Podcasts about holyoke

8/10/26, Co-Host, writer and editor Megan Zinn Northampton's new school superintendent Annie Azarloza: her personal history, her listening and learning tour, community engagement, the cell phone ban, & working with the School Committee. Mount Holyoke College Professor Joshua Hotaka Roth: his new graphic memoir, co-authored with his father, titled “Lifelines: Art, Memory , Relationship.” Mayors Monday with Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: the Peace Walkers, CAFO finally!, schools & data centers. Corrine Corryat, candidate for the Democratic nomination for First Franklin Representative: the issues and the race.

In this episode, we're joined by George Mulry, Executive Director of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame (IVHF) and founder of Pioneer Valley Juniors Volleyball Club.George shares his incredible volleyball journey—from discovering the sport and developing his coaching philosophy to building one of New England's premier volleyball clubs. We dive into what separates great coaches from good ones, what parents often don't see behind the scenes, and what it takes to create a successful club culture.We also explore the fascinating history of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame, why it's located in Holyoke, Massachusetts—the birthplace of volleyball, and the story behind the invention of the sport by William G. Morgan. George explains the Hall's mission to preserve volleyball's rich history while inspiring future generations around the world.Plus, we discuss the 2026 IVHF Induction Class, the Showcase of Champions, memorable moments with volleyball legends, growing boys volleyball in New England, and how fans can support the Hall of Fame.Whether you're a player, coach, parent, or lifelong volleyball fan, this conversation is packed with stories, history, and insights you won't want to miss.In this episode:

7/31 Hosts: Josh Silver & Buz Eisenberg Max Page of The Mass Teachers Assoc w/ Jim Baude of Boston Public Radio & Renee Loth of The Boston Globe: Reforming the ballot process & rules that effect election ethics David Detmold: Walking for social change Carolyn Misch, Northampton Director of Planning & Sustainability: Picture Main Street Project Artbeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & guests Danielle Amodeo of Arts Equity Group and Multimedia artist Angelica Olstad: The current exhibition, Music for Healing, at PaperCity Clothing Gallery in Holyoke

7/31 Hosts: Josh Silver & Buz Eisenberg Max Page of The Mass Teachers Assoc w/ Jim Baude of Boston Public Radio & Renee Loth of The Boston Globe: Reforming the ballot process & rules that effect election ethics David Detmold: Walking for social change Carolyn Misch, Northampton Director of Planning & Sustainability: Picture Main Street Project Artbeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & guests Danielle Amodeo of Arts Equity Group and Multimedia artist Angelica Olstad: The current exhibition, Music for Healing, at PaperCity Clothing Gallery in Holyoke

7/31 Hosts: Josh Silver & Buz Eisenberg Max Page of The Mass Teachers Assoc w/ Jim Baude of Boston Public Radio & Renee Loth of The Boston Globe: Reforming the ballot process & rules that effect election ethics David Detmold: Walking for social change Carolyn Misch, Northampton Director of Planning & Sustainability: Picture Main Street Project Artbeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & guests Danielle Amodeo of Arts Equity Group and Multimedia artist Angelica Olstad: The current exhibition, Music for Healing, at PaperCity Clothing Gallery in Holyoke

7/31 Hosts: Josh Silver & Buz Eisenberg Max Page of The Mass Teachers Assoc w/ Jim Baude of Boston Public Radio & Renee Loth of The Boston Globe: Reforming the ballot process & rules that effect election ethics David Detmold: Walking for social change Carolyn Misch, Northampton Director of Planning & Sustainability: Picture Main Street Project Artbeat w/ Donnabelle Casis & guests Danielle Amodeo of Arts Equity Group and Multimedia artist Angelica Olstad: The current exhibition, Music for Healing, at PaperCity Clothing Gallery in Holyoke

7/30/26 Host Buz Eisenberg Dr Caitlyn Pierce & Donald Snyder political scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst: measuring judicial appeasement in the U.S. Supreme Court Carol Rose Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts: Police & Government Surveillance and challenging the military as immigration judges Nate Clifford & Jade Jump Co-owners of Cornucopia Market on their move to Dwight St in Holyoke & their recent grand opening All That Jazz w/ John Anz & Musician Jason Scwartz on his musical journey and monthly performance series at Theodore's in Springfield

7/30/26 Host Buz Eisenberg Dr Caitlyn Pierce & Donald Snyder political scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst: measuring judicial appeasement in the U.S. Supreme Court Carol Rose Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts: Police & Government Surveillance and challenging the military as immigration judges Nate Clifford & Jade Jump Co-owners of Cornucopia Market on their move to Dwight St in Holyoke & their recent grand opening All That Jazz w/ John Anz & Musician Jason Scwartz on his musical journey and monthly performance series at Theodore's in Springfield

7/30/26 Host Buz Eisenberg Dr Caitlyn Pierce & Donald Snyder political scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst: measuring judicial appeasement in the U.S. Supreme Court Carol Rose Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts: Police & Government Surveillance and challenging the military as immigration judges Nate Clifford & Jade Jump Co-owners of Cornucopia Market on their move to Dwight St in Holyoke & their recent grand opening All That Jazz w/ John Anz & Musician Jason Scwartz on his musical journey and monthly performance series at Theodore's in Springfield

7/30/26 Host Buz Eisenberg Dr Caitlyn Pierce & Donald Snyder political scientists at the University of Massachusetts Amherst: measuring judicial appeasement in the U.S. Supreme Court Carol Rose Executive Director of the ACLU of Massachusetts: Police & Government Surveillance and challenging the military as immigration judges Nate Clifford & Jade Jump Co-owners of Cornucopia Market on their move to Dwight St in Holyoke & their recent grand opening All That Jazz w/ John Anz & Musician Jason Scwartz on his musical journey and monthly performance series at Theodore's in Springfield

6/13/26, Megan Zinn -- Co-Host Nancy Gertner, U.S. Dst Ct Judge (ret) & Harvard Law Professor: what the recent Supreme Court's recent decisions mean for democracy, the future, & all of us. Daniel Mason, the superlative, award-winning novelist on a nationwide book tour -- tonight at the Odyssey Books in South Hadley-- on “Country People.” It's Mayors Monday w/ Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: the ban/moratorium on data centers in his city & the $2million/yr in tax revenues one (!) could bring; then, summer in the City. “And Death Shall Have No Dominion”— the community's response this weekend. Kemper Carlsen, Clinical Director, Fisher Home Hospice in Amherst: hospice & end-of- life care—what it is; also, their 20th anniversary & a $100,000 endowment campaign.

6/29/26, Co-Host -- Megan Zinn. Gloria J. Browne-Marshall, Founder of National Martyrs Day, July 5, honoring social justice warriors who died for the cause. Prof Browne-Marshall is the author of “A Protest History of the United States,” an award-winning playwright, and a Professor of Constitutional Law. Writers Block. Megan Zinn interviews Debra Curtis on “Laws of Love and Logic,” sisterhood, forgiveness, and the complicated nature of love. Smith College plays a part. Eric Nakajima, Holyoke Dir of Planning & Econ Devel: new data centers have been banned in the City—why? “A Stake in the Ground 1774”—opening soon in Historic Deerfield, the resonance of dissent and revolution, with Historic Deerfield's Claire Carlson and Plays in Place Producing Artistic Dir Patrick Gabridge.

