The plan is aimed at reshaping the council to better serve residents and communities Its end of year report (2024-2025) highlights some of the achievements so far and sets the stage for continued progress in the coming years.  “This report marks the end of a pivotal year for Cheshire East Council Despite facing sustained financial pressures and external scrutiny we have laid strong foundations for future growth and improvement.   “Our transformation journey has started well – delivering savings structures and disciplines that will support deeper reform across the organisation.   “We enter the next phase of delivery now with clarity energy and a renewed commitment to delivering the services people need in Cheshire East.”  Key highlights from the report include showcasing the transformation journey and how the council has been able to:  The council has also achieved some early benefits:  the transformation plan and its projects have already started to have positive outcomes reducing reliance on external transformation delivery partners.   “This significant transformation programme will reshape the council to enable prosperity and wellbeing for all delivering our Cheshire East Plan and addressing the need for improvements across the borough.”  “Cheshire East Council has faced unprecedented challenges head-on We have made remarkable strides over the last year laying the building blocks for delivering better outcomes for residents.   and we must deliver the plans we have in place The future of Cheshire East is bright and full of promise – driven by our shared commitment to enhancing the lives of our residents."  More details on the council’s achievements and progress so far here: The transformation end of year report (PDF, 3MB)  You can read more about the transformation plan and its programmes here: transformation hub Cheshire’s own Sadie Jean Sworzen competed in the East Coast USA pageant and was crowned Miss Massachusetts Wee Toddler on April 27 Sadie will now represent Massachusetts in the East Coast USA Internationals in July Cheshire’s Sadie Jean Sworzen and her mom Stephanie look at a couple of the dresses she wore when she competed in the East Coast USA pageant and was crowned Miss Massachusetts Wee Toddler on April 27 Five medals Cheshire’s Sadie Jean Sworzen won as she competed in the East Coast USA pageant and was crowned Miss Massachusetts Wee Toddler on April 27 most congenial and best smile are the honors she earned Sadie Jean Sworzen is not your average toddler CHESHIRE — Sadie Jean Sworzen is not your average toddler On April 27, the 3-year-old competed in the East Coast USA pageant in Trumbull and was crowned Miss Massachusetts Wee Toddler “[Sadie] has always been older than she is … She’s 3 and she already knows how to spell her name.” Sadie will now represent Massachusetts in the East Coast USA Internationals The competition will be held in New Brunswick Whitney noticed early in her daughter's life that she likes making people laugh and that she had a strong stage presence Sadie was playing with stickers and was seen showing off her tricks featuring dance moves and somersaults She also had a box with her Miss Massachusetts crown She had a beaming smile and a cute bow on her head Sadie is involved in a dance program and cheers for Top Tier Elite in Adams Being around other kids has been great for Sadie “She was very happy when her friends won,” Whitney said and the pageant was just perfect for her.” Whitney runs Growing Patch Home Daycare at her home in Cheshire and Sadie interacts with the kids in the program When asked if Sadie gets her stage presence from her Sadie had to go through multiple categories that featured the star search There was also the fun fashion and formal wear portion “I was kind of against it in the beginning because I [didn’t] want her to feel like she had to be a beauty pageant where it's about your looks,” Whitney said “It’s more about your personality and how you appear on stage Sadie’s favorite outfit was her Cinderella gown which Whitney says she refused to take off The competition featured contestants from Massachusetts and Connecticut When asked what her favorite part of doing a beauty pageant was Sadie was also crowned in her first competition in Saratoga Springs Whitney says that her daughter has always been that “smiley “I pray that the world doesn’t take that from her,” Whitney said and it’s so great to see a light in somebody.” Whitney is not putting any pressure on her daughter to continue competing in pageants If she doesn't want to do them anymore in the future “we’re just not gonna do it,” Whitney said Up next is the East Coast USA Internationals. The local community is supporting Sadie and has been making good luck pages for her “We’ve had a few local businesses who’ve gone on and [made one],” Whitney said With four days and multiple activities planned Whitney jokes that Sadie will “have a lot more fun than I [will].” Dylan Thompson can be reached at dthompson@berkshireeagle.com or 413-496-6105 If you'd like to wish Sadie good luck and help her secure a queen title head over to eastcoastusapageant.com/products/2025-international-finals-good-luck-ad-pages  Two brick Victorian mansions that were condemned in 2017 now belong to the city Two new billboards from local nonprofit Hoosic River Revival seek public input on the flood chute modification effort and HRR announces it has brought on an outside engineering firm to help parse the U.S Savoy has postponed its annual town meeting from May 8 until sometime in June as the town's finances are not yet in order The annual town election will still