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Giving the gift of Christmases past: Deerfield children’s letters to Santa resurface after decades
12-20-2024 10:05 AM

By CHRIS LARABEE

From 1952 to 2008, children in Deerfield had an opportunity to write letters to Santa Claus and, after some time, a letter from the big man himself would be sent back to the child.Now, decades later after many of the letters were likely forgotten, a...

Displaying articles 1 to 17 out of 17 total.
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A swell addition: New organist firing up instrument for Congregational Church’s Christmas Eve
12-23-2024 7:02 PM

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HADLEY — After five Christmas eves without organ accompaniment, Michael Stancill will be “pulling out all the stops” as he plays “O Come, All Ye Faithful” for the First Congregational Church of Hadley this year on Christmas Eve.That phrase has...


Belchertown family gives to Sidney F. Toy Fund to honor, thank teachers
12-18-2024 2:44 PM

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — While students shower their elementary school teachers with small tokens of appreciation during the holiday season, those coffee shop gift cards, stationary and trendy tumblers peter out as students get to middle and high school.But the...


Arts Briefs: Christmas shows of a wide variety and a sprinkling of other events
12-18-2024 1:58 PM

A ‘Country Christmas Singalong Spectacular’The Academy of Music will host “The Country Christmas Singalong Spectacular with Zara Bode” on Sunday, Dec. 22, from 4 to 5:30 p.m.Bode, one half of the country duo The Sweetback Sisters, is a powerhouse...


Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund: For 30 years, Burke Chevrolet in has pooled donations in honor of late bookkeeper
12-16-2024 4:05 PM

By SAMUEL GELINAS

NORTHAMPTON — Bryan Burke, second generation owner of Burke Chevrolet on North King Street in Northampton, has continued a more than 30-year holiday tradition set by his father which entails employees pooling money together for the Sydney F. Smith Toy...


Discover local holiday lore: Stories and symbols of Christmases past on display in Granby Historical Association’s Winter Wonderland
12-11-2024 1:19 PM

By EMILEE KLEIN

The story of the holiday tune “Jingle Bells” begins in Medford, when resident James Pierpont watched annual one-horse open sleigh rides between Medford Square and Malden Square. Those bells that inspired Pierpont to write the famous song were most...


Valley Bounty: It’s the season of tree-ditions: Kingsbury Christmas Tree Farm in South Deerfield offers cut your own and pre-cut varieties
12-06-2024 11:34 AM

By JACOB NELSON

The Christmas season, for people who celebrate, tends to be full of traditions. Maybe it’s watching the same corny holiday movies every year. Maybe it’s making Grandma’s special cookies, a yellowing index card with her faded cursive handwriting...


Arts Briefs: Local holiday show options for everyone, both naughty and nice
12-04-2024 3:03 PM

An ‘anti-holiday spectacular’Prefer rudeness to Rudolph, getting blitzed to Blitzen, or X-rated humor to Xmas? The show “F*ck That! Erin McKeown’s Anti-Holiday Spectacular,” which will be at the Iron Horse on Saturday, Dec. 7, at 7 p.m., might be for...


Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund kicks off 92nd year
11-27-2024 5:24 PM

By SAMUEL GELINAS

It’s late November in New England: darker, shorter days and colder weather — all remedied by seasonal traditions including turkey, inflatable yard decor and, for the 92nd year, the Sidney F. Smith Toy fund.Begun in 1933 during the Great Depression by...


Museum showcases Belchertown’s rich history of carriage, sleigh manufacturing
12-25-2023 11:00 AM

By EMILEE KLEIN

BELCHERTOWN — If you’re dashing through the snow in a one-horse open sleigh this holiday season, then your sleigh could have been manufactured in Belchertown.The carriage, wagon and sleigh industry thrived in Belchertown during the 19th century....


Lifting spirits: Holyoke veteran surprised with free holiday lights display at his home
12-15-2023 1:15 PM

By MADDIE FABIAN

HOLYOKE — On Wednesday evening, Holyoke veteran Kurt Bluemer arrived home to twinkling white lights lining the porch rail, roof and bushes outside his house and a prominent wreath hanging from the top window.The decorations were hung earlier that day...


The Beat Goes On: Deck the halls with holiday shows, from Amherst to Easthampton to Northampton to Turners Falls
12-14-2023 11:36 AM

By STEVE PFARRER

The holidays are nearly upon us and, no surprise, the Valley’s music calendar is chock full of holiday shows over the next week, with some featuring bands playing their versions of seasonal tunes and others focused more on spreading general good...


Tradition of Toy Fund giving continues for the McMahon family
12-13-2023 4:20 PM

By MADDIE FABIAN

NORTHAMPTON — A lifelong resident of Northampton, the late Ed McMahon had always donated to the Sidney F. Smith Toy Fund, “wanting to help the kids and their families,” said his daughter, Kara McMahon.When he died in 2013, his family continued the...


‘A good, spirit-lifting boost’: City resident helps keep holiday lights on in Easthampton
12-12-2023 6:12 PM

By MADDIE FABIAN

EASTHAMPTON — For the past 40 or so years during the holiday season, the city has sparkled with icy-white lights lining the gazebo, bright colors circling trees and, of course, the dazzling star atop Mount Tom.So when Patrick Brough heard that the...


Toy Fund donation made in memory of a husband’s love for the ‘jolly holiday’
11-29-2023 2:59 PM

By EMILEE KLEIN

FLORENCE — Carolyn “Sissie” Horrigan remembers one December years ago when Santa Claus strolled down Main Street with Mrs. Claus, greeting people and delivering presents to those naughty and nice.She said a young boy in the window of Fitzwilly’s...


Doing good after they’re gone: Amherst couple donates to Toy Fund in honor of their parents
11-27-2023 4:59 PM

By MADDIE FABIAN

AMHERST — As former longtime public school employees, Jack Horrigan and Jan Ryan worked with children over the span of their careers and saw firsthand the significance of Christmas to kids.That’s why every year, the two donate to the Sidney F. Smith...


Relighted Mount Tom star signals hope amid crisis
03-25-2020 1:24 PM

By BERA DUNAU

EASTHAMPTON — For more than four decades, a star shining over the city from Mount Tom has been a holiday tradition. Now, as residents deal with the novel coronavirus pandemic, the star is again lighting up the night in a gesture meant to spark and...


Editorial: Hanukkah, Christmas stories of miracles
12-23-2016 10:32 PM

If you’re a child, this is the weekend when the magic of the holiday comes to life. But as much as there is “magic” involved, many people around the globe are celebrating two miracles this weekend. The first night of Hanukkah, the eight-day Jewish...

Displaying articles 1 to 17 out of 17 total.
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