Showing posts with label living in Western Mass. Show all posts
Showing posts with label living in Western Mass. Show all posts
Friday, September 2, 2011
Monday, May 2, 2011
Friday, April 29, 2011
Sunday, June 14, 2009
Bear Sightings All Over Easthampton MA
The bears are in town and plan on hanging around until October... The BearFest, that is! The Easthampton City Arts has put together a tremendous exhibit that has definitely brought much attention to our community. Easthampton is becoming well known as a city that embraces the arts with ongoing Open Studio exhibits at both Cottage Street and Eastworks. The addition of BearFest is certainly one more reason why visitors and residents alike will enjoy their colorful presence about town.
Now, for my own bear story.....
I bought a house in Vermont years ago that came with its own wildlife, a 300 cement bear who was chained to a rock in the front yard. I couldn't wait to get rid of the enormous "lawn ornament" and proceeded to hack away at the chain that bound him (not that anyone would attempt to steal him) to the boulder. I revved up my John Deere lawn tractor, attached the little trailer to the back and began my mission. It actually took 3 people to roll the bear onto the trailer, immediately sinking the tires of the tractor and almost succeeding in getting it stuck. Finally we arrived at an isolated area at the edge of our field and rolled the bear out of the trailer into its new home. He looked kind of funny with his legs in the air -- kind of sad actually. After a momentary pang of regret, I left Gentle Ben in his precarious position and went home.
It wasn't more than a day or two later that I began getting phone calls...where was the bear? What happened to the bear? Did someone take the bear? It seems that the bear was a local landmark, loved and adored by all. A week later Gentle Ben was picked up by a middle aged woman who used to sit on the bear as a child. Needless to say, the bear had a new home now in her yard, hopefully not back on the chain.
Now, for my own bear story.....
I bought a house in Vermont years ago that came with its own wildlife, a 300 cement bear who was chained to a rock in the front yard. I couldn't wait to get rid of the enormous "lawn ornament" and proceeded to hack away at the chain that bound him (not that anyone would attempt to steal him) to the boulder. I revved up my John Deere lawn tractor, attached the little trailer to the back and began my mission. It actually took 3 people to roll the bear onto the trailer, immediately sinking the tires of the tractor and almost succeeding in getting it stuck. Finally we arrived at an isolated area at the edge of our field and rolled the bear out of the trailer into its new home. He looked kind of funny with his legs in the air -- kind of sad actually. After a momentary pang of regret, I left Gentle Ben in his precarious position and went home.
It wasn't more than a day or two later that I began getting phone calls...where was the bear? What happened to the bear? Did someone take the bear? It seems that the bear was a local landmark, loved and adored by all. A week later Gentle Ben was picked up by a middle aged woman who used to sit on the bear as a child. Needless to say, the bear had a new home now in her yard, hopefully not back on the chain.
Friday, September 12, 2008
Good Morning America Coming To Springfield Massachusetts
Want something to do this weekend? How about coming to Springfield, MA to welcome Good Morning America and the Whistle Stop Tour?
The train will be pulling up to the train station on Lyman Street in downtown Springfield on Sunday, September 14, 2008 at 12:30.
Producers are looking for a large enthusiastic crowd to cheer on a basketball game between the 4 major anchors of GMA- Diane Sawyer, Robin Roberts, Chris Cuomo and Sam Champion.
People should be in place at about 12:00- no later.
What a great way to promote Springfield with national coverage!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
Living Green In Western Mass
GREEN, the name implies more than just a color in Crayola's big box of crayons. Green is now the catch word of 2008 and is BIG business. Just add the word green to any reference of home building, remodeling, saving energy and . . . .WOW, your product will be at the top of search engines. GREEN isn't really new, as I tried to explain to my two teenagers. I began thinking of growing up in the enlightened generation (well, we thought of it as such) and who introduced me to GREEN.
My Mom was the original GREEN poster woman. My Mom was the Supervisor of Nursing in a small community hospital in Vermont. She subscribed to an organic gardening magazine, composted everything, grew all our own vegetables and a lot of our fruit, and had two freezers and a cold pantry full of our produce at any given time. She baked bread (oatmeal was my favorite), homemade cookies (date-filled, oatmeal raisin, etc.) and her strawberry shortcake was to die for!
