Chalk Talk: All news is local: National Writing Project launches ‘Our Towns/Our Stories’ initiative for student journalists

By KEVIN HODGSON and LESLIE SKANTZ-HODGSON

All politics is local, so goes the adage, often attributed to Massachusetts’ own, “Tip” O’Neill.

Arts Briefs: Western New England Music Festival in Holyoke, Mojofest in Hadley, and more

The all-ages Western New England Music Festival will be at the De la Luz Soundstage in Holyoke on Sunday, April 27. It will include workshops from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. and live music from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m.

Speaking of Nature: Fascinated by ferns: Ferns figured out how to say goodbye to the aquatic environment hundreds of millions of years ago

By BILL DANIELSON

It was a morning in early April and Nature was playing tricks on us. The weather had been cold and raw for days, but then suddenly there was a break from the trend and the temperature soared into the high 60s. There was no threat of rain, but there was a blanket of high clouds shielding us from direct sunlight. It was bright without any shadows – perfect conditions for photography.

Reel talent: Easthampton Film Festival returns for fourth year, May 1-4

By CAROLYN BROWN

Easthampton Film Festival will return for its fourth year from Thursday, May 1, through Sunday, May 4, bringing with it a slate of movies that were created, in large part, by local filmmakers.

Resonating through generations: Lady Pills releases new concept album, ‘Renowned in the Roaring Twenties’

By CAROLYN BROWN

A recording artist is connecting her family’s western Massachusetts roots to her new album.

Valley Bounty: Keeping that farming romance alive: Cara and Michael Zueger run Free Living Farm in Petersham

By JACOB NELSON

In many ways, farming can seem like a romantic way of life. “Being outside, providing for yourself, providing for your community – and the health changes I saw in myself, eating fresh food from the land – it all resonated so deeply,” says Cara Zueger, who runs Free Living Farm in Petersham with her husband Michael.

Only Human with Joan Axelrod-Contrada: ‘When the Saints’: Finding beauty in a personalized celebration of life

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

Louis Armstrong knew how to turn a slow and solemn hymn into a toe-tapping, heart-thumping anthem.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Rebecca Phelps of Hatfield

This cake was baked by Rebecca Phelps of Hatfield and her grandson, Alessandro Phelps, of Amherst. Not only do they enjoy baking together, “We also both like Taylor Swift a lot,” Rebecca Phelps said. “We made this cake to honor her [song] ‘Blank Space’ and used pomegranate seeds for the blood.”

From corsets to Spanx: Historic Deerfield opens the season with ‘Body by Design: Fashionable Silhouettes from the Ideal to the Real,’ May 3

By CHRIS LARABEE

There’s no need to don your corset or three-piece suit for Historic Deerfield’s opening exhibition this season.

Bach and better than ever: UMass Amherst biennial Bach Fest returns April 25-27 with a multitude of concerts and symposia

By CAROLYN BROWN

An Amherst festival dedicated to a famous Baroque composer is coming … Bach.

Arts Briefs: Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail, Showcase South Hadley, Best of the Valley Story Slam and more

The Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail will have its annual studio tour on Saturday, April 26, and Sunday, April 27, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Speaking of Nature: A surprise in my maple tree: Porcupines just want to find something tasty to eat and be left alone

By BILL DANIELSON

It was the end of an exciting day of nature photography and as I pulled into my driveway I figured that I was done for the day. I had been out in forests and fields and had managed to take just about 1,000 photographs of flowers, birds and even some turtles. I went into the house, set my camera on the writing desk by my kitchen window and started the process of shifting into “evening mode,” which is what everyone aspires to after a long day. On my way through the house, heading toward a change of clothes and something for dinner, I glanced out the back window and stopped in my tracks. What in Darwin’s name was that?

The cost of addiction: New novel draws on Valley backdrop to explore how substance use upends people’s lives

By STEVE PFARRER

Several years ago, Mattea Kramer, an Amherst writer and researcher who’s studied and written about the federal budget as well as drug policies at state and federal levels, spent time interviewing a number of women in the Greenfield jail who were part of a recovery program for substance use.

The legend lives on: The Lightfoot Band brings the music of their late bandleader to the Iron Horse

By CAROLYN BROWN

Legendary Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot died in 2023, but his longtime band members, who now tour as The Lightfoot Band, will share his music and legacy in Northampton at the Iron Horse on Thursday, April 24, at 7 p.m.

Young filmmaker makes his debut: 16-year-old director and writer to screen his film at Greenfield Garden Cinemas

By CHRIS LARABEE

The Greenfield Garden Cinemas is rolling out a red-carpet premiere of its own on April 16, as it welcomes the public to a free screening of a locally-produced short film with a question-and-answer session to follow.

Creativity empowers kids: Inaugural R.I.S.E. Fest is next weekend in Northampton

By CAROLYN BROWN

A new festival for young people and the arts is coming to Northampton.

Let’s Talk Relationships: Uncovering the roots of negative self-talk: What you say to yourself echoes in your relationships

By AMY NEWSHORE

Our thoughts and beliefs about ourselves greatly impact how we feel and act in our close relationships. Humans are the only species that engage in “self-talk.” Many of us find ourselves having both positive thoughts about ourselves (for example, “I feel proud for what I just accomplished”) and other times negative and self-defeating thoughts (such as, “I am not attractive enough”). In my work with couples, it is often the derogatory self-talk that each individual engages in that contributes to the difficult and painful dynamics between partners.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Peggy Sanders of Northampton

Peggy Sanders of Northampton wrote to us with the good news: “Artichokes from California are here! Simmer them, melt butter. Celebrate Spring.”

‘We’re here! We’re queer! We’re ready to cheer!’: New queerleading team hopes to perform at queer sporting events in the Valley

By CAROLYN BROWN

A new group of “queerleaders” in Northampton wants to lift up the LGBTQ community — in more ways than one.