be held on May 14 the state Department of Conservation and Recreation could soon expand its Savoy Mountain State Forest reach into Adams Seeking his sixth term on the Select Board incumbent Joe Nowak is being challenged by Jay Meczywor and Jerome Socolof Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device For best viewing experience of this website Please enter a place name in the search bar After provisionally the warmest May Day on record in the UK higher than average temperatures will subside over the weekend Environment Agency Updated: 03:51 (UTC+1) on Tue 6 May 2025 Fine and settled under the influence of high pressure Chilly but bright to start with plenty of sunny spells through the morning Turning cloudier from the east during the afternoon Rather cloudy into the evening but dry for most but not feeling as chilly as recent nights with most places remaining frost free Another widely dry and settled day with a few sunny spells breaking through largely cloudy skies and feeling warm with temperatures slightly above the early-May average The remainder of the week will see high pressure dominating It will stay dry with plenty of sunny spells Breezy at times but temperatures will be on the rise Dry across the vast majority of the UK with clear or sunny spells but also some patchy cloud Cloud will likely thicken across the far north and northwest during the weekend with some outbreaks of rain for a time There is also a small risk of some heavy showers in the far south or southwest high pressure will be dominant across the UK This will bring predominantly fine and dry weather for the majority of places Temperatures are likely to be slightly above normal for the time of year although there is a chance of some cold nights Fairly typical weather for the time of year is most likely through this period fine and dry weather is more likely to dominate although this will be interspersed with occasional spells of rain and showers with a risk of heavy rain and thunderstorms in places temperatures will most likely be near to or slightly above average Please select what you would like included for printing: Copy the text below and then paste that into your favorite email application the son of Robert W and Heide (Platt) Thatcher He was a longtime Cheshire resident graduating from Cheshire High in 2006 He worked for Schrafel Paperboard Converting Corp as a second shift supervisor for several years but left to work construction and landscaping with his father He greatly enjoyed bee keeping as a hobby with his dad While working at Schrafel he discovered motorcycles “ I will never drive a car again.” He had several friends he rode with on the weekends before Covid Rob joined the Boy Scouts in 3rd grade and enjoyed many years of camping hiking and the friendship of the scouting community After leaving the scouts he continued to hike in Maine Rob is survived by his brother Andrew Thatcher of CO and his aunt Amy Platt of Cheshire He is predeceased by his grandparents Robert R and Doris Thatcher Funeral service will be private and there are no calling hours This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors Brady Cersosimo and Luke Shaffer celebrate Conard's opening goal Luke Shaffer ties the all-time goals mark for Conard during a Saturday afternoon game in West Hartford Sports reporting is sponsored by Keating Agency Insurance Brayden Mangini was outstanding making 21 saves for Conard In what could be a preview of the Class L boys lacrosse final Cheshire outlasted Conard 8-5 in a thrilling matchup Saturday in West Hartford Red Wolves senior Luke Shaffer scored his 146th goal to move into a tie for the all-time mark for the school In net Brayden Mangini was magnificent making 21 saves to keep Conard in the game “He was so composed and did everything  he could for us to win the game,” said head coach Matt Cersosimo Two Cheshire players collide going after the ball scoring two and a half minutes in when Grant Paul’s low shot beat Mangini The Red Wolves would answer when Torin McGoldrick picked up the loose ball on defense and ran the transition into the attack He found Brady Cersosimo in front of the cage and the junior attack man made no mistake to tie things at 1 The next four minutes belonged to the Rams’ offense and Mangini Maintaining control for long stretches Cheshire was patient with their shots and controlled the rebounds to settle things down Brady Potyrala snapped the tie when he broke off his defender and scored going high into the corner Three Conard players close in on a Cheshire defenseman Conard struggled all day in the face-off circle as Cheshire won 11 of 16 on the day and used them to set up their offense they controlled the ball and 2:30 in it was Potyrala scoring again this time cutting in from the left and finding space to release the shot for a goal though (Brett) Gainey battled in there all game,” Cersosimo said of his freshman face-off man the other thing that did not help the Wolves on the day showed up as well – penalties Conard would be flagged seven times on the day compared to one for the Rams “We had a couple of aggressive penalties during play and we have to clean that up,” the coach said Potyrala picked up his second goal of the game on the man advantage when he made it 4-1 at 7:56 The Wolves then went on a scoring run of their own with Shaffer getting career marker 146 to tie the school’s all-time goal mark with just under five minutes to go Conard had possession and took a timeout with :17 to go in the second Whatever play was called it worked – as Brady Cersosimo scored on a Shaffer assist with just :04 to