Fuck Yeah Massholes.

Fire Cider, made in Pittsfield!

Sat, 18 May 2013 12:03:05 -0400

Fire Cider, made in Pittsfield!

no-name1: IMG_6640 on Flickr. Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock,...

Thu, 16 May 2013 20:00:31 -0400

no-name1:

IMG_6640 on Flickr.

Hancock Shaker Village, Hancock, MA

katiemackphotography: 163/365 on Flickr. Via Flickr: This is a...

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:45:24 -0400

katiemackphotography:

163/365 on Flickr.

Via Flickr:
This is a photomerge of about 12 images. I want to experiment more with photomerging in the future… My issues with it are the enormous files and how long Photoshop takes to process the images, so I kinda gave up after awhile because I’m late posting this.

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rebuildingtogether: Rebuilding Together Springfield galvanized...

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:30:25 -0400

rebuildingtogether:

Rebuilding Together Springfield galvanized 1,000 volunteers and repaired 25 homes in honor of National Rebuilding Day.

Colleen Loveless, the executive director of Rebuilding Together Springfield, did such an incredible community rebuild because she wanted to have a broader and more sustainable impact on Springfield’s Old Hill Neighborhood.

Old Hill is the poorest neighborhood in Massachusetts. Colleen said that a number of nonprofits have been building new homes in and around the neighborhood. However, Rebuilding Together Springfield wanted to revitalize Tyler Street in Old Hill to give back to the families that have been there for decades. “They needed critical repairs,” Colleen said. “We wanted to help these homeowners who have stuck it through here for all these years.”

Planning for this expansive project started last November. Rebuilding Together Springfield had some applications in, but they went door to door in Old Hill and attended community meetings to spread the word. People were skeptical at first. Colleen said the poor and elderly are especially vulnerable to fraud. Some homeowners saw the free repairs Rebuilding Together promised to provide as too good to be true. However, it didn’t take too long for the community to start backing Rebuilding Together Springfield in their efforts to revitalize Old Hill.

Usually, Rebuilding Together Springfield repairs about 15 homes with 500 volunteers for National Rebuilding Together all over the city on National Rebuilding Day. Now, they had 25 homes and 1,000 volunteers all on Tyler Street. “It’s pretty amazing work, and we got to see the totality of it and the impact.”

That impact wasn’t just reserved for the volunteers. TD Bank sponsored a block party cookout with live music. There were face painting stations set up for the neighborhood children. Middle schoolers made flower pots and planted them in gardens. Senior citizens manned the arts and crafts table where they made signs for the homeowners.

The most difficult part for Colleen was making sure she had the right number of volunteers. As word spread, the momentum could hardly be stopped. More and more people donated and wanted to volunteer. Things originally thought impossible to do became a reality thanks to the new donors and volunteers. “It was a nice problem to have,” Colleen joked.

One homeowner that really touched Colleen was an elderly U.S. Marine veteran. He still works full time to support his wife who was diagnosed with cancer. She finished her last round of chemo therapy a week before National Rebuilding Day. One of their children volunteered that day as well.

A volunteer who Colleen really appreciated was an elderly man who stopped by after lunch, because he knew a lot of morning volunteers would leave around that time. The Springfield man took a shuttle bus and rode his bike from the bus stop to volunteer for the event. Colleen said, “he did all the unglamorous volunteer work: cleaning up after the block party, lifting, trash removal.”

And all their effort went beyond just landscaping and painting. Rebuilding Together Springfield volunteers converted oil heating to natural gas, removed mold, installed ramps, repaired roofs, fixed plumbing, and weatherized homes. They truly revitalized a community.

joshandrus: Landscape of the Week: Nickerson Beach Sand Bar to...

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:20:23 -0400

joshandrus:

Landscape of the Week:

Nickerson Beach Sand Bar to Thompson Island; Quincy, MA; 2013.

theartofvictoriado: Tweet // Puffer’s Pond, Amherst,...

Thu, 16 May 2013 19:00:29 -0400

theartofvictoriado:

Tweet

Puffer’s Pond, Amherst, MA.

lostlosangeles: Return to Thoreau on Flickr. Traveling west...

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:30:22 -0400

lostlosangeles:

Return to Thoreau on Flickr.

Traveling west from Walden Pond and Thoreau’s foundation, we found this abandoned train tunnel. This front end is smooth with polished rock and concrete. As we walked in the blackness to the other side, we realized that the stone was left unfinished, framing nature’s chaos.

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Alright! Explore #75 for September 29, 2011.

climbover: Pulse Is Slowing by DkdUE on Flickr.

Thu, 16 May 2013 18:14:49 -0400

climbover:

Pulse Is Slowing by DkdUE on Flickr.

portraitsofboston: Just for the sake of oddity.

Thu, 16 May 2013 10:49:28 -0400

portraitsofboston:

Just for the sake of oddity.

colchrishadfield: Boston, you’re a beautiful harbor city.

Wed, 15 May 2013 15:00:51 -0400

colchrishadfield:

Boston, you’re a beautiful harbor city.

One For You, New England! all the New England jingles you could...

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:27:46 -0400

One For You, New England!

all the New England jingles you could ever want

easytobearound: speaking of celebrity encounters, I met Alisa...

Tue, 14 May 2013 23:25:41 -0400

easytobearound:

speaking of celebrity encounters, I met Alisa at Whalem Park once. yupyup. I was like 9.

~WGBH memories~ y’all!

413tothe617: Some of my favorite breakfast spots in the...

Tue, 14 May 2013 17:36:37 -0400

413tothe617:

Some of my favorite breakfast spots in the Berkshires; Bob’s country kitchen in Lanesboro, Dottie’s Coffee Lounge in Pittsfield and Fuel in Great Barrington.

papercutzinelibrary: This weekend!! Spread the word. <3

Tue, 14 May 2013 12:39:17 -0400

papercutzinelibrary:

This weekend!! Spread the word. <3

neaq: THIS is why you should plan to visit the Aquarium today....

Tue, 14 May 2013 10:49:06 -0400

neaq:

THIS is why you should plan to visit the Aquarium today. The goosefish egg veil happens only once a year, and it’ll be gone in a day or two.

See video of the goosefish laying her eggs here.

maddieonthings: Wellesley, MA

Mon, 13 May 2013 19:00:59 -0400

maddieonthings:

Wellesley, MA

Photo

Sat, 11 May 2013 22:13:55 -0400

Photo

Sat, 11 May 2013 21:37:40 -0400

quickshotz: Arlington, MA

Sat, 11 May 2013 21:00:30 -0400

quickshotz:

Arlington, MA

Photo

Sat, 11 May 2013 20:52:09 -0400