Shelburne Falls & West County Independent

07/19/2026

James MacDonald Valby

BUCKLAND – Jim Valby (James MacDonald Valby) of Buckland was born on Sept. 3, 1946 in Rochester, NY to Richard and Mary (MacDonald) Valby.

On June 12 of this year he received the surprising diagnosis of stage 4 peritoneal cancer. Just 10 days later, on June 22, he passed away at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. The doctors and staff at the hospital were so kind, caring and respectful during his 2 1/2 days there.

Jim attended Roman Catholic elementary school and McQuade Jesuit High School in Rochester, NY. He graduated from Middlebury College in Vermont with a degree in physics. Later he studied with the legendary scholar of Tibetan Buddhism Herbert Guenther at the University of Saskatchewan in Canada for 15 years, receiving a masters and doctoral degree in Tibetan Studies.

Although Jim worked at a number of different jobs over his lifetime, including research engineer for Eastman Kodak, running a nuclear reactor, driving a schoolbus for children with disabilities, bookkeeper, etc., Jim’s principal life work was his continuing study and translation into English of the 9th century atiyoga texts he had been introduced to in graduate school, eventually making his translations of some of these texts available in printed form, as well as his ongoing work within the International Dzogchen Community of Choegyal Namkai Norbu. As the devoted student of Norbu Rinpoche, over many years Jim traveled to many centers and locations within this community, in the US and internationally, teaching courses or leading retreats to help interested people understand and apply the Dzogchen teachings on the nature of mind.

Jim was an open-hearted person who threw himself wholeheartedly into everything he did. He loved seeing his friends at the bank, post office, transfer station and Big Y. For many years he explored the back roads of Massachusetts, Vermont and many other parts of the US on his Honda motorcycle. He was an accomplished violinist who at one time played in the Springfield Symphony. He read voraciously, and in his later years the house was often filled with the sweet music of his fiddle tunes. He especially loved playing guitar and fiddle tunes with his sons Lawrence and Olin, and listening to albums composed and released online by his son Mehta. And he treasured the times spent at his old house on White Head Island in the Bay of Fundy, NB Canada, where he knew and cherished his friendships with so many of the people of the small island.

Jim is survived by his sons, Olin Murray Valby of Houston, TX, Lawrence Vincent Valby of Canada, and Mehta Valby-Youngs of Saskatchewan, SK, Canada; his partner of 32 years, Catharine Ishii, of Buckland and her sons, Jamie Ishii, wife Kimberlee and 20-month-old son Ren, of Bernardston, and Christopher Ishii and husband Ian Murphy of Cork, Ireland; as well as brothers John Valby and wife Anne of Clarence, NY, and Gary Valby and partner, Kathy Awkard, of Silver Springs, MD; and sisters, Elaine Valby, and wife, Paula Kimper, of Makakilo, Hawaii, and Mary Jane Hominda and husband Jerry of El Carmen, Chile.

Jim is remembered and loved by many people near and far. He liked to make people laugh and to laugh with them. He once admitted to his hope, over the course of his lifetime, to make a connection with as many beings as possible within his community, which he defined as every being in the universe.

07/19/2026

John Riggan

John Robinson Riggan was born on Dec. 12, 1943 to Merle and George Riggan. He died on July 2, 2026.

Rob graduated from Haverford College with a BA in history. He spent three years in the Army Medical Corp, one of those years in Vietnam. He resumed his studies at Vanderbilt University where, in a whirlwind romance, he met and married Margalee Oelrich, with whom he spent the next 50 years.

Rob was a reporter at the News Herald in Morgantown, North Carolina, and at the Raleigh News and Observer. He and Marg moved back to Rowe, where he designed and built their home.

He worked at the Greenfield Recorder briefly, then at the Hampshire Gazette as copy editor.

He wrote two novels; Free Fire Zone (W.W. Norton) and The Blackstone Commentaries (John F. Blair).

Rob served on the Board of Assessors in Rowe and as a part-time policeman. In Buckland he served as selectman.

Rob would hike, bike, rollerblade, or cross-country ski for miles and miles. He traveled the back roads of the United States, often on a motorcycle. He was a long-term member of a group studying the Talmud.

Rob always had a dog.

In the end Rob suffered from severe toxic effects of exposure to Agent Orange, ultimately courageously choosing death with dignity with the help of the Vermont Comfort Project.

He leaves behind many friends to whom he was devoted and indebted; a sister, Deb Katz; and a niece and three nephews. He was predeceased by his wife, his parents and his brother, Will.

A service to celebrate Rob's life will be held at 4 p.m. on Aug. 8 at the Charlemont Federated Church.

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.