go and Conard cut the Cheshire lead to 4-3 entering halftime Brady Cersosimo makes it a 1-goal game with 4 seconds left in the first half The opening minutes of the third quarter were tight with Mangini and Cheshire goalie Joe Grenier both coming out with some fine saves But the Conard attack would get his revenge when he took a pass from Shaffer at the end of a long Wolves’ possession and found the back of the net to tie things at 4 at 6:37 as William Wable finally converted on a bounce shot from an angle that beat Mangini just :42 after Alver’s goal Conard found itself playing a man down three times in the period “Our D was awesome all game long,” said Cersosimo Nick Katsaros works to get around Cheishre’s Brady Potyarla It was still anyone’s game when the fourth quarter opened with Conard trailing by a single goal Cheshire upped their 5-4 lead just under two minutes in when Nicholas Miller found the back of the net when his bounce went high into the corner Conard was also flagged for a penalty on the play giving the Rams possession of the ball again Both sides managed to keep up a high tempo despite the staggering heat and humidity – made even worse by playing on a turf field Brady Narus absorbs the hit from JC Johnson Conard would cut the lead back to a single goal with 4:15 to go when Ben Walsh ripped a 15-yard shot past Grenier to make it 6-5 Rams Cheshire answered 34 seconds later to take back the momentum and it was Wable shedding his defender to make it a 7-5 lead Conard had a great chance to make it a one-goal game when Shaffer found Walsh cutting down the middle and fed him the ball Cheshire would get the game’s final goal when a Conard defenseman overplayed Grant Paul down low He slipped under the defender at the side of the goal and fired in the shot Luke Shaffer’s shot deflected off the goalies stick late in the game Shaffer had one final chance to become the all-time goal leader but his shot with :37 to go hit the handle of Grenier’s stick and deflected wide “We made some second half mistakes in the midfield,” said Cersosimo after the game “If we had more possession it could have been a different game But that is a really good team over there and we showed we belong.” The loss is just the second of the year for Conard to go along with seven wins The losses both came at the hands of defending state champs – a 13-11 loss to Class M champion Hand and Saturday’s loss to Class L champion Cheshire This was also the first game all season that Conard did not score in double digits having averaged just over 14 goals per game heading into Saturday They also averaged just five goals against during the win streak Next up for Conard is a stretch of away games including at Wethersfield on Tuesday and Simsbury on Thursday Coac Matt Cersosimo talks it over with his players before the 4th quarter Brayden Mangini does the splits to make the save Nick Katsaros takes the shot for the Wolves Brayden Mangini makes the save for Conard against James Sutherland of Cheshire Liam Alver makes the pass to setup the offense as Luke Shaffer moves in Brady Cersosimo and Cheshire goalie Joe Grenier look into the net after Cersosimo’s goal Goalie Brayden Mangini goes high for the save Like what you see here? Click here to subscribe to We-Ha’s newsletter so you’ll always be in the know about what’s happening in West Hartford Click the blue button below to become a supporter of We-Ha.com and our efforts to continue producing quality journalism and website in this browser for the next time I comment Δdocument.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value" © 2025 • WeHa News • All Rights Reserved • Ezoic Privacy Policy - Created by Roy Web Design Given their nearly fifty years of friendship it’s weird to think that Bonnie Raitt and Willie Nelson have spent such little time in the studio together the two hooked up with Leon Russell for a loping cover of the jazz-blues standard “Trouble in Mind.” In 2002 Raitt harmonized with Willie on an eloquent reading of a pensive pop ballad about regret “You Remain.” But the hands-down high point of their studio collaborations and as beautiful a recording as either ever cut was their 1993 duet “Getting Over You”—which became the cornerstone of one of the most important albums of Willie’s long career (Read a transcript of this episode below.) 1992 was and remains the only year Willie didn’t release any new music Then, in March 1993, just weeks after he settled with the IRS, came Across the Borderline. Cut with one of the era’s leading rock and pop producers, the brilliant Don Was, Borderline was an unmistakable reminder not just of how important Willie was as an artist, but of the kind of folks who thought so. The song “Heartland” was a cowrite and duet with Bob Dylan Willie and Sinéad O’Connor covered Peter Gabriel’s “Don’t Give Up.” Working solo Willie covered two songs each by Lyle Lovett with Simon pitching in on guitar and production And at the album’s heart was Willie and Bonnie singing to each other about the endless frustrations of a breakup In this special birthday episode of One by Willie written by legendary Austin music figure Stephen Bruton was one with which she was eminently familiar who’d helped her grow from a blues-championing cult favorite to a million-selling future Rock & Roll Hall of Famer with his production of her albums Nick of Time (1989) and Luck of the Draw (1991) whom she likens to the Cheshire Cat and Yoda she describes covering “Night Life” with B. B King at Willie’s legendary The Big Six-O birthday show on CBS the fact that none of the A-list legends who showed up for Willie in those