Arts & Life
Fight like a girl: Professional boxer launches women-only, all-level classes in Greenfield
By MADISON SCHOFIELD
Local author, naturalist and former boxer Vanessa Chakour is leading a women’s boxing class at Franklin County’s YMCA.
‘My camera goes with me everywhere’: Regional artists featured in Deerfield Valley Art Association’s annual photography exhibit
By MADISON SCHOFIELD
The Deerfield Valley Art Association’s fifth annual photography exhibit will be on display at the Fiddleheads Gallery through March 30.
Macbeth, up close and personal: Second annual Montague Shakespeare Festival puts a new spin on the ‘psychological dark power drama’
By CAROLYN BROWN
By the pricking of my thumbs, “Macbeth” to Franklin County comes!
Two NYC comedians walk into a bar: Four Phantoms to host comedy bingo night, March 29
By DOMENIC POLI
You’ve likely heard of bingo being played at casinos, Moose lodges and VFW halls. But how about brewery-hosted comedy shows?
Savant in our sights: TEOLOS gallery in Greenfield to exhibit six decades of work by multi-faceted artist Peter Ruhf
By EVELINE MACDOUGALL
The March 28 reception to launch a Greenfield exhibit showcasing the work of Peter Ruhf will be no ordinary event, because Peter Ruhf is no ordinary fellow. The exhibit promises to shift perspectives about art, discipline and brilliance. Those in attendance will meet the man listed in the Guinness Book of World Records multiple times as Boomerang World Champion; if you’ve never met anyone who’s been featured on the cover of Life magazine, dear readers, here’s your chance.
Climb every mountain: Valley photographer’s new book chronicles transformative Appalachian Trail thru-hike
By CAROLYN BROWN
Some people dream of taking months away from their jobs to hike the Appalachian Trail. For local photographer Carly Rae Brunault, hiking the trail from Georgia to Maine and meeting people along the way helped her deal with grief – and she’s since turned that experience into a book.
Sounds Local: Orange gets a ‘petit’ new music series: Plus more live music to catch this weekend
By SHERYL HUNTER
You know that spring is here when music series start popping up and I’m excited to announce the new Petit Concert Series launching this weekend in downtown Orange. This series of free concerts will take place on three Sunday afternoons: March 23, April 6, and April 13, at the Stage on Main, located at 17 South Main St. The music will fill the air from 2 to 4 p.m.
Speaking of Nature: The bluebird of happiness: Finding solace in the birds at my feeders
By BILL DANIELSON
As I write this column I am feeling quite under the weather. The flu has come to town and it has me in its grip. I haven’t left the house in days and all I want to do is sleep. That being said, I am also stuck on “teacher time” and I can’t seem to sleep past 5 a.m. With the recent changing of the clocks this puts me in the unhappy position of being awake while it is still dark outside; annoying on a work day, positively miserable when not going to work.
‘It might as well be spring’: The fifth season is marked by mud and maple syrup
By TINKY WEISBLAT
I still can’t see anything but snow and ice in my Hawley yard, but new life is in the air nonetheless. My driveway has started looking and feeling muddy, a sure sign that the fifth season is upon us.
A piece of history comes home: Silver pitcher returns to Franklin County Fairgrounds after 150 years
By DOMENIC POLI
The Franklin County Fair Museum’s chilly confines are filled with posters, brochures, ribbons and other pieces celebrating the history of the cherished event that started as a cattle show 177 years ago. But in December the museum added to its collection a first of its kind – an antique silver pitcher that made its way home from England, having been bestowed upon one of the Fairgrounds’ founding fathers on Jan. 3, 1863.
Faith Matters: Diversity is our inheritance: How diversity has enriched the faith lives of so many
By THE REV. CINDY LAJOY
Are we living in a post-Christian era? Or a post-Christian dominance? Is the Christian church in decline? Or is it merely not the only game in town any longer? While we may be seeing the deconstructing of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) programs throughout our government and some enterprises, the data says that the diversity of spirituality is actually on the rise … and that may upset some folks. But should it? Does it matter that one religion “beats” another? Should we be fearful that the religion that tends to be most familiar to Americans appears to be on a gradual downhill slide? And perhaps the most important question of all, does God care whose “side” we are on, or does God care far more that we are trying to tap the Divine in whatever way works best for us?
Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: Gardening symposiums herald spring’s arrival
By MICKEY RATHBUN
I received the announcement of the Western Massachusetts Master Gardener Association (WMMGA)’s spring symposiums earlier this month, when the wind was whipping the falling snow into spiraling towers of white. In early February, it’s hard for the imagination to break through the winter doldrums. Will we ever feel the touch of soft spring breezes or enjoy the sight of green shoots pushing through the cold dark soil? The WMMGA symposiums help us to jostle our gardening passions out of hibernation and into activity, even if only mental.
Amherst Oyster Bar pushes opening day to April 1
By SCOTT MERZBACH
April Fool’s Day will also be the opening day for the Amherst Oyster Bar, the long-planned restaurant in Amherst center that will replace Judie’s Restaurant.
Historical fiction set in Quabbin region: Novelist J.A. McIntosh will read from ‘Swift River Secrets’ Sunday in Erving
By TINKY WEISBLAT
An author event tomorrow, Sunday, March 16, in Erving will explore the process of creating historical fiction from historical fact. Novelist J.A. McIntosh will also discuss the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir.
Keep backyard birds safe: Steps you can take to protect our feathered friends
By EVELINE MACDOUGALL
“My mother fed birds in our backyard, which backed up to a nice woodland,” Greenfield resident Pat Serrentino, a lifelong bird observer, said.
Sounds Local: Saint Patrick’s Day festivities abound: Where to hear Celtic music this weekend in Franklin County
By SHERYL HUNTER
Saint Patrick’s Day is only days away, and for the band Ragged Blue, that means a busy weekend ahead. They’ll be playing Celtic music at a variety of shows this weekend.
Speaking of Nature: It’s enough already: Mallards bring signs of spring
By BILL DANIELSON
The first week of March came with a roller coaster of emotions. Saturday, March 1 was absolutely amazing. For the first time in months the weather seemed to be warming and there was a moment when I actually considered cleaning off the table on my deck and sitting outside in the sunshine. A large flock of red-winged blackbirds and common grackles arrived that morning and suddenly the yard was full of songs and the murmur of hundreds of birds talking about their plans for the day. It was joyous, it was refreshing, and it was short-lived.
Colcannon from Colrain to Coleraine: Irish comfort food for Saint Patrick’s Day
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Although strictly speaking I have little or no Irish blood (one of my great-grandmothers was Scots Irish), I still like to dress in green and make something Irish for Saint Patrick’s Day. This week I’m concentrating on Colcannon, basically gussied-up mashed potatoes. This dish adds lovely green vegetables to the spuds.
What is possible when you get to the root?: The peer-run Wildflower Alliance redefines mental health care
By MELISSA KAREN SANCES
Her phone pinged and a grey bubble rose to the surface: “Are you ready to come back?”
From the field to your screens: Two seniors take Frontier Community Access Television’s sports broadcasting to new heights
By CHRIS LARABEE
If you take a look at the spreadsheets on Mason Smith and Tyler Wolkowicz’s computer screens, you might think they’re undertaking an extensive math project.
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.
