Alexander Macdougall

The Coca-Cola bottling plant on Industrial Drive in Northampton is expected to remain open through the end of 2025, some 18 months after it was projected to close. GAZETTE FILE PHOTO

Grow Food Northampton has announced that Michael Skillicorn has been made co-executive director, joining existing Executive Director Alisa Klein in leading the community garden and sustainable food nonprofit.

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Supporting K-12 public education, confronting climate change, and protecting health care and reproductive care are among the priorities this year for the legislative delegation representing Franklin County.

Pamela Schwartz, co-president of Congregation B'nai Israel, speaks at the 13th Annual Congregation B'nai Israel Tikkun Olam ("Heal the World") Legislative Luncheon on Monday. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

U.S. Rep. Jim McGovern speaks to the Gazette in an interview Wednesday in Hadley. —STAFF PHOTO/ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

A non-working fire place kept during the renovations in the apartments in the Parsons Block building in Florence. STAFF PHOTO/CAROL LOLLIS

NORTHAMPTON — With local elections more than nine months away, a challenger to a City Council seat has already announced their candidacy.

NORTHAMPTON — Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra provided a review of the city’s finances for the first half of the current fiscal year on Thursday, amid concerns over rising property values, school staffing cuts and an uncertain future with regards to federal funding.

SPRINGFIELD — Although he’s conducting his postdoctoral research at a university famed for its activism, Andrew Kennard never found himself participating in any political protests. But the new administration of President Donald Trump has changed that.