APRIL 2021

April 2021 Volume 7 . Issue 5 golocalmagazines.com

mr t.’s power wash it’s spring cleaning time!

Sixteen acres

garden center in springfield

great awakening brewing co.

Check it out

pete’s sweets

in east longmeadow

2 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

new this month APRIL 2021 . VOLUME 7 . ISSUE 5

13

We carry

PRODUCTS

MR. T’S POWER WASH

Its spring…time for that timehonored tradition of spring cleaning! Why not start with a fresh, clean look for your home’s exterior, including your decks and outdoor furniture? The best part?

You can just call Mr. T’s Power Wash and they will do all the work for you! It’s truly amazing to see how much better a house, roof, deck, patio furniture, and even walkways and driveways cleaned of accumulated grime, moss and mold can look.

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A NOTE

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MR. T’S POWER WASH

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PETE’S SWEETS

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a note

FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR . G. MICHAEL DOBBS

The great Russian author Leo Tolstoy once wrote, “Spring is the time of plans and projects.”

Truer words have never been uttered.

Perhaps it’s due to my suffering through the sometimes-challenging New England winters, but I think the first day of spring should be a holiday in my opinion.

It could be a day-off that folks could use to plant gardens and clean homes.

Years ago an old farmer once told my parents – both of whom loved gardening – that no one should plant anything outside until Memorial Day. He was cautious as the opportunity for an April snowstorm is always looming.

I think that’s why back in the 1960s and ‘70s my parents always used “Hot Kaps,” mini-greenhouses for plants. Made of heavy waxed paper, the Kaps helped maintain heat and protection for young plants.

They still make them I recently discovered. I’ll probably order some.

I’ve already started tackling spring-cleaning chores. If you’re like me you have an extra refrigerator in the basement or the garage. The one we have is used for Christmas and Thanksgiving overflow and for beer for gatherings.

In other words, I don’t pay too much attention to it.

Well, I looked inside and saw a bunch of outdated beer and the roasting pan with a turkey carcass I intended to make into broth for turkey soup.

I had forgotten entirely about it – for months.

The beers had to be tossed and the roasting pan was scrubbed into submission.

The ‘fridge is now empty and I’m going to pull the plug on it for the time being.

I’ve also started assembling items for a spring tag sale. I’ve moved items from shelves and drawers into boxes ready to go. I just have to figure when to do it and how to social distance it.

Now it’s time to start the yard work. I’ve picked up the garbage that has blown into the front yard and the things our neighbors toss into our back yard.

I still have plenty of leaves to move. We leave them on the ground through the winter because they are vital to the successful survival for insects such as butterflies and moths as well as a host of animals.

Check out https://blog.nwf.org/2014/11/what-to-do-with-fallen-leaves/ to see why.

When I do rake them up I mulch them to create compost for the garden in the back yard.

In fact, this year we are allowing part of our back yard to go “wild” in order to create an environment good for beneficial insets and other creatures.

I’ve got to wash and waterproof our deck this year as well. The list is increasing every day, which is pretty normal for spring.

One of the businesses highlight is this edition is an institution for gardeners: Sixteen Acres Garden Center in Springfield. This is one of those garden shops that truly has everything and is a must location for gardeners of all types.

Helpful advice is also a hallmark for the center.

It may be a lot of work, when you’re sitting out back on a warm day but it’s worth it.

- G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor 6 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

MANAGING EDITOR G. Michael Dobbs

CREATIVE

Beth Thurber, Manager . Leigh Catchepaugh Elizabeth O’Donoghue . Susan Bartlett

DESIGN Michelle Johnson, Manager

ADVERTISING

Barb Perry, Advertising Manager . Jeanette Lee Lisa Nolan . Kim Barba . Roxanne Longtin Miller Nancy Holloway . Matt Mahaney . Paula Dimauro Scott Greene . Terry O Donnell Victoria Owen . Evan Marcyoniak Andy Shaw . Harrison Beck Carolyn Napolitan, Sales Assistant Fran Smith, General Manager 

THE GO LOCAL COMMUNITY

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soutHAMPTON

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CONTACT US! 280 North Main Street • East Longmeadow, MA 01028 Tel: 413.525.6661 • Fax: 413.525.5882

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM Send local story ideas to: Michelle Johnson: mjohnson@repub.com

Residential & Commercial Washing

IT’S TIME FOR SPRING CLEANING!

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ABOUT US Mr. T's Power Wash is a family owned and operated business with over thirty years of experience in the industry.

We're based in Tolland, CT, but our service area includes most of North-Central Connecticut and South-Central Massachusetts.

We share a strong commitment to family values, and it comes across in the way that we do business. We always make an effort to treat our customers as a part of our extended family - with courtesy and respect. We pride ourselves on our ability to provide high quality services at fair and competitive prices. One thing that helps us stand out from our competition is that we enjoy good conversation. We strive to answer every phone call personally, although that keeps getting harder as our business continues to grow. But rest assured, if you have to leave a message, WE WILL RETURN YOUR CALL at our earliest opportunity. We are happy to answer any questions you may have, and we will do our best to explain things in a manner that makes you feel comfortable to have us service your home, business or property.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 7

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809 Williams Street

Longmeadow, MA

!  VICKI MITCHELL

I

ts spring…time for that time-honored tradition of spring cleaning! Why not start with a fresh, clean look for your home’s exterior, including your decks and outdoor furniture? The best part?

