By Phil Pothier
The day was long, the labor hard,
Gone fishin’.
I’m “hoisted in my own petard,
Gone fishin’.
I told my boss that I was ill.
He knows I lied, but I went still!
For me the sport is such a thrill!
Gone fishin’.
My friends all wonder where I’ve gone,
Gone fishin’.
Somebody else can mow the lawn.
Gone fishin’
I know my children need new shoes,
I know which way I ought to choose,
I haven’t got much more to lose!
Gone fishin’!
My friends I’ve mostly left behind.
Gone fishin’,
But they still care and are so kind!
Gone fishin’.
I need the calm, I need the peace.
I need that feeling of release.
From storms of life I seek surcease.
Gone fishin’.
Some day when time has paid its toll,
Gone fishin’.
Perhaps at last I’ll change my goal
Gone fishin’.
When all my strength has gone astray,
When I can’t rise at break of day,
Then pick me up, tote me away!
Gone fishin’!
By Clifton (Jerry) Noble, Sr.
By studying math and surveying from books and profiting from my time with Public Works in Fresno California I have passed the Grade V engineering exam for Massachusetts Civil Ser-vice and been granted a permanent appoint-ment. The gross pay is $164.35 a week. After deductions for state and federal income tax and $8.24 for retirement, a net of $131.53 (a little over $3 an hour) remains for me. Thus I can afford to pay $95 a month room and board for my mother at Sarah Gillette old lady’s home on Broad Street in Westfield, pay my cousin Lester $2 an hour for his help around the place and nurse Watson $1.75 an hour to help Elizabeth with baby.
Although Grade V qualifies for supervisory positions I have been allowed to keep running my “Grade IV” survey party. Hints are that this may not continue.
In May I bought one of the new Polaroid cameras from Del Padre for $38.88. 8-picture films cost $1.39.
At age 74 my mother keeps busy. When first married she took china painting lessons from Mrs. Dupont. She paints flowers very well and has been decorating writing paper and selling it in packages of 12 sheets for, I believe, 25 cents. The other day I got her a new box of watercolors for $1.95.
August 1, Tuesday. Mrs. Barnes walked from across the road to see Elizabeth at noon and brought blueberries. My crew is doing prelimi-nary cross sections of the big Damato borrow pit south of Cooper Street in Agawam before fill is taken out for West Springfield’s Route 5 construction. I worked the rod in swim briefs to get more tan, and had one rodman do tele-scope readings while the transitman got practice as notekeeper. Assistant supervisor Al Cloutier brought the books for our next job on Union Street in Westfield, I took a Polaroid picture of the dent in Jim Geagan’s car for him to send to the insurance company. He gave me a broom.
August 2, Wednesday. We worked on Union Street in Westfield but got rained out in after-noon. I got baby shirts at Grants and stopped a few minutes at Sarah Gillette home to see my mother, Baby (Jerry Jr.) is 3 months and 12 days old. Had just finished feeding him when Eliza-beth’s brother Jim, wife Ginny, daughter Pamela, and mothers-in-law drove in for a half hour visit
August 3 Thursday. Bob Fay’s crew came through our job for a few minutes visit so I loaned my square dance book to Dick Barker who is in Bob’s party and teaches dance at his own studio. After work I took junk to Russell dump and baby’s wash to Glen Laun-derette.
August 5, Saturday. After breakfast baby sat on floor beside me while I typed travel expens-es. Paid electric bill in Huntington and talked with Mr. Pero about getting a new water heater. At launderette I learned that owner Ralph Shel-don was taken to hospital with a painful kidney stone..
Baby weighs 13 pounds 10 ounces. Uncle Ralph Emerson stopped in midafternoon and took pictures of Elizabeth and baby smiling. In evening Mrs. Denslow, who works in Valley Electric, and daughter Dorothy Kennedy, from Jewett City CT, visited. Dot’s husband is an anes-thetist.
August 6, Sunday. Heard on radio about sec-ond manned space flight by Russians.
August 11, Friday. Dick Barker, Tom Cooney, Jim Geagan and John Manzi passed the Grade I Junior Engineering Aid exam. Al Kacavich didn’t pass.
August 12 , Saturday. I mowed lawn and got more tan in sun with olive oil. Atwaters brought Elizabeth’s Aunt Martha Monroe and she had a sweater for baby which she got in London. We showed her the movies we took in Christmas Cove last summer.
August 14, Monday. Hester (nickname for my mother) was invited to dinner at Atwater’s to visit Aunt Martha.
August 19, Saturday. At laundry I saw the big woman who dropped cigarette ash in my yel-low plastic clothes container. She in-troduced herself as Nancy Perkins from Chester, and was one of E’s night nurses at hospital. In Hun-tington I paid elec-tric bill, got things at market, and car-ried out six cans of Puss in Boots for a lame man.
August 20, Sunday. I picked up “Hester” at Sar-ah Gillette Home. Mr. Shears’ sermon was “Christian Faces Death” - powerful but morbid. He wants to go to teacher’s college so church committee may not keep him. Elizabeth had lunch for us on terrace. I took Hester back to Westfield by way of Cobble Mountain Reservoir.
August 21, Monday. Baby is four months old. He weighs 14 pounds 6 ounces. Elizabeth de-frosted and cleaned refrigerator.
