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AMHERST – As dark clouds rolled over the fields behind McGuirk Alumni Stadium on Sunday afternoon the Amherst Regional and Four Rivers Charter School girls ultimate varsity teams put on a show during the Girls Division 1 championship at the 2025 Amherst Ultimate Invitational both teams traded possessions for at least 20 minutes in sudden-death overtime before the Hurricanes finally broke through and found the end zone to win 9-8 and punch their ticket to the National Invitational Tournament “That last point was one of the longest points I’ve ever been a part of,” Amherst head coach Dan Kaplan said “So many turns and it was that long because there were so many great plays from both sides everybody wanted to play hard and the level of play never went down it looked like they could barely walk and they were gutting it out and trying to stay big assist) set up the winning score for her team by causing a turnover and knocking down a Four Rivers throw at about the midway point of the field Amherst methodically moved up field thereafter before Myla Peltier (two goals) caught a short pass in the end zone to secure Amherst the title – the first for Kaplan as head coach of the ‘Canes “I’ve only coached for four years and we’ve been going all the way we’ve made the semis every year,” Kaplan said My daughter won this tournament back in 2014 so I know so many of the people here and respect all the things they’ve done we’ve been working really hard the last four years to bring these kids back from a pandemic that was just really devastating to all sports We only had about 19 kids come out for the program in 2022 so in four years we’ve been building it back now we have about 40 kids coming out every year these guys know how to play ultimate,” Kaplan added but it’s gratifying to see them battling.” Isla Cusick led all Amherst players in points with four assists while Felix Goeckel caught three goals to pace the ‘Canes The Amherst Invitational is the longest-running annual ultimate tournament in the country and this year’s tournament field featured teams from as far south as New Jersey as far north as Maine and as far west as Pennsylvania Sunday’s victory was another classic between two programs who are very familiar with each other earlier this season on April 8 and regularly square off with one another throughout the course of the season “Those teams have played against each other so many times a year lots of respect for both sides,” Kaplan said I described it as a cage-match at some point Due to an anticipated even matchup on Sunday Kaplan mentioned he used 13 of his 14 players in the championship and while he credited nearly his entire team after the win he highlighted five players who he thought stepped up the most in the finals “Then we have juniors Willa Hudson and [Haupt] who are just really comfortable with the disc making really hard throws with a lot of pressure and very few turnovers we have a revolving group of people who are supporting that five Mager mustered three assists while Violet Berube (two goals) capped off the ‘Canes top-six scorers in the championship bout Amherst will have about a month to prepare for nationals This year marks the first time the national tournament will be played in the Northeast the Hurricanes’ slate will be highlighted by another appearance in a prestigious tournament in Western Massachusetts That tournament will take place at the Oxbow Marina in Northampton May 17-18 you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users The Amherst Invitational Ultimate Tournament took place over the weekend with the Four Rivers girls taking second place overall after falling to Amherst in the championship game The game was knotted 8-8 at the end of regulation and after both teams traded possessions for at least 20 minutes in overtime the Hurricanes broke through to score the game-winning point Four Rivers reached the championship game after beating Arlington (9-4) and Columbia (12-7) Northfield Mount Hermon School was the winner in the girls second division after taking down Winchester NMH beat Winchester (8-4) and Four Rivers JV (12-2) to reach the title game The Four Rivers boys went 1-1 in pool play before taking sixth place overall Crumpin-Fox Club held its opening scramble of the season on Sunday Val Esquer and Peter LaBarbara taking first with a score of 62 Erik Abramson and Jodi Hoynoski shot the low net of 56 8 inches) while Blake Waidlich won it on No Dezmond Jurkowski and Andrew Martinez (two goals) scored while Chazz Badillo had an assist and Ryan Malek made three saves in Greenfield United U12’s 3-2 win over Enfield on Saturday Maxwell Gilman-Goddard and Julian Hake each had two goals while Henry Gannon Hake and Boston Westerman each had two assists and Elias Koppenheffer made three saves in Greenfield U8’s 9-1 win over Granby Saturday River Shurman scored four goals and had an assist Liam Boeding and Francis Zaccara dished assists while Rowen Murphy made three saves in Greenfield U8’s 5-0 win over Westfield Saturday Anthony Ruggeri and Riley Gray each had a hit in Maniatty’s win Saturday Malcolm Tyler and Paul Budrewich both had two hits and Owen Castine hit safely for Smitty’s Ruggeri Real Estate 18 — Calvin Burlap drove in a run Shea Nicholas had three hits and Jayden Howell had four hits and pitched in Fitzgerald’s AA win Saturday Roman French had three hits while Liam Marguet and Soren Klick hit safely in the loss Freedom Credit Union 8 — Griffin McCloud had three hits and three RBIs while Ezrah Cooley added four hits in Sweet Lucy’s Rookie win Saturday Cater Chadwick and Patrick Doel both had three hits in the loss Brady Bernard and Lucas Pendleton each had a hit in Cherry Rum’s win Saturday Brysen Earl had four hits while Summer Vera-Dreyer had three hits for Parody Gruber and Tripp 4 — Abraham Walker and Wyatt Lapine tripled while Parker Clough-Campagna doubled in Ginger Cat’s win Saturday EJ Morley and Weston Sibley each had two hits in the loss Loyal Girls Take Titles at Amherst Invite; Bonikowski and Reincke(I-Scan) Earn Three Titles  Thanks to Loyal Head Coach Jim Genteman for sharing results Amherst Invitational 2024-25 OnFocus Central Wisconsin Area Conferences: Conference and Team Links, Schedules Hear about top athletes and top teams in our area ********************************************** We welcome your stories! Contact us at [email protected] David Keech is a retired teacher and works as a sportswriter, sports official and as an educational consultant. He has reported on amateur sports since 2011, known as 'KeechDaVoice.' David can be reached at [email protected] © 2025 BVM Sports. Best Version Media, LLC. Maine – The Colby College softball team celebrated Senior Day on Saturday by sweeping Amherst College 9-0 and 4-3 in its regular-season finale Amherst 0 (5 Innings) The first two innings were a scoreless affair until the bottom of the third inning when Colby (16-19 10-8 NESCAC) got on the board with four runs crossing the plate on a single from sophomore Caroline DeSimone We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it OK Privacy policy The Gazette reported on April 22 that Amherst resident sent a letter to the federal government in yet another effort to kill the town's library project leaders opposing the library project have sought to overturn the will of the voters and refused to take no for an answer AMHERST — A fight between students at Amherst Regional Middle School last week that prompted a shelter-in-place order when parents got involved in the incident and staff members were injured is prompting educators in the Amherst-Pelham schools to request district leaders take a series of steps to improve safety Xiomara Herman and her team to come up with refined plans for protecting students “We urge the district to partner with the APEA to review existing safety procedures and ensure consistent well-communicated safety protocols are enacted across each school,” reads the statement released by high school teacher Claire Cocco the completion of the district’s proposed Caregiver Guide needs to be expedited with educator input Such a comprehensive guide could