6/19/26 (Host – Josh Silver) MTA President Max Page: The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court's decision to bar the proposed income tax cut ballot initiative from appearing on the November ballot. Rep Lindsay Sabadosa & Wildlife Conservationist Emma Howard Boutiette: Legislation to stop SGARS (Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides) – highly potent rat and mouse poisons Rep Lindsay Sabadosa: Environmental Bond Bill – rewilded golf course in Williamsburg & Economic Development Bond Bill – Quantum Computing, digital revision Professor Austin Sarat: 50th Anniversary of reinstatement of the death penalty, where the death penalty stands now in the U.S. & the U.S. Iran Peace Deal Emily Boddy, Co-Founder of Reconnect Western Mass & the Founding Member of The Distraction Free Schools Policy Project: Northampton schools enacting a bell-to-bell cell phone policy Art Beat w/ Donnabelle Casis & Dean Brown, artist and owner of PULP Holyoke: Art exhibition feat Anna Helper, Sean Sullivan, & Roger Brouard now through July 12

6/18/26 (Host – Buz Eisenberg) Dr. Kathy Bullock Singer & Professor Emerita of Music Berea College: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Tour” a multi-state concert tour and musical pilgrimage retracing the paths of the Underground Railroad At Bombyx Sun June 21 Concert: 4:00pm Extra Extra with DHG & Gfld Recorder Executive Editor Dan Crowley: Neal cancels debate appearance, no to data centers in Holyoke, & man not found not guilty after 28 years in prison. Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and Rocker June Millington on her upcoming performance at The Green River Festival Friday at 545 & Saturday at 430 All That Jazz w/ Ruth Griggs, Pres of the Northampton Jazz Festival, & Jennifer Schantz, Exec Dir of The Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art & Brian Pinkney, Illustrator of children's books: Jerry Pinkney exhibit opening; Sunset Thursdays, and jazz and art collaboration at The Eric Carle Museum in Amherst.

6/18/26 (Host – Buz Eisenberg) Dr. Kathy Bullock Singer & Professor Emerita of Music Berea College: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Tour” a multi-state concert tour and musical pilgrimage retracing the paths of the Underground Railroad At Bombyx Sun June 21 Concert: 4:00pm Extra Extra with DHG & Gfld Recorder Executive Editor Dan Crowley: Neal cancels debate appearance, no to data centers in Holyoke, & man found not guilty after 28 years in prison. Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and Rocker June Millington on her upcoming performance at The Green River Festival Friday at 545 & Saturday at 430 All That Jazz w/ Ruth Griggs, Pres of the Northampton Jazz Festival, & Jennifer Schantz, Exec Dir of The Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art & Brian Pinkney, Illustrator of children's books: Jerry Pinkney exhibit opening; Sunset Thursdays, and jazz and art collaboration at The Eric Carle Museum in Amherst.

6/18/26 (Host – Buz Eisenberg) Dr. Kathy Bullock Singer & Professor Emerita of Music Berea College: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Tour” a multi-state concert tour and musical pilgrimage retracing the paths of the Underground Railroad At Bombyx Sun June 21 Concert: 4:00pm Extra Extra with DHG & Gfld Recorder Executive Editor Dan Crowley: Neal cancels debate appearance, no to data centers in Holyoke, & man not found not guilty after 28 years in prison. Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and Rocker June Millington on her upcoming performance at The Green River Festival Friday at 545 & Saturday at 430 All That Jazz w/ Ruth Griggs, Pres of the Northampton Jazz Festival, & Jennifer Schantz, Exec Dir of The Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art & Brian Pinkney, Illustrator of children's books: Jerry Pinkney exhibit opening; Sunset Thursdays, and jazz and art collaboration at The Eric Carle Museum in Amherst.

6/18/26 (Host – Buz Eisenberg) Dr. Kathy Bullock Singer & Professor Emerita of Music Berea College: Songs of Slavery and Emancipation Tour” a multi-state concert tour and musical pilgrimage retracing the paths of the Underground Railroad At Bombyx Sun June 21 Concert: 4:00pm Extra Extra with DHG & Gfld Recorder Executive Editor Dan Crowley: Neal cancels debate appearance, no to data centers in Holyoke, & man not found not guilty after 28 years in prison. Guitarist, Singer, Songwriter, and Rocker June Millington on her upcoming performance at The Green River Festival Friday at 545 & Saturday at 430 All That Jazz w/ Ruth Griggs, Pres of the Northampton Jazz Festival, & Jennifer Schantz, Exec Dir of The Eric Carle Museum Of Picture Book Art & Brian Pinkney, Illustrator of children's books: Jerry Pinkney exhibit opening; Sunset Thursdays, and jazz and art collaboration at The Eric Carle Museum in Amherst.

The mission of Girls Inc. is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. And Girls Inc. of the Valley has certainly been all three during the buildout of its new headquarters in Holyoke, which offers more opportunity to help girls succeed — both now and in the future — through STEM studies, career preparation, skills to overcome challenges and achieve mental wellness, and much more. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Executive Director Suzanne Parker talks with BusinessWest Editor Joe Bednar about the long journey to open those doors, and how the organization's focus and programming continue to evolve in the service of helping girls thrive in myriad ways. It's must listening, so tune into BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest over both audio and video platforms, and sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.

6/4/26 Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Dir of Planning and Econ Dev: a proposed data center; the city's hydro-created power; transforming the dilapidated K-Mart Plaza; also, Framebridge Custom Framing -- opening & hiring soon. Northampton-based poet and novelist Jendi Reiter on “Introvert Pervert” & his upcoming events at the Broadside and Odyssey Books. Congressman Jim McGovern: the debate and vote on the Iran War and the War Powers Act. Any chance Congress can control Trump? We Fishwrap Hadley's Override, & Kelsey Flynn talks turkey. Nhtn Jazz Fest Pres Ruth Griggs, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell & jazz vocalist Carol Abbe Smith on “The Girls in the Band” & Int'l Sweethearts of Rhythm -- coming to the Northampton Center for the Arts.

6/4/26 Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Dir of Planning and Econ Dev: a proposed data center; the city's hydro-created power; transforming the dilapidated K-Mart Plaza; also, Framebridge Custom Framing -- opening & hiring soon. Northampton-based poet and novelist Jendi Reiter on “Introvert Pervert” & his upcoming events at the Broadside and Odyssey Books. Congressman Jim McGovern: the debate and vote on the Iran War and the War Powers Act. Any chance Congress can control Trump? We Fishwrap Hadley's Override, & Kelsey Flynn talks turkey. Nhtn Jazz Fest Pres Ruth Griggs, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell & jazz vocalist Carol Abbe Smith on “The Girls in the Band” & Int'l Sweethearts of Rhythm -- coming to the Northampton Center for the Arts.

