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Hilltown Families Isn’t the Only One Turning 5!

Happy New Year & Happy Birthday Now we are in the hammock week of the year. You start out the year in January and, well, the year is like an egg. You start out January first on the top of the egg, just off center, and you slide down it. June is at the bottom of the egg, and then you kind of climb back up it until you get to Christmas,… Read More

Category: Ashfield, Contributing Writer, HF Contributing Writer, Notes from Nan Tags: Ashfield, Elmer's Store, Nan Parati

The Further Adventures of Mr. Justin Jones

Back to Our Story… And now it’s time to tell the further adventures of Mr. Justin Jones! As you may recall, last year at this time, Justin was fourteen years old and living in a homeless shelter with his mother, Regina Jones, in New Orleans. I wrote of his plight and a very good many of you responded with deep-hearted wishes of a good life for him, and brought me money with… Read More

Category: Ashfield, Contributing Writer, Notes from Nan Tags: Ashfield, Elmer's Store, Nan Parati

And Crown Thy Good with Neighborhood From Sea to Shining Sea!

The Quirks of Northern Gentlemen Last week I told you about Jim’s leaving and Donna then announced her retirement from the grocery and produce departments, as well. Happily, I am the sort of entrepreneur who believes that everyone should do what they wanna in life and they move to the next place that makes them happiest. I really, really appreciate both Jim and Donna for bringing Elmer’s to where it is today—much… Read More

Category: Ashfield, Contributing Writer, Notes from Nan Tags: Ashfield, Elmer's Store, Massachusetts, Northern Gentlemen

When One Chef Closes, Another Chef Opens

Notes from Nan: Jim, Oh Jim done gone. By HF Contributing Writer, Nan Parati One of the problems of having a tiny restaurant with an outstanding certified chef is that he is constantly being recruited by larger restaurants that can pay him infinitely better than I can. Happily (and surprisingly!) for me, Jim turned the marauders down for 3 years, but while I was in New Orleans recently, one of them finally… Read More