Arts
Learn to hear music differently: Six week course in Montague focuses on ‘The Art of Makam’
By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN
Weathervane Community Arts (WCA), in partnership with the Montague Common Hall, will host an inaugural six-class series called “The Art of Makam,” where participants will learn the modal music system of makam, taught by Boston-based musician and...
Sounds Local: Father daughter punk duo release first album: Rocking Puppies will celebrate ‘Civilized Show-Off’ this Saturday at Hawks & Reed
By SHERYL HUNTER
Playing in a punk band with your dad is rather unusual — even more so if you are only 9 years old. But for Pema Crigler, the lead singer of the Greenfield-based punk band Rocking Puppies, it’s not only a normal thing to do, it’s a lot of fun.Pema and...
‘Eating in Leverett’ for 250 years: New cookbook is a lasting memento of town’s major birthday
By TINKY WEISBLAT
The town of Leverett is celebrating its 250th anniversary this year. The festivities have included a cake-filled birthday party in March, a plant walk, an antique vehicle and equipment show, a quilt show, a July 4 parade and barbecue, and much...
The sweet spot for sweet potatoes: A Greenfield family learned the secrets of spud-growing by trial and error
By EVELINE MACDOUGALL
Ryan Nestor comes from determined people: his grandfather emigrated by himself at age 11 from Greece, found work in restaurants, and became a citizen, homeowner, and family man. Like his grandfather, Nestor is passionate about gardening, and now...
Speaking of Nature: Still going strong after summer: Common chicory a hot spot for pollen and nectar-seekers
By BILL DANIELSON
One of the hazards of working in a school is the annual reunion of large numbers of people in small, confined spaces. The students get antsy and the adults get antsy, but this is just a temporary annoyance. The bigger problem is the confinement of...
Immerse yourself in spooky season: Revival Wheeler Mansion to offer two murder mystery weekends and a pumpkin fest next month
By DOMENIC POLI
The North Quabbin region’s only Gilded Age mansion is on track to have a most festive October this year, with two murder mystery weekends and a festival to celebrate the season and all its aura.The Revival Wheeler Mansion has scheduled a...
Playing with her food: Artist creates prints using plants and mushrooms
By MADISON SCHOFIELD
It’s never too late to follow a dream or pursue a passion, as proven by Haydenville artist Madge Evers, whose latest collection of mushroom spore prints, “The New Herbarium,” is now on display at Salmon Falls Gallery in Shelburne Falls.Evers said she...
Over 10 years in the making: ‘Sheepdog,’ filmed in Montague, premiered last weekend at the 40th annual Boston Film Fest
By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN
Steven Grayhm spent over a decade writing and directing the locally shot film, “Sheepdog,” which screened publicly for the first time last weekend at the 40th annual Boston Film Festival. The film follows the story of U.S. Army Combat Veteran Calvin...
During Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Southampton resident reflects on loss of loved one
By CARLA J. POTTS
Dodging puddles and raindrops on a Friday afternoon 25 years ago, I headed to the university’s textbook annex to grab what I needed for the fall semester of my senior year. Having just finished the first week of classes, I chatted excitedly with my...
Faith Matters: The importance of welcoming strangers: Remember that you were once an alien in a foreign land
By THE REV. ALISON CORNISH
When a message runs through the whole of scripture, it’s worth taking notice. The ancient imperative of the Hebrew and Christian scriptures — to welcome the stranger — is one of note for its insistence, its timelessness, and timeliness, too.First...
Sounds Local: Bluesman passing through: James Montgomery Blues Band performs in Greenfield on Saturday
By SHERYL HUNTER
With his dynamic harp playing and singing, combined with his charismatic stage presence, bluesman James Montgomery has been winning over crowds for over 50 years and shows no signs of slowing down.“I’m on the ‘Too Stupid to Stop Tour,’” Montgomery...
A layered dip and a layered cook: Pianist, teacher and somatic therapist Daphne Bye shares a delicious recipe
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Food helps us communicate with others. I have known Daphne Bye of Montague casually for a decade, yet I never really knew very much about her until last week. Asking her about her fabulous layered-hummus dish helped me learn about her career and her...
Building a dream-come-true garden: Transplants to Greenfield transform their property
By EVELINE MACDOUGALL
Olivia and Wil Cather embody a wonderful aspect of Franklin County: the likelihood of stumbling upon tableaux where regular folks create mini-Edens. One can spot such scenes while driving, but traveling by foot or bicycle increases the chances of...
Speaking of Nature: The return of feeder politics: It’s autumn, and the baby birds aren’t babies anymore
By BILL DANIELSON
On Sept. 22 we observed the official change in the seasons from summer to autumn. This was the Autumnal Equinox, the day when we technically saw 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of night. With each passing day we will now see less and less of the sun...
John and May: Former lover of John Lennon brings photo exhibit of their relationship to Northampton
By BOB FLAHERTY
In our 60-year obsession with the Beatles, the group’s women have always played a compelling part. Ringo’s long-lasting marriage to “Caveman” co-star Barbara Bach; the George/Pattie Boyd/Eric Clapton triangle; Paul’s heart-tugging romance with Linda...
My prostate cancer journey: From diagnosis to treatment and recovery
By CHIP AINSWORTH
Eight years ago, my PSA (prostate-specific antigen) level nearly doubled from 3.9 to 7.2. Fear makes us accept or deny, to act or do nothing, and months passed until I scheduled an office visit at Dartmouth-Hitchcock Medical Center in Lebanon, New...
The HOGs ride again: Disbanded Bernardston motorcycle group reunites after 20 years
By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN
Michael Holden and Sue McMahon, both former members of the Bernardston Harley Owners Group (HOG) Chapter, had the idea to try and reconnect with two former members of the chapter.Holden knew that 25 years ago, Steve and Lee Carrol moved out of the...
Valley Bounty: Nothing says autumn like apple picking: Over 10 varieties available this year at Apex Orchards
By LISA GOODRICH
School is back in session, and the emblematic apple is in season at local orchards. Courtney Basil, co-owner of Apex Orchards in Shelburne Falls, reports “beautiful, bountiful peach and apple crops this season.”Apex planted several new varieties in...
Opening with an organist: Brick Church Music Series returns this weekend
By CHRIS LARABEE
The Brick Church Music Series returns to Old Deerfield this weekend, as the annual concert series welcomes folks for an organ concert on Sunday.The series begins its 2024-25 season on Sunday, Sept. 22, as it presents award-winning organist Aaron Tan...
Faith Matters: Are you ‘spiritual enough?’: Activities that fill us up or connect us to others on a deeper level are actually spiritual
By THE REV. CINDY LAJOY
Have you ever judged yourself for not being “spiritual enough?” And what does that even mean? Today in America we often find people speaking more about their spiritual journeys than their faith or religious journeys, and for many that is a much better...
Your Daily Puzzles
An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."
A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.
Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.
Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.
Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.
