Emilee Klein

SOUTH HADLEY — The owner of an average single-family home valued at $391,100 will pay an estimated $105 more in property taxes next fiscal year.

GRANBY — Fire Chief Michael O’Neill resigned suddenly on Dec. 2, leaving the deputy fire chief and assistant chief to run the department until the Select Board finds an interim.

The story of the holiday tune “Jingle Bells” begins in Medford, when resident James Pierpont watched annual one-horse open sleigh rides between Medford Square and Malden Square. Those bells that inspired Pierpont to write the famous song were most...

Belchertown High School’s Helping Hands Club stands in front of the Board of Health with posters in favor of the nicotine-free generation regulations. The board later passed the measure, the first in western Massachusetts to do so. STAFF PHOTO/EMILEE KLEIN

A package of ZYN, a popular brand of nicotine pouches, held by Scottys co-owner Liana Pleasant. This product will soon be unavailable in Montague businesses that aren’t “adult-only stores,” per a decision made Wednesday by the Montague Board. STAFF PHOTO/ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

A woman waves an Syrian opposition flag in celebration days after the fall of Bashar Assad's government in Damascus. ap

HOLYOKE — Youssef Ahmed Sabbagh remembers little about growing up under Syrian President Bashar Assad’s regime, but the details he can recall are memories he’d rather forget.“I used to hear and see missiles, bullets and explosives,” said Sabbagh, a...

Quinn Fisher pens a note to one of his teachers, explaining about the family’s Toy Fund donation. CONTRIBUTED/ERICA FISHER

GRANBY — The Select Board took several initial steps Monday to find an interim and replacement fire chief to fill the vacancy after Michael O’Neal resigned from the position suddenly at the beginning of the month.

AMHERST — The past few weeks have been tough for climate activism, and longtime climate activist Bill McKibben, who makes his home in Vermont, is feeling the heat.This year will be the hottest year on record, breaking the record-setting temperatures...