South Hadley

South Hadley Town Meeting Members vote down proposal to reduce police funding by $90k

“The Movement for Black Lives calls for us to … actively invest in systems that promote the wellbeing rather than the harm of Black people,” Adam Reid said at South Hadley’s annual Town Meeting on June 9, as he proposed a police budget decrease. The proposal, which would reallocate some money from the police budget to public schools, was shot down by voting members during the meeting.

Photo Essay: Gorse Closure Protests

Photo Essay: Gorse Closure Protests

“I don’t want people to have to fight for a while,” said Michael Eason, a parent of a Gorse student. After Mount Holyoke extended Gorse Children’s Center’s contract by one year, Eason attended a demonstration at the College gates, calling for a long-term plan for childcare beyond the one-year timeline.

South Hadley School District Prepares for Reopening

South Hadley School District Prepares for Reopening

In late January, the South Hadley School Committee approved a phased-in learning process set to begin on Feb. 22. On this date, high needs students, or middle and high school students whose parents are essential workers or need critical child care, will start to return to school for four days a week.

News Brief: Car Crashes into Asian Center for Empowerment


On Saturday, Nov. 28, an unknown driver crashed into the basement of the Asian Center for Empowerment on the Mount Holyoke campus. The College notified community members of the accident in an email from the Office of Communications on Sunday, Nov. 29.

South Hadley Residents Discuss New Voting Format and Divisive Election

South Hadley Residents Discuss New Voting Format and Divisive Election

Whether lined up outside of the public library or following the signs to a ballot dropbox, South Hadley voters participating in the 2020 presidential election have seen processes greatly adjusted to fit the new standards required in a pandemic.

In a video released by the South Hadley Office of the Town Clerk, Registrar Nicole Casolari spoke on behalf of the department explaining the new protocols for the election. While the town continued to offer the option to vote in person at South Hadley High School on Nov. 3, other avenues were also created for citizens to participate. Early voting began Oct. 17 at the South Hadley Public Library and the application for mail-in ballots was open until Oct. 28. Voters who decided to mail their ballots were also able to bring them to a dropbox behind the police station, according to Casolari.

Pioneer Valley sees Massachusetts’ largest fatal outbreak of COVID-19 yet

Pioneer Valley sees Massachusetts’ largest fatal outbreak of COVID-19 yet

As of April 16, the U.S. has recorded the highest-known number of cases of the novel coronavirus per country in the world. According to The New York Times, more than 30,000 people with confirmed cases of COVID-19 have died, and at least 662,441 have confirmed cases of the virus as of April 15.

South Hadley reckons with anniversary of Phoebe Prince’s death

South Hadley reckons with anniversary of Phoebe Prince’s death

It was a cold winter day on January 15, 2010 when around 200 South Hadley High School students gathered on the school’s softball field. Some held back tears, others held candles. They came together, bundled in winter coats, as a community in the face of a sudden tragedy.