happens when a community slashes its own revenue base on purpose. The early warnings came from the people who run the services. What did Florida actually vote for?
The Roslyn News · Nassau, NY
Nearby: Nassau, NYAt the Science Museum of Long Island (SMLI) on Leeds Pond Preserve in Nassau County, ecological stewardship is central to the museum’s mission. Two local Scouts recently joined this mission, working to restore the native woods habitat to support local wildlife. Ryan Colello, a senior at Kellenberg Memorial High School and a member of Plandome Troop 71, and Joshua Lin, a junior at Manhasset High School and a member of Manhasset Troop 97, chose SMLI for their Eagle Scout projects, leading an effort to clear invasive non-native plants from the museum grounds and replace them with native species. [caption id="attachment_379841" align="aligncenter" width="518"] Troop 97 Manhasset planting native shade-tolerant bushes in an irrigated area, later to be moved to the woods. Photo courtesy of North Shore Audubon Society[/caption] On two weekends in September, Colello and Lin each led Scout volunteers in removing invasive species from a wooded area near SMLI's visitor parking lot.
Long Island Press · Nassau, NY
Nearby: Nassau, NYPlainview-Old Bethpage John F. Kennedy High School junior Michael Li has been named the 2026 Nassau County boys badminton champion, earning the first individual county title in the Plainview-Old Bethpage Central School District’s badminton program. Li won the county singles championship Oct. 17, defeating Great Neck South in straight games, 21-17, 21-17, in the final at Plainview-Old Bethpage Middle School. The victory capped a county tournament featuring top individual players from schools across Nassau County. “Winning a county championship is no small feat, and Michael's accomplishment is certainly one worthy of recognition and celebration,” said Jenna Cavuto, Plainview-Old Bethpage varsity badminton coach. “He has represented Plainview-Old Bethpage with tremendous pride and his success reflects positively on our badminton program and the district as a whole.”
Lakeville Journal · Chatham, NY
Nearby: Chatham, NYFALLS VILLAGE — Is popcorn really corn? Young Region One students put their knowledge of farms and food to the test during a visit from author, environmentalist and educator Nancy Castaldo on Friday, Nov. 6. Castaldo held three sessions at Housatonic Valley Regional High School, beginning with children in pre-K through second grade. A Chatham, New York, resident who has written about 25 books on environmental subjects for young readers, Castaldo opened her “Good Farms = Good Food” presentation by describing the working farms she passed on her drive to Connecticut. “I saw one that had animals called alpacas,” she said. “And another one with cows.” She introduced the children to different kinds of farms, drawing them into the discussion with a series of true-or-false questions about where food comes from. “People eat most of the corn grown in the U.S. How many think that’s true?” she asked. A handful of children raised their hands.
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.
Lakeville Journal · Great Barrington, MA
Nearby: Great Barrington, MAGREAT BARRINGTON — Climbers of all ages and ability levels filled Berkshire Boulders on Friday, Nov. 6, as the new rock climbing gym celebrated its grand opening just north of downtown on Route 7. As the crowd began to build at 4 p.m., founder Nick Friedman said it was gratifying to see the long-planned project finally open to the public. “It’s a bit surreal but it feels good,” he said. “It’s this idea that’s been percolating in climbers’ minds for decades.” The type of climbing on offer is bouldering — a short but often powerful and technical form of the sport, usually practiced on walls less than about 14 feet tall. Mats cushion falls, and climbers use no harnesses or ropes. Beginners need only a pair of climbing shoes and some chalk, available to rent for $7, making bouldering a popular entry point to the sport. In addition to climbing, the gym offers a fitness room with exercise equipment, a shower, and a back porch and picnic tables overlooking the Housatonic River valley.
Lakeville Journal · Great Barrington, MA
Nearby: Great Barrington, MANow celebrating 40 years, Cowboy Junkies will perform Saturday, Nov. 14, at the Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington, Massachusetts. The band is celebrating its long career with a triple-vinyl retrospective album called “Open to Beauty,” featuring a selection of songs from 2000 onward, including material from its most recent release, “Such Ferocious Beauty.” Initially, the band was inspired by the dark, spacious qualities of post-punk and goth groups such as Siouxsie and the Banshees and Joy Division. But the musicians soon settled on an organic, rootsy country-blues sound with hints of psychedelia. Their hushed sound developed from playing quietly in their garage rehearsal space so as not to disturb their neighbors. Formed in 1985, the band made a huge impact on the indie rock scene with its second album, “The Trinity Session,” recorded with a single ambisonic microphone at the Church of the Holy Trinity in Toronto.
Amherst Bulletin · Hadley, MA
Nearby: Hadley, MAGarden report — indoors: a cactus has buds. It should be in bloom by Thanksgiving. It used to bloom earlier but has become a Thanksgiving cactus. Nice to have some color this time of year. Good news — two green tomatoes turned red and I ate them. There are two more that need to turn red. Real tomatoes in November, what a treat! *** Bethany Dickerson of North Hatfield sent me an email about the preview of the spring semester for Five College Learning in Retirement classes that will be held Nov. 20 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Wesley United Methodist Church on North Maple Street in Hadley. Moderators will be present to discuss their offerings. The event is free and open to the public. *** Nancy Ratner of Amherst sent me an email about the Friends Who Paint Art Sale to benefit the Amherst Survival Center. The sale will be held Nov. 21 from 12-2:30 p.m. at the Hadley Library. About 30 artists will participate, she wrote.
Daily Hampshire Gazette · Northampton, MA
Nearby: Northampton, MANORTHAMPTON — Cara Taylor and Kim Rosen, a married Florence couple who each carry decades of experience working as ceramic and textile artists, respectively, have combined forces to open a joint studio and showroom. The years-vacant, roughly 1,400-square-foot site of the former Green Mountain Power Equipment store at 187 Locust St. has been transformed. Taylor’s side holds a full display of woven ceramic bowls, vases and salt-and-pepper shakers. On Rosen’s side, intricately designed fabrics and wallpapers hang on the walls. While Taylor and Rosen previously worked near one another in side-by-side studios on Cottage Street in Easthampton, they have never worked in their own shared space before. Textile and wallpaper designer Kim Rosen, left, and ceramic artist Cara Taylor talk with the Gazette during an interview at their shared studio and showroom in Florence on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2026. DANIEL JACOBI II / Staff Photo “I have been in my own space there for maybe 12 years.
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.
