Sounds Local: A celebration for those who hate the holidays: Plus, concert tickets make great gifts

By SHERYL HUNTER

Enjoy your Thanksgiving feasting with family and friends because the holiday season officially kicks off tomorrow. For many people this is their favorite time of year, and if you count yourself in that category you will have plenty to enjoy in the...

Speaking of Nature: A feast for the little guys: Planning a menu for the birds in your life

By BILL DANIELSON

Thanksgiving is here and I couldn’t be happier. 2024 has been an “interesting” year and I, for one, just need a break. Even the hustle and bustle of the holiday (the shopping, cooking, traveling, or hosting) can be a delightful distraction from the...

Reflecting on two important Thanksgivings: Gratitude and a good meal are most needed in times of stress

By TINKY WEISBLAT

Frankly, I hoped for a different outcome to our recent presidential election. I woke up on Nov. 6 feeling disappointed, sleepy, and grumpy.To make life more challenging, I needed to prepare a talk to give to the Ashfield Council on Aging the next day...

‘An oasis in the midst of a shopping center’: Resonance Hot Yoga and Massage offers serenity and relaxation for all

By SCOTT MERZBACH

Outside a new yoga studio, massage therapy center and meditation space is a busy parking lot, with people bustling into neighboring stores and restaurants to buy groceries, pick up prescriptions or get a meal.Within the confines of Resonance Hot Yoga...

50 years of ‘Free to Be’: New exhibition at Eric Carle Museum celebrates thinking beyond gender stereotypes

By CAROLYN BROWN

The album “Free to Be… You and Me,” released by Marlo Thomas in 1972, inspired a generation to think beyond gender stereotypes. Now, the Eric Carle Museum in Amherst is celebrating the “Free to Be...” project’s lasting legacy and impact in a new...

‘I think it’s really magical’: Moonlight Magic transforms downtown Shelburne Falls on Nov. 29

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

Moonlight Magic is back for its 39th year of celebrating light and community. The annual festival will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. on Nov. 29 in downtown Shelburne Falls. The village will  be transformed into a winter wonderland where visitors can view...

Raise a glass to flavor and artistry: Meet the cidermaking Copelands of Northfield

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...

Faith Matters: Has our faith been swallowed up in our politics?: If we don’t love our enemies, we become what we deplore in them

By THE REV. ALLEN M. COMSTOCK

Because faith matters, we need to ask ourselves whether, in this time of political stress, our faith has gotten swallowed up in our politics. If so, we need to rescue our faith from our politics so that maybe our faith might come to the rescue of our...

Sounds Local: The Secret Chord plays Hawks & Reed this weekend: Green River Fest announces 2025 headliners

By SHERYL HUNTER

Many years ago, Gordon Kramer of Leverett, a singer, guitarist, and leader of the Leonard Cohen tribute band, The Secret Chord, first heard the music of the Canadian singer-songwriter. “I first saw Leonard perform when I was a teenager, early in both...

Speaking of Nature: A featherweight sparring match: The blue jay and sharp-shinned hawk are evenly matched in speed and maneuverability

By BILL DANIELSON

It was Veteran’s Day and I was sitting at my kitchen window. I had a delicious mug of freshly brewed coffee, a comfortable seat to sit in and freshly washed windows to look through. The feeders had been stocked and I was all ready for a session of...

‘Taste as you go’: An autumn bisque that you can make your own

By TINKY WEISBLAT

A few years ago I wrote in this column about my friend Pam Gerry of Charlemont. It was January, National Soup Month, and she made her Sausage, Kale, and Cabbage Soup. I always associate Pam with soup, although she can make many other delicious...

Get Growing: UMass calendar brings another reckoning

By MICKEY RATHBUN

The 2025 UMass Garden Calendar comes out every fall, just as we are putting our gardens to bed for the winter. As always, the calendar is a must-have for gardeners. It gives daily tips on indoor and outdoor gardening and other related subjects,...

Trinity Church pastor brings ‘ecumenical spirit’ to ministry in Shelburne Falls

By VIRGINIA RAY

Benjiman Durfee, the newest pastor at Trinity Church in Shelburne Falls, “tried to ignore the call” to ministry for years, but his college job as director of music ministry at the First United Methodist Church in Westfield changed that.A native of...

Shelburne Falls native pens book about Great White frontman

By DOMENIC POLI

On Oct. 22, 2005, the Recorder’s Life & Times section featured a full-page article by Karen P. Chynoweth, with a color photo of an 18-year-old woman and the headline “Nearly famous.” The piece told the story of Shelburne Falls native Kate Corriero,...

Not just a ‘publicity stunt’: Monte Belmonte provides insight on costumes from 15 fundraising marches

By JULIAN MENDOZA

Making his way from Springfield to Greenfield during his annual walk to raise money for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, local radio personality Christopher “Monte” Belmonte looks to increase the visibility of one of the country’s greatest...

Clessons River Farm in Buckland bridges technological innovation and music

By MARA MELLITS

Fifth-generation farmer Melissa Griffin’s life is anything but traditional.She operates Clessons River Farm in Buckland with her husband, Adam Griffin. She is also a classical trumpet player who studied trumpet performance at the University of...

Shelburne Falls art exhibit showcases ‘wool and glass’

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

A New Hampshire glass blower and rug hooker has a new exhibit on display at the Shelburne Arts Co-op. Peter Bott’s “Wool and Glass” collection will be on display through Nov. 25.Bott has been an artist his entire life, and said he was inspired by his...

Book review: The once and future Bridge of Flowers

By TINKY WEISBLAT

“The Bridge of Flowers” by Phil Billitz (CreateSpace, 91 pages, $24.95).Phil Billitz of Shelburne Falls published his picture book “The Bridge of Flowers: A Garden of Inspiration” in 2020. At that point, COVID-19 had shut down most local businesses...

Sounds Local: New tunes to add to your playlist

By SHERYL HUNTER

November is typically one of the quieter months for live music, so it seemed like a good time to catch up on some new music. All of the music I mention below is available on all major streaming platforms, so you might want to add these to your...

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