30 years of Mardi Gras Mohawk Photos from Ashfi eld’s parade and ball musicals ³page 16 Reflections on the beginnings of a beloved school tradition. ³Independent Thinking, page 4

If your dog doesn’t like someone, you probably shouldn’t either. —ANONYMOUS www.sfi ndependent.net

Vol. III No. 16 • Issue No. 66 Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts March 1–14, 2007 $1.00 Ashfi eld Change in regional sergeant trains school with police dog math? Adapting formula Girard will return with could provide relief for regional schools with Syrus, area’s fi rst K9 declining enrollments

By Michael Wilmeth the program, Syrus will practice By Virginia Ray michael@sfi ndependent.net taking defensive measures for ginny@sfi ndependent.net ————— Girard. The dog will bark, lunge ————— ASHFIELD—Ashfield Po- or bite and hold an attacker, BUCKLAND—WMass- lice Department’s Sgt. Steve depending on the level of force COUNTS, the Coalition Of UN- Girard went to Arkansas about required. derfunded Towns and Schools, a two weeks ago to meet his new The two are working hard. new, local grassroots community partner: Syrus, a 17-month-old, Most days, Girard said, have group, is offering a $10 million 55-pound Belgian malinois, who been packed from 6 a.m. to at proposal for inclusion in the was born and began his training least 7 p.m., with some time in House budget that’s aimed to in Germany. the classroom, but most engaged help school districts like the After a few days of getting in practical training. Mohawk Trail Regional School acquainted, Girard and Syrus Although based in Ashfi eld, District where declining en- began training together at the Syrus will be available to all rollment, limited funds and Little Rock Canine Academy in area town forces when a K-9 unit rural populations are pinching an intensive two-week program is needed. Girard explains that pocketbooks. that covers narcotics, tracking the region’s police departments Heath resident and former and patrol work. cooperate and share resources, Superintendent of the Blue Hill At the end of their fi rst week, and when he and Chief John Vocational-Technical School, when the Independent reached Svoboda discussed what Ashfi eld Ken Rocke, who will present his Girard by phone, Syrus had just could contribute, the need for a fiscal findings to the Mohawk been certified to find illegal police dog kept coming up. Municipal Advisory Commit- drugs, after achieving a perfect In the past, when a dog was tee on March 8, has written the score on a test in which the dog needed, local police have had “Declining Enrollment Circuit searched out narcotics hidden to rely on the State Police. This Breaker”(DECB) that the WMass- throughout an abandoned fac- has meant waiting a couple of COUNTS group is sponsoring. tory. Syrus is trained to recognize hours for the K-9 team to arrive If adopted by the legislature, the odors of marijuana, cocaine, — a wait that could have serious this $10 million plan will provide heroin and methamphetamine. consequences. crucial and immediate relief Earlier in the day the team “Time is of the essence when to Mohawk Trail Regional and had completed a tracking exer- you’re dealing with a lost person, other western Massachusetts cise, following a half-mile trail a criminal or narcotics,” Girard schools. to practice skills that could be said. Mohawk Superintendent Mi- used to apprehend a criminal or Given the town’s tight fi- chael Buoniconti has endorsed fi nd a lost hiker or a wandering nances, Girard was given the the plan and is calling a meeting Alzheimer’s sufferer. Later in continued on page 8 Steve Girard and Syrus take a break from their training at the Little Rock Canine Academy. continued on page 8

Coming back home, recent grads look for ways to make life better Local woman celebrates ‘Community First’ to provide forum for ideas 60th birthday on top of the world

By Jeff Potter By Nate Walsh to embrace. and told her stories about the jeff@sfi ndependent.net nate@sfi ndependent.net According to Stevenson, the places he encountered in his ————— ————— idea to scale the mountains of travels at sea. SHELBURNE FALLS—Ca- SHELBURNE—In a quest to the world developed while she “I knew there was another leb Dean and Tory Hanna, two seek out why so many others followed the reports of climbers world out there,” said Stevenson. recent college graduates, saw half her age sought adventure at perishing on the slopes of Mount “And I always knew that at some their peers in Boston and New the top of the world, Shelburne Everest in May 1996. point in my life I would explore York City assuming low-paying resident Patricia Stevenson con- “I sort of had this desire to it.” jobs and internships to get quered her fears and self-doubt learn why people put themselves resume-building experience to scale the peak of Mount Kili- in extreme conditions, and I Embarking on adventure and it just didn’t make sense manjaro in January at the age of wanted to walk in the same paths On Jan. 4, Stevenson and Poiri- to them. 60. that some of these climbers had er set out for Boston to Tanzania Dean and Hanna were gradu- Shelburne resident Joseph walked on,” she said. “I wanted by way of Amsterdam. Stevenson ated from Mohawk in 2002 and Poirier joined Stevenson on her to just see the country.” had arranged for the trip to the from the University of Massa- adventure through Africa, where But her desire for adventure summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro, the chusetts in the spring and Dean the couple deepened their un- existed well before she had ever tallest free-standing mountain was offered one such position derstanding of humanity -- both heard of the climbers on Mount rise in the world at 19,340 feet, in New York City, which would through staring into the eyes of Everest. As a child Stevenson with a Canadian-based company: have required his paying for an a man responsible for genocide said she had a friend who was in Berg Adventures International. apartment there. and learning the happiness those the navy. He came to her house She had come to trust the com- With environmental design with seemingly little have come to help her with her homework, continued on page 3 degrees in hand from UMass’s historic Landscape Architec- ture and Regional Planning SHELBURNE FALLS INDEPENDENT department, and in the process PRSRT STD 8 Deerfi eld Ave., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 US POSTAGE of forming their own consulting www.sfi ndependent.net PAID enterprise, Dean and Hanna Permit #183 are hovering around the vil- Greenfi eld, MA lage, brimming with ideas about community and the SFI photo/Jeff Potter excitement that comes with Tory Hanna and Caleb Dean, both graduates of the UMass De- having the means, motive and partment of Landscape Architecture and Regional Planning’s opportunity to effect change Environmental Design program, want to put their college edu- for the common good. cation to good use in Shelburne Falls. Dean and Hanna are spear- Maya’s, where Dean works of elder housing, the demand heading Community First, a part-time. for public transportation, the loosely organized discussion They intend for interested need for a “locally owned hard- group that will provide an and engaged community mem- ware/supply/general store” in informal structure for towns- bers to come together and dis- the village, public space and people, particularly their con- cuss ideas that have emerged the demand for “more enter- temporaries, to identify needs from a survey they distributed tainment possibilities” in the in the village and to implement around the village in the fall village as a starting point for solutions to meet those needs. and its sequel, which will be grassroots community action. The two give credit for the available at 10 downtown loca- If survey responses provide idea to village businessman tions. The survey seeks com- an accurate cross-section, the Chris King, co-owner of Mocha ments about the availability continued on page 6 DATED MATERIAL — PLEASE DELIVER PROMPTLY page 2 • Shelburne Falls Independent • March1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net

Shelburne Falls Independent AROUND WEST COUNTY Published every other week by Dialogos Media, Inc. Member, New England Press Association Phone ...... (413) 625-8297 Fax ...... (413) 625-6661 E-mail: . . . . .news@sfi ndependent.net Web: . . .http://www.sfi ndependent.net Mail: ...... 8 Deerfi eld Ave., MAA March meeting Hilltown families Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 BUCKLAND—The monthly News meeting of the Mohawk Athletic a.m. social If you have an idea for a story or a Association (MAA) will be Mon- HAYDENVILLE—On your photograph, we want to hear from you. day, March 5 at 6:30 p.m. in the way down from the hills into the Please call our offi ce or e-mail us. high school cafeteria. Items to valley, Hilltown Families invites If you want to write for the paper be discussed include plans for you to drop in to Bread Euphoria, regularly: We are always interested to hear the annual golf tournament in 206 Main St., in Haydenville from writers and photographers. Please June at Edgehill Golf Course, for a morning social with other send a letter of interest and some writing samples to the address above. establishment of a state cham- hilltown parents. pionship team recognition sign The group gathers Thursdays To submit an item for the Calendar: We for the school, obtaining a new at 9 a.m. prefer e-mail to news@sfi ndependent.net, but items may be mailed to us or phoned in. sound system for the gymnasium Another group meets Wednes- If you get our answering machine, please and upcoming spring events. As- day mornings in Ashfield at dictate clearly and leave us your name sociation meetings are open to Elmer’s Store on Main St. and number so we can call with questions. Deadline for next issue’s Calendar is 5 anyone interested in supporting For more information call p.m. on Friday, March 9. Mohawk Trail athletics. Bread Euphoria owners/hosts Geri and Mark Pollard at (413) If you are seeking publicity for your business: Our Business and Economy 268-7757 or visit www.hilltownfa- section accommodates news of employees, milies.org. products, services, awards. Beyond these items, news of commerce is most often Shelburne nomination advertising — and we want to be fair to the advertisers who already pay to be in our pages. Please do be in touch, and we’ll do papers available what’s in everybody’s best interests. SHELBURNE—Nomination Artists and entertainers: We will con- papers for the following offi ces Scenic Byway meeting sider longer articles about artists who will for the Town of Shelburne annual Submitted/Art Schwenger perform or exhibit their work locally. Send election to be held June 11 are A recent snowstorm briefl y brought parallel parking to Bridge Street in Shelburne Falls. press kits and information to us at least a rescheduled for March 7 month in advance of the show’s opening. now available at the Town Clerks offi ce. BUCKLAND—The Franklin Announcements of weddings, engage- ments, anniversaries, births, or deaths: • Assessor (3-year term). Regional Byway Advisory Com- Our Transitions section is intended to be • Three constables (three 3- mittee making plans for the a snapshot of the passages of life in the year terms). Route 112 scenic byway corridor hills; we accept notices for West County Mohawk budget West County Bucking Volunteers residents and their relatives. Photos are • Housing Authority (5-year will meet on Wednsday, March 7 welcome. term). from 7-9 p.m. at Buckland Town • Moderator (1-year term). Hall. hearings on tap Broncos 4-H compete needed in Colrain If we got something wrong, please tell us. The Independent strives to set new • Planning Board (5-year The committee is meant to BUCKLAND—The Mohawk HATFIELD—Several members COLRAIN—Town officials standards in responsible and accurate local term). include representatives from Trail Regional School District of the West County Bucking are looking for volunteers to reporting. If we made an error or you think • Recreation Committee (5- Ashfield, Buckland, Colrain Committee will hold a public Bronco 4-H Club competed in serve on various town panels in we missed a point — or the point — we want to hear from you so we can make year term). and Shelburne and the meeting hearing on Wednesday, March 7 the 4-H Hippology contest held posistions appointed by select- it right. Each of our regular writers can • Selectman (3-year term). -- originally scheduled for Feb. at 7 p.m. in the high school audi- in Hatfi eld, Feb. 17. The annual men. They include Council on be contacted through e-mail under their • Shelburne Free Public 21 -- is open to all. torium to present the proposed event is designed to test mem- Aging (two vacancies), Cultural byline, and we welcome a note to editor@ sfindependent.net or a direct call to Library Trustees (two 3-year The agenda includes a review operating budget for the next bers’ knowledge of horses and Council (up to 18 spots), Historic (413) 625-2818. terms). and discussion of the federal sce- school year. horsemanship. Commission (two vacancies) and • Sewer Commissioner (3-year nic byway program, the scope of School Committee members Emily Page and Samantha one seat each on the Recreation Letters and opinions term). the project and its organization, will be asked to vote to adopt the Von Haugg, both of Shelburne and Personnel committees. The Independent Thinking section, for • Sewer Commissioner (2-year community goals and responsi- budget at their regular meeting Falls, took home ribbons in the Also open are one seat each opinion and commentary, is open to points unexpired term). bilities and a timeline and meet- on Wednesday, March 14 at 7 p.m. Cloverbud division. In the junior on the Finance Committee and of view from all sides of the political • Auditor (1-year term). ing schedule. Franklin Regional in the middle school. division, Alyssa Sinistore of Planning Board -- seats appoint- spectrum. We want an open, civil, and lively debate, and we want you to be part of it! • Town Clerk (1-year term). Council of Governments Land Charlemont was named Frank- ed by the Town Moderator. • Tree Warden (1-year term). Use Program Manager Bill La- lin County alternative for the If you can help, send a letter of If you’d like to write a “viewpoint” • Mohawk Trail Regional bich is advising the group and he regional hippology competition. interest including any relevant essay: We routinely invite people to write Swing into “Viewpoint” pieces. If you would like School District Committee (3- will present a preliminary draft Miranda Clark of Hawley placed qualifications specifying the to write about your passion and share year term). assessment of scenic resources third, and her sister, Melissa position you are seeking to Town thoughtful opinions with our readers, we’d For more information call and a map. the golf clinic Clark placed fourth. Clerk, 55 Main Rd., Colrain, love to hear from you. E-mail editor@ sfindependent.net or call (413) 625- Town Clerk Beverly Neeley Mon- Call (413) 774-1194, ext. 107 GREENFIELD—Baystate Re- The West County Bucking Mass. 01340 or call (413) 624- 2818 to discuss longer pieces with the day or Tuesday from 10 a.m.-5 before 3 p.m. on the day of the habilitation Services at Franklin Broncos is a 4-H horse club for 3454 and ask for either Judith editor before you start writing. p.m. or Thursday from 2-8 p.m. meeting to fi nd out if weather Medical Center, the YMCA of boys and girls up to age 18 who and Karen or e-mail coltnclk@ Letters welcome: Our letters to the editor at (413) 625-0301 or email town- has caused it to be postponed. Greenfi eld, Single Action Swing own a horse or who are inter- mtdata.com. section, for shorter comments responding [email protected]. and Pure Swing Golf Fitness ested in learning more about to something that’s been published in the will co-sponsor a free golf swing horses. The club hosts activities paper, is open to all. We avoid editing let- ters, doing so only with a light touch so we clinic, “Driving the Distance and workshops throughout the can keep as much of the writer’s original 2007 . . . Take a Healthy Swing year and meets every other voice as possible. Letters will be edited for This Season,” on Sunday, March Wednesday at the Buckland- grammar, style, and issues of libel. E-mail Franklin Land Trust editor@sfi ndependent.net or send to the 4 from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. at the YMCA, Shelburne Elementary School. Scholars and address below. plans summer tour to England 451 Main St. For information, e-mail club During the clinic, experts will leader B.J. Roche at broche.bj@ Advertising donations sought evaluate your golf swing, discuss gmail.com. SHELBURNE FALLS—The tour will take place July 30-Aug. Display advertising: We welcome new 9. pre-season conditioning, and BUCKLAND—Scholarships advertisers and will be delighted to work Franklin Land Trust will sponsor For a copy of the itinerary and address potential or existing are available now through the with you to create an advertising program a tour designed to explore the golf-related injuries. Mary Lyon Foundation for quali- that invests in your business’s future. We similarities between Franklin registration information, call provide creative services as part of the ad Liz Kidder (413) 625-9152, ext Raffle prizes will be fi ed candidates to receive money cost. Our open advertising rate is $6.75 per County and Shropshire England donated. from the Dr. Tanja C. Davin 6. or e-mail [email protected]. column inch with discounts for prepayment as part of its 20th anniversary The three-cycle clinic will take Planning board hearing Mohawk Medical Scholarship and frequency. Contact our advertising staff celebration. Additional information is also at ads@sfi ndependent.net or call us at available on the land trust Web approximately 15-20 minutes Fund. (413) 625-8297. Advertising for the Inspired in part by the fact per participant with up to fi ve regarding subdivision Davin was valedictorian for site, www.franklinlandtrust.com. The next issue of the Independent is due that former long-time Executive people in a group. Golfers can the class of 1989 at Mohawk Trail at 5 p.m. on Friday, March 9. Director Mark Zenick has relo- deadline for early registration is regulations Feb. 28. sign up alone or sign up as a Regional High School. While at If you want to send us a graphic fi le of cated to the Shropshire Hills, the group with their regular golfi ng ASHFIELD—The Planning Mohawk she was president of your ad or for your ad: We accept ads as PDFs, TIFFs, or as clean laser printouts. partners. Though the clinic is Board will hold a public hearing the National Honor Society, a Please e-mail fi les to ads@sfi ndependent. free, it is by appointment only. on Thursday, March 1 at 7:30 p.m. member of the band and peer net, or we can pick up a disk. Jonathan F. George Sr., CPA, CFP To schedule an appointment, call in Town Hall to discuss proposed educator. She was graduated Classifi eds: A form for classifi eds gener- (413) 773-3646. subdivision regulations. cum laude from Tufts Univer- ally appears in the section. Classifi eds cost The preamble to the proposed sity and received her medical $5 for up to 15 words ($10 billed) and 25 bylaw reads: degree from the University of cents per word beyond the minimum (50 cents billed). Every third issue is free for 89 Main Street “The term subdivision is de- Massachusetts Medical School. prepaid ads. Send a check with your ad to fined in detail in Section 81-L She completed her residency in us at the address above. Shelburne Falls, MA Progress Democrats of of Chapter 41: only this care- Internal Medicine and Pediatrics Circulation Ph: 625-9593 fully worded defi nition has legal at Bay State Medical Center in America to hold two status. Within the limits of this Springfi eld and worked at both Where to buy the paper: The Independent defi nition, the Planning Board is the Concord, NH hospital and the is sold in Shelburne Falls at Davenport’s likely to fi nd that any division of Elliot Hospital in Manchester, Mobil, Sawyer Newsroom, Shelburne Falls forums on Iraq war Super Market, Good Spirit, McCusker’s Taxes • Accounting • Financial Planning land is a subdivision if it creates NH. She died about a year ago Market, and Neighbors; in Shelburne at GREENFIELD—”Ending one or more new lots which do after a long illness. Shelburne Falls Coffee Roasters (Mohawk the War in Iraq: Is Impeach- not have frontage on an existing This scholarship will provide Trail store); in Colrain at Pine Hill Orchards and Colrain SuperGas; in Charlemont at ment Necessary?” is the topic street: either a public way, a duly funds for students who have suc- Neighbors, Avery’s General Store, Curtis of a reception featuring war approved subdivision street, or a cessfully completed their fi rst Country Store, and Charlemont Mini Mart; protester and Bush critic Cindy private way adequate in the opin- year in a medical program. The in Ashfi eld at Nolan’s Neighbors, Ashfi eld Hardware & Supply, and Elmer’s Store; Sheehan and activist Dan Dewalt ion of the Planning Board.” amount of scholarship will be in Conway at Baker’s General Store; and on Saturday, March 10 from 7-9 determined by available funds in Greenfi eld at Green Field’s Market and p.m. at the Greenfield Middle in the account at the time of Big Y. Issues appear on the newsstands by Thursday. School, 195 Federal St. and on application. Sunday, March 11 from 3-5 p.m. Scholarships are available To subscribe: Subscriptions are $20 per at First Churches, 129 Main St., to students who are Mohawk year (24 issues). Readers can subscribe Watch that burn by credit or debit card at our Web site, Northampton. graduates and have completed www.sfindependent.net. Please take To co-sponsor the event, e-mail HAWLEY—Town offi cials are one full year as a student in care to give us your correct mailing ad- Susie Patlove at susiepatlove@ asking residents to familiarize good standing at an accredited dress, or the post offi ce will return your newspaper to us. yahoo.com. For more information, themselves with the procedure U.S. medical school. Candidates call Darcy Sweeney at (413) for securing burning permits. must submit proof of same to the If you don’t receive your newspaper 586-6408 or Les Patlove at (413) They are available until May 1. director of the student services on time: West County subscribers should receive their papers no later than Friday’s 625-9388. To request a permit, call Greg department at Mohawk Trail mail delivery on the week the paper is Cox at (413) 339-5526 or Mark Regional High School. Upon ap- published. If you do not receive your Mizula at (413) 339-5780 or Dan proval a check will be written to newspaper, call us and we will hand deliver you a copy. Hoyt at (413) 339-8650 after 7 the candidate. a.m. the day you wish to burn. Donations may be sent to The If you want to access all the content on Mary Lyon Education Founda- our Web site: If you subscribe online, you will receive instructions to log in to read tion, P.O. Box 184, Shelburne full text of the paper, download PDF cop- Falls, Mass. 01370. Please note ies of the paper, and see back issues. If you “Dr. Davin scholarship fund” on are a subscriber and would like to access these functions, contact us at circulation@ • Eyeglasses the check. sfi ndependent.net, and we’ll set you up. • Eye Exams Photography • Contact Lenses To buy a photograph that’s appeared in • Industrial Protective the newspaper: We offer color prints of most of the photos you see in the paper for Eyewear Heath Fair needs personal (non-commercial) use. 5x7 prints are $10; 8x10 prints are $15. Send a check and a description of the photo. volunteers to continue email: [email protected] To see photos that have not been HEATH—The Heath Agri- published, please make an appointment 1000 Mohawk Trail, Shelburne MA 01370 Stop squinting! cultural Commission will host to come take a look. Selected photos can PROTECT YOUR EYES be purchased online. a meeting on Thursday, March 8 (413) 625-6527 Come in and choose at the Heath Elementary School from a vast array Stopping by our offi ce of sunglasses at 7 p.m. to discuss the future of the annual fair, which has been If you’d like to fi nd us: Our offi ce is on A respected, full-service agency providing workers’ the basement level of 3–5–7 Bridge St. held since at least 1916. (Coldwell Banker–Upton-Massamont and compensation, business packages, personal and “We suffer from the same MassOne Insurance), the fi rst building on commercial auto, homeowners, group life & health, thing that all other volunteer the Shelburne side, but we’re around the “For People Who Value Their Vision” back by the river. You can see our door professional liability and more. organizations suffer from these from Deerfi eld Avenue if you look for the days, and that’s a lack of volun- Dumpster by the back of the buildings. 27 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls teers,” said Fair Secretary Bob Our offi ce is open by appointment or Serving "West County" & beyond since 1934 chance. Please call ahead, and we’ll be Delisle. “We’re hoping to gener- sure someone is here to help you. 413-625-9898 ate enough interest to keep it going.” Shelburne Falls Independent • March 1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net • page 3

