Plenty to read about in March PRIME

PRIME — March 2012 This month, PRIME Magazine honors a truly selfless community member in Mary Pat McMahon, founder of a local suicide loss support group and creator of the area chapter of a national suicide prevention agency. Although winter has been milder and sunnier than normal this year, many people continue to be impacted by Seasonal Affective Disorder, even as our darkest days of the calendar begin to turn brighter. With at least three prominent suicides or suicide attempts among those over the age of 50 making national headlines in the last few weeks, it's important to note that suicide knows no season or age group. Some insightful statistics from the World Health Organization about depression and suicide: Depression occurs in persons of all genders, ages, and backgrounds. It is common, affecting about 121 million people worldwide. Depression is among the leading causes of disability worldwide. It can be reliably diagnosed and treated in primary care, however, fewer than 25 percent of those affected by depression have access to effective treatments. On a much lighter note, March is the month to acknowledge all things Irish. For St Patrick's Day we celebrate the gift of the Blarney with Jane O'Donoghue's delightful account of her Irish encounter with a mythical figure in Celtic lore. It's an appropriate topic this month, and an authentic tale to augment the more typical Irish-American celebrations taking place March 17, such as imbibing in green beer. If you're looking for an exotic travel destination, the pages of PRIME have you covered this month with our travel story about Nicaragua. Springtime is a season when many of us start looking for a relaxing, tropical getaway. From its volcanic craters to green parakeets, ecotourism in Nicaragua may be for you. Although it was once heralded as an exceptional destination for only the most intrepid travelers, Nicaragua is quickly gaining a reputation for offering some of Latin America's most pristine and uncrowded natural attractions. Last but certainly not least, our area is brimming with daytrip opportunities and stage performances this month. To start the month, fans of old-time radio will appreciate the jazz ensembles of Mount Holyoke College traveling back in time to the 1940s for their 7th annual and all-new presentation of The Big Broadcast! on March 4. Next, the Springfield Armory is set to honor the service of women during World War II with a special, free presentation in the museum theatre March 24. And finally, the popular TV show hosts of Mythbusters are set to take the stage and debunk urban legends March 30 at The Bushnell in Hartford. Until next time, we hope you enjoy reading PRIME magazine. Sincerely, Mike Briotta PRIME Editor mikeb@thereminder.com