If you’ve ever been on a camping trip, roughin’ it out in the wilderness, you have a basic idea of what kinds of survival skills you need, like knowing how to make a fire, assemble a form of… Read more
Sitting outside with the hanging baskets of purple petunias, the almost all blue sky, and the breeze gently blowing the green leaves of the trees, I do not feel alone. Cars pull up. People get… Read more
I would like to take a few moments to honor a very active Southwick resident who recently passed away, my wife, Carlene Americk. She was a passionate member of the Southwick community in the 1980’s… Read more
The weather had trouble making up its mind on what it was going to do on this Saturday in June. Gil Bass finished his breakfast and decided he would spend the day fishing on Congamond… Read more
With permanent appointment as Junior Engineering Aid, Grade I, I worked for Massachusetts Department of Public Works in a survey party whose chief was Louis E. Johnson. Having dependable income at… Read more
As this column is being written, it’s been unusually cool and wet for weeks. The temptation is to wonder if this contradicts what we’ve heard about global warming, but it doesn’t. Global… Read more
By early August as the thrill of summer vacation wears off, the whining of “there’s nothing to do,” and “I’m bored” echo through many area homes. Parents are exhausted and their nerves… Read more
The search was on. I needed to find the perfect friend for my disabled brother, Steve. Steve, due to a head injury, was going blind, losing his hearing, acquiring a speech impediment, and becoming… Read more
President Reagan told a funny story during the last days of his administration. It was about Alexander Dumas, author of The Three Musketeers. It seems that Dumas and a friend had a severe argument…. Read more
My days are spent running, not necessarily on foot, but from home to work to children’s activities. There are the other duties that I must fit in among all of that, like household chores, grocery… Read more
Julia burst into the kitchen. “Grampa George, you’re not in the newspaper!” “Julia, what in the world are you talking about?” Julia’s dad glanced at his father with a question mark… Read more
In the days before television, my after-school baby sitter was a non-profit organization called the Neighborhood House. It was actually two frame houses where families once lived. The front house was… Read more
Permanent appointment as a Junior Engineering Aid Grade I (rodman) in a Massachusetts Department of Public Works survey party had given me $145 a month income, enough for my widowed mother and I to… Read more
The first thing that catches your eye is the misspelling of the word baseball. Back in the late 19th century, base ball was the correct spelling. And if you are a fan of the game (not really going… Read more
Horses grazying in sun warmed field. Brown coats glistening. Song birds singing, nests built, feeding young. Butterflies and bees flying, finding flowers, Flowers blooming, myriad… Read more
Question: I have approximately $300,000 in my 401 (k). How can I be sure that when I retire, I will never run out of money? Allison K. Answer: Allison, that is a very valid concern. One hundred… Read more
Just like everyone has unique fingerprints, everyone has footprints, and as we continue to walk through life, we begin to notice that though some of these prints fade, others remain. Our carbon… Read more
This spring’s cool, rainy weather slowed down more than sunbathers in the Westfield River Watershed. Fewer migrating fish returned to the Westfield River this year and they are arriving later. Fish… Read more
It wasn’t long ago that Gil Manos was an outstanding high-school athlete in three major sports – baseball, basketball and football. Baseball was his favorite. He also was an honor student with the… Read more