Lifestyle

By Kristy Tallman AMHERST, MA — A recent event in Amherst, Massachusetts, has stirred controversy after a drag queen encouraged young children to chant "Free Palestine" during a story hour. The event, titled "Queer Storytime for Palestine," was sponsored by Valley Families for Palestine, as reported by the New York Post. In a video that circulated online, the drag queen, known as "Lil Miss Hot Mess," led the children in chanting the slogan, saying, "If you're a drag queen and you know it, and you really want to show it, if you're a drag queen and you know it, shout ‘Free Palestine.’” The children followed suit, repeating the phrase as instructed. Critics have condemned the event, arguing that it amounts to indoctrination of young children. Concerns have been raised about the appropriateness of involving children in political activism, particularly in a complex and contentious issue like the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Members of the LGBTQ+ community have also expressed dismay, highlighting the persecution faced by LGBTQ+ individuals in Palestinian territories. Some have pointed out that LGBTQ+ individuals often seek refuge in Israel due to safety concerns. Prominent figures, including former Israel Defense Forces sergeant Eitan Fischberger and British TV host Nigel Farage, have criticized the event on social media, labeling it as inappropriate and potentially harmful. Organizers of the event defended their actions, stating that it was an opportunity for children to learn about speaking out against injustice and embracing individuality. However, the event has sparked debate about the boundaries of activism and education, particularly when involving young children. This incident follows a similar controversy in Arizona earlier this year, where an event featuring "Daddy Satan" was canceled amidst backlash. By Kristy Tallman, May 12, 2024 The Republic News Source: Law Enforcement Today.

A 22News viewer spotted black bear cubs climbing a tree in Greenfield on Sunday.

UMass Dining and Recreation and Wellbeing have announced their respective summer hours, listed below. In addition, Recreation and Wellbeing is offering discounted summer memberships for $40 to those affiliated with UMass Amherst and $55 for members of the general community. Membership transactions can be completed at the Member Services desk in the Recreation Center during open hours.

Editor’s note: As prom season returns this year, MassLive.com is offering an exclusive benefit to subscribers: Click through the photo gallery below to see if we photographed your favorite prom-goer or just to check out the latest prom fashion trends, and get free, print-quality downloads. Subscribe to MassLive today.

SUNDERLAND, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — An injured moose found its way onto Route 116 in Sunderland this morning, and was later euthanized. Sunderland Police Chief Erik Demetropoulos said earlier reports that the moose had been hit by a school bus were incorrect. There had been a school bus in the vicinity at the time, but was not involved. Local police waited for Environmental Police to arrive on the scene, after which it was determined the moose would need to be euthanized.

Frankie Cosmos embarked on a brief romp of a New England tour last week, stopping in Burlington, Amherst, and Portsmouth before her final stop at the Crystal Ballroom in Somerville. The band is composed of frontwoman singer-songwriter Greta Kline and her bandmates, who were also joined on stage by opener Katie Von Schleicher.

When Ed Tyler first looked at Craig Hella Johnson's 2016 choral suite "Considering Matthew Shepard," he knew right away he was getting involved with a work of greatness. The composition is a heartfelt response to the murder of Matthew Shepard, a 21-year-old gay student at the University of Wyoming in Laramie who was kidnapped, beaten, tied to a fence and left to die on the night of Oct. 6, 1998.

Nied wrote, arranged, and sang as well as played guitar, bass, piano, organ, violin, synthesizer, and percussion for the album. We talked to her about her time at Hampshire, her Div III, and how her college experience influenced her approach to making this album. What did you study at Hampshire?

Who wasn’t at the Franklin County Fairgrounds on Saturday for Franklin County’s Largest Tag Sale? It was a busy place!. We had almost 100 vendors selling just about everything. I was by the main gate for most of the day and I should have taken more photos of the crazy items people were taking away from the event! Chairs, tires, and puppies too!