Hawley seeks citizens to step up and fill vacant town offices Kilimanjaro ______from front page HAWLEY—Town officials District Committee (three-year pany’s reputation for supplying want residents to know that term). local guides capable of handling there are numerous vacancies • Mohawk Trail Regional emergency situations – both on town boards and committees School District Committee (one medical and political – when prior to the upcoming annual year left in a three-year term and she embarked to the base camp town election. two years left in another three- of Mt. Everest six years prior. Positions to be elected then year term) In the Tanzanian city of Aru- (some perhaps with incumbents • Non-parent member of the sha, Stevenson got a ride through seeking re-election and others Hawlemont Local Education the valley at the base of the with no one running) are: Council (three-year term). mountain to the beginning of • Selectmen (three-year Anyone interested in running the Lemosho route, which is the term). for election for one of these po- longest path to Mt. Kilimanjaro’s • Assessor (three-year term). sitions should contact the Town summit. She said the longer as- • Auditor (one-year term). Clerk to take out nomination cent would allow her more time • Moderator (one-year term). papers. Completed papers with to acclimate to the altitude. For • Tree Warden (one-year suffi cient valid signatures must seven days, she scaled the moun- term). be submitted to the Registrars of tain with 22 pounds of supplies • Hawlemont Regional School Voters for certifi cation by March strapped on her back. She only 19. needed to carry clothes, rain Many appointed positions are gear, two liters of water and a also available. Please contact Ad- few other essentials, as porters Colrain seeks highway ministrative Assistant Virginia and guides carried food and Gabert at (413) 339-5518 for a some of the heavier equipment. garage committee list. But the weeklong climb was not COLRAIN—The Board of Se- without its hardships. lectmen is looking for additional “That’s a long time to sleep volunteers to plan for a new in a tent with no shower,” said highway department garage. Stevenson. The seven-member committee Please return A cook accompanied Steven- is to make recommendations to son’s group during their climb selectmen on matters of loca- street listings and meals were usually waiting tion, building type and size, COLRAIN—The second re- as they arrived into base camps Submitted funding for site preparation and quest for street listing informa- for the night. The food was good, Pat Stevenson atop Mt. Kilimanjaro with her guide, Safi . construction. The committee will tion has been sent. she said, but the elevation af- meet twice monthly. To date there are 194 house- fected her appetite. sort of put that out of your head with a great deal of pride, but their Tutsi ethnicity. If you are interested in serving hold that have not responded “When you reach a certain because if you let that take over, said the greatest aspect of the “It was just awful, and to look and are a Colrain resident, call to the fi rst request. If you have point, you really lose your taste it’s like anything in life: if you let trip had been the people she in the man, and look him in the Town Clerk Judith D. Sullivan at questions, call Judith or Karen for food,” said Stevenson. “I all of the things that scare you encountered while in Africa. eye and just say ‘How can anyone (413) 624-3454. at (413) 624-3454. don’t know why that happens. take over you, won’t be able to “I have such a profound re- be so horrible?’” said Poirier. Everything that you’re eating do what you set out to do.” spect for these people who do Over breakfast one morning just doesn’t have very much these tasks and work these jobs, Poirier said he was able to talk taste, so you have a tendency to Summiting because they work so hard,” she with a judge who was presiding Cubs to dedicate not eat as much as you normally Stevenson left her campsite at said. “They will do anything over the U.N. trial. He said the would.” 6:45 a.m. after convincing herself for you and they make so little judge confi rmed the man he had new derby track A climb up Mt. Kilimanjaro that she would be able to make money and they have so little. seen in court was “very evil.” incorporates six different cli- it. She climbed with her guide And yet they go through their The experience was interesting, SHELBURNE—Cub Scout mate zones at rising elevations. Safi , who walked ahead of her lives with a smile on their face said Poirier, especially since the Pack 85 will dedicate its new Stevenson said there was a great while they moved across snowy and hope in their hearts.” notion of genocide is harder to track for the Pinewood and other deal of plant life and visible plateaus. She said she began to Stevenson said being able to imagine because of its absence derbies on Saturday, March 3 elephant paths cutting through expect the summit was waiting share memorable experiences back home. from 12-1 p.m. at Fellowship Hall the rainforests, which slowly for her after each plateau they with those people is one of the After she returned from Mt. on Little Mohawk Rd. The scouts’ gave way to cacti and eventually reached, but instead found more things that draw her to places Kilimanjaro, Stevenson and goal was to raise $1,285 for a a lunar landscape dusted with of the mountainside to cross. De- like Mt. Kilimanjaro. Poirier explored some of the new, four-lane, 49-foot track and volcanic ash. termined not to become discour- “I love to challenge myself region together, including the new timer to work with modern The group reached a place aged, she said she stopped look- physically, but I also like going Ngorongoro Crater. Stevenson laptop computers to replace the known as Camp Kossovo at ing up and began to concentrate to places where I meet peo- said watching a plethora of old three-lane, wooden track and 16,000 feet, where Stevenson on Safi ’s feet, which continually ple who are real people,” said animals interact together in the outdated computer. said they first encountered moved upward. Stevenson. wild while on safari there was Racing begins at 1:15 p.m. Hot snow. By 12:30 p.m. they had reached While she was on her way to “magical.” dogs, soda and desserts will be After Camp Kossovo, the plan upper rim of the crater. Some the summit, Poirier was meet- After fl ying over the Serengeti available for a nominal cost. had called for the group to scale of the other climbers dropped ing the people and exploring in a hot air balloon, Stevenson to the upper rim of the crater out at that point, and another the land in the shadow of the and Poirier found themselves at the top of the mountain and turned back a short while later. mountain. One of the people he without a ride back to a more to stay there overnight before Stevenson said a guide from an- met was a 31-year-old Maasai civilized area. striking out for the summit in the other group joined her and Safi chief named Aisya. The chief “It’s fl at, and there’s a lot of morning. However, some of the as they headed for the summit had converted to Christianity, grass,” said Stevenson, compar- guides came down from the cra- in the bitter cold. which made him ostracized in ing the Serengeti to Nebraska. ter to inform them the snow was C;J7F>EHÅÅÅÅÅO7HDI A short while later, Stevenson the tribe. Poirier said that rain had deeper than anyone had seen in said she saw the sign marking Poirier said that tribe elders, caused many of the dirt roads 30 years, and they wouldn’t have the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. who at one point suggested hav- to become thick with mud, and been able to pitch their tents. “When I came around the ing him killed, elected him the some of the vehicles sent to Stevenson said the wind was bend and I looked up and I saw governor of the tribe for five pick them up became mired in so strong and it had grown so the summit sign, I thought ‘My years at the age of 26 because of it. One vehicle appeared at the cold, all of the guides changed God, I am actually going to make the way he conducted himself in landing site, and Poirier said the Knitting Classes their plans to leave early in the it on my 60th birthday,’” said the face of adversity. group decided to let some people morning to attempt to reach the at Metaphor Stevenson. “I literally fell down According to Poirier, Aisya expecting a fl ight to leave fi rst. summit and scale back down the on my knees and cried. I really believed in educating children, A while later, he said, a second following day. Metaphor Yarns introduces Series II starting March didn’t know if I was going to and sent his young daughter to a vehicle freed itself and was able The new plan brought about make it.” school in Arusha even though it to pick up another portion of the 19. Beginner instruction available and private lessons the fi rst night where Stevenson While in the snow on the top is not common for girls to receive group, which left Poirier and began to feel nervous about by appointment. See this paper for more fun projects. of the mountain, she said she an education in his culture. The Stevenson among those waiting reaching the summit, she said, watched the cloud formations prospect of paying for tuition is for the final vehicle to arrive. ——— adding that she lay awake in her spread out and noticed the sky diffi cult for a people that don’t While waiting in the hot sun, camp while listening to the other At 5 State Street in the McCusker building. above had opened and was com- have an income outside of the Poirier said they watched a herd climbers talk as they walked past pletely blue. After a little more occasional sale of a cow, said of six hardy beasts roam into her tent through the night, and Call 625-9191 for information and registration. than an hour at the summit, Poirier, but Aisya found a way to view about 500 yards away. He she watched their headlamps as Stevenson and her guide began reach out to the region’s tourism said they soon began frantically they moved toward the looming their descent on the Mweka industry. running and a lion appeared be- summit. Trail, a trip that lasted two long Poirier said that Aisya re- hind them. As the lion pursued “You wonder ‘Am I going to be days. ceived 27 camels and a few them, he said they cut back in able to do this?’” said Stevenson. leather and wooden saddles another direction as a second Hana’s salon is now open! “I was getting a little nervous Experiencing the people from an Italian philanthropic lion appeared. The herd was able C and my breathing was getting a Stevenson recalled her experi- organization and the tribe began to elude the lions, but little bit erratic. But, you have to ences at the top of the mountain using the equipment to conduct Poirier said the group soon Located between tours through the nearby hills. realized there were now a couple He was able to go on one of the of hungry lions a mere 500 yards Bank of Western Massachusetts camel tours and got to talk to away. and Johnson Funeral Home Aisya about his philosophy on Lions don’t normally attack Youth Conference challenges life during that day trip. people, said Poirier, but the C On another day, Poirier sat in group, which was without even a youth to change the future on a United Nations appeal trial penknife for defense, developed Plenty of parking in Arusha for a man convicted a strategy just in case. C GREENFIELD—The Com- peaceful communication, crisis in the Rwandan genocides that Fortunately, he said the group munity Coalition for Teens will response, addressing discrimina- claimed an estimated 800,000 never got to use that strategy, as Call 625-6623 to host the 16th Annual Youth tion and appreciating diversity. lives in 1994. Through a plate of the fi nal vehicle soon appeared Conference “Challenge Yourself, Presenters include youth/staff bulletproof glass, Poirier said he and rescued them. book your appointment Change the Future” on Wednes- from, Community Action Youth saw a chubby-faced man whom Eventually Stevenson and day April 11 from 8 a.m.-2 p.m. Programs, the Brick House, Hous- he would have guessed to be a Poirier’s adventure came to an at Greenfi eld Middle School. ing Authority, Career Center, “sweet guy.” end. On Jan. 23 the two returned

CCT hopes to build on the most Franklin County and North However, through the trial home tired from a long fl ight and HAIR BY HANA success of last year’s conference, Quabbin school districts and oth- he learned the man had been a life-changing experience at Mt. Hana Rosol which was attended by approxi- er local businesses and agencies. convicted of orchestrating the Kilimanjaro. 102 Bridge St., mately 300 youth and adults Only workshops with eight or murder and rape of numerous Shelburne Falls from all four counties of western more participants registered by people in Rwanda because of Tuesday–Saturday 9–7 Massachusetts and beyond. The Friday, March 16 will be offered, Youth Conference consists of a so please register as soon as pos- day of workshops and perfor- sible. The Conflict Resolution mances addressing teen issues. Theater Group from the Franklin A group of local teenagers have County Technical School will been planning the conference perform an interactive theater Still providing since November. These young piece during the opening session people determined the confer- of the conference. Franklin County ence theme and central issues, The planning committee is STEFAN TOPOLSKI, M.D. reviewed workshop proposals currently in the process of fund- the same professional, and are now publicizing the raising to cover costs associated friendly, and personal conference, arranging food and with conference scholarships, service that you have come to expect. materials and planning the use transportation and materials CARING IN COMMUNITY of space. for conference participants. So 0 CCT is now accepting reg- far, many local businesses and You could be saving $$ by taking advantage of istrations for the conference individuals have donated funds one or more of these programs give you through Friday, March 16. Please and the committee members contact Davette Young at (413) are hoping that others will con- Homeowner/Automobile Companion Discounts Quality care you can afford 774-3167 ext. 101 for more in- tribute. All donors of funds and Multiple Car Discounts  formation about registration. materials will be recognized in Many Employee Group Discounts House calls for all ages Conference information and the conference program and in Low Mileage Discounts registration materials are also additional press communication.  available on line at http://www.fr- If you are interested in making 12 Monthly Installments Available Time to talk and time to listen cog.org/services/teen/07confReg. a donation, please contact Jon doc Keesecker at (413) 774-1194 Stop in at one of our three convenient locations for your personal This year’s registration ma- ext. 118 or Rachel Stoler at ext. insurance review terials include 29 different 116. Call 625-6240 workshops covering a variety of The Community Coalition 117 Main St 58 Sugarloaf St 3 Bridge St for an appointment at topics, including, but not limited for Teens is a program of the Greenfield South Deerfield Shelburne Falls to: employment opportunities Franklin Regional Council of 413-773-9913 413-665-2100 413-625-6022 The Arrowhead Shops for teens, substance abuse pre- Governments. in Shelburne Center. vention, body image, fostering page 4 • Shelburne Falls Independent • March1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net INDEPENDENT THINKING

Jeff Potter, Editor and Publisher ...... [email protected] Opinion and Commentary • Memoirs • Essays • Dispatches • Letters from Readers Virginia Ray, Managing Editor ...... [email protected] Linda Rollins, Advertising ...... [email protected] The Independent is committed to free exchange of ideas from the community. No matter what your politics, McKenzie Rollins, Advertising ...... [email protected] Janet Lowry, Production ...... [email protected] we welcome thoughtful contributions, and we encourage further discussion on anything you read on these pages.

30 years later, those who were there recall how the all-school musicals began History of a Mohawk tradition

Editor’s note: I don’t know how many years it fabric of Arms Academy, Sanderson Academy, and usually takes to create an institution, but I think Charlemont High School. So maybe the musical the Mohawk musicals were somehow put on quickly caught fire as a tradition because one the fast track. At least when I arrived there as a small, new regional school was yearning for such seventh grader in the fall of 1978, the musicals a tradition to call its own. were never discussed or advertised by our teachers Whatever the reason, the musicals survive and or peers anything other than a fantastic an- thrive at Mohawk. A recent program celebrated nual tradition (even though only one had been the anniversary with video highlights of the per- produced when I walked through the doors as a formances over the years, and it brought back two seventh grader). As an adult, I now wonder: why of the teachers who launched the tradition, Eric weren’t they regarded as fragile, as too obscenely Grinnell and C.J. Barnes. They joined current di- complicated? rector Nick Waynelovich, who also shared some of Perhaps the answer comes from something that his observations. For those of you who couldn’t be I remember one of our teachers or principals dis- there — like us — we transcribed their comments cussing to our seventh grade class on my first day from tape and hope their memories, appropriately of school. This person described our class as the and lightly adapted for print, will take you back first to truly attend Mohawk. Barely one full gen- through the years, along with some photos from eration of students had cycled through Mohawk the yearbooks of that generation. Thanks to Doc during the turbulent Vietnam and Watergate eras. Purinton of Falls Cable Corp. for providing the Undoubtedly, the school was still knitting itself video and to my SFI colleague, Michael Wilmeth, together as a community from the emotional for transcribing it. —Jeff Potter

Teaching the bear to dance Nick Waynelovich in 1980.

