Arts & Life
Amherst Oyster Bar pushes opening day to April 1
By SCOTT MERZBACH
April Fool’s Day will also be the opening day for the Amherst Oyster Bar, the long-planned restaurant in Amherst center that will replace Judie’s Restaurant.
Historical fiction set in Quabbin region: Novelist J.A. McIntosh will read from ‘Swift River Secrets’ Sunday in Erving
By TINKY WEISBLAT
An author event tomorrow, Sunday, March 16, in Erving will explore the process of creating historical fiction from historical fact. Novelist J.A. McIntosh will also discuss the creation of the Quabbin Reservoir.
Keep backyard birds safe: Steps you can take to protect our feathered friends
By EVELINE MACDOUGALL
“My mother fed birds in our backyard, which backed up to a nice woodland,” Greenfield resident Pat Serrentino, a lifelong bird observer, said.
Sounds Local: Saint Patrick’s Day festivities abound: Where to hear Celtic music this weekend in Franklin County
By SHERYL HUNTER
Saint Patrick’s Day is only days away, and for the band Ragged Blue, that means a busy weekend ahead. They’ll be playing Celtic music at a variety of shows this weekend.
Speaking of Nature: It’s enough already: Mallards bring signs of spring
By BILL DANIELSON
The first week of March came with a roller coaster of emotions. Saturday, March 1 was absolutely amazing. For the first time in months the weather seemed to be warming and there was a moment when I actually considered cleaning off the table on my deck and sitting outside in the sunshine. A large flock of red-winged blackbirds and common grackles arrived that morning and suddenly the yard was full of songs and the murmur of hundreds of birds talking about their plans for the day. It was joyous, it was refreshing, and it was short-lived.
Colcannon from Colrain to Coleraine: Irish comfort food for Saint Patrick’s Day
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Although strictly speaking I have little or no Irish blood (one of my great-grandmothers was Scots Irish), I still like to dress in green and make something Irish for Saint Patrick’s Day. This week I’m concentrating on Colcannon, basically gussied-up mashed potatoes. This dish adds lovely green vegetables to the spuds.
What is possible when you get to the root?: The peer-run Wildflower Alliance redefines mental health care
By MELISSA KAREN SANCES
Her phone pinged and a grey bubble rose to the surface: “Are you ready to come back?”
From the field to your screens: Two seniors take Frontier Community Access Television’s sports broadcasting to new heights
By CHRIS LARABEE
If you take a look at the spreadsheets on Mason Smith and Tyler Wolkowicz’s computer screens, you might think they’re undertaking an extensive math project.
Her muse is poultry: Painter Pat Little’s ‘Cosmic Chickens’ series on display in Shelburne Falls
By MADISON SCHOFIELD
For Leyden artist Pat Little, art is all about joy, and nothing makes her laugh more than painting chickens doing silly things. Her collection of “Cosmic Chickens” will be on display at Mocha Maya’s at 47 Bridge St. in Shelburne Falls until March 16.
Valley Bounty: Year-round access to local food: Fresh, frozen, canned and more available at Greenfield Winter Farmers’ Market
By LISA GOODRICH
“When people think of farms, they tend to think of the summer, abundance, corn fields, and flowers. What people don’t realize is that farms function year-round, and there are many business models that allow farmers to grow products year-round or have products year-round to sell,” says Hannah Logan, Market Manager of the Greenfield Winter Farmers’ Market.
Sounds Local: Mud Season festival returns next weekend: ‘Peace, love and protest’ the themes for this year’s all-day family-friendly event at Shea Theater
By SHERYL HUNTER
Peace, love and protest will be the theme of this year’s Mud Season festival. Presented by the Shea Theater and the Dave Bulley Band, the all-day, family-friendly festival will be held at the Shea Theater in Turners Falls on Saturday, March 15, from noon to 11 p.m. There will be crafts, food, craft beverages, and plenty of music, with 11 acts performing on two stages.
Speaking of Nature: Opportunity taken: Omnivorous scavengers eat just about anything during the tough months of winter
By BILL DANIELSON
Last week I regaled you with a story about a red-tailed hawk. This bird kept showing up in my yard and forlornly staring out across my back yard in the hopes of finding something to eat. At the time, the problem was one of precipitation, or, rather, the precise combination of temperature and precipitation. Snow, followed by rain, followed by prolonged temperatures below freezing had resulted in a landscape that was covered by a thick shell of ice.
Saturday Night Live, postmodernism and paprika: A recipe inspired by one of the 50-year-old show’s memorable sketches
By TINKY WEISBLAT
We are awash in anniversaries this year. A century ago, in 1925, Mussolini rose to power in Italy. The Scopes Monkey Trial drew international attention to a modest courtroom in Dayton, Tennessee. Scotsman John Logie Baird aired the first public display of a television signal. And Irving Berlin published the eternal song “Always.”
Ten years of kids in harmony: Musica Franklin celebrates a milestone and looks to the future
By ERIN-LEIGH HOFFMAN
The nonprofit music and social justice program Musica Franklin has brought music and mentorship to students across Franklin County for a decade now. To celebrate, the organization hosted a luncheon fundraiser last month that raised over $5,000, and honored three local residents for their support since the start.
‘It’s been life-changing for me’: Ashfield resident inspires others to hike the Camino de Santiago
By MADISON SCHOFIELD
Have you ever thought about walking the Camino de Santiago, but don’t know where to start or if the famous pilgrimage is even the right adventure for you? Ashfield resident Helene Leue will be sharing stories from her own journeys walking the Camino and giving tips for planning your own during a presentation at the Belding Memorial Library on Wednesday, March 5 at 6 p.m.
Back Porch Festival returns next weekend: Tribute to Neil Young, ‘Bluegrass Spectacular’ and Lucinda Williams will headline
By CAROLYN BROWN
The roots music festival Back Porch Festival, which takes place in downtown Northampton, will return for its 11th year from Friday, March 7, through Sunday, March 9, with more than 60 performers.
Book Review: A penguin, a fish, and some hope: Author to read from fourth book in ‘Noodles & Albie’ series next week at Greenfield Public Library
By TINKY WEISBLAT
Eric Bennett of Northampton will share his lifelong love of penguins next Saturday morning at the Greenfield Public Library.
Faith Matters: Chapters in healing: Community gets us through tough times
By HETTY STARTUP
In very tough times, we lean hard on community and faith. We did this during the horrors of Jan. 6 and on 9/11. In past decades, some of us drew deeply from our moral stance about civil rights and we need to do so again. Some of us prayed at vigils against the Iraq war and more recently held our faith communities close during the COVID-19 pandemic. These are, if you like, the chapters of our experience as people of faith. They may help us feel that we were there; they date and define us. May we prevail. In between, here are a couple of my chapters.
Sustainability made fun: Greenfield High School club aims to make school and planet greener
By EVELINE MACDOUGALL
Stella Verlander, a Greenfield High School senior who plans to study political science in college with an eye toward an environmental law degree, is president of the GHS Sustainability Club. Verlander revived the club following pandemic interruptions, with the aim of educating people about issues related to conservation, climate crises, and political action. “Any obstacles are not about lack of interest,” she said. “The real problem is ignorance.”
Sounds Local: World-class music in your own backyard: Watermelon Wednesdays kicks off 26th season next week with ‘Northern European fiddle festival’
By SHERYL HUNTER
As we approach the end of February, the idea of sitting in the West Whately Chapel, enjoying some fine acoustic music while snacking on watermelon sounds quite appealing. And hold onto that thought because the Watermelon Wednesdays concert series is gearing up for its 2025 season, and it’s not too far away!
Your Daily Puzzles

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

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

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

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

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