To the Editor of The Greenfield Recorder,
I am writing to thank you for the most recent Weekend Edition (June 3 – 4) of your newspaper. At a time when reading the paper has become an exercise in self-discipline, wherein I force myself to read about each day’s new instances of violence, abuses of power, inane and spiteful government policies, or demonstrations of reckless disregard for others, it was amazing to read so many stories that provided comfort and cheer in the Weekend Edition. There was the one about an international poll that finds a relatively high level of racial, cultural, and religious tolerance among the world’s peoples; another about a man in Athol who has created a place where battle-scarred veterans can develop agricultural and husbandry skills, regain self-respect and perspective and, at the same time, grow food for the community; we learned about the graduation ceremony at one of our region’s fine public high schools and about what this school gave and meant to its senior class president, an immigrant from India; and throughout the paper, story after story reported on caring, creative activities and enterprises by local individuals, community groups, and organizations, including a beautifully written and thought-provoking piece by Patricia Leuchtman about the Northampton garden of a pair of China scholars, reflecting on some of the ways that the actions of gardening enable us to address the engaging challenges that confront human beings, and gain insights into their solutions.
So, I offer thanks for an issue that gave me hope and a deeply-felt gratitude that I live in West County.
Suzy Groden
Hawley