Search Results

By Line search: By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Last week’s column featured Peter Ruhf, multimedia artist and philosopher. This week, we delve into Ruhf’s unusual upbringing and influences. By the time this goes to print, some will have attended the March 28 opening reception of “The Visionary, Surrealistic, and Psychedelic Art of Peter Ruhf” at Greenfield’s TEOLOS gallery. Those who missed it can take heart: the show runs through April 26.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

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.

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.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Stella Verlander, a Greenfield High School senior who plans to study political science in college with an eye toward an environmental law degree, is president of the GHS Sustainability Club. Verlander revived the club following pandemic interruptions, with the aim of educating people about issues related to conservation, climate crises, and political action. “Any obstacles are not about lack of interest,” she said. “The real problem is ignorance.”

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

A crowd recently gathered at the Second Congregational Church to hear ecologist and educator Dr. Martha Gach describe how to support birds by growing and tending plants. Gach delivered a sobering update: the number of birds worldwide has decreased by 30% since 1970; nearly 3 billion birds died unnaturally in that time span.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Lily Bix-Daw, 25, heads to Dallas this week for intricate surgery to address idiopathic condylar resorption, a degenerative and debilitating condition affecting the jaw and many adjacent body parts. ICR would test anyone’s endurance and sanity, yet despite steep challenges, the Easthampton resident is on schedule to receive her BA from the University of Massachusetts Amherst this spring, having pursued her degree while enduring staggering pain, disfigurement, and financial hardship.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

(Editor’s note: This is part two in a two-part series.)

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Aliza Fassler is a scientist who spends a lot of time outdoors, and the Greenfield native offers a tip that can lead to an extraordinary experience. The next time you’re perspiring while outdoors on a warm day, keep an eye out for a tiny flying insect. If a golden green sweat bee (Augochlorella aurata) lands on you, there’s a chance you could observe it licking the salt on your skin. If you look carefully, you might even see its miniscule tongue. “It tickles!” said Fassler.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Over the last few decades, many people felt inspired to learn skills that were common in earlier times. The recent pandemic era nudged even more people to take up practices like baking sourdough bread, knitting, building furniture, and a mind-boggling number of other pursuits. Tutorials are readily available through libraries and on the internet, but there are limits, right? We’re unlikely to find hobbyists handcrafting cars, building computers from scratch, or making their own shoes.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Stepping into an animal enclosure after dusk on Friday the 13th, I moved slowly among feathery shapes that appeared grey in December’s early darkness. The full moon, low in the sky, was the only light source; the atmosphere was eerie and wholly...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

A rollicking group who bonded through a class at Franklin County’s YMCA in Greenfield have produced a calendar for 2025 that celebrates beautiful humans in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and 90s. Let’s meet some water nymphs who could grace your wall if you get...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Phyllis Lawrence creates stunning works of art using strips of fabric; a few other materials appear in her work, too, like beach stones and feathers. It boggles the mind to consider that such masterpieces can be trod upon, but walking on Lawrence’s...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Northfield resident Bill Copeland’s gentle manner and southern-accented speech belie a spirit filled with passionate regard for our planet and the beings who inhabit it. Many local families are grateful for the tender care the retired pediatrician...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Fans of the Greenfield Farmers Market who are feeling sad that the three-season treasure has wrapped up this year’s outdoor version can take heart.Next Saturday, Nov. 9, marks the first of eight occasional winter markets, located indoors at the...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Leverett resident Ben Goldberg is well-known for displaying worm bins and fielding questions about vermiculture, also known as composting with worms. At the recent Garlic & Arts Festival, Goldberg’s booth also featured toilets, because he’s also an...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

When anyone mentions teaching children about plants, I recall a scenario from when my son, now 20, was very young. I’ll save that for after we’ve had a chance to meet two local women who mentor kids in plant identification, responsible foraging, and...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

 Autumn is in full swing, yet before I head out to rake leaves, I want to reflect on some of the best moments of the summer. It was a hot and humid season, but two events in mid-July cooled my mind and nourished my spirit despite scorching temps.On a...

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...

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...

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

The Pleasant Street Community Garden in Greenfield broke ground 25 years ago when local farmer Rich Pascale volunteered to till some land at the corner of School and Pleasant Streets, making it possible for locals to create a community garden on the...