August 26, Saturday. We were up at 7:00 a.m. I fed baby. While I was typing reports Mari-on Shaw, Mildred Moore and Eileen Borland stopped. They were taking my mother to dinner. I mailed reports in Russell and got hot dogs and baby food in Huntington. Then did ironing. 3:30 p.m. I did laundry in Russell. Kenny and Elaine Carrington were there. They live across from his parents on Goss Hill Road in Huntington. He is yard foreman at Bryant Machine. Elaine says Mr. Shears will teach 3rd and 4th grade in Huntington and continue as minister at Chester Hill Church.
August 27, Sunday. 9:45 a.m. I took Hester to church, picking up elderly Myron Kelso on the way. Elizabeth had steak dinner for Hester. Baby has developed an expressive squeal since Friday night. He’s been laughing and smiling for a month.
August 29, Wednesday. I came home from work on sick leave in afternoon with sore throat, poison ivy and fatigue. I found a District I sur-vey party, headed by Stephen McDermot, work-ing on Carrington Road in front of the house.
August 31, Thursday. I asked divine guid-ance as to whether I should pick up Butch Dw-yer or John Manzi ftrst. The answer was “John (John’s horse Ambidexter won again.) When I got John he said Butch had phoned him to tell me he would be out the rest of the week. John had been trying for ten minutes to get away from a policeman who wanted to talk horses. John got “Liquid Steel” at some North End store and patched holes in my Ford’s body. At noon I got Reader’s Encyclopedia, $8.50, at Library Bookhouse in West Springfield for Hester.
Thinking back to my childhood brings memories of the Circus. But, like many other facets of Ameri-can culture, old-time circuses have faded into near obscurity, becoming little more than a memory kept alive by movies like Disney’s 1941 Dumbo to Big Top Pee Wee, and the darker, grittier 1983 film Something Wicked This Way Comes (with some outdoor scenes filmed in Vermont). Yet there’s still a ring of a literal romanticized aura surrounding the circus memory, and for a resident of Southwick whose life rose and fell with its golden age.
It was right into the beating heart of the mag-nificent shows that our Elmer D. Litch was born! His whole life, from that very first spark of fascina-tion, became completely intertwined with the cir-cus’s own spectacular rise, his youthful excitement mirroring its soaring popularity. But as the bright lights of the big top gradually dimmed alongside Elmer’s increasing age, his remarkable journey and lifelong dedication reflect not only a profound per-sonal passion but also the grand, bittersweet nar-rative of the circus itself—its glorious rise and its eventual transformation into cherished memory.
The Roman Empire can lay claim to the origins of the circus within its “Circus Maximus” (Greatest Circle). Gladiator battles, chariot races, and exotic animals created entertainment which, years later, found its way to entertainers from the Far East, called Roma, known for their animal training dis-plays. The Roma were a nomadic people, bringing their shows with them as they traveled, giving a new spark to the culture of traveling performers.
The first ties to the more modern era of circuses can be traced to the late 18th century, where Philip Astley is credited with creating the modern circus. By 1770, with its acrobats, animal performers, and other fantastic acts of nature, others followed, and replicas sprouted across Europe and America. By 1793, in Philadelphia, the more regally viewed cir-cus was visited by our very first president, George Washington.
Then, in the late 19th to the early 20th century, the circus had its Golden Age. With Barnum & Bailey leading the way, the idea of the “big top” began, boastfully called “the Greatest Show on Earth.” It relentlessly trampled anything that stood in its way for com-petition—even world fairs. Barnum & Bailey’s Circus visited Springfield, Mas-sachusetts, in 1873, before the Eastern States Exposition even began. In 1906, James Anthony Bailey died, and about a year later, the Ringling Brothers purchased Barnum & Bailey, bringing their acts, animals, and other assets to-gether to create an unparalleled spectacle.
Less than 20 years later, local Elmer D. Litch was born. He became so captivated with the joy and ex-citement of this show before the turn of the century that his lifelong obsession was in full swing. Litch lived in an age vastly different from our own—when stagecoaches still ruled the streets and the show truly came to town. In his early years, he was already helping out, if not already fully engaged with the circus. He unloaded the wagons from the trains and the cages for the parades that marched into towns. The loud noises, sirens, and clowns performed their way into the hearts of every child and citizens trying to escape from the hard labor of work, if only for a day. The adrenaline of being part of the show is what fueled his passion, some-thing that I felt in my life, albeit different, but still circus-related.
But with time, a younger generation found less jubilation in the circus than its older peers did when television began to spellbind new audiences with its silver screen by 1957. As movies and televi-sion grew, they distracted from and, in some ways, supplanted the Big Top. By 1956, Ringling Brothers Circus adapted to city venues, no longer relying on outside, open-field, suburban locations. The trav-eling circus gave up its “big top” for the ceilings of established arenas, and television shows like Ed Sullivan’s “Toast of the Town” featured animal acts, acrobatic feats, and other captivating perfor-mances. By the 1960s, the circus, as a cultural in-stitution, was no longer a central American experi-ence but became more of a nostalgic pastime.