’M DELIGHTED to be here — disinterred, rather MEMOIR I — and brought back to a place where I spent 10 wonder- Here’s to the losers ful years to see the show’s in By Eric A. Grinnell wonderful shape. Some thoughts on the fine art of There’s been some confusion over the years as to how we keeping an eye on the bottom line started the Mohawk musicals. Well, it’s almost like Broadway: the musical a fundraiser for WANT TO TALK TO YOU we needed money. In 1979, I the whole school. They would about the biggest losers was the advisor of the junior disburse the profi ts to each I over 30 years that we’ve MEMOIR class — a class that had no class treasury on the basis of ever done. And they’re not money. We had a series of participation, and for the next losers because of the artistic 25-cent car washes and bake three years that’s how it went, value, they’re losers of some- By Nick Waynelovich sales, and the wisdom in those until we had all six grades thing else. days was a class needed $4,000- represented very successfully I think the people that $5,000 to graduate, and we had in all the shows. started the whole business of scripts from. So every time we costumes. $300. Even my math told me That’s how it began. And by the all-school musical were do a musical I have to think, Unfortunately, we got too that we’d better do something the fourth year I was begin- Republicans, because they ba- How are we going to raise $7,000 many cheap costumes. I think else. So we proposed to the ning to feel overwhelmed. My sically said, okay, you’re going to $10,000? The way we’ve we ended up spending $1,400 class that they do a musical, lack of talent was beginning to get to work 80 hours a week done it is by people coming on costumes that year. Unfor- which is like teaching a bear to to show, again and again and and at the same time you’re go- and sitting down in our seats tunately, ticket prices then walk, probably, because we’d again, and happily in that ing to get to work with 100 kids and watching our shows. were like $3 or $4 each, so never done anything like that. fourth year Nick Waynelovich and at the same time you’re go- But twice in our history, we just took a bath. When I But the kids were excited came along and brought the ing to have to earn every penny during our growing years, we closed that show I went into about it. We looked around for professionalism and the ideas you spend. Consequently, for almost went under. The fi rst my boss’s offi ce and I said, allies in other classes, but they that we were needing rather Eric Grinnell in 1978. the last 30 years, the all-school time was with a show called “You’ve got good news, and were dubious. So we mounted badly. From Don Kitson and musical has been supporting My Fair Lady. It was one of our you’ve got bad news. The good the fi rst show, The Music Man. Stan Smithers and Cora Jane me again to see that, it’ll be itself, minus two things: the best shows in a run of 10 years, news is you just had one of We had a very successful show Barnes and myself, Nick made the real thing. building, and we have stipends but unfortunately C.J. and I the best musicals you’ve ever — the bear walked, in other the difference to keep the mu- for directors. Other than that, we had the bright idea that we had at Mohawk Trail Regional words. sic health going, and 30 years Eric A. Grinnell taught history every penny that we spend we found out a place in New York High School. The bad news is We did that show for the later they seem as fresh to me and Latin at Mohawk for ten raised ourselves. where you could rent costumes you lost $3,000.” So we struck class of 1979, and we made as they did in the beginning years before founding The Acad- An average musical costs cheap. We drove to New York up a deal where I’d have to so much money that we were — in fact, a good deal fresher. emy at Charlemont with fi ve of $7,000 to $10,000 to produce. City on the West Side, and on make it back the next year or embarrassed about it. The class May the musicals go on to his colleagues in 1981, including The royalties for Thoroughly the 10th fl oor of this otherwise I wouldn’t have a job. I’m still decided that they would make the 50th, and if they disinter his wife, Dianne. Modern Millie were $3,500 just abandoned building we found here, so I guess we got it back. to get the scripts here, because a costume place that was run The second time we made it just came off Broadway. by the state of NewYork where a mistake was when we did It just is not available, and you could rent costumes if you The Mystery of Edwin Drood. there’s only one company in were a nonprofi t. So we went Did anybody see that show? Memories of a pretty good team the world that you can get the in and we got a lot of cheap [Silence.] That’s why we went under. Now, I’m going to do that show again ’cause it’s one HIS IS A “pearl anniver- of my favorite shows. I went on sary.” That’s the 30th. MEMOIR Broadway and saw it. The book T I had to look it up on now putting the fi nishing was written by Charles Dick- Google, but it is. By C.J. Barnes touches on his 26th all-school ens. It was his last novel and Eric Grinnell and the class musical. Thanks to faculty, he died while he was writing it. of ’79 had a vision. Their class staff, parents, the Mohawk So the authors of this musical gift was actually the seed mon- Music Association, commu- decided they would write the ey so that we could begin again handled details. It was a spe- from Broadway and have seen nity members and Falls Cable script up the point where he each year. Nick Waynelovich, as cial year, that fi rst Oklahoma!, a lot of professional theater Corporation and their crew, died, and the audience would you heard, joined us the fourth not only because I was in a over the years came from New we have been quite a team vote on the ending of the show. year, when the production we sense fl ying solo as the drama York state for the Saturday over the years, and to all every The show had like 15 different undertook was Guys and Dolls. director, but because my son night performance and were member of the casts and crews endings. The last 20 minutes With Eric’s departure to found David was the littlest cowboy so impressed that they sent who always did us and them- of the show we would re-enact the Academy at Charlemont, I as the seventh grader in the a letter of thanks containing selves proud by exceeding the ending that you voted on, understand that people were cast, and Eric and Dianne Grin- a recently-issued Oklahoma! every expectation. which was really a great thing, taking wagers about how long nell were kind enough to send stamp in individual onionskin In 2027, you’ll be celebrating but nobody came. a collaboration would last me a telegram congratulating envelopes for each member of a golden anniversary. I hope between Nick, the brash young me after opening night, and the cast and crew, as a me- you’ll invite me to share it with In addition to his duties as music director, and me, the it’s a telegram that I still have mento. A small thing perhaps, you, as well as Eric Grinnell! teacher and advisor of all things persnickity English teacher. from my scrapbook. but I bet there are some of us musical and department head of We survived Oklahoma! The second production of who still have those stashed in C.J. Barnes was a longtime Eng- related arts, Nick Waynelovich without drawing blood. And it Oklahoma! in 1993 was also a special place. lish teacher at Mohawk before operates Ja’Duke Productions became evident that we were especially memorable because I had the privilege of being her retirement several years ago. C.J. Barnes in 1978. with his family in Turners Falls. a pretty good team. Nick took college classmates of mine part of 26 of these Mohawk care of the big picture, and I who live literally 45 minutes shows. Nick and his team are Shelburne Falls Independent • March 1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net • page 5

LETTERS FROM READERS

Griswold Library grateful for donations from townspeople

To the Editor of the Independent: accreditation. Maintaining The Griswold Memorial the state accreditation allows Library in Colrain, named the state of Massachusetts to after the industrialist, philan- provide additional funds for thropist and founder Joseph the library, yet the town also Griswold, is entering its 99th must contribute funds to main- year. The generous residents tain the accreditation. The of Colrain have upheld Joseph townspeople’s support enables Griswold’s promise that the the Griswold Memorial Library library serves “you and your to continue to fl ourish as an descendants, for all time, a educational and community source of pleasure and one of resource center in the center usefulness.” of Colrain. A library fundraising appeal The Friends of the Colrain was included with the town Griswold Memorial Library census forms that were mailed give sincerest thanks to the out at the end of December. many residents of Colrain Colrainers opened hearts and for their generous donations checkbooks for the sake of to the Griswold Library. In their cherished library. Due the fi rst two months of 2007, to budgetary shortfalls, the Colrainers donated a total of town has not been able to fully $4,007 to their library. We say: fund the library in the past few “Thank you, thank you, thank years, but with the help of gen- you, Colrain!” erous townspeople the library JUDITH ROBERTS will both be able to purchase Colrain, Nov. 30 new books and keep its state

Take their war drum away To the Editor of the Independent: against us. They supply nasty weapons They are motivated by pow- A map of the Middle East illustrates the objectives of Cheney and Bush, the author asserts. that are used by our foes. er and profi t, not people. They undermine our na- They talk in the threaten- tional security. ing language of war instead They work to develop nu- of negotiation. clear capabilities creating Is there still a chance to widespread fear. change their course before Where have we heard this tune before? They breed terrorists who the entire world of nations is attack us. persuaded to consider us the They possess weapons of common enemy? Bush administration turns its gaze on a new target — Iran mass destruction. Maybe. I hope. If only They create chaos wherever enough voters will insist the our courageous fighters are Congress act to stop them and sent. take their war drum away. “History is a nightmare from They provide millions of ART SCHWENGER which I’m trying to awake.” dollars cash that gets used Heath, Nov. 30 —James Joyce, Ulysses

CONWAY E HAVE ONLY to ex- School appreciates police chief amine a map of the WMiddle East, and To the Editor of the Independent: time when other schools have On behalf of the Colrain been less fortunate, this grant contemplate the sequence of Central School community, we steps taken there, to conclude money has provided an after- thank Police Chief Carl Herzig school enrichment program for that Iran has been the objec- for his longtime support and tive of Cheney and Bush ever approximately 80 children per concern for Colrain Central year. since — as Ashfi eld attorney School students. Buz Eisenberg declared at a Having a community-spon- Each year, Carl has included sored program such as this recent public gathering in Am- the Colrain Central School herst — they came into offi ce has been a true asset for our in the Community Policing school. This has been possible in a coup d’etat. Grant, making the school a Afghanistan on the east was because of Carl’s initiative. safe place for students to be, Thank you, Carl. attacked a month after the before and after school, and events of September 11, 2001, LOCAL EDUCATION COUNCIL keeping the cost to parents COLRAIN CENTRAL SCHOOL Iraq on the west assaulted fair and reasonable. Also, at a March 20, 2003. On Iran’s Colrain, Nov. 30 southeastern border, the unre- liable ally Pakistan is tamed by this administration’s supply of nuclear technology to India at Pakistan’s rear. North of Iran SFI photo/Carl Doerner lie Turkey and Turkmenistan Former U.N. weapons inspector Scott Ritter, right, discusses current events in the Middle East at an with their U.S. military bases. event at Woolman Hill in January. Ritter predicted the arrival of that third carrier group near Iran The carrier Nimitz is joining in April will signal an aerial attack on nuclear facilities of Iran; its command and control defenses; the aircraft carrier Eisen- destruction of the Iranian air force, ships and submarines; and an assault upon Tehran. Your full-service florist hower in the Persian Gulf, and the Reagan carrier group is ner of U.S. aid was provided scheduled to reach the area VIEWPOINT to Saddam Hussein when, in Plants for Pleasure by April. Each of these three 1980, he took Iraq into an 8- 15 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls • (413) 625-6066 ultra-modern carrier strike year war against Iran. Iran, the groups (CSGs) also includes By Carl Doerner more determined and resilient Carolyn Armstrong and Family destroyers, missile-armed cruis- combatant, prevailed. This ers, attack submarines, and a history is not only nightmare host of supply vessels — in all, momentous unraveling of the LIKE GEOGRAPHY, the study but prophetic, and our media as many as 60 warships. 62-year understanding barring of history suggests control- tend to tell only one side of the This force, projecting more their use. “Other countries,” ling Iran has long been among story. destructive power than all the he said, “would no longer feel Western ambitions in the Iran offered to negotiate dif- Logan & Wallace Gallery navies in history combined, restrained.” region. World War I ushered ferences with the U.S. in 2003 has as its mission controlling a According to State Depart- both increasing need for oil and, despite his belligerent large area of sea, maintaining ment and U.N. diplomat Peter and opportunity to control pose, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad air superiority over the region, Galbraith, Bush launched the its source. The weak Ottoman has said he would come to the and support and protection Iraq war not knowing there Empire, encompassing nearly table now were it not for U.S. of landings of troops on the was any difference between all of the Middle East except insistence on preconditions to Paintings by Fred Burrington shore. Cheney, Bush, and their Sunni and Shia. They were all, Persia (renamed Iran in 1935), such talks. Setting precondi- spokespersons are disingenu- well, “Muslims.” Ignorance, was threatened by Russia and tions exposes devious U.S. pur- MARCH HOURS SAT 11 - 5 , SUN 11 - 4 ous when they claim, “We have hubris, and incompetence have therefore allied itself with poses and plans: negotiations or by appointment • 413-625-2494 no plans to attack Iran.” mired administration plans Russia’s foes, the Germans. would not bring the outcome 55 Bridge St. • Shelburne Falls, Mass 01370 While basing missiles in for regime change in Iran. Our This proved an opportunity Cheney and Bush are seeking. 413-625-0040 • www.loganandwallace.com Cuba in 1961, could Khrush- November elections removed for Russia’s partner Britain to They have little to show chev have been believable con- their co-conspiring Republican conquer and extend authority for their venture into either tending his deployment lacked allies but, barring forceful in the region where, with the Afghanistan or Iraq, but when plans for their possible use new congressional legislation, collapse of the Ottomans, they this pair accomplish their against America? The unasked Cheney and Bush continue to fabricated the unstable mix- regime change and democra- UNDER NEW OWNERSHIP question is, “Under present hold unrestrained fi ngers over ture of peoples called Iraq and tization plan for Iran, perhaps circumstances, why would Iran the button for two more years militarily controlled develop- they will take the Shah’s son WITH EXTENDED HOURS not respond belligerently to — as well, the wherewithal ment of Middle East oil. Reza Palhavi from the shelf aggressive gestures near its to alter transition through Allied forces invaded Iran and have him pick up where Monday–Saturday, 7–7 shores? And too, why wouldn’t the approaching presidential during World War II, but the his infamous father left off. My Iran seek the nuclear arms that election. Make no mistake: historically pivotal meddling guess is, not yet fi nished losing Sunday, 10–5 most of its near neighbors, and though their 2002 lies for war there occurred in 1953 when two other wars, they are get- the hovering U.S. fl eet pos- tarnished credibility, they will Dulles and Eisenhower joined ting far ahead of themselves. sess?” Iranians cannot ignore invent any necessary rationale the British in overthrowing the In his extraordinarily de- the fact that Israel launched for war. They intend to attack democratically elected govern- tailed The Great War for Civili- a preemptive attack on Iraq’s their central objective, Iran. ment of Mohammed Mos- zation, longtime London-based nuclear facilities at Osirak in America’s aggression in the sadegh. They reinstalled the Middle East correspondent 1981, and they speak of doing Middle East, like the struggles monarchy in the person of the Robert Fisk relates an incident the same to Iran today. that for centuries convulsed brutally repressive fi gure the during the Iran-Iraq war that, I Addressing a gathering and altered the borders of West knew as the Shah of Iran. think, profi les the foe Cheney at Woolman Hill on Jan. 24, Europe, substitute an imperial- While the Shah was armed and and Bush would have Ameri- weapons inspector Scott Ritter ist thrust of power and force supported, proving a stable can’s youth take on. “There was predicted the arrival of that for an earlier balance of pow- puppet for western interests, a young man sitting with us ... third carrier group near Iran ers and peace achieved and opposition steadily grew. and suddenly we noticed that in April will signal an aerial maintained through diplomacy. In January 1979, the Shah his head had fallen forward ... attack on nuclear facilities of From World War I onward, the was forced to fl ee. Ayatol- then we saw blood running ... a Iran; its command and control victors in that confl ict have lah Khomeini soon after bullet had hit him in the head defenses; destruction of the been tempted to sustain their established Iran as a religious ... he turned slightly ... put his SHELBURNE FALLS Iranian air force, ships and wartime expeditions through state. When the U.S. refused hand in his pocket and took submarines; and an assault occupation and administration. to deliver the Shah to stand out a Koran ... and was looking SUPERMARKET, Inc. upon Tehran. With a popula- The goals of such dominance trial in Iran, militants took 52 at it. It was a scene I will never tion of 14 million, this is one are control of the extraordi- employees of the U.S. Embassy forget all my life, the power of formerly Keystone Market of the largest urban centers nary resources of that region hostage and held them for 444 his commitment.” in the Middle East. Journalist and also, more recently, privati- days. Seymour Hersh has similarly zation and control of the local Reagan and his agent Oliver Carl Doerner is a writer and a 42-44 Bridge Street detailed Cheney-Bush war economy. With oil reserves North were willing to pro- documentary fi lmmaker. strategies in The New Yorker. dwindling, the primary U.S. vide arms to Iran to fund the Shelburne Falls Ritter’s informed assess- objective is to control the rich- Contra army in its attempt to ment includes U.S. launch of est sources and deny access to overthrow the government of 625-8400 nuclear weapons and thus a rivals India and China. Nicaragua, but every man- page 6 • Shelburne Falls Independent • March1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net