months ever doubted his “mythic status,” and why she thinks he is the most unique guitar player alive before sending him the most gracious birthday wishes you’ll hear all year One by Willie is produced by John Spong and PRX The PRX production team is Jocelyn Gonzales The Texas Monthly team is engineer Brian Standefer with graphic design by Emily Kimbro and Victoria Millner And Dominic Welhouse provides invaluable research and editing help a podcast in which I talk each week to one notable Willie Nelson fan about one Willie song that they really love to celebrate Willie’s big ninety-second birthday icon-on-icon birthday tribute from his longtime friend who will talk about their sublime 1993 duet “Getting Over You.” That song—written by Bonnie’s dear friend the late and legendary Austin music figure Turner Stephen Bruton—became a cornerstone of one of the most important albums in Willie’s career which was produced by the brilliant Don Was who also just happened to produce Bonnie’s own classics She’ll show a lot of love as she gets into all of that describing Willie as a little bit Cheshire Cat and a little bit Yoda before talking about covering “Night Life” with B.B King at Willie’s legendary sixtieth-birthday concert why she thinks Willie is the most unique guitar player alive and then sending him the most gracious birthday wish you will hear all year [Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt perform “Getting Over You”] and this one’s kind of a special instance because the song lived for you and with you before you took it to Willie we start with what’s so cool about this song—which is funny when the song is “Crazy,” because it’s a ridiculous question—but in this instance it’s the song “Getting Over You,” that Stephen Bruton wrote Can you tell me about your relationship with that song I have been friends with Stephen since I met him when he and Kris Kristofferson were a legendary duo And I played some shows with him when I was just a duo with my bass player He says he—Stephen was in Woodstock when I was making my second album But we bonded so much over our relationship with Kris And then he was in Kris’s band for many but he was also a solo artist and eventually played in my band for a few years But I’m a huge fan of both his playing but his songwriting is so—among musicians he’s a musician’s stellar example of somebody that deserved a lot wider attention and it was one of the most devastating losses I’ve had It happened within a week or so when I lost my brother I can’t even think about Austin without thinking of Stephen Bruton and we were partying all those first years and this was one of my all-time favorite songs of his And I think maybe it was Don Was that might’ve played it for Willie So I just think it’s such a masterpiece and I was so glad that Willie wanted to sing it with me the little bits that people might not know about Stephen and the Austin records that he produced in the nineties—he was the guy It was Jimmie Dale Gilmore and Alejandro and Hal Ketchum But do you remember when—would he have played would Stephen have played this song for you once upon a time Because he didn’t record it until ’93 and it’s hard for me to separate when There were so many nights and afternoons when I was at his house and I just heard so many of his songs even before he was I don’t remember exactly when I heard it how many years before I ended up singing it with Willie but it was—of the classic [Bruton] ballads there’s one called “Too Many Memories,” which just Would you mind if I—I’ve got his first record from ’93 when he put this on it . .  John Spong: Can I put that on just to hear the first little bits of it it’s a matter of me mastering my technology [Stephen Bruton performing “Getting Over You”] All the different eras of our voices for each other So I’ll never forget hearing these records the first times he said that you had introduced him to Kristofferson which led to Willie maybe wanting Don to produce him I couldn’t have raved about anybody as a producer more than Don he immediately knew why we wanted to cut it why did you think Don would be a good fit for Willie especially since you know Don’s production and what he does in the studio better than probably anybody After we had our unexpected success with Nick of Time which was a surprise to him as well as me and everybody else in the world— [Bonnie Raitt performing “Nick of Time”] Bonnie Raitt: So many people approached him because the sensitivity of getting out of the Svengali producer imposing a sound of his own arrangements he’s able to really distill the essence of what makes someone so special He doesn’t have an abiding ego to lay on people So what makes somebody very unique and special he sets them up to get the most perfect—and I don’t mean slick And let the artist breathe and sing and be their best version great vibe in the studio.” And he’s not trying to impose himself on anything He just lets you be your best self with the band that you put together John Spong: And I was thinking that as you said it then that means when you want to get—anybody you call to come to the session is going to say you’re going to be able to assemble everybody And I’m so proud that what we did together on Nick of Time was just kismet And it was a perfect time in his career and in mine So the other artists that appreciated what we had done and what the atmosphere of those songs—and the feel of that record is so organic a lot of slick pop records—nothing against that—they’re just a different sound; it’s a different motivation And Willie didn’t really need a breakthrough commercial record But