6/4/26 Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Dir of Planning and Econ Dev: a proposed data center; the city's hydro-created power; transforming the dilapidated K-Mart Plaza; also, Framebridge Custom Framing -- opening & hiring soon. Northampton-based poet and novelist Jendi Reiter on “Introvert Pervert” & his upcoming events at the Broadside and Odyssey Books. Congressman Jim McGovern: the debate and vote on the Iran War and the War Powers Act. Any chance Congress can control Trump? We Fishwrap Hadley's Override, & Kelsey Flynn talks turkey. Nhtn Jazz Fest Pres Ruth Griggs, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell & jazz vocalist Carol Abbe Smith on “The Girls in the Band” & Int'l Sweethearts of Rhythm -- coming to the Northampton Center for the Arts.

6/4/26 Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Dir of Planning and Econ Dev: a proposed data center; the city's hydro-created power; transforming the dilapidated K-Mart Plaza; also, Framebridge Custom Framing -- opening & hiring soon. Northampton-based poet and novelist Jendi Reiter on “Introvert Pervert” & his upcoming events at the Broadside and Odyssey Books. Congressman Jim McGovern: the debate and vote on the Iran War and the War Powers Act. Any chance Congress can control Trump? We Fishwrap Hadley's Override, & Kelsey Flynn talks turkey. Nhtn Jazz Fest Pres Ruth Griggs, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell & jazz vocalist Carol Abbe Smith on “The Girls in the Band” & Int'l Sweethearts of Rhythm -- coming to the Northampton Center for the Arts.

6/4/26 Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Dir of Planning and Econ Dev: a proposed data center; the city's hydro-created power; transforming the dilapidated K-Mart Plaza; also, Framebridge Custom Framing -- opening & hiring soon. Northampton-based poet and novelist Jendi Reiter on “Introvert Pervert” & his upcoming events at the Broadside and Odyssey Books. Congressman Jim McGovern: the debate and vote on the Iran War and the War Powers Act. Any chance Congress can control Trump? We Fishwrap Hadley's Override, & Kelsey Flynn talks turkey. Nhtn Jazz Fest Pres Ruth Griggs, Grammy Award-winning vocalist Catherine Russell & jazz vocalist Carol Abbe Smith on “The Girls in the Band” & Int'l Sweethearts of Rhythm -- coming to the Northampton Center for the Arts.

5/14/26 (Co-Host Buz Eisenberg) Eric Nakajima, Holyoke Dir of Economic Development: housing for all. Eric Reeves, Founder of Project Zam Zam: the catastrophe in Sudan and Darfur. Buz and Bill on local overrides and Prop 2 ½. Rabbi Riqi Kosovske: the erroneous conflating of Judaism with Netanyahu's government. Michael Klare, Five (Four?) College Prof. Emeritus of Peace & World Security Studies: Trump's summit with Xi Jinping, the Strait of Hormuz (which they both want open), the Wars in Iran and Ukraine, likely outcomes & dangers ahead.

5/12/26 (co-host Prof Amilcar Shabazz) Rep Pat Duffy: Holyoke educators win a contract, the future of the Farm Bill & the Protect Act. Hadley School Superintendent Anne McKenzie: the proposed overrides – the people will decide soon. National Bike Month, Baystate Bike Month & Northampton Bike Week w/ George Kohout, Pres, Friends of Northampton Trails & Rick Ranti, Coordinator, Bikes for All: with whom, how, where, when and why ride & this week's trips and events. Duke Goldman w/Andy (A.M) Gittlitz, author of “The Metropolitans: New York Baseball, Class Struggle, and the People's Team.”

Sharp Attitudes 4/13/26: Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Planning & Econ Dev Dir: Gateways. Author Jennifer Acker on “Surrender,” Tuesday at the Odyssey. Dr. Jane Fleishman: elders & intimate relationships & dating. S#arp Attitude-THE UMass women's a cappella group-LIVE in the studio: the Manna event.

Sharp Attitudes 4/13/26: Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Planning & Econ Dev Dir: Gateways. Author Jennifer Acker on “Surrender,” Tuesday at the Odyssey. Dr. Jane Fleishman: elders & intimate relationships & dating. S#arp Attitude-THE UMass women's a cappella group-LIVE in the studio: the Manna event.

Sharp Attitudes 4/13/26: Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Planning & Econ Dev Dir: Gateways. Author Jennifer Acker on “Surrender,” Tuesday at the Odyssey. Dr. Jane Fleishman: elders & intimate relationships & dating. S#arp Attitude-THE UMass women's a cappella group-LIVE in the studio: the Manna event.

Sharp Attitudes 4/13/26: Eric Nakajima, Holyoke's Planning & Econ Dev Dir: Gateways. Author Jennifer Acker on “Surrender,” Tuesday at the Odyssey. Dr. Jane Fleishman: elders & intimate relationships & dating. S#arp Attitude-THE UMass women's a cappella group-LIVE in the studio: the Manna event.

Doing and Undoing 3/9/26: Country Joe remembered. Megan Zinn w/ Lindy West: her on-the-road memoir “Adult Braces.” Megan Zinn w/ political novelist Ellen Meeropol: “Sometimes an Island,” – life after the Undoing. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: silenced sirens & Holyoke's Irish tradition. UMass Middle East Prof David Mednicoff: the Iran War, nukes & int'l law.

Doing and Undoing 3/9/26: Country Joe remembered. Megan Zinn w/ Lindy West: her on-the-road memoir “Adult Braces.” Megan Zinn w/ political novelist Ellen Meeropol: “Sometimes an Island,” – life after the Undoing. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: silenced sirens & Holyoke's Irish tradition. UMass Middle East Prof David Mednicoff: the Iran War, nukes & int'l law.

Doing and Undoing 3/9/26: Country Joe remembered. Megan Zinn w/ Lindy West: her on-the-road memoir “Adult Braces.” Megan Zinn w/ political novelist Ellen Meeropol: “Sometimes an Island,” – life after the Undoing. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: silenced sirens & Holyoke's Irish tradition. UMass Middle East Prof David Mednicoff: the Iran War, nukes & int'l law.

Doing and Undoing 3/9/26: Country Joe remembered. Megan Zinn w/ Lindy West: her on-the-road memoir “Adult Braces.” Megan Zinn w/ political novelist Ellen Meeropol: “Sometimes an Island,” – life after the Undoing. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: silenced sirens & Holyoke's Irish tradition. UMass Middle East Prof David Mednicoff: the Iran War, nukes & int'l law.

Doing and Undoing 3/9/26: Country Joe remembered. Megan Zinn w/ Lindy West: her on-the-road memoir “Adult Braces.” Megan Zinn w/ political novelist Ellen Meeropol: “Sometimes an Island,” – life after the Undoing. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: silenced sirens & Holyoke's Irish tradition. UMass Middle East Prof David Mednicoff: the Iran War, nukes & int'l law.

