February 2024 Volume 10 . Issue 3 golocalmagazines.com
Saw dust Coffee house & dessert Bar guild art supply, big wheel press & pierce's frameshop
aurora's pizza
specialty pizza, guatemalan style
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Maureen’s
Sweet Shoppe
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FEBRUARY 2024 . VOLUME 10 . ISSUE 3
MAUREEN'S SWEET SHOPPE
15
She is the Willy Wonka of East Longmeadow. Maureen Basile, proprietor of Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe, has been making chocolates for most of her life. “It began with my grandparents during my childhood. It was something for us to do together as a family. They would come over to the house and we would all make chocolates together, especially around the holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas."
6
A NOTE From The Editor
DUST COFFEE HOUSE 10 SAW Fresh Coffee, Delicious Desserts & More LOCAL PICKS 19 GO Cool Stuff Just Outside Your Door
PIZZA 22 AURORA'S Specialty Pizza, Guatemalan Style
MICHAEL SZWED JEWELERS; 7.625 in; 6.5 in; 00068961
GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 3
FEBRUARY 2024 . VOLUME 10 . ISSUE 3
EAT 24 GO Sweet Potato Chips With Cream Cheese Dip SNAPSHOT 26 LOCAL Snow Dog
WHEEL PRESS 27 BIG A Passion For All Things Art EINSTEIN 30 LOCAL Put Your Thinking Caps On
COUNTDOWN 31 FINAL 7 Date Night Ideas For Valentine's Day
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GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 5
A NOTE
FROM THE EXECUTIVE EDITOR . PAYTON NORTH
It’s February – and we all know what that means. Grocery store aisles, pharmacies and home goods stores are all flooded with magenta, blush and scarlet hues. Heck – even pet stores have Valentines Day themed toys and treats. Coffee shops come up with love-related beverages. Restaurant’s theme dinners. While yes – Valentine’s Day is a “holiday” based around consumerism – I don’t see anything wrong with a little celebration of the people you love. Even if that’s simply in the form of telling someone you appreciate them or hugging them a little tighter. You do not need to spend a ton of money on a bunch of goodies and treats to get your point across. Around this time of year, I begin to plan my annual girl’s weekend. Each year in May or June I host my closest girlfriends for a weekend – there are about six to eight of us depending on who can attend. I always take about five months to plan the event out – I love hosting. As my social media pages were loaded with marketing for Valentines Day and “Galentines Day,” (the female-friend focused version of the holiday,) I thought of how much I appreciate the group of women I am surrounded by. I’ve been friends with some of the girls since elementary and middle school, with a few I’ve become close with in the past 10 years. Each one of them is compassionate, smart, hardworking and genuine. This past year has been a tough one. I’ve leaned on each of them at one point or another – whether it be for a listening ear, advice, a shoulder to cry on or as a distraction with a fun night out. So, I thought – what better way to theme our girl’s weekend than around love – our love for each other. We will be celebrating “Galentines Day,” in June. Silly? Yes, probably. But why not offer a little thank you to the friends who have continually picked me up when I’m down? If you are like me and you’re thinking you could take this month as a hint to show your friends a little love, we’re featuring some great businesses in Go Local to help you do so. Just this past weekend I went with a friend for breakfast and coffee at Saw Dust Coffee House in Sturbridge, where we plopped down at a table for four and a half hours catching up. Saw Dust’s atmosphere is warm and inviting, and the food offerings are delicious. We both ordered avocado toasts for breakfast, and later went back to the counter to order pastries. Saw Dust was the perfect venue for us to enjoy each other’s company without feeling pressure to get up and head out after an hour. Looking for a more traditional means to say you appreciate someone? Consider stopping into Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe for the most delicious treats. I’ve purchased Maureen’s chocolate covered Oreos on many occasions, and let me tell you, they do not disappoint. She has some seriously decadent Valentine’s Day-themed treats that anyone would love, and the freshness and quality her shop provides is second to none. If sweet treats are not your friend’s interest and you’d rather have a casual bite to eat – head right on over to Aurora’s Pizza, which is so much more than pizza. Specializing in Guatemalan meals and specialty pizzas, there’s something for everyone on Aurora’s menu between their salads, bowls, grinders and breakfast offerings. If you’re short on time and want to send a note to someone near or far to let them know you’re thinking of them – look no further than picking up a specialty card from the folks at Guild Art Supply, Big Wheel Press and Pierce’s Frame Shop. The storefronts have much to offer with cards, but also sells plenty of supplies such as markers, paint brushes, fountain pens and items of interest to those who enjoy crafting as well as fine art. February may be the traditional month to spread love, but I am looking forward to showing appreciation to my friends and family this month, and in the months to come.
