Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 6)
Riding on any wave is what I crave. While some scream for ice cream, I dream of frozen limonene. Lemons are a natural antiseptic and can take the sting out of bug bites. One of the meanings of the word portmanteau is a word blending, such as lymon from the words lemon and lime. I think lymon is the color fireflies emanate and I’m getting pretty thirsty for a yelloreen or grello soda right now.
Dr. Megan Allen: Patience and unconditional love
Dr. Megan Allen’s journey to the Valley has taken many twists and turns, but it all stemmed from a decision she made in college. “I never thought I would become a teacher because my mother was a teacher. So, as a stubborn redhead, I didn’t want any part of it. But I lost my mom to cancer right before graduating college,” she said, “and some of her former students and colleagues reached out to me.
Is Being an Electrician a Good Career?
When it comes to being an electrician, there is so much to love about this rewarding career path. As electricians, we have the unique opportunity to provide one of the most essential services to our community. Electricity is what makes our modern world go round. Plus, it keeps the community feeling comfortable in their homes.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 5)
Does the saying, “your home is your castle,” apply if you live in an actual castle? In the game of chess, castling can be a great way to protect your king as well as plan attacks. The four rules for castling in chess are that the king can not be in check, the squares that the king passes and lands on must not be under attack, all the spaces between the rook and the king must be empty, and they can not have moved from their original squares.
Lexi Wright: Still high-fiving
When Lexi Wright was choosing what to call her bookstore, she wanted it to reflect her own love of reading. “The idea behind the name comes from books being a point of connection between people,” Lexi said. “With little babies, the first thing we do is teach them to wave. Then we teach them to high five. Similarly, I think books can bring people together.”
Mother’s Day at Floral Affairs
Hello, my name is Becky, and I am the owner of Floral Affairs in Greenfield. Besides owning a flower shop, I am a wife, mother, grandmother, and aunt. This month is when we celebrate Mother’s Day.
Sellers’ Market vs Buyers’ Market: What Does it All Mean?
From time to time you’ll hear the term “Sellers’ Market.” Or maybe you’ll notice a house for sale sign in your neighborhood and then the next day it might have a sign-rider on it saying, “Under Contract” or “Sale Pending.” And you’ll think, “Wow, that didn’t take long.” What does the term Sellers’ Market mean?
Karen Foster and April Cannon: Adventures every day
Karen Foster has spent most of her life being active and in motion, so it’s no wonder that in 2007 she met her future wife, April Cannon, while playing pick-up indoor soccer. “Exploring the outdoors has always been a big part of our relationship,” Karen said. Their first date was a kayaking trip from Montague to Sunderland along the Connecticut River and little did they know that they would get married on the banks of that same river two years later.
The Neighborly Absorption (Part 4)
I finally booked a proper amphitheater to hold my 3-act play, The 3 Scrooges. It is a take on the Charles Dickens’ classic A Christmas Carol; however, Ebenezer’s siblings, Maurice & Shirley, pay him a surprise visit. The dollops of the wallops will make one, oh kneel in April’s delights. What-cha gonna do when the supernatural slapstick of Moe, Eben, and Shirley collide in an outdoor space near you?
Up Jumped Spring: April Jazz Series
The Northampton Jazz Workshop made its start in 2010 at the beloved French restaurant, the Green Street Café, steps from the Smith College Campus. When the restaurant’s building was torn down, the Workshop packed up and moved to The Loft at the Clarion Hotel on Atwood Drive. When that hotel was torn down, the intrepid troupe moved to the City Sports Grille–the bar and lounge at Spare Time Entertainment on Pleasant Street.
Lindsay Fogg-Willits: Art for everyone
When Lindsay Fogg-Willits graduated from Skidmore in 2002 with an arts degree, she took some time to consider her options. “Ultimately,” she said, “I decided that relying on my art-making to get by would be too stressful.” The balance of stability and creativity she yearned for arrived in the form of teaching.
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.