What does the agricultural land market really look like heading into 2026? Shannon Schlachter, a land agent based in Holyoke, Colorado, just 14 miles from the Nebraska border, breaks down current conditions across northeastern Colorado and western Nebraska. Shannon covers why dry land acre prices have softened from $2,200 toward the $1,950 to $2,000 range, how high input costs, 9% operating note interest rates, and drought conditions are creating widespread buyer hesitation, and why FSA relief payments could be the catalyst that jumpstarts activity in Q2. She also outlines three distinct seller profiles emerging in this market and explains why, for patient investors, this valley in land values may represent a genuine buying opportunity before appreciation returns.   Talk to Shannon!  https://nationalland.com/real-estate-agent/shannon-schlachter   Visit National Land Realty to see out Land for Sale https://www.nationalland.com

2/9/26: Megan Zinn w/ Broadside's Roz Kreshak-Hayden: books to read & indies to support. Writers Block w/John Sayles's on “Crucible,” Henry Ford, industrial policy & his antisemitism. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Bad Bunny, schools, MTA negotiations, icy roads, state aid, & financial modernization. John Bonifaz, Pres & Founder of Free Speech for People: prosecuting ICE agents, the AG, DAs, & the police.

1.27 Amherst Town Mgr Paul Bockelman: CRESS (unarmed civilian response to 911) & Snowmageddon. Mt Holyoke Prof Kerstin Nordstrom w/ Amherst's Daniella Bardalez Gagliuffi: GIANT planets and brown dwarfs. Gfld Council Pres Lora Wondoloski: banning surveillance cameras & affordable housing. UMass Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/ Amherst DEI's Philip Avila: honoring Black History Month.

State Auditor released their report of  an audit of the Veterans Home at Holyoke. VA in 2026 looks to get EHR rollout back on track, embark on health care reorganization

Taking Time 1/12/26: Amherst author Jill Shulman: choosing a college & taking time to tell them who you are. Megan Zinn w/ Jedediah Berry, author of “The Naming Song,” winner of the 2025 Mass Book Award for Fiction –a decade to write. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garica, Treasurer Rory Casey & Councilor Megan McGrath-Smith: years to change the 1879 law. UMass Prof Amilcar Shabazz: years later, are we honoring MLK's legacy?

