Betting on the Horses

by | Jul 31, 2008 | News

The muddy parking lot outside the office for the Tri-County Fairgrounds was packed Wednesday night. As cars circled, a steady stream of people walked down Fair Street to see the new vision consultants had for the fairgrounds. The Daily Hampshire Gazette had predicted...

The World This Week: National Pastime

by | Jul 31, 2008 | News

Because I am a mere Baltimore Orioles fan, I had no stake in this past weekend's Fenway Park "showdown" between the superpowers Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees. I just liked watching the games as pure theater, without the psychological baggage of...

Imperium Watch: The Grovester

by | Jul 31, 2008 | News

Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform—known as the "field marshal" for the Bush tax cut strategy—is an amazing man. On television in the wake of the publication of his latest book, Leave Us Alone: Getting the Government's...
Off the Beaten Path

Off the Beaten Path

by | Jul 31, 2008 | News

I've lived in the Pioneer Valley for 13 years. During my time here, I've spent hundreds of Saturday afternoons wandering around Northampton. Therefore, I'm well versed in many of downtown Northampton's feature attractions—Pulaski Park,...
Behind the Beat: Brass in Pocket

Behind the Beat: Brass in Pocket

by | Jul 31, 2008 | Music

In the back room at Packard's in Northampton, the muffled strains of karaoke bring an array of amateur singers' choices and voices, offering an appropriate backdrop for talking about music, songwriting, identity and technique. At first, talking with drummer...