Why are Founders’ Day and the Apple Squeeze on the same weekend?
It was perfect weather this past weekend for the people to share in Lee’s Founder’s Day and Lenox’s Apple Squeeze. Promoters were happy with the huge turnout in Lenox, where…
Seasons of love
Isn’t that a song? “Seasons of Love” from the award-winning, groundbreaking Broadway musical Rent: “525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear… How do you measure a year in the life? How…
Going undercover to visit France’s Pays d’Oc IGP region
As you can see from my photograph, I am going “undercover” on an assignment to visit the Pays d’Oc region in southern France. My goal is to find out why…
‘Crazy’ brought to life
The Long Walk by Brian Castner, a very well-written book, is important in that it conveys two important happenings: what being an offficer under extremely dangerous conditions feels like, and even…
Dear Abby
Wouldn’t it make sense if grade school teachers set aside time, weekly or monthly, to go over some generic information kids need to learn? Some disagree with whose job it…
Umani Ronchi is a star Italian wine producer
The cards that were dealt to me were a perfect hand. Umani Rochi, the small yet well-known producer from Abruzzo and Le Marche fame, from the center of eastern Italy,…
Emotion commotion meets magic
Okay, ladies, it’s time have a little fun, so let’s engage in our womanly intuitions and do a bit of soul searching. I know in the past weeks I’ve been…
Who is a notary public?
Editor’s note: From time to time, we offer an explanation as to the job and its duties to the public-at-large. Who is a notary public? What are the duties of…
The king of French Champagne and wine
Michael Fuerstein, owner and founder of Selection Pas Mal, would have loved me even more if I were a retail wine shop owner. If I were, my 2,000-square foot wine…
Political favoritism can change over the course of an election
Congratulations to Congressman Richard “Richie” Neal (D-Springfield) on his election in the new 1st Congressional District, composed of parts of the former 2nd Congressional District and the old First Congressional District,…