BUSINESS NEWS COVERAGE UNDERWRITTEN BY BUSINESS AND ECONOMY

Community First ______from front page SFABA seeks nominations for two see some consensus behind This was not the case 30 years ‘development’ and say, ‘What are their hunches that people want ago, Dean said, but a combina- you doing to our town?’” Dean to see Shelburne Falls remain a tion of replacing municipal said. Shippee Community Service Award true, working downtown and not parking lots with bike paths Dean and Hanna were in the a tourist destination. and changing public policy (like thick of preliminary research “People who are just making a massive tax on new car pur- when they connected with a SHELBURNE FALLS—The a living need a village where chases) have effected positive potential buyer of the Lamson Shelburne Falls Area Business they can buy things,” Dean said, change for the community and property. The two described their Association is now seeking nomi- adding that a common thread the environment. excitement about their conver- nations for the 2007 Marvin J. running through the responses Hanna, meanwhile, was sation with Caleb Kissling, one Previous Shippee Community Service was, “No more galleries!” shocked by the counterpoint of the three partners who have recipients of Award to be given to a deserv- “A lot of people specifi cally of South Africa society, where signed an understanding to work the Marvin J. ing person at the Annual SFABA noted they want ‘a hardware three-fifths of the economy is toward an option or purchase- Shippee Award Spring Breakfast March 30. store like Avery’s [General Store underground, races still experi- and-sale of the Lamson complex include Ruth Anyone is welcome to submit a in Charlemont],’” Dean added. ence de-facto segregation and [Independent, Feb. 16]. Anderson (left, nomination. Those making nomi- “If we don’t change with the poverty is rampant. “We talked to Caleb and [he] 2005) and Wes nations should not assume that times, the times are going to “We both come from super-ru- said, ‘You have all the same Rice (below, the Award Committee knows the leave us behind,” ral backgrounds,” Hanna said of ideas!’” Dean said. 2006). nominee. Letters of nomination That doesn’t mean that Com- their separate foreign experienc- stating why a nominee should be munity First is a backlash against es. “It was the fi rst time we lived A new enterprise chosen for the award should be the arts in the community — far in real urban environments.” Rejecting the thought that sent to the SFABA at the e-mail from it. “I was in a society that got it the area offers no economic or postal address above. Part of the Community First right,” Dean said to Hanna, “and opportunity for young people, A plaque in the Village Infor- initiative, in fact, could include a you were in a society that needed the two have started their own mation Center dated April 29, summer art festival which would to get it right.” consulting fi rm, HD Consulting 1994 reads: “Marvin J. Shippee, encourage local artists to create Over the summer, Hanna and Design, offering “this type a beacon of community pride. works based on the abstract no- spent time in Europe and Dean of work, consulting.” The lights which adorn the ex- tion of community and would in Thailand, experiences that “Concept design with commu- terior of this center are today encourage local galleries to pro- provided more public policy food nity involvement in a project,” dedicated to Marvin J. Shippee mote such an event collectively. for thought and illustration of Hanna said. who has been a shining example Dean and Hanna also envision a some of the concepts the other The path they’re taking is to everyone. Marvin has offered summer party along the lines of had experienced earlier. not entirely unexpected, Dean inspired leadership and direct Moonlight Madness. said. involvement to countless commu- Central to their vision is to be Back in town “The essence of this area is nity projects. The lights on the a clearinghouse for community Dean, nephew of Buckland entrepreneurship,” said Dean, Village Information Center of projects, matching a bank of Town Administrator Robert whose family operated the for- Shelburne Falls, Massachusetts community volunteers with skills Dean, said that he approached mer Springbrook Campground will serve as a beacon to all and to donate to tasks that need his uncle about employment op- in Shelburne. “We’re the next will honor Marvin for the warm completion. portunities after returning from generation.” congeniality and hard work he Thailand. Dean and Hanna suspect has exhibited through a lifetime New perspectives “He said they could really use that Community First will be of contributions and achieve- The two friends mix strong a planner,” the younger Dean characterized by how it brings ments on innumerable commit- impressions of their college said. citizens together through genera- tees and civic groups. May these experience with a clear love But that doesn’t mean the tions and across the economic lights prove to be an inspiration for their hometown and look at town could pay for one. divide. for each of us to take responsibil- Shelburne Falls through a lens Around that time, Lamson They knew they had support ity in our community.” colored by recent travels. & Goodnow Manufacturing Co. from their friends, of course, and In 1998, the SFABA created As students of environmen- announced its plans to relocate the younger, hipper businesses in and awarded the first Marvin tal design, Dean and Hanna its cutlery operations from the town that were in their sphere. J. Shippee Community Service studied “big picture” planning historic complex on Conway But they didn’t know how their Award in memory of this re- issues. Unlike their landscape Street, an unnerving prospect project would be received when markable man, his community architect classmates who were for the town and its tax base. they stopped by the Foxtown leadership and his dedication trained with engineer’s precision Dean and Hanna saw vol- Coffee Shoppe, often seen as the to volunteerism. in the methods and minutiae unteer work for the town of bastion of a bygone Shelburne The award was originally cre- and with specifi c career goals, Buckland, using their training Falls. ated to honor those who have they emerged from college with to study and analyze the site, as They were heartened when demonstrated a commitment training in horticultural studies, a strategic gamble toward their co-owner Patricia Elie put the and dedication in the spirit of urban studies, landscape studies futures and as a potential way survey front and center. FMC has a new name the volunteer tradition of Mar- and regional planning, Hanna to shape a signifi cant property And Dean and Hanna were vin Shippee, truly the founding said. Urban studies consisted of in the village center for decades heartened by a second reaction father of the SFABA. Volunteer sociology, political science and to come. in the Foxtown. GREENFIELD—On Friday, serve our patients.” community service, as demon- other social sciences. More signifi cantly, they saw “’People my age, they see the Feb.16, the Greenfi eld communi- Prior to fi nalizing the name strated by Marvin Shippee, is The fall semester of their se- themselves living and working ‘for sale’ signs all over town, ty hospital that had been known change, Franklin Medical Cen- the core value recognized by nior year, Dean and Hanna spent in town. and it’s fearful for us,’” Dean as Franklin Medical Center for ter and Baystate Health staff the award. This volunteerism a semester abroad, when Dean “We’d love to live here, have quoted one longtime resident the past 20 years, and before conducted extensive consumer should be above and beyond the lived in Copenhagen, Denmark professional jobs here,” Dean from the restaurant. “He said that as Franklin County Public research. recipient’s paid job. The award and Hanna in Cape Town, South said. he was so happy to see us doing Hospital since it was founded in “Many members of our com- should recognize service to the Africa. “The Lamson project would be what we’re doing. We just want 1895, became Baystate Franklin munity were still not aware Shelburne Falls Area including “In Copenhagen, I saw real large enough that the town could people to start talking. If you get Medical Center (BFMC). that Franklin was part of the the ten towns of Ashfi eld, Buck- progressive planning,” Dean see change, yet small enough so the chance to say what’s on your The new name reflects the Baystate system,” said Skinner. land, Charlemont, Colrain, Con- said. “Two-thirds of the people everyone could be cool with it,” mind, you’ll feel better about any hospital’s 21-year integration “And while the majority said way, Heath, Hawley, Plainfi eld, who commute, they commute by Hanna added. situation.” with Baystate Health, its Spring- they would be more likely to use Rowe and Shelburne. bicycle.” “People usually see the word fi eld-based parent health care a service that had Baystate in The mission of the SFABA system. the name, they also told us their should be considered as a litmus “We are proud of our asso- expectations for care at our hos- test in considering nominees ciation with Baystate Health,” pital would rise accordingly.” along with the inscription on the said BFMC President, Michael The most outward signs of plaque dedicating the lights of Regions sought for wireless networks Skinner, “and this name change progress toward meeting these the Village Information Center to helps to clarify the link for our expectations are the extensive Marvin Shippee. The mission of Berkshire Connect, Inc. and from Feb. 26 to March 20.The test the technology. The Connects patients, staff and community.” renovation projects currently the SFABA is “to support the de- Pioneer Valley Connect (the goal of the Beta Test Program will provide technical assistance Since joining Baystate Health underway in the hospital’s Emer- velopment of strong and vibrant Connects) have announced the is to evaluate the process and and some broadband network in 1986, Baystate Franklin Medi- gency Department, Radiology/ communities in Shelburne Falls availability of the Connects Beta technologies to create wireless elements.The specifi c technology cal Center has been able to Imaging Department, inpatient and in the West County area, to Test Program application as part networks in this region’s un- and the level of technical as- signifi cantly upgrade facilities Medical/Surgical and Intensive preserve our cultural, historic of the Underserved Communities derserved areas. The Connects sistance will vary depending on and technology, add programs Care units. Patients are already and natural heritage, and to help Project. want to use their resources to the network implemented.The and services and attract highly benefi ting from the renovation businesses prosper.” Individuals and community help at least three communities application form may be viewed skilled staff and physicians. work completed in each of these The following criteria have representatives in areas of West- implement a wireless broadband and downloaded from the Con- “And through our association areas; the rest of the construc- been set to guide the Award ern Massachusetts that are with- network. The process of imple- nect Web sites at www.bconnect. with Baystate Medical Center, tion, with its associated land- Committee, but not be exclusive out access to affordable, reliable menting these networks and org and www.pioneervalleyconnect. the largest teaching hospital scaping, is scheduled to wrap up if additional criteria are deemed broadband services (such as the evaluation of them will be org/projects.html. For more infor- for Tufts University School of this fall. appropriate: level of community DSL or cable TV broadband) are documented and available online mation about the application, Medicine,” said Skinner, “we Greater access to specialists service, level of impact on the encouraged to apply to the Beta for reference by other communi- please contact Maggie Bergin, have had access to their faculty’s and state-of-the-art technology community and length of service Test Program. Selected commu- ties who may want to implement project manager, at (509) 998- clinical expertise and resources, are other aspects of the Baystate (allowing for the possibility of nities will work in collaboration similar efforts. 5930 or e-mail maggieanne@mac. which is a collaboration that has name to which area residents youth nominees). with the Connects to implement These wireless networks will com. further enhanced our ability to responded most favorably. This The recipient should demon- a village- or neighborhood-based not be a town-wide solution, but summer, the hospital will be wel- strate inspired leadership and wireless network available to will focus on a specifi c area of coming two new urologists and involvement in community proj- participating municipal build- the community that has a suf- two new orthopedists, enabling ects and be a “get-the-job-done ings, businesses and residences. fi cientcluster of participants to the department of surgery to person,” be a respected member The application period is open meet growing demands in these of their town and community for 50.
,&)0& key areas. And with the addition his/her contributions and “serve of several new imaging technolo- as a beacon to all” and be an individual, not a group, business • Mini hydraulic excavators • Multi-terrain loaders • Genie boom lifts 800%803,*/(

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 In addition to improving fa- important way, such as positively cilities, recruiting specialists, impacting the business climate SHELBURNE FALLS and acquiring new technolo- or furthering the SFABA mission. cell 413-834-1671 gies, Baystate Franklin Medical The recipient does not have to 413-625-6463 residence 413-625-6387 Center staff has been working be an SFABA member, busi- on several initiatives designed nessperson or “unsung” hero. A Avoid long lines at the post office! to respond to specifi c consumer former recipient of the award is requests. Among these are a ineligible to receive the award general patient shuttle ser- again. Did you know vice between Baystate Franklin Former recipients are: Mi- On 625-9914 Medical Center in Greenfield chael McCusker, 1998; Marion The House Eddie’s Wheels is a and Baystate Medical Center in J. Taylor, 1998; Rolland Gifford, Springfi eld (in addition to the 1999; Dorothy Giffi n, 1999; Carol Builders oncology van which presently Bolduc, 2000; Susan Silvester, Shipping Center? runs five mornings a week); a 2001; Bernie Butler, 2002; Mark Renovating West County volunteer-staffed patient liai- Zenick, 2003; Dick and Jeanne son program in the Emergency Bole, 2004, Ruth Anderson, 2005, since the last century 9-5 Monday–Friday Department to help facilitate Wesley Rice, 2006. What would you like to do? communication between clinical • Ground pickup at 1 p.m. staff and patients and families in • Family room addition • Garage studio building • Express pickup at 3 p.m. the waiting area and a concierge • Home office rooms • Kitchen and baths service in the main lobby to help greet patients and visitors, and • Attic dormer • Finished basement to assist with parking, trans- 5 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls • FHA financing available Eddie’s Wheels for Pets portation and other hospitality Lic. 76208 • Experienced • Insured 140 State Street at Route 2 arrangements. For more information call Shelburne Falls • 413-625-0033 (413) 773-8559 or visit www. baystatehealth.com. Shelburne Falls Independent • March 1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net • page 7

mud season Buff et Lecture Series Learn to be healthier over a hot vegetarian buff et in our classic new dining room! Pre-register early for 4 or more at just $10 each

WED • MARCH 7TH WED • MARCH 14TH

“THE BENEFITS of “UNDERSTANDING HOMEOPATHY” NUTRITIONAL OILS” With Dr. Dale Moss ~ Learn how to think With Maria Maroneyy ~ Become aware of like a homeopath and how to understand the great many health benefi ts of using and use the safe and effective system nutritional oils and be inspired by the latest of homeopathy. Dr. Dale Moss is a local research on fl ax and fi sh oil supplements. homeopathic doctor that will clarifyyour Wednesdays, Maria Maroney, a certifi ed nutritional questions and help to provide insight into counselor and former nutrition department thisancient method that is widely in use manager at McCusker's Market brings her 6:30–9 p.m. today. knowledge and expertise.

Seating limited! WED • MARCH 21ST WED • MARCH 28TH

“COMPLEMENTARY “HERBS FOR THE Register early! CANCER TREATMENTS” IMMUNE SYSTEM" With Dr. Kathleen Grandison ~ Become aware of the alternative therapies (nutrition, With Tony (A) Lemos ~ Enter into the • acupuncture, homeopathy, herbs) that natural world of green healing and learn can be used for treatment of cancer in what herbs can be used to treat colds conjunction with modern medicine and and fl us, and also for building a healthy technology. Dr. Kathleen Grandison of the immune system. Tony (A) Lemos studied Late? Call West County Physicians will address these natural therapy in England, apprenticed methods with in depth knowledge and with the acclaimed herbalist and author Susan Wee, and runs Blazing Star Herbal +'*".)&& understanding. School in Ashfi eld. and use your WED • APRIL 4TH WED • APRIL 11TH

“Introduction to QI GONG & TAI CHI” “ CHINESE HERBAL MEDICINE: credit card With Michael Suterr ~ This presentation AN OVERVIEW" will include a brief history of Chen Tai Chi With Amy Levitin, LIS. AC ~ This talk will Quan with demonstrations and instruction in provide an introduction to Chinese herbal • basic QI Gong exercises meant to enhance medicine, cover the concept of a balanced healing and internal/external energy fl ows. formula, and include time for questions Reservations taken no Michael Suter has been studying with Grand and answers at the end. Amy Levitan is Master Wang Hai-Jun, a 12th. generation a licensed acupuncturist specializing in later than Monday immune disorders, musculo-skeletal pain representative of Chen Style Tai Chi and and women's health. Amy practices in prior to the lecture, if gold medalist, for over 7 years. Shelburne Falls and Greenfi eld. space is available. WED • APRIL 18TH WED • APRIL 25TH

“Feel Great with “The AMAZING & ESSENTIAL aSPRING CLEANSE” ENZYMES" With Arlene Robbins ~ Discover the With Maureen Stewart ~ An easy cleansing miracle of enzymes and how they work in assisting with all the processes in the program for anyone, based on Teri Kerr's body, andhelping with concerns such proven nutritional program ~ feel great, as anti-aging, cardiovascular tissue, lose weight and beyond! Maureen Stewart immune disorders, healing, and energy is a RN ( registered nurse) and nutritional production. Arlene Robbins has over 20 counselor with over 30 years experience in years experience in natural health and is currently studying for a M.S. in Wholistic complementary and wholistic medicine. Nutrition. Register me today.... O Nutritional Oils (3/7) $12.00 ea. lecture (reg.no later than Mon. the week of) O Homeopathy (3/14) $10.00 ea. lecture (pre-register early for 4 or more ) O Cancer Treatments (3/21) Name______O Immune System (3/28) O QI Gong & Tai CHI (4/4) Phone #______O Herbal Medicine (4/11) Enclosed Amount______O Spring Cleanse (4/18) Send check to McMuskers Market, 3 State St., O Essential Enzymes (4/25) Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 For more information visit lll#bXXjh`ZghbVg`Zi#Xdb page 8 • Shelburne Falls Independent • March1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net

