Arts & Life

Sounds Local: StrangeCreekCampout returns next weekend: Family-friendly camping, jamming, and over 60 bands on three stages

05-14-2025 1:59 PM

By SHERYL HUNTER

For music fans, there is nothing better than enjoying music in the great outdoors, and we are about to have that experience when the StrangeCreek Campout kicks off festival season on Memorial Day weekend. The StrangeCreek Campout, now in its 21st year, will take place at Camp Kee-wanee in Greenfield, from May 23 to 26. Presented by Wormtown Trading Co. out of Worcester, this weekend festival features camping and music from over 60 bands performing on three stages, along with late-night shows in cabins in the woods.


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Speaking of Nature: Learning bird songs: Ninety percent of bird-finding is done with one’s ears

05-13-2025 12:50 PM

By BILL DANIELSON

The great spring migration is in full swing and millions upon millions of birds are flying northward across our entire continent every night. The weather will always play a big role in the exact timing of the movements of the birds, but every morning offers up the opportunity to detect the presence of yet another new arrival. Birds often “surf” on waves of air associated with storms, so the first clear morning after a couple days of rain can be particularly exciting.


Make America cake again: How to bake an Election Cake

05-12-2025 2:15 PM

By TINKY WEISBLAT

Food can be a tangible link to history. When we taste a recipe from the past, we experience that past in a specific, often delicious, way.


Block and roll: Roller Derby, the ‘sport for misfits,’ finds a home in the Valley

05-09-2025 12:04 PM

By HANNAH BEVIS

The floor of Interskate 91 South is often filled with young skaters teetering around the track, but the athletes on it now are sure on their skates, focused and ready to battle. Two jammers sit poised, their bodies coiled in anticipation; in front of them, two bunches of blockers gaze at them intently, trying to determine the best strategy for locking them down. For a second, there’s quiet. Then a sharp whistle slices through it and the two skaters explode forward, trying to duck and weave between a mass of bodies to escape the pack and rack up points for their team. Their teammates and fans yell and cheer from the sidelines, their voices echoing around the rink, but skater Lilith of the Valley (government name: Lisa Andras) doesn’t hear any of it.


The pipes, the pipes are calling: Orange man services organs throughout New England, beyond

05-09-2025 11:58 AM

By DOMENIC POLI

Stefan Maier decided to pull out all the stops in 1993.


Writer’s work lives on, thanks to creative friends: Stray Dog Collective preserves Hilary Sloin’s short stories, essays

05-09-2025 11:57 AM

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

(This is part one of a two-part series about the literary work and life of Ashfield resident Hilary Sloin, who died in 2019.)


Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: A blooming ribbon leads the eye: Landscape architect planted 1,500 daffodils in Amherst’s Orchard Arboretum

05-09-2025 11:56 AM

By MICKEY RATHBUN

In the Orchard Arboretum, a little-known public garden in South Amherst, a living work of art is making its debut this spring. “I call it a daffodil ribbon,” explained Richard Waldman, a retired landscape architect from New York City who conceived of the project two years ago and has finally brought it to fruition.


‘Shared’ perspectives: Greenfield artist one of eight disabled artists in Worcester gallery’s group show

05-09-2025 11:55 AM

By GUSTAVO ATENCIO FLORES

According to Megan Bent, gallery manager of Worcester’s Open Door Gallery, “expanding upon the communal understanding of what disability is” is the main goal of newest exhibition, “Shared.”


Faith Matters: Where can we find universal truths?: There may be some futility in the search, but not in the aspiration to ‘be worthy’

05-09-2025 11:53 AM

By JAN FLASKA

The death of Papà Francesco — Pope Francis — has caught my attention for many reasons, not the least of which is the fact that he embodied and lived out the claim of a Roman Catholic universal truth that is intended to be both accessible to and attainable for every human being. As a teacher of religious studies, philosophy and ethics, and as a non-ordained dean of spiritual life, I am fascinated with the prospect that there may be some way in which all of us — yes, all of us — can embrace shared values and the colloquial common ground. In the spirit of those three realms — religious studies, philosophy and ethics — I offer these three named and representative, respectively, universal truths: natural law, human rights, and deontology.