You can just call Mr. T’s Power Wash and they will do all the work for you! It’s truly amazing to see how much better a house, roof, deck, patio furniture, and even walkways and driveways cleaned of accumulated grime, moss and mold can look.

Mr. T, otherwise known as Bob Tofolowsky, started his power washing company in the 1980’s with his wife, Linda. Bob had been working at “a great tool and die making job,” but yearned to be working outdoors. He says, “with the help of my family and some entrepreneur magazines, I decided to go into the power washing business.

We purchased some equipment and

learned the profession through trial and error, and continued research on the subject. This all happened back in the early 1980’s, and power washing, at least house washing, was a fairly new concept. Linda and I worked very hard at making the business successful.

When Jess and Dan (my children) were very young, they used to come with me to wash, and I paid them. They learned at a young age the concept of working and earning a living.”

Today, it is a small business owned and operated by the family, which includes their children, Dan (general manager) and Jess (office manager).

Dan and his wife, Lauren, have two young sons, Joe (3) and Max (1.) It won’t be long before these youngsters are old enough to accompany their dad to jobs and start “learning the ropes” of the business. They also have an assistant power washer, Sean McHugh,

a childhood friend of Dan’s.

Jessica says of her father “Mr. T is the man who started it all, who worked long hours to start his own business from the ground up, who still works long hours to maintain his business, who wants to see all of his customers happy and who will go the extra mile to do so. He LOVES seeing his customers’ pets, and loves a good conversation.”

Bob adds, “I have always stressed to the family over the years to do a good job and be courteous to the clients. We always stick together as a family.”

In order to carry out the task of providing quality work, the company owns three fully equipped power washing trucks, and one enclosed low pressure roof washing trailer. They use bleach and hot water for most of their washing, adding that “we use bleach because it is very effective in killing and removing mold, mildew and algae.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 13

Bleach is also very environmentally safe. It is used in the purification of wells and in city water treatment facilities, and of course in pools in which we swim.” Scrubbing the surface is not typically required to achieve great looking results.

When it comes to cleaning roofs, Bob and Dan explain that “roofs in general should never be power washed because the pressure can harm the shingles by tearing them.

The shingle’s life can be shortened dramatically by using high pressure because it removes the granulates that are on them. That’s why we use low pressure, and chemically wash them, which doesn’t harm them at all. A low pressure, chemical wash is the recommended way of cleaning them, according to the shingle manufacturer.”

In addition to cleaning “tens of thousands” of homes, decks, walkways, driveways, and outdoor furniture, Mr. T’s also power washes apartment buildings and condominium units. The largest job that Bob recalls doing was the pressure washing of the garbage sorting facility located at the end of Murphy Rd. in Hartford, Connecticut. “Some other jobs we have done are underground jet fuel storage facilities at Pratt and Whitney, and a huge concrete septic tank located at a high school. Both of those jobs required special suits and breathing apparatus.”

As for other unusual cleaning projects, Linda and Jess recall cleaning the weight scales at garbage dumps, the inside of cow transport trailers, the inside of garbage trucks and the inside of recycling trucks.

For Jess, the best part of the job is hearing from a happy customer. The worst part, she says, is having to tell customers that they do have to close over the winter.

Speaking of which, although the power washing is seasonal, the family members manage to keep busy during the cold weather months. For instance, Bob has delivered fuel oil for the same company for many years. Dan also delivers fuel oil, works in the office of a mechanic’s garage, and for an arborist. Jess bakes desserts and other treats for friends and family.

Now that another spring season is upon us, the Tofolowsky family is looking forward to getting back to their power washing jobs. Bob acknowledges that, “our roles in the company are reversing. I’m nearing retirement, and the kids can take over from there.” But until that happens, he will continue to enjoy the best parts of the job, which for him are “seeing siding transform from a grungy mess to siding that is clean. The second is meeting different people, hearing different life stories, and making at least one person smile or laugh, every day.”

Mr. T’s offers discounts for veterans, active duty service members, and senior citizens, as well as coupons which can be found in GO Local magazine. Don’t wait any longer to enjoy a sparkling clean start to the season!

Mr. T’s Power Wash is located in Tolland, Connecticut 860-872-2729 or 860-851-9432 • www.mrtspowerwash.com 14 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

April is Diamond Month LIFE AND LOVE THE WAY IT SHOULD BE... SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL.

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Enjoy A Fresh Farm Share!

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Pete's Sweets  ! VICKI MITCHELL &  PETER GRAY & SHANNON KENNEDY

P

ete’s Sweets in East Longmeadow bills itself as “your neighborhood American bakery.” That’s only true if you take that definition to include a bakery that regularly holds themed weekends where the staff dresses in elaborate costumes, where the bakery itself is decorated to the hilt and offers custom designed treats in keeping with the theme.