K-9 ______from front page OBITUARIES okay to pursue acquiring a dog competent, and he’s confi dent as well as working together. The — if he could raise the money to the training he is getting is process of bonding that is essen- pay for it. Raise it he did, with topnotch. There are seven other tial to the team is well underway the help of donors from various teams training with Girard and already. Beda Langevin, 94 daughter, Nancy M. Peck and her towns who contributed about Syrus, from Indiana, Oklahoma, “From the time I get down husband, Harvey, also of Shel- $13,000 between December 1 Illinois and elsewhere. here ‘til the time I leave, this dog CASTLE GARDEN, PENN.— burne; one brother, Alva C. Stacy, and February 1, enough to pay Syrus looks very similar to stays with me 24-hours a day,” Beda (Anderson) Langevin, 94, of Ocala, Fla.; two sisters, Mary for Syrus, training and miscel- a German shepherd, but the Girard said. formerly of Charlemont, died L. Bassett of Shelburne Falls and laneous expenses. malinois breed is smaller, lighter- Because the two must work Dec. 21 in St. Mary’s, Penn. Mae L. Lovering of Readsboro, boned, quicker and typically as a team, Girard’s schedule will The youngest of seven chil- Vt.. She leaves seven grandchil- European roots more energetic. be rearranged to make the team dren, she was born Oct. 14, 1912 dren: Barbara M. Giguere, Janet Breeding and training police “Dogs have to have a very high more available for mutual aid to in Ashfield, the daughter of G. Beaudry, Todd A. Sumner, Eric dogs has been an industry in drive” for police work, Girard other towns. Bernard W. and Emma (Johnson) E. Sumner, Ree A. Martin, Laurie Europe for generations, which says. “They have to want to do Syrus’s commands are in Anderson. She made her home S. Bishop and Tracy L. Dunigan, is why U.S. police departments what they’re doing.” German, so Girard has learned with her granddaughter Beda and 19 great-grandchildren. look abroad for their dogs. And, although he says Syrus is enough of the dog’s language to “Lee” Oyler and her husband, Funeral services were held at Syrus comes from a line of a very approachable dog, friendly communicate. But Girard says Jeff, in Castle Garden “Drift- Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home dogs selected for the disposition to both children and adults, he’s Syrus doesn’t need many com- wood”, Penn. since 2004. in Shelburne Falls with the Rev. and physical qualities needed also serious about his job. mands. Once the situation and A graduate of the former Phyllis Evelyn, pastor of the for police work. For the train- “When I get up in the morn- the job at hand is clear to him, Sanderson Academy in Ashfi eld, First Congregational Church in ing he and the dog would need, ing and put my uniform on, he’s he proceeds according to his she continued her studies and Shelburne, officiating. Burial Girard did a lot of research and ready to work,” Girard says. training. Robert Gear graduated from New Hampshire will be in Leavitt Cemetery, was impressed by Little Rock Syrus’ reward for completing Girard expects to return home University. She then trained and Charlemont. Canine Academy’s references. assigned tasks is getting to play with Syrus on March 4. At the taught at Clark School for the Donations in Grace Stafford’s The school’s instructors are also with a tennis ball. March 5 select board meeting Robert Gear, 64 Deaf in Northampton. She even- memory may be made to either law-enforcement offi cers, which “He loves that tennis ball,” Syrus will be offi cially appointed tually retired from the Montague Hospice of Franklin County, 329 Girard believes gives them in- Girard says. to the Ashfield Police Depart- HEATH—Robert Gear, 64, of School District. Conway St., or to Buckley Health- sights into “ins and outs” of the A police dog and his handler ment and will have the legal 10 Rowe Road, died Feb. 20 at On June 19, 1943 Beda mar- Care Center Activities Fund, 95 work that others might lack. form a tight partnership, and Gi- status of a law enforcement home. He was the husband of ried Harold J. Langevin in Ash- Laurel St., both in Greenfi eld, He is determined, he says, that rard and Syrus will live together offi cer. Jane McHale and the father of fi eld. He died on Feb. 11, 1967. MA 01301. Ashfi eld’s K-9 unit will be highly Alice Taylor Gear. Very active in the town of Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home Born May 30, 1942 in South- Charlemont, Beda had served ampton, N.Y., he was the son of as town clerk, treasurer and Frederick Albert “Al” Gear and selectman. She was involved Mary (Kuchtuk) Gear Zielinski. with the Wells Fund, 4-H, the He grew interested in music as Women’s Club, and was one of ‘Circuit breaker’ ______from front page a teenager and, after graduating the founding members of the of superintendents and legisla- • Gill-Montague: $752,578. p.m. Childcare is available. For from Southampton High School, Charlemont Lioness Club. She tors on March 8 from 1-3 p.m. at • Greenfi eld: $1,160,858. more information about the he attended Berklee College of was involved with bridge club, the high school to discuss details • Hawlemont: $127,000. coalition or to get involved, call Music and majored in baritone mahjong and several other com- of the proposal. • Mohawk Trail: $1,091,124. Lorena Loubsky-Lonergan at saxophone and composition. He munity activities. “A recently formed subcom- • New Salem/Wendell: (413) 624-3842 or Mary Link at played baritone sax at various Besides her granddaughter mittee of the Massachusetts $139,000. (413) 628-4695. jazz clubs in the Boston area for she is survived by one daughter, Association of Regional Schools • Orange: $709,000. several years, but after a time Charlotte Bennett, of Freehold, (MARS) has been considering • Pioneer: $488,190. became more interested in the N.J.; one stepdaughter, Lorraine ways to address the acute fis- In addition to the circuit guitar. He developed an in-depth St. Pierre, of Bath, N.Y.; two cal pinch being felt by districts breaker initiative, WMass- knowledge of the history and grandsons, Howard D. Bennett suffering from the confluence COUNTS is planning a trip to Web site receives evolution of steel guitar play- III of Connecticut and David A. of sparse population, declining Boston to rally with Stand for ing in Hawaiian, country, and Bennett of Massachusetts; four enrollment and limited economic Children on April 25. Ongoing international History blues music, and wrote articles step-grandchildren; and 3 great resources,” writes Buoniconti. letter writing, phone outreach on the subject for several music grandchildren, Krystal A. Oyler, “Thanks to some excellent work to the legislature and community Classics Award publications. He recorded an Jeffrey E. Oyler and David A. Djuna Schaub by recently retired Superinten- education forums are actions album of National and Dobro Bennett, Jr. dent Ken Rocke, I believe that currently being undertaken by DEERFIELD—The Pocumtuck steel guitar tunes in 1976 and A grandson, Joseph A. Valerio we now have a specifi c proposal the lobbying group. The coalition Valley Memorial Association’s produced Hula Blues, an album III, and a step-grandson Armand Djuna Z. Schaub worthy of consideration.” is seeking West County citizens expansive multi-cultural Web of early instrumental steel guitar St. Pierre Jr., preceded her in Forty-two towns and 18 region- and rural residents around the site, “Raid on Deerfield: The music, on Rounder Records. He death. BROOKLINE—Djuna Zellmer al and municipal school districts region to help write letters and Many Stories of 1704” (www.1704. also played Irish fi ddle and was Burial will be held in the Schaub, formerly of Green- in western Massachusetts would make phone calls endorsing the deerfield.history.museum) on the a student of Seamus Connelly. spring. fi eld, died Feb. 23 after a brief be eligible for relief provided by proposal to town boards and to French and Indian attack on As his childhood interest in Donations in Beda Langevin’s illness. Rocke’s plan. Added state aid the legislature. Deerfi eld on Feb. 29, 1704 has agriculture and horsemanship memory may be made to the She was a 1967 graduate of for the 2008 school year that WMassCOUNTS will meet won the MERLOT History Clas- revived, he became involved charity of one’s choice. Pioneer Valley Regional High would result if the proposal were in the Buckland-Shelburne El- sics Award for 2007 and will be with efforts to preserve old Johnson Funeral Home School in Northfield and from adopted for Franklin County ementary School cafeteria on placed in competition for this breeds of livestock and wrote the University of Wisconsin in districts is as follows: Tuesday, March 6 from 6:30-8:30 year’s top Editor’s Award at the many articles for periodicals 1976. MERLOT International Confer- like Small Farm Journal that spe- She worked for many years for ence in New Orleans in August. cialized in old farming methods Samual L. Read International Trade Publishing, Specializing in cabinetry The Web site chronicles the and sustainable agriculture. He based in New York City. After story of the pre-dawn raid by developed an antiquarian book SHELBURNE FALLS—Samual traveling the world with her built for a healthy lifestyle about 300 French and Native business with a focus on agricul- Lyall Read, 2-month-old son of husband, Phillip, who was in the allies from four different In- tural books and was a founding Clinton C. and Angelina S. (Ko- military, they returned to the Minimizing the use of toxic materials and finishes dian nations on the colonial member of the American Minor rpiewski) Read of 23 Mechanic area, living in Greenfi eld. English settlement of Deer- Breeds Conservancy. He was in- St., died Feb. 19 at Baystate She was the advertising man- • Kitchen cabinets • Media cabinets • Built-ins • Furniture field, Massachusetts, situated strumental in saving the Randall Medical Center in Springfi eld. ager for West County News from in the Pocumtuck homeland. Lineback Cattle, an endangered He was born in Greenfield, 2000-2004 and was an integral One hundred twelve Deerfi eld heritage breed. Dec. 14, 2006. part of the team that launched 27 Rand Rd., Shelburne Falls men, women and children were Upon moving to western Mas- Survivors besides his parents the Shelburne Falls Independent, (413) 625-6063 captured and taken on a 300-mile sachusetts in 1985, he was able include a brother, Mason C. where she worked in advertising www.jimpicardi.com march to Canada in harsh winter to own horses and develop his Read, at home; maternal grand- and marketing until 2005. conditions. Some captives were skills in training them, a life- parents, David A. and Darlene She is survived by her mother, later redeemed and returned to long dream. He became inter- Korpiewski of North Hatfield; Rose Zellmer, and her sister, Deerfi eld, but one-third chose to ested in Spanish Barb horses paternal grandparents, Aarne J. Robin Curtis, both of Brook- remain among their French and and was able to acquire two and Laurel M. Read of Charles- line, and several nieces and Native captors. young horses that he trained town, R.I.; four uncles, David nephews. Thomas A. Wilson, D.D.S. The site uses technology to intensively. He studied innova- Korpiewski and his wife Lisa of A memorial service will be combine stories of people’s lives, tive training methods for several Millers Falls, Daniel Korpiewski held at a later date. Burial will Shelburne Falls’ Dentist since 1961 engaging voices and songs and years, gradually developing his and his partner Adam of Hat- be private. vivid illustrations of historical own eclectic approach. He took fi eld, John Wayne Chase of New In lieu of fl owers, donations Handcrafted full dentures for 45 years scenes to help interpret this great satisfaction in the growth Hampshire and Dana R. Ekelund in Djuna Schaub’s memory may complex story from all sides of and development of his horses’ of Providence, R.I.; two aunts, be made to the Boston Center, Get them while I last! the confl ict. skills and enjoyed many hours Abigail A. Read-Garrepy and 1245 Centre St., Roslindale, MA “This is the latest of several of trail riding alone in rugged her husband Joseph of Westerly, 02131. Phone 834-5683 prestigious national and inter- country. R.I., and Adrienne Read of South Bonnie Jepson national awards the Raid on “Robert was a devoted hus- Deerfi eld; cousins, Grace and Da- Deerfi eld has received,” said Tim band and doting father who en- vid Korpiewski of Millers Falls; Neumann, executive director of couraged his daughter to develop maternal great-grandmothers, the Pocumtuck Valley Memorial her own independent personal Susan Ferron of Florence and Association. vision,” his family writes. “He Cecile Korpiewski of Whately; Paul Young, 73 The locally owned The site, funded by the Nation- made friends wherever he went paternal great-grandfather, Lyall GREENFIELD—Paul A. The al Endowment for the Humani- and never stopped planning for Henning of North Dakota. Young, 73, a resident of Poet’s drugstore where life is ties and Institute of Museum the future throughout the 16 A Liturgy of Christian Burial Seat Health Care Center, died and Library Services, is the months that he lived with pan- was held Monday at St. Joseph Saturday (2-17-07) at the facil- BAKER work of an international team creatic cancer.” Catholic Church with the Rev. ity. Born February 18, 1933 in simpler, they know you of historians, museum profes- In addition to his wife and John A. Roach, pastor, offici- Montague, he was the son of Pharmacy sionals, educators, illustrators, daughter, survivors include his ating. Burial will be in Arms Glenn Young and Mary (LeBlanc) by name, and there’s Mondays–Fridays 8:30 a.m.–8 p.m. Web designer and programmers. sister, Karen Bennett, and her Cemetery. Young Jepson. Saturdays 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. It was initially launched in 2004 husband, Robert, and a cousin Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home He lived in this area his entire still a soda fountain Closed Sundays as part of the 300th anniversary John “Josh” Garbowski, all of life and worked at Lamson and commemoration of the Deerfi eld Southampton, N.Y. He leaves a Goodnow. 52 BRIDGE ST ., SHELBURNE FALLS • (413) 625-6324 attack. The site has had ongoing sister-in-law, Michele McHale A sports fan, he enjoyed base- up-grades and improvements of Northampton; brothers-in- ball, and football, especially the over the last three years to keep law, Thomas McHale and his Grace M. Stafford, 94 Red Sox and the New England it on the cutting edge. wife, Pat, of Portsmouth, R.I., SHELBURNE—Grace M. (Sta- Patriots. The site also won a second and Frank McHale and his wife, cy) Stafford, 94, of 254 Peckville Survivors include one son, place award in the Museums and Carole, of Hamilton, Ind.; his Road, formerly of Charlemont, Glenn Young of Westfi eld; two the Web Best of the Web: Online aunts, Florence and Mary Gear died Monday, Feb. 12, 2007, at brothers, Dan Jepson and his Exhibits awarded in Vancouver, of Valley Stream, N.Y., as well the Buckley HealthCare Center wife, Bonnie, of Ashfi eld; Edgar Canada in 2005 and the Award as several other aunts, cousins, in Greenfi eld. “Skip” Jepson and his wife, Teri, of Merit, the highest recognition nephews and a niece. She was born Nov. 14, 1912 of Greenfi eld; two sisters, Connie for achievement in the interpre- Funeral services took place in Guilford, Vt., the daughter of Szelewicki and her husband, tation of state and local history, at the Smith-Kelleher Funeral Alva and Mary Elizabeth (Al- Frank, of Sunderland and Sharon from the American Association Home, Shelburne Falls, with the exander) Stacy. She was a 1930 Girard of Greenfi eld; and several of State and Local History. The Rev. Pamela Porter offi ciating. graduate of Brattleboro (Vt.) nieces and nephews. site was also named one of ten Donations may be made in High School. His brother, Ron Young, died best Web sites by the Christian Robert Gear’s memory to the Prior to retirement in 1973, previously. Science Monitor, one of three Good Neighbors Food Pantry, in she was assistant cafeteria man- Services will be held in the end-of-the-year “Hot Web sites” care of Budge Litchfi eld, Char- ager at Hawlemont Elementary spring. by USA Today and one of eSchool lemont, MA 01339. School in Charlemont, where she Donations in Paul Young’s News best Web sites. Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home was employed for 19 years. memory may be made to Hospice She was a member of the for- of Franklin County, 329 Conway mer Mt. Peak Rebekah Lodge in St., Greenfi eld, MA 01301. Charlemont. Johnson Funeral Home Respect, Integrity, Compassion . . . Until recently, she knitted booties and mittens for Franklin 40 Church Street, Shelburne Falls Medical Center Gift Shop in (413) 625-2121 Greenfi eld for over 30 years. SK Pamela J. Kelleher In 1935, she was married to ——— William Payson Stafford, who 87 Franklin Street, Greenfi eld died Jan. 11, 1990. (413) 773-8853 Survivors include her son, Timothy P. Kelleher William H. Stafford, and his wife, Brenda, of Shelburne; her ACTIVITIES SPORTS & RECREATION ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT HILLTOWN BOOKS & WRITERS FOOD & DRINK SCIENCE & NATURE Shelburne Falls Independent TRANSITIONS page 9 • March 1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net life CALENDAR

Building BRIDGES The Art Bridge celebrates

the common creative threads among visual art, music,

movement, theater and writing

Story and photos by Jeff Potter

Ekiwah Adler-Belendez, an award winning, 18-year-old Mexican poet SHELBURNE—The audience which manufactured traditional Connect with your creative sits in this sprawling, expansive photographic machinery before source, your community and the prodegy who began publishing at age 10, leads a poetry workshop at the Art room in an intimate arc on a the age of digital photography. elements of nature. Work, share Bridge. Saturday evening in February, The property was sold in July and collaborate with other art- raptly attentive to a poet prodigy to Ellen Rozett of Sebastopol, ists while exploring your own Stephens, who directed the art from Mexico as he reads from his Calif., a friend of Stephens and projects. Come to events; inter- department of a high school in work. Musicians on keyboard and Christoph, “who believed in the act, dance, make art, perform, nearby Cuernavaca, the capital electric bass improvise musical vision,” Stephens said. read, listen. Create in private or city of the state of Morelos lo- refl ections of the poetry as he That vision is an integrated shared studios.” cated about 50 miles south of reads during one of the fi rst pub- way of blending multidisci- Art Bridge also brings visiting Mexico City. lic events of Art Bridge, a new plinary art and community. artists such as Ekiwah Adler- “All families are involved in organization that is beginning The community environment Belendez, an award winning, the arts,” Stephens said, not- to offer an integrated approach involves classes, workshops, per- 18-year-old Mexican poet whose ing that, “salsa clubs are like to the arts. formances and exhibitions of the literary career is blossoming. theater.” The Art Bridge, the brain- “fi ve arts” — visual art, music, Families, he said, bring their child of Kirk Stephens and Eve movement, theater and writing Building bridges kids to musical performances Christoph, is tucked off the — which the couple believes cor- The Art Bridge vision also in an environment where the beaten path in an environment relates with the “fi ve elements” draws from the couple’s expe- arts permeate community and of apple orchards on the Shel- concept of Eastern healing tradi- riences living and working in everyday life — a quality they burne/Greenfield line in the tions. The couple’s ambition is Mexico for a number of years. thought they could bring to the former home of Don and Carole reflected in the organization’s Tepoztlán, a Mexican town of United States. Paye and the headquarters of flyer: “Feed your creative fire 32,000, is known for its artistic, Stephens also remembers a the Payes’ American Photo- in classes that fuse the literary, academic, religious and alterna- moment from his days as an un- graphic Alliance Corporation, visual, and performing arts. tive healing communities, said dergraduate studying printmak- ing at the Massachusetts College of the Arts. “I was up all night, night after night, making prints,” he said. It was at that point, he said, that he realized that, “I like do- ing art with other people, which is traditional. Art is a communal activity.” Christoph is also no stranger to collaborative art. She grew up immersed in a children’s improvisational theater school as the daughter of a teacher who trained kids in all aspects of theater. She also has 15 years of professional opera training. Christoph’s mother, Rosemary Participants in Adler-Belendez’s workshop focus Christoph, has moved from California to Buckland and will on the creative process. teach children’s theater at Art Bridge. careers might have drifted,” and how they relate.” Stephens and Christoph like is helping them cross that bridge To that end, Art Bridge offers the “bridge” metaphor, particu- to dust off their early ambitions. adult classes and workshops lar as it applies to the journey of And Art Bridge can link profes- in figure drawing, printmak- people discovering new talents. sional artists, who are often ing, writing, fi re dancing, belly Stephens described his thrill at isolated, especially in these hills, dancing and one class, “Healing seeing “someone who has never to their peers in a “relaxed and through the Five Elements and written a song before perform homey” environment, he said. the Five Arts,” described as “an an original song; someone who experimental exploration of the has never drawn before cre- Art offerings healing power of creativity and ate a beautiful 4-foot-by-4-foot ”We have a strong interest in the forces of nature.” drawing.” how art is leading to community, Courses for children and teens Stephens also noted that the to a connection with nature, to include all-kid art and theater Art Bridge founders Eve Christoph and Kirk Stephens, with their daughter organization serves “people who creativity,” Christoph said. “We ensemble, big-skirt dancing for Mahalia, in the building they are preparing for a full-scale arts program. used to be artists, but whose have an interest in all arts and continued on page 15 page 10 • Shelburne Falls Independent • March1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net CALENDAR