I lost my Mom years ago, but have tried to live life somewhat in her footsteps. After years of trying to turn my Easthampton, Mass backyard into the garden of my childhood, I gave up and am now a proud shareholder at Mountainview Farms. I still compost, but it's just to add to my neglected lawn which has never had a chemical additive since the day we moved in. I love going to the local farmer's market which sets up every Tuesday in Easthampton. Intervale Farm in Westhampton always has great herbs and conversation is lively.
GREEN is not new. Remember "Keep America Beautiful", teaching us not to litter and keep our "greenscape" green? How about "Recycle America", when we all learned not to fill up our landfills. Saving energy is not new to my family either. As the inventor of the Eclipse Windmill, Rev. Leonard Wheeler, my relative, helped farmers across the country learn to harness wind power cost effectively. Today, Massachusetts is struggling with legislation that controls the introduction of wind turbines off Cape Cod.
Last week was Mother's Day and I asked to have my old bike tuned up so that I could ride it down the Manhan Rail Trail to work every day. I'm enjoying it already. Yesterday, our new lawnmower arrived - a Neuton. This battery operated lawnmower does everything but fold laundry. It's quite a step up from our rotary push mower that we've had for twenty years. Oh well, I'm excited about our new technology.
My Mom was the original GREEN poster woman. My Mom was the Supervisor of Nursing in a small community hospital in Vermont. She subscribed to an organic gardening magazine, composted everything, grew all our own vegetables and a lot of our fruit, and had two freezers and a cold pantry full of our produce at any given time. She baked bread (oatmeal was my favorite), homemade cookies (date-filled, oatmeal raisin, etc.) and her strawberry shortcake was to die for!
I lost my Mom years ago, but have tried to live life somewhat in her footsteps. After years of trying to turn my Easthampton, Mass backyard into the garden of my childhood, I gave up and am now a proud shareholder at Mountainview Farms. I still compost, but it's just to add to my neglected lawn which has never had a chemical additive since the day we moved in. I love going to the local farmer's market which sets up every Tuesday in Easthampton. Intervale Farm in Westhampton always has great herbs and conversation is lively.
GREEN is not new. Remember "Keep America Beautiful", teaching us not to litter and keep our "greenscape" green? How about "Recycle America", when we all learned not to fill up our landfills. Saving energy is not new to my family either. As the inventor of the Eclipse Windmill, Rev. Leonard Wheeler, my relative, helped farmers across the country learn to harness wind power cost effectively. Today, Massachusetts is struggling with legislation that controls the introduction of wind turbines off Cape Cod.
Last week was Mother's Day and I asked to have my old bike tuned up so that I could ride it down the Manhan Rail Trail to work every day. I'm enjoying it already. Yesterday, our new lawnmower arrived - a Neuton. This battery operated lawnmower does everything but fold laundry. It's quite a step up from our rotary push mower that we've had for twenty years. Oh well, I'm excited about our new technology.
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Southampton Massachusetts a Winner!
Congratulations to Southampton, Massachusetts - the winner of the 9th Annual Great American Water Taste Test.Southampton, Massachusetts has been selected as having the "Best Water In The Country". Yes, we mean the entire United States. The award came from the 9th Annual Great American Water Taste Test, held in Washington D.C. on Tuesday, April 22, 2008.
The honor came as no surprise to many Western Massachusetts residents in the cities of Easthampton, Westfield, Holyoke and Southampton. Congratulations again to Southampton and to the Barnes Aquifer, the source of all that great water. It's just another reason for choosing the Western Mass way of life.
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
What's So Great About Western Massachusetts?
I have lived in New England my whole life and for the past twenty years, Western Massachusetts has been my home. It's amazing how many people think that living in Massachusetts means living in Boston, or its many suburbs. Once, while traveling through Idaho, a woman saw my Mass license plate and asked, "Massachusetts....that's prairie, right?" Perhaps she was referring to the rolling hills! So much for geography class.
Here is just some of the reasons why I love living on "the other side" of Massachusetts:
Here is just some of the reasons why I love living on "the other side" of Massachusetts:
- Lifestyle: Small towns, slower pace, fresh air, town meetings
- Easy commute: From my home I can walk to work, the corner store (yes, we really do have one), the bike path, the library, the elementary and the middle school
- Location: In ten minutes I can be on the highway, headed for the beach (1.5 hrs), Boston (2 hrs.), VT ski country (1.5 hours) or NYC (2 hours).
