Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
Look harder
A couple approached me while out walking this morning to ask if I’d look out for a missing dog named Bongo whose owner hoped he might show up on our trail. This got me thinking of the times I’ve looked for my own missing pets. Our cat Georgie, for instance, often slipped away for days at a time. He invariably returned home unscathed but for a few scars on his ear, or a matted coat of fur.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 3)
“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” —Thomas Edison. When a reporter asked Mr. Edison what it felt like to fail 1,000 times before successfully inventing the light bulb prototype, Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention of 1,000 steps.”
The Boulays: Won’t leave you hanging
Dev was familiar with André Boulay before they’d ever officially met. “André was recognizable because he always went around on his Heelys doing yo-yo tricks,” Dev reminisced. “I was star struck when we finally met in person.” Dev came from Central Mass and André grew up in Blandford, but they both went to UMass Amherst.
The pelvic floor and how you move
There are numerous factors that contribute to the variety of diagnoses that a pelvic floor physical therapist evaluates and treats. Let’s address one piece of the puzzle to explain just some of the considerations to be made when teasing out the source pelvic floor dysfunction. The pelvic floor requires balanced integration of your abs, gluteals, and back muscles, as well as upright posture and balanced walking.
Tips from an Electrician: 3 Dangers to Avoid This Winter
The winter months are peak season for house fires. Sadly, many homes are destroyed or significantly damaged during the winter months because of heating equipment and faulty wiring. We can help you learn to spot the signs and avoid common pitfalls. Fires caused by electrical issues are the 3rd leading cause of damages in US homes each year. However, if you know what to look for and how to avoid pitfalls, you can protect yourself and your home.
Happiness & Resilience Habits for Families
Happier, more resilient kids learn better. They also have stronger immune systems, better coping strategies, and more success later in life. How can you foster more happiness and resilience in your kids? Believe it or not, it doesn’t take huge efforts. Happiness and resilience are muscles that can be strengthened through small, daily habits.
An Ideal Valentine’s Day
Valentine’s Day will look a little different this year. With the uncertainty of COVID, there may be some restrictions as to what you can do for Valentine’s Day in 2021. Typically, with it falling on Sunday, you might have chosen to go away for a romantic B&B in Vermont or maybe dinner at Spoleto’s.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 2)
The word February comes from the Latin word “februum” which stands for purification and what better time is it than now to purify your language? The phrase, “you heard” should never be truncated into “yeard” or “ya’heard.” Have you heard the first Sunday of the month is the second biggest food day of the year? No matter who wins the big game, 139 million pounds of avocados and well over a billion chicken wings are going down.
The Hougen Family: Creating a place for everyone
I’ve never met anyone who works as hard as Sarah does,” said Eddy Hougen from their home in Florence. “She’s an inspiration. I’m much more of an artistic, contemplative philosopher kind of person and she’s the real call to action go-getter that does what needs to be done.” “We balance each other out,” Sarah said.
Modern Home Security
When I moved into town, I did everything I could think of to make my new home secure. I changed the locks, installed a video doorbell, alarm system, and a few cameras around the home. Maybe not everyone does all these things but for me, a nerd by nature and trade, I find the selection process fun and exciting. Over the last few years I have become numb to the constant alerts on my phone from all these devices.
Special, Protected, and Even 3rd Places
Do you ever wonder why our beautiful valley looks a bit different from other similar river valleys? From a high-altitude vantage point, one thing that sticks out is that most mountain ranges in North America run north to south. Here, however, the local mountain range runs east to west. I like to say that this influences our relationship with the land. The culture of this area is driven by land preservation.
It’s a Great Time to Test Your Home for Radon
Radon gas escapes the fissures in rock and mineral deposits, and percolates through pores in the soil towards the surface where it can dissipate into the atmosphere. But, if there is a house in its path, radon gas naturally moves from the high pressure environment in the ground to the lower pressure disturbed zone below foundations and ultimately inside your home.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 1)
As we gratefully enjoy and look forward to the year ahead, it might be worthwhile to find a better indoor hobby than training your cat to walk on a leash.
Shaun and Tim: Can’t stop a dream
Few people know the Valley better than Shaun McLean. For over 40 years, Shaun has called the Valley home. She met her husband, Tim Pitkin, at the Grace Episcopal Church in Amherst and they were married there four years later. Their two children were born at Cooley-Dickinson and raised in the Valley, all while Shaun tended to her 35-year career as a lawyer.
Why all the talk about financial wellness?
Terms like “Financial wellness” and “financial fitness” are thrown around a lot these days. So what does it mean to be financially well, and why is it important? These terms describe a state in which you feel in control of your finances, a state many Americans are unfamiliar with.
It’s not the weight you carry, but how you carry it
As my cousin Anselm approached his death from AIDS, he wrote detailed instructions for his own private memorial dinner. According to plan, after the funeral a group of Anselm’s closest friends and family members went directly to a friend’s Manhattan apartment. We crowded around a large table weighed down with casseroles, stews, traditional dishes, elaborate salads, and all sorts of deserts.
This winter, keep the heat in your home
Winter is coming and if this year continues the trend from years past, we may be looking at a crazy, cold, and snowy future. With the cold and snow comes the expense of heating our homes. Just like taxes, it is best to pay as little as possible. These are my top three tips to keep the heat in your house and money in your pocket.
Liz and Gwen: Building community through family
When Elizabeth (Liz) Solomon and Gwen Bass met six years ago, Liz had just launched her own business and Gwen was finishing up her doctorate in Special Education. They met through their children, as they were both on the board of directors at Sunnyside. Two highly educated, driven individuals—who care deeply for their families and their community—it was no surprise when they started a relationship two and a half years later.
Weaving joy in times of stress
When one examines the multitude of factors that elicit pain in our bodies and in our relationships, we can observe a delicate thread that becomes snagged deep in our nervous system when we do not practice self-care. Taking care of ourselves has never been more important or more challenging in the face of the pandemic.
5 tips for putting up your christmas lights
“It’s the most won-der-ful time of the year,” you sarcastically sing to yourself while untangling a bin full of colorful lights. Instead of gritting your teeth through this joyful time, follow Electrical Experts’ five easy tips for hanging your outdoor Christmas lights like a pro!