Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
You should live and breathe easy in your own home
Living under the Covid cloud for over two years has left many of us with an overwhelming existential question: Is it safe to breathe? It’s a question most acutely felt in public spaces where the uncertainty over safety protocols, inconsistency of mask adherence, and unknown vaccination compliance is at the fore. But I believe it is a question to be addressed in our own homes where we have the opportunity to actively improve the air quality and our daily wellness.
The David Ruggles Center: Preserving Florence’s abolitionist history
For many who’ve grown up or spent time in Florence, Massachusetts, the discovery that the town was once home to a radical utopian abolitionist community comes as quite a surprise. Two of the people dedicated to preserving and promoting this history are Tom Goldscheider and Steve Strimer.
We’ve entered the 3rd stage of truth
Most of you know me as the Realtor® specializing in the sale of houses near rail trails, but many of you probably don’t know my background in the efforts to create an interconnected network of rail trails throughout the northeast. In 1994, while working for the railroad, managing large-scale transloading facilities, I was invited by a regional publisher to write a series of recreational guide books about the developing network of rail trails.
How is a C-Wire helpful when using smart thermostats?
These days, there are “smart” versions of just about everything. Phones, kitchen appliances, and even thermostats can all be upgraded to internet-connected, smart versions. If you’re installing a smart thermostat in the home, consider using a C-Wire in its setup. C-Wires can keep the device powered, which is crucial for a thermostat.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 13)
The Longmeadow Lathe Masquerade & The Northampton Nail Masticators are the two finalists in the Valentine’s Day Massacre Film Festival. Screening for the The VDMFF will take place on the back of a giant floating tortoise or online. The winner will receive an entry at Cannes and the runner up will receive the corn horned diamond in the ruff eagle nest of distinction.
The Pellettieri/Hudziks: Changing lives through self-kindess
When Sam Hudzik and Beth Pellettieri met at George Washington University in Washington, DC, they had no idea they would one day end up falling in love. “I was involved in AIDS activism at the time,” Beth began, “and his roommate was as well. So I knew of him for most of college, but we had never really met.”
Medicare Enrollment Periods: A couple of basics
The most frequently asked question I receive as an independent insurance agent specializing in Medicare is “When do I enroll?” In this age of technology, the amount of information available is overwhelming. The process of applying for and receiving Medicare benefits can also be overwhelming but it doesn’t have to be because independent agents, such as myself, are here to help!
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 12)
Lately, I’ve been, I’ve been losing sheep. Dreaming about Little Bo Peep. But baby, I’ve been, I’ve been shearing hard. Said no more counting collars, we be counting hogs. We be counting hogs. Do robots dream of electric sheep? I wonder if real sheep dream of people jumping?
The Hartfords: Sewing the Valley’s social fabric
Mollie Hartford met Chris while attending Monument Mountain High School in Great Barrington. The day after graduation they started dating each other, but with acceptance letters to colleges halfway across the country from each other, their budding romance faced a huge first test. “It was kind of perfect,” Mollie began. “We both went off to do our own thing with the space to figure out if we still wanted to be together when we came home.
Get into the holiday spirit in Downtown Northampton!
There’s something magical about the holiday season in Downtown Northampton – twinkling lights, cozy stores with beautifully-decorated windows, a light coating of fluffy snow (ok, and a few snow piles lining the center of Main Street!). We look forward to this season all year long, and it’s finally here. Why worry about shipping delays or braving the mall – head downtown and you’ll find everything you need, while supporting a community of business owners, employees, artists and performers who call the Valley home.
‘Tis the season to decorate!
When it comes time for Christmas, for many of us it’s about our family traditions. From finding the perfect Christmas tree (whether it’s faux or real) to hanging stockings from the mantel, cooking a ham for Christmas Day dinner or one of my personal favorites, holiday martinis while playing Santa on Christmas Eve. It’s the time-honored traditions that help us feel connected to our ancestors, family, and culture.
The science of vaccines
Let’s talk about vaccines. I have been a vaccine immunologist since 2005. My interest in vaccines began with a healthy respect for viruses especially the Avian Bird Flu and Ebola. These are two very different but horrifying pathogens. My concern was and still is that these or other pathogens could become a pandemic and devastate the world. COVID-19 has given the world a test run on how crippling and terrifying a pandemic can be.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 11)
May your winter season be full of wishes, dishes, and swishes. December is ripe with many overlooked food holidays. Embrace a healthy lifestyle and eat a red apple day on December 1st before National Fritters Day on the 2nd. Cotton candy day is the 7th and brownies bring in the 8th. Special weapons and tactics; SWAT may be needed to shoo gnats on Fruitcake Day, (Dec. 27).
Andy and Siyana Huszar: Empowering women through fashion
When Andy and Siyana met in 2012, they were both firmly engaged in the corporate world of New York City. After a career in finance, he was a professor at Rutgers Business School while she still worked in finance, designing financial products for an insurance company. They quickly hit it off, but three months later Siyana revealed a secret: as a hobby, she had been designing and selling clothing through Etsy and it was quickly becoming her passion.
Postpartum Exercise
One of the most frequent questions I am asked as a Pelvic Floor Physical Therapist is: “What exercise video or online programs do you recommend I do to get in shape after giving birth?” Many new parents are eager to get back to their pre-pregnancy state and streaming a video may be the quickest and most convenient way for some to begin their daily exercise routine.
What causes a dead outlet & how to fix one
If an outlet in your home has suddenly stopped working, there are a few reasons why this may have happened. Read about some of these reasons below and learn more about what you can do to fix a dead outlet.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 10)
Aloe originates from the Arabian Peninsula, but lives in tropical, semi-tropical, arid, and indoor environments. It is one of the most useful plants in the world and provides many healing properties. Hummingbirds love the nectar from the bell-shaped aloe flowers that bloom in spring and early summer.
Lauren-Lee Barry: Coming full circle
Though Lauren-Lee Barry has found education to be a natural fit, it wasn’t originally where she thought she would end up. She initially started in health science, but when her son Michael started school, life gave her a new direction. After spending her last 5 years working in the Northampton public school system, in 2020 she decided to move closer to where she dedicated so much of her time.
Navigating the Medicare maze
Medicare can be complex and confusing. For many people, it can be extremely intimidating just trying to understand all of the available options out there. Did you know there are local experts such as myself who help people navigate through this maze of information everyone knows as Medicare?