the fact that we had Album of the Year was no slouch it was wonderful and made it actually [so that] something rootsy and organic could be a success did you have a sense of what Willie had riding on this and what was going on in his career he hadn’t had a top ten country hit since ’89 and Columbia was talking about farming him out to legacy-act status the IRS stuff had been going on for five or six years his sister Bobbie had lost two sons in rapid succession John Spong: So this was an impossible time for him that’s the only year since 1958 that that had ever happened I’m so glad you’re telling me this I might’ve known about the IRS thing because [it was] as well as our Yoda for the music industry So I wasn’t aware of the losses that Bobbie had and the context of the record It makes it even sweeter to know what an incredible acclaimed album that was and how important it was So I’m really glad that he met Don when he did Then you all go into the studio to record this song that you already love so much we couldn’t make a record without him And it was—I don’t know where Willie recorded but I just assumed most of the time would be in Texas but it was a magical extension for me of what—once Don and I get in the room together it’s just we love each other so much and all I can remember that . . . what I most remember about that session is the lights were low And we were facing each other through two different vocal booths And then we had the light on the lyric sheet on a music stand Bonnie Raitt: So the lights were really low and I opened my eyes and Willie looked like all I could think of was only his face—it looked like the Cheshire Cat suspended in darkness “I’m singing with Willie Nelson.” It was just so surreal to be able to sing this gorgeous song together with—I mean it’s one of the most incredible heartache songs that I’ve ever heard And to be able to imbue it with all of the love and the experience that both of us have had It has a different resonance when you sing it at this age Because now I want to picture Willie’s head floating while he sings this It was just—I’ll never forget it [Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt performing “Getting Over You”] I’m glad I brought my Kleenex out here that is—the pedal steel just, if ever there was a kind of music that deserved pedal steel And I just—all of the feelings that I have about Texas are created from Willie and Stephen and Antone’s and there’s some T-Bone Walker in it But I have such an affinity as—people even give me the great compliment of thinking that I am from Texas when I’m actually from Southern California but I’ll take it; I’ll take it Talk about Willie’s voice in that recording because it’s so—there’s an intimacy to the way he sings that There’s always an intimacy in his voice And the pacing of his phrasing is so astonishing to me but if we’re talking about his singing it’s just so eloquent in his restraint Bonnie Raitt: And what I love is the economy of how he’s singing He’s just letting the emotion come through without leaning on it Because I know Willie’s a first-take guy John Spong: But did you all discuss ahead of time how you were going to do it Or was that just y’all being artists Bonnie Raitt: I don’t think we rehearsed and I think we just decided which sections we were going to do together and we picked a key that was good for both of us I kinda hit the big time for a minute there a year before or two But this was still—the second bloom of my career was just this was . . . one of the great trees bearing fruit was to actually have this duet happen So I think two old veterans like us that love each other and have been in and out of each other’s stages and friendships even though we never lived in the same town we have great affection and love for each other And so it was nice to not overwork it and talk about it but when I got this job overthinking Willie for a living and I notice—and I think I have this right but when y’all are singing the harmonies on the chorus He’s singing the higher part of most of the harmonies Trigger drops down to the very bottom— John Spong: —and plays this thing with no fireworks at all so that you can come in up above him there and just soar with your slide Bonnie Raitt: It’s very complementary I don’t know if it was a conscious decision on his part and I love the way that he uses the bass strings on the guitar I just love that he voices melodies or whatever he does the way he uses all six strings and the whole fretboard is great And maybe now that you’ve mentioned it maybe he was leaving that second half to build with a slide and it was a beautifully complementary solo not long after it comes out comes The Big Six-O I went back and looked at the lineup of that again how did we even fit all of us in there?” and for folks who don’t remember—and that’s what I think we’ll do a two-hour special for your sixtieth birthday,” in April of ’93 like Waylon and Kristofferson and Lyle and Emmylou and then it’s like they squeeze Mount Rushmore in on top of that he had already achieved mythic status for us Bonnie Raitt: And there really isn’t anybody in our world of music and even in the whole legacy of putting yourself out there for cultural and political and social causes—he just stands alone and unites people across genres and generations And that’s the—there wasn’t really the Americana format yet he really embodied the ability of people to go past genres he would be just as natural to sing with Frank Sinatra—as long as they didn’t talk politics—as anyone else I’m not surprised Ray Charles and B.B jumped at the chance to be paying tribute