Peter Gray, owner of the bakery for the last 8 years, is the driving force behind the themed weekends. His talented staff is also crucial to the success of this endeavor, and includes Danielle Maheu (bakery manager, cake decorator, and creator of the themed shipping boxes,)

and head baker Tessa Morneau (who makes all the amazing cakes, cupcakes, cookies, and other treats.) According to Pete, the staff also includes “Nicole Stuart our bookkeeper....she keeps my spending in check!!! (Well, as much as she can.) My lovely mother Mary Gray is our wedding manager who specializes in organizing wedding appointments with our happy clients. Shannon Kennedy is our in-store photographer, and she also manages our social media accounts. We also have countless friends & family that lend a helping hand when needed.”

What motivated Pete to offer this unusual and immersive experience to his customers? COVID-19, of course! Due to

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19

the pandemic, the bakery was no longer able to offer its birthday parties or in-person classes, and of course, many weddings and other special occasions were cancelled or postponed. Therefore, “we had to get creative during COVID to keep safe and stay sane,” says Pete.

“Our immersive experiences are an escape from reality!

This pandemic has been tough on us all. It robbed us of our celebrations and events. This is my (and my staff’s) way of being able to flex our creative muscles, and it also gives our clients a fun excuse to look forward to an event!”

The theme for March was “Under the Sea” and as you can “see” from the photos, Pete’s Sweets was transformed into a coral reef (made by Pete from discarded/ recycled material) with sea turtles and jelly fish swimming overhead, the staff dressed as lovely mermaids, and Pete the Pirate standing guard over his treasure chest. The special treats for sale included oyster cookies with a pearl inside, snickerdoodle sand dollars, cupcakes decorated with octopi, coral or shark fins on top, multi-colored mermaid bark candy, and cookies decorated as mermaid tails and sea shells.

Pete plans to continue offering the themed events, which occur over a designated weekend every month.

In April, look for an Arabian Nights theme, followed by themes such as a tea party, a casino, and a world of candy! Each event also offers the opportunity to purchase a themed box of goodies that can be delivered 20 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

to the recipient’s doorstep for $59.95. A limited number of boxes will be available, and they sell quickly. Check the website for details.

When the staff is not planning a themed weekend, they stay busy preparing the many baked items available on a regular basis. These include over 17 varieties of cookies, hundreds of combinations of cake and icing, and “countless brownies, bars, and assorted treats.” As for Pete, although he personally doesn’t spend as much time baking anymore, he does love to whip up a batch of classic chocolate chip cookies. “Ironically” he says, “that’s my favorite to eat!”

To get an idea of the cake and filling options offered, check out the website, where in addition to chocolate and vanilla, you’ll find cake flavors such as almond, spice, orange, red velvet, lemon, confetti, and seasonal flavors. Fillings are almost endless and include vanilla bean, crème brulee, Kahlua, cinnamon and other buttercreams, lemon curd, peanut butter, Oreo and various fresh fruits. Their wedding cakes have received the Weddingwire Couple’s Choice award for several years in a row.

When asked what motivated him to get started in the bakery business, Pete replied, “This dates back pretty far! I have always liked to bake - as far back as I can remember, I have had a wooden spoon in my hand. I used to make cakes for all my friends’ Sweet 16 birthdays.

“I went to New England Culinary School in Vermont. After participating in The Next Great Baker on TLC (hosted by the Cake Boss, Buddy Valastro) I opened Pete’s Sweets as the area’s premiere all American bakery, making custom cakes & baked goods.”

As you can probably guess, “there is no typical day at Pete’s Sweets. We are the most untraditional-traditional bakery you’ll ever visit! We have twists on traditional treats, we dress up in costumes and have photo shoots, we recipe test cocktails and savory recipes, and create handmade decorations, all while taking cake and cupcake orders from our clients. I love making people happy,” Pete says, “whether it’s with cakes or elaborate costumes and decorations!”

Pete’s Sweets is located at 32 Shaker Road in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts 413-525-6062 www.petes-sweets.com

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 21

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go local picks

COOL STUFF JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR AND ONLINE!

GRAND RE-OPENING OF THE BROAD BROOK OPERA HOUSE SATURDAY, APRIL 10, 2021 AT 6 PM EDT • 107 MAIN ST BROAD BROOK, CT FEATURING One Time Weekend! Doors Open at 6:00pm with Entertainment by Joe E Crak. One Time Weekend Takes the Stage at 7:00pm! Due to Covid restrictions this is a LIMITED TICKET EVENT! Be one of the FIRST 100 people to come see a live show at The House! Buy your tickets as a ‘group’ to ensure seating together!

Come join us for the FIRST of many local bands LIVE in Broad Brook! Local Craft Beers and Concessions available for purchase!

This is a 21+ Event! www.eventbrite.com/e/broad-brook-opera-housegrand-re-opening-featuring-one-time-weekendtickets-142931984413

SPRING BEER “MUNCHIE” DINNER SKYLINE BEER CO.