Workshop: 112. Information: (413) 625-9811; THURSDAY, TURNERS FALLS 1 Build a bird- www.mtrsd.k12.ma.us. MARCH feeder: Learn about natural ma- terials to make a birdfeeder. 11 a.m. Great Falls Discovery Center, 26th annual jazz 2 Avenue A. Information: (413) SATURDAY, AMHERST showcase: Fast- 3 863-3221; www.greatfallsma.org. MARCH paced concert featuring numer- ous jazz vocal ensembles and 28th annual pot- instrumental groups, including GREENFIELD Concert: Go- tery sale: Thirty- SHELBURNE FALLS the MASS marimba band. Pro- fi ve artisans sell their work at odrich and gram includes a tribute to the annual Pottery Seconds and Kaplansky: Stage premiere popular, Grammy award-win- More Sale, and Saturday, March here for Kaplansky, who opens ning jazz saxophonist Michael 3, at Greenfield High School, for multi-instrumentalist Go- Brecker, who died in January. off Silver St. on Lenox Ave. The odrich. 7:30 p.m. $20; $17, ad- Bowker Auditorium, 8 p.m. $10; popular sale features pottery, vance; $10, under 18. Hilltown $3 for UMass Amherst students; $5 glass, wood, fi ber, jewelry, paint- Folk, 51 Bridge St. (Memorial other students, senior citizens and ings and prints.6-9 p.m., Friday; Hall). Information and tickets: children younger than 18. UMass 10-2 p.m., Saturday. Through Sat- (413) 625-6878; www.hilltownfolk. Amherst Department of Music. urday, March 03. Artspace, Event com. Information: (413) 545-2511; at Greenfield High School, 1 Lenox www.umass.edu/fac/. Knitting for all: Ave. Information: (413) 772-6811; ASHFIELD www.franklyarts.org. Knitting for any- one, either sex, any level of FRIDAY, Contra dance: expertise. 2 p.m. Elmer’s General 2 GREENFIELD Moving Viola- Store, 396 Main St. Information: MARCH tions: The Moving Violations (413) 628-4403; elmersstore2@ with Sue Rosen calling Perform- verizon.net. Bethany Sterling from Heath appears as the title character in the 30th anniversary Mohawk all-school ers - Becky Ashenden (piano, musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, March 2-3 and 10-11. Children’s Art opening: Bob WILLIAMSTOWN accordion, bass), Chuck Corman ASHFIELD activity: Sto- (bass, guitar, percussion), Van Masla: Art opening rytime in galleries: Preschool- Kaynor (fi ddle) and Ron Gross- for Robert Masla, who lives ers with guardians invited to lein (fi ddle, mandolin). Swedish and paints in Ashfield and in read contemporary and classic dancing, 8-8:30 p.m.; contras from Mexico. “Over the last 12 years taneity as spring approaches bassist with the Springfield Lecture: Roots and children”s books selected to 8:30 pm. Guiding Star Grange, Robert Masla”s painting has with members of the Franklin Symphony Orchestra. 8 p.m., AMHERST Inversion: The Mu- connect to artwork on view. 10- 401 Chapman St. Information: shifted to focus primarily on the County Musicians” Cooperative Bezanson Recital Hall. $10; $3 sic Theory Lecture Series con- 10:45 a.m. Fridays through May (413) 774-2830; www.guidingstar- landscape. Working to uncover at 8 p.m. Area favorites will be for UMass Amherst students; $5 tinues with a talk by Marc Perl- 11. Free. Williams College Museum grange.org. the universal language con- performing, including Charlie other students, senior citizens and man, faculty member at Brown of Art, Main Street. Information: tained within the natural world, Apicella, Amy Bateman, Kathy children younger than 18. UMass University.12:20 p.m., Bezanson (413) 597-2429; www.wcma.org. Theater: Thorough- Masla fills the common daily and George Chapman, Joe Grav- Amherst Department of Music. Recital Hall. Free. UMass Amherst BUCKLAND ly Modern Millie setting with an aura of mysti- eline, Roland LaPierre, Pat and Information: (413) 545-2511; Department of Music. Informa- Live per- SHELBURNE FALLS at Mohawk: Taking place in New cal divinity and the suggestion Tex LaMountain, Stephanie www.umass.edu/fac/. tion: (413) 545-2511; www.umass. formance: York City in 1922, Thoroughly of other worldly experiences. Marshall, Jennie McEvoy, Laura edu/fac/. Swing Caravan: Northampton- Modern Millie tells the story of In the 1970”s Masla coined the Siersema, Russ Thomas and Film: Argentina: based acoustic gypsy band.8 young Millie Dillmount, who term Spiritrealism to describe surprise guests. BYOB. . $10 ($8 GREENFIELD Hope In Hard p.m. Free; tips appreciated. Mocha has just moved to the city in how the spiritual can manifest for seniors) at the door. Pushkin Times: Part of Greenfi eld Com- Maya’s, 47 Bridge St. Information: search of a new life for herself. in the so-called mundane reali- Gallery, 332 Main St. Information: munity College”s film series, FRIDAY, (413) 625-6292; www.myspace. It”s a New York full of intrigue ties of everyday life.” Live jazz (413) 774-2891. “Culture, Ecology, and Sustain- MARCH 9 com/mochamayas. and jazz — a time when women by Dan and Ernie. 7:30-9:30 p.m. ability, the Human Ecology were entering the workforce Elmer’s General Store, 396 Main sponsors a public presentation Photo exhibit: St. Information: (413) 628-4403; Children’s TURNERS FALLS and the rules of love and social of “Argentina: Hope In Hard WILLIAMSTOWN Stephen Gin- behavior were changing forever. [email protected]. SUNDAY, Times.” Following the film, activity: Sto- gold: Stephen Gingold explores Based on the popular movie, MARCH 4 which lasts 74 minutes, there rytime in galleries: Preschool- the world of nature, both at a Live per- ers with guardians invited to the stage version of Thoroughly SHELBURNE FALLS will be a discussion about the landscape scale and focused at Modern Millie includes a full formance: relevance of the fi lm for our own read contemporary and classic close range for details.. Great Patti DeRosa: Patti DeRosa Concert: Cel- children”s books selected to score of new songs and bright NORTHAMPTON community and country. Free Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue dance numbers. 7 p.m. Through playing contemporary acoustic ebration for refreshments. The film offers connect to artwork on view. 10 - A. Information: (413) 863-3221; Saturday, March 03. Mohawk folk “peppered with rhythm and winds and organ: UMass Am- an “inspiring look at the ways 10:45 a.m. Fridays through May www.greatfallsma.org. Trail Regional High School, Route spice.”7:30 p.m. Free; tips appre- herst’s wind ensemble and in which ordinary Argentinians 11. Free. Williams College Museum ciated. Mocha Maya’s, 47 Bridge symphony band, conducted by from diverse backgrounds came of Art, Main Street. Information: St. Information: (413) 625-6292; professor Laura Rexroth, fea- together to help each other (413) 597-2429; www.wcma.org. www.myspace.com/mochamayas. tures two of the Pioneer Valley’s survive, as well create alterna- premier organists, Larry Schi- tive grassroots economic and Reading: J. G. Instruction: pull and Christopher Thornley, NORTHAMPTON Hayes: South TURNERS FALLS political structures, in the wake Free ice fish- performing works by Charles of the 2000-2001 collapse of the Boston author J.G. Hayes reads ing class: Join MASSWildlife”s Knox, Charles Ives, Sergei Rach- Argentine economy—a collapse from his novel, A Map of the Har- expert angler, Jim Lagacy, who maninoff, Camille Saint-Saëns seen as a result of the ‘global bor Islands.8 p.m. Northampton’s will cover equipment basics, and Toshio Mashima. 4 p.m. economy; and the policies of Pride & Joy, 20 Crafts Ave. Infor- '-i]EdiiZgn techniques, fi sh identifi cation Free. University of Massachusetts the International Monetary mation: (413) 585-0683; www. and angler ethics, followed by Chamber Choir, St. John’s Epis- Fund and the World Bank.”7 nohoprideandjoy.com. HZXdcYhVcYBdgZHVaZ a fi eld trip to Barton Cove. All copal Church, 48 Elm St. (Rt. 9, p.m., Social Sciences Studio, Room ages; space is limited. 10 a.m. next to Smith College). Informa- Reading: 115 in East Building. Greenfield BRATTLEBORO, Vt. ;g^YVn!BVgX]'"+".eb™HVijgYVn!BVgX]("&%Vb"'eb Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 tion: (413) 545-2227; www.umass. Community College, 1 College J. G. Hayes: iZbhÄBVeaZHngje8VcYn localnet.com.. Symposium: Re- SHELBURNE FALLS Bd]Vl`IgV^a8daaZXi^WaZh GREENFIELD Shawshank 141 Buckland Rd. • Ashfield, MA • 628-0158 I"H]^gihHlZVih]^gih ligious contribu- Redemption: An unusual story >cY^Vc"HinaZIdnh[dg@^Yh tions to conflict resolution: Pro- about time, loyalty, patience TUESDAY, fessor of Practice in Religion, and hope as two men serving 6 Ethnicity and International life sentences (Tim Robbins MARCH Conflict at Harvard Divinity and Morgan Freeman, who nar- School, David Little, speaks rates) become friends and fi ght MkZ]bmbhgZe on religious contributions to off despair. “Transcending the Concert: All Ameri- AMHERST confl ict resolution.2-4 p.m. For clichés of the prison fi lm, this M bf[^k?kZf^ can: The Tuesdays those age 50 and older. $10/two- is an allegory of holding on to in Bezanson concert series re- hour symposium for members a sense of personal worth under

Birding excur- TURNERS FALLS sion: Join the Hampshire Bird Club on this TUESDAY, excursion to investigate bird MARCH 13 life at wheelchair-accessible and lively birding locations Presentation: in the Connecticut River Val- TURNERS FALLS ley. Binoculars and scopes are Mount Toby: available for use as are portable Slide presentation on the cultur- folding chairs, large print fi eld al history and habitat changes guides, monopods and listen- that have taken place, and ing devices.10 a.m. Great Falls about the special species that Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A. In- reside at Mt. Toby, plus explore formation: (413) 545-5758; www. land conservation methods greatfallsma.org. practiced there. 6:30 p.m. Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue The Shawshank Redemption, starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins, comes to Pothole Pictures. See entries for Friday, March 9 Learn about A. Information: (413) 863-3221; and Saturday, March 10. TURNERS FALLS National Wild- www.greatfallsma.org. life Refuge System: Learn about Concert: Avanti Plus the system, from 1903, when the AMHERST system was created, to the local plays Beethoven: Center. A special tour of exhib- Silvio O. Conte refuge today. 1 While collaboration among fac- its will be led by local mural p.m. Free. Great Falls Discovery ulty members at a University is artist Frank Gregory. 6 p.m. Great Center, 2 Avenue A. Information: not uncommon, collaborations Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A. (413) 863-3221; www.greatfallsma. among students and faculty on Information: (413) 774-3505; dir. org. large projects is rare. For their gardenweb.com/directory/ggc. annual collaborative concert the Live per- Avanti Wind Quintet has invited SHELBURNE FALLS formance: several of their most talented Nicole Berke: Up-and-coming students to perform three works FRIDAY, pianist/singer/songwriter.8:30 for large chamber ensemble: MARCH 16 p.m. Free; tips appreciated. Mocha Ludwig van Beethoven’s So- Maya’s, 47 Bridge St. Information: nata Pathetique, Op. 13 (arr. For Harmonie ensemble); Eugene Children’s (413) 625-6292; www.myspace. WILLIAMSTOWN com/mochamayas. Goossens’ Fantasy for Winds, activity: Sto- Op. 36; and Charles Gounod’s rytime in galleries: Preschool- Movie: The Petite Symphonie for Winds.. ers with guardians invited to SHELBURNE FALLS Shawshank Call for pricing. UMass Amherst read contemporary and classic Redemption: An unusual story Department of Music. Informa- children”s books selected to about time, loyalty, patience tion: (413) 545-2511; www.umass. connect to artwork on view. 10- and hope as two men serving edu/fac/. 10:45 a.m. Fridays through May life sentences (Tim Robbins 11. Free. Williams College Museum and Morgan Freeman, who nar- of Art, Main Street. Information: rates) become friends and fi ght WEDNESDAY, (413) 597-2429; www.wcma.org. off despair. “Transcending the 14 Live per- clichés of the prison fi lm, this MARCH SHELBURNE FALLS is an allegory of holding on to formance: Creative Commons photo/Alexander Glazkov a sense of personal worth under Swing Caravan: Northampton- The history of the Quabbin Reservoir will be the subject of a forthcoming talk. See entry for March Parenting: Weekly 25. the worst circumstances. Not ASHFIELD based acoustic gypsy jazz group, afraid to show bleakness, it still breakfast: Parents Swing Caravan.8 p.m. Free; tips manages to be joyful, moral, and gather for breakfast after the appreciated. Mocha Maya’s, 47 uplifting.” Bob Gunton, James kids are in school.9 a.m. Elmer’s Bridge St. Information: (413) Whitmore. Directed by Frank General Store, 396 Main St. Infor- 625-6292; www.myspace.com/mo- diet, and the availability of local Darabont. (1994. R. 142 min.; mation: (413) 628-4403; elmerss- chamayas. and imported foodstuffs. Regis- John W. Richardson color.) Music preceding the [email protected]. trants may sign up for more than show: Trio Prism (avante classi- one class and are encouraged to attorney cal). 7 p.m., music; 7:30 p.m., film. SATURDAY, bring an apron, pen and paper 32 Bridge Street • Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 $6 at the door or one prepurchased THURSDAY, 17 to class. 10 a.m.-2:30 p.m. $45 per ticket. Pothole Pictures, 51 Bridge 15 MARCH person, per class ($40 for member 413-625-6637 • fax: 413-625-6286 • [email protected] St. (Memorial Hall). Information: MARCH of Historic Deerfield). Historic 25-plus years of experience (413) 625-2896; www.shelburnefalls. Deerfield, Old Main Street. Infor- com. Concert: The mation: (413) 775-7214; www. House calls for the elderly and homebound Symposium: Po- NORTHAMPTON GREENFIELD Big Bad Bol- historic-deerfield.org. Annual Gar- land: Amesbury locks: . Iron Horse Music Hall, • Real Estate • Elder Issues • Estate Settlement CHARLEMONT dener’s Brunch: Professor of Polish Language, 20 Center St. Information and Dance: St. Patrick’s • Wills and General Consultations John O’Brien, president of the Literature and Culture at UMass pricing: (413) 584-0610; www. BUCKLAND Day Salsa: St. Pat- New England Hosta Society, will Amherst, Robert Rothstein, will iheg.com. rick’s Day salsa dance. Lessons present a program, “Hostas and speak about Poland. 2-4 p.m. For included. Snacks provided. those age 50 and older. Also Thurs- Knitting for all: Their Shady Friends.” Stephanie ASHFIELD Partners not required. 7:30-8:30 Markham, iris hybridizer, will day, March 22. $10/two-hour sym- Knitting for any- p.m. $12. Buckland Democratic Deep Tissue and Swedish Massage present a program, “Miniature posium for members and $15/two- one, either sex, any level of Committee. Event at Buckland Tall-Bearded Iris, Their De- hour program for nonmembers. expertise. 2 p.m. Elmer’s General Public Hall, 15 Upper St. Informa- • Pain management/relief velopment, and Latest Break- Greenfield Community College, Store, 396 Main St. Information: tion: 413-625-6019; lesmcdonough@ • Increased circulation/mobility throughs.”10 a.m. Western New Office of Community Education (413) 628-4403; elmersstore2@ hotmail.com. • General relaxation England Iris Society, Stillwaters, and Senior Symposia Program, verizon.net. plus many other benefi ts 1745 Mohawk Trail. Information, 270 Main St. Information: (413) Live per- 775-1681; www.gcc.mass.edu. Activity: Green SHELBURNE FALLS cost and reservations (required by TURNERS FALLS formance: March 6): (413) 624-8800; www. for the day: Leo Baldwin: Local teacher Tranquil Touch therapeutic massage Concert: Collabora- Explore the shades of green in irisgarden.org. AMHERST and musician Leo Baldwin.8 Christina M. Jette, LMT • (413) 834-7178 tions par excellence: the natural landscape. An art p.m. Free; tips appreciated. Mocha Johannes Brahms’ German Re- and nature activity for all that Maya’s, 47 Bridge St. Information: 30/60/90-MIN. SESSIONS BY APPOINTMENT • GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE quiem performed by more than will focus our attention on some (413) 625-6292; www.myspace. SUNDAY, 300 musicians. The UMass. Am- details of nature’s green. 11 a.m. com/mochamayas. MARCH 11 herst Chorale, Chamber Choir Free. Great Falls Discovery Center, and University Orchestra will 2 Avenue A. Information: (413) be joined by the Springfield 863-3221; www.greatfallsma.org. Concert: Sheronick Symphony Chorus.8 p.m., Fine WEDNESDAY, AMHERST Arts Center Concert Hall. $10; $3 Instruction: Open 21 Project: Faculty DEERFIELD MARCH concerts series continues with for UMass Amherst students; $5 hearth cooking: Kathryn Lockwood on viola other students, senior citizens and A series of six one-day classes and guest Yousif Sheronick children younger than 18. UMass offered at Historic Deerfi eld in Parenting: Weekly on percussion, drawing from Amherst Department of Music. open hearth cooking for those ASHFIELD breakfast: Parents their New York City home with Information: (413) 545-2511; interested in historic foodways gather for breakfast after the commissioned compositions www.umass.edu/fac/. and hearth management. In the kids are in school.9 a.m. Elmer’s encompassing jazz, European 1786 Hall Tavern kitchen, mu- General Store, 396 Main St. Infor- Meeting: classical and world traditions. 4 TURNERS FALLS seum guides will demonstrate mation: (413) 628-4403; elmerss- p.m., Bezanson Recital Hall. $10; Greenfield cookery techniques and lead [email protected]. $3 for UMass Amherst students; $5 Garden Club tours Great Falls: discussions on 18th and early other students, senior citizens and Join the Greenfi eld Garden Club 19th century food preperation, Reading: children younger than 18. UMass for its public monthly meeting preservation tech., seasonality, SHELBURNE FALLS “A Sense Amherst Department of Music. at the Great Falls Discovery of Place”: Local writers Rus- sell Powell, William MacLeish, Richard Todd, Susie Patlove and Patrician Donohue read '*/&
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Uncommon handcrafted jewelry Diverse New Books Homemade Soups, Breads, Desserts Objets d’Art — Salads, Sandwiches, Steaks, Seafood, Pasta, Vegetarian & More! — ANDERING Tuesday–Sunday W Lunch 11–3 MOON Dinner from 5 Wednesday–Saturday 10:30–5 Sunday brunch Sunday 11–4 11–1 Tuesday by chance / Closed Monday  Closed Monday 59 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls (413) 625-9667 Swing Caravan, regulars at Mocha Maya’s, will perform at that coffeehouse on March 16. page 12 • Shelburne Falls Independent • March1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net

