Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
RONNIE LEAVITT: Helping the World From Home
Ronnie Leavitt’s first job at Harlem Hospital as a physical therapist (NYC), her 6 month backpacking trip around the world, and her Masters of Public Health (Columbia University) each led her to a lifetime of volunteering in less developed nations and volunteering locally with social action groups to fight against the “-isms”; “ racism, antisemitism, sexism, ableism, and homophobia.
Take Your Family Vacation to the Next Level!
Looking to elevate your next family vacation? Stop doing everything the masses are doing and start thinking bigger. There is a whole world to see, and only a short time to do it. Like we say at We Do Travel Right: Life is short, take the trip.
The Rising Price of Insurance… Explained
If you recently purchased auto and home insurance, you may have seen a dramatic increase in your premiums. It’s so prolific it’s making national news. Many of you are asking the question why. Some of you have never even put in a claim yet your premiums continue to rise. In an attempt not to bore you with insurance speak I will try and educate you as to why this is happening.
PARTNER POWER: Meet Ronnie’s Partner Rich Alpert
Rich Alpert was born in upstate New York, graduated from Hobart College and received a Ph.D. from Harvard in Political Science. When Hampshire College was created in 1970, Rich came to Amherst and was soon the Associate Dean of Faculty and Dean of Strategic Planning. After working at Hampshire, Alpert worked with an educational testing company. From there, he spent over a quarter of a century as the owner, and operator of Diversity Resources, a publishing company to create and distribute multicultural and diversity educational training materials.
LEARNING LONGMEADOW’S HISTORY: The Storrs House
THE STORRS HOUSE was built in 1786 for the Reverend Richard Salter Storrs, the second pastor of the First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. His home was built on ministerial property and stood on the land in front of our present town library. Three generations of the Storrs family lived in the house.
POWER LUNCH: Veterans Build Bridges and Confront Loneliness
The founder of Building Bridges, an initiative to foster veterans’ healing through shared monthly lunches, remembers the first not-so-successful gathering in Northampton at the old World War II club. “One veteran came,” he says. “You could hear a pin drop.” But a seed was planted, and three had lunch the next week.
UPS Longmeadow - Locally Owned for 25 Years
Not everyone realizes that UPS Stores are all individually owned locations, my family has owned the one here in Longmeadow since 1999! It has been our pleasure helping the community - and growing up in Longmeadow for more than 25 years!
The “Fs” of Thanksgiving: Family, Food, Football and Fiduciaries
Between food and football, estate planning might not be at the forefront of your mind this Thanksgiving, but it is the perfect time to revisit your estate plan. The family and friends you gather with this time of year are the most likely individuals to serve as your fiduciaries – the key players in your estate plan.
What the Federal Reserve Rate Cut Means for Mortgage Rates
What do people 50 and older fear most about aging?
Their biggest concerns, according to recent research by AARP, is that their physical health and cognitive ability might deteriorate. They might lose their independence or have to rely on others.
Facing Your Financial Fears Can Be Empowering
What do people 50 and older fear most about aging?
Their biggest concerns, according to recent research by AARP, is that their physical health and cognitive ability might deteriorate. They might lose their independence or have to rely on others.
Understanding Medicare Part D Changes in 2025
We are officially in a new economic cycle. The long-anticipated September Federal Reserve meeting brought news many economists had predicted: the Federal Reserve lowered its Federal Funds Rate by 0.5%. This marks the first cut since March 2020. The Fed Funds Rate is the rate at which banks lend to each other overnight. Lowering this rate stimulates the economy by reducing credit card rates, promoting hiring, and keeping unemployment low. However, it may also lead to lower yields on savings accounts and certificates of deposit.
Botox vs. Fillers - What's Right For You?
Are you amongst the many people these days looking at your mirror image and wondering if Botox is the answer? What about fillers? What role do these products have in producing facial improvements?
LOCAL HAUNTINGS? Jeff Belanger Has a Story For You
JEFF BELANGER IS OBSESSED WITH HAUNTINGS. Best known for his work on the “Ghost Adventures” series and “New England Legends” podcast, the Southbridge-born ghosthunter is coming to the East Longmeadow Public Library on October 1 with a slate of scary stories. “I’m into anything weird,” he says. “Mostly ghosts, but anything on the fringe. I feel like that’s where we learn the most about who we are.”
FINDING HOME: The Burger Family Journey
The Burger family might currently live in Longmeadow, but a walk through their family history might as well be a walk through Disney’s Epcot Worlds. This multi-generational family might have planted the seeds of success around the globe, but now they are setting deep roots in Longmeadow.
Debt Reduction Strategies and Tools
Reducing debt is a vital step toward achieving financial wellness, and at UMassFive, we’re committed to guiding our members and local community on this journey. Understanding that debt can be overwhelming, we’ve compiled some practical strategies to help you gain full control of your finances – to reduce your debt effectively, improve your credit score, and secure a more stable financial future.
Division Q Returns to the Court for Second Season
Hannah Bevis was brought on to keep score. The veteran sports reporter had friends in Division Q, a semi-competitive recreation league for members of the queer community, and she was happy to volunteer on their behalf. Running the clock led to pick-up games and organizing the three-on-three (3v3) league. “The community aspect of it is what I think I would have liked to have as a kid,” says Bevis. “It’s a nice rebound as an adult.”
Notes From a Bra Fitter
Why is it so hard to find a bra that fits well and feels good? I'm sure you've seen the statistic that over 80% of women are wearing the wrong size bra. This isn't so surprising when considering the huge diversity of human bodies and our confusingly inconsistent bra sizing systems.
The Haunting Behind the Screen
It was a crisp October evening in Longmeadow, the kind of night when the moon hung low and pumpkins grinned wickedly from every doorstep. The streets buzzed with excited children darting from house to house, clutching bags of candy as they eagerly sought their next sweet treasure. But while the town's residents were busy celebrating Halloween, something far more sinister lurked in the shadows — not outside their homes, but inside their computers.
Wenonah to The World: John Hanifin & His Music
“Longmeadow is such a beautiful town, there really is no other town like it. It holds a special place in my heart as I grew up here and I know I will always consider it my home, no matter where I end up.”
The Hanifin family’s roots in Longmeadow dates back to the 1800’s when the Hanifin’s had a farm down in what is now called “The Meadows” and a house on Longmeadow Street.
Lost and Found: Jake Marmer’s Love of Language is a Steady Compass
“There was an underlying sense of, ‘This is my home, but I belong somewhere else,’” says Jake Marmer of his childhood in Soviet Ukraine. The accomplished poet and Head of School at Lander-Grinspoon Academy in Northampton was raised in a Jewish family, where he was acutely aware of systemic repression and its lengthy history. But as a young student who loved the humanities, he learned that poetry was sacred. His grandmother was a teacher of literature and language, and learning poems by heart was a duty and a joy.