to him John Spong: So I talked about this with Charlie Sexton when he was on here recently because to have grown up in Austin like I did But there was an extent to which he was taken—not necessarily taken for granted but I didn’t quite get just how big a thing he was he moved his family to the little suburb that I grew up in in the late eighties was in high school with my younger brother and directly across the street from the high school was a strip-center hamburger place called Willie’s Hamburgers And I think my brother was over there cutting class one day in the afternoon “What are you doing here?” And Willie looked at him and said “What’s your name?” And he said “If they had a Pat’s Hamburgers that sounds about right.” But so— John Spong: That was our understanding of him And collecting matchbooks like that . . . Bob Dylan is there to sing a duet with him John Spong: Like it was a song written just for you two and I have loved each other since I first got to meet him in the late sixties My manager at the time managed Buddy Guy and Junior Wells and Son House and a bunch of great old Delta blues men we forged a friendship that lasted all of his life we talked—everybody backstage was interviewed about Willie and why we were there and not only would we have showed up for any number of his birthdays but just to be all together and celebrate him It’s just so great that it was able to raise his profile There was no mistaking just how significant he was and is What makes “Night Life” such a great song is the one that kind of introduced the world to it It’s just—before I knew Willie had written it so there was no question about which tune we were going to do Bonnie Raitt: And when I looked at the song list and yet we breathe some fresh life into it And I have to say that those few days that we were all there together rehearsing and hanging out that is always going to remain one of the high points of my life King perform “Getting Over You”] can you—how did you find Willie’s music you knew “Night Life” before you knew it was a Willie song Bonnie Raitt: Patsy Cline’s “Crazy” was probably the first time that I was aware of a song but I didn’t know who wrote it And then I think when that whole outlaw . . . I don’t know what years Rolling Stone decided to—that was the music paper that I was always reading about—but that whole outlaw country I probably learned about it from Rolling Stone and “Ain’t It Funny How Time Slips Away,” and so many “You Were Always on My Mind.” I mean . . . And then you read one profile of Willie and you see those pictures of him with short hair and then he becomes a hero because of his position and his outsider “I don’t care I’m just going to go live my life and play great music and smoke as much pot as I want.” Who doesn’t love an outlaw and country music for me was a whole different world that I would never really dip my toes in through maybe the Gram Parsons and that whole And then Billy Payne from Little Feat turned me on to George Jones records And because of the South having the whole reputation of being anti-Black which turned out to be not even true because But there was—for somebody on the coast like me this is a style of music . .  and big hair and sequins and all that stuff.” I would watch TV shows and stuff and get a kick out of it but just not—but I did really love country and western music There would always be a live country and western band and the Sons of the Pioneers—I loved it and that’s why Texas always appealed to me because it seemed to be where Black and white music was not—kind of like New Orleans it wasn’t as segregated as it seemed like Nashville seemed like a different country to me Bonnie Raitt: I didn’t even play it for many John Spong: I think Nick Offerman talked about how he said he had a similar evolution that I had you’re a kid in the seventies and you know “Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain” and “On the Road Again.” And so that’s how you learn there’s Willie he wrote ‘Crazy’ and ‘Funny How Time Slips Away’?” And then one day you realize that’s a hot s— guitar player.” Bonnie Raitt: Talk about probably the most unique guitar player alive There’s just nobody that—I mean not only does he play that gut-string guitar he’s just burning holes on the guitar solos that he plays What are the hallmarks of a great Willie solo And I’ll try to keep up with you if you get technical I wish—and as my disclaimer when I first got on this call was to say I’m not I don’t really know how to speak in the terminology of what makes him “chromatically,” or “he does this and that.” All I know is And eclectic influence—by Django Reinhardt It’s all an amalgam that just is fit together in such a unique way I don’t think he probably plays his solos the same ever So I just think he is one of the most unique and brilliant guitar players I will get to hear  [Willie Nelson and Bonnie Raitt performing “Getting Over You”] “You’ve got to ask her about Kristofferson.” And so I don’t know if Kristofferson would’ve introduced you Bonnie Raitt: I believe it was probably in Texas and it might’ve been—I think Kris was living in Malibu then because . . . I don’t know when the first Farm Aid was but I think the first time I actually got to hang with Kris and Willie together I honestly can’t remember if it was one of their gigs but what’s it like—what are those two guys like together What’s it like being around Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson I have to imbue this with the fact that a lot of these hangs were after the shows and a few cocktails might’ve been had one thing I was always impressed