98 SOUTHWICK ROAD, WESTFIELD, MA 01085 • 413.378.3333 SUNDAY, APRIL 18, 2021 AT 3:30 PM AND 6:30 PM Come join us to celebrate some of our favorite things at this four course beer pairing dinner at Skyline. Chef Dan and his crew have come up with a delicious menu sure to tantalize your tastebuds and wet your whistle. We will offer 2 seatings, 3:30 and 6:30- price includes food, beer, tax and gratuity, tables can accomadate up to 6 people. We have help planning this event from our friends Rick Barry and Brian Grady, who will be hosting the dinner.

Tickets are available online, by phone, or in store.

For tickets go to: Skylinebeerco.com 24 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

VEGETARIAN TOUR OF NORTHAMPTON

BY PIONEER VALLEY FOOD TOURS

PULASKI PARK • 240 MAIN STREET • NORTHAMPTON, MA 01060 SUN, APRIL 18, 2021 AT 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM EDT This 2.5 hour food tour explores the vegetarian culture in the city and the rich history of local farms in the region. With locally grown produce available year round, Northampton’s shops and restaurants are full of imaginative vegetarian dishes. Taste seasonal soups, tarts and savory pies, as well as locally made kombucha, specialty teas and chai. With a superb selection of vegetarian restaurants, natural food stores, and artisanal food producers, Northampton is a mecca for vegetarians and lovers of farm fresh produce. Our tours are primarily outdoors at this time.

For tickets and additional tour details go to: www.eventbrite.com/e/vegetarian-tour-of-northamptontickets-137888126097?aff=erelpanelorg

artist corner

FUNKY CLAY BY ALLIE WANDA - LUDLOW, MA

Artist Corner

FUNKY CLAY BY ALLIE WANDA - LUDLOW, MA

INSTAGRAM: @FUNKYCLAYBYALLIEWANDA ETSY: ALLIEWANDAART FACEBOOK: CARICATURES & FINE ART BY ALLIE WANDA WEBSITE: WWW.ALLIEWANDA.COM

Tell us a little about yourself!

My name is Allie Billeter (née Litera) and I am 31 years old.

I’ve been doing art for my entire life and have always had a creative spirit! I went to Minnechaug Regional High School in Wilbraham, MA from 2004-2008 and graduated from the Hartford Art School in 2012 with a degree in illustration and minor in art history. I have a full-time job doing website content management and do art in my spare time. I also just got married in October 2020!

My main “side business” is Caricatures & Fine Art by Allie Wanda, where I primarily draw caricatures at weddings and other special occasions. However, I haven’t done too many events in the past couple months because of the pandemic. So here I am keeping creative by making things with clay!

What town is your studio based out of?

I grew up in Springfield and Wilbraham and currently reside in Ludlow, MA.

When/how did you get interested in crafting with polymer clay?

Funky Clay by Allie Wanda is a quarantine-born business. I’ve tried so many crafts and hobbies over the years, like weaving, photography, alcohol ink paintings, collage, wreath-making, and more. Around the holidays (November/December 2020), I discovered some local and national makers on social media who create polymer clay jewelry and thought “wow, this looks like fun!” I felt a surge of inspiration. Since I went to art school and am well-rounded in other art forms like ceramics, sculpture, and printmaking, I decided to give it a try and it immediately stuck with me. There are infinite colors, shapes, textures, and patterns to work with, which I find really stimulates me and gets my creative juices flowing.

While my first love is illustration, I find that polymer clay is a great way to de-stress in addition to doing something creative

and working with my hands. I hope to try some diorama-type pieces down the road using clay. It would be a cool way to combine illustrating a scene and sculpting with the medium.

How would you describe your design aesthetic to someone who’s never seen your work?

Right now, I’m working on finding my voice as a clay artist, a.k.a. my designs are a bit all over the place! Some are colorful, some boho, but many are leaning toward art deco, celestial, and vintage-inspired. I suppose if I had to hone in on one aesthetic phrase, it would be “bold earrings for bewitching babes.”

What are your favorite materials to work with?

It’s really fun to add “extras” to the clay, like gold foil and glitter glazes. I have been experimenting with different textures and stamps as well to add more dimension to plain polymer clay. I just ordered some silkscreens on Etsy and am excited to try silkscreening designs onto my clay!

In addition, I enjoy supporting other businesses on Etsy that make clay-related goods like cutters, texture tiles, stamps, and jewelry findings. It’s a cool little community that I’ve stumbled into and I’ve met some awesome makers in the process! Make sure to support your local businesses!

What are your inspirations?

I’m inspired by a little bit of everything! I love anything iridescent/glittery. My studio space is colorful, bright, and filled with things I love. Some of my inspirations are the 1920s, 1960s/1970s, bright colors, celestial elements, fairy tales, the circus, vaudeville, and vintage curiosities and oddities. I marvel at so many different historic time periods that sometimes I think I may have been a time traveler in a past life.

