With the year winding down and the celebrations a couple days away, I'd like to take a moment draw your attention to the Valley Radio Reading Service, which provides a local news source for the blind and vision impaired in the Pioneer Valley of western Massachusetts.
I've been volunteering as a reader for them for over a year, reading local news in a recording booth, and sometimes live. I've been invited to read from one of my books, so for the past several weeks I've been reading from my novel on the Quabbin Reservoir and the Swift River Valley residents who had to leave their homes to make way for the construction -- Beside the Still Waters.
Community news is a very important aspect of our daily lives, and this is one area where the blind and vision impaired are at a loss. They are able to get a wide array of national news from television or radio, but community news from daily newspapers -- and also in weekly newspapers of small distribution -- are lost to them. The Valley Radio Reading Service helps them to connect with their community and to remain a vibrant part of it. Local events and attractions, club news, meetings, and especially the local obituaries -- all are grist to our mill at the VRRS. And one novel about the Quabbin.
The readers are volunteers. But funds are needed constantly to maintain the broadcast equipment, the office, and keep our subscribers to this vital service informed and entertained. If you care to make a donation, please contact the Valley Radio Reading Service at this website, or write to the VRRS at 44 Hampden Street, Springfield, MA, 01103, or call 413-747-7337. Tell them I sent you, and thanks.
Visits to City and Seacoast, Farm and Factory, Mountains and Valleys. And Miles to Go Before I Sleep.
Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Tuesday, December 22, 2015
For Christmas - Two eBook Offers
This is to announce a Christmas special offer of my book on the career of actress Ann Blyth.
Ann Blyth: Actress. Singer. Star., eBook version, will be priced at 99 cents for Christmas Day only (Eastern US Time) on Amazon. That is a savings of $9 for the eBook. The price of the print book remains the same.
UPDATE: The sale price will be $1.99 - Amazon will not allow a 99-cent price for this eBook - but this is still a savings of $8.00. Sorry for the change. Merry Christmas.
Also for the holiday, our new children's picture book featuring cartoon illustrations by my twin brother John: Bob the Bear's Christmas Party. The continuing adventures of Bob the Bear and his little buddy Pedro the Pelican and their friends, and the complications of trying not to eat all the Christmas cookies.
May I wish all those who celebrate a very Merry Christmas.
UPDATE: The sale price will be $1.99 - Amazon will not allow a 99-cent price for this eBook - but this is still a savings of $8.00. Sorry for the change. Merry Christmas.
Also for the holiday, our new children's picture book featuring cartoon illustrations by my twin brother John: Bob the Bear's Christmas Party. The continuing adventures of Bob the Bear and his little buddy Pedro the Pelican and their friends, and the complications of trying not to eat all the Christmas cookies.
May I wish all those who celebrate a very Merry Christmas.
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Berkshire Theatre Group - A Christmas Carol - Pittsfield, Massachusetts
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Preview: 2016 Cape Playhouse Season - Dennis, Massachusetts
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Tuesday, December 1, 2015
Giving Tuesday - Valley Radio Reading Service - Pioneer Valley, Massachusetts
After Black Friday and Cyber Monday - Please support us on Tuesday, December 1st!
Our Vision. Your Sight. We broadcast local news and information critical to vision impaired listeners throughout the Pioneer Valley.
Our volunteer-driven organization is on the cusp of making great strides. We are moving into the 21st century with our technology which will improve reception and give more options for our listeners to hear us. Our news is more up-to-date with the addition of MassLive reporting and other sources. We are gaining more local support and greater awareness in the Pioneer Valley. Our country just celebrated the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act. We have made progress, but we have a lot more to do. No one with visual and physical challenges should be at risk of further isolation and depression due to lack of community connection, news, and information.
Use this link to donate now!!!!: