Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
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.
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.
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.”
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.”
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.
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.
Help Paying for Medicare in Massachusetts
Medicare Savings Programs (MSPs) are federally funded programs administered by individual states. In Massachusetts, MassHealth is the administrator of these programs.
Who is the DNA's Executive Director? Meet Jillian Duclos
Q&A with Jillian Duclos, the Downtown Northampton Association Executive Director
Nearly 150 Years Ago, Smith College was Pioneered by a Self-Educated Woman
Smith College was chartered in 1871 and opened in 1875. The college is named after Sophia Smith, a precocious and passionate woman who bequeathed her inheritance to the groundbreaking institution.
The Sky’s the Limit for Brook Wolcott
Brook Wolcott was in the eighth grade when she decided to take to the skies. There were no pilots in her family. There were no ready role models. She would forge her own flight path.
“I want to let others know that this is attainable, because I didn’t think I’d be able to do it,” says the now 17-year-old licensed private pilot. “Because it was such a crazy – it’s just such a wild thing to do, to be a pilot. You don’t see a lot of eighth graders who want to fly airplanes.”
Contingency and Disaster Planning: Ensuring your estate doesn’t end up with the state
The primary purpose of an estate plan is to give legal effect to your wishes regarding the distribution of your assets upon your death. This is important because if you fail to make an estate plan, you leave it to the Commonwealth to decide how to distribute your estate.
Finding Opportunity Amidst Low Housing Inventories
The current housing market is one of high buyer demand and low housing inventory – creating a market heavily weighed toward sellers. Buyers may feel they are short on viable housing options and stuck in bidding wars. Some buyers have sought refuge by opting to renovate or build their dream home instead. Let’s take a closer look at the pros and cons a consumer may face when renovating or building a home.
Back to School in the Age of AI: Transforming K-12 Classrooms
Picture this: A student struggling with a complex physics concept logs into their AI tutor. The AI model provides a tailored explanation appropriate for their grade level, so the student asks questions and gains a better understanding. As a result, they perform better on their homework. This is just one of many possibilities education in the age of AI can offer. The use of AI in classrooms is revolutionizing how students learn, and how teachers teach. It’s affecting how information is taught and how assessments are performed, and is creating new opportunities and challenges for teachers, students and parents.
Why, as a Real Estate Agent, I Choose to Offer Buyer Agent Compensation
A seller is not required to offer buyer agent compensation. However, offering it remains a key strategy to attract more buyers and ensure smoother transactions. Here’s why I am offering buyer agent compensation in my own property sale, and why I recommend all home sellers do the same.
Chris Freeman’s Parlor Room Collective Liberates the Iron Horse
Three years ago, Chris Freeman, new to Northampton, had a tight circle of friends. Today he has a village.
The executive director of the Parlor Room Collective and the man who took the reins of the Iron Horse insists that the nonprofit, which oversees the club, is a product of his “being at the right place at the right time.”
Money Can’t Buy You Happiness. But Financial Planning Helps.
The so-called “Harvard Happiness Study” is the world’s longest-running research on how humans develop throughout adulthood. Its recent findings are getting a lot of attention.