Arts Briefs: ‘Love Letters’ in Hatfield, paintings done by feet in Northampton, and more

The local theater company Valley Players will present a production of the play “Love Letters” on Feb. 7, 8, 14 and 15, each at 7:30 p.m., at Black Birch Vineyard in Hatfield.

Earth Matters: Exploring the behaviors of wintering birds: Adaptations insure survival in freezing temperatures

By TOM LITWIN

During migration season this past fall, researchers at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, using Nexrad weather radar, tracked approximately 4 billion birds migrating from Canada into the U.S. and 4.7 million birds leaving the U.S. for the tropics. Clearly one strategy for dealing with New England weather is to leave it behind. But other species’ strategies have traded the benefits and perils posed by thousands of miles of travel for the benefits and perils of northern winters.

Speaking of Nature: Reflected in a blue jay’s eye: A curious opportunity to try something a little artsy

By BILL DANIELSON

Anyone who has ever dabbled in the art of photography will understand that you find yourself at the mercy of your environment. Of course, I am speaking of outdoor photography in this case. Studio photography is an entirely different organism because in that particular endeavor the art lies in manufacturing an environment. If you are outdoors, however, you have to find ways to make due with what you’ve got on any particular day.

A home with Strong character: 1768 Southampton house for sale was built by historic mill owner Ichabod Strong

By CAROLYN BROWN

One of the most prosperous individuals in early Southampton was Ichabod Strong, who dammed the Manhan River and established a sawmill there in the early 1730s; that mill complex, once known as the Strong’s Mills complex, now part of the Lockville Historic District. Strong, who was described in a genealogy book as “a man of stirring business qualities of character” and “best of all, a remarkably godly man,” also built four farmhouses in the area, which his sons and grandsons inherited. One of those farmhouses, part of the National Register of Historic Places, is on the market right now.

Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: How Emily’s flowers grew year-round: A brief history of indoor gardens

By MICKEY RATHBUN

Although Emily Dickinson is now considered one of America’s greatest poets, during her lifetime she was better known for her horticultural skills, as Dickinson scholar Judith Farr has observed. From a young age Dickinson was fascinated by the natural world. She enjoyed helping her mother in the gardens that she kept both at the Dickinson Homestead and the house the Dickinson family lived in for several years on North Pleasant Street where Ren’s Mobil Station now stands. During her year at Mary Lyon’s Female Seminary (1847-48), now Mount Holyoke College, she studied botany and made an extensive herbarium, a collection of pressed flowers and plants from the local area, that eventually contained more than 400 specimens. A family friend is said to have commented, “Emily had an uncanny knack of making even the frailest growing things flourish.”

Valley Bounty: A local spot that’s easy to love: Familiars Coffee & Tea in Northampton sources local for their seasonal flavors

By JACOB NELSON

Some restaurants are once-in-a-while places. Maybe they’re a bit fancy. Maybe their menu is a bit one-dimensional. Maybe they’re great for grabbing a sandwich to-go between meetings, or a sit-down Sunday morning brunch while your parents are in town, but not both.

Marigold adds cafe: Easthampton theater’s new eatery offers snacks for hungry concertgoers

By CAROLYN BROWN

Marigold Theater in Easthampton now has its own cafe.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Pat Riggs of Leeds

Pat Riggs of Leeds made eggplant involtini (an Italian dish of thin slices of meat or vegetable wrapped around another food) from America’s Test Kitchen “The Completely Vegetarian Cookbook.” “It was my first try,” she said, “and it turned out as delicious as it looks!”

Groundbreaking TV, movie director David Lynch dies at 78

Looking into the depth: Works by the late artist Daniel Feldman to be exhibited at Gallery A3 in Amherst

By CAROLYN BROWN

The late artist Daniel Feldman died in November at the age of 67, a few months before an exhibition of 14 of his works at Gallery A3 in Amherst was slated to open.

Arts Briefs: Crafts and cinema in Northampton, new exhibition at the Carle museum, and more

The Academy of Music will host its first “Stitch ‘n’ Flix” movie screening — that is, a screening in which guests can bring their own craft project, like knitting or crochet, to work on while watching a movie in a theater with dimmed lighting — on Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m. (The only caveat is that the project must be “self-contained” and unable to produce mess.)

Earth Matters: From horses to martins: 15 years of the Fort River Refuge

By JOSHUA ROSE

Once upon a time, it was called Bri-Mar Stables and described as “a quaint equestrian facility nestled in the heart of Hadley … providing a welcoming environment for those passionate about all things equine.” The property had a barn at the top of a hill on Moody Bridge Road and a track for riding out back near the Fort River.

Speaking of Nature: The bird that changes outfits in the winter: The adult male American goldfinch opts for a less showy plumage

By BILL DANIELSON

Anyone who makes a regular habit of watching birds will recognize that there is a predictable rhythm to the seasons. Winter is the harshest time of year and as a result there are fewer species to look for. At my house, in the month of January, I have managed to see a maximum of 31 different species. Different people living in different places will probably see a smaller number than that, but there may be the occasional yard that has more species to offer.

Making space for trans voices: Monthly women and nonbinary singer-songwriter series expands mission to include trans community

By CAROLYN BROWN

A singer-songwriter showcase series in Florence is expanding to include the trans community.

Valley Bounty: This CSA farm sets the standard: Mountain View Farm in Easthampton heads into 20th season with over 2,000 members

By JACOB NELSON

“Yes, you get some veggies to take home,” says Liz Adler of Mountain View Farm in Easthampton about becoming a member of their community supported agriculture (CSA) program. “But if you want it, the whole experience is a lot more than that.”

Let’s Talk Relationships: Your new year’s ‘evolution’: Taking stock of your relationship patterns

By AMY NEWSHORE

It’s that time again for thinking about the new year ahead and what aspirations we may have for ourselves. The beginning of a new year can awaken motivation to engage in habits, activities and goals that are good for us. For example, we might want to stop drinking or smoking, exercise more, be more patient with our spouse and children, eat healthier, treat ourselves with more kindness, or carve out more opportunities for fun and pleasure.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Diane Keating of Northampton

Longtime Northampton resident Diane Keating makes these English muffins for friends and family each holiday season. “I have special molds to create the shape and have adjusted and tweaked the recipe throughout the years,” she says.

‘Not your mama’s ‘Newsies’’: Amherst Community Theater production updates the musical with women and nonbinary characters

By CAROLYN BROWN

Fans of the Disney musical “Newsies” generally know the titular group of characters as boys, but a local theater company’s upcoming production is expanding the show to include female and nonbinary characters.

Arts Briefs: ‘Rent’ actors in Amherst, Grunge Brunch at Iron Horse, and more

A ‘Rent’ reunionRentheads, rejoice! Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp (who played Roger and Mark, respectively, in the movie adaptation of the Broadway musical) will perform together at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Bowker Auditorium on Friday,...