Arts
Finding God everywhere: Pastor Peter Stilla of the First Congregational Church in Hadley pens new book about Christian Universalism
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Peter Stilla of Deerfield has had multiple careers. For much of his life, he was a journalist. This work included stints doing editorial work at the Greenfield Recorder and its sister paper, the Daily Hampshire Gazette.In 2000, he decided to attend...
Artspace celebrates 50th annual Teen Art Show, grant award
By LIESEL NYGARD
Not only has Greenfield’s Artspace Community Arts Center begun its 50th annual Teen Art Show, but it has also received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) that will help support its overall mission. Artspace was one of a...
Nature is his muse: Works by photographer Lou Wallach on display at Salmon Falls Gallery, Feb. 22 to April 28
By BELLA LEVAVI
Traveling around the country on his motorcycle, Lou Wallach sees nature like no one else. Thirteen hanging framed prints and 22 unframed works of Wallach’s black-and-white photography will be on display at Salmon Falls Gallery, located at 1 Ashfield...
Sounds Local: Watermelon Wednesdays celebrates 25 years of acoustic music series: Plus, Iron Horse announces initial lineup
By SHERYL HUNTER
Watermelon Wednesdays, the acoustic music series that presents concerts and workshops at the historic West Whately Chapel and the Whately Town Hall, will celebrate its 25th year in 2024. Paul Newlin of Whately, a devout music fan, heads up the series,...
Father of our country hoe cakes: George Washington-related concoction is a favorite breakfast
By TINKY WEISBLAT
I appreciate that people who work regular jobs need three-day holiday weekends. For this reason, in 1968, George Washington’s birthday was moved from Feb. 22 to the third Monday in the month.Sadly, in my opinion, this means that the official...
Valley Bounty: CSA season gets jump on growing season this week
By LISA GOODRICH
Though more weeks of winter lie ahead, National Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) week — Feb. 19-25 — marks the symbolic start of the CSA cycle, when member sign-ups start rolling in and participating farmers begin planning for the coming growing...
Nature Photo Contest
Speaking of Nature: Midnight wail — The call of the Red Fox
By BILL DANIELSON
It was early in the morning. I had a fresh cup of coffee and a little something to nibble on as I sat down at my computer and tried to make a decision. What was I going to write about this week? There were two ideas rattling around in my head but...
Sounds Local: Songwriter Joe O’Rourke puts his skills to work with new studio band
By SHERYL HUNTER
Can you be in a band and not be in the band? That’s the question songwriter Joe O’Rourke asks regarding the album “There is No Right or Wrong” on which he wrote all the songs but didn’t sing or play any of the instruments.O’Rourke, of South Deerfield,...
Speaking of Nature: A romantic evening for two birders: To hear the wonderful sounds of the Saw-whet Owl, one must go outside at night
By BILL DANIELSON
It was a cold winter’s night and my beautiful wife Susan and I were watching movies. There was a fire crackling in the wood stove, we were enjoying good food and drink and we were both all snoodled up and comfy. It was everything you could have wanted...
Date ideas in Franklin County: Indoors, outdoors, seated or dancing — here’s where to have some fun with the one you love
By BELLA LEVAVI
As the season of love approaches, a plethora of exciting dates awaits in Franklin County, promising to warm hearts and support the community. If you're tired of the same old dinner-and-movie routine, brace yourself for a journey through diverse and...
Faith Matters: Celebrate love by sharing love: Loving one another means everyone, not just one special person
By THE REV. LINDA M. RHINEHART NEAS
In a few days, people around the world will spend billions of dollars on cards, candy, jewelry, flowers, and a night on the town to prove their love and affection to a special someone. I may be wrong, but I think St. Valentine is rolling over in his...
Designed by and for older adults: New podcast series, Backyard Oasis, launches out of GCC
By DIANE BRONCACCIO
Is it ever too late to start dancing?On a wintry morning at Greenfield Community College, podcast-host Denise Schwartz and GCC dance teacher Emily Fox discuss the benefits of dance as part of a podcast series called Backyard Oasis.Fox says dance helps...
The Evergreens house is ready for its closeup after preservation work at Emily Dickinson Museum
By STEVE PFARRER
AMHERST — Closed since 2019 for extensive preservation efforts and infrastructure improvements, The Evergreens, a key property at the Emily Dickinson Museum, will reopen for visitors March 1.The 19th-century house was built in 1856 for Austin...
Sweet messages with a little fun: Three new children’s books by Kathleen Nicoletti
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Kathleen Nicoletti of Athol notes in her author biography that she loves reading to the children in her life. That joy is evident in her three new children’s books.At 70 pages, “Ruby the Ruthless” is the longest of the three. It also has the most...
Let’s Talk Relationships: Single on Valentine’s Day? How to be your own valentine
By AMY NEWSHORE
Many of us are facing Valentine’s Day with a lack of enthusiasm, to say the least. You may be newly single and are feeling raw and shaky. You may have been on your own for a long time and here you are, solo, once again on this holiday. Or you may find...
Play it again, Sam: Shea Theater to show ‘Lovejoy’s Nuclear War’ to mark 50th anniversary of Montague tower toppling
By DOMENIC POLI
In the fall of 1973, Wendell resident Dan Keller drove to Bradley International Airport in Connecticut to pick up friend Sam Lovejoy and mentioned to his pal that he wouldn’t believe what had been built back home on the Montague Plains.The two drove...
Sounds Local: When feeling bad sounds good: Celebrate heartbreak this Valentines Day with new EP by Selah haleS
By SHERYL HUNTER
Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and if there is ever a polarizing holiday, it’s this one. For the romantics, it’s a day of celebration with shiny boxes of chocolates and roses, but for others, especially those who are nursing a broken...
Speaking of Nature: Where have all the birds gone?: They’re there, and here’s a handy tool to keep track of their appearances
By BILL DANIELSON
I receive emails from readers throughout the year and I do my best to respond to them in a timely manner. Sometimes messages pile up in my inbox and sometimes things get filed incorrectly, but I genuinely do try to respond to every one. This year (the...
Rare views into an earlier age: Clark Art Institute exhibits some 80 original images in paper and photographs
By DON STEWART
There are those who see winter not as a season but as a siege. They tire of shoveling white glittering fractals from their driveways and see snow as the unnecessary freezing of water.If you’re among those who don’t consider the frozen monochrome of...
