AMHERST — Puffer’s Pond is reopening for swimming, about a week after high E. coli bacteria readings prompted an advisory for people to not go into the water.

The town on Wednesday posted the latest water quality test results for Puffer’s Pond showing that both the South Beach and North Beach meet state standards for safe swimming conditions. That had been the case this summer until July 15, when the town posted no swimming at the State Street site and on the town website.

The weekly testing is done from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with results usually released on Wednesday afternoons.The Health Department makes the decision on closing the site for swimming and can be contacted at [email protected] or 413-259-3077.

NORTHAMPTON — Cooley Dickinson Hospital is marking four years of offering Aquablation therapy, an advanced, minimally invasive treatment option for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH), also known as enlarged prostate.

The hospital also announced the launch of an AI-powered robotic system to support more efficient Aquablation procedures. Cooley Dickinson is among the most experienced BPH programs in the region, having performed over 200 Aquablation procedures, according to Dr. Cory Harris, chief of urology.

“Our clinicians’ experience in Aquablation paired with new technology at the hospital is enabling us to expand urology services and options for the Pioneer Valley,” said Kevin Whitney, DNP, RN, president and Chief Operating Officer at CDH.

BPH is a common, non-cancerous enlargement of the prostate gland that affects more than half of men in their 50s and nearly 90% of men by age 80. It can cause bothersome symptoms such as frequent urination and urgency, disrupted sleep and can take a toll on quality of life. Aquablation therapy is a procedure performed under anesthesia which uses robotic-assisted waterjet technology guided by real-time ultrasound imaging to precisely remove excess prostate tissue.

Since launching the program in June 2022, the Cooley Dickinson urology team has used Aquablation therapy to help eligible patients find relief from lower urinary tract symptoms associated with BPH — often with a shorter recovery time and reduced risk of sexual side effects compared to some traditional surgical approaches.

In conjunction with this anniversary, Cooley Dickinson Hospital has upgraded to the second-generation, AI-powered HYDROS robotic system, designed to support precision, consistency, and efficiency during Aquablation procedures. The technology, which Cooley Dickinson began using in December 2025, combines real-time imaging and robotics to help clinicians tailor treatment to each patient’s anatomy.

GRANBY — The Friends of the Granby Free Public Library will host their annual monthlong Fall Book Sale during the month of September in the library’s Community Room.

Participants can choose from a large assortment of used and like-new hardcover,  paperback, teen and children’s books, along with a selection of CDs, DVDs, video games and audiobooks. The sale will run during regular library hours.

Starting Aug. 1st, the library will accept donations of hardcover and paperback books, DVDs, music CDs, playable video games, and audiobooks in good condition acceptable for resale. The library does not accept donations of textbooks, encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, Reader’s Digest books, or books with smoke, mold, mildew, or water damage.

Donations are accepted at the library during open hours. Please do not leave donated books outside the library or in our book return. Donations will be accepted until Aug. 27. The library is located at 297 E. State St.

HOLYOKE – Holyoke Community College is offering a special one-hour noncredit class that will explore digital fraud and cybersecurity risks to small businesses in the AI age.

The stand-alone class will run over Zoom from 10 to 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 29.

The course is led by Bryan Shapiro, founder of Retina Advisors, a fraud consulting business, with support from cybersecurity consultant Michael Narducci.

In this one-hour class, Shapiro and Narducci will discuss the threats causing the most damage to small businesses today. Through real-world examples and practical guidance, attendees will learn how these scams work, what they look like in action, and the steps people can take to protect their businesses.

Topics include AI-powered phishing, business email compromise, deepfake impersonation, ransomware, and multi-factor authentication.

The cost of the class is $25. To sign up, please go to: hcc.edu/AI-risks

A Zoom link will be sent to participants before the class begins.