Search Results

Keyword search: ADA

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

Isn’t it funny how a song can sound completely different depending on your mood, life stage, and views on love? Take “I’m a Believer” by the Monkees, for example.The first time it played, I was a starry-eyed preteen with dreams of Monkee-love. The...

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

Life is like a washing machine – complete with cycles and plenty of agitating to get at the messy stuff. If I were a songwriter (spoiler alert: I’m not), I’d pen a catchy tune about that simile, weaving together verses and a killer refrain set to the...

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

True confessions: I constantly struggle with the notion of living in the present, a mindset The Grass Roots embraced in their classic-rock hit “Let’s Live for Today.”As much as sage after sage has touted such advice, I’ve always had a soft spot for...

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

I was happily relishing my new state of singledom when “Human Touch” by Bruce Springsteen sounded on my Amazon Alexa.The song stirred something in me. Something I wasn’t sure I wanted to hear. Something confusing (especially given my public...

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

Linda Ronstadt’s 1967 song “Different Drum” came out during a time of changing gender roles in our country.While the commitment-phobic Peter Pan had long garnered praise as a ladies’ man, the woman who bucked expectations of domesticity got saddled...

By STEVE PFARRER

Time was when summer theater in the Valley was typically produced by a number of mainstays, including Chester Theatre Company, New Century Theatre, and the Ko Festival at Amherst College.But New Century Theatre shut down a few years ago, as did the Ko...

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

Every time I hear “One Tribe” by the Black Eyed Peas my idealistic and dance-happy sides unite in sonic bliss.I picture everyone coming together in some magic club beaming the feel-good vibes of the boundary-busting band, washing away all our...

By STEVE PFARRER

Ada Limón made history in 2022 when she became the first Latina to become U.S. Poet Laureate. And last year, she became just the second national poet laureate to have her term extended for another two years.Now Limón, a MacArthur Fellow and the winner...

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

Anyone who’s ever kept a journal can relate to the song “Dear Diary” by the Moody Blues.The tune came out in 1969 at the height of my adolescent angst. I poured my misery into a pocket-sized pink diary with a lock to keep away prying eyes. Like the...

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

Every time I hear the classic song “Money” by Pink Floyd, I think about my complicated relationship with the almighty dollar.Who hasn’t felt pushed and pulled between the seductive power of our currency and its ability to crush us? Not surprisingly,...

By TARA JACOBS

It has been a great honor, privilege and pleasure to serve my district on the Governor’s Council, and I look forward to continuing to do this work for a long time to come. My campaign for reelection is underway, and I hope to earn my seat once again...

By STEVE PFARRER

It’s that time of year again: time to crank out the “best of” lists. In this case, as I’ve done in the last several years, I’ve listed some of my favorite reads for 2023. I love reading these kinds of lists myself to discover a book, movie, or album I...

By MADDIE FABIAN

EASTHAMPTON — One new park will be constructed and another rehabbed in the New City neighborhood after the City Council approved spending for several Community Preservation Act projects last week. Another project included in the combined $1 million...

By HANNAH BEVIS

All Out Adventures lives up to the name above its door — the nonprofit provides opportunities for both people with disabilities and their family and friends to participate in a variety of recreational programming, from bicycling to kayaking and...

By TARA J. JACOBS

It has been a busy spring, and I would like to take an opportunity to provide an update on all the work I have been doing across western Massachusetts, as well as in Boston.The Governor’s Council’s official schedule has only recently begun to take...

By HANNAH BEVIS 

HOLYOKE – The Valley Blue Sox kept their hot streak alive on Wednesday night, winning for the eighth time in their last 10 games with a 7-2 victory against the North Adams SteepleCats at MacKenzie Stadium.The win moved the club’s record to 8-4 on the...

By EMILY THURLOW

NORTHAMPTON — It looks like the popular ValleyBike share program will remain grounded until next spring.Northampton officials announced Thursday that they are on the hunt for a new vendor to run the regional bike share program after the main service...

By HANNAH BEVIS 

Eight of Northampton’s top track and field athletes went to race against the best of the best at the Nike Indoor Track and Field Nationals at The Armory in New York City over the weekend. The Blue Devils qualified two relay teams in the 4x800 meter...

By HANNAH BEVIS 

NORTHAMPTON – Ally Yamada squared herself up with the basket, coolly executing a three-point shot that she’d taken thousands of times before. Down in the post, forward Morgan Morrison felt herself relax, if only slightly. It’s hard to be certain of...

By STEVE PFARRER

Over the years, Glenn Siegel has worked with a huge number of jazz musicians and composers, both as the founder of the former Magic Triangle concert series at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and with his Pioneer Valley Jazz Shares program.But...

I am proud to serve western Massachusetts on the Governor’s Council and hope to continue to provide updates on the work I am doing in this role. I was sworn in on Jan. 5 during the governor’s inaugural ceremony at the State House. With a new...