was that Willie—I think I remember one time when he sat in with me at the Maui cultural center outdoors and I had just taken up running when I was 28 And we were on our way to Japan after playing Hawaii this guy can stay up really late and never acts trashed and he gets up and still runs!” So I wasn’t ever around a lot of guys that smoked pot Or at least that—most of the people I was hanging with were more like alcohol and drugs and stuff So it was admirable that he could live that lifestyle and be so healthy and so coherent And Kris was always really articulate as well the level of hilarity and wit and reminiscing and fun It was—not to say that we were talking about Chekhov or something But I just remember the full range of their talents and their experience being a little bit older than me I just sat there like a little puppy taking it all in And there’s this kind of—I don’t know when I think about Willie and I think about you the idea that you need to do something to try to make the world a better place seems to be a shared priority— John Spong: —as much or more than music Bonnie Raitt: I really admired Willie’s desire to use his clout but especially taking on the farmers’ cause It was so great because we needed somebody that wasn’t from either coast cuts across—it’s not just country music So he brought a tremendous amount of integrity I can’t think of an artist that bridged the gap between the two different—country music and there’s a lot of coming together for the issues of and they needed some attention brought to them And what—it was fantastic of Willie to do that John Spong: And the other thing that I love about it is that it’s—and it’s not a “good cause”; it’s something that really needs to be done and it’s people that really need this—but the way you do it is you have these incredible shows and these incredible collaborations onstage and these moments where these really special kind of unforgettable things happen It’s different than just carrying a sign around the Capitol building or something it garnered as much attention and goodwill as it did funds So I love the way he mixed up the speeches and didn’t hammer people down with issues and whining or whatever It just was really important to not just have a big party— Bonnie Raitt: —but to have the party couched in some messaging that was handled really just right all the press around it—it was inarguable the need to support this across whatever political affiliation or spiritual affiliation or location and they have a right to be paid for their products and supported and defended And it’s important to protect the farmers and I think a lot of Washington did not hear as much as Willie wanted them to and just keep telling them year after year.  John Spong: Can I tell you about—back to “Getting Over You”—a place where your song with Willie landed in a pretty significant way John Spong: So it comes out in March of ’93 a good childhood buddy had been killed—he’d been run over by a drunk driver He was the best-looking lifeguard in Austin And had all this charm and the bluest eyes there were twenty to fifty of us that really thought of him as And none of us had experienced tragedy before and one of these people that’s not supposed to ever go away And so as we’re dealing with this new understanding of reality we wound up at this dive bar in Austin a lot and it’s—whatever you’re picturing is it And as soon as Across the Borderline came out The one that came in second was “Have a Little Faith in Me,” by John Hiatt everybody eventually has this realization that we’re not in charge we realized we were naked and were asked to leave—and then realized there actually is no garden it held our hands as we—it slow-walked us to this realization that And I remember that those first initial losses that we all went through Bonnie Raitt: It’s just a shock when somebody that you thought was going to last forever—and you realize how unfair it is and we’re too young for our parents to be going And it’s nothing like the ache of your first heartache of love and such a horrible shock and cutting someone’s life I’m so glad that this song brought you solace John Spong: What is it about music that does that Bonnie Raitt: I wish I had enough hours in my life to be able to study what it is neurologically I know that—I remember when Secret Life of Plants and there was some research that came out that showed whether it was plants moving to classical music and then they would shrivel up with heavy metal they’re calmer when they hear certain kinds of mellow music The little milker—on one of these travel shows on PBS that was each cow has different songs that they relate to And one of them hates this one song so much Bonnie Raitt: How do you explain why the beautiful Irish ballad singing but when I went to Mali to learn more about where the Delta blues came from—that scale that Arabic scale from the sub-Sahara of Africa So there’s something about that pentatonic scale that will—just like Vaughan Williams or “Greensleeves,” or “O Come you could play Aaron Copland for anybody on the earth and I think they would be moved So there’s something about certain intervals of melody and music that touches people’s soul There’s something about music that can uplift you It certainly can make you feel sexy and misbehave and sexy and behave I’ve had people try to explain why “I Can’t Make You Love Me” has brought their—they’ve never seen their husband cry and he had tears streaming down his face,” for both “Angel From Montgomery” and for “I Can’t Make You Love Me.” And I’m so grateful to be able to be moved by music even now Bonnie