Circus-led parades into town diminished in crowd size, leaving local fairs and carnivals to evolve from them. Around this time Elmer Litch had already started a moving business. Yet he al-ways saved time to greet any traveling circus that came near town, like the “Bears Barnes Circus” show that visited Southwick in 1961 and 1963. Al-ways lending a hand and his own equipment to make their visit even easier and more welcome!
Despite his sadness and dismay at the loss of crowds for circus parades, foreseeing its eventual downfall, he had already begun to build his col-lection of relics of circus life. He had posters of past visits, with their leading celebrities—many he knew as friends or through business—signed in ink. These autographed pieces were framed and displayed as murals on the walls of his home in Southwick.
Litch’s house at the corner of Feeding Hills Road and Foster Road (across from Pioneer Dairy) be-came a literal museum, documenting the circus life as well as his own life within it. From relics of peacock feathers to real cages of lions and tigers, he collected and even re-created replicas of wagon wheels, displayed with all of the bright circus col-ors of red, blue, orange, and yellow that were now spread across his front lawn on the corner of Fos-ter and Feeding Hills Road. His inspiration was so bright and influential that it left a bold print.
As the final curtain fell on the circus by the turn of the century due to lack of interest and many law-suits concerning the sad but just cause of animal mistreatment by many trainers, Elmer Litch’s love never waned. Though up in age, he was more than excited to share with an interested citizen or even a local journalist. Besides his wife, he was comforted and helped by a friend of some 35 years and a fel-low circus worker, an elephant trainer named Joe Smith. Joe helped care for his long-acquired mu-seum, and this circus exhibit existed until Elmer’s 80th birthday in 1972. Litch’s entire collection went to the Sarasota, Florida, Circus Hall of Fame.
While working on his collection, Litch accom-plished so much in his life. He was a co-founder of the “Storrowtown Players,” the summer theater in West Springfield, Massachusetts, and a board di-rector for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
Not everyone can say they devoted their en-tire life to one cause, fueled by the excitement that drove them. Elmer Litch’s only real wish was to spread his love, thrill, and excitement—which never ceased in his lifetime—for the circus, from childhood to his golden years of reflection. Bless that man, Elmer D. Litch.
Gone
Fishin’
August 2014
August
1961
Above: Glen Launderette and author’s 1959 blue Ford.
Right:
Jerry Jr.
Mildred Moore on steps of Little House
Posters of Barnum and Bailey Circus and Ringling Bros Circus
Top: Joe Smith with a Wagon Wheel located on Litch’s property.
Left: Elmer Litch
Original Photos from Springfield Daily News July 30, 1962
By Todd Shiveley
August brings a subtle shift—summer’s warmth lingers, but change is near. Backpacks reappear, new shoes get laced, and butterflies flutter in little tummies. The return to school is a time of possibility and uncertainty. Whether your child feels excited, anxious, or a bit of both, this transition offers a powerful opportunity to nurture resilience, emotional readiness, and problem-solving skills.
Instead of focusing solely on logistics—sup-plies, schedules, lunches—imagine preparing children emotionally. What if they returned to school not just with sharpened pencils, but with steady hearts? Let’s make August the month of “back-to-school bravery,” grounded in connec-tion rather than pressure.
Why the Transition Feels Big
Even for children who enjoy school, the re-turn can stir stress. Summer days become struc-tured school time, demanding an emotional ad-justment. Uncertainty creeps in: Will my teacher be kind? What if I forget something? What if I can’t make friends? Young children may experi-ence separation anxiety as they leave home each morning.
These responses are developmentally nor-mal. The goal isn’t to eliminate them but to sup-port children with predictability, reassurance, and practical tools.
Building Back-to-School
Resilience
Helping your child shift from anxiety to confidence can be in-tentionally simple.
1) Make the unknown known. Walk or drive by the school, look up classroom photos online, visit the playground, and rehearse drop-off routines. Make it into an activity and turn worry into curiosity by wondering together what the classroom might smell like or what your teacher’s voice will sound like.
2) Create a “Brave Plan.” Togeth-er, list strategies your child can use if they feel nervous—taking deep breaths, talking to a teacher, holding a calming object, or repeating an affirmation such as “I’ve done hard things before!” Don’t forget to add a visual component. Decorate a “Brave Badge” to tuck into their backpack as a secret reminder of inner strength.
3) Engage in playful “What If…” scenarios to role-play common concerns: forgetting lunch, someone sitting in their spot, or feeling lonely. But for strong emotions resist the urge to fix fears immediately; instead, co-create coping plans and empower your child to be the prob-lem-solver with your support.
4) Incorporate morning connection rituals to begin each day with calm and confidence. A special handshake, a hidden “I believe in you” note in their lunchbox, or a brief mindfulness moment can work wonders. Try “5-Second Stillness”: pause for one deep breath before leaving and ask, “What’s one thing you’re look-ing forward to today?” Or practice “Feet on the Floor,” having your child stand tall by the door, feel their feet planted, and say, “I am safe. I am strong. I can do hard things.” These quick ritu-als ground nerves and build emotional readi-ness.
5) At the end of the day, debrief with gentle curiosity. Ask what made them proud, what felt hard, and what surprised them. Avoid perfor-mance-based questions like “Did you behave?” Focus instead on effort, courage, and connec-tion.
