Arts & Life
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.
Her muse is poultry: Painter Pat Little’s ‘Cosmic Chickens’ series on display in Shelburne Falls
By MADISON SCHOFIELD
For Leyden artist Pat Little, art is all about joy, and nothing makes her laugh more than painting chickens doing silly things. Her collection of “Cosmic Chickens” will be on display at Mocha Maya’s at 47 Bridge St. in Shelburne Falls until March 16.
Valley Bounty: Year-round access to local food: Fresh, frozen, canned and more available at Greenfield Winter Farmers’ Market
By LISA GOODRICH
“When people think of farms, they tend to think of the summer, abundance, corn fields, and flowers. What people don’t realize is that farms function year-round, and there are many business models that allow farmers to grow products year-round or have products year-round to sell,” says Hannah Logan, Market Manager of the Greenfield Winter Farmers’ Market.
Sounds Local: Mud Season festival returns next weekend: ‘Peace, love and protest’ the themes for this year’s all-day family-friendly event at Shea Theater
By SHERYL HUNTER
Peace, love and protest will be the theme of this year’s Mud Season festival. Presented by the Shea Theater and the Dave Bulley Band, the all-day, family-friendly festival will be held at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls on Saturday, March 15, from noon to 11 p.m. There will be crafts, food, craft beverages, and plenty of music, with 11 acts performing on two stages.
Speaking of Nature: Opportunity taken: Omnivorous scavengers eat just about anything during the tough months of winter
By BILL DANIELSON
Last week I regaled you with a story about a red-tailed hawk. This bird kept showing up in my yard and forlornly staring out across my back yard in the hopes of finding something to eat. At the time, the problem was one of precipitation, or, rather, the precise combination of temperature and precipitation. Snow, followed by rain, followed by prolonged temperatures below freezing had resulted in a landscape that was covered by a thick shell of ice.
Saturday Night Live, postmodernism and paprika: A recipe inspired by one of the 50-year-old show’s memorable sketches
By TINKY WEISBLAT
We are awash in anniversaries this year. A century ago, in 1925, Mussolini rose to power in Italy. The Scopes Monkey Trial drew international attention to a modest courtroom in Dayton, Tennessee. Scotsman John Logie Baird aired the first public display of a television signal. And Irving Berlin published the eternal song “Always.”
Ten years of kids in harmony: Musica Franklin celebrates a milestone and looks to the future
By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN
The nonprofit music and social justice program Musica Franklin has brought music and mentorship to students across Franklin County for a decade now. To celebrate, the organization hosted a luncheon fundraiser last month that raised over $5,000, and honored three local residents for their support since the start.
‘It’s been life-changing for me’: Ashfield resident inspires others to hike the Camino de Santiago
By MADISON SCHOFIELD
Have you ever thought about walking the Camino de Santiago, but don’t know where to start or if the famous pilgrimage is even the right adventure for you? Ashfield resident Helene Leue will be sharing stories from her own journeys walking the Camino and giving tips for planning your own during a presentation at the Belding Memorial Library on Wednesday, March 5 at 6 p.m.
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.
