Arts & Life
‘As the woods wake up, it’s my favorite time’: Turkey hunters relish spring season
By DOMENIC POLI
The Boston Red Sox season will still be warming up by the end of this month, with about 110 games remaining before the playoffs. But outdoor sportsmen across Massachusetts will have already hung up their gear until around the time the World Series...
‘A generational healing experience’: Exhibit documents the struggles of Cambodian families fleeing the Khmer Rouge who found refuge and a new community in Amherst
By STEVE PFARRER
Not long after 20 years of war finally ended in Vietnam in 1975, another wave of horrendous violence erupted just to the west.The Khmer Rouge, the Communist party of Cambodia, seized control of the country and began a brutal “reeducation” campaign...
Faith Matters: We are all in the same boat: Finding God and our common humanity in ‘the between’
By BEN TOUSLEY, M.DIV.
Years ago, I stood with some family members and a large crowd of strangers on a whale watch boat anxiously anticipating the appearance of the first whale. When the mighty leviathan breached the water quite close to one side of our boat, all let out a...
Finding solutions for student assessments: Part two of a conversation about the complicated issue of assessments in our schools
By DOUG SELWYN
This is part two of an interview with University of Massachusetts Amherst Professor Jack Schneider, who heads two organizations focused on helping educators develop assessment approaches that serve the goals and values of their classrooms, schools and...
Sounds Local: Greenfield’s own Elvis returns to sender: Travis Ledoyt brings ‘The Elvis in Me’ to Greenfield High School, May 25
By SHERYL HUNTER
Twenty-five years ago, Travis Ledoyt, a native of Greenfield, performed Elvis Presley’s music at Greenfield’s Classic Days for the first time. Backed by a group of local musicians, he sang on a makeshift stage in front of the town common and belted...
The cool new ‘underground’ spot in town: Le Peacock in Shelburne Falls delivers on colorful décor, people, food and cocktails
By TINKY WEISBLAT
For weeks, friends have been telling me how much they love Le Peacock in Shelburne Falls. I finally got there on a recent afternoon … and the place lived up to the hype.Le Peacock is located beneath 10 Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls. The restaurant...
Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: Venture beyond your garden walls: Plant sales and noteworthy gardens to visit this season
By MICKEY RATHBUN
After long weeks of yearning for gardening weather, we’re suddenly inundated by spring. Endless outdoor chores beg for our attention — composting, mulching, edging, scrubbing birdbaths and, at least in my garden beds, pulling out multitudes of maple...
Speaking of Nature: Surprised by strawberries in the grass: Flowers will bloom whether you pay attention or not
By BILL DANIELSON
Every week I try to end my column with an inspirational line or two in the hopes of motivating my readers to get outside and see what’s going on in their own back yards. As I sit and peck away at the keyboard this morning I realize that the...
From fair to fantastic: Memorial Hall Museum exhibit shows how Green River Festival blossomed over 37 years
By CHRIS LARABEE
In anticipation of Green River Festival in June, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association (PVMA) and former festival operator Signature Sounds are presenting a history of the region’s largest and most popular musical event.With a trove of...
Poet’s Seat Poetry Contest: Winning poems
Adult 1st Place Winner“Untitled” by Joannah L. Whitney If there were a telescopeif I knew the night sky, if I werebeyond the nodding acquaintanceof “Yes, it is dark” and more the translatorof scattered pricks of lightknowing their patterns this time...
Faith Matters: ‘Glimmer moments’ can be found everywhere: The importance of finding and sharing moments of joy, peace and safety
By THE REV. LINDA M. RHINEHART NEAS
Have you heard of “glimmer moments?” I thought this was something cutesy that someone made up, but after doing research, I learned that it is actually a scientific term.The phrase “glimmer moments” was created by psychotherapist Deb Dana in an attempt...
Valley Bounty: Fibers for farmers: Western Massachusetts Fibershed turns local ‘throw away’ wool into fertilizer pellets
By JACOB NELSON
Local wool for your wardrobe … and for your garden?That’s the idea behind a new project from Western Massachusetts Fibershed, an organization working to strengthen our local fiber economy, right alongside our local food economy.Peggy Hart is a core...
Book Review: Reflecting on love and loss: Astrid Lindstrom to read from “Cecilia,” May 17 in Northampton
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Astrid Lindstrom shares the joys and the travails of caregiving for a loved one with cancer in “Cecelia.” Lindstrom will talk about her book on Friday, May 17, at 5:30 p.m. at Cancer Connection in Northampton.Cecelia is subtitled “A Memoir of Lesbian...
Sounds Local: Joni Mitchell tribute comes to Turners Falls: Big Yellow Taxi to perform ‘Court and Spark’ in its entirety, May 18 at the Shea
By SHERYL HUNTER
If you are a Joni Mitchell fan (and who isn’t), you’ll want to be at the Shea Theater Arts Center in Turners Falls on Saturday, May 18, at 8 p.m. when the premier Joni Mitchell tribute band here in the Northeast, Big Yellow Taxi, takes the stage. This...
On Mother’s Day, we’ll always have Paris: A crêpe recipe in honor of my French-speaking mother
By TINKY WEISBLAT
I recently received an odd email from Macy’s. It said that the retailer understood that not everyone wanted to receive Mother’s Day emails and offered me the opportunity to opt out of those missives.I’m not sure why Mother’s Day was singled in out...
Providing opportunity for people to grow: The United Arc of Franklin County’s annual Gardening with Steve event a highlight of spring
By EVELINE MACDOUGALL
Steve McConley credits his wife, Doreen, for his interest in growing plants. Doreen brought solid gardening skills to their union, and Steve appreciates her encouragement. The McConleys have a garden at their Bernardston home, and now Steve shares...
Speaking of Nature: Capturing my Bermuda nemesis: The Great Kiskadee nearly evaded me, until I followed its song
By BILL DANIELSON
We’ve reached that point in the school year when it is actually painful (I mean physically painful) for me to leave my yard in the morning. May is the true month of the reawakening and blooming of Nature’s splendor and last week she was in full...
The house that therapy built: Multimedia artist Lisa Winter to display “My House” at the Wendell Meetinghouse this Sunday
By DOMENIC POLI
Lisa Winter is a multimedia artist who has dabbled in miniatures for decades, but life as a registered nurse during a time of political turmoil (and, eventually, a global pandemic) took a toll that led her to therapy “just to sort things out.” The...
Fun Fest returns to Turners Falls: Música Franklin hosts 6th annual family-friendly, free event, May 11
By SHERYL HUNTER
Música Franklin will host its sixth annual Fun Fest at Unity Park in Turners Falls on Saturday, May 11, from 12:30 to 4:30 p.m. This free festival will feature world-class musical performances, entertainment, and crafts for the whole family. You can...
Valley Bounty: Delivering local food onto students’ plates: Marty’s Local connects farms to businesses
By LISA GOODRICH
Nick Martinelli, CEO of Marty’s Local, began his career with a stint at the Farm School in Athol, hoping to learn how he might participate in the local agricultural economy. While conducting market research in 2015, he recognized there was a lot of...