Supporting Problem-Solving Through Setbacks
Resilience isn’t about sidestepping problems; it’s about facing them with courage and flexibil-ity. When challenges arise, lead with empathy: “That sounds really hard,” then offer validation: “It makes sense you felt upset,” and collaborate on solutions: “Let’s think about what you could try next time.” Remind your child that bravery isn’t the absence of fear but taking the next step with someone by their side.
Affirmations for the New School Year
Encourage your child to say or write affirma-tions: I can do hard things. I am ready to learn and grow. It’s okay to feel nervous and excited. Every day is a fresh start. I am kind, capable, and brave.
Have them decorate and display one by the mirror or tuck it into their lunchbox as a daily reminder.
Confidence Is Quiet, esilience Grows Slowly
As adults, we often rush to cheer kids on, but real resilience blossoms through steady pres-ence—routines, reflection, and relationships that make children feel safe to stretch, stumble, and speak up. This August, establish simple routines that strengthen emotional resilience. Prepare children not for perfection but for par-ticipation—for trying, learning, connecting, and coming back again tomorrow. Brave doesn’t have to be big; sometimes it’s soft and small, simply saying, “I’ll try anyway.”
By Lucas Caron
If someone were to ask you what products you consider to be staples of American society, a variety of ideas might come to mind. One of the most notable is undoubt-edly corn, a crop originally discovered in the Americas that has supported generations of people throughout the world as well as the legacy of the United States.
As such, few crops are as central to our di-ets as the humble ear of corn. From corn on the cob and popcorn to an ingredient in cornbread and cereal, corn is a constant presence in our ev-eryday eating habits. Yet, with the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) estimating that 95.2 million acres of corn have been planted in the United States in 2025, it’s clear that the value of corn to our country goes far beyond its nutritional value. As such, it is crucial that we understand just how often we use corn in our everyday lives so that we gain a better apprecia-tion for all it does for us as a society and for the farmers who supply us with this highly useful crop.
The primary domestic use of corn, unsurpris-ingly, is as an ingredient in livestock feed, with the USDA projecting that roughly 40% of corn used in the U.S. can be attributed to feeding animals. This is because corn is a high-quality source of carbohydrates, the primary source of energy for living organisms. In addition, corn is also a valuable source of protein, vitamins C and E, starch, and fiber—all of which are crucial for animal health. As such, corn is a key ingredient in developing a balanced diet for livestock, and with a balanced diet comes improved yields of the key products provided by livestock. The high nutritional value of corn ensures that livestock efficiently grow to their full potential, which means higher-quality meat. Furthermore, it sup-ports cows’ ability to produce milk and expands the egg-laying capacity of hens, providing even more of the critical resources that people around the country use in their kitchens each day.
To top it all off, the large amount of domes-tic corn grown in the United States results in the cost of using corn to feed livestock being lower compared to other crops. When the cost of rais-ing livestock goes down for farmers, the cost of the resources that livestock produce goes down too. As a result, corn being used in livestock feed leads to more delicious farm-made products in greater quantities and at lower costs—a net ben-efit for all who rely on them to provide for their families.
The United States also frequently uses corn to produce ethanol, an energy source alternative to fossil fuels. Through a process of milling and cooking, the starches in corn kernels are broken down into sugar. From there, the sugar is fer-mented with yeast, creating liquid ethanol and carbon dioxide. Finally, the newly made ethanol is distilled to separate it from any remaining sol-ids and water. This anhydrous ethanol, or pure alcohol, is then either mixed with gasoline or further processed into different fuel grades de-signed for various types of vehicles.
Though it may seem unusual at first, various studies have shown that corn ethanol can have an immensely beneficial impact on the environ-ment. In 2019, the USDA determined that etha-nol refined at a natural-gas-powered refinery featured 43% lower greenhouse gas emissions than standard petroleum based gasoline, with researchers at Harvard, MIT, and Tufts finding a similar 46% decrease in emissions. Thus, the statistics suggest that using corn based ethanol results in higher air quality and a cleaner atmo-sphere. Furthermore, ethanol lacks the deadly combination of toxins found in typical gasoline known as BTX—short for benzene, toluene, and xylene. These are cancer-causing carcinogens added to gasoline to improve its octane, which is a measure of the fuel’s stability. In the case of ethanol, however, the more it is blended into gasoline, the higher the fuel’s octane gets—with-out requiring the use of any toxins.
However, there have been other concerns raised regarding the environmental cost of pro-ducing corn ethanol. A 2022 study published in the journal Proceedings of the National Acad-emy of Science (PNAS) found that corn pro-duction expanded by 8.7%, or 6.9 million acres, between 2008 and 2016 to supply the growing demand for corn ethanol. Large portions of land previously held for conservation and pastures were converted to farmland, but to an increase in annual fertilizer use nationwide by 3-8% and water pollutants by 3-5% as well. The study also found that this change in domestic land use re-sulted in at least a 24% increase in greenhouse gas emissions in comparison to standard gaso-line use.
Though it is far from a perfect resource, the USDA projects that nearly 45% of corn produc-tion in the country is used for corn ethanol, mak-ing it central to American society and we must navigate these environmental benefits and con-sequences to determine if corn-based ethanol is the ideal fuel to power our nation.
