Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
The Truth Behind Fiction
I’ve often encountered people who question the point of including the reading of fiction in our educational system. In a typical English class, students read and write about poetry, short stories, and longer forms of fiction, usually without fully understanding why. In fact, ELA and the other arts are treated frequently as unimportant subjects, consistently placed behind math and science.
Numbers Game: Q&A With Margot Douillet
We sat down with Margot Douillet, a gifted analyst and the first female coach of the Futures Collegiate Baseball League, a competitive summer league that mirrors the style of a minor league season. As the Director of Operations for the Pittsfield Suns, Douillet took the field -- and the helm -- last summer when she was 20 years old.
Saving Sight & Serving Community with Vision: Meet Andrew Lam
Surgeon, writer, family man, philanthropist and mansion saver are just some of the superlatives fitting of Dr. Andrew Lam. Over the past 15 years, Andrew, his wife Christina, and their children Alex (19), Audrey (17), Sophia (17), and Daniel (12), have left their mark on Longmeadow, creating a rich history while preserving some of the town’s past.
Lisa Lippiello Shows Grace Under Pressure
Downton Valley has a royal feel to it. A long, winding driveway leads to a stately home that rises over the Pioneer Valley. Inside, the “Dowager Room” and the “Isobel Room” nod to two of the most powerful female characters on the historical drama “Downton Abbey.” But the woman behind this bed-and-breakfast home is a contemporary queen.
She rules.
The best thing about Lisa Lippiello is that she is a humble monarch. Before she was a mother, wife and entrepreneur; before she was a managing partner at a law firm in Northampton, she was just a little girl drawn to the ocean. “I have photos of my father racing to the shore because I was crawling through the sand to the water,” she says with a laugh. The water was her happy place; it would be her steady companion as she navigated her parent’ divorce and was tasked with caring for her younger brother.
And So Our Lives Continue
It's a rainy Sunday morning in April. My wife is driving down to the city to meet her daughter, who flew in to take her mom to lunch and a show. We celebrated on Friday, her actual birthday – with a pancake breakfast in bed; followed by a leisurely day with our puppy, Milo; and capped off with a romantic dinner at The Blue Heron Restaurant.
I'm sitting on our daybed on the porch now, my computer perched on my lap. Somewhat reluctantly, I turned on the gas stove this morning in an effort to temper the chilly April air. All I can hear is the steady patter of rain on the porch roof, an occasional flutter of ducks fishing on the river, and a contented sigh from Milo, who is lying by my side. Suddenly I catch a whir of red brushing across the porch window: A cardinal has sent his blessing for a sweet day at home.
Risky Business
I recently received a panicked email from a potential client who told me that one of their competitors may be taking legal action against them. The reason? Both companies share the same business name in the same industry.
Brand identity is a critical aspect of any business, and it's essential to ensure that you're not infringing on any existing trademarks or brand names when starting a new company. My potential client’s situation could have been avoided if their company had examined their brand and competition from the start.
Here’s why it's crucial to work with a professional to safeguard your brand
House of Music
When he’s not working as an allergist and immunologist at AIANE in Northampton, Dr. Jonathan Bayuk runs One Roof, a nonprofit that puts on musical festivals to fund homes for the unsheltered.
Proudly Forward
Grace Moreno is a force, and she’s the force behind the ever-expanding Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce. Of its 465 members, more than a quarter are based in the western part of the state – and last November the chamber opened an office in Easthampton to take even better care of them.
Walking the Digital Line Between Convenience and Privacy
In today's digital age, convenience is king. After all, technology is supposed to make our lives easier. We can have our groceries delivered to our doorstep, stream movies on demand, and even control our home appliances with a simple voice command. I like to think of Privacy and Convenience as two ends of a spectrum.
Social Media Professionalism and Etiquette Tips for Recent Graduates, Parents (and Heck, Anyone Seeking Professional Employment Opportunities!)