EXECUTIVE EDITOR Payton North
CREATIVE Beth Thurber, Manager Susan Bartlett . Sophia Kelleher Leigh Catchepaugh . Lorie Perry
CONTENT Lauren LeBel
ADVERTISING Scott Greene, Manager Jeanette Lee . Lisa Nolan . Roxanne Longtin Miller Matt Mahaney . Paula Dimauro . Terry O’ Donnell Evan Marcyoniak . Andy Shaw . Hannah Bigos Shannon Bliven Carolyn Napolitan, Sales Assistant Curtis Panlilio, Operations Director Fran Smith, General Manager
THE GO LOCAL COMMUNITY
holyoke
A CREATION OF
CONTACT US! 443B Shaker Road, Denslow Road Entrance East Longmeadow, MA 01028 Tel: 413.525.6661
GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM
Thanks for reading, Payton North, Executive Editor 6 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
Send local story ideas to: Lauren LeBel: llebel@thereminder.com
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SAW DUST COFFEE
&
HOUSE DESSERT BAR ! HOPE E. TREMBLAY
NATE BLAIS
F
our years ago this month, Pete Champagne took a big leap when he opened Saw Dust Coffee House & Dessert Bar in Sturbridge. Two years later, he took another when he opened a second
location in Putnam, Connecticut, and he has been brewing up success ever since. The secret? Well, first, it’s the coffee. “We do have really good coffee,” Champagne said of their house coffee, brewed exclusively for Saw Dust at Good as Gold roasters in Worcester. “It’s a four-bean blend with no bitterness or acidity. If you drink it black, there’s a little hint of chocolate. It’s good.” The second secret to his success is the atmosphere, which features rustic, handmade furniture created by Champagne himself. Before opening his own restaurants, Champagne spent years working with his brother Steve, who owns Niche Hospitality Group, which includes six restaurants. “I came on board with him, building out the interiors,” Champagne said. “I made table tops, booths, doors and bars for almost five years, but I always wanted my own thing, and I’ve always loved coffee.” Champagne wanted to stand out from the rest of the coffee shops — secret number three — so he also got a full liquor license, live musicians and an amazing baker. That combination made for a great opening in February of 2020, but a month later everything shut down because of COVID. “Because we also served breakfast and lunch, it was considered an essential business and we kept going with 10 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
takeout,” Champagne said. Once he was able to open up fully again, the customers began coming in and coming back. In 2022 he opened the second location. “Sturbridge has become a foodie town,” Champagne said. “It’s a quaint town with a lot to do, lots of shopping and food, and Saw Dust fits there.” The breakfast menu includes a quiche of the day and a variety of muffins and bagels daily, as well as gluten free options. There is an acai bowl and a variety of toasts for the foodies Champagne mentioned, including avocado toast, mixed berry toast and Nutella toast. Breakfast sandwiches, wraps and hash browns round out the morning menu. At lunch, there is a panini menu — with offerings such as the Saw Dust grilled cheese panini, meatball panini and BLT panini — and a wrap menu, including a Mediterranean wrap, barbeque chicken wrap and chicken Caesar wrap, as well as a variety of salads and soups. There is a flatbread menu and children’s menu to complete the food offerings. And, of course, there’s the coffee. Saw Dust has its house brew as well as a dark roast, Americano, cappuccino, macchiato and mocha. There are lattes and espressos and iced options, as well as teas and chai lattes. Champagne said the full bar allows them to offer spiked coffees, and cocktails include Champagne’s specialty, “Peter’s ‘Rita.” “I’m a tequila guy, so we have a good margarita,” he said, noting that the Saw Dust martini menu doesn’t disappoint. “I’d put our espresso martini up against any at the best restaurants,” Champagne said. The dessert menu pairs well with coffee and bar beverages and includes jumbo chocolate chip cookies, cheesecake, white vanilla cake, chocolate cake and more. Having a cocktail and dessert while listening to lowkey live music and talking with friends is where Saw Dust Coffee House & Dessert Bar has really carved out its niche. “We have musicians booked through July,” Champagne said. Both locations offer live music Friday and Saturday nights and usually feature a duo or trio. “It’s a nice place to come and sit and really enjoy the music and conversation,” said Champagne, adding it’s exactly the kind of place he wants to frequent. SAW DUST COFFEE HOUSE & DESSERT BAR IS LOCATED AT 371 MAIN STREET, STURBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS AND 91 MAIN STREET, PUTNAM, CONNECTICUT. FOR HOURS AND MUSIC SCHEDULE, VISIT SAWDUSTCOFFEEHOUSE.COM. GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 11
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Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe
! KEITH O'CONNOR NATE BLAIS
S
he is the Willy Wonka of East Longmeadow. Maureen Basile, proprietor of Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe, has been making chocolates for most of her life. “It began with my grandparents during my childhood. It was something for us to do together as a family. They would come over to the house and we would all make chocolates together, especially around the holidays like Valentine’s Day and Christmas. I would also go to my grandparents’ house where they taught me how to bake, cook and all things sweet,” Basile said about a hobby that would later grow into a livelihood. It was Basile’s father-in-law who helped to push her into the retail market. “One Christmas I taught my husband how to make toffee and we made chocolate bowls to put them in and wrapped them up all fancy for Christmas. It was then that I started talking about my dream of opening a candy store. One day later that year, my father-in-law called me and said he had the perfect spot to rent. He led me to Eastfield Mall and before I knew it, I was signing a lease,” Basile said.
