Shawn Palmer is publisher of the Valley Advocate. Prior to joining Newspapers of New England in 2021, Shawn held leadership positions at The (New London) Day, The (Danbury) News-Times, the (Meriden) ...

Despite certain advances in medieval historiography, there is still a general assumption that the middle ages were a period of despair, a time when the innovations of the Roman Empire crumbled, a ...

“Ever Denim,” by Barbara Kline, a member of The Fiberistas, on display at the Hosmer Gallery at Forbes Library in Northampton, Tuesday, April 7, 2026. DANIEL JACOBI II / Staff Photo ...

Best CELEBRATING THE 2025 BEST OF THE VALLEY READERS’ POLL WINNERS ...

Writing a book about the deeply painful and complex history of the n-word is a significant undertaking, as is writing a memoir about a complicated relationship with one’s father. For Smith College ...

“You know what goes on behind closed doors in a polyamorous household?” Fox asks, and I lean in closer. We’re on the phone and he is 800 miles away, so I am leaning toward — nothing. I am on the ...

I’ve heard the advice that sometimes couples should “schedule sex” when it’s fallen off the priorities list. I brought this up to my partner and he wants sex to feel more spontaneous and “natural.” He ...

“Emily’s mission in life is to teach women to live with confidence and joy inside their bodies.” This sentence mesmerized me. Ryan Lash/TED Emily Nagoski speaks at TED 2018. It’s an assured statement ...

As a nimble alternative weekly newspaper with an eager and talented staff, we invest time developing stories about people, places and topics that the mainstream media doesn’t have the time or, in some ...

Alex Morse has a new pup — a goldendoodle that answers to Oliver. Can you say inseparable? The Holyoke mayor brought him home from Pennsylvania and claims that the quarantine has afforded him a bit ...

“Godspeed, everyone. May your supplier discounts be generous, and may wine on the water be saved by the powers that be.” It was a striking quote on a Facebook Group that I follow called the US Wine ...

In late March, the fabled Iron Horse Music Hall, slated to reopen in mid May, was still a pretty raw construction site. Courtesy of the Iron Horse Collection, Forbes Library A view from the stage of ...