World of wonder: Walter Wick’s dynamic photographic illustrations at Norman Rockwell Museum

By DON STEWART

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

Northampton principal’s reflections on education are vital reading

By JONATHAN DAUBE

Review: Gwen Agna, “Community-Centered School Leadership: Lessons in Sustaining A Just And Equitable School,” Teachers College Press, Columbia University, New York and London, 2025.

Author with local roots to host ‘Books and Bottles’ fair at Black Birch Vineyard

By CAROLYN BROWN

An author with Belchertown roots is celebrating the release of his debut novel – which also takes place in the Belchertown area – with two local book tour events this month. 

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Ben Jankowski of Northampton

Ben Jankowski submitted this photo of Napa cabbage ginger momos with tomato chutney made by his partner Phoebe Gelbard of Northampton.

Rock On with Joan Axelrod-Contrada: Lonely too long

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

My big “a-ha” moment came from hearing the Young Rascals song “Lonely Too Long” on New Year’s Day. Ah, how Felix Cavaliere’s soulful voice made kids like me feel seen in 1967! And here I was, decades later, experiencing a wild sense of déjà vu.

1875 Holyoke church fire gave push to modern safety codes

By SAMUEL GELINAS

HOLYOKE — Building codes in Victorian America were antiquated, but the nationally circulated story of a fire in Holyoke is a large part of the reason why the doors of public buildings, even today, open outward, allowing people to flow out of a building and not get caught behind doors in case of an emergency.

Arts Briefs: Disability-themed movies, Big Freedia at the Iron Horse, and more

In honor of Disability Pride Month, the Northampton, Easthampton, and Amherst Disability Commissions are hosting free screenings of disability-themed movies in July.

Speaking of Nature: The big beautiful world —A baby nuthatch ventures out

By BILL DANIELSON

My school year stretched into late June and then I had several social engagements that I had to attend to during the rest of the month. As a result, my first week of vacation was actually busier than a regular week of work. It was fun, but it required enough energy that I declared a moratorium on any and all social entanglements for the first week of July and I managed things so that I only had to get into the car once to run a small errand. That was a real treat.

Arcadia’s Art House is a dream realized

By MELISSA KAREN SANCES

Once upon a time, the Art House at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary was just a fairy tale.

Around and About with Richard McCarthy: Of lone walkers and tolling bells

By RICHARD MCCARTHY

A little while back, I drove south out of Northampton on Route 91, and took the exit to the South End Bridge that connects Springfield to Agawam.

Finding belonging through nature: Leverett exhibit showcases linoleum block prints

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

Different people, different perspectives, united in ink.

Earth Matters: Eastern screech-owls — Why there and not here?

By DAVID SPECTOR

Naturalists are often asked “W” questions: What is this organism? Where is it found? When am I likely to see it? And, most interesting and most difficult to answer, why? Why-questions provoke answers that address natural processes, often multiple, complicated, and incompletely understood processes. Full answers to why-questions include acknowledgment of uncertainty.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Charlene Moran of Amherst

Food is best when shared with friends. Charlene Moran of Amherst made these snack plates to share at her “Friday Night Friends Gathering.”

Arts Briefs: Yiddish music festival returns, ‘Roman Holiday’ on the big screen, and more

The Yiddish Book Center in Amherst will once again host Yidstock: The Festival of New Yiddish Music from Thursday, July 10, through Sunday, July 13.

Rage Club helps channel anger into ‘aliveness’

By CAROLYN BROWN

On a recent Thursday night, before sitting down for a potluck dinner, several dozen people gathered at Earthdance in Plainfield to let out pent-up anger.

Jazz and Roots Festival returns to downtown Springfield on July 11-12

By CAROLYN BROWN

A two-day jazz and roots music festival is coming back to Springfield – and, as ever, it’s free.

Speaking of Nature: The most beautiful local butterfly? The Question Mark is a species of forests and forest edges

By BILL DANIELSON

As we begin the month of July, we find ourselves in an interesting moment in the year. Most of the birds have already had their first round of chicks and some species may try for another round of breeding. Other species of birds have made their one and only attempt at reproduction and, successful or not, they will not try again. It is something that you can actually hear across the landscape in the early morning. Some species are still singing, while others are now quiet.

Life’s a drag! A day in the life of producer and queen, Magnolia Masquerade

By HANNAH BEVIS

On most days, Andrew Curran, better known as his drag persona Magnolia Masquerade, is a whirlwind of activity, brainstorming ideas for future shows, creating the props that will bring them to life, running the rehearsals with other drag queens who fill out the cast — but he looks almost peaceful in the hours leading up to one of his performances. Starting around 2 p.m., Curran plops himself down in front of a tiny, well-lit mirror in his bedroom to prepare for Magnolia’s performance that evening at Last Ditch in Greenfield. Abba and a mix of show tunes plays quietly as a gentle breeze wafts in through his open window, sunlight streaming in the room.

A novel retirement plan: Jonathan Lash’s debut work of fiction, ‘What Death Revealed,’ draws from his time as an attorney in 1970s D.C.

By TINKY WEISBLAT

Jonathan Lash of Northampton has had a fascinating life. He has been a Peace Corps volunteer, a practicing attorney, an environmental advocate, and a president of Hampshire College.