So, it all began with a kiosk at the once popular mall in Springfield back in 2009. At the time, Basile was only selling other people’s candy and chocolates, but that wasn’t her dream. “We did that only for a year, so we could make enough money to purchase equipment such as chocolate melters and fudge kettles and to move to a storefront where I could make and sell my own chocolates. So, in 2010 we opened a shop on Harkness Avenue in East Longmeadow and remained in that location for four years before moving to a more central location at Center Square in East Longmeadow. It was the best thing we ever did, because we didn’t have a lot of exposure on Harkness Avenue and had to rely greatly on advertising,” she said It’s not a requirement to be a “chocoholic” in order to become a chocolatier, but Basile places herself in that category saying she was a “chocoholic as a kid.” “I liked almost anything, but especially chocolates with caramel which are still my favorites, and those with nuts and peanut butter that anyone would give me. As I grew GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 15
older, I became more discerning in taste, enjoying finer toffees and good quality caramels,” she said. Their mission at Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe is “to create homemade confections the way you remember from childhood. We believe small batch, made to order, and carefully crafted chocolates are an art and we seek to be the best chocolate artists in the area.” And that is exactly what sets Basile’s chocolates — whether milk, white or dark — apart from popular name-brand boxed chocolates found on the shelves of grocery stores, pharmacies, department stores and more. “They often sit on the shelves for a long time, even before being shipped to stores. Ours are made fresh and don’t stay on our shelves for long. The other advantage to having your own shop is personal service. I can talk with my customers and answer their questions. You also get to know their personal tastes and what they might be looking for when they come into the store. And when customers stop in, they can watch us dipping chocolates and see our production area. We also specialize in presentation. The product is always delicious but, somehow, when perfectly packaged, the visual makes it taste ‘oh so much sweeter,’” Basile said. Her busiest times of the year are at Christmas, Easter and Valentine’s Day, which is right around the corner. It is at those holiday times that Basile and her crew find themselves making chocolates nearly 12 hours every day. For Valentine’s Day, new and loyal customers at Maureen’s Sweet Shoppe will find all kinds of sweet treats to gift to their sweetheart. “When customers come in to shop for Valentine’s Day, they are typically looking for their loved one’s favorites. Truffles are extremely popular at this time of year and we sell many flavors from plain chocolate to coconut and from raspberry to caramel. Of course, we have plenty of heart-shaped boxes that are already pre-filled or you can choose what chocolates you want in them. If you don’t want to spend the extra money for a heart-shaped box, we have beautiful square boxes with a heart design on the cover. For something really special, we have heartshaped boxes actually made of chocolate that you can fill with a selection of your own. And, for the kids, we have chocolate hearts and pops, hot chocolate sticks and other candy,” Basile said, who adds a finishing touch with red ribbons on packages to make them extra pretty before placing them in a special bag. Not too long after Valentine’s Day, the Easter season will begin — Easter is March 31 — as Basile clears the shelves to make way for the next holiday rush. Customers can expect an array of decorated Easter baskets to choose from, some even with stuffed animals, whether pre-made or made-to-order, as well as chocolate bunnies both large and small, chocolate crosses, cream filled eggs including fudge, marshmallow, peanut butter and other flavors, chocolate bird’s nests with jelly beans in the center, all flavors of jelly beans, and much more to choose from. During the rest of the year, chocolate truffles and 16 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