MORE CALENDAR HEALTH

THURSDAY, FRIDAY, SUNDAY, MARCH 22 MARCH 23 MARCH 25

Symposium: Po- Children’s Concert: Lu- GREENFIELD land: Amesbury WILLIAMSTOWN activity: Sto- NORTHAMPTON cinda Williams Professor of Polish Language, rytime in galleries: Preschool- on stage: Country/blues/folk/ Literature and Culture at UMass ers with guardians invited to rock singer, named by Time as Amherst, Robert Rothstein, will read contemporary and classic America”s best songwriter and speak about Poland. 2-4 p.m. For children”s books selected to a multi-Grammy Award-winner. 8 those age 50 and older. $10/two- connect to artwork on view. 10- p.m. Calvin Theater, 19 King St. hour symposium for members 10:45 a.m. Fridays through May Information and pricing: (413) and $15/two-hour program for 11. Free. Williams College Museum 584-1444; www.iheg.com. nonmembers. Greenfield Commu- of Art, Main Street. Information: nity College, Office of Community (413) 597-2429; www.wcma.org. Education and Senior Symposia TUESDAY, Program, 270 Main St. Informa- 27 tion: (413) 775-1681; www.gcc. MARCH mass.edu. SATURDAY, MARCH 24 BELCHERTOWN Lecture: Quab- bin Reservoir: Show: Hands Across Originally developed in the AMHERST the Valley: 11th an- 1930s as a drinking water sup- nual quilt show Hands Across ply for metropolitan Boston, the the Valley Quilt Guild organized Quabbin Reservoir reservation “the Deerfield Challenge,” today represents the largest con- based on former Conway resi- tiguous parcel of protected open dent Electa Field’s 1825 piece- space in southern New England. work top quilt, unusual in that Part of the “Special Places In it tells a story in words. Others the Valley” series by the Valley who created message quilts Environmental Education Col- emulating Field’s will display laborative. 7 p.m. Quabbin Visitor their work in the group’s 11th Center, 485 Ware Road (Route annual show. The exhibit moves 9). Information: (413) 323-7221; to Memorial Hall Museum in www.mass.gov/dcr/waterSupply/wa- Old Deerfield, where Field’s tershed/dwmed.htm. WINTER HOURS quilt was donated in 1964, from May 1-Oct. 31.. Through Sunday, Web site work- 10 a.m. –4 p.m. CHESTERFIELD Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday March 25. Hands Across the Valley, shop: Web site You can perform a preliminary test for symptoms of macular degeneration by looking at an Amherst College. Information: ; workshop by marketing consul- Amsler grid (pictured). Shelburne Falls, MA www.handsacrossthevalley.org. tant Karen Lauter Utgoff, Web Overlooking the Glacial Potholes Instructions: site designer Silvana Gravini 1. If you wear glasses for reading, put them on. 413-625-6789 Concert: Mary and writer Jeanne Yocum. . $35 NORTHAMPTON 2. Cover one eye and stare at the white dot in the center of the grid. Chapin Car- (tuition waivers available for 3. The lines of the grid should be straight and at right angles. If the lines are wavy, blurred, penter: . Iron Horse Music Hall, low- and moderate-income people). or distorted, or if there are any holes in the grid, call your eye doctor and let them know. 20 Center St. Information and Hilltown Community Develop- 4. Be sure to test both eyes. pricing: (413) 584-0610; www. ment Corporation, 387 Main Rd. iheg.com. Information: (413) 296-4536; www.hilltowncdc.org. Knitting for all: ASHFIELD Knitting for any- one, either sex, any level of Are you at risk for expertise. 2 p.m. Elmer’s General WEDNESDAY, Store, 396 Main St. Information: MARCH 28 (413) 628-4403; elmersstore2@ verizon.net. macular degeneration? Parenting: Weekly ASHFIELD More about breakfast: Parents By Max Breiteneicher the macula can become thinned all the way to people, buildings TURNERS FALLS gather for breakfast after the bald eagles: max@sfi ndependent.net and lose function. This results and animals. This is called Learn about what phase the kids are in school.9 a.m. Elmer’s ————— in gradually losing the central Charles Bonnet Syndrome. bald eagles are in their nest- General Store, 396 Main St. Infor- SHELBURNE FALLS—Ac- portion of vision over a period It’s suspected that many more ing and reproduction cycle at mation: (413) 628-4403; elmerss- cording to statistics at www.pdr. of years, although peripheral people with macular degenera- Barton Cove.11 a.m. Free. Great [email protected]. com, nearly 2 million people in vision is unaffected. This is one tion have this syndrome than Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue the U.S. suffer from macular de- type of macular degeneration, tell their doctors about it, since Live perfor- A. Information: (413) 863-3221; TURNERS FALLS generation — a condition that called the “dry” stage, which they are worried about being www.greatfallsma.org. mance: Pat causes decreased vision, and accounts for about 90 percent thought of as crazy, despite the and Tex LaMountain: Pat and for some people, blindness. of all cases. The other form of fact that doctors are well aware Tex LaMountain and Friends Macular degeneration is the macular degeneration is called of this syndrome. Friday and Saturday, Mar. 9–10 • 7:30 p.m. perform. 7 p.m. $5-$10. Great leading cause of major vision the “wet” stage. It’s much less There is no cure for macular Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue loss in people older than 60 common, and occurs when degeneration, but early detec- A. Information: (413) 863-3221; and, as Baby Boomers age, it’s abnormal blood vessels grow tion can speed treatments that GFK?FC< The Shawshank www.greatfallsma.org. something to pay attention to. behind the macula. These tend reduce or retard vision loss Who’s at risk for macular to hemorrhage and cause scar and new treatments are being Workshop: Redemption CHESTERFIELD degeneration? Dr. Dezal Desai tissue which can lead, if un- studied aggressively as more of “Creating Mar- G@:KLI

568267 ers with guardians invited to 413-625-9353 is responsible for the clearest, a clock, for example, you degeneration, we like to see read contemporary and classic most direct vision. When you children”s books selected to could see everything around them every four to six months, look directly at something, the the clock but not the clock’s for regular eye checks, just to connect to artwork on view. 10- light refl ecting off that thing 10:45 a.m. Fridays through May face. The space surrounding watch the progression of the is fi ltered through the eye and the blurred patch can appear disease, to make sure it’s not 11. Free. Williams College Museum forms an image on the macula. of Art, Main Street. Information: distorted or wavy. Some people changing rapidly,” Desai said. This image is then translated experience visual hallucina- For more information, check (413) 597-2429; www.wcma.org. into electrical impulses and tions in the blurred patch as out the Macular Degeneration transmitted through the optic Symposium: the degeneration gets worse. Research Fund at www.eyesight. GREENFIELD nerve to the brain. These hallucinations can range org. Shakespeare: G. As people age, the tissue of ¶ 9l\eGifm\Z_f  C.C. Professor of English Lillian from simple geometric patterns Ruiz discusses Shakespeare as a social progressive. 1-3 p.m. For I]ZdcaneaVXZ[dgVaViZW^iZidZVi those age 50 and older. $10/two- hour symposium for members and $15/two-hour program for Education and Senior Symposia fundraiser, including dinner, and masterful step dancing.” <^[iXZgi^ÒXViZhVkV^aVWaZ nonmembers. Greenfield Commu- Program, 270 Main St. Informa- raffl e, silent and live auctions Plus: Rani Arbo and Andrew nity College, Office of Community tion: (413) 775-1681; www.gcc. of local products and services. Kinsey, of Salamandar Crossing mass.edu. Business owners are encouraged and Daisy Mayhem. 7:30 p.m. to donate items by contacting $20; $17, advance; $10, under 18. Lloyd Crawford, SFABA auction Hilltown Folk, 51 Bridge St. (Me- SATURDAY, chairman, at StumpSprouts@ morial Hall). Information: (413) J H SHERBURNE StumpSprouts.com or (413) 625-6878; www.hilltownfolk.com. MARCH 31 339-4265.5 p.m. Dinner prices and F I N E A R T details to be announced. Shelburne Knitting for all: PORTRAITS Falls Area Business Association; ASHFIELD Knitting for any- Benefit: SFABA &F R A M I N G CHARLEMONT event at Stillwaters, 1745 Route one, either sex, any level of dinner/auction: 2. Information: (413) 625-2526; expertise. 2 p.m. Elmer’s General • Beautiful • Shelburne Falls Area Business www.shelburnefalls.com. Store, 396 Main St. Information: • Unique • Association hosts its annual (413) 628-4403; elmersstore2@ Concert: verizon.net. • Affordable • SHELBURNE FALLS Le Vent Du PHOTO FRAMES Nord and Rani Arbo/Andrew Tom Ricardi Kids’ Fencing Kinsley: Quebecois music from TURNERS FALLS and a live bald &%7g^Y\ZHigZZi!H]ZaWjgcZ;Vaah™)&(+'*"%'%% Custom framing Lessons winners of the 2004 Canadian eagle: Celebrate the success sto- by the Artist/Owner JUNO Award for Best Roots ry of the bald eagle. 1 p.m. Great DeZcLZYcZhYVnhVcYHjcYVnh)Ä&% PPFA Certified Picture Framer and Traditional Album of the Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue 40 State Street • Shelburne Falls Year. Quartet features hurdy- A. Information: (413) 863-3221; gurdy, fi ddle, accordion, guitar, www.greatfallsma.org. 413.625.8306 I]jghYVnh!;g^YVnh!HVijgYVnh)Ä&& mandolin, “powerful singing Overlooking the Bridge of Flowers Shelburne Falls Independent • March 1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net • page 13 OUTDOORS AND NATURE

Memories of a special friend — and our bond over ‘the turkeys’

SHELBURNE grave. I take pleasure in know- s March arrives and ing that this sound is heard South Face Farm Sugarhouse spring turkey hunting ON THE RIDGE there often. My friend Esther Open Saturdays and Sundays A draws near, I fi nd that would have liked that. my passion for hunting the Good hunting. February 24–April 1 great bird remains as great By Joe Judd Hours: 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. as it was on that fi rst morn- joe@sfi ndependent.net Joe Judd, a regular contributor ing years ago, when I moved to the Independent, was out toward the top of some ridgge, of town this week and selected somewhere, in pursuit of that this favorite column from his (413) 628-3268 gobbling monarch singing its archives. morning love songs. Many more ridges have been Waffles • Pancakes • Bacon & Sausage • French Toast • Fritters • Eggs climbed since that morning Off Route 116, about 5 miles northwest of Ashfield Center. Watch for signs. and many chess matches have and that we were very eager to more traffi c began showing up been played out between me have a bigger place. in her part of the world. For more information and directions: www.southfacefarm.com and this great bird, but one Well, the only thing that She took to these new inhab- thing always reminds me of really made an impression itants of her farm quickly, and the early years of my turkey was that I had married Linda before you knew it, Esther and hunting career. That reminder Churchill and this, I’m posi- I had another topic for con- is, and always will be, my tive, convinced Esther that we versation — a wonderful topic unforgettable friendship with might be a couple she might — to add to our repertoire. She Esther Herron. like to rent to. would talk to anyone about I fi rst met Esther in 1976 “the turkeys.” It became an when Linda and I rented one of Little did either of us know at almost-daily topic. her many houses in Shelburne the time that the relationship As our knowledge about Center. Over 20 years of our would be a constant of our the birds increased and my lives was spent in that house. lives over the next 22 years. career as the “turkey man” We watched our children grow During that time, Esther and evolved, Esther and I fi nally up there. We hoped to someday I found out that we had much had an equal playing fi eld on own that house, as we wanted in common: a love of nature, a topic we both enjoyed and nothing more than to live out enjoying and appreciating the that we were both involved in our lives on Shelburne Center farm life and open spaces, long from the beginning. For years Road. But as we all know, life visits, primroses, wildlife, local we watched and marvelled as at times has other plans in history — and long visits. the turkeys’ numbers grew. store for us. Oh, how I used to love to We enjoyed together, and Still, our days on Shelburne visit with her. Local history with others, the daily lives of Center Road will never be just fl owed from that women. these great birds, and through forgotten, and the friendship And when you fi nally found our love and respect for this I formed with Esther Herron your way into her inner circle resource, our friendship grew will most certainly be part of (which, by the way, took me in so many other ways. my being for as long as I live. about eight years), she would We got to know each other freely share whatever she and truly cared about what was The fi rst time I met Esther could. happening in our respective Herron, she was on her hands The only disagreements we lives as well as the lives of our and knees scrubbing the din- had were over hunting. families. She shared so much ing room fl oor at the Shelburne She didn’t like hunting, but with me. She taught me so Center house. I approached she tried to be tolerant of it. much about Shelburne, helped her carefully as I walked Her major problem was people me grow, and gave me and my through the open porch door not respecting her rights as a family the opportunity to have without her noticing that she landowner. She did not allow a home in this town. had company. Not wanting to hunting on her property — pe- At her funeral I said I would startle her I softly announced riod. And she would enforce never forget Esther Herron, my presence, but, of course, I that rule even if it meant and that will always remain startled her anyway. patrolling her land herself. true. There is no doubt in my “Who are you?” she asked At the age of 70, or there- mind that Esther and I were after the initial shock. “Don’t abouts, she was running the destined to meet. The course you know how to knock?” ridges of her property, hanging my life has taken in regards Thus my fi rst encounter with Posted: No Hunting signs from to my love of the wild turkey Esther was somewhat less than top to bottom. And she thought leads me to think this would perfect. When things calmed nothing of confronting any not have happened to me in down a bit, I introduced myself trespasser who happened on such a way had I not met Es- and explained that I was there her property uninvited. ther Herron. I cannot listen to to talk with her about renting But if you wanted to walk a wild turkey gobbling without the house. and enjoy her land and asked thinking of her. During the Her clear response was she her permission to do so, she spring turkey seasons I have wasn’t interested in renting to would usually welcome you started taking fl owers to her just anybody. I quickly men- openly. When the wild turkeys gravesite, a practice I feel is tioned that I was the guy who fi rst arrived in Shelburne, fi tting. had married Linda Churchill, Esther’s land was the fi rst One year, when I called on that we had been living in Mac place where people could view Esther, I could hear a turkey McKinnon’s barn apartments, these creatures openly. Thus, gobbling not far from her

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By Max Breiteneicher tively brutal times – through work of real quality you need to max@sfi ndependent.net two world wars, under Austro- be able to have access to space ————— ASHFIELD—It’s a dark night Hungarian rule and Soviet and, on a regular basis. Performance in Ashfield and wet snow pat- finally, German occupation and rehearsal spaces are very ters on the peaked roof of the – Schultz’s writings and drawings expensive. We want to be able to hushed Double Edge Theatre. have little of the sober fatalism have guests, we want to be able A small crowd on wooden risers that his historical context would to have artists come and share watches as Matthew Glassman seem to suggest. Indeed, his with the community and col- paints in silence something writings have been looked upon laborate with us, we want to be unseen on a cloth spread upon as a precursor to Magic Real- able to rehearse and create on a the stage fl oor. At a table behind ism, where ordinary experience regular basis; we want to be able him, Carlos Uriona cranks out a is transformed into a shifting to teach, to have students here thick paste from a meat grinder, and imaginative dream world, and work with young people, while Carroll Durand meditates wondrous and ephemeral. His and have an exhibition space over an open book. This quiet, drawings are similarly hard to for local artists, and in order to contemplative scene is shattered pin down. do that, you need to have the resources to maintain space and a few minutes later when a band The journey of ragamuffi n musicians tumbles to maintain people.” from a wardrobe at the back of Matthew Glassman plays Jo- Ultimately, Double Edge mem- the stage. They strike up a folk seph, who is Schultz’s character, bers would like to be self-sustain- song on accordion, clarinet, and in “Republic of Dreams.” He ing in the manner of successful fi ddle and begin the hour-long came here seven years ago as an homesteaders, being able to feed wild, relentless and whirling apprentice and is now the associ- and house themselves while leav- play that alternately solidifi es ate artistic producing director ing the majority of their time for and dissolves its form, sense and of Double Edge Theatre. Sitting artistic creation. meaning. at a long wooden table in the “It’s a struggle, and we haven’t This is one of the final pre- group kitchen, with music echo- reached that place yet, that views of Double Edge Theatre’s ing from the theatre upstairs, equilibrium, but that’s our goal production of their play “Re- he explains this production of with the farm, is to find a way public of Dreams,” based on the Schultz’s work. to survive, where we can survive life and work of Bruno Schultz, “This performance is a jour- and create, and have it be holis- a Polish Jew murdered during ney through his imagination,” tic, and not be compromised,” WWII. Glassman says. “One could in- Glassman says. Though he garnered some ac- terpret it as a journey through The idea of the self-sustaining claim in his country during his what one sees before they die, and holistic artistic community lifetime, Schultz is by no means all the parts of their life and is very attractive to those who well known. Save for a stint as a their work, which are really one know the diffi culty of trying to student in Vienna, he lived most thing. Our research is based on be a full-time artist in today’s of his life in his hometown of his two pieces of fi ction, one is business-driven world. Glassman Drohobycz, Poland (now part of Sanatorium Under the Sign of the says the model of this type of the Ukraine) and left behind a Hourglass, that’s the primary lit- community exists in Europe, but scant body of work: two experi- erary force in this performance, is a relatively new idea here. mental short story collections and then secondly his other writ- “That’s really what brought about life in Drohobycz, begin- ings, called Street of Crocodiles. me here,” he says. “I have a son nings of a novel (that has never “There’s equal value given and I didn’t want to be a starv- been found, but is rumored to to his artworks, which also run ing artist with a son, that’s a big be held in KGB archives) about parallel to his written work. contradiction to me.” the Jewish Messiah appearing in They’re about him, they’re about “And then through a professor Drohobycz and a variety of draw- his family, they’re about his I found out about Double Edge ings, paintings and etchings. imagination, intertwined with and I realized that there was a He taught drawing at the sec- reality. Some of his drawings way that you could do both. So I ondary school in Drohobycz from are erotic and based on sexual realized that there was a model. 1924 until the Germans occupied fantasy, and some even have a The usual model in America is the town in 1941. Schultz was childlike imagination to them. renting a space, as well as hav- then taken under the protective In all of his work there is a real ing a lot of other jobs, so for so wing of Felix Landau, a Gestapo richness of imagination, a kind many people the time where offi cer who liked his artwork and of boundlessness, and a fervor you’re actually working on your who employed Schultz cataloging to imagine and imagine more, to work is so out of proportion books and painting murals on go deeper into the relationship with all the time and energy you the walls of his house. Schultz between what’s happening in have to spend to get the simple was shot twice in the head by a reality and in imagination. For things you need: food, space and Gestapo offi cer in the streets of us this is very important work, time.” because of the priority given to the Drohobycz ghetto in 1942. Submitted/Robert Tobey Training for acting The man who killed Schultz, the power of the imagination, and to the power of dream, the “Armoire March,” from Double Edge Theatre’s Republic of Dreams: Under the Sign of the Crocodile, Another unusual aspect of Karl Gunther, was angry at Lan- based on the writing, artwork and life of Bruno Schulz. The performance was conceived and directed dau for killing a Jewish dentist power of vision. The imagina- Double Edge is a focus on a tion enables individuals to see by Stacy Klein, co-created with Carlos Uriona and Matthew Glassman, with Carroll Durand and the regimen of physical training, he favored. The story goes that Double Edge Ensemble, composed by Jacek Ostaszewski and designed by Mira Zelechower-Aleksiun. Schultz was planning to escape beyond what’s in front of them, to improvisation, and study. not be only robots or automatons Pictured: Carlos Uriona (the Father), Matthew Glassman (Bruno, Joseph) and Jeremy Louise Eaton As Glassman talks, a group to Warsaw the next day. (Adela). Though he lived in compara- to the machinery of reality that’s of students emerge from the handed to them, to not only fol- theatre and descend the stair low orders, but to see reality, to he explains. ing homogenized, has less and outside the window behind him. perceive it, through emotion, and “The idea of the farm is that, less value. If something doesn’t They are bobbing and weaving, through experience, and through like farming, through hard work, have a utilitarian function, it hopping and striking strange one’s humanity, and to imagine perseverance and dedication, seems to have less value, which poses. how it can be different.” through collaboration and com- means it’s not going to be paid “They are doing physical train- Freedom through imagina- munity, we can grow something for, which means you can’t eat. ing,” he explains. “It’s meant to tion is a driving force in both that we consider to be important We think this is very important, confront and engage with physi- Schultz’s work and the work done to the world around us, which is we think culture is vital to the cal limits. Sometimes we take at Double Edge. In Schultz’s case theatre, and imagination, expres- world, so we want it to survive, long runs, sometimes we work his imagination allowed him to sion and education,” he says.”I as well as on our terms, so the with balance, but the idea is to transcend the cold realities of think the farm is meant to be farm is meant to help provide work for long periods of time life under the dictates of war a place where people from the for the survival of the art, and physically, to get out of a daily and fascism, as well as the mun- hill towns to Eastern Europe and vice-versa.” mentality, as well as to get out dane reality of life in an obscure South America can have a place In an attempt at this survival, of preconceptions. We’re looking Polish city. Such imagination for exchange. Also, the vision Double Edge maintains a large to enter the creative process, as allows a kind of freedom, Glass- of the farm is as a place where garden during the summer, the well as the performance, with a man says, “in the face of war survival is possible, where the produce from which feeds the heightened energy, a heightened or destruction or inhumanities, art and survival are intertwined. students that attend the summer awareness, in order to be able to or even something as simple as I mean survival like economic training program. In order to take physical risks, in order to solitude and loneliness.” survival. I think this kind of goes survive, they also need to create create a larger-than-life world “I think for us, and maybe for back to Schultz and prioritizing exceptional work. The farm is that one experiences viscerally Bruno Schultz, the power of the the imagination. The art and cul- intended to make this possible so that the audience member imagination is the power to go ture in our country, and more and as well, Glassman says. is seeing something that they past one’s self, and to go past more in the world as it’s becom- “In order to create original continued on the next page the limits of reality,” says Glass- man. “There are other faculties that would seem today to be given more weight; maybe it’s technology or maybe it’s knowl- edge, maybe it’s something like functionality, or maybe it’s com- merce. So I think for us, to bring priority back to the imagination is important. There also seems to be a real lack of empowerment in today’s world, a kind of helpless- ness about lots of things that are going on. I think as artists and as individuals, the work of Bruno Schultz and the vitality of the imagination, the sort of urgency, MIRICK the compulsion to imagine, to create, to go further, is a vital INSURANCE AGENCY tool for change, and for hope.” Growing imagination Serving the community for over 26 years. Prioritizing the imagination is at the very heart of Double Insurance Made Easy! Edge’s current incarnation, here on a 105-acre former dairy farm. AUTOMOTIVE The group was founded by Stacy Klein and Carroll Durand in HOMEOWNERS Boston in 1982. They moved here, where they have converted and CONTRACTORS restored the buildings, in 1995. The dairy barn now holds rooms BUSINESSOWNERS for 30 students, who come for various trainings and appren- 28 BRIDGE ST., SHELBURNE FALLS, MA ticeships, ranging from a day to three months. The old hay loft 413-625-9437 has become the theatre. WWW. .COM Glassman is one of four per- MIRICKINS manent residents at the farm, Matthew Glassman as Bruno,painting. Shelburne Falls Independent • March 1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net • page 15

