Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest
Is The Drought Over Yet? Southern Part Of State Drier Than The Rest The downpour that soaked the region on Tuesday and Wednesday, Sept. 29-30, deposited 1.5-2 inches of rain, but still, much of southern Massachusetts is experiencing extreme drought. According to state data released Thursday, Oct.1, nearly 30 percent of the state is experiencing “extreme” drought - the second highest degree of drought tracked by the state. The worst degree of drought is “exceptional.” The ranking goes, from least to most drought-like conditions, are None, Abnormallly Dry, Moderate Drought, Severe Drought, Extreme Drought, and Exceptional Drought. In…
Lawyer Swindles Clients Out Of Millions; Forges Mom, Ex-Wife's Info To Further Scheme Lawyer Swindles Clients Out Of Millions; Forges Mom, Ex-Wife's Info To Further Scheme Lawyer Swindles Clients Out Of Millions; Forges Mom, Ex-Wife's Info To Further Scheme
Lawyer Swindles Clients Out Of Millions; Forges Mom, Ex-Wife's Info To Further Scheme A local attorney - who threw his own mother under the bus - brazenly stole, lied, and manipulated his clients out of millions of dollars has been sentenced to 66 months in prison. Phillip R. Williams, of Easthampton, pleaded guilty in December, to wire fraud, engaging in financial transactions greater than $10,000 of proceeds derived from criminal activity, money laundering, and tax fraud, the U.S. Attorney’s Office, Massachusetts, said. On Friday, Sept. 25, U.S. District Court Judge Mark Mastroianni sentenced Williams to over 5 years in prison, followed by three years of supervised release…
125-Year-Old Western Mass Hardware Shop Is Calling It Quits 125-Year-Old Western Mass Hardware Shop Is Calling It Quits 125-Year-Old Western Mass Hardware Shop Is Calling It Quits
125-Year-Old Western Mass Hardware Shop Is Calling It Quits A 125-year-old hardware shop is going out of business in Western Massachusetts. Manchester Hardware in Easthampton announced on Labor Day, Sept. 7, that it would be holding a “retirement-store closing sale” Thursday, Sept. 10 through Wednesday, Sept. 16. “While I love this store and serving the community, I have reached a fork in the road,” said Carol Perman in a letter to her customers. Located on Union Street, in addition to retail items, the independent hardware store’s building is available for sale or lease. The business was founded in 1895. Manchester Hardware closed for a small …
Man Who Hit Girlfriend With Car Is Caught, Arrested Man Who Hit Girlfriend With Car Is Caught, Arrested Man Who Hit Girlfriend With Car Is Caught, Arrested
Man Who Hit Girlfriend With Car Is Caught, Arrested A man who used a motor vehicle to hit his girlfriend Thursday, Sept. 3, has been arrested. Joseph C. Adams, 30, Easthampton was arrested on the charges of assault and battery by means of a dangerous weapon, leaving the scene of personal injury, and misleading a criminal investigation, according to the Northwestern District Attorney’s Office. The 26-year-old girlfriend was allegedly struck by Adams in a motor vehicle while she was walking in the area of 1095 Florence Road, Northampton, in the evening, the DA said. She was transported to the hospital to receive treatment for non-life-threaten…
New Restaurant Opens In Downtown Northampton; Has A Familiar Chef New Restaurant Opens In Downtown Northampton; Has A Familiar Chef New Restaurant Opens In Downtown Northampton; Has A Familiar Chef
New Restaurant Opens In Downtown Northampton; Has A Familiar Chef A new restaurant has opened in downtown Northampton’s Thornes Marketplace. While many restaurants are struggling to adapt their businesses to COVID-19, a locally celebrated chef has opened Patria in the basement of Thornes on Main Street. Patria offers an “elevated dining experience” with modern American cuisine and drinks made with local produce, meats, and foods, according to the eatery's description.  Patria is owned by the former chef at the popular Coco and the Cellar Bar on Main Street in Easthampton: Aaron Thayer. Along with his wife and business partner, Abby Fuhrman, Thayer …
COVID-19 Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County (Aug.) COVID-19 Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County (Aug.) COVID-19 Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County (Aug.)