June is always an exciting time as the spring blossoms have sprung, summer vacation is on the horizon and our recent graduates embark on their professional journeys. However, in today's digital age, it's crucial to be mindful of the impact that social and digital media can have on a personal and professional reputation. As a digital media company, we understand the importance of maximizing social media opportunities while avoiding potential pitfalls. With that in mind, we've compiled four vital tips to help navigate social media for professional success
Family Business: The Keiters Build a Legacy
Construction was his profession, not his destiny. Throughout high school and college, Scott Keiter was a natural builder and engineer – both were in his blood – but he had something else in his back pocket: his “Dream Book.” It was just as it sounds, a catalogue of possibilities, a reminder that one day the adventurer in him would helm an enterprise.
Driven to Succeed: Meet the Rome Family
Since the 1950’s, the Rome family has been not only selling cars, but also improving the community, both at home in Longmeadow, and all over the Pioneer Valley. It seems like everyone has seen the Rome family out and about in Longmeadow, bought a car from them, or seen their philanthropy in action - and at the very least - you’ve seen and heard their dogs on TV.
“Longmeadow is a great place to raise a family,” said Gary. “It’s safe, the community is diverse and engaging, it’s not difficult for people to make friends - and it’s a great place to walk around with our dogs.”
Lessons Learned as a Rookie Bank Trustee
In August of 2008, a group of investors and myself, with great enthusiasm and fanfare, opened the doors to the first community savings bank in Massachusetts in 16 years - NUVO Bank. We were going to be different. A month later the global credit crisis hit, and the way banking was done changed forever. Running a bank in competitive good times is hard enough, running it in the middle of a global economic banking meltdown is like climbing Everest in a blizzard in your underwear. Everyday you're blinded by another force of nature you never expected. To say it was an educational experience would be an enormous understatement. You never climb Everest alone, and luckily I had two of the best banking minds in the industry, Don Chase as our Chairman and Dale Jane as our President. Together, and with our solid board of trustees, hardworking employees and valued customers, we not only thrived, we survived.
The Best-Laid Plans Aren't Left to the Commonwealth
If you don’t have an estate plan, you’re not alone. In fact, most adults die without one. Even notable figures like Kurt Cobain, Abraham Lincoln, Howard Hughes, Prince and Pablo Picasso died without a will.
Why do so many people – from former presidents and rock stars to your family members and friends – work their entire lives to accumulate assets but fail to spend mere hours deciding how their assets should pass when they die?
Maintain Your Beautiful Trees
Arbormax Tree Care’s motto is “Your Trees, Our Passion”. This phrase resonates with Arbormax because we truly care about your property and value your trees just as you do.
Guiding Light
Lighting is an essential element in any home or office, and it’s important to have functioning lights to create a comfortable and safe environment. Whether you're tired of an outdated or unappealing ceiling light or you need to replace a worn fixture, switching out your ceiling light doesn’t have to be a terrifying prospect. Replacing your ceiling light is a simple and cost-effective way to upgrade your home's aesthetic, but it's important to approach the project with caution. Electrical work can be dangerous if not handled properly.
Back to Longmeadow: Meet the McVety Family
From Longmeadow to Mocorro and back again - for the McVety family, there’s nothing like raising a family in the town you grew up in - especially if that town is Longmeadow.
Aimee Salmon: Jumping for Joy
Are you teaching today? It was one of the first English phrases she understood, even though she was the new girl in Zumba class. No one knew that Aimee Salmon had never danced, that growing up in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, moving just wasn’t on her radar.
Money Talks
Inheritance is the third rail in financial planning. No one wants to go there. Yet when you think about your future financial circumstances, you need to estimate any wealth you might inherit. Without it, you’re flying blind when you consider these questions.
Brenda’s Top 5 Value-Raising Home Improvements
Whether or not you are considering selling your property, or you just want to enjoy a few simple upgrades along the way, there are several ways to boost your home improvements ROI (return on investment) over time. As housing prices continue to increase, now is the perfect time to invest in your home. A home that is similar to a crisp, clean $100 bill hot off the press will help add money to your bottom line. Whether we are in a buyers or sellers market, these types of home improvements will help net you the most profit on your home.
Here are the top 5 home improvements Brenda has seen her clients successfully use to raise their home’s value