‘Irving Berlin’s View of the East River’ films in western Mass: Behind the scenes of an indie movie set in the Valley

By EMILEE KLEIN

“Reset!”

In heavenly harmony: The Singing Priests to perform at Our Lady of Peace in Turners Falls, May 22

By DOMENIC POLI

It’s long been said that to sing is to pray twice. And a group of Catholic clergymen in western Massachusetts that truly takes that sentiment to heart is slated to spread some cheer in Franklin County later this month.

‘Once I started playing the organ, I was hooked’: Beloved longtime minister of music Dick Matteson bids farewell

By CAROLYN BROWN

After 65 years playing and directing church music, 17 of those as First Church Amherst minister of music, Dick Matteson is ready to celebrate his legacy with the Pioneer Valley. He plans to retire next month, and a farewell concert will be held this Saturday, May 17, at 2 p.m.

Valley Bounty: Hillside Nursery thrives in a niche market: Small plant farm in Ashfield specializes in lady-slipper orchids and woodland wildflowers

By LISA GOODRICH

The spring planting season is upon us, and home gardeners are out in full force on weekends, visiting farm stands and garden centers hunting for just the right elements for their gardens and outdoor spaces. The season celebrates the return of the sun and warmer overnight temperatures, with many sun-loving species taking center stage on magazine covers, websites, and in newsletters.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Jane Szelewicki of Hadley

Jane Szelewicki of Hadley went asparagus picking for the first time and this was the bounty she collected.

Only Human with Joan Axelrod-Contrada: Bend me, shape me?: Both members of a couple need to bend on their own accord

By JOAN AXELROD-CONTRADA

It started, like so many profound revelations do, in the car, with a canine companion and the radio tuned to my favorite oldies station.

Holy Smokes Theatre lands in the Valley: Newly relocated theater company to stage queer ‘erotic horror comedy’ at Easthampton’s CitySpace this weekend

By CAROLYN BROWN

Holy Smokes Theatre, which used to be based in southern New Hampshire, now has a home in the Pioneer Valley — and they’re debuting a new show here this weekend.

‘They are the holders of history’: Women share stories, not advice, at live ‘Tell Her This’ podcast show next week at Bombyx

By CAROLYN BROWN

“Tell Her This,” a podcast sharing women’s stories, will have a live show at Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity in Florence on Friday, May 23, at 7 p.m., preceded by a show featuring live stories told by local women at 7 p.m. the day before.

Arts Briefs: ‘Orlando’ in Northampton, new music series in Worthington, and more

Eggtooth Productions will present Sarah Ruhl’s “Orlando,” an adaptation of the famous Virginia Woolf novel, at the Academy of Music on Saturday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m.

Speaking of Nature: Learning bird songs: Ninety percent of bird-finding is done with one’s ears

By BILL DANIELSON

The great spring migration is in full swing and millions upon millions of birds are flying northward across our entire continent every night. The weather will always play a big role in the exact timing of the movements of the birds, but every morning offers up the opportunity to detect the presence of yet another new arrival. Birds often “surf” on waves of air associated with storms, so the first clear morning after a couple days of rain can be particularly exciting.

‘Space is the place’: Sun Ra Arkestra plays the Academy of Music, May 18

By CAROLYN BROWN

Legendary Afrofuturist bandleader, composer, and musician Sun Ra had an eye on the cosmos. Though he passed away in 1993, the members of his 13-person musical ensemble, the Sun Ra Arkestra, have since kept his legacy alive through shows around the world – and one of their next ones will be in the Pioneer Valley. Sun Ra Arkestra will play the Academy of Music on Sunday, May 18, at 8 p.m, in a concert co-presented by the Northampton Jazz Festival and Signature Sounds.

Block and roll: Roller Derby, the ‘sport for misfits,’ finds a home in the Valley

By HANNAH BEVIS

The floor of Interskate 91 South is often filled with young skaters teetering around the track, but the athletes on it now are sure on their skates, focused and ready to battle. Two jammers sit poised, their bodies coiled in anticipation; in front of them, two bunches of blockers gaze at them intently, trying to determine the best strategy for locking them down. For a second, there’s quiet. Then a sharp whistle slices through it and the two skaters explode forward, trying to duck and weave between a mass of bodies to escape the pack and rack up points for their team. Their teammates and fans yell and cheer from the sidelines, their voices echoing around the rink, but skater Lilith of the Valley (government name: Lisa Andras) doesn’t hear any of it.

‘So much pride when people ask where I’m from’: ‘Hacks’ creator, Lucia Aniello, reflects on western Mass upbringing

By CAROLYN BROWN

The shows “Broad City” and “Hacks” take place largely in New York City and Las Vegas, respectively, but they have a local connection: each show’s executive production team includes Lucia Aniello, a producer, writer, director, and showrunner who grew up in Hadley.

Get Growing with Mickey Rathbun: A blooming ribbon leads the eye: Landscape architect planted 1,500 daffodils in Amherst’s Orchard Arboretum

By MICKEY RATHBUN

In the Orchard Arboretum, a little-known public garden in South Amherst, a living work of art is making its debut this spring. “I call it a daffodil ribbon,” explained Richard Waldman, a retired landscape architect from New York City who conceived of the project two years ago and has finally brought it to fruition.

Weekly Food Photo Contest: This week’s winner: Doug Gnepp of South Hadley

Doug Gnepp of South Hadley said this is the first bread that his grandson, Max Gnepp, has made from scratch. “He loves to cook.”

‘Here, Now’: Moroccan artist Younes Rahmoun holds first North American exhibition at Smith College Museum of Art

By CAROLYN BROWN

Moroccan abstract artist Younes Rahmoun has shown work in more than 100 exhibition spaces internationally, but his first ever North American exhibition is on display right here in the Pioneer Valley.

Arts Briefs: ‘Aladdin’ ballet, choral works by teenagers, and more

Pioneer Valley Ballet’s adaptation of “Aladdin and His Magic Lamp” will play at the Academy of Music on Saturday, May 10, at 1 and 4:30 p.m.

Around and About with Richard McCarthy: Real holy laughter

By RICHARD MCCARTHY

I’ve come to believe there can be a profound and potent human connection in laughter. Shared humor and hatefulness toward someone don’t mix very well. The poet Alan Ginsberg used the phrase “real holy laughter” in his epic poem “Howl,” and I can identify with that wording.

Speaking of Nature: Motivated mother mink

By BILL DANIELSON

It was a beautiful morning in late April and I was out exploring a trail around a quiet pond. The trail around the pond was well maintained and because it was so early in the spring there were no leaves on the trees. This is what allowed me to notice a large number of Eastern Painted Turtles that were sunning themselves on the trunk of a fallen tree and it was thoughts of photos that diverted me off the trail and closer to the water’s edge.