Fun Fact: My middle name is “Wanda” (after my paternal

grandmother), hence my business name, “Allie Wanda!” Some of my friends call me “Wanda” for fun, too.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 25

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Sixteen Acres GARDEN CENTER ! KEITH O’CONNOR  NATE BLAIS

T

here is always something blooming at Sixteen Acres Garden Center in Springfield.

“We’re always busy, but we are in our busiest season right now. April, May, and June, those are our busiest months,” said Judy Bordenuk, human resources and financial manager for Sixteen Acres Garden Center.

“People buy for the holidays like Mother’s Day as well as Memorial Day to decorate the graves of loved ones.

It’s also the time when home owners are preparing their vegetable gardens, planting annuals and perennials, and enhancing their landscapes. Plenty of house plants are also going out the door right now, and customers are coming GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 27

in to get information about and to purchase the products they will need to enhance their gardens or improve their lawns,” she added.

But house plants are not just selling right now, they have been “extra” popular since the pandemic began, Bordenuk noted.

“People are bringing house plants back into their homes. They want to surround themselves with something beautiful at a time when they have been feeling down due to the pandemic.

And it’s not just inside. The sale of annuals and perennials, and trees and shrubs were all on the upswing in the past year as people sought to freshen up their outdoors as well,” she said.

Unfortunately, it was the pandemic that took the life of the Bordenuk family’s belove father, John, at the age of 85 in April 2020.

John – along with his wife Joan – founded the business in 1962. He attended Stockbridge School of Agriculture and received a degree in Horticulture. They created the Garden Center on ten acres of land in the Sixteen Acres section of Springfield, where John’s parents once farmed the land and had a roadside stand.

Today the Garden Center remains a family business. Judy’s brother Steve Bordenuk is the general manager, and her sister Debra Bordenuk manages the Floral and Gift Shops.

“Our father loved this business and he loved growing plants. His hands were always in the dirt. He instilled a good work ethic in all of his children and was the hardest worker I’ve ever known. He would always come to work without fail, taking care of not only our customers but our employees who are so much a part of our business as well,” Bordenuk said.

“He passed on his passion for plants to all of us who also do our own gardening at home. And we continue his lifelong efforts in caring for each and every one of our customers, trying the best we can, and meeting their needs at a fair price,” she added.

While their full-service Floral Shop - offering custom designs for all occasions including weddings, parties, holiday designs, and sympathy tributes - has been around since the early days, the Center’s Gift Shop becomes a Christmas Shop around the holidays and their Landscape Design Services were introduced at a later date. Even if plants are not your thing, the Gift Shop is just another reasons to stop by Sixteen Acres Garden Center to see what is new.

Shoppers will find unique gifts for the gardener in their lives, as well as a large selection of candles, cards and stationery, wall plaques, glass vases, garden flags, statuary, picture 28 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

frames, baskets and much more. There are also specialty gifts like Woodstock wind chimes and Willow Tree figurines.

“Over the years we have been able to concentrate in certain areas of our business including growing flowering plants that customers anticipate each year such as geraniums, combination hangers, New Guinea impatients, vegetable sets and more.

We’ve improved the depth of products that we carry, always growing the best products we possibly can, including unique varieties of plants you can’t buy just anywhere,” Bordenuk said.

It’s the feeling that you get once you step outside of your car that makes Sixteen Acres Garden Center so special.

“You will be surrounded by gorgeous flowers and that can’t help but make you feel good and change your demeanor to something more positive if you are having a bad day. It’s really something quite special to feel…almost spiritual in nature,” Bordenuk said.

Depending on the season, Sixteen Acres Garden Center offers: · The largest selection of annuals and perennials in western Massachusetts and new and traditionally popular varieties. · Thousands of zonal geraniums in 25 varieties from 4.5-inch potted plants to 12-inch hangers, offering the most popular, newest, and most unique varieties. · The largest selection of proven winners including bidens, Bacopa, brachyscome, Calibrachoa also known as Million Bells, fuchsia, Helichrysum, heliotrope, Ipomea, potato vine, lantana, licorice plant, and more. · Seeds of all kinds. · Custom container gardens. · Herb gardens in containers as well as plants in strawberry jars and whisky barrels. · A wide variety of specimen trees and shrubs, vines, and fruits. · Container trees, 7 gallon and up, including new and unusual varieties of Japanese maples, and flowering shrubs such as azaleas, rhododendrons, andromeda, and more. · B&B trees, up to 2.5 - 3.0-inch caliper; evergreen, and deciduous trees. · Hedges and privacy shrubs such as GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 29

arborvitae, viburnum, and more. · Their own blends of grass seed and commercial brands. · A full line of lawn fertilizers and lime, organic soil amendments for flower and vegetable gardens, such as bumper crop, compost, peat moss, complete planting mix, top soil, dehydrated cow, chicken and sheep manure, peat humus, and more. · Everything you need to do the job including an assortment of hand tools, long-handle tools, pruners, gloves, and water gardening supplies. · Extra special touches to make your yard even more beautiful such as gazing globes, sun dials, stepping stones, garden accent stones and boulders, cement statuary, fountains bird baths, urns, trellises, arbors, bistro sets, and outdoor benches.