Lost At Christmas: Part 1 His First Christmas away from home, & His best gift ever. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts. Listen to the Podcast at My First time. After my first semester in College, I was eager to go home for the holidays. I was going to school in Rochester, New York, and anybody who'd experienced the lake-effect winters on the Great Lakes would understand my desire to get to somewhere warmer. For me, that somewhere warmer was a long ways away. As a military brat, home was often a moving target, and that winter it was Santiago, Chile, where my father was stationed and where I'd graduated high-school. It was summer in Santiago, and I was looking forward to a pool-party with my old school mates for the Holidays. We didn't have a lot of money, but I was allowed to travel space available on a military flight as a Navy ROTC student. I had to get down to Charleston, South Carolina, and catch an international C1 41 flight that made a loop through Latin America. After finagling a ride to Virginia followed by a very long bus trip down the coast, I finally made it to Charleston AFB. ROTC travel orders in hand, I checked in at the desk, and verified I was on the standby list for the flight leaving on the 23rd. I wouldn't get home until Christmas Day, but better late than never. With pockets nearly empty, a hotel room was out of the question so I slept in the terminal and snacked on the cheapest eats I could get away with. There was a festive mood in the terminal, so many people rushing to get home for the holidays, and I was getting caught up in the feeling, eagerly looking forward to that very long plane ride, first to Panama, then Lima, and finally Santiago. After what seemed an interminable wait, we were an hour away from boarding when I got bumped off the flight by a group of Marines headed to Panama on Active Duty travel orders. I was devastated. The next flight left early the morning of the 26th. At least that one was a huge plane, and nearly empty so I was virtually guaranteed to get aboard, but what was I going to do for Christmas? Looking up at the outgoing flight schedules, I saw a flight listed for Tyndall AFB, Panama City, Florida. "When is the flight to Tyndall headed out?" I asked the airman behind the desk. "In an hour-and-a-half, and it's all but empty. You want on?" He asked, offering some recompense for my last minute bump. I'd lived in Panama City during 9th and 10th grade, and still had some close friends there, many I still kept in touch with. Maybe I could find someone to spend Christmas with there. It had to be better than sleeping in the terminal for 2 more days. "Please," I told him, "but hold my space for Santiago. I'll be back for that flight." I recalled there being a pretty big Greyhound station in Panama City, so I called Greyhound and checked on a bus being able to get me back in time for the flight. They had one, a 7:30 am bus on Christmas morning would get me back before midnight on Christmas. I could easily make the flight the next morning, even if it were delay a few hours. I bought a ticket, using the emergency Am Ex card my parents had given me when I headed off to college. I'd explain the $67.00 to my parents. I called my family in Santiago with the news. It had to be short call because of the expense, so I let them know I had been bumped but would be there on the 28th. I told them I was headed to Panama City, and would be taking a bus back in plenty of time for my flight. My mother cried, and my father told me to go ahead and use the credit card, but to try to keep the expenses reasonable. By the time I hung up I was pretty depressed, but at least I had a plan. Before I could try to contact anyone in Panama City, an announcement was made and suddenly I was on my way to Florida for Christmas, with no place lined up to stay, and practically broke. I was feeling a bit melancholy, but was determined to make the best of it. So there I was, at Tyndall Air Force Base, at 11:20 pm on December 23rd. I was debating who to try first. I had several close friends nearby and I expected they'd all be home for Christmas. After a short internal debate, I had narrowed it down to two. I had always gotten along well with their entire families, and I was still in pretty regular contact with both of them. Mike lived the nearest to me in the old days. He came from a big family, with 6 siblings, including Peggy, who'd been one of my first real deep infatuations. When I had been in 9th grade she'd been a senior, and was pretty and sophisticated. My yearning for her was unrequited, but I relished the idea of seeing her again after four years. She was a college senior, and would probably be home. I knew they'd welcome me, but I was concerned it would be an inconvenience. They did not have a large house, and it was bound to be crowded, particularly with three college kids home for the holiday. On top of that who knew if they had anyone else in tow? Tommy on the other hand came from a relatively well-off family who always lived well within their means. He had an older brother, who was working in Japan and unlikely to be home, a sister, Sheri, just a year behind us in school, and two much younger siblings, who I guessed would be around 9 and 10 by now. They had a spacious house, each kid had their own room, and I wouldn't be putting anybody out if I stayed there. I'd always had a crush on Sheri, but although I'd dated her best friend, I'd never gone out with her. Getting a chance to see her again would be an extra bonus. Feeling nervous and awkward, I dialed Tommy's number from memory, and luckily got him on the first call. If I'd gotten somebody else, I would have really felt uncomfortable. Tommy's answer was unmistakable. He had a funny way of saying hello when he answered the phone, and the sound of his voice took me straight back down memory lane. "Hee-ello," he answered. "Tommy! Guess who?" I asked. I guess my voice must have been similarly recognizable, since he didn't hesitate a second. "Steve-o! What are you up to? Where're you at?" He answered eagerly. It put a smile on my face. Nice to hear a happy, upbeat voice that seemed genuinely pleased to hear from me. "Funny you should ask. It's a long story, but I'm in a bit of a bind. I'm at Tyndall, and stuck here until Christmas Day." I told him. "What happened to Chile, and Rochester?" He asked. "I was on my way home to Chile, when I lost my seat on the plane in Charleston. I couldn't get out again until the 26th, so when I saw an empty plane headed this way, I just hopped on and hoped for the best." I explained. "That's Great!" He almost shouted. "Not great that you couldn't get home, but great that you're here. You want to stay with us? You can have Greg's room, he won't be here, and I'm sure Sheri and Mom would love to see you. The place is kind of 'down' with Greg canceling his trip home at the last minute. Having you here should cheer things up a bit." He did sound enthused, and I couldn't help grinning in reply. "Don't you think you should check?" I laughed. A scream in my ear was the answer, as I heard half of a shouted conversation. "Mom! Guess Who's In Town." "No, Not Greg." "No, Go Ahead Guess." "Guess Again." "Ok, Ok - Steve." "Yeah, Steve Pelland. He's Stuck Here In Town 'Til Christmas Day." "Of Course I Told Him He Should Come Here, I'll Go Get Him." "I Will." "Yes Mom; Yes; I Won't; I Will." I was holding the phone a little away from my head, and almost missed it when he came back on. "Where should I pick you up?" He asked. "The Main Terminal, you know where that is right?" I answered. "Sure - be there in about 30 minutes. Man, this is Great!" I hung up with a big smile on my face, feeling 100% better than I had just 10 minutes earlier. I stood outside waiting for him, and about 20 minutes later the strings of Christmas lights shut off one at a time, as the place closed up for the night. It was dark and quiet, and I started to get nervous again, wondering if this had been such a good idea. I was 500 miles from my flight home and completely at the mercy of old friends. But as far as friends go, I couldn't do much better than mine, and figured at the least I wouldn't be sleeping in a lonely terminal in Charleston for two days, slowly eating my way through my meager funds. When Bob pulled up around midnight, I could see he'd gotten rid of the VW Bug he'd inherited from his mother upon turning 16, and was now driving his brother's old Two-tone Cougar. We spent a minute saying hi, and loading my gear into the trunk, and then we headed back into town, catching each other up on history. When I had first moved to Santiago, I used to write about once every couple of months, as well as call a couple of times a year. In the beginning I'd written Sheri a lot as well. She was one of the most prolific writers among my old friends, and would typically write twice to me for every one I wrote to her. Over the years, that had degenerated into holiday cards and a surprise call maybe once a year. I knew he was attending Florida State, and that Greg had graduated from Georgetown, and had moved to Japan on business. That was about it. Tommy told me all about the old gang, who was in town, who was going to what schools, what people had been up to. I told him a lot more detail about what I'd been up to. "So," he asked, "Got a girl?" "Not now. Thought I had one after the ROTC Christmas ball, but that seems to have been my mistake." I admitted. "Hard to believe. You always had someone. Every letter, every phone-call, just seems like they didn't stay the same all that long." He teased. "I don't know. I had several relationships last pretty long. Two were more than 6 months long." I argued. "Oh! Six Months!" He laughed. "How about you then," I asked in defense. "Still Erin. Almost two years now." He asked. "Shit. What does she see in you? She could do so much better." I teased. "Oh really? Like how?" "Like me!" I laughed. "Right, like that would ever happen! Don't even think about it, or you'll be sleeping in the street." He was laughing as well. "Not if I called Erin I wouldn't," I shot back. I thought it was a great comeback, but it earned me a sock in the arm. We pulled up to his house, which still looked exactly the same, and things were pretty quiet. They used the same window lights, same roof lights, same bush trimmings year after year. It was just as I remembered. Who says you can't go back? "Mom's got to work tomorrow, so I'm sure she's in bed, and you know Dave crashes early, so we better keep it down. We've got lots to do tomorrow anyway." We entered quietly and put my bag in Greg's old room. Tommy stayed and chatted for a few minutes then bid me good night, telling me to sleep in as long as I wanted, as long as it wasn't past 9:00 