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By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Anyone seeing a bluebird up close can understand why this feathered friend symbolizes happiness. Our eastern bluebird (Sialia sialis) captures the hearts of many with their vibrant plumage, and Susan Brock of Northfield is a devotee who helps spread the joy to others.

By AMY NEWSHORE

Emotional connection in a relationship happens when partners mutually experience being seen, heard and understood. It’s when it feels safe to be your full self and know the other “gets” you. It’s the glue that helps partners feel close, supported, and deeply bonded.

By LISA GOODRICH

Blueberry season is here. Whether from farm stands, farmers markets, or in the fields for pick-your-own, the beloved berry freezes well, dries well and makes sublime jams and preserves — if they last beyond being eaten fresh.

By TINKY WEISBLAT

Book Review: “Travel on $50/Day (or less!)” by Steve Hamlin (privately published, 113 pages).

By SHERYL HUNTER

Rosie Porter understands that there is no place like home. The country singer, a former resident of Greenfield, moved to California in 2024, and while she enjoys the West Coast and the move has positively impacted her career, she is eager to return to western Massachusetts for a three-week tour. The tour kicks off tonight, Thursday, July 24, at Shelburne Springs, 904 Mohawk Trail, from 6 to 8 p.m.

By BILL DANIELSON

We find ourselves in the middle of “deep summer.” Air conditioners are running at full tilt and many outdoor activities are restricted to the early-morning hours before things get really uncomfortable. I know that I frequently find myself thinking about jumping into a pond in the middle of a hot summer afternoon. Pools of dark water that hide secrets from us are very alluring when the temperature rises and the idea of quietly floating in a lake or pond is something that will resonate with many of you. As it happens, I was lucky enough to get the chance to do just that when visiting my brother up in Maine.

By TINKY WEISBLAT

My father used to say that we are all cheap in our own ways. I prefer to use the terms “frugal,” “economical,” or “cost conscious.” Still, I knew what he meant. Whatever our budgets may be (and mine is sometimes very small), we each establish personal priorities about how we want to use those budgets.

By DON STEWART

You can view more than 80 objets d’art, ranging from monumental paintings, woodcuts, and fine embroidery to stained glass, all direct from England, at Williamstown’s Clark Art Institute through Sept. 14.

By TINKY WEISBLAT

Book Review: “The Wonder and Happiness of Being Old” by Sophy Burnham (Andrews McMeel Publishing, 256 pages)

By LISA GOODRICH

The Berkshire Mountains of western Massachusetts are among the oldest mountain formations in the country, continuing the Green Mountain Range from Vermont to the south. The Hilltowns are the eastern foothills of the Berkshires, with 22 sparsely populated towns, including the two western Franklin county towns of Ashfield and Shelburne. They are separated by approximately 10 miles as the crow flies, and over 800 feet of elevation; yet both are home to timeless, friendly seasonal farmers markets.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

The western Massachusetts farming community is made up of hardworking folks who generally work with family members or small crews, but who also keep tabs on one another through farmers markets, agricultural meetings, and other events. When a farmer experiences hardships, their peers care deeply and offer support when possible. Over the last few years, concerned locals have followed staggering and mysterious challenges faced by Danny Botkin of Laughing Dog Farm in Gill. Botkin is widely considered a regional hero due to his generous dedication to educating others about seed saving, four-season gardening, and other aspects of growing and eating organically grown produce. 

By GRACE CHAI

AMHERST — Though the temperature rose to 90 degrees outside on Wednesday, the ire of many staff members at the University of Massachusetts Amherst was arguably fiercer.

By SHERYL HUNTER

“The Best Band You Never Heard Of” is the name of a 2011 documentary about The Samples, a rock group that was part of the jam scene in the late 1980s and 1990s and went on to experience a career with more twists and turns than your favorite mystery novel.

By BILL DANIELSON

It is now “full summer” and, as many others might be tempted to do, I have gone on my first camping trip of the year. To be honest, it was more like a “glamping” trip. My brother has a new camp up in northern Maine and my sister traveled north to enjoy a sort of camping reunion. There were no spouses, no pets, and no responsibilities other than relaxing and having fun. My brother installed a wonderful array of solar panels, which gave us access to electricity. Only the absence of running water made this anything remotely related to camping.

By TINKY WEISBLAT

As a food writer, I am embarrassed to say that I’m never the first person in the area to discover a new restaurant. My culinary bent and my low income lead me to eat at home most of the time. Nevertheless, I do eventually hear from people I know about new eateries.

By GRACE CHAI

Massachusetts is celebrating the 250th anniversary of the Revolutionary War this year and next with initiatives and events across the state, funded by $2 million in grants from the Healey-Driscoll administration, and the Pioneer Valley is no exception.

By NAN PARATI

I still have the calendar. An old-school paper design, it still sits on July 9, 2005.

By DON STEWART

STOCKBRIDGE — The dynamic images of photographic illustrator Walter Wick can be viewed through Oct. 26 in four galleries at Stockbridge’s Norman Rockwell Museum.

By EVELINE MACDOUGALL

Oxbow Design Build co-founder Carl Woodruff referred to multiple bottom lines as the local business celebrates its 10-year anniversary: “We use environmentally stable materials and contribute to the community by creating affordable housing while also being a for-profit enterprise with competitive wages and benefits.” In addition to aiming for lofty goals, Oxbow delivers superb results for residential and commercial clients.

By SHERYL HUNTER

There’s nothing better than strolling through the village of Shelburne Falls and taking in all the sights of this picturesque area. Now, imagine the sound of melodic guitars and sweet, soaring voices drifting through the air from the porches of nearby homes. This would transform an already enjoyable experience into something even more special.

By SHERYL HUNTER

The long Fourth of July weekend is upon us, and if you are looking to enjoy some live music as you celebrate America’s birthday, you will have plenty of options — and some of them are even free!