Of course, it is important that we consider the impact corn has on the food industry here in the U.S. As previously mentioned, there are many obvious uses of corn in our diets, including corn on the cob, popcorn, cornbread, and cereal. However, its usage goes further than what you might initially expect.
For instance, one key corn product used in cooking is corn oil, which is obtained from corn kernels. It is frequently used as a salad oil and frying oil due to its low cholesterol and can be converted into margarine via hydrogenation. Another example of corn’s vast usage in food is cornstarch, which is made from wet-milled corn. Cornstarch is frequently used as a thickener and anticaking agent in food production; however, it can also be broken down into corn syrup, an in-valuable sweetener used in countless food items.
Corn syrup comes in two key varieties. The first is light corn syrup, which is clarified and decolorized and used frequently to sweeten baked goods, jams, jellies, and more. The second is dark corn syrup, which is mixed with molas-ses and caramel coloring to enhance its sweet-ness. Dark corn syrup is used in many of the same food products as light corn syrup, as well as in table syrup.
Corn syrup can also be further processed to convert some of its glucose into fructose, creat-ing high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS). Fructose is the sweetest of all naturally occurring sugars, making HFCS indispensable to all sorts of pro-cessed foods including soft drinks, ice cream, and candies. Finally, as discussed earlier, corn can be fermented into pure alcohol, allowing for the creation of bourbons and corn whiskeys, among other alcoholic beverages. Truly, corn can be found in every corner of the American food industry!
There are myriad other aspects of life in the United States that corn contributes to, and to cover each one would take far more writing than I could fit in this article. Therefore, I’d like to conclude by discussing where all these contri-butions intersect: the economic impact of corn.
According to the USDA, the U.S. is the largest producer and consumer of corn—a notion sup-ported by a 2024 economic study performed by the National Corn Growers Association (NCGA). In the study, the NCGA identified that the posi-tive monetary contributions of corn farming and the numerous products and services corn sup-ports can be found in 506 different industry sec-tors across all 50 states. In 2024 alone, these con-tributions generated an estimated $123 billion in total economic output. Furthermore, the study found that corn farming supported over 440,000 jobs and provided $29 billion in wages for em-ployees.
The positive impact of corn production on the U.S. economy isn’t limited to domestic gains, ei-ther. The U.S. is also the largest exporter of corn in the world, with the USDA determining that our nation exports 10–20% of our yearly corn production to other nations. As we sell our vast stock to other countries, billions of dollars flow back into our economy, making the crop even more viable financially.
The conclusion here is simple: corn produc-tion and the aspects of society it contributes to—from livestock feed and ethanol to a more diverse food industry and beyond—are key to building both a healthy and sustainable domes-tic economy and strong international economic relations.
Regardless of what industry you look at, you are nearly guaranteed to see the positive impact of corn in some shape or form. For this reason, it is even more important that we hold deep respect not just for corn itself, but also for the farmers who produce it. Though they do not al-ways receive the recognition they deserve, it is farmers and their hard work every day that sup-ply us with the crops that allow our country to survive and thrive. They lay the foundation for the countless products and services that make the United States what it is today.
As such, the next time you use a product made with corn, I invite you to be grateful not only for the marvelous crop itself, but for the people who make its fruitfulness possible—and in turn, make this country a place worth living.
Have you ever felt like you’re at a dead-end in life? Like you’re stuck? Like there’s no way forward? Well, then, you have to have the mind-set...
With God, there’s always a way, and by faith, I will find it.
Focus on possibilities! There’s a great story in the Bible about a group of guys who knew how to “focus on possibilities.”
There were four good old country boys. Pic-ture ‘em! The ringleader was a guy named Bub-ba. (The Bible doesn’t say that was his name, but I think it had to be!) Bubba said, “Boys, our buddy over here is paralyzed. And the way I see it, we got ourselves two choices: let him lie there for the rest of his life...or get him to Jesus.”
Bubba was quick to come up with a plan: “Billy Bob, you grab his leg. Frank, you grab his other leg. Eugene, you grab his arms.”
Eugene says, “But what are you going to do, Bubba?”
Bubba says, “I’ll supervise.”
So, they hoist their buddy up and begin car-rying him to Jesus.
The problem was: By the time they got there, the crowd was so huge they couldn’t get any-where near Jesus. But where there’s a problem, there’s a possibility. And Bubba...Bubba was a possibility thinker.
Bubba said, “Okay, I’ll tell you what we’re going to do, boys. Carry him around back, and just do exactly what I tell you. ‘Cause I got me an idea...”
When they get around back, Bubba said, “Haul him up on the roof. Billy Bob, you start breaking through the shingles and roofing and the insulation. We’re going to lower our buddy through a hole in the roof.”
Billy Bob, Eugene, and Frank are working away. Bubba’s watching. Bubba’s the brains of the group. He’s supervising. Then they lower their buddy down through the hole. Halfway down, Billy Bob says, “Oops! I dropped him.”
Bubba says, “Aw, heck - he’s paralyzed any-way, ain’t he?”
Well, by golly, Jesus took one look at that paralyzed man and his four possibility-thinking friends, and He not only healed him on the spot, He forgave all his sins! Now, that’s what I call focusing on the possibilities! And Bubba would tell you just what I’m telling you: “With God, there’s always a way, and by faith, I will find it.”
How about you? How about now?
