Belly Interesting

Belly Interesting

by | Apr 17, 2008 | Stage

The precise control of the abdominal muscles and the independently operating hips of belly dancers collaborate in a set of movements that can seem more foreign than even the mysterious strains of the oud (Middle Eastern stringed instrument) to which they dance. During...
Purged!

Purged!

by | Apr 17, 2008 | News

When dozens of newspaper boxes disappeared from downtown Springfield last week—between 30 and 60 boxes, including seven Valley Advocate boxes—Advocate Circulation Manager Jeffrey Owczarski began calling city officials, hoping that someone in a position of...

What do you think?

by | Apr 17, 2008 | News

Dining on DoctorowAndrew Varnon's "Book of Doctorow" (April 3, 2008) fails to answer the question he raises: Why [did renowned author E. L. Doctorow agree to appear at] Western New England College?I appealed to Doctorow on behalf of WNEC (and not Smith...

New Kid on the Blog

by | Apr 17, 2008 | News

You've got to hand it to Brian Santaniello: the man has staying power.Let's start with his 24 years on the Springfield City Council, where he enjoyed the title of the Council's "dean." Santaniello served under several mayors, but was most closely...

Between the Lines: The Smiley Smackdown

by | Apr 17, 2008 | News

The suits at PBS must perspire profusely when they consider the latest from Tavis Smiley on the subjects of Sen. Barack Obama and the Rev. Jeremiah Wright. Smiley, the PBS talk show host and public television's Numero Uno black guy, is a vociferous and cagey Obama...