Amherst boys lacrosse forfeits MIAA Round of 32 matchup due to suspensions and injuries

Celebrating compassion, preserving culture

HADLEY — Arranged in a semicircle at the Most Holy Redeemer Church parking lot on Monday, July 6, Tibetans took a deep breath of juniper-scented air, raised the flour pinched between their fingers and let out their breath in a long, harmonious “om.” As soon as the third sacred chant ended, they tossed the barley […]

‘It’s like time travel’: Site-specific plays at Historic Deerfield connect modern-day guests to American Revolution history

As the high-80s heat bore down on them, two young men in sweatpants and tricorne hats were discussing their love lives, a potential prank and the coming revolution. Elihu Ashley, a doctor’s apprentice, checked to make sure his father wasn’t eavesdropping as he talked with his friend David Dickinson about mounting political tensions in their […]

Columnist Bill Newman: 'And Death Shall Have No Dominion' 

I first read Dylan Thomas when I was 17. Fifty-eight years later I still read his poems, most recently, “And Death Shall have No Dominion.”  Its theme: after a human life ends, we somehow, mysteriously remain part of the universe and each other. Despite my agnosticism, this poem speaks to me. It always has.  On June 6, my wife Dale and I attended a memorial service for Paki Wieland at Northampton’s First Churches. I met Paki decades ago through her colleague and […]

Valley Bounty: A crop above the rest: Local farmers cultivate summer memories and fresh pick-your-own fun

Summer sparkles with family vacations, catching up with friends and children enjoying school break. For many farms in the Valley, summer is the peak growing season and also a time of robust agritourism offerings. In general terms, agritourism is the marriage of farming and tourism, offering farm-based experiences for the public on a working farm.  […]

Tracking the past: Dino Trail Week returns to the Valley, brings prehistoric history to life

Dino Trail Week is a nine-day celebration of the Pioneer Valley's dinosaur history, featuring 12 family-friendly events at museums, libraries, and cultural organizations throughout Western Mass.