Jesus said, “With God, all things are possi-ble!” Whatever felt impossible in your life when you woke up this morning...just got possible! Maybe you got fired this week...but God didn’t. He has the same job He had before you even showed up on earth. God makes things happen. Maybe you don’t have the family background and connections you wish you had. God put you exactly where you needed to be. Maybe that first marriage didn’t work out. Your life’s not over. That chapter of your life may be over, but there are good chapters still to be written. And you and God get to decide how your story ends.
Quit telling yourself you’re finished before you’ve even started. Quit voting yourself off the island before you’ve even played the game. Quit making excuses. He’s God - the God of in-finite possibilities!
So, when you need a way made through something that seems impossible, put your faith in God - the God of the Bible, the God of Israel. He split the Red Sea for Israel. He led them through the wilderness. He gave them the Promised Land. If God made a way for Israel, He can make a way for you.
You’re not stuck unless you stop!
Maybe you’re like the Israelites heading to the Promised Land... When Israel finally reached the border of the Promised Land, they camped out in a place called the Plains of Moab. While they were there, God took Moses to the top of a mountain, and He showed him that Promised Land from a distance. The Bible says that, after that, Moses died at the age of 120, and God bur-ied him in a place that nobody knew.
Can you imagine how Israel must have felt as they waited at the foot of that mountain? God had already told them that Moses wasn’t going to be the one to enter the Promised Land with them. But I’ll bet they still had a hard time believing he wasn’t returning. After all, he had gone up mountains before and he always came back down again, and it was usually for the bet-ter!
One time, after he climbed Mount Sinai, he came down with his face shining because he had met with God, and God had given him the 10 Commandments. So, now, they’re waiting to see if Moses will come down with a glowing face!
Israel needed Moses...or so they thought. Sure, they complained about him a lot, but he had been their leader for 40 years. Moses was the person who had given them food in the wil-derness and water in the desert. He was the one who spoke to God on their behalf when they sinned. There was only one Moses!
So, I’m going to speculate that they were mo-bilizing search parties and organizing prayer vigils because they were hoping to see Moses come down the mountain one more time.
At some point, though, they had to accept the fact that Moses wasn’t coming back. Moses was no more. The Bible says, “The Israelites grieved for Moses in the Plains of Moab thirty days, until the time of weeping and mourning was over.” The normal time for grieving in that cul-ture was one week. But Moses...Moses was spe-cial. He was legendary. So, Israel took a whole month to mourn for him.
They must have thought: What now? What next? It was a moment of decision. The Prom-ised Land was on the horizon. It was in their fu-ture, and they were looking forward to it. But in order to step into what was next, they had to leave behind what was past. That wasn’t easy. How long does it take to accept the fact that something is never going to be like it was?
The Bible says that Israel grieved “until the time of weeping and mourning was over.” They spent a month in Moab mourning. Try saying that 5 times in a row! A month in Moab mourn-ing! That’s a lot of mo’s. And they all ended at once. They had to go from “No Mo” to “Now Move”! The time had come to move forward.
The story doesn’t end with the death of Mo-ses. Right after the mourning period was over, the Bible says, “Now Joshua the son of Nun was filled with the spirit of wisdom because Moses had laid hands on him.” Notice the first words: “Now Joshua.” God took them from “No Mo” to “Now Joshua.”
And God will do the same for you! For every “No Mo” in your life, there is a “Now Joshua” that God has been developing. For every “No Mo” you have grieved over, God is saying, “Now move forward into the blessing I have waiting for you.”
When you see no more Moses, God says, “Now there’s a Joshua.” When you see an end-ing, God is already making a new opening.
Okay, so you feel like you’re at a dead-end. Like you’re stuck. Like there’s no way forward.
You’re not in a coffin. You’re in a cocoon.
You’re changing. You’re growing. You’re coming out with wings. The old thing is “No Mo”... “Now Move”!
There’s Always
a Way
Fields of Gold
America’s Corn
Inside the Young Mind:
Back to School Bravery
By Dr Simone Phillips, Psychologist
By Michael Dubilo
Let tranquility define the pulse of the day. Join a creative mindset, recharge, and gather fresh in-spiration and treasures. Chase away the swarming vanities that target your mind, and let each man or woman ask, “What can I do that benefits people?”
I chose to sit on a five-foot-long ash wood park bench. This particular wood has a natural bend-ing quality, making comforting allowances for all bodies. The location of this old-time, well-worn bench rests on a lakefront property. Peace and qui-et fill the vision, as the morning illustrates move-ment, change, and unexpected activity. Take a seat and be transformed by renewing your mind. Cool down, allow your muscles to relax and hang loose. Close your eyes and let your mind wander to what pleases you most.
The lakeside view opens with a family of geese feeding on underwater vegetation. Mama goose gave birth to 13 little ones sometime in April. Au-gust has arrived, and the males and females have grown to maturity with hungry appetites. Still un-der the command of Mom and Dad, they arrange themselves in a line to swim to their next desti-nation. Mama leads while Dad stands guard at the back of the pack. Some people wish their kids would model goose behaviors.
I calmly sit and write, listening to singing and chirping birds. My hearing has been in decline for years, so I haven’t experienced the joyful, strong melodies I hear today. What happened, Mike? Thanks to loads of encouragement from my wife Susanna and resources from my good friend Joan, hearing aids were thankfully fitted to my ears. How valuable are natural senses that operate ef-ficiently!
