3 mins read

Bridge to Wellness: Wellness Coalition pursues feedback and ideas, announces new board members

by Matt Pegouskie In January, 37 community members joined Stockbridge Area Wellness Coalition (SAWC) to learn more about what the coalition does, its history, and how people can get involved with coalition planning and activities.  The evening started with pizza from four different restauranteurs in the Stockbridge service area and music provided by Paul Crandall. […]

2 mins read

Rural Perspectives: Found mostly year round, common song sparrows are quite melodious

by Diane Constable The song sparrow (Melospiza melodia) is our most common native sparrow—and most vocal. Its scientific name is ancient Greek for “song finch, melodious.” This sparrow is found throughout the country—with some variations in appearance—in more than 30 known subspecies across North America. Those in our area have a streaky breast with a […]

3 mins read

Outreach in Action: Meal of the Month is back by popular demand

by Jo Mayer and Paul Crandall “We tried it, they liked it, so we’re doing it again!”  –Cindy Ashley, Outreach pantry coordinator In 2025, Outreach piloted a monthly cooking program for five months, inviting 30 regular Outreach pantry shoppers to join this Recipe-of-the-Month cooking club—now fondly referred to as “Meal of the Month.” The effort […]

6 mins read

Matters of the Heart

Gary and Roberta Ludtke: College sweethearts celebrate 50 years of marriage by Joan Tucker In 1972, Roberta and Gary Lutdke met at Alma College in Michigan. Roberta majored in education and Gary in business. One day, Roberta and her roommate wanted to meet the handsome young men on the other side of the campus, so […]

5 mins read

Woah Nellie!

‘Jam Coffee Cake’ is just the ticket for winning over your Valentine by Mary Jo David Woah Nellie continues to focus on recipes found in community cookbooks in our area. And at the risk of showing my age, I admit that today I became sad thinking how future generations may never know the joy of […]