Bordenuk offered some tips for wouldbe green thumbs considering their first garden.

“Annuals are always a good choice because they blossom all summer long and offer plenty of color. Marigolds, petunias, and geraniums are fairly easy to take care of and produce an abundance of blooms. If you want something that will come back to life every year, perennials are your choice such as day lilies or coneflowers. Knock Out rose bushes have 30 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

been developed to be disease resistant and produce beautiful flowers all summer. They are easy to take care of and very durable,” Bordenuk said.

“Lettuce is easy to grow, unless rabbits come to eat it, although we do carry repellents to keep them away. Tomatoes are easy to grow as well, but can be finicky, especially depending on the weather and variety because they like consistent moisture, but not overly so. Also, before beginning your gardening efforts, it’s a good idea to check the pH balance of your soil before planting.

Vegetables like between 6 to 6.5 pH levels, so lime may need to be added. Be sure that the soil temperature is warm enough to encourage growth before you plant. And, you should consider possible companion planting in your vegetable garden, such as marigolds, whose scent seems to repel insects,” she added.

The Garden Center gets plenty of questions and horticulturalists on staff are knowledgeable and willingly offer advice about plant care and maintenance and are ready to answer any of your gardening questions.

“There is one question that we get most often, and that is, ‘How much should I water my plants?’ We tell them less is better, you don’t want to overwater and rot the root system. Stick your finger into the soil to see if it’s moist or dry before watering. Plants will wilt if they are underwatered or overwatered – so it’s best to check first,” Bordenuk said.

She noted they have been “blessed” with a staff who has been with them for a long time, some of whom even have degrees from Stockbridge School of Agriculture similar to her father.

“They have a passion for what they do and that translates into a good experience for our customers, and we are very grateful for our dedicated and loyal staff,” Bordenuk said.

Sixteen Acres Garden Center, located at 1359 Wilbraham Road in Springfield, is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

For more information, visit 16acresgardencenter.com or call 413-783-5883.

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go eat

! RECIPE SUBMITTED BY NATHAN BLAIS

Chicken Burgers

Recipe Yields 4 Patties 1 Pound ground chicken 1 Cup of bread crumbs 1/2 Cup chopped cherry tomatoes 1/4 Cup of parmesan 1/4 Cup of fresh parsley + basil 1-2 Cloves of garlic

In a large mixing bowl- mix together ground chicken, bread crumbs, chop up the cherry tomatoes finely, do the same to the parsley and basil, crush and mince your garlic. Mix all the ingredients together and if they are still a little wet and sticky- add more bread crumbs! Form your patties and let them set in the fridge for about 30 minutes or so. Grill on medium-high heat for 12-15 minutes only flipping once. Serve with or without the bun!

Enjoy with pesto, tomato sauce and mozzarella melted mozzarella cheese!

Salt + Pepper NATHAN BLAIS I’m a photographer from Springfield. I combined my love for cooking and photography and turned it into a career. Check out my instagram @nateblais!

32 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

Great Awakening brewing company

O

! KEITH O’CONNOR  NATE BLAIS

pening any new business, let alone one that offers food and drink, during the COVID-19 pandemic is a risky proposition at best.

Yet that is just what beer entrepreneurs Andy Grenier and Mark Netzer did last October when they opened the doors to Great Awakening Brewing Company. It was a gutsy move, but they had already poured heart and soul into building out their space within the Mill at Crane Pond and setup their long awaited seven barrel brewing system, which produces about 220 gallons of their one-of-akind libations per batch. And, they didn’t want their investment to sit idle.

So, the two brewmeisters believed that if they began to pour, people would come. And they were right.

“We didn’t do any advertising because we were in a unique position. Over the years, we had already built up a loyal following from the many beer festivals we poured at. Besides I would always share our beers with anyone I could to build up even more hype for our opening. So, it was really word-of-mouth and social media that brought us customers,”

Netzer said.

Now in full swing - before opening the doors to their brewery and taproom they offered curbside can sales - customers will find a broad range of 16 rotating beers on tap crossing a broad spectrum including New England IPAs, barrel-aged beers, sours, saisons, and stouts alongside craft food.

The seeds were sewn for turning their passion for great-tasting brews into a business almost a decade ago, but neither realized it at the time.

“The first craft beer I ever tasted was from Berkshire Brewing. They were the only game in town for years and years, but they put out some really enjoyable beers. I didn’t understand the different beer styles back then, but enjoyed drinking the different brews they were putting out,” Mark said.

Andy’s eyes were opened to the depth of the craft beer scene when he first tried one of Mark’s sour craft beers.

“My first experience drinking a sour craft beer was one that Mark had brewed, called Purist. It was a fruited kettle sour beer, one that has a refreshingly tart and jammy taste, GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 33

made with black currants and vanilla and it was amazing. I was unfamiliar with this whole sour genre and how delicious and satisfying they were,” Grenier said.

It was back around 2012 that Netzer’s father-in-law, who was an avid home brewer in the ’80s, thought it would be a good idea to give him the equipment he had purchased so his son-in-law could have a try at it.

“He came over to my house one weekend and we made a batch of beer on the stove in my kitchen. It wasn’t great, but it was drinkable, and the whole process of making your own beer interested me. I thought to myself, ‘I can do better,’ and continued to play around with that same recipe until I had perfected it. And along the way home brewing became an obsession as I constantly sought to improve my beers as my palate became more refined,” he said.

Eventually working out of his garage on a small half-barrel, Netzer expanded his brewing efforts to include IPAs, stouts and sours. And it wasn’t long before the confidence level in what he was producing reached a point where he was comfortable entering his beers into competition - his American Brown Ale took first place in the Southern New England Regional Home Brew Competition and his Precitration IPA was awarded first place for American IPA at the annual national beer competition held at the Virginia Beer Blitz - and traveling to different beer festivals to bring them to the public.

“There were huge lines for our beers at the festivals. Craft been enthusiasts not only loved the taste, but the diversity of styles we offered,” Grenier said.

So, back around 2017 figuring it was time “to make the move,” he partnered with Netzer based on their following and untapped social media rating to put a business plan together and make their dream a reality to open a brewery. With their strategy aligned, Great Awakening kicked off their search for a perfect location in western Massachusetts and top-quality brewing equipment.

Today when beer lovers enter their doors there are always 16 beers on draft at The Great Awakening Brewery.

“We wanted to have at least 16 brews available because of our history of going 34 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

to fests and bringing a broad range of beers, so those attending could experience the spectrum of different styles of craft beers,” Grenier said.

While their draft list is constantly rotating with new additions added weekly, here’s an example of seven concoctions to quench your thirst:

Imaginary Islands Sour Blonde Ale, 5.0% Conditioned on mango, pineapple, coconut, and marshmallow to provide layers of flavor.

Odyssey #5 - American Pale ale, 5.8% Hopped with a blend of Citra and Sabro.

A soft and sessionable Pale Ale.

Axis - American Brown Ale, 6.5% Creamy, full bodied brown ale with a slight sweetness on the finish featuring nine specialty malts and house caramelized brown sugar.

Hana - Farmhouse Ale, 6.8% Brewed with wildflower honey, balances mild acidity and light funk with a bounty of elegant and nuanced flavors. A slight dryness, typical of the style, is counteracted by the honey addition resulting in a unique take on this underrepresented style.

Aurora Tropicalis - Double IPA, 8.0% A Double IPA featuring amplified doses of a well-refined blend of Citra, Amarillo, and Mosaic deliver a big, bright, citrusy punch.

Excellent showcase of what these classic Pacific Northwest hops have to offer.

Cayambe - Imperial Stout, 8.7% Imperial Stout conditioned on cocoa nibs and house toasted coconut.

Madera Vieja - barrel-aged Imperial Stout, 10.2% Pedro Ximenez Sherry barrel-aged stout Presents an oaky, chocolate syrup aroma and delivers flavors of blackberry brandy and chocolate-covered cherries.

Served at 48°F Craft Beer Joe on his website, craftbeerjoe.com, notes “….while beer has

the ability to connect people; food has the same power. So naturally, combining beer and food takes this to the next level.” It’s a concept that both brewers agreed with.

“Just as our beers differentiate, we wanted our food to stand out and differentiate and awaken all the senses as well. We were lucky enough to find a great chef who takes the same scientific approach to cooking as we do with our beer, and combines some of our brews in our dishes. It all comes together perfectly,” Grenier said.

Two of the five current appetizers on the menu make good use of their brews including the Drunken Pimento Cheese Dip infused with Even Fuzzier Triple IPA and served warm with toasted baguette and flatbread crackers. The New England Crab Cakes consists of lump crab meat gently formed with lemon, chives, and bread crumbs and served with Odyssey #4 IPA mustard aioli and braised greens. Their French Onion crock of soup is made with signature Axis Brown ale-braised onions, while one of three main dishes, Short Rib Mac & Cheese, features a honey chipotle Aurora Tropicalis IPA BBQ sauce. Even one of their two desserts, Blackjack Parfait, is an XMAS Bender Imperial Stout-infused chocolate mousse with Hazelnut whipped cream and snickerdoodle cookies.

For teetotalers accompanying their drinking friends, there is bottled water, Italian Orange Seltzer, Nantucket Nectars Lemonade and Jamaican Ginger Beer to wet their whistle. The brewery space is also a very family-friendly environment, with a separate kids menu, activity books, high chairs and more.

Great Awakening Brewing Company’s logo is very unique and according to the two brewers, it was designed as an acknowledgment of the craft beer movement that has swept the region, as well as the ability of their quality craft beer to awaken all of one’s senses. The logo consists of an eye with a “G” and “A” interwoven into the design, with both letters forming the other letter in a paradoxical fashion.

“We feel that the logo embraces our style of craft beer by creating a truly eye-opening experience,” Grenier explained.