offer appropriate action steps for families of students so that we can partner with according to information Herman released on Thursday in email messages to families began as an altercation between several students at the school where seventh and eighth graders from Amherst The situation escalated when parents got to the Chestnut Street school and involved themselves in the altercation She also confirmed in the email that staff members were injured the school issued a shelter-in-place and called Amherst Police Department while the situation was deescalated The APD responded quickly and have been working with us as we review what happened,” Herman wrote The middle school building also houses the district offices “I want to be clear — this kind of behavior is deeply concerning and not reflective of the safe and student-centered environment we strive to create each day,” Herman wrote “We are currently working with staff and local authorities to fully understand the circumstances and will share additional information as we are able Please know that student and staff safety remain my top priority and this matter will be taken seriously from my level.” Herman discussed the creation of the Caregiver Code of Conduct with a shared set of expectations for how families and schools could work together to maintain safety and be partners in creating safe and supportive learning environments That announcement came after a confrontation took place between parents inside Fort River School in February That incident also included working with Amherst Police having a police report filed and supplemented and the Hampshire Sheriff’s Office delivering no trespass orders to those involved The code is expected to outline shared values of respect and will provide guidance on conflict resolution and reinforce a collective responsibility to model appropriate behavior for students it’s important that we take this moment to reflect together,” Herman wrote “Our children are watching us — how we handle conflict It’s on all of us to model respectful and productive ways to engage I truly believe we can do better — and that together we can help guide our students toward healthier ways of resolving issues.” The union’s statement also addressed the Amherst and Regional school committees: “It is the responsibility of the school committees and other district leaders to provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees and students whether it be with students or community members.” AMHERST — A $103.3 million fiscal year budget that goes most of the way toward meeting the spending requests from the Amherst and Regional school committees while leaving six full-time and one part-time municipal positions vacant and assorted Jones Library staff positions unfilled “This FY26 budget reflects the town’s commitment to delivering excellent services while making the difficult but necessary choices required to maintain fiscal stability,” Town Manager Paul Bockelman writes in a memo accompanying the budget plan “We are prioritizing investments in our public schools and essential services recognizing that doing so requires real trade-offs and careful stewardship of limited resources.” The budget will be presented for the first time at the council’s meeting Monday at 6:30 p.m A Finance Committee hearing on the budget is scheduled for May 12 The budget being recommended by Bockelman includes $28.32 million for the Amherst elementary schools $1.35 million increase over this year’s $26.97 million budget But this means spending would fall short of the 6% budget endorsed by the Amherst School Committee Bockelman said this week that he is abiding by the 4% financial guidelines and other advisories from councilors reaching the 5% increase for the elementary schools budget by using free cash for the last 1% “This is a free-cash bridge to the consolidation,” Bockelman said explaining that this is a bridge loan to get the elementary schools through the next school year which will be the last in which Amherst will have three elementary schools both Wildwood and Fort River schools will close with an under-construction K-5 school opening on South East Street just south of the current Fort River School attending a 6th Grade Academy in the Amherst Regional Middle School Bockelman explains that the 6% request from the Amherst School Committee is not in compliance with financial guidelines or the Town Council’s 10-3 vote in April to support an increase up to 5% Adding the extra money would have required cuts in other budgets using more one-time money or seeking a Proposition 2½ tax-cap override at a time when residents are already going to be seeing property tax bills increase due to the borrowing for the school building project “None of these options are palatable nor are any of the options in keeping with the Town Council’s budget policy guidelines or subsequent guidance,” Bockelman wrote supporting a $19.74 million assessment for the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools increase above this year’s $18.84 million assessment Amherst is seeing the smallest percentage increase toward a $37.08 million budget which is 6.5% higher than this year’s budget The $29.5 million operating budget for the town is up 4% while the $2.39 million in tax support for the libraries is also up 4% Bockelman said the positions being frozen are two in the Community Responders for Equity one each at the Department of Public Works and a part-timer in the Recreation Department positions unfilled for several years will again be left vacant The budget was challenging to put together due to rising health insurance and cost-of-living adjustments and step increases in collective bargaining agreements he reduced capital spending from 10.5% of the tax levy to 10.265% of the tax levy “This reduction was done reluctantly as I balanced competing Town Council goals,” Bockelman wrote in his memo “It amounts to a $151,376 reduction in funds available for capital.” But Bockelman wrote that the “budget prioritizes essential services The budget maintains the town’s focus on racial equity and climate action by fully funding Diversity Equity and Inclusion and Sustainability initiatives and continues funding for implementation of the new rental registration bylaw Recreation’s youth programming like the Morning Movement and Mentoring programs and provides staff support for numerous capital projects AMHERST — Town Manager Paul Bockelman is proposing sizable increases in water and sewer rates which if adopted would add $211 to the $1,033 annual bill for an average homeowner for residents who have both town water and town sewer The average household uses 9,200 cubic feet of water in a year The water rate would go from $5.25 per 100 cubic feet to $6.45 per 100 cubic feet and the sewer rate would go from $5.85 per 100 cubic feet to $6.95 per 100 cubic feet beginning on July 1 Those changes represent charges for water users rising by nearly 23% and charges for sewer users rising by almost 19% with the increase for water users being about $9.17 per month and for sewer users being about $8.44 per month Councilors referred the water and sewer rates proposal to the Finance Committee for discussion and a recommendation Bockelman explains that the changes will deal with rising electricity costs in both departments and cost-of-living and step increases and health insurance adjustments for employees The increase is more than three times the $57 year-over-year increase that went into effect in July 2024 compared to other cities and towns in the region the town’s water and sewer rates have been lower than neighboring communities,” Bockelman wrote He cited that the projected $1,244 average bill is in line with the $1,204 expected to be paid by Hadley residents next fiscal year and is below the $1,274 paid by Easthampton residents the $1,283 paid by Northampton residents and $1,635 paid by Belchertown residents this year A continued trend is the 2% annual drop in water consumption which means that rates have to go up to cover the fixed expenses that remain such as the $21.5 million Centennial Water Treatment Facility in Pelham and the $3.3 million gravity belt thickener and