am, and left me to get settled. Past 9:00? Now I remembered, they'd always been an early-bird household. For me 9:00 am Was the crack of dawn. Tommy and I had breakfast at about 9:30. He was already chiding me for sleeping in and missing the whole family. We had the house to ourselves. He'd been on the phone arranging our day, and once we'd finished the pancakes, we were off to see Mike and his family. Entering Mike's house was the same as it had ever been, but more-so. People everywhere, noise, laughter, roughhousing, it was all taken in stride by Mrs. Frey. We spent a few hours visiting, and getting fed again before we could leave. Mike's older sister Peggy still looked cute to me, but not the amazing creature my memory had somehow stored away. I had to tease her about the Christmas gift she'd given me three years earlier. She'd bought me a Richard Pryor tape, thinking it was Bill Cosby. When I played it for her in my car, she exploded, calling me names and accusing me of vile intent. At the time I had felt bad, confused, angry and a host of other feelings, now thankfully we could laugh at it. When I'd been 16 I'd been somewhat in awe of her, now things were comfortable. Mike's older brother was home as well, with his live-in girlfriend who seemed awfully ill-at-ease, and must have been at least 5 years older than Dan, maybe more. That was a story I'd have to hear more about. The biggest surprise was Alice. She'd been a few years younger than us. I wasn't sure if she was 16 or 17 now, but she was a bombshell. And she was coming on to me like gangbusters. I was really nervous, with her acting all touchy-feely with her mother and Peggy there. I was suddenly glad I had chosen to stay over with Tommy. With a pretty, stacked girl that seemed so infatuated with me around, I'm afraid I might have gotten into a whole lot more trouble than I needed. When we left there Mike joined us, and it was off to see Jack and Russ. They were a year apart in age. Russ had been in our class, and we'd been friendly with him, but Jack, although a year younger was our buddy. We played on the basketball team together, and when Tommy and I formed our first band, Jack was our bassist. At the Chambers house, we once again reminisced, and had to relive our first 'gig'. We had decided to play in the school talent show. With Tommy on piano and Jack on bass, I played guitar. We had a fourth guy on drums we'd all lost contact with. We had played Elton John, Deep Purple, The Eagles, and The Beatles. We had opened with the opening riff of "Smoke on the Water", and had been a hit. We were pretty lousy, but the audience was our friends, our parents and the parents of our friends, and at the end the parents even took up a collection for us. Pretty heady stuff. We'd called ourselves Bronze Myth, and had already designed our first three album covers before we had our first birthday party gig. Jack had been tall then, and had not stopped growing; he was now 6'7" and was attending University of Florida, playing basketball. He reminded me of the time when we went on our first dates together. I had gone with Kathryn Best, easily the most lusted after girl in the whole school, who was in Jack's class a year behind me. Jack, on the other hand, had gone out with our "Valentine's Day Queen", Anne, who was in my class and almost two full years older than Jack. He was always precocious. There had been a third couple with us, Dennis and Suzanne, and Jack broke the news that Suzanne had gotten knocked up, just before I left to go overseas, and she and Dennis had gotten married. There was a huge scandal, but they stuck together, and had the baby. They lived with Suzanne's parents. Dennis was doing alright, working for Suzanne's father. While we were visiting, several friends dropped in, including the aforementioned Kathryn who lived one street over. Kathryn, the stunning brunette who had the body of a 20 year old when she was 15, and had a beautiful face with features that just slayed me. Kathryn, the very first girl I had gotten to Third Base with. She was as pretty as I remembered, and I found out she was going to be attending Mt. Holyoke the following year, which was an odd coincidence since my girlfriend from High School was a sophomore there. Going out with Kathryn, a year younger than me had been a total fiasco. We'd sat together on an out-of-town bus trip and ranked high enough in the pecking order that we got the right hand seat second from the back. These trips were our biggest dates back then. Ours was a small parochial school, and on the bus trips, the athletes, cheerleaders and student fans all rode the same bug. The 30-90 minute trips were like pep rallies on the way out, and like the back of movie theatres on the way back. There were frequent "hand-checks" and the lights would come one as our coaches would walk the aisle, but it seemed like after our wins, the checks would be a little less frequent. Our win at Pensacola was my first real 'make-out' session, as we cuddled and kissed the whole trip home. I even got a chance to play with her breast through her sweater. Less than a week later I asked her to the movies, and we sat in the back with the two other couples, probably both scared spitless and nervous as goldfish in a blender. We'd started necking, which got more and more intense, and my hands boldly went where no hands had gone before. An hour into the movie I was almost out of control, and feverish with desire, and it seemed she was willing to let me do whatever I wanted. If I'd had a little more confidence, or a little more knowledge, who knows what might have happened? As it is, I went pretty far, probably too far, and I was scared to death afterwards. She was the first girl whose flesh I'd touched underneath her clothing. I didn't call her for several days, and even avoided her at school, not knowing what to say. In short I was a total jerk. Everyone thought we should be together, she was the pretty captain of the cheerleaders, with the big boobs, and I was the Big Jock, playing all the sports, while at the same time excelling in school. She was voted "Most Popular." I was "Most Likely to Succeed." However, in this case it turned out she was "Most Slighted", and I was definitely "Most Inept." After waiting several days, amazingly patient in retrospect, she had tasked her best friend Sheri, Tommy's sister, with letting me know that she thought we shouldn't go out. Next thing you know, she was going out with some geeky looking kid, and she dated him for the rest of the school year. I'd changed schools at the end of that year, and had seen her only infrequently the following year, before moving to Santiago. Outside in the backyard, Kathryn and I walked off together and finally had a few minutes alone. "You know Kat, I don't think I ever apologized for being such an idiot, after our first date. I really am sorry." She was quiet for a while. She had a sad little look. "You know, I waited by that phone night after night, crying myself to sleep. I saw you dodging me at school and it broke my heart." "I was young and stupid. I'd never done Anything with a girl before, and could hardly even believe I was with the hottest girl in school. After all the stuff I did, God, I was so embarrassed that I'd overstepped the boundaries, and I had no idea what to say." She sat down underneath the big tree in the backyard and I sat beside her on the circular bench around it. "You could have said something to Jack maybe, or Tommy, and let them tell me. At least let me know that you liked me, or had fun. Something." She looked on the verge of tears, even 3 years later, and I felt even worse. "I know. I kept kicking myself over it. I was so angry with myself and jealous when you went out with Ricky." I admitted. "He was nice to me when I needed it." "But it seemed such an odd fit. He was a nobody; the only thing he ever did noteworthy was date you." I told her. "He lived two houses down. We'd grown up together, and when my heart was broken he picked up the pieces. He could tell something was wrong, and really made me feel a lot better." She confessed. That brought on a short period of silence. It did let me think better of Ricky, who wasn't just lucky or an opportunist. "You know, that was one of the most memorable moments in my life. Touching a girl like that for the first time. I had no idea what I should do, or what I could do, but I kept looking down the row at Dennis and Suzanne, and figured I should be able to do that too. I was in heaven; you were so amazing to be with." I told her, reaching out and taking her hand in mine. Her palm was moist. "You're telling me? You were the big 9th grader with the learner's permit and motorcycle. Big Man on Campus. The guy every girl wanted. And you wanted me. I had no idea what we should or shouldn't do on a date. I was hoping you knew." We laughed at that, remembering the intensity of those feelings. "Given a chance to do it over, I'd have camped out on your doorstep and professed my undying, eternal love the moment you walked out the door." I told her, half serious. "As I recall, you professed your love for me that evening, just before opening the top of my pants." She said with a wicked grin. I'm sure I blushed mightily. "I can't really ask forgiveness, but I really am sorry. Sorry now and sorry then. I fantasized about you for years afterwards, thinking of what could have happened if I hadn't been such a jerk. You have no idea how many of my fantasies you starred in back then." "If only you'd have let me know. Ricky was my first. It could have been you. Given half a chance, it would have been you." She had moved close and was speaking softly. "And this is my punishment. Knowing how bad I fucked up. Seeing you here, as beautiful as in my dreams, and knowing I've screwed up any chance of being with you." I placed my hand behind her head, stroking her hair. "I wouldn't say you'd screwed up Any chance, but you certainly blew that one." We were looking deeply in each other's eyes, recalling strong, painful feelings. I wanted her now, as I'd wanted her then, with a deep burning need, and I leaned forward those last two inches, and captured her lips with mine. She slid forward and melted against me, kissing me with every emotion boiling to the surface. She took my hand and placed it on her incredible chest, and I squeezed her breast, my thumb reliving that first caress of her nipple from so many years earlier. We stayed like that for a couple of minutes, and then broke apart. Her eyes glistened. "I've got a boyfriend." She confessed. I nodded understanding. "If I didn't?" I reached forward pressing my index finger to her lips. "I know. I missed my chance. It's my loss." We just sat side by side a minute, in silence. "You know," she