- Culture: Where do you think everyone in Boston wants to go to enjoy themselves? BSO summers in the Berkshires for a reason, folks.
- Education: The Five College community - Amherst, U-Mass, Hampshire, Mt. Holyoke and Smith....no need for name dropping here!
- Recreation: Too many options to think of - skiing, biking, kayaking, camping, horseback riding - a healthy lifestyle.
Friday, April 11, 2008
Women Build 2008 - Springfield Habitat For Humanity
Massachusetts 4 Sale By Owner is pleased to lend support to "Women Build 2008". The Greater Springfield Habitat For Humanity, in partnership with the Hampden County Women's Correctional Facility & Sheriff's Department, is sponsoring this year-long event and we will be providing periodic updates throughout the year. Be sure to follow our blog posts, website and Online Newsletter for more information on upcoming fund-raising events and learn how you can become involved.
My interest in Habitat For Humanity began a few years ago when introduced to me by my big brother, Bill. A retired English professor and long time Oregon resident, Bill is a Habitat volunteer and past-president of his local chapter in the Portland area. Over the years, I have listened to the many stories he told, of families who are now living in homes he helped build, of visits back to neighborhoods he helped create to see how new home owners were doing, of the day to day challenges of staying on budget, of tireless hours working with local housing agencies and building inspectors. In his "spare time" he also became a volunteer at his local Restore, which is run by the Habitat chapter in his area. Bill wears his Habitat For Humanity T-Shirt proudly when he visits. I hope that he will be proud of his "east coast" counterparts are doing.
My interest in Habitat For Humanity began a few years ago when introduced to me by my big brother, Bill. A retired English professor and long time Oregon resident, Bill is a Habitat volunteer and past-president of his local chapter in the Portland area. Over the years, I have listened to the many stories he told, of families who are now living in homes he helped build, of visits back to neighborhoods he helped create to see how new home owners were doing, of the day to day challenges of staying on budget, of tireless hours working with local housing agencies and building inspectors. In his "spare time" he also became a volunteer at his local Restore, which is run by the Habitat chapter in his area. Bill wears his Habitat For Humanity T-Shirt proudly when he visits. I hope that he will be proud of his "east coast" counterparts are doing.
Monday, March 17, 2008
5th Annual Derrill's Race - Coming May 4th
The crocuses are up, I can see some bare grass and it's time to dust off those sneakers in time for Derrill's Race. Word has it that local teams are already forming and as the race's webmaster, we are receiving email requests for information and registration. Derrill's Race is a 5K Run-Walk charitable event held on the Manhan Rail Trail, right behind our office in Easthampton, Massachusetts. To my knowledge, the use of the rail trail (Easthampton's five mile bike path) as our race route is unique and its hard for participants not to take in the beauty of the Nora Valdez mural and sculpture as they begin their run. I love having my office border the bike path. Haley (my loyal office dog) and I are often found taking a noon walk.
I love the sense of community that living in a small town brings and Derrill's Race is a perfect example of why Easthampton, along with other small cities and towns in Western Massachusetts, is now being looked at as a highly desirable area in which to live and work. When I chose Easthampton as home almost twenty years ago, it was based upon location - 16 miles from Amherst, where I worked at the time, and 16 miles to Springfield, where my husband worked. Easthampton was the logical choice for us. A lot has changed in the community over the years - we became a city, electing a mayor to replace our Board of Select"men". We reinvented our downtown, now home to nationally known artisans and renovated long-idle factory buildings into incubators for many small businesses, restaurants and artists.
If you are new to the community, join us at the race and meet new friends! You don't have to be a runner - we have many walkers as well.
I love the sense of community that living in a small town brings and Derrill's Race is a perfect example of why Easthampton, along with other small cities and towns in Western Massachusetts, is now being looked at as a highly desirable area in which to live and work. When I chose Easthampton as home almost twenty years ago, it was based upon location - 16 miles from Amherst, where I worked at the time, and 16 miles to Springfield, where my husband worked. Easthampton was the logical choice for us. A lot has changed in the community over the years - we became a city, electing a mayor to replace our Board of Select"men". We reinvented our downtown, now home to nationally known artisans and renovated long-idle factory buildings into incubators for many small businesses, restaurants and artists.