reuse water initiative at the sewer plant The proposed Water Department operating budget is $7 million with a major water specific increase being a doubling of what is spent on capital improvements and the Sewer Department operating budget is $6.99 million with a major sewer specific increase being the higher sludge removal costs While councilors have suggested other tactics to bill users these aren’t being explored since Finance Director Melissa Zawadzki has left the position “The Town Council expressed interest in exploring other ways to bill users including block rates and fixed charge with variable charge,” Bockelman wrote “This work has been put on hold due to the departure of the town’s finance director.” I asked perplexity.ai to compile a bullet list of up to 40 frequently asked questions  based on articles and public comments from Amherst Indy that have been repeatedly raised by residents and stakeholders or disclosure of details related to the Jones Library project; specifically those that the Town Manager I invite them to provide official answers that could be published in the Amherst Indy as well as Amherst Current and Daily Hampshire Gazette as well as on an easily accessible page on the Town of Amherst’s website A rendering of the new carriage house at the Emily Dickinson Museum The museum will unveil the project this week (Image courtesy edmStudio and the Emily Dickinson Museum)submitted photo .st1{fill-rule:evenodd;clip-rule:evenodd;fill:#2a2a2a}By Michael Carolan | Special to The RepublicanAMHERST — The Emily Dickinson Museum will celebrate on Tuesday the $1 million reconstruction of a 170-year-old carriage house that once stood on its Amherst property and is slated to become the first “passive” museum structure in the country hosted in partnership with the downtown Business Improvement District and the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce “We know that this matters very much to visitors who come to see where she produced her poetry.” part of the museum complex that recently reopened for tours An exterior view of The Evergreens on Main Street in Amherst (Patrick Fecher for the Emily Dickinson Museum)Staff The construction of the carriage house was based on insurance maps early town maps and a single existing photograph of the original building which stored the family carriage and housed stalls for horses designed by Connecticut-based edmStudio architects uses “passive” strategies such as continuous insulation airtight construction and high-performance windows Museum officials said they expect to win certification from the Passive House Institute US Inc. making it the first such commercial building in Amherst as well as the “first passive museum building and passive historic house reconstruction in the country.” Archeologists previously obtained artifacts from the carriage house site knobs and a lock set from a door in The Evergreens “It was used as a storage area or an outdoor closet where the family would just put things they’re no longer using,” Wald said “reflects Dickinson’s regard for the natural world and the inspiration she drew from it,” Wald said The house will first function as a visitors center and museum store while the main homestead will be restored to its original functions pantry and living corridors for domestic staff the carriage house will become an educational program space The headstone at the grave of poet Emily Dickinson at West Cemetery in Amherst Wald said that recent cuts in federal arts funding have reached the museum including a $115,000 grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services for digitized documentation “There’s an understanding in the museum world that more funds are now not going to be available,” she said we need to assess what the impact will be.” Wald said that recent scholarly work on the poet has included a focus on “class and privilege” and “ecologies,” or her relationship with the natural world Emily Dickinson is a global icon,” Wald said “Her influence is continually being felt among new generations of poetry readers.” Jane Wald is the executive director at Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst (Hoang 'Leon' Nguyen / The Republican Wald said that musicians across genres continue to set Dickinson’s poems to music “Interest in her poetry continues to grow exponentially the Emily Dickinson Museum will host its annual Poetry Walk through downtown Amherst on Saturday in honor of the 139th anniversary of the poet’s death visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/poetry-walk-2025 Some of the poems by Emily Dickinson are shown at Emily Dickinson Museum in Amherst Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices (WSET) — Bargain hunters are in for a treat this weekend as the 100 Mile Yard Sale returns stretching from Amherst to Danville along Route 29 features hundreds of vendors offering a wide array of items from vintage Matchbox cars and antiques to old vinyl records and clothing - you name it "We come all the way from Gretna to here so far then we turn around and go back toward Gretna and stop at all those." shared his plans: "We're gonna go south to Danville and we'll probably leave Sunday morning I'll just say 50-plus years and leave the rest to your imagination," he said noted the nostalgic appeal of the items on sale I remember having that.' There was a gentleman here earlier who went and got his wife and brought her back here: 'See these are the ones I was telling you that I used to have,'" he said The yard sale at Hyland Heights runs through tomorrow while most other vendors on route 29 will remain open through Sunday With a vast selection of items and plenty of ground to cover shoppers are encouraged to arrive early to snag the best deals The vendors open at around seven in the morning and go until things wind down around three in the afternoon Share on FacebookShare on X (formerly Twitter)Share on PinterestShare on LinkedInAMHERST COUNTY (WDBJ) - Fred Wiggington has been found guilty of first-degree murder and using a firearm in the commission of a felony for the death of his wife WDBJ7 spoke to Elsie’s family after the verdict “I’m happy that justice for Elsie Is served today Nobody walks away from this unscathed,” said Tracey Coleman They thanked the Amherst County Sheriff’s Office for their hard work and dedication to the case They also thanked the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office for helping bring justice to their family In day three of his murder trial in Amherst County Friday, the verdict came after the defense formally rested its case without presenting any arguments or witnesses. Wiggington was accused of killing his wife, Elsie Wiggington The defense also made motions to strike the first-degree murder charge saying there was enough evidence to show premeditation The defense argued there was no evidence tying Fred to the murder of Elsie The truth is that he planned and executed his wife arguing the Commonwealth failed to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Fred killed his wife with malice and premeditation was called back to the stand Friday morning by the state after a witness claimed she saw Elsie with her at a Halloween event in October 2023 But Sativa testified Elsie wasn’t there—saying she only stayed long enough to grab cookies and didn’t see any of her mother’s coworkers who said Fred confessed to the killing while they were in jail together That inmate claimed Fred admitted to shooting Elsie The defense pushed back—arguing he must have learned those details after September 3rd Previously the judge ruled any details the inmate shared with investigators after that date are not admissible in court The state played a video of the interview with the inmate on September the inmate claims Fred confessed to murdering Elsie before being read his rights by an investigator The inmate alleged Fred admitted to shooting Elsie with a .22 caliber pistol and later selling the weapon to a pawn shop in Lexington He suggested investigators “might want to check a Lexington pawn shop to find the gun.” The inmate said Fred told him Elsie was planning to leave him He allegedly told him he wanted to frame