Covid-19 Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County (Aug.) South Hadley had another tough week of rising COVID-19 infections, while Granby is no longer deemed a “high risk” community by the state. Many Hampshire County communities saw reductions in the rate of COVID-19 infections. Rates in Amherst, Belchertown, Easthampton, and Northampton had significantly fewer new infections compared to last week. The 14-day positive COVID-19 test rate in South Hadley was 3 percent last week - now it’s 3.7 percent, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. The infection rate in Ware also went up from 0.6 on Aug. 12, to 0.8 Aug. 19…
COVID-19: Amherst Restaurant Closes 'Until Further Notice' COVID-19: Amherst Restaurant Closes 'Until Further Notice' COVID-19: Amherst Restaurant Closes 'Until Further Notice'
Covid-19: Amherst Restaurant Closes 'Until Further Notice' An Amherst restaurant is closing temporarily after an employee tested positive for COVID-19. El Comalito on West Street in Amherst announced on Friday, Aug. 21, that the restaurant is closed because a “no-contact” employee tested positive on Thursday. The Easthampton El Comalito has not been impacted by the Amherst employee. The Easthampton restaurant remains open for delivery and takeout. It is recommended that any establishment with an employee who has contracted COVID-19 should close for 24 hours to disinfect the premises. El Comalito owners said in a Facebook post that they wanted t…
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, Aug. COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, Aug. COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, Aug.
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, Aug. South Hadley’s positive COVID-19 infection test rate shot up a whole percentage point since last week - a dramatic gain, according to the most recent information from the Baker Administration. The 14-day positive COVID-19 test rate in South Hadley since July 22, when the rate was 0.6 percent - now it’s 3 percent. Chesterfield looks like it has had a spike in positive test rates, but there are still fewer than 5 townspeople who have contracted COVID-19 since January. Positive test rates have gone down in Amherst, Belchertown, Easthampton, Hatfield, and a little bit in Northampton. The rate…
COVID-19: See How Your Town Is Planning To Reopen Schools COVID-19: See How Your Town Is Planning To Reopen Schools COVID-19: See How Your Town Is Planning To Reopen Schools
Covid-19: See How Your Town Is Planning To Reopen Schools With the Friday, Aug. 14, deadline to submit final school reopening plans looming large over many Massachusetts School Committees, a dozen or so districts in Western Massachusetts and Worcester County have figured it out. Faced with COVID-19 challenges, school districts are, mostly, choosing among three plans: remote education, in-class education, or a hybrid of in-class and remote learning. Districts also need to consider when the first day of school will be; Massachusetts is allowing schools to choose when to start - with Sept. 16 being the latest date possible. Typically, Massachusetts s…
COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, August COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, August COVID-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, August
Covid-19: Where Are The Hot Spots? Town Infection Rates, Trends - Hampshire County, August Positive COVID-19 test rates in Amherst, Easthampton, Granby, Northampton, South Hadley, and Williamsburg are at the highest they’ve been over the last four weeks, according to new state data. Meanwhile, Belchertown’s 14-day COVID-19 positive test rate is going down. The rate went from 3.6 percent to 2.7 percent in one week. In Massachusetts, the goal is that by December the state will have less than 5 percent of COVID-19 tests come back positive. On Friday, Aug. 7, Gov. Charlie Baker reported the state’s 7-day positive test rate was at 1.8 percent, down from 2.2 percent just a week ago. (…
Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside
Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside A tornado was spotted over Blandford, a rural part of Western Massachusetts at 7:26 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 2. The National Weather Service is reporting that radar data confirms eye witness accounts of the twister. It’s being called a “damaging” tornado. Law enforcement in Sandisfield, in the southern Berkshires, is reporting that a tornado produced damage to South Main Street in town, The National Weather Service said. The tornado has produced flying debris and could be dangerous to people caught without shelter. It can destroy mobile homes and damaged roofs windows and vehicles. Tree damage i…
Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside
Tornado Spotted in Western Massachusetts; People Warned To Get Inside A tornado was spotted over Blandford, a rural part of Western Massachusetts at 7:26 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 2. The National Weather Service is reporting that radar data confirms eye witness accounts of the twister. It’s being called a “damaging” tornado. Law enforcement in Sandisfield, in the southern Berkshires, is reporting that a tornado produced damage to South Main Street in town, The National Weather Service said. The tornado has produced flying debris and could be dangerous to people caught without shelter. It can destroy mobile homes and damaged roofs windows and vehicles. Tree damage i…