In the heart of downtown Athol, a new museum is capturing the imagination of visitors with its extraordinary exhibits that blur the lines between science, legend, and the supernatural. The **Education Earth Museum**, set to open its doors on May 12, 2024, promises an experience like no other, with displays that delve into the realms of cryptology, paranormal phenomena, and extraterrestrial life. Owned and operated by Storm DeFrancesco Plains, a certified archaeologist with a passion for the unexplained, the museum is a treasure trove of the mysterious and the bizarre. From the elusive **Bigfoot** to the spine-chilling tales of the **Mothman**, the museum showcases a variety of exhibits that challenge our understanding of the natural world. One of the highlights of the museum is the **Man-Dog** exhibit, a creature of legend that has sparked curiosity and fear in equal measure. Visitors can also explore the enigmatic **White Lady** display, which delves into the ghostly apparitions reported throughout history. For those fascinated by the unknown, the museum offers a glimpse into **Hanger 18 from Area 51**, featuring scenes that ignite the imagination about what might lie within the secretive military base. Additionally, replicas of the haunted phone and the infamous doll **Annabelle** are on display, bringing to life the investigations of renowned paranormal experts Ed and Lorraine Warren. The Education Earth Museum is not just a place to observe; it's an interactive hub where visitors can attend cryptozoology, ufology, and paranormal meetings, and even earn certificates in these intriguing fields¹². It's a space where the curious can engage with the strange and the unexplained, and perhaps leave with more questions than answers. As Storm DeFrancesco Plains puts it, the museum is more than just an attraction; it's a contribution to the town's cultural landscape, offering a unique perspective on the mysteries that have captivated humanity for centuries. Whether you're a believer or a skeptic, the Education Earth Museum invites you to step into a world where the extraordinary is the norm. The museum is a bold step into the unknown, and it's right here in Athol, waiting to be explored¹. Source: Conversation with Bing, 5/11/2024 (1) Cryptozoology exhibits featured at Education Earth Museum. https://www.atholdailynews.com/Earth-Education-Museum-features-exhibits-on-cryptozoology-55080100. (2) Educational Visits, Museum, Educational Institutions - Education Earth .... https://educationearthmuseum.com/. (3) Memberships/Admissions - Education Earth Museum. https://educationearthmuseum.com/memberships%2Fadmissions.

Spray Park runs daily from 10am-8pm Tuesday the Spray Park will open late (at noon) due to required weekly maintenance. If someone pushes one of the actuators during this time frame the features will turn on. Outside of that time frame the features will not turn on. To report an...

The Deerfield Fire District was called to an oven fire at a home on Friday night.

GREENFIELD — Famed sports writer Grantland Rice once wrote, it’s not “that you won or lost — but how you played the game.”. The same might be said of Real Pickles in Greenfield: It has earned a nationally recognized Good Food Award for its Organic Sauerkraut not just because it’s sumptuous, but also for the environmentally and socially responsible way the company does business.

Visitors to downtown Athol may be pleasantly surprised to find a museum tucked into the retail storefronts on Main Street—but this isn’t your typical museum. At the Education Earth Museum, you can learn about dinosaurs and native New England wildlife and meet some live reptiles, but you can also learn about aliens, the paranormal and cryptozoology, the study of creatures that may or may not exist, like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness monster.

Amherst, MA screamo legends Orchid finally reunited after 22 years for a brief run of shows that wrapped up with three nights at Brooklyn’s Warsaw (May 9, 10, and 11). The shows began in the band’s Amherst hometown on May 5 at The Drake, and they also played Boston’s Royale and Philly’s First Unitarian Church and Union Transfer before doing the Brooklyn run. Openers varied from show to show, with Dropdead, Loma Prieta, Slow Fire Pistol, NØ MAN, The HIRS Collective, Gel, Uniform, and more joining Orchid throughout the run.

GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Northwestern DA’s Office is working with Children’s Advocacy Centers on a community education initiative featuring a free community screening of the Frontline documentary “Sex Trafficking in America” at the Greenfield Garden Cinemas on May 29th. The screening will be followed by a live panel discussion with a survivor of human trafficking, Northampton Police Captain Victor Caputo, and staff from the Children’s Advocacy Centers.

GREENFIELD, MA (FRANKLIN COUNTY NOW) — The Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield will be teeming with thousands of people looking for a deal. Franklin County’s Largest Tag Sale takes place on Saturday from 8:30 am to 2:00 pm. In addition to all the tag sale tables, there will...

After a man's body was dragged from the scene of a fatal car crash by a bear, state officials euthanized a nearby black bear. After a bear dragged a man’s body from the scene of a fatal car crash Sunday, state officials confirmed that a bear at the scene was later killed.