Elsie’s brother Michael Knight for the murder The inmate said Fred admitted to shooting Elsie and burying her in the yard beneath a concrete slab that he laid within the same week of the killing Fred also claimed an anonymous tip led investigators to search the property “I’m going to be on Dateline.” He also said Fred threatened Tracey Coleman by showing up at her home in Maryland He testified Fred had been cheating on Elsie with his ex-wife Though the inmate said he didn’t know whether Patricia was involved in the murder he don’t give a damn,” said the inmate in the interview “It seems like he was planning it all to happen.” The inmate told investigators Fred appeared to have planned the killing driven by the belief that Elsie was going to leave him “That man isn’t right in the head,” said the inmate Fred’s attorney said the case was circumstantial and Fred maintains his innocence Fred has a concealing of a body charge that he will also go to trial for at a later date Va (WSET) — The Amherst County Commonwealth finished presenting its evidence in the case against the man charged with killing his wife and burying her remains under a cement slab on their property on Friday Frederick Wiggington’s defense did not present any evidence afterwards The defense argues that there is a lack of evidence showing that Fred killed Elsie Wiggington and the case is circumstantial The defense made motions to strike the first-degree murder charge saying that none of the evidence speaks to premeditation He says there is no evidence of preplanning and pre-preparation text messages and the bullet trajectory show premeditation Defense argued premeditation is specific and that they don’t know what happened he said there is enough evidence for the jury to decide if it was premeditated the prosecution called an inmate to the stand who was at the Halifax County Adult Detention Center with Fred Fred told him about his family and about the case He said Fred told him that he killed Elsie on a Saturday night in June In court they played a video of a September 2024 interview with Doss Doss said Fred told him he shot and killed her and put her body in a tarp under the cement He also told him he sold the pistol at a pawn shop in Lexington He told investigators that Fred told him he poured the cement soon after she died He said Fred was going to try and blame it on Elsie's brother because he has many charges and had just been released from jail Doss said Fred’s first wife has been “beside him the whole time” and he had been cheating on Elsie with her He also said Fred talked a lot about wanting to be on Dateline and said he had no remorse and that it seemed like he was planning it Doss said Fred thought Elsie was leaving him The prosecution had previously presented text messages between Elsie and Fred Elsie told Fred she hoped he was not going to leave her They said Fred responded that she doesn’t know what he is planning The jury will now deliberate and decide if Frederick Wiggington is guilty of first-degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony by Sarah Irby (WSET) — A jury has made its decision in the case against an Amherst County man charged with killing his wife and burying her remains on their property Fred Wiggington was found guilty of the first-degree murder of Elsie Wiggington in court Friday afternoon after just over an hour of deliberating Elsie was last seen by her family in June of 2023 her remains were found buried under a cement slab at the home the two shared Fred was then arrested and charged with her murder RELATED: Fred Wiggington's defense argues inmate informant's role violated the Sixth Amendment was also arrested in connection with the case She was charged with obstruction of justice and accessory after the fact Warrants at the time of her arrest detailed how Patricia moved into the home where Fred and Elsie had been living the same weekend that Elsie was murdered Those warrants also noted that both Fred and Patricia were established as suspects during the initial investigation Friday marked day three of Fred's trial and the jury heard arguments from the prosecution an inmate who was at the Halifax County Adult Detention Center with Fred Doss testified that Fred spoke to him about his family and the case telling him that he killed Elsie on a Saturday night in June The jury was shown video Friday of the first time he was interviewed by law enforcement Fred's defense did not present any evidence after the prosecution wrapped up Friday afternoon The defense argued that there is a lack of evidence showing Fred killed Elsie They made motions to strike the first-degree murder charge Please enable JS and disable any ad blocker Statement of the Amherst Pelham Education Association (APEA) on Educator and Student Safety multiple staff members sustained injuries during physical altercations involving both students and guardians at Amherst Regional Middle School It is the responsibility of the School Committees and other district leaders to provide a safe and healthy workplace for employees and students whether it be with students or community members We commend the school staff who work every day in stressful situations to create a positive and nurturing environment for their students We recognize this is the goal of the district leaders as well While many students and staff feel safe and supported throughout the schools We urge the district to partner with the APEA to review existing safety procedures and ensure consistent well-communicated safety protocols are enacted across each school As a 2022 RAND report indicated issues of stress and unsafe conditions are endemic throughout schools across the country and negatively impact the entry of new educators into the field We look forward to working to turn such trends around in our school community For more information, contact: apea@amherstpelhamed.org The UMass women’s lacrosse team eased past Saint Joseph’s, 15-4, to claim the Atlantic 10 championship on Sunday. The Minutewomen (15-3) broke the game open during the second half, scoring 10 goals over the final two quarters, after leading 5-2 at halftime. Three UMass players recorded hat tricks (Delaney Rodriguez-Shaw, Tessa Shields and Ava Connaughton) to lead the team to its first A-10 title since 2021. Catrina Tobin totaled six saves for the Minutewomen, who surrendered 20 shots to the Hawks. UMass will receive an automatic bid into the Division 1 NCAA Championship tournament. This year’s title games will be played at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. By using this site, you agree with our use of cookies to personalize your experience, measure ads and monitor how our site works to improve it for our users The Minutemen totaled eight medalists and 19 student-athletes scoring points over the weekend in Fairfax vsAtlantic 10 Conference Championship Minutewomen Win A-10 Outdoor Championship May 04, 2025 | Track and Field, Women's Track & Field AMHERST — Award-winning creative director David Korins, a 1999 graduate of the University of Massachusetts, who has created the worlds, or imagined locations, for more than 25 Broadway shows, including the Tony Award-winning musical “Hamilton,” will be the keynote speaker at the university’s 155th commencement ceremony, and the 55th held at McGuirk Alumni Stadium, May 16 at 5 p.m. Around 6,500 undergraduate students are expected to earn their degrees and more than 20,000 people are expected to attend the event. In addition to his speech, Korins will be presented with an honorary degree to celebrate his achievements in 30 years of creating omnidirectional experiences for millions of people by helping brands, corporations and artists bring their stories to life. “It’s a privilege to be asked to deliver the commencement address at any institution, but to get an opportunity to come home to my alma mater and connect directly with the graduating class of 2025 and the faculty is a true honor,” Korins said. “David’s creativity and energy is boundless, and he embodies all the revolutionary, innovative spirit that are hallmark traits of UMass Amherst graduates,” Chancellor Javier Reyes said in a statement. “David’s approach to