Shelburne Falls & West County Independent

07/09/2026

07/09/2026

PorchFest 2026

Shelburne Falls' PorchFest returns Sunday, July 12 from 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Now in its sixth year, PorchFest invites neighbors, visitors, and music lovers of all ages to explore the village as local musicians perform on porches, lawns, storefronts, and community spaces throughout downtown. This free event will take place rain or shine. For full event details/maps/updates, visit ShelburneFalls.com/PorchFest or facebook.com/theshelburnefallsporchfestival

The annual Shelburne Falls Porch Music Festival features local musicians on local porches.

07/06/2026

Plainfield Concerts at 7

Concerts at 7 announces a new season of this celebrated summer series of chamber music at the classically beautiful and acoustically magnificent Congregational Church in Plainfield.

Concerts are free; donations are gratefully accepted at the door or at plainfieldconcertsat7.org.

The church is located at 356 West Main Street (Route 116) in the center of Plainfield. For more information, visit the above website or call 413-464-2755.

Here's the schedule:
​Aug. 10 - 7 p.m. Quartetto Mosso: Ronald Gorevic, violin; Beth Welty, violin; Delores Thayer, viola; Yoonhee Ko, cello; with Manon Hutton De-Wys, piano. Performing Caroline Shaw’s Blueprint (2016); Dmitri Shostakovich’s String Quartet no. 4 in D major, op. 83 (1949); and Robert Schumann’s Piano Quintet in E-flat major, op. 44 (1842).

Aug. 17 - 7 p.m. The Lysander Piano Trio: Itamar Zorman, violin; Liza Stepanova, piano; James Kim, cello. Performing Enrique Granados’s Intermezzo from the opera Goyescas, arranged by Gaspar Cassadó; Franz Josef Haydn’s Piano Trio in G Major, Hob. XV:25; Jennifer Higdon’s Color Through (2016); and Arnold Schoenberg’s Verklärte Nacht, op. 4 (1899), in an arrangement by Eduard Steuermann.

Aug. 24 - 7 p.m. Members of The Borromeo Quartet: Nicholas Kitchen, violin; Melissa Reardon, viola; Yeesun Kim, cello; with Raman Ramakrishnan, cello. Performing Ludwig van Beethoven’s Duet “for two obbligato eyeglasses” for viola and cello, WoO 32; Iman Habibi’s Relics for viola and cello (2019); Zoltán Kodály’s Duo for violin and cello, op. 7; and Anton Arensky’s String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, op. 35 (1894), scored for violin, viola, and two cellos.

Aug. 31 - 7 p.m. Winds from the Northeast: wind players from the Hartford Symphony Orchestra, the Coast Guard Band, and elsewhere in the Northeast, performing Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Serenade for 13 winds in B♭ major, K. 361/370a. This seldom-heard masterpiece is scored for 2 oboes, 2 clarinets, 2 basset horns, 2 bassoons, 4 horns, and contrabassoon.

07/03/2026

07/02/2026

Cooling Center hours at Arms Library on Jul. 2, 3, 4 are 11 a.m.-3 p.m. During Saturday's parade, volunteers from the library and Shelburne Emergency Management will be on hand for folks who want to cool off and need water. There will also be a water tent at Buckland-Shelburne Elementary School, where the parade ends, and the chicken barbecue is held.

06/30/2026

Gordon Russ
11/3/1951-5/27/2026

BUCKLAND – Gordon G Russ of Buckland passed away peacefully on May 27, 2026. He was in the home he built and loved and was surrounded by his family.

He was a pilot, a race car driver, a chef, a gardener, a traveler, an amateur meteorologist, a planner, a risk taker, a lover, a fighter, a team player and a leader; a man capable of wild humor, strict discipline, and deep thought.

He will be greatly missed by many.

Gordon had a wide variety of friends near and far. At his request, there will be no formal services. Please raise a toast in his memory.

Blue skies and tailwinds forever.

06/30/2026

Antoinette Ricardi

Conway – Annette (Fasano) Ricardi of Conway passed away peacefully at home, surrounded by the love of her family.

Annette is survived by her devoted husband of 65 years, Thomas Ricardi; her beloved sons Thomas and his wife, Joanne, and Steven and his wife, Tina; her grandsons Sean, Brian, and Cole; her great-grandchildren Aaron, Sophia, and June; her nephew Albert Kalil; and many nieces and nephews who lovingly knew her as “Auntie Annette.”

She was predeceased by her parents, Leo Fasano and Lucy (Notarangelo) Fasano; her beloved sisters, Frances Fasano and Dolores (Fasano) Kalil; and many dear relatives and friends who were fortunate to know her.

Born in Worcester, MA, Annette married the love of her life, “Tommy,” in 1961. After welcoming their two sons, they moved in the late 1960s to the Pumpkin Hollow section of Conway for her husband’s job as a game warden. They later built their home off North Poland Road, where Annette put down deep roots and came to love the town and the life they created together.

Family was the center of Annette’s world. She was a devoted wife, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and someone whose first instinct was always to care for others. She shared an especially close bond with her parents and sisters, giving of herself freely and selflessly whenever she was needed. Her kindness, generosity, and quiet strength touched everyone around her.

Annette worked for many years at Eaglebrook School before continuing her career with Phoenix Insurance Company.

At home, Annette spent countless hours in her yard tending to her beautiful flower gardens. She loved caring for many injured and orphaned wild animals over the years.