Our bench provides support as Susanna, I and hundreds of others watch the Hampton Ponds July 4th parade at 10 a.m., assembled in the good old-fashioned way: horses, McCormick farm trac-tors, music, veterans, and of course, Westfield fire engines with deep, rich sounds preparing and sig-naling the way of safety. In addition, candy treats are generously tossed out to all. My joy from the bench is observing children jumping with excite-ment together. All participating youngsters get their fill of sweets and my wife Susanna was given a bouquet of flowers along with other senior citi-zens.
Now we move to another bench for the 5 p.m. Wyben 4th of July Parade. Same setup as the morn-ing parade. The true attraction for Susanna and me is the privilege of con-necting with the Allen family, located right at the start of the parade. Pat and Bob can be described as having the spirit of gentle-ness and love. By the way, you know I en-gage in daily physi-cality, so I can say Bob goes beyond expectations for an 80-plus-year-old man. He can be seen paddling his self-tuned canoe with consis-tent, strong strokes for a distance. I mean, this guy keeps going. Good inspiration for all of us. “Use it or lose it” is a profitable phrase to ponder.
Be prepared to “use it” when needed. A 75-year-old Colorado woman is recovering after breaking her femur bone in a trailer crash and spending the night outdoors alone. It was an ordeal of nearly 14 hours, fighting through pain and crawling home before Charlene Kirby was found. “You’re really not supposed to move a femur, because you could sever your femoral artery,” she said. She crawled from around 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. the following morn-ing. She spent three weeks rehabilitating her leg. The gracious woman stated her unbroken faith that God was watching over her is what carried her home that night.
As a 75 years old, I know my attitude is in line with this Colorado elder. Persevere—you can do it too. Never give up. Be an inspiration to others by revealing positive actions in adversity.
Reach out for opportunities to symbolically program your mind for useful engagements on a daily basis. Personal computers offer many list-ings to saturate our thinking. Why not utilize the brain, that we were so gratefully given, a chance to shine streams of light during your activities to-day? Some individuals sit in dark places, dwelling in doom. You can become a beacon of hope to oth-ers. Open your eyes—your walk encounters them every day. Activate your talents and gifts for those reaching out for truth and joy. We will realize we possess bountiful resources to meet the need. Like a much-needed smile, acknowledging the value of certain individuals, and most of all, learning to forgive others. Blessings will arrive when your in-volvement exhibits love. A cheerful heart is good medicine. Spread your neighborhood with that healing power.
A Poem By Barbara Zawisza
Ebony is a friend of mine
She is truly the best of her kind.
Found her on a rainy night
She was really an awful sight
Dirty, matted, and soaked to her skin
Had her groomed, looking great again
Went to the park, got close to the lake
Fell in, got wet, big mistake
Jumped up on Linda, who was wearing white
Now she’s the one who’s an awful sight!
Pink nail polish, bows in her ears
Her own bed - no more fears
Timid, loyal, stays by your side
Likes to go out in the truck for a ride
Up in the morning, wagging her tail
Follows me from room to room without fail
Crawls on the rug like a soldier at war
Get home from work, greats you at the door
Excited, happy telling about her day
Sad eyes when you leave, she wants you to stay
Loves to be petted, wants all the attention
Say the word biscuit, a word she loves you to mention
Shiny and black, with one eye to see
She’s a great little dog who just wants to please
Found a lump on her neck, cancer was the call
Got operated on, got rid of it all
At Christmas time she puts on a show
With her Santa cap, red collar with bow
Ate Hershey’s Kisses in a hurry,
Gave me another reason to worry
Spoiled a little with much love to give
A miniature poodle, my reason to live
Ebony minds very well, she did from the start
She really did find a way to my heart
Gets covered at night when she lies down to sleep
Sometimes has nightmares and she’ll start to weep
I’ll lean over and pet her and tell her she is fine
Now go back to sleep and get up at nine
Sweaters galore, so she doesn’t get cold
She’s not a young pup, she’s getting old
She’s my little tailwagger, she’s ten pounds of love
I’m so glad I found her, I thank the Lord up above
If I’m down in the dumps or had a bad day,
The love in her eyes makes it all go away
She’s one of a kind, she so full of glee,
The best thing of all, she belongs to me!
Ebony’s
Story
10-5
The Park Bench
To include your event, please send information by the 1st of the month. We will print as many listings as space allows. Our usual publication date is around the 10th of the month. Email to: magazine@southwoods.info.
Moving Sale
August 16th: Southwick, MA — Moving sale at 240 Hillside Road Southwick from 8am to 12pm. Furniture, Lamps, decor, bakeware, woman’s designer/professional clothes, handbags, shoes, clothing sizes 4-10. Shoes size 7. Coach, Vera Bradley, Calvin Klein, Dooney & Burke, Tahari, LL Bean, Lft, Ann Taylor, & More. Coats, jackets, suits, dresses, pants, blazers, blouses, ball gowns, casual wear too.