storytelling will impart important lessons to us all, especially as our future graduates begin to write their own stories as they embark on careers or future academic endeavors.” The mid-May commencement, which began in 2010, is returning to a late Friday afternoon time, the same time of day that it was held from 2011 to 2019 and again in 2022, following the pandemic disruptions for the ceremonies in 2020 and 2021. In 2023, though, the ceremony was pushed to the Friday morning of Memorial Day weekend, and last year it was held in mid-May, but on a Saturday morning. A UMass spokesperson said the day and time for the commencement is based on the academic calendar, logistical considerations and what university officials think will be the best experience for graduates and their families. With the David Korins Studio he founded and leads, Korins’ extensive body of work spans various mediums — from stage to screen, museums to hospitality venues and exhibitions to live events. In addition to “Hamilton,” he has created the worlds for musicals “Dear Evan Hansen” and “Beetlejuice: The Musical,” and others. Among numerous TV credits, Korins was the production designer for the 91st and 94th Annual Academy Awards, and “Grease: Live!,” for which he received an Emmy Award. He was the creative director and designer of “The Hamilton Exhibition,” a 30,000-square-foot immersive experience chronicling Alexander Hamilton’s life. He also served as the global creative director and designer of “Van Gogh Exhibit: The Immersive Experience” and “Immersive Disney Animation,” along with creating “Stories,” a permanent walk-through experience at the World of Coca-Cola celebrating the brand’s 139-year history. Korins is currently crafting experiences for The Georgia O’Keeffe and the National Cowboy and Western Heritage museums. At Sotheby’s, he created several exhibitions and reimagined their global auction experience. Additionally, Korins collaborated with artists like Bruno Mars, Andrea Bocelli and Lady Gaga, designed several restaurants and the Drama Bookshop, and was lead creative at Bonnaroo and Outside Lands music festivals. He had residences with TED Conferences and Twitter, is designing an arts center in Millbrook, New York, and is the director of David Blaine’s live show. (Sortino Field) THE BASICS Abby Mallo and Chloe Rhine homered but Massachusetts scored three late runs to claim a 4-3 Atlantic 10 Conference win over Saint Louis Saturday afternoon SLU concluded its regular season 30-21 overall and 18-7 in the A-10 with the final standings to be determined following Sunday's games double-elimination A-10 Championship begins Wednesday in Washington adding to her Saint Louis single-season record Game Recap: Softball | 5/3/2025 7:43:00 PM Thanks for visiting ! The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy. We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here. heading into Satruday with a series win on the line The championship final be broadcast on ESPN+ with links and live updates found on umassathletics.com or UMassLacrosse on Twitter BOSTON— A major boost to affordable homeownership in Amherst MA is underway as MassHousing announces $9.9 million in CommonWealth Builder financing to support Amherst Community Homes a development of 30 new condominiums aimed at moderate-income the project will feature 15 duplex buildings in North Amherst providing 18 two-bedroom units and 12 three-bedroom units priced between $162,900 and $267,000 The homes will be deed-restricted for households earning between 80% and 100% of the Area Median Income (AMI) “This project will turn an underutilized area in the town into 30 brand new homes for first-time homebuyers,” said MassHousing CEO Chrystal Kornegay “The people who purchase these homes will be able to set down roots in Amherst and begin building wealth along with all the other benefits of homeownership.” the development reimagines land previously used for commercial and industrial purposes The site will cluster homes to maximize shared open space with a design that reflects both community needs and environmental sustainability “This development is over three years in the making and we could not be more excited to add affordable homeownership opportunities to the Amherst community,” said Alexis Breiteneicher Executive Director of Valley Community Development “Having affordable housing options from rental to homeownership is critical in addressing the housing crisis Valley is deeply grateful to MassHousing and the CommonWealth Builder program for being committed to decreasing the homeownership wealth gap.” Amherst Community Homes is designed to meet Energy Star NextGen certification standards All units will be equipped with air source heat pumps Homes will also be sited for passive solar design to improve energy efficiency and lower utility costs The project is being funded through multiple sources: $9.9 million from MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder Program $4 million in construction financing from Greenfield Cooperative Bank $1.475 million from the Town of Amherst via Community Preservation Act and Affordable Housing Trust Fund resources The homes are being developed under Chapter 40B Construction is being led by Keiter Corporation and property management by Hampshire County Property Management Group MassHousing’s CommonWealth Builder Program is the largest state-level initiative in the U.S aimed at expanding affordable homeownership the program provides subsidies to support construction of moderately priced homes for first-time buyers earning between 70% and 120% of AMI the program helps families transition into stable $175.7 million has been committed to 33 projects supporting the creation of 804 homeownership opportunities including 715 affordable homes for first-time buyers With construction on Amherst Community Homes now underway the project represents a key step forward in addressing the housing affordability crisis in the Pioneer Valley and supporting wealth-building opportunities for Massachusetts families Match Recap: Men's Tennis | 5/2/2025 11:09:00 PM Thanks for visiting The use of software that blocks ads hinders our ability to serve you the content you came here to enjoy We ask that you consider turning off your ad blocker so we can deliver you the best experience possible while you are here The Center for Restorative Practices fosters an inclusive engaging campus climate where all members have the tools and experiences necessary to engage in meaningful restorative dialogue around community and conflict circles and trainings throughout the year for the Amherst College community See below to explore what we have planned for the upcoming semester The events listed below offer a snapshot of events we have offered publicly We have also offered numerous circles and trainings by request for specific groups on campus and beyond.  If you would like to request a private training or circle for your community or group Back to the Center for Restorative Practices Homepage It feels safer to keep parts of myself hidden—to avoid rocking the boat or being perceived as less than.” Has this ever been you?  Come explore using "Social Identity Wheels" to access the multitudes of who you are who others are and how to develop bridge-building skills toward each other that make room for your differences -- engaging with one another with more kindness and curiosity for change-making parents and off-campus participants welcome LINK TO REGISTER: https://forms.gle/BVo4iQ4HAD7ExyjJ7 In 2021 Amherst College officially launched the new Center for Restorative Practices How does this relate to Restorative Justice Come to an experiential presentation and training that explores these questions alumni and off-campus participants are welcome LINK TO REGISTER: https://forms.gle/ZLgLL9JeapLkELm88 Conflict is a natural part of our professional lives Join our workshop to explore how conflict can be a catalyst for positive transformation We’ll delve into why our brains are hardwired to fear conflict and how we can rewire our responses to handle it constructively Through observing real-time restorative conflict responses you’ll see firsthand how to override instinctive reactions and cultivate new Engage in reflective activities like debriefing in pairs and journaling to deepen your understanding and begin your journey toward a restorative conflict mindset This workshop is your opportunity to reframe how you think about conflict and equip yourself with tools to navigate it more effectively LINK TO REGISTER: https://forms.gle/sc5PnpeDsbnqKLkXA This Workshop has reached its cap of 25 attendants but we encourage you to sign up anyways in case folks can't make it!  