Brian Steele
DailyHampGazette
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Past articles by Brian:
Price tag for Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s ER expansion jumps
NORTHAMPTON — The cost of expanding, renovating and reconfiguring Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s emergency department has climbed nearly 25% since last year, leaving boosters to shore up funding ahead of a planned groundbreaking in the spring, while the... → Read More
Chase Bank buys Silverscape Designs building
NORTHAMPTON — One of downtown’s most distinctive and prominent buildings, 1 King St., has a new owner and, next year, it will return to its roots as a bank.DP Holdings LLC, the company that owned 1 King St., sold it to JPMorgan Chase Bank last month... → Read More
Holyoke mayor, Hampden County DA seek to reassure public after city’s 5th slaying of 2022
HOLYOKE — Less than 24 hours after the city’s fifth murder of 2022, local leaders gathered Thursday to let the public know that they are working on multiple fronts to curb gun violence, prosecute those responsible and keep the general public safe.At a... → Read More
Sheriff hopefuls square off in last forum
NORTHAMPTON — The three candidates running in the Sept. 6 Democratic primary for sheriff of Hampshire County faced off in their final forum Thursday night at the Northampton Center for the Arts, answering questions before a packed house about their... → Read More
Florence character changing? Block sales bring dispensary, rental upgrades
NORTHAMPTON — Changes are in store for Florence Center, including the possible addition of a marijuana dispensary, after buyers scooped up iconic properties at the intersection of Main and Maple streets in separate transactions.The Goodwin Block at... → Read More
Cara Rintala will face fourth murder trial in Northampton next year
NORTHAMPTON — Next fall, Cara Rintala will go on trial for the fourth time for the alleged murder of her wife, Annamarie Cochrane Rintala, in their Granby home in 2011.On Friday morning, Hampshire Superior Court Judge Richard Carey said the trial will... → Read More
Firefighters, bird expert rescue hawk from St. John Cantius bell tower
NORTHAMPTON — Northampton Fire Rescue, renowned bird of prey expert Tom Ricardi and concerned neighbors of St. John Cantius Church worked together to save a male redtail hawk that was trapped in the downtown church’s bell tower for about three days.At... → Read More
Driver gets probation, loses license for 15 years after pleading guilty to killing cyclist in Northampton
NORTHAMPTON — The driver charged with hitting and killing city musician Charlie Braun last year as he rode his bike near Northampton High School will serve probation, perform 200 hours of community service and lose her right to drive for 15 years... → Read More
Job posting set for interim Northampton school chief
NORTHAMPTON — The School Committee is “entertaining applications for an interim superintendent for the Northampton Public Schools,” vice chair Gwen Agna said during a special meeting held virtually on Tuesday night.The committee drafted a job posting... → Read More
Historic barn renewal project nears goal in Northampton
NORTHAMPTON — Historic Northampton’s dream of turning the Shepherd Barn into a thriving community space is on the cusp of coming true as the project continues to receive grants and planners stump for a final influx of donations.The nonprofit on Bridge... → Read More
‘Spirit and drive’ of Northampton High’s Class of ’22 hailed
NORTHAMPTON — The Northampton High School Class of 2022 graduated Sunday in a ceremony marked by reflections on determination, loss, and the students’ history of high-visibility activism through hard and uncertain times.School and city leaders handed... → Read More
Marching toward ridiculous: DoozyDo Parade route straight downhill
NORTHAMPTON — Under the slogan “ridiculous fun for a really good cause,” a whimsical parade planned for the fall will raise money for the nonprofit Northampton Neighbors while showcasing the community’s silly side.The DoozyDo Parade, scheduled to take... → Read More
The final countdown: With closure just days away, Sylvester Restaurant’s owners reflect on nearly 4 decades
NORTHAMPTON — When Peter St. Martin and Maureen “Mo” McGuinness opened Sylvester’s Restaurant, the iconic Pleasant Street breakfast and lunch spot that will serve its final meals on Sunday, customers were hard to come by.“It was really slow,” St.... → Read More
Smith Voc fire sparked by hot riding mower
NORTHAMPTON — The Monday afternoon fire at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School “was accidental and most likely started when the exhaust of a riding lawnmower came into contact with combustible materials,” Northampton Fire Chief Jon Davine... → Read More
Fire guts Smith Voc forestry building
NORTHAMPTON — Less than a day after high winds tore off a section of roof on a building at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School, a fire caused extensive damage to the school’s forestry education building.No one was injured in the fire at... → Read More
Storm damages Florence businesses, tears off section of Smith Voc. roof
NORTHAMPTON — Classes were held at Smith Vocational and Agricultural High School on Monday even though high winds tore off a section of an academic and shop building’s roof the night before.The storm also caused structural damage to the outdoor dining... → Read More
Northampton mainstay Sylvester’s restaurant will soon be history
NORTHAMPTON — Pleasant Street mainstay Sylvester’s Restaurant will close next weekend after 39 years in business.Sylvester’s, which offers breakfast, brunch and lunch five days a week, is owned by the same family that owns Roberto’s Restaurant, also... → Read More
Sciarra presents $126M budget
NORTHAMPTON — Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra’s first budget since taking office in January would boost spending on city schools, libraries, public works and public health next fiscal year, representing a 4.07% increase over the current year.The... → Read More
Firefighters douse apartment blaze in Northampton
NORTHAMPTON — Firefighters extinguished a fire at an apartment on Barrett Street this weekend before it was able to spread to the surrounding units and an investigation is underway to determine the cause.On Saturday at around 9:45 a.m., Northampton... → Read More
Mask mandate returns in Northampton schools
NORTHAMPTON — Masks are now mandatory again inside Northampton public schools as district officials grapple with “a substantial increase” of COVID-19 transmission, Superintendent John Provost wrote in a letter this week to the school community.In a... → Read More