Raitt: I just . . . I’m a puddle It’s one of the things that makes me grateful for folks like you and Willie and what you’re doing is you’re paying it forward I don’t know if I’d know who Floyd Tillman was if Willie hadn’t made such a big deal out of Floyd Tillman That’s what we’re supposed to do is shed the light on who inspired us and share it Because there’s all these young people now that are just blown away by artists that for all that we can say of the problems with people being stuck on their phones the benefit of being able to go down that wormhole and follow all this YouTube footage of people that you never were alive to see Bonnie Raitt: And that’s such an incredible gift Bonnie Raitt: And that’s why John Prine will live forever All the people that we love will just keep living forever “I’ve been doing this 54 years,” and I said “But when I look and see Willie and Bob still out there this summer I’m not hanging it up until they wheel me out in a hazmat suit I’m going to sing with a snorkel if I have to.” This will be—the Big Nine-Two is coming up and this will be a special birthday episode for Willie I’m so grateful to still be kicking and putting that music out and putting our love and action for the farmers and so many incredible causes that need our help more than ever To be a sister with you in this musical journey and share Kris and Turner Stephen and the ones that we can celebrate forever But one of my greatest gifts has been our friendship and getting to sing and play with you and raise some good trouble And may it happen for many more years for us wishing a very happy ninety-second birthday to her friend Willie Nelson and talking about their beautiful 1993 duet “Getting Over You.” A huge thanks to her for coming on the show and visit our page wherever you get your podcasts and give us some stars or type in some comments Every little bit of that helps more than you know Please follow us on Instagram at @onebywillie—all one word—find us on Bluesky and join our ever-expanding Willie conversation at the One by Willie group on Facebook Here's how you can prepare for the arrival of the Cheshire Cat here's what you need to know about the Cheshire Cat's arrival You will be able to complete the Cheshire Cat's welcoming quests on May 7 These will be the key to getting him to live in your valley There are a few other dates worth keeping in mind to make sure you've got everything done prior to this day you'll need to complete the Mannequin Madness quest set by Scrooge McDuck before you can move your new feline friend in The official Disney Dreamlight blog shared that the Cheshire Cat also plans to "cook up some trouble" on April 30 I imagine we'll have to head to Remy's Restaurant to see what chaos has been caused there If it's anything like the Mannequin Madness quest this will probably involve restoring whatever disarray the cat has caused If it turns out we are expected to do some cooking stocking up on some ingredients in the meantime wouldn't hurt We all know Disney Dreamlight Valley loves to give us a cooking challenge This will be the only additional date the Cheshire Cat will send some mischief into the valley before we can start making our way through his friendship quests As long as you've unlocked the Wonderland realm you'll be more than ready to welcome the Wonderland Whimsy update's second inhabitant Keep up to date with the most important stories and the best deals Kara PhillipsEvergreen WriterKara is an evergreen writer Having spent four years as a games journalist guiding or generally waffling about the weird and wonderful she’s more than happy to tell you all about which obscure indie games she’s managed to sink hours into this week When she’s not raising a dodo army in Ark: Survival Evolved or taking huge losses in Tekken you’ll find her helplessly trawling the internet for the next best birdwatching game because who wants to step outside and experience the real thing when you can so easily do it from the comfort of your living room you will then be prompted to enter your display name the daughter of David Lockhart and Martha (Frohn) Scognamiglio Sarah had a way of making people feel accepted and cared for but in everyday actions- checking in on friends Her quiet strength and kindness left a lasting impact on those around her The love she put out into the world will continue to live in the lives she made better just by being a part of them Arrangements – Visitation will be held on Sunday from 2 to 5 pm at the Alderson-Ford Funeral Home of Cheshire A Mass of Christian Burial and committal in Calvary Cemetery will be held privately A scholarship has been established to support future hair stylists to perpetuate Sarah’s legacy Memorial contributions may be made payable to The Sarah Longo Beauty Fund and can be mailed directly to the funeral home Enter your phone number above to have directions sent via text She was the devoted wife of the late Chester Klimaszewski for over 47 years until his passing in 1990 daughter of the late Gaetano and Jennie (Infanti) Amatruda Norine is the beloved mother of Veronica Puleo of Bethany; Geraldine (Ralph) Napp of Watertown; Theresa Roberge of Cheshire; Michael (Jennifer) Klimaszewski of Wallingford; Anne (Joseph) Trentacoste of Weston FL; Margaret Gray of Newington; Justina (Victor) D’Amato of Cheshire; and Colette (Joseph) Cherneskie of Cheshire She is also survived by her thirty two loving grandchildren; thirty three cherished great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews John and Gregory Klimaszewski; her sons-in-law Michael Roberge and James Puleo; and her brother