If you are new to the community, join us at the race and meet new friends! You don't have to be a runner - we have many walkers as well.
More Home - Less Money - Tips For Massachusetts Home Buyers
In many parts of the country property values have tumbled in recent months. Western Massachusetts, however, seems to be holding its own. Buyers who have been waiting patiently, hoping for prices to drop more, may be disappointed. Recent reductions in mortgage interest rates mark the start of the spring real estate season and will be welcomed by many potential home buyers. With prices remaining stable, how can buyers s-t-r-e-t-c-h their buying power further? Here are a few helpful ideas:
- Cast a wider net. Rather than looking for a home in a specific city or town, think about looking within a radius of your work. Pinpoint your place of employment on a map and draw a radius that represents a reasonable commuting distance you are willing to consider. You may be surprised that your area includes additional living opportunities. You can even search for real estate online using a radius option. Often you will find a lower cost community. If schools are a major reason for choosing a community, you may want to weigh other educational opportunities available in Massachusetts - including public, private, regional or charter schools. Many communities participate in school choice, where students in one district may attend school in another district if space is available.
- Make it pay. Consider purchasing a two-family home, letting your tenant help pay your mortgage. In the future you can keep the home as a rental property or sell it in favor of purchasing a single family residence. Be sure to consult with your attorney and/or CPA about the pros and cons of becoming a Massachusetts landlord.
- Under-size. Just how big a home do you really need right now? There are advantages to looking at smaller homes with good "add on" potential. Look at neighborhoods where ranches are becoming two-story homes, etc. If you haven't had a chance to read Sarah Susanka's "The Not So Big House", try to do so. It may change the way you think about what a house needs to be in order to be "home".
Friday, March 14, 2008
A Buyer's Guide To 4 Sale By Owner & Builder in Western Massachusetts
We are very excited to announce our BRAND NEW publication, available for the Spring '08 real estate season. "A Buyer's Guide To 4 Sale By Owner & Builder" is a 'must have' guide for anyone thinking about relocating to Western Massachusetts, or for local buyers who are looking for a new home in their own back yard.This comprehensive buyer handbook will acquaint consumers with information specific to Massachusetts, an area map and localisms, articles on a variety of subjects important to the home buying process, plus helpful tips about our ground-breaking laws affecting new residents to our area. We will feature a few of our newest properties on the Internet, plus help buyers find new developments, retirement housing and local resources.
Consumers will find the guide locally in over 250 high-traffic locations throughout the greater Pioneer Valley and it will be available to view and download in its entirety directly from our website, 24/7. Guides will also be available as a free subscription by mail to out of area buyers.
We welcome inquiries from builders & developers, buyer's agents and others who are involved in the local housing market as we prepare our first issue for press. Contact us for more information, including a "sneak preview" of the premier issue.
Saturday, March 1, 2008
Springtime In New England
I'm looking out my office window today, watching the snow come down and asking myself that age-old New England question, "Will spring ever come?" March is notorious for packing some major snow punches, in between which there are glimmers of spring to come. I think we had about 9" last night, but it's pretty light -- easy shoveling. Growing up in Vermont we referred to "sugar snow", big thick flakes that came straight down, often heavy, slushy stuff that was apt to break an old shovel. Of course, the "sugar snow" was also a sign that the sugar houses would be opening up soon, and that meant fresh maple syrup and sugar-on-snow parties. Sugar snows gave way to "spring mud season", Vermont's official fifth season and for some, the most treacherous.
Spring in Western Massachusetts is pretty mild in comparison with what I remember as a youth. While we have almost a foot of snow on the ground today, by next week it could all be gone -- just a distance remembrance of a beautiful New England winter. The crocuses bloom quickly by my front door and the robins never leave for the winter.
The real estate market is usually very slow in the winter. We are starting to see signs of life once again, with more open houses each weekend and the promise of an early spring. Don't let a little snow stop you from house hunting!
Spring in Western Massachusetts is pretty mild in comparison with what I remember as a youth. While we have almost a foot of snow on the ground today, by next week it could all be gone -- just a distance remembrance of a beautiful New England winter. The crocuses bloom quickly by my front door and the robins never leave for the winter.
The real estate market is usually very slow in the winter. We are starting to see signs of life once again, with more open houses each weekend and the promise of an early spring. Don't let a little snow stop you from house hunting!
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