A spark of inspiration: Valley artist is building a 30-foot fire-breathing gnome for the Burning Man festival

My Turn: The economic reality of net-zero ambition

Concerning Keith Hastie’s July 23 column, “Our path to a better energy future,” I agree that if we need to build more solar panels in Massachusetts, then some should be sited in forests. I also agree that the Massachusetts Clean Energy and Climate Plan is ambitious, but I would not describe it as magnificent. I […]

Bobby C's DJ Service to mark four decades in business with celebration in Gill

Robert Campbell will host a free party at Sundaes at Lena's on Sunday, Aug. 2, to celebrate the 40th anniversary of his business, Bobby C's DJ Service.

'This is my way of giving back': Easthampton breast cancer survivor knits comfort and dignity for fellow fighters

About two years ago, Marthe Young was shopping online. Instead of filling her cart with the typical clothes, toiletries and household staples, the Easthampton resident was searching for a prosthetic. Young was recovering from a mastectomy following a breast cancer diagnosis that had hit as a “total surprise.” “When I went back to work, I was really self-conscious,” Young, 70, said. “If somebody you work with knows you had a mastectomy, they’re going to be looking at your chest.” While her daughter jokingly told her, “Ma, you’re 70 years old, just put a sock in it,” Young wanted something better than […]

Faith Matters: Bringing religion down to Earth

What does it mean for religion to be lived out in our daily lives? To have our religious beliefs, ethics and practices inform our actions and interactions, day in, day out? Too often, I think, religion can be seen as lofty, abstract or aspirational — a set of beliefs or tenets or creeds with a […]

Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: Defeating August doldrums: The essential varieties of geranium to brighten your summer garden

Here we are at the half-way mark of summer. I don’t know about your garden, but mine is teetering on the brink of the slide into the August doldrums. At this perilous point in the season, I am ever-grateful for the hardy geranium, whose many species provide dependable cheer in the garden all summer long.  […]