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By Bob Flaherty For the Gazette Published: 7/31/2023 9:07:51 PM NORTHAMPTON — “There’s wickedness in this place!” “I am innocent and God knows it! “Goody Parsons, I am not the source of your despair — you have been entertaining Satan in Northampton!” The shrieks pierced the air inside the ballroom of Hotel Northampton Saturday as events … Continue reading The Parsons come home: 80 descendents of Cornet Joseph Parsons, one of Northampton’s original settlers, reunite for a 100th family reunion →

Published in the Daily hampshire gazette june 19, 2023 AMHERST — “Left-Left-Left-Left-Right-Left!” Shaking off the rain that canceled Saturday’s Ancestral Bridges’ Juneteenth walking tour, the legendary all-Black Peter Grace 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment of Civil War fame began their march in the backyard of the Amherst Woman’s Club and made their steady way through the … Continue reading The joys of overcoming: Juneteenth event remembers, confronts, moves forward →

By Bob Flaherty | Published in the Valley Advocate May 2, 2023 “It was my duty,” said UMass junior Liz Mawrey, upon taking the reins of a legendary but nearly dormant outfit that fought to reform brutal and inane marijuana laws for over 30 years. In the fall of 2021 a post appeared in the … Continue reading ‘Celebrate But Continue To Fight’: UMass’ Cannabis Reform Coalition is alive and well with a new name and mission →

Published in the Daily Hampshire Gazette July 19, 2022 Roger Salloom plays "Even Tears" from his 2004 album, "Eventually", in his Easthampton studio on Friday, July15, 2022. Salloom will be playing his annual free community concert at the Look Park Pines Theater in Florence on Wednesday, July 20. The jangling distant chords called to Jamie … Continue reading Community in concert: Amid personal tragedy, songwriter Roger Salloom preps for his annual community concert →