‘Apologizing is a courageous act’: Forbes Library to host an apology installation and workshop

By CAROLYN BROWN

“Sometimes,” as the Elton John song says, “sorry seems to be the hardest word.” An upcoming pop-up installation and workshop at Forbes Library wants to help change that, giving participants the opportunity to make their own apologies – even if they’re not yet ready to share them.

Fight like a girl: Professional boxer launches women-only, all-level classes in Greenfield

By MADISON SCHOFIELD

Local author, naturalist and former boxer Vanessa Chakour is leading a women’s boxing class at Franklin County’s YMCA.

There is a Season with Molly Parr: The secret’s in the sauce: Gluten-free, dairy-free Fried Tofu with Sweet and Sour Noodles

By MOLLY PARR

Today’s recipe comes double recommended. The moms I did a meal train for wrote to ask me for the recipe. That same week, my husband asked what was in the noodles that made them so good.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Julie Slavet of Easthampton

Easthampton newcomer Julie Slavet made this roasted cauliflower, feta, onion and date salad. “The Valley’s fresh vegetables and cheeses really inspire creativity,” Slavet said, adding that “the food here seems almost as welcoming as the people we’ve met in our first month.”

Macbeth, up close and personal: Second annual Montague Shakespeare Festival puts a new spin on the ‘psychological dark power drama’

By CAROLYN BROWN

By the pricking of my thumbs, “Macbeth” to Franklin County comes!

Arts Briefs: Silent film in Florence, McCartney’s music in Northampton, and more

Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity in Florence will host a screening of the silent film “The Ancient Law” (“Das alte Gesetz”) with live musical accompaniment on Saturday, March 22, at 7 p.m.

Earth Matters: Learning a sense of wonder: The importance of outdoor experiences in the natural world in our youth

By TED WATT

It was January, with two feet of cold crisp powder on the ground. The day was bright and sunny. The 5th and 6th grades at our small rural, hill-town school had been studying life sciences. Educators and students were focusing on animals and the many varied ways they are adapted, both physically and behaviorally, to living in their environment. We decided to take advantage of the perfect winter day and headed out to see what we could learn about how animals live in winter from the signs and tracks they left behind.

Speaking of Nature: The bluebird of happiness: Finding solace in the birds at my feeders

By BILL DANIELSON

As I write this column I am feeling quite under the weather. The flu has come to town and it has me in its grip. I haven’t left the house in days and all I want to do is sleep. That being said, I am also stuck on “teacher time” and I can’t seem to sleep past 5 a.m. With the recent changing of the clocks this puts me in the unhappy position of being awake while it is still dark outside; annoying on a work day, positively miserable when not going to work.

The Oxbow over time: New book, ‘The Oxbow Since Thomas Cole,’ examines how the area has and hasn’t changed in the last 200 years

By CAROLYN BROWN

The Oxbow, an area in Northampton created by a branch of the Connecticut River, has seen plenty of changes since artist Thomas Cole made it the focus of a well-known 1836 painting. A new book by Northampton author Jonathan Moldover, “The Oxbow Since Thomas Cole” seeks to shed light on its history and evolution throughout the centuries.

Amherst Oyster Bar pushes opening day to April 1

By SCOTT MERZBACH

April Fool’s Day will also be the opening day for the Amherst Oyster Bar, the long-planned restaurant in Amherst center that will replace Judie’s Restaurant.

From the field to your screens: Two seniors take Frontier Community Access Television’s sports broadcasting to new heights

By CHRIS LARABEE

If you take a look at the spreadsheets on Mason Smith and Tyler Wolkowicz’s computer screens, you might think they’re undertaking an extensive math project.

Around and About with Richard McCarthy: ‘Give it 120%’: Stories from the life of a TV producer turned Death Doula

By RICHARD MCCARTHY

Nan Bernstein lives in Tyringham, a town in the Berkshires, 29 miles west of the Gazette offices as the crow flies. She grew up in York, Pennsylvania, in the 1950s and ‘60s. Her grandfather was a tailor and her father owned and operated a small clothing factory.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Suzanne Symanski of Hatfield

Suzanne Symanski of Hatfield says her family loves a corned beef and cabbage one pot meal around Saint Patrick’s Day. “It’s easy to prepare and delicious served with a nice rye bread. Great leftovers, too.”

They ‘don’t come to play around’: Ten local students will compete in Third Annual Academy Regional Youth Poetry Slam next month

By CAROLYN BROWN

Ten local high school students will take the stage at the Academy of Music on Saturday, April 5, at 7 p.m. to compete in the Third Annual Academy Regional Youth Poetry Slam. The event, a competition for young spoken word poets, is the only one of its kind in the Pioneer Valley.

The globalization of Irish traditional music: Celebrating Saint Patrick’s Day in our own Happy Valley

By ROSEMARY CAINE

A few decades ago, we would have been grateful for any kind of pub gig or a hospitable venue that would allow us to play any day, but especially Saint Patrick’s Day.

Arts Briefs: Carle puppet show at UMass, seawall paintings in Easthampton, and more

Children’s author Eric Carle, who lived in Northampton for decades, was known for books including “Brown Bear, Brown Bear,” and “The Very Hungry Caterpillar.” Now, those books (and a few others) are part of a puppet show, “The Very Hungry Caterpillar Show,” which will be at the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Tillis Performance Hall on Sunday, March 16, at 3 p.m.

Speaking of Nature: It’s enough already: Mallards bring signs of spring

By BILL DANIELSON

The first week of March came with a roller coaster of emotions. Saturday, March 1 was absolutely amazing. For the first time in months the weather seemed to be warming and there was a moment when I actually considered cleaning off the table on my deck and sitting outside in the sunshine. A large flock of red-winged blackbirds and common grackles arrived that morning and suddenly the yard was full of songs and the murmur of hundreds of birds talking about their plans for the day. It was joyous, it was refreshing, and it was short-lived.

What is possible when you get to the root?: The peer-run Wildflower Alliance redefines mental health care

By MELISSA KAREN SANCES

Her phone pinged and a grey bubble rose to the surface: “Are you ready to come back?”

She’s every woman: Meet the western Mass chapter of the International Order of Mrs. Ropers

By CAROLYN BROWN

A character from the 1970s/1980s sitcom “Three’s Company” is bringing people in western Mass (and beyond) together for fun and good vibes.