Book Bag: ‘When All the Girls Are Sleeping’ by Emily Arsenault; ‘West of Boston’ by William Conelly

Bring on the art: Smith College and UMass Amherst join local galleries in new September exhibits

Civil War historian, UMass professor Stephen Oates dies at 85

Valley Bounty: Hay is king at Vollinger Farm in Florence

Say it with pictures: “Speechless” at Eric Carle Museum celebrates wordless children’s books

Book Bag: ‘Taking Residence’ by Wally Swist; ‘I Believe I’ll Go Back Home’ by Thomas S. Curren

Book Bag: ‘Who knew’ mines region’s rich past; ‘World’s End’ tours a Frederick Law Olmsted classic

It’s all happening in the trees: Barbès in the Woods brings eclectic musical lineup to Montague

Guest columnist Mary Carey: Forest bathing on the bike trail

ODT’s proportionate world maps find a fan in ‘Don the donor’

Earth Matters: A salmon’s journey, Part 1: The year 1600

Delicious gift: Pelham native creates his own cooking show