Stanley Park
“The Mysterious World of Fungi” with Mike Ostrowski
August 24 - Fungi are all around you, but often you do not even realize it. They play many important ecological roles, including decay of organic material and nutrient recycling and exchange. Come and learn about different groups of fungi and the fundamentals of identifying them by their fruiting bodies, the mushrooms. Part of the fun of looking for wild mushrooms is that you never know what may be popping up! We will walk along some of the park’s trails to see what we can discover.
The workshop will meet at the main entrance sign to the Frank Stanley Beveridge Memorial Wildlife Sanctuary located across from the recreation field, and will cancel if there is heavy rain. Wear hiking attire, sturdy boots, and bring water. Nature workshops are free of charge.
Stanley Park
Friday Mornings for Children
August 22 - Learn about earthworms and the important role they play in our environment. Discover an earthworm’s anatomy and learn how it has adapted to its life underground. We will learn about how they break down living and dead material, and turn it into nutrient rich soil Develop a new appreciation for these simple invertebrates, while learning about decomposing and soil recycling. Observe live earthworms with magnifiers!
Friday Mornings for Children are held in the Beveridge Pavilion from 10:00 am to 11:00 am, weather permitting, and a $5 per family donation is appreciated. Chairs will be provided and blankets are welcome. For further information on the Friday Mornings for Children Series, please go to www.stanleypark.org or call the park office at 413-568-9312.
Westfield Woman’s Club
Open House
September 20th: Westfield, MA — Please join us for the Westfield Woman’s Club Open House Thursday September 18th, 2025 from 4pm to 6pm at our club house located at 28 Court Street in Westfield. Enjoy refreshments, music, a building tour, and meet the volunteers driving our mission. Step inside one of Westfield’s historic landmarks as we [;an renovations ahead of its 100th anniversary. Please rsvp by September 12th with number of guests to wwc28court@gmail.com or 413-378-7661.
Westfield YMCA
Live Strong Program
September 2nd: LIVESTRONG at the YMCA is a free 12-week exercise program for cancer survivors who are currently in or have completed treatment and are physically deconditioned. Developed by Stanford University, this specially designed program has proven to help survivors regain strength, overcome fatigue, and enhance functional ability to do everyday tasks. Our Y is committed to serving individuals and their families living with, through and beyond cancer. Next Session Begins September 2nd | Tuesdays & Thursdays 9:00 am - 10:30 am. Contact Michelle Urbanski, Health and Wellness Director for more information. (413) 568.8631 or murbanski@westfieldymca.org
Westfield High School
Class of 1971 Reunion
September 18th: Westfield, MA — The class of 1971 is having a reunion on Saturday Sept. 20th, 2025 at the Italian Club on 57 Katherine Street. A group of classmates have been gathering yearly at this location. It will take place from 1-5pm. St Mary’s and Westfield Voke are invited to attend. Call Carolyn at 786-5845 for more info or email c.cortis@comcast.net
Agawam High School
Class of 1975 Reunion
October 4th: Agawam, MA — Agawam High School’s Class of ‘75 is holding their 50th class reunion on Saturday, October 4, 2025 from 3pm to 10pm at the Polish American Club in Feeding Hills. Over 100 classmates are expected to attend. Details are posted on the class’ Facebook page: “Agawam Class of 75 Reunion”. If you are on Facebook join that page by clicking “follow”. If you are not on social media, and want to attend, email “ConnieBeaudette@yahoo.com” and information will be sent to you.
COUNTRY PEDDLER
CLASSIFIEDS
GOODS & SERVICES
DELREO HOME IMPROVEMENT for all your exterior home improvement needs, ROOFING, SIDING, WINDOWS, DOORS, DECKS & GUTTERS extensive references, fully licensed & insured in MA & CT. Call Gary Delcamp 413-569-3733
RECORDS WANTED BY COLLECTOR - Rock & Roll, Country, Jazz of the 50’s and 60’s All speeds. Sorry - no classical, showtunes, polkas or pop. Fair prices paid. No quantity too small or too large. Gerry 860-402-6834 or G.Crane@cox.net
GOODS & SERVICES
Lakeside Property management - For all your landscaping needs. Mowing, new lawn installs, sod, mulch/stone installation, bush trimming, retaining walls, snow plowing/removal, etc. Serving Southwick, Suffield, Granby, Agawam, Westfield, Simsbury. Residential and commercial. Call Joe 413-885-8376. Give us a call and let us get that property looking the way you want it! Now accepting major credit cards.
The granby motel- 551 Salmon Brook Street Granby, CT 06035. Room for rent, weekly, daily, & monthly. Wifi available. Stove, Refrigerator, Kitchen. Ask for Mike Shaw. 860-653-2553
TAG SALE 72 Colony Circle August 22 & 23 and Aug 29 & 30 9am to 2pm. LAWN 7 GARDEN, TOOLS - 14’ CANOE, TRAIL BIKE, ELECTRIC MOWER, HUNTING AND FISHING, FITNESS EQUIPMENT, MENS JACKETS AND SHOES.
Join us on the farms from 10 am to 4 pm for activities and more! Admission is free. Pick up an Open Farm Day “passport” at any of the participating locations (see page 6), and get a sticker showing that you were there. The passport will direct you to all the Open Farm Day loca-tions. You may not be able to get to all of them! So choose locations you have a special interest in or ones you haven’t visited before. We are very grateful to local business contributors. See you on the farms!