As for the future, as COVID-19 restrictions lift, Great Awakening will regularly host live music, special events, and plenty of special beer releases. Long term, they have plans in the works for an outdoor deck overlooking the scenic Little River Dam. “In the meantime, we have a nice riverside counter - it has table service - set up alongside

the windows where customers can sit and enjoy the view while sipping their beer and enjoying their meal,” Grenier said.

Great Awakening Brewing Company is located at 77 Mill St. in Westfield. The spacious taproom overlooks the Little River dam and taproom hours are Thursday and Friday from 4-9 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. Online preorder curbside pickups are available on Fridays from 3-5 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 2 p.m.

Before visiting the brewery, patrons are encouraged to reserve tables online through their website www.greatawakeningbrewing.com.

For more information, including the latest beer and food menu, visit greatawakeningbrewing.com or email help@greatawakeningbrewing.com.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 35

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local einstein

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!

WHAT IS THE LARGEST MUSCLE IN THE HUMAN BODY? [A] [B] [C] [D]

3

WHAT IS A GROUP OF OWLS CALLED?

Heart Gluteus Maximus Tongue Biceps

[A] Parliament [B] Colony [C] Congregation [D] Skulk WHAT IS THE ONLY MLB TEAM TO NEVER MAKE IT TO THE WORLD SERIES?

IN WHICH US NATIONAL PARK IS THE ROCK FORMATION KNOWN AS EL CAPITAN LOCATED? [A] Yosemite National Park [B] Acadia National Park [C] Yellowstone National Park [D] Zion National Park

5

[A] Seattle Mariners [B] Milwaukee Brewers [C] Detroit Tigers [D] Minnesota Twins

WHICH SOUTH AMERICAN COUNTRY IS THE LARGEST PRODUCER OF COFFEE?

WHICH BEATLE CROSSED ABBEY ROAD FIRST ON THE FAMOUS ALBUM COVER? [A] Paul McCartney [B] George Harrison [C] John Lennon [D] Ringo Starr

[A] Columbia [B] Venezuela [C] Brazil [D] Argentina

7

WHICH CHARACTER BECOMES A WANTED FUGITIVE DURING THE FINAL SEASON OF THE OFFICE?

8

NAME THIS SPRING BLOOMER… [A] Hyacinth [B] Lilac [C] Crocus [D] Pansy

[A] Michael [B] Dwight [C] Andy [D] Creed

[A] Sesame Seeds [B] Flax Seeds [C] Poppy Seeds [D] Peanut Butter

38 GO LOCAL APRIL 2021

# CORRECT

IQ

RANK

ANSWERS:

8-9 5-7 2-4 0-1

160 110 50 3

Prodigy Egghead Meh Simpleton

1)B 2)A 3)A 4)A 5)C 6)C 7)D 8)C 9)A

WHAT IS THE MAIN INGREDIENT IN TAHINI?

The Final Countdown

Spring is in the air! And so is romance.

Find the wedding dress of your dreams at these 7 local shops along I-91.

WEDDING DREAMS

PEARL BRIDAL BOUTIQUE

Looking for a gown that no one has seen before? Check out this bridal boutique that carries only European brands. Other formalwear is also available, too!

Situated at Open Square in Holyoke, Pearl Bridal is an intimate boutique with a big city feel. They aim to make the experience memorable, fun, and stress-free. They carry bridal gowns and bridesmaid gowns.

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA WEDDINGDREAMS.STORE

BRIDAL CORNER CHICOPEE, MA BRIDAL-CORNER.COM

The largest bridal store in western Massachusetts since 1980! Carrying bridal gowns, mother of the bride gowns, tuxedos, and bridesmaid dresses. Make sure to check out the dress conveyor system in their fitting rooms!

HOLYOKE, MA PEARLBRIDALBOUTIQUE.COM

GOING TO THE CHAPEL DRESS SHOP ENFIELD, CT CHAPELDRESSES.COM

All dresses at Going to the Chapel are either floor samples, overstocks, or closeouts from other bridal boutiques -- this means 80% off normal retail for known designers! They also carry bridesmaid gowns and other formalwear.

ALIBER’S BRIDALS

CACCIE’S BRIDAL CLOSET

JUST B PROM

Their slogan, “no one does ‘I do’ like we do!” sure stands true, especially since they’ve been open since 1920! They are the second oldest bridal shop in the US! They offer bridal gowns, bridal party gowns, suit/tuxedo rentals, alterations, accessories, gown preservation.

Caccie’s Bridal Closet carries gowns for brides, bridesmaids, mothers of the bride, prom gowns, and quinceañera gowns, plus tuxedos and suits.

You’ll feel like royalty with personalized service.

While not a designated bridal boutique, Just B has a small selection of bridal gowns and carries a wide variety of formalwear -- perfect for a second dress or something in a color other than white!

GREENFIELD, MA ALIBERSBRIDAL.COM

SIMSBURY, CT CACCIESBRIDALCLOSET.COM

SPRINGFIELD, MA JUSTBPROM.COM

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 39