Sounds Local: Delmhorst’s new album features some unexpected additions

05-07-2025 3:03 PM

By SHERYL HUNTER

Kris Delmhorst never intended to create an album focused on themes like loss, death and grief, but it turns out these subjects heavily influence many of the songs on her new release, “Ghosts in the Garden.” The Shelburne Falls resident launched her 10th album on March 7 and will hold a record release show at the Iron Horse in Northampton on Friday, May 9, at 7 p.m. She is currently on tour to support the album.


Speaking of Nature: Motivated mother mink

05-06-2025 11:49 AM

By BILL DANIELSON

It was a beautiful morning in late April and I was out exploring a trail around a quiet pond. The trail around the pond was well maintained and because it was so early in the spring there were no leaves on the trees. This is what allowed me to notice a large number of Eastern Painted Turtles that were sunning themselves on the trunk of a fallen tree and it was thoughts of photos that diverted me off the trail and closer to the water’s edge.


Conway Historical Society to explore ‘forgotten Founding Father’ Joseph Hawley

05-01-2025 9:37 PM

By CHRIS LARABEE

Names like John Adams, Thomas Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin all evoke the image of the United States’ Founding Fathers, but have you ever heard of Major Joseph Hawley?


Fun Fest to showcase day of music in Turners Falls on May 10

05-01-2025 9:35 PM

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

TURNERS FALLS — The 7th annual Música Franklin “Fun Fest” is returning to Unity Park in Turners Falls on Saturday, May 10 for a free, family-friendly day of music and activities, with students getting the chance to showcase their year of musical growth. 


Northfield’s Trinitarian Congregational Church marks 200th year, looks to continue its ‘living legacy’

05-01-2025 9:34 PM

By AALIANNA MARIETTA

As Northfield’s Trinitarian Congregational Church celebrates its 200th anniversary this year, longtime and returning members were given the chance to reflect on the institution’s beginnings and how it has changed with time.


Speaking of Nature: Climbing out on a limb: The Hartford fern is not your typical fern

04-30-2025 7:00 AM

By BILL DANIELSON

Last week I started telling the story of a particular expedition into the woods and I ended up writing a column on the basics of fern biology. I covered the evolution of ferns, their place in the general evolution of terrestrial plants, and the curious nature of their reproductive cycle. To put it plainly, things got away from me and I didn’t notice until it was too late. The beauty of time, however, is the fact that there is always next week. So, without further adieu, I transport you back to a morning in early April…


Lesbian bar opens in Greenfield: Last Ditch is the new space for the Valley’s queer community

04-25-2025 10:11 AM

By CAROLYN BROWN

Western Massachusetts has a new lesbian bar and performance venue.


Living and breathing democracy: Smithsonian museum sets up traveling exhibit inside the Mohawk Trail Regional School library

04-25-2025 9:43 AM

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

Democracy is alive at the Mohawk Trail Regional School. 


The bomb that never dropped: New book details how Massachusetts planned during the Cold War

04-25-2025 9:41 AM

By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN

Northampton author Joshua Shanley says he gets a scary feeling when entering some of the defunct Cold War buildings still standing across Massachusetts.


Her time in the spotlight: Amherst artist turns 90 and has first-ever public exhibit

04-25-2025 9:40 AM

By SCOTT MERZBACH

In one sculpture made from fired terracotta, with a natural patina, life holds and cradles life. In another sculpture, life holds and grasps death.


The proof is in the soil: Shelburne resident shares principles of biodynamic farming

04-25-2025 9:36 AM

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

When Shelburne resident Elisha Poulin gave a public presentation recently about biodynamic farming and gardening, there were occasional quizzical expressions on the faces of some attendees. Yet I was primed to listen with an open mind, thanks to a comment made last fall by Greenfield resident Ryan Nestor, who I interviewed for a story about growing sweet potatoes.


Your Daily Puzzles

Cross|Word

An approachable redesign to a classic. Explore our "hints."

Flipart

A quick daily flip. Finally, someone cracked the code on digital jigsaw puzzles.

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Chess but with chaos: Every day is a unique, wacky board.

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Word search but as a strategy game. Clearing the board feels really good.

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Align the letters in just the right way to spell a word. And then more words.


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