Art Bridge ______from section front Double Edge______from previous page Mohawk students girls and sword and fantasy class- didn’t really need us. We were couldn’t have expected, or some- or story in which the audience es with local fencing instructor looking for someplace positive thing that they couldn’t have travels around the farm, follow- Thomas Rabideau. Art Bridge where we could offer art, where imagined doing, as well as feel- ing the actors to different stages, present Thoroughly is planning a summer camp for we could give.” ing, hopefully, as though viscer- inside and outside. children similar to the one that Since launching Art Bridge, ally entering someplace that is “It changes each year, the launched its offerings in 2006. Stephens and Christoph have quite non-daily. We train through journey of the audience, and Modern Millie The center’s community events started the daunting task of rais- action. Acting for us really means the story,” Glassman says. “We include monthly “performance ing $60,000 to retrofi t the cam- action, fi rst. Ultimately, also, to use spectacle, we use circus, BUCKLAND—The frisky flappers and dashing, dapper potlucks.” These events, on the pus, which includes the former prepare in this way, and to work street theatre, fi re-arts like fi re gents of the roaring twenties are coming to the Mohawk Trail third Thursday of each month factory, a house and outbuildings. in this way, should take us to juggling and fl ying of all sorts, Regional High School Stage this March in Mohawk’s 30th from 6 p.m.-12 a.m. include During preliminary renovations places where our daily masks work with objects, lots of music, Annual All-School Musical production of the Broadway hit “living puppet theater,” perfor- this fall and winter, Stephens has can be removed and we hopefully lots of images. They’re really Thoroughly Modern Millie. mances and a dance party. Every taken business classes with the can share vulnerability with each just a fantastic experience for “The show features talented young performers in a high- fourth Thursday from 7-9 p.m. a Franklin County Community De- other and with our audience. everybody. We try to prioritize energy production that will take audiences on a whirlwind trip world dance cabaret offers belly- velopment Corporation and has This is also an important part of largeness. Like our grain silo in to New York City at the height of the Jazz Age,” said longtime and world-dance performances begun the process of incorporat- Schultz’s work; the vulnerability the past has been a battlefi eld, musical director Nick Waynelovich. “Throw in a dragon-lady and a “tea house.” ing as a nonprofi t organization. and the fragility of the human or has been an asylum, and the of a villainess that audiences will love to hate, and Thoroughly Stephens also teaches part-time experience.” barn’s transformed into a court. Modern Millie is a perfectly constructed evening of madcap A place to give at the Greenfi eld Center School, We’ve had large wheels set on Choosing art merriment.” Stephens and Christoph met which the couple’s daughter, fi re and descend into the pond, Winner of Six Tony Awards Thoroughly Modern Millie makes at the Cummington Community Mahalia, attends. The Argentinean writer Jorge we’ve had giant puppet armies its Franklin County debut after a successful run on Broadway. of the Arts, an artists’ retreat The business plan calls for Borges was fond of saying that come down from the hills.” Thoroughly Modern Millie is underwritten by The Bank of in Cummington, in 1992, where renting six artists’ studios for there is no such thing as a defi ni- These spectacles have been Western Massachusetts. Stephens was executive director. $350-$400 per month. Stephens tive text. What he meant was that going on for five years, and A small town girl named Millie gets off the bus with gusto, After that organization disband- says that income will provide anyone could write Don Quixote, they’ve sold out every year. This ready to start her new, “modern” life in the big city and fi nd ed in 1993, the couple packed up most of the operating capital for for example, and that work would year, Double Edge is adapting a rich man to marry. But just as she takes her fi rst steps she and left for Culebra, an island Art Bridge. A basement studio not be inferior to Cervantes,’ but the mythology of King Arthur. gets mugged, starting a play fi lled with adventure, romance, between Puerto Rico and the is already rented to Rabideau simply different. In this way, the Glassman says, “As it’s our 25th mishaps and mistaken identities. U.S. Virgin Islands, where they and Art Bridge is actively rais- closest thing to a defi nite text anniversary this year, we’re mak- Thoroughly Modern Millie offers everything a perfect musi- lived a multidisciplinary artis- ing money to sustain its limited would be a combination of all ing this our largest and most cal should have, Waynelovich said: love, laughter, dancing and tic life under a big tent on the operations in the enterprise’s the books written about Don ambitious spectacle so far.” catchy songs like “Not For The Life Of Me,” “Forget About the beach. startup phase through monthly Quixote taken together. Double The idea for the summer Boy” and “What Do I Need With Love.” After living and working in community events and the dona- Edge’s approach to the creation spectacle came from a desire to Mohawk is celebrating its 30th anniversary musical, making Culebra, California and Mexico, tions and loans of other early of its plays resembles an attempt do something in collaboration the annual event the longest-running Broadway-style musical Stevens and Christoph returned believers. at fi nding this sort of text. with the community in Ashfi eld, in Franklin County. Waynelovich, choreographer Kimberly to the United States to help a Despite the economy and the “It’s a long term process,” Glassman says. “Something that Waynelovich and vocal coach Judith Dean Kulp bring 65 years friend launch a retreat center scope of their vision, Stephens Glassman says. “We spend sev- everybody could come and see, of directing experience to the Mohawk stage and help showcase in upstate New York, and, while and Christoph are relentless in eral years doing a combination that was really an explosion of the outstanding singing, acting, and dancing talent of more nearby, visited one of Christoph’s pursuit of their creative dream. of things. There’s group research, imagination and creativity that than 60 Mohawk students. art teachers, Peter Ruhf, of Ash- For Stephens, one fact portends where we’re all reading and the whole community could Ticket prices are: $10 Adults and $9 12 and under and 65 and fi eld Street in Shelburne Falls, their success. researching the same materials; participate in. Each year people over. Thoroughly Modern Millie showtimes are Friday, March as they contemplated their next “We’re much more than a com- Bruno Schultz’s writing, artwork, have been coming from farther 2, Saturday, March 3 and Saturday, March 10, 2007 at 8 p.m. move. munity,” Stephens said. “We’re a letters, biographical materials, and farther away. They come and a matinee Sunday, March 11 at 2 pm. Ticket reservations When faced with the choice of living community that’s becom- movies and stories about the from Boston, New York, and can be made by calling 413-625-8371. returning to Mexico or putting ing a big part of people’s lives.” Holocaust — and other artists. Providence and stay in the local down roots in this area, they Also Latin American magic bed and breakfasts and they ex- chose to stay. In Mexico, with For more information on the Art realism, like Gabriel Garcia perience the hill towns through the abundance of art, “we were Bridge, visit www.theartbridge.org Marquez or Frida Kahlo. Then that. Now we have scholarship receiving,” said Christoph. “They or call (413) 625-8275. there’s the individual research. programs for young artists, kids In my case it might be research- in elementary, middle and high ing where I come from, as I am school, to have parts in these also from Eastern European and performances and to work with Jewish decent, and for someone us on them. This is a big part of else it could be anything either our year, and it’s one of the most personal or cultural that has enjoyable ones.” meaning to them. Double Edge has gained a con- Classifi ed Ads “It is meant to fi ll and inform siderable deal of critical acclaim the work from the inside, from over the years. The company is a personal place, as well as to referred to frequently as “vision- FOR RENT SERVICES SERVICES WANTED inform the ensemble, to unify it. ary,” “excellent” and with a host X who can walk and chew X X X gum at the same time, Then there are individual etudes, of superlatives by those who SPACE FOR RENT. Up to 1500 PUBLIC RELATIONS CON- GREEN SHEEN CLEANING WANTED: 4-15 acres, quiet, which are short studies, kind of review such work. is a first-rate listener, is sq ft of unheated storage excited by deadlines and SULTANT offers clients a COMPANY. Environment- good solar, from Conway mini-presentations that each art- It seems the attempt at fi nding at the Shelburne Falls Trol- full range of marketing and people-friendly, non- south. land4sue@aol. ist involved in the work makes, a place for artistic exchange and enjoys finding out what ley Museum. $300/mo. wags our local communi- and professional writing toxic housecleaning. Call com. and then there are group ones, growth has been successful, and 413-624-0192. services. Special empha- Meredith, 413-625-2252. where we make group scenes the production of “Republic of ties. Reporter’s salary -- i.e., for the love of the work and sis placed on identifying that are directed by different Dreams’” is another step toward FOR SALE and promoting unique- people within the ensemble. So the goal of creating a “living X a bit of cash. Experience preferred but not neces- ness in institutions and For listing information & visual tours check out we cultivate a lot of material culture.” CROSS COUNTRY SKIS! Tour- individuals. over the course of a long period As to the success of Double sary. Send e-mail telling www.cbupton-massamont.com ing, backcountry, skat- us who you are to ginny@ Grace Friary Pub- of time, sculpting it, narrowing Edge, Glassman says, “I think a ing. Extensive inventory, lic Relations sfindependent.net or call 7 Bridge St., Shelburne Falls • 625-6366 it down, identifying what is lot of it has to do with the com- all levels. Snowboards, (413) 625-9998. 10 Bridge Street, So. Deerfield- 665-3771 • Florence • 586-8355 important, and then through munity. We’re very lucky to have too! 45 min. to Shelburne. Shelburne Falls. training and through improvisa- a supportive community here, Berkshire Outfitters, Rt. 8, REAL ESTATE 413-625-9100 Truly A Rare Find! tion we continue to rehash the the farmers that are our neigh- Adams. 413-743-5900. X gracefriary@comcast. material to fi nd relations, and bors, like the Robertsons and the COLRAIN: Low heat and net Shelburne Falls fi nd story and narrative. We’re Williams, and really everybody, ROBERTS BROTHERS LUMBER. Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated Stunning Cape on over working with artists as well as all the businesses and families Logging, lumber, bark mulch, electric costs! Energy ef- PIANO TUNING AND REPAIRS. ficient 4 bedroom house an acre of land, this 2,500 sq.ft. home has space with designers and composers here.” cordwood. 628-3333. Dave Locke, 413-634-0130, for everything, family room with fireplace, 4-sea- and dramatists and musicians, under construction by Rural [email protected]. son breezeway with petite wood stove, library, 1st to cultivate their work as indi- Contact Double Edge Theatre at HELP WANTED Development, Inc.’s award floor master bedroom, formal living/dining room, X WISDOM WAY SELF STOR- workshop in basement and barn style storage area. viduals and to be a guide, as (413) 628-0277 ( www.doubleedge- winning Home Ownership AGE. $324,900 Call Carol well as to direct the whole from theatre.org). BRIDGE OF FLOWERS assis- Program. Features a 3.2 Safe, clean, secure. the outside, to edit the material tant gardener. Assist head Kwh solar electric system. We’ll keep your stuff buff! and then to fi nd structure. So, gardener in all aspects Income limits apply. (413) Greenfield, 775-9333. 863-9781 ext. 149. this is a very ensemble-driven of gardening, designing, PRIVATE FLUTE LESSONS, process.” Brush up your and working with volun- Preferably 4th grade The ensemble includes mem- teers. 15 hours per week through adult. Call (413) bers far outside the core group Shakespeare from April-October. $10/ 625-2965 to set up a of actors. For this production, hour. Send resume with scheduled time and fees. Double Edge has brought a AMHERST—Auditions for the references to: Bridge of ASHFIELD HEATH COLRAIN Hampshire Shakespeare Compa- Flowers Committee, Box Fabulous village home with Striking log home perfectly Classic N. E. Farm overlook- composer from Poland, Jacek Os- 4BR, super office over garage, situated on 4+Ac, magnificent ing the Green River Valley. taszewski, who has written music ny’s 2007 season shows, “King 335, Shelburne Falls, MA country kitchen opens to family views of mountains & mead- Offering 9RM farmhouse inspired by Schultz’s work, and Lear” and “A Comedy of Errors,” 01370. room with fireplace & cathedral ows, 3BR, 2BA, open floor with 2 porches, 2 P&B barns a visual artist, Mira Aleksiun, will be held on Wednesday and ceiling. Attached 2-car garage is plan, cathedral ceilings & stone on 18 acres. More land avail- Thursday, March 7 and 8 from 6-9 REPORTER — The Inde- insulated. $329,000 Call Phil fireplace. $435,000 Call Wanda able. $325,000 Call Carol who has created oil paintings, pendent needs a writes- sculptures and puppets based p.m. at The Hartsbrook School at 193 Bay Road in Hadley. tight wordsmith with com- on Schultz’s work. Glassman says passionate intelligence of her, “She’s a Polish Jew who People wishing to audition survived the holocaust, so this is should prepare a one- to two-min- a kind of survival of culture and ute monologue from a classical of imagination, passing from one play, preferably Shakespeare. Fill out the form below to place your ad Polish Jew to another, and then To make an appointment for an to the audience.” audition, or for more informa- tion, call (413) 585-5769 or e-mail $5 per issue • pre-pay for two issues, we’ll throw in a third free! Audience participation [email protected]. Further The local audience is also part information about Hampshire of the ensemble that creates the Shakespeare Company may PLEASE PLACE MY AD UNDER THE HEADING show. The previews this weekend be found on the web at www. were the last in a series that hampshireshakespeare.org. Antiques For Sale Lost Wanted to Rent began in November. After each preview, Double Edge hosts a Animals Found Help Wanted Wanted to Buy gathering in which the audience Auto Free Services Volunteers Needed is invited to give feedback that is incorporated into the produc- For Rent Instruction/classes Other suggestion: tion. “It’s really important for us, our relationship with our local audience,” Glassman says. “Our PLEASE WRITE ONE WORD PER SPACE. THE PRICE PER ISSUE IS INDICATED. process and our performances are distinct, and we develop them with the audience. We of- Ç?YWdÊjiWo[dek]^WXekj ^emldcYZg[jaVcY fer discounts for people to come jea^[i^c\_j_ijemeham_j^ back and see it again, and share CWkh[[d$?ijWhj[Z_dZ_l_ZkWb with us their experience of the Yekdi[b_d]m_j^^[hWdZ work’s development; what they ^WZdjihiVcY^c\gZhjaih$ miss or what they like or what’s ?Êl[d[l[h\[bjie]h[WjÈ $5.00 clear. It’s collaborative with the Å86GDANCC>BHB8A:AA6C community, our company work, ™>cY^k^YjVa and it’s really vital for us, our Cjig^i^dcVa $5.25 $5.50 $5.75 $6.00 $6.25 $6.50 $6.75 dialogue with the community, 8djchZa^c\ with the audience, with our vol- ™;djg"LZZ` $7.00 $7.25 $7.50 $7.75 $8.00 $8.25 $8.50 unteers, with the businesses that LZ^\]iAdhh have a conversation with us. So VcY=ZVai]n PLEASE INCLUDE YOUR PHONE NUMBER/E-MAIL ADDRESS IN THE AD TEXT. the preview performance is, in 8aZVchZ some way, us asking for the sup- Ldg`h]deh port and the courage that our Name ______local audience gives us.” ™8aVhhZhVcY Insert ad for # of issues That support and courage Ldg`h]deh are needed when Double Edge Phone ______Cost per issue × number of issues travels to New York City, where the production will premiere on March 8. The collaboration E-mail______I enclose my check for $ between the artists and audi- ence is personified by Double +'*"'-*) Edge’s Summer Spectacles. aZVgcbdgZVi These performances are yearly bVjgZZchiZlVgicjig^i^dc#Xdb 8 Deerfield Ave., Shelburne Falls, MA 01370 adaptations of a classic novel page 16 • Shelburne Falls Independent • March1–14, 2007 • www.sfindependent.net

Mardi Gras in Ashfi eld

On this page are

scenes from this

year’s Mardi Gras

parade and ball,

organized by New

Orleans expatriate

and Elmer’s Store

proprietor Nan

Parati.

Photos by Jackie Cooper