Plainfield Historical Society Unveils Website Full of Local History Bring local history to life as you plan family activities for the summer! Thanks to Plainfield resident, Lori Austion, The  Plainfield Historical Society has recently unveiled their new website (plainfieldmahistory.org).  Although a work in progress, it’s filled with a rich amount of information on local historical [continue reading]

Peregrine Falcons Nesting Atop UMass Amherst Did you know that UMass Amherst’s W.E.B. Du Bois Library is home to a pair of Peregrine falcons? You might think that’s an odd place to live, but Peregrines love to nest on tall buildings! The nest box was installed in 2003 on top of the Library and has [continue reading]

Hilltown Families presents… “Puberty for Parents” part of the Talking to Your Kids About Sex Series of Community Conversations with Brooke Norton Held at Cup & Top Café in Florence Tuesday, May 21st from 6:30-8:30pm Hilltown Families and Cup and Top Café are presenting a series of free talks for parents with Brooke Norton, Certified [continue reading]

No Seat Belts My nine year old rides the public transit bus to school, with no adult chaperone. Just with some classmates, typically some war vets, and sometimes a doughnut in hand, this is how she experiences the responsibility of being on time. As well as the reward of it: the once a week ‘doughnut [continue reading]

What Happens When Creative Free Play in the Kitchen Meets Literature? EDIBLE BOOKS! If you devour books, does that make you a bookworm?  Does your family sometimes seem to subsist on the sustenance of words alone, rather than actual food?  Creative book lovers rejoice, for the ultimate opportunity to show your love for books has [continue reading]

The Valley CDC has announced that there are grants available for first time homebuyers in Amherst and Northampton. There is up to $4,500 available for homes purchased in Amherst and $3,000 available for homes purchased in Northampton.
Income and eligibility restrictions apply. To learn more, please contact Donna at the Valley Community [continue reading]

Note 23, History For an upcoming issue of Preview Massachusetts Magazine, I was in Northampton interviewing a chef and a restaurant owner this week. It’s a space he relatively recently took over and we were recalling together what it had been in its last incarnation. That evening, my husband and I strained to recall what [continue reading]

Winter Festivals Warm Up Western MA Celebrates The coldest, bleakest stretch of winter upon us – and it’s time to celebrate! With the coming of February comes a host of community winter celebrations and festivals of all kinds, offering families a chance to enjoy time outside, try new foods, learn about cultural traditions, support local [continue reading]

Resources for Supporting the Study of Space Science Studies of outer space can be mysterious and intriguing to young minds and there are many resources to support a students interest in the study of space, both online and in Western MA. ONLINE RESOURCES The website StarChild offers a wealth of information and basic internet-based activities [continue reading]

Biocitizen, based in Westhampton, MA, provides educational services within the field of environmental philosophy, including operating a school that teaches this subject in both traditional indoor classroom settings and outdoors at local, national and international sites. Biocitizen also conducts scholarly research, develops curricula and syllabi, trains teachers, and performs public outreach through a website, lectures