A Restorative Practices Community Building Circle is a transformative tool that fosters trust By providing a safe and structured environment for open dialogue participants are encouraged to share their thoughts This process not only allows team members to truly listen to one another but also helps them better understand diverse viewpoints and experiences Through active participation and empathy-building storytelling and story listening the circle enables team members to forge stronger bonds and develop a deeper sense of connection by addressing underlying tensions and conflicts in a constructive manner these circles facilitate conflict resolution and prevent issues from escalating ultimately promoting a harmonious and cohesive work environment where trust thrives and collaboration flourishes  Come learn about and practice this valuable tool LINK TO REGISTER: https://forms.gle/e4PPRp4QbXd8si128 This training has reached its cap of 20 attendants but we encourage you to continue with registration to be placed on our waitlist Interested in becoming a trained Restorative Practices Circle Facilitator Restorative Practices Circles are a dialogical tool rooted in Indigenous ways of being that can be used to strengthen relationships and build community through storytelling The Center for Restorative Practices is hosting a 3-part Circle Keepers Training that is made up of 3 training sessions that last about 3 hours each and take the span of about 4-6 weeks to complete. This training is experiential by design and requires that you complete a final project consisting of designing and facilitating a circle within your community.  alumni and off-campus participants! This workshop's attendance is capped at 20 participants Please let us know if you can no longer attend so we may give your place to someone on the waitlist.  LINK TO REGISTER: https://forms.gle/htHh14vLxgdCykaSA Thanks for visiting as a critical part of the pathway to racial justice in Amherst the federal government’s rhetoric and actions are causing so many of our local residents to feel vulnerable and to fear for their rights and safety our community’s need for the services of CRESS’s unarmed responders is far broader and more urgent than initially envisioned CRESS requires a threshold of staffing and support to function effectively This includes: broad public awareness of how it can respond to concerns of safety and support in coordination with the Police Department; clear and widely known channels of communication for dispatch and response; strong committed leadership and management; staff training an adequate number of responders and hours of service that reflect the demand for its services rather than the eight responders hired in 2022 (They are dispatched as pairs) The crucial post of Implementation Manager is funded by a grant which ends this July Without greater support than what is provided in the current draft town budget CRESS will be pushed below the threshold for even minimal effective functioning and total interactions is increasing each month (see e.g Amherst Police and Fire Departments are beginning to refer cases to CRESS for follow-up The responders have shown skill in quickly de-escalating situations particularly at the Amherst Survival Center and Craig’s Doors Their interaction with local youth has received praise Although originally envisioned by the CSWG as operating 24/7 Dispatch and the Amherst Police Department expressed serious concern that the risk of violent incidents was too great after 10 pm There seemed to be consensus that CRESS would operate shifts from 8 a.m Yet, the current location of CRESS in the Bangs Center, which closes at 4 p.m. and is not open on weekends, and the decrease in staffing have limited the ability of CRESS to respond between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m, the very times and hours when their services are most needed Amherst received widespread recognition as one of the first communities nationwide to establish alternative safety responders Other communities look to us for leadership To pull back support for this enterprise now would represent an unfortunate step backward in the Town’s initial progress towards racial equity and social justice This would tarnish Amherst’s reputation and represent a betrayal of the town’s commitment to the community it serves In the words of the Amherst Community Safety Working Group’s Report “…the work of creating community safety and racial justice has new momentum which must be maintained and accelerated in the coming years…the entire community has a role to play in supporting encouraging and participating in envisaging and building a social fabric of justice and care that extends to all aspects of our town.” Martha Hanner Ash HartwellMartha Hanner and Ash Hartwell are residents of Amherst Thank you for your attention to the proposed freezing of two CRESS positions I have concerns similar to those listed above especially pertaining to ICE and the ongoing federal review/threat to sanctuary cities such as Amherst I read today in the town manager report (May 5) that there had been 1,817 interactions with CRESS so far this year If CRESS had the same number of employees and hours as police When looking at the police statistics in the FY26 budget (page 125) it appears in FY24 there were 17,472 calls for service 274 of which would be categorized as violent offenses (rape To me it seems it would make more sense to freeze all vacant police positions especially given the note that mental/medical assist calls are on the rise and these are calls CRESS has already been able to respond to Source: Amherst Business Improvement District The Emily Dickinson Museum will celebrate the completion of the reconstructed Carriage House and the reopening of The Evergreens with a special ribbon cutting ceremony on Tuesday Hosted in partnership with the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce and the Amherst Business Improvement District (BID) the ceremony will commemorate a major step forward in the Museum’s long-range restoration plans The Carriage House, reconstructed to reflect its 19th-century appearance while meeting today’s highest standards for sustainability is the first passive commercial building in Amherst—and the first passive museum building and historic house reconstruction in the country and play a key role in enabling the final phase of restoration at the Dickinson Homestead The Evergreens—home of Emily Dickinson’s brother Austin and his wife Susan—will officially reopen to the public on May 1 after nearly a year of closure during construction more than two decades in the making,” said Jane Wald the Jane and Robert Keiter Family Executive Director of the Emily Dickinson Museum “The Carriage House not only helps us continue to restore Emily Dickinson’s Homestead but also reflects Dickinson’s deep appreciation for the natural world through our commitment to environmental stewardship.” Additional Upcoming Event: In addition to the ribbon cutting, the Museum will host its annual Poetry Walk through downtown Amherst on Saturday, May 10, in honor of the 139th anniversary of Emily Dickinson’s death. This beloved tradition is free and open to all. Learn more at EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org/poetry-walk-2025 For More Information: Visit EmilyDickinsonMuseum.org or contact the Museum directly for event updates Toggle Event OverlayScheduleEventsResultsvs Joy Selected as Individual for NCAA Amherst Regional4/30/2025 6:56:00 PM | Men's Golf Wake Forest Selected to Amherst NCAA Regional4/30/2025 1:33:00 PM | Men's Golf This is the Deacs’ 26th-straight NCAA Regional appearance N.C.