The family extends their heartfelt gratitude to Debbie Burnett, Hank Hostman, and Denise Dwelly for their kindness and support throughout Annette’s illness. They also wish to thank the compassionate staff of Pioneer Valley Hospice for the exceptional care, comfort, and dignity they provided to Annette and her family.

Wrisley Funeral Home is assisting the family.

06/30/2026

Lewis Porrovecchio

Lewis William Porrovecchio passed away peacefully at home with family on June 29, 2026 at the age of 92.

He was the son of Carl “Jim” and Eva (Shumway) Porrovecchio and one of four siblings; Charlotte May Porrovecchio, Lois (Porrovecchio) Flannigan, and Carl Porrovecchio.

Lew lived his entire life in Charlemont and attended the Little Red Schoolhouse and graduated from Charlemont High School. While in high school he played basketball and baseball. He joined a baseball farm league after high school.

In 1952 Lew enlisted in the U.S. Navy as a corpsman and was a Korean War veteran. After the Navy, he worked in construction, for the MA Dept. of Public Works and the Yankee Atomic plant in Rowe.

In 1962, Lew entered the MA State Police Academy and reached the rank of sargent before retiring. During his service for the MA State Police, he rode the buses and walked the halls of the Boston School System during school integration and was integral in starting the first homicide investigation unit (CPAC) in Northampton, among other accomplishments.

Even after retirement he followed the police creed to serve and protect. When the Deerfield river flooded its banks, he put his boat in the water and assisted the fire department with the rescue of a stranded person and cat from the roof of her home.

On April 11, 1958 Lew married Marjorie (Bellor), his wife of 68 years. Lew and Marge had four children; Charlott Ann Porrovecchio (predeceased Lew), Wayde Porrovecchio, Karla O’Byrne, and Scott Porrovecchio. The family took many vacations where the destination was always near water.

Lew loved fishing and hunting, which took him on trips all over New England, Canada and Montana. Every summer he had a large vegetable garden that he always took pride in not having a single w**d in sight and the harvest was always plentiful.

Lew is survived by his wife, Marjorie Porrovecchio; his children Wayde and his husband, Cornell Marshburn; Karla O’Byrne and her husband ,Paul; Scott and his wife, Dianne; his grandchildren Noah Porrovecchio, David O’Byrne, Kadie O’Byrne, and Austin Porrovecchio — who were his pride and gained his admiration for their various accomplishments.

He is also survived by his brother, Carl ,and sister-in-law, Katherine; two nephews; a niece; and many great-nephews/nieces and great-great-nephews/nieces.

Service will take place Saturday, July at Smith-Kelleher Funeral Home, 40 Church St., Shelburne Falls with visiting from 1:30-2 p.m. and a memorial service at 2 p.m. Burial will follow in Leavitt Cemetery, Charlemont.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations in Lew’s name may be made to the charity of one’s choice.

06/25/2026

Gordon Taylor

SHELBURNE — Gordon Elliot Taylor, 95, of Shelburne died on June 1, 2026 at Baystate Franklin Medical Center.

He was the son of Elliott and Dorothy (Wheeler) Taylor, attended local schools, graduating from Arms Academy in 1948 and the University of Massachusetts in 1952.

Gordon worked with his father and brother on the family farm - Shinglebrook Farm - where Milking Shorthorns were bred, raised, and showed.

Gordon served in the US Army from 1956-1958 and Army Reserves from 1958-1961.

When he returned to Shelburne, he started work as a local independent insurance agent for Ralph Blackmer at Blackmer Insurance Agency. Gordon and his wife, Marion, purchased the agency in 1983 and operated it for the next 20 years.

Gordon married Marion J. Felton in 1961 and they were successful partners in life for more than 64 years at the time of her death earlier this year.

They have two sons, John E. (Sherry) of Shelburne and James E. (Erin) of Annandale, VA and five grandchildren: Emma, Joshua, Matthew, William, and Joseph.

He is survived by his brother, Kenneth, of Bradenton, FL and an amazing and wonderful extended family, many of whom knew him as “Uncle Bud."

He was predeceased by his sister, Jane L. May.

Gordon enjoyed baseball at Arms Academy and was an avid sports fan. He enjoyed gardening, bridge games, and reading. He was blessed with a fine tenor singing voice and sang with various church choirs and choruses, including the Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus, Arena Civic Theater, and the Buckland Male Chorus.

Gordon was an 82-year member of the 1st Congregational Church of Shelburne and served in various offices and committees over those years locally and through the Franklin Association of the United Church of Christ.

An active member of Shelburne Grange #68 for more than 70 years, he served in many roles including as president. Regionally, he participated in the Deerfield Valley and Connecticut Valley Pomona granges as a regional deputy of the Massachusetts State Grange and as trustee of the Massachusetts State Grange Educational Aid Fund for more than 40 years.

He also contributed to the community as a member of the Franklin Harvest Club, former Shelburne Town Assessor and Rec Committee member, and volunteering at the Village Information Center, Hilltown Churches Food Pantry, and South Shelburne Cemetery.

The 2017 Shelburne Annual Report was dedicated in his honor.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to the Massachusetts State Grange Educational Aid Fund, ℅ Nancy Blackmer, 77 Burrill Ave, Orange, MA 01364 or the First Congregational Church of Shelburne, 21 Church Common Rd, Shelburne, MA 01370.

A Celebration of Life and music will be held July 24 at 6:30p.m. at the First Congregational Church of Shelburne.