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Last night we watched the Young @ Heart Chorus movie, and among the best parts was that of Fred Knittle, singing Coldplay’s ‘Fix you’ to the full house at the Academy. Very poignant. Bill Knittle’s dad, Fred Knittle, died today. Fred had a great role with lots of facetime in […]

I was pleased with the Advocate article I wrote about the lives of Young Iranians in this week’s issue, especially that they were able to include four photos.I was moved by the comment that came from a reader in Iran named Parin, who said… I want to see my relatives,that […]

Here’s a few of the things I found out last night reading the New York Times. Bicycle sales have slumped from their huge increase over the summer. Even though the gas prices of over $4 a gallon made many people bring in old bikes to fix up, and buy new […]

It’s a new year and I am coming into it with a totally different way of looking at life. That’s because just a few days back I was told that I couldn’t have any alcohol for six weeks. And that after that, it was likely I’d have to curtail my […]

Little Sofie is just six days old, and as you can see, just bigger than one hand. What a joy to have such a tiny bundle of life living at our house. Nathan has been an excited big brother, and everyone is so happy to have the new addition.

It’s the final day of 2008, and outside it is snowing hard. I love it when it’s like this, although as I business owner I realize it’s not very good for business. But it’s soooo cozy inside the cafe, with people reading the paper, hunched over their laptops, and outside […]

This week in between the holidays is a notoriously slow time for anyone who sells things for a living. I remember so well those many years, no, decades, anticipating January. Oh January. At the Valley Advocate when the office was in Amherst, we would have to take the first one […]

Here is a help wanted ad I just posted on Craig’s list. More on Craig later. Despite the terrible recession and panic across the nation…the GoNOMAD Cafe is a beacon of stability…full of customers and busy as hell. We need someone to join our staff immediately and bake, make sandwiches, […]

Elbert and Bernice live just above Cindy’s house in Holyoke. Their dwelling, which they designed themselves, is one-of-a-kind; an octagon with a round ceiling and lots of odd-shaped windows. We joined them in this house for dinner last night. The couple embody the idea that keeping your mind busy keeps […]

After reading about George Bush’s voracious reading habit, I felt like I had to increase the amount of pages I consume yearly. So I picked up a book I’ve been reading for too long called American Nomads, where the author loosley follows the trail of the conquistador Cabeza de Vaca, […]

We had big news in a teeny tiny package last night, as Valerie Sofia Cosme came into the world. What a little joy she is! My second grandchild emerged healthy and happy at just under eight pounds at Franklin Medical, where Kate works…the ultimate busman’s holiday, on December 26. We […]