said softly, "what you did to me that night, that was part of the problem." "I know. I'm sorry if I stepped over the line." I said, even now embarrassed at the liberties I'd taken. "No, not anything wrong. What you did to me, how you made me feel. You made me cream my jeans more than once that night. It was the first time I'd ever come. I'd heard about it, but it was almost unreal. Your fingers just drove me wild. It was over a year before another guy was able to do the same." She put her hand between her legs, seemingly remembering that first night. "That makes two of us. I don't know if you knew, but I came in my pants too, and you never even touched me there. By the time I got home I was a terrible sticky mess. I snuck out and threw that underwear away before my mother could find them and ask uncomfortable questions." I told her, laughing. She gave me an odd little look, and then slid around the tree, placing its 3 foot wide trunk between us and the house. She reached out for me, and of course I followed. "Could I, I mean would you mind?" She seemed lost for words. "What? Just ask. I certainly owe you one." I told her. She didn't ask, she just started unbuckling my belt. "I always wondered, and never really had a chance to find out." With the belt open she unbuttoned and unzipped my pants. "I mean, that night, you got to find out pretty much ALL about me, but I didn't; " I lifted my hips and let her pull my pants down a short ways, and then she reached up and pulled my underwear down exposing my fully erect monument to her sexiness. "I knew it, you bastard. Look at that." I didn't have to look. I knew it pretty well. And it was certainly standing tall and making me proud. She took me in hand and stroked me up and down, which after all the discussion and reminiscing was almost enough to get me off. "I just knew it. This should have been my first." She slowly stroked me up and down, and then she leaned over and took me in her mouth for just a second, sucking me deep and then releasing me. That was it. It was too much for me, and I stood up and shot my wad a good two feet out from where we were sitting. She giggled, as she helped me through my release, then pulled my underwear up back over my still dripping cock, and wiped her hand on the front of my briefs, before helping me pull my jeans back up. "If I wasn't tied up, I'd have you paying reparations," she told me as we both stood, and she slapped my hands away from my belt and finished straightening me out herself. "Let's consider it a delayed payoff. If things don't work out for you, maybe we can try it again. Rochester isn't That far from Amherst." Little did I know what the future held in store for us, but that's a different story. We walked back to the house hand-in-hand, laughing at the folly of youth, from the wizened experience of our 18 and 19 years. She had to leave shortly after, as did we, and I kissed her goodbye at the door. Once the door was closed I heard an exclamation from behind me. I turned to Tommy who said, "Now I've seen everything." "Amen," said Jack. "What?" I asked. "After how you treated her after our first date, I was certain you were on her shit-list for life." Jack explained. "Absolutely." Tommy chimed in. "Sheri said that Kathryn fantasized about doing mean and nasty things to you for years. I mean, hell, you did use her pretty bad." "I was a dope. I did some things I'd never done before, and was so embarrassed I didn't know how to even face her. So I screwed up and avoided her. I just made my apologies and we worked things out. I think she understands that I didn't try to be mean; I was just young and stupid. I didn't know what I was doing, and regretted it for years." I told them. "Geez. I always wondered how you could pass on that, when she was so available to you. You really did fuck up, didn't you?" Tommy pointed out. "Yep, not the first time, and I'm certain not the last. But we've buried the hatchet it seems." I answered "I'm just astounded that hatchet isn't in your back." Jack added. We left just a short while after that. We had one last visit to make. Teri Branson was passing through town, and wanted to see us if she could. She was just there for the day, and none of us wanted to miss out on that chance. The summer before 10th grade, I'd practically lived at Teri's. It was football time, and we were doing twice-a-days. We'd have morning practice, then a break so we wouldn't be out all day in the noon-time Florida summer sun. After the break it was afternoon practice. Teri was at our school and I never really knew her until that summer. She lived only a block from Mike, and we had run into her one day out washing the family car. We struck up a conversation, and the rest was history. I spent every football break at her house that summer. Mike didn't play football, but I'd pick him up on the way over there, and we'd hang out. She had a pool table, and a private rec-room with a stand-up arcade game. Her mother would always bring us snacks and drinks. Teri had not been popular, and was new to the school as well. But in a period of just a few months she went from a boyish figured tom-boy, to a devastatingly beautiful teen. Her breasts seemed to almost explode outwards, and once we'd met her mom, we knew where she got it from. She lost some weight, traded glasses for contacts, grew tits, lost the braces, and suddenly this beauty was in our midst, and nobody even knew about her but us. She was our secret. Tommy was going to a different high-school from me and Mike, but we still hung together most of the summer, and we had to let him in on our secret. The closest we'd come to having anything happen was a bizarre game of spin-the-bottle underneath the pool table. Mike, Tommy, me and Teri. Just an excuse for us to take turns kissing her. Her father was being transferred again at the end of the summer. I told her I was going to have a birthday party, and that we were going to play spin-the-bottle, I had hoped she'd be there, but now she was leaving. We were all upset. Tommy suggested we play now, since she couldn't make it then, and we did. It was strange but wonderful. Two weeks later she was gone. We met Teri at the mall, our planned rendezvous. We couldn't miss her; she was the center of a lot of attention. And still gorgeous. We ran up to her and had hugs all around. "I can only stay about 20 minutes," she told us with a pout. "Damn," was all I could say. So the three of us toured the mall, observing all the changes. It had been brand new the year we had been together. We grabbed some drinks, and wandered back outside, our time almost up, and barely even caught up. "Teri, I have a confession." I told her. "I know we acted pretty much like friends, but I was crazy about you. That summer I went home every evening and dreamed of you." "Hell, we all did." Tommy admitted. "We were such idiots," she said. She reached up to my collar and pulled me down for a kiss. Teri stood maybe 5 foot 1, so I had at least a foot on her in height. Bent over I let her kiss me, and I returned it eagerly. Finally she released me. "I was so confused. One day I'd like you, and then the next day you," she said nodding around the group, "and then you. I kept wondering who was going to be my first real boyfriend. I just knew it was going to be one of you. And then it was all over." She looked up at me. "I Still dream about you sometimes." All we could do was laugh it off, and say we'd get together sometime. She was living in Phoenix now, finishing high school, and it looked like she'd be going to Stanford. It was going to be hard to ever make that commute work out, not that she didn't seem like it would be worth the effort. Then her parents drove up. We said hi to her mom (who had been a secret fantasy of mine back then) and then with a last set of hugs it was goodbye to Teri. It was getting late so we dropped Mike back off at his house, driving mostly in quiet. I imagine we were all lost in thought over the quirks of fate and what might have been. For me, it was thoughts of Kathryn and Teri, two incredible opportunities that any teen would kill for, and I'd let them slip through my fingers. We dropped Mike off, but didn't go inside. As it was we were running late, and knew that if we went in, it would be a while before we got out of there. From Mike's it was a 5 minute drive back to Tommy's, but we drove past Teri's old house, just for nostalgia's sake. At Tommy's we were running late. Dinner was going to be at 6:00 pm, and somehow we'd burned the whole day. It was 5:45 before we even walked in the door, and we both wanted to clean up before dinner. The kid's rooms were served by two separate bathrooms, one at the end of the hall, and one off of Greg's room. So I stripped down to my shorts, and went to take my shower. I hadn't expected the bathroom to be full. Sheri was in their, applying the last of her makeup. Fortunately (or unfortunately) she was dressed. When I walked in, she gave a squeal, and came over and gave me a big hug. "I can't believe you're here! You're looking good." She said, stepping back and giving me the once over. "Wow, Sheri, you look great!" was all I could say. She had always been pretty. But the difference between a 15 year old Sheri and this one was night and day. The more mature Sheri was a beautiful young woman. "Thanks," she said, "I'll be out of here in a second, and you can have the place to yourself. I'm dying to talk to you." "I'll be here all night." I joked, stepping back into the room I was using, before my underwear had to undergo any more strain. I sat on the bed waiting, and after just a minute or so she poked her head in and said "It's all yours." She left the door open and walked out the other side of the bathroom. So that was one change at least that I hadn't noticed. Back in the day, this was Greg's bathroom. But since then someone had taken out the linen closet, and the old closet door now opened into Sheri's room. In retrospect it should have been obvious. With Greg away, the bathroom had a lot of stuff in it, although very neat. If I'd opened a cabinet or drawer, I would have seen all the makeup and girl's things. I was using Sheri's bathroom. I rapidly cleaned up and dressed. I was in a bit of a hurry, wanting to still wrap a couple of small presents for my hosts. I had bought several music tapes for my sister as a Christmas present, and decided to gift Tommy with one of them. I also had a photo in a frame for my mom, and decided to make the frame a family gift. It was simple, hand-made by yours truly from apple-wood. After borrowing some paper, tape, and scissors, I was ready to join everyone else just a few minutes later. To be continued in part 2. Based on a post by Tx Tall Tales, in 2 parts, for Literotica