- The Wake Forest men's golf team was selected to the Amherst NCAA Regional Wednesday May 12 at the Poplar Grove Golf Course in Amherst This is the Deacs' 26th straight NCAA Regional appearance Last season at the 2024 NCAA Austin Regional defeating BYU in a playoff with the Deacs finishing 1-under-par to defeat the Cougars who finished even par It marked the 48th time that the Deacs had qualified for the NCAA Championships, and the 13th NCAA Championship appearance under the direction of head coach Jerry Haas including the fourth in the last five years the Deacs made a quarterfinal appearance in the ACC Championship This was Wake Forest's fourth appearance in match play at the ACC Championship with only Georgia Tech and Florida State having the same amount of appearances Wake Forest finished within the top-5 in seven events across the 2024-25 season In the fall, the Deacs claimed their first title of the 2024-25 season, winning the Lyon's Links Invitational by twelve strokes in Dublin, Ireland. This was the 46th win under the direction of head coach Jerry Haas The Deacs finished the final round 31-under-par turning in a 54-hole score of 833 and tying for ninth lowest 54-hole score to par in program history ACC Individual Champions by School (includes ties)  How the Men's Golf NCAA Championship Works Six 54-hole regional tournaments will be conducted to determine the 30 qualifying teams and six individuals (not on those qualifying teams) who will compete in the finals Thirteen teams and 10 individuals (not on those teams) will compete at each of three regionals while the other three regionals will have 14 teams and five individuals (not on those teams) The low five teams and the low individual not on those teams will advance to the finals All 30 teams and six individuals will complete 54 holes of stroke play the top 15 teams along with the top nine individuals not on an advancing team will advance for one additional day of stroke play to determine the top eight teams for match-play competition and the 72-hole stroke-play individual champion The top eight teams after 72 holes of play will be placed into a bracket thereafter a total of five points will be available with one point being awarded for each individual match Winning teams will advance to the semifinals and subsequently The first team to win three points within the team match will advance Chip Ainsworth sits at his desk in his Northfield home Pioneer head coach Scott Thayer celebrates with fans after their 49-28 win over Hopedale for the MIAA Div 5 state championship at the Tsongas Center in Lowell in March Good morning!The college hockey community was stunned this week to hear that Jack Arena had stepped down as the Amherst College hockey coach after 41 years and 539 wins According to a carefully worded press release “Arena will continue work at Amherst in other capacities [including] talent evaluation as well as coaching development and mentorship.”  Someone called it a “phased retirement.” How ridiculous “I always thought it would be better to leave a year early than a year late.”  That seems to mean he’d still be coaching if that light at the end of the tunnel wasn’t a speeding train filled with pronouns Amherst after all is an epicenter of woke ideology Arena quite likely sees his friend EJ Mills being hamstrung by an indifferent admissions office and struggling to field a competitive football team Twelve years ago Mills had the first of back-to-back undefeated seasons; this year he had two wins and eight total since 2023 It’s not easy making Mammoth soup out of mammoth crap Arena was born and raised in Randolph and attended Milton Academy played hockey and finished tied for fourth on the school’s all-time scoring list His senior season he was named the D-III player of the year After the coach left for a Division I school the athletic director asked Arena if he wanted the job “They went easy on me,” Arena said of coaching his former teammates and an 18-5-1 record propelled him to 27 winning seasons two trips to the D-III Frozen Four and three NESCAC titles together with various coach of the year honors “Jack’s earned his place in the pantheon of college hockey coaches,” said UMass coach Greg Carvel “He’s a very smart hockey guy but he’s also funny In 1997 Carvel was Arena’s grad assistant and joked “I added nothing to the program but he became a mentor and a great life-long friend I turned to him when I was deciding if I should take the UMass position He told me I could win and I trusted him then as I have for close to thirty years Arena’s last game was a double overtime loss to Colby College in the conference semifinals on March 1 in Waterville “Jack and I have been coaching for a long time 39 years for me,” Colby coach Blaise MacDonald said in a telephone interview “I like to think we are special people and Jack undeniably is at the top of the list he took the long view and taught them to influence and support others.” In an article in Amherst’s alumni magazine a few years ago assistant coach Greg DiNardo said that wherever he was recruiting the last thing everyone said was Jack Arena will long be remembered for the good he has sewn Journalism’s the hunch play in today’s Kentucky Derby although some will think I should wait for a more aptly named steed like Hack or Poison Pen Owner Aaron Wellman said he gave his $825,000 colt that name because he was the sports editor of his high school newspaper in Beverly Hills “I’ve been accused at times of acting and sounding like a disgruntled sports writer,” Wellman told The Brief “I embrace that and hope it bodes well for Journalism.” At this writing Journalism had been bet down to 2-1 in advance wagering so there must be a lot of Damon Runyons out there Serious bettors would like to hear what John Dobrydnio thinks “The horse I’m keying on is Burnham Square I’ll need a laboring track but this horse can run on all day long.” Dobrydnio said he’d use Bob Baffert’s one horse Citizen Bull in the gimmicks “and you’re forced to use Journalism he’s such a nice horse and somehow I gotta include the Japanese horse Luxor Cafe.” In the words of the late great Harvey Pack Scott Thayer is enjoying the sweet glow of success His Pioneer Panthers hoops team wrapped up a perfect 26-0 season in March by winning the D-5 state title at the Tsongas Center in Lowell “It’s time to enjoy the fruits of our labor and revel over something special,” said Thayer Sumner Turner was the school’s first superintendent “How many kids get a chance to go out as state champions “I’ve been coaching for 35 years and don’t know of any team that was 26-0,” he added “We went out and played free and easy and had fun The mind can strangle the body but we never feared losing.” assistant coach Fred Redeker’s nephew Kurt will attend St Alex McClelland is headed north to Vermont State University at Castleton Ben Werner is undecided and Will Glazier and team manager Braeden Tsipenyuk will enroll at Springfield College “No matter where they go they’ll always be connected,” said Thayer High fives to Pioneer sophomore Natalie Rios who broke her own record in the javelin on Tuesday with a throw of 117 feet “She’s a good student as well and a good person.” High school hoops historian Mike Cadran has some all-time Western Mass Adam Harrington holds the career record for most career points Harrington played at NC State and Auburn and spent one season in the NBA He’s currently the head coach of the Phantom BC of the Unrivaled League Smith Academy’s Bob Kovalski holds the WMass mark for season scoring average (37.6) and most points in a season (865) both in 1961 Springfield Central’s Travis Best holds the record for most points in a game with 81 for Springfield Central in 1991 Bilqis Abdul-Qaadir of the permanently closed New Leadership Charter School in Springfield holds every WMass schoolgirl record In 2009 she averaged 41.8 points and her 878 points for the season lifted her to 3,070 overall She subsequently played college ball at Memphis and Indiana State Four players from the MAC were taken in the draft: Toledo defensive tackle Darius Alexander (Giants); Bowling Green tight end Harold Fannin Jr (Browns); Western Michigan defensive back Bilhal Kone (Ravens) and Central Michigan DB Donte Kent (Steelers) Not a huge representation but more than were chosen from the Big Sky Condolences to Bill Pedigree on the passing of brother Bob at age 93 in Texas enrolled at UMass and captained the baseball team his senior year when it played in the College World Series under former TFHS coach Earl Lorden After college Pedigree played for the Cleveland Indians farm system in Double-A Reading and Triple A Mobile where he wed Jane Fowler to a long-term deal One sentence in the obituary summed up Pedigree’s time on earth: “Bob’s life was a testament to the strength of familial bonds and the joy of everyday moments.”  