Hi Everyone!

The Montague Soapbox Races are on for this year! This event is incredibly fun to watch (and my husband races in it)! Unfortunately last year it was cancelled for various reasons (including not enough people signing up). We're trying to get the word out to more people. There used to be a few soapbox races but now they seem to be hard to find. I'm hoping some of you might be handy and interested in participating!

The race happens at Unity Park in Montague/Turners Falls. Children as young as 8 can participate too (they start lower down the hill than the adults).

Sign up is open now! https://montaguesoapboxraces.com/
Get started on those builds and save the date for Sunday September 27th 2026.

Tell your friends, get a little friendly competition going!

Please reach out to the soapbox committee with any questions or if you'd like to help make this year's race the best ever! https://montaguesoapboxraces.com/contact

We are searching for Volunteers to Join our new research study. Looking for adults aged 40-75 for a study on prolonged sitting and cognition. The prescreening consists of a VO2 Max test on a Stationary Bicycle. The main study tests interrupting sitting with short, high-intensity exercises and measures brain and cognitive functions before and after. Participants can earn up to $450, with travel expenses covered if living 20-plus miles from Amherst. Copy the link to start the screening process  https://redcap.link/hiit2sitless

Content warning

UMass Dining management really needs to treat all their employees with dignity and respect especially after the incident that took place back in April. Bullying in the kitchen is a continuing problem and human resources must take every complaint seriously. From what I heard hundreds of people have complained about Jeffrey MacDonald's behavior going back before he married Emma and human resources wasn't taking it seriously.

I’m looking to get body repairs on my front bumper (possibly more) of my Hyundai Elantra somewhere in the area. Looking for a place in the Amherst or surrounds area that is trustworthy! Thank you all

Per the repost. Just looking for reviews for Cliffside apts. much appreciated for any insights!

Any suggestions on a place with good atmosphere to watch the World Cup matches this weekend?

Hey guys! I've recently moved to Northampton but have had trouble making friends. I'm 25F looking for female friends my age. I'm from LA originally. I love to hike, go birding, thrifting, movies, and girly stuff. Are there any grad students or girls out there who would wanna be friends??

Over the past few days, our restaurant was damaged in an act of vandalism. It was a heartbreaking experience for our team, but what followed reminded us why we are so grateful to be part of the Amherst community.

The incident has been reported to the police, and the investigation is ongoing. While that process continues, our focus remains on serving our community and moving forward together.

We’ve been overwhelmed by the kindness we’ve received—from the encouraging messages and positive reviews to everyone who stopped by to support us in person. Seeing so many familiar faces, along with so many new ones, has meant more to us than words can express.

As we shared in our post, glass can be replaced, but a community can’t. The broken window will be repaired, but the support and compassion you’ve shown us will stay with us forever.

We’re open, we’re looking ahead, and we’ll continue doing what we love: serving fresh food, welcoming everyone with warm smiles, and being the same Lao Hu Tong you’ve always known.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for standing with us. We can’t wait to welcome you back soon. ❤️

Thank you, Amherst, for standing with us. We hope to see you soon. ❤️

We are searching for Volunteers to Join our new research study. Looking for adults aged 40-75 for a study on prolonged sitting and cognition. The prescreening consists of a VO2 Max test on a Stationary Bicycle. The main study tests interrupting sitting with short, high-intensity exercises and measures brain and cognitive functions before and after. Participants can earn up to $450, with travel expenses covered if living 20-plus miles from Amherst. Copy the link to start the screening process https://redcap.link/hiit2sitless

On the UMass page I posted I hope for a peaceful school year and I receive the warning for a low quality post. How is hoping for a peaceful school year low quality? Typical UMass.

Apparently someone got offended because I said people at UMass need to quit putting each other down like a bunch of high school kids. There's no future in that.

Hey, I'm 20 yrs old and moved here from Long Island, NY. Been here since the beginning of April. I hate it here

I will preface by saying that this area has the most beautiful and spiritually connecting nature that I've ever experienced. This is the best part about Western MA.

However, it really feels like there is absolutely nothing to do. No events no parties no shows no nothing. Can't go to bars or clubs because every place that sells alcohol has forensic ID scanners from the CIA so my fake won't work.

I understand that it's summer break and there's no students here so there's not many people my age... But even in the spring, I went to a few shows at Hampshire College (RIP) and it felt like everyone already knew each other and had their friends and there wasn't a purpose of me being there. In New York I could strike up conversations with people I've never met at events and it would click, here there feels something off when I do that, the interaction has some tension in it. But maybe that's a me problem.

Perhaps this place isn't for me. Perhaps I need to live in or near a large city to feel at home because I feel like I come back to a room at night, not my home.

Good afternoon, I'm looking for a room, to stay, my budget limit is $750 to $800 I'm a hardworking and honest boy,

I was sitting next to you at the fireworks. I was with my two kids. You were eating bbq ribs. You asked me if I had a napkin and I said you had a piece of meat between your teeth. You got embarrassed.

Before I could apologize your friend ran up and said Tyler got his head stuck in a Home Depot bucket again and you left.

I thought you were cute and I have a gift card to the Treehouse Brewery. If you read this, can I take you there?

Has anyone else had a bad experience with ValleyBike? My bike ran out of battery today and stranded me in Hadley. And instead of apologizing and waiving my fee they charged me a penalty, lectured me about "stranding" the bike, and threatened to kick me off the platform.

Pedaling becomes very difficult when the battery dies as it feels as if one is pedaling uphill despite being on flat land. Since the nearest bike "hubs" were miles from me, in Amherst and Northampton, returning was not possible and I took the bike to an intersection with the street so it could be picked up for service. I photographed the bike and noted its position to support. I then took a bus home to avoid a two hour walk.

The email support team even reviewed my ride history and noted this had happened before (when they did thankfully issue a refund, albeit after initially trying to give me a coupon that would have been unusable for me) and tried to say I should have known that there would be no warning of a battery outage and that I should have picked a bike with more than 50% battery. (They ignored the screenshot I sent indicating that the bike with the dead battery had more than 50% while it was effectively disabled)

They told me I wouldn't be able to use the service in the future if I disputed the charge. For which now I'll dispute the monthly membership too - nice of them to tell me that i guess.

Hi, I'm seeking a PT on behalf of my mom (who just turned 80.) Any recommendations for someone kind, patient, and experienced with seniors? Thanks in advance!

I'm glad fare free on PVTA buses have been extended until further notice. Forget that crazy Springfield Mayor.