12/12/25: MTA Pres Max Page & Berkshire Comm Coll Pres Ellen Kennedy: big threats to higher ed but reasons for optimism Free Press Co-Pres Craig Aaron: Trumps' EO prohibiting regul AI regulation, media mergers' threat to 1st Am. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: Trump's DOE killing Sublime Systems' low-carbon cement production facility. Political Gold w/ Josh Silver: Trump's vulnerabilities, SCOTUS to kill the Voting Rights Act? redistricting & 2026. Donnabelle Casis w/ poet Matt Dunovan & artist Ligia Bouton on Emily Dickinson & “A Something Overtakes the Mind.”

11/10/25: Eric Reeves on the genocide in Sudan. Megan Zinn w/ Gish Jen on “Bad Bad Girl.” Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia on election results, new school(s) & big political fights. Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/Charles Walker-Hoover, Pres UMass NAACP chapter: this weekend's fire & Friday's protest.

Aaron Vega calls it the next logical progression in a career that has taken him from freelance film editing to directing the Office of Planning & Economic Development in Holyoke. He was referring to the role of president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council after prevailing in a nationwide search that attracted more than 100 candidates; he will assume that role in January. On the next episode of BusinessTalk, Aaron discusses his plans and goals with BusinessWest Contributing Writer George O'Brien. Among other things, he wants the region to do a better job of telling its story, grow the inventory of shovel-ready land for developers, create a blueprint for population growth, and make the EDC even more of a “convener and connector.” It's must listening, so tune into BusinessTalk, a podcast presented by BusinessWest on both audio and video platforms and sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank.

10/27/25: Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia: SNAP cutoff, hunger & budget woes. Megan Zinn w/ Catherine Newman on "Wreck." Prof Amilcar Shabazz w/ Ellisha Walker, Amherst Councilor-at Large: CRESS, SNAP, & rainy-day funds. Amherst Town Mgr. Paul Bockelman & Pub Health Dir Kiko Malin: Nicotine Free Generation, CRESS, Halloween & ribbon cuttings.

Bike tech: Dynamo lights and pocket compressors (0:19). Charlie's News (4:21). Two authors on what we've lost by making kids car dependent: author of A Love Letter to Suburbia Diane Alisa interviews co-author of Curbing Traffic Melissa Bruntlett on her chapter, Child-Friendly City https://bookshop.org/a/99134/9781642831658 (6:51). The delights of a Slovenian bike tour with Hour Away guide Nejc Peternelj and Taylor's brother John & Sister in Law Alice, who took the tour by ebike https://www.hour-away.com/cycling-holidays/guided (22:34). Bike Ped Committee Chair Kristen Sykes interviews Holyoke, Massachusetts Mayor Joshua Garcia about countering car culture with complete streets on the 3rd annual Holyoke Mayoral ride (43:18).

We're exploring the latest headlines from Western, Central, and Eastern Massachusetts in our first Massachusetts news roundtable, including the latest in the off-shore-wind saga, consolidated high school football teams in the Berkshires and Holyoke as a non-sanctuary city. Then, Callie heads to Portland, Maine, to check out the Portland Museum of Art's new exhibit, “David C. Driskell: Collector," juxtaposing Driskell's work with some of his collected works, including pieces by celebrated artists like Lois Mailou Jones, Edward Mitchell Bannister and Romare Bearden.RSVP to our FREE Bookmarked LIVE! event at Parkside Bookshop happening Wednesday, September 17, at 6:30 p.m.: bit.ly/UTRParkside

After what might feel like a fleeting summer break, most Massachusetts schools start the new year this week. In Holyoke, Mass., students started Monday and after a decade of state receivership, decisions about the district are once again back in the hands of school committee members.

Send us a textWhen I volunteered at the Painter Boy aid station of the Leadville Silver Rush 50, there was a runner who came in who looked rather young and somewhat beaten down by the course and the heat and I thought might need some extra attention. I got to know a bit about 17-year-old Teagan Martin and his dad KC who was running with him in what was both of their first 50-milers, and that this was part of their buildup for the difficult Creede 100-miler in a couple of weeks. What really set Teagan apart is that he was doing all of this ultramarathoning as a fundraiser for people in Phillips County, a rural area of Eastern Colorado near the Nebraska border, where he lives in the county seat of Holyoke. I later got to see Teagan and KC triumphantly cross the finish line of the SR50 and learned more about what Teagan is doing with his foundation called Running 4 Reasons. When I sat down with Teagan, his mom and de facto crew chief, Gina, and KC, they described running both the Silver Rush and Creede, a small, high-altitude race with a 40-hour cutoff in the Colorado mountains, where they were last among the 24 finishers. It was a lot of fun chatting with true ultramarathon neophytes and the numerous lessons, I really mean numerous lessons, they learned along the way, some of which will likely have you chuckling, as well as the altruistic spirit they have to help their neighbors during hard times. Teagan is a really impressive young man who has put in the miles not just running but doing the extraordinarily hard work in pounding the pavement in his town to try to address their agricultural community's staggering needs. I think you'll be inspired by how much this project means to a young guy who is just getting started in his philanthropic life. If you would like to support the Martins' very worthy effort, check out the Running 4 Reasons Facebook page or call him at 970-518-8241. Teagan MartinInstagram @martinteagan5Bill Stahlsilly_billy@msn.comFacebook Bill StahlInstagram and Threads @stahlor and @we_are_superman_podcastYouTube We Are Superman PodcastSubscribe to the We Are Superman Newsletter!https://mailchi.mp/dab62cfc01f8/newsletter-signupSubscribe to our Substack for my archive of articles of coaching tips developed from my more than three decades of experience, wild and funny stories from my long coaching career, the wit and wisdom of David, and highlights of some of the best WASP episodes from the past that I feel are worthwhile giving another listen.Search either We Are Superman Podcast or @billstahl8

  The Ruckus Report Quick take: The "lone wolf" leader is a toxic myth that's burning out school administrators and failing students. Veronica Holyoke proves that transformational leadership happens in community, not isolation — and one hour a week can change everything. Meet Your Fellow Ruckus Maker Veronica Holyoke is a 25-year education veteran and Utah's 2024 Assistant Principal of the Year. A former 5th grade teacher with master's degrees in Curriculum and Instruction and Educational Leadership, she's spent her fourth year as an elementary Assistant Principal in Jordan School District. Beyond her accolades, Veronica has navigated supporting her husband through serious disability while excelling in her leadership role — proving that community support transforms both professional and personal resilience. Breaking Down the Old Rules