SQUIBBERS: Draft analyst Dane Brugler to Ross Tucker: “Shedeur Sanders is a perfect example of how important the interview process is but when you go into the draft thinking you have all the leverage that’s going to rub people the wrong way.” … We’ve been hearing that a Greenfield golfer with country club connections won $100,000 by predicting in exact order the top six Masters finishers: Rory McIlroy Springfield College pitcher Lily McAuliffe leads the nation with a 0.60 ERA and Williams College pitcher Sadie Leonard leads the nation in strikeouts with 208 in 115.1 innings … BSJ’s Greg Bedard was hoping the Patriots would use their third pick on tight end Mason Taylor of LSU “I covered his father Jason with the Miami Dolphins and his uncle Zach Thomas the Jets took Taylor in the second round with the 42nd overall selection and the Pats took Washington State wide receiver Kyle Williams with the 69th pick the Red Sox and Yankees don’t meet until early next month when they play three games in New York and three in Boston sandwiched by three games at Fenway versus the Rays …Robert Parish played 14 seasons for the Celtics but quite possibly the first time he played in Massachusetts was when Centenary lost to Charlotte in a benefit game at the Springfield Civic Center on Nov … TMZ reports that Bill Belichick’s 24-year-old girlfriend Jordon Hudson calls herself the Chief Operating Officer of Belichick Productions Chip Ainsworth is an award-winning columnist who has penned his observations about sports for decades in the Pioneer Valley Show Breaking News BarCloseLocal NewsPublished: May 1 This will mark the event’s 10th anniversary, and it will bring tons of deals to avid bargain hunters on everything from antiques to handmade crafts. This weekend, yard sales will be held in residential areas, vacant lots and business parking lots. One area that will be bustling with sales includes the Gretna Market and the Altavista Trade Lot on 7th Street, which rents vendor spots for just $5 on Friday and Saturday. Near Lynchburg, Hyland Heights Church and Calvary Baptist Church will also have a lot to offer. Calvary will also be serving breakfast. The 100 Mile Yard has been a cherished event in our region since October 2015 and originated in Altavista. Now, every town gets in on the action. The sale will go on rain or shine. Copyright 2025 by WSLS 10 - All rights reserved. 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President Donald Trump delivers his 100th Day in Office achievement speech in Michigan. WATCHAbsent court reporter delays Amherst County trial for man accused of wife's murderby Alexia Stanbridge (WSET) — The Amherst County trial of Frederick Wigginton accused of murdering his wife and burying her in their yard was unexpectedly postponed today due to the absence of a court reporter have been rescheduled for tomorrow morning Frederick Wigginton faces charges in connection with the murder of his wife Elsie had expressed fears for her safety to loved ones but they said they would rather have the trial done correctly The court does have an electronic recorder at the courthouse available Having a court reporter there can help the case not result in a mistrial will reconvene tomorrow to resume the trial proceedings Friends and co-workers reported her missing to the Amherst County Sheriff's Office called the sheriff's office on June 26 claiming she packed her bags and left after a fight leaving her phone and personal belongings behind Elsie's friends and family began spreading the word about her disappearance on social media "She would never leave her children and her grandchildren launched an investigation with state police in May of last year after seeing the social media posts Investigators searched her home on Pendleton Drive in July discovering her body and arresting Fred Wigginton the sheriff's office announced that Patricia Wigginton was also in custody in connection to Elsie's murder charged with one count of accessory after the fact and one count of obstructing justice Frederick's ex-wife Patricia also faces charges in the case or assisting" Fred after she knew he "had committed a homicide offense." She's charged with obstructing justice and accessory after the fact to a homicide Thanks for visiting Thanks for visiting Hanif Abdurraqib thinks about topics such as culture his work engages deeply with core human emotions – such as grief and joy – that often times  feel too big and abstract He brings them to life in ways that provide a different perspective on what it means to feel and exist in a community with complex dynamics and relations with differing views and a diverse community it is important to have someone address how In the inaugural Rhonda Cobham-Sander Lecture This event is organized by the English Department Student Steering Committee and sponsored by the English Department.  There’s Always This Year: On Basketball and Ascension (Random House and home and a New York Times bestseller. He released Go Ahead In The Rain: Notes To A Tribe Called Quest with University of Texas press in February 2019 The book became a New York Times Bestseller and was longlisted for the National Book Award His second collection of poems, A Fortune For Your Disaster 2021) was a winner of the Andrew Carnegie Medal and the Gordon Burn Prize a finalist for the National Book Critics Circle Award and the Pen/Diamonstein-Spielvogel Award and in 2024 was named a Windham-Campbell Prize recipient He is a graduate of Beechcroft High School Rhonda Cobham-Sander is a beloved professor of Caribbean and African literature in the Departments of English and Black Studies at Amherst College “I and I”: Epitaphs for the Self in the Work of V.S and Derek Walcott (University Press of the West Indies 2016) looks at how these three famous Caribbean writers attempt to consolidate their literary legacies in their later works “I keep trying to pretend I’m a professor who just wants to be left alone to read poetry,” Cobham-Sander says but she is renowned for her tremendous commitment and contributions to the Amherst community Amherst community members are invited for coffee and conversation about the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) budget on Friday The event will be held at the outdoor patio at the Bangs Community Center (70 Boltwood Walk Rain Location: Room 101 of Bangs Community Center This event features Amherst Town Manager Paul Bockelman The budget includes all aspects of town operations including municipal View all FY26 Budget Information. The “Cuppa’ Joe with Paul” events are monthly and rotate locations around town Paul is joined by a different town department head or official who provides insights into their area of focus Residents and others are welcome to share their concerns The public is invited to a special gathering at the new Ancestral Bridges community space on Wednesday This is the first public event in the new space located at 29A Cottage Street This collaborative event brings together elders from Ancestral Bridges and students from Amherst College’s “American Literature in Conversation” course who will share powerful stories and multimedia projects created this spring they highlight the rich history and lived experiences of the Black and Afro-Indigenous communities of Amherst—and beyond “We are excited to open the doors to this new community hub and celebrate the stories that shape our collective history This evening will be a true celebration of connection and community,” said the Ancestral Bridges team