turtles are the store’s biggest sellers alongside caramel chocolates, both salted and regular, all kinds of fudge, and chocolate-covered marshmallow pops. Chocolate lovers also have a wide selection of bites to choose from such as raspberry creams, peanut butter, orange creams, coconut, nut clusters, nougats, toffee alongside several varieties of nut barks, chocolate covered nuts and coffee beans and fudge of all kinds. And there is still more to choose from – chocolate dipped strawberries, chocolate pretzels, chocolate covered Oreos, caramel chocolate popcorn, nonpareils both really big and regular size, chocolate caramel apples, barks including white chocolate popping with color from Fruity Pebbles added in, and much more. For non-chocolate lovers, if there are any, Basile’s shelves are also stocked with Swedish Fish, jelly beans, Sour Patch candies, gummi bears, sour worms and fruit slices. Also, for something extra special when gifting her chocolates to someone, the store has a large collection of beautiful music boxes that can be customized and filled with the recipient’s favorite confections. “They are perfect for all occasions such as Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, anniversaries, birthdays, and as memorial gifts,” Basile said. Basile can also add her special touch with beautiful chocolates for birthday parties, workplace functions, fundraising, banquets, showers, weddings and other events and special occasions. Out in the community, she recently spent 17 days at The Big E in West Springfield selling her chocolates to visitors inside the Massachusetts Building, and provided her tasty confections for the gift shop at Bright Nights at Forest Park. The chocolatier enjoys putting her artistry to work on custom orders. “We have some 8,000 molds from which we can make all kinds of things including seashells, dinosaurs which are very popular with the kids, dogs, horses, cartoon characters, dinosaurs, flip flops, ice skates, hearts, cars, clowns, cats, lions, elephants, hot air balloons, teddy bears, and even occupational molds for doctors, nurses, construction workers, hair dressers and so many more. The list is endless,” Basile said. When she isn’t enjoying one or two or three of her own chocolates, Basile admits to trying others, but only for sampling purposes. “To this day I continue to go out and try what others are making. It’s all about finding out what they do better than us and how we can always improve our own line of chocolates,” she said. MAUREEN’S SWEET SHOPPE IS LOCATED AT 6 CENTER SQ. IN EAST LONGMEADOW, MASSACHUSETTS. HOURS ARE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M. AND SATURDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 4 P.M. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (413) 222-2642 OR FILL OUT A “CONTACT US” FORM ON THEIR WEBSITE AT MAUREENSSWEETSHOPPE.COM. GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 17
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For more information visit: fredastaire.com
GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19
Teriyaki Madness; 7.625 in; 5 in; 00068928
Audacy Springfield; 7.625 in; 5 in; 00068876
20 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
The Gold & Diamond Exchange; 3.75 in; 5 in; 00068648
Sparkle Up Some Romance
1 Allen Hampden House Cafe; 3.75 in; 3.25 in; St. Hampden, MA 00068878 (413) 566-8324
di Hampden House
The Greenhouse Banquet Facility Is Available for Your Private Function Open for Lunch Friday thru Sunday Half Price Pizza Monday Night in Our Lounge
LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Friday & Saturday Nights
See our website for our Banquet & Catering Menu
lacucinahampden.com Lounge Open & Pizza 7 Days
Mon.-Thurs. 3pm-9pm | Fri.-Sat. 11:30am-10pm | Sun. 11:30am-9pm
BAR OPEN LATE
• Custom Jewelry Designs • Fine Jewelry Repairs • Watch Repair, Sizing & Batteries • Engraving • Laser Repairs • Appraisals • Buy, Sell & Trade Jewelry
FILLER; 3.75 in; 1.625 in;
8 West Road • Ellington, CT 860-875-6044 • goldanddiamondct.com Tue, Wed, Fri 10:5:30 • Thur 10-8 • Sat 10-4
Vine & Ivy Flowers CC; 3.75 in; 5 in; 00068932
Love is in Bloom.
Show the Love...
Order from a real florist and experience the difference. FLOWERS FOR EVERY OCCASION Sympathy • Weddings & Events • Corporate Gourmet Fruit Baskets • Dish Gardens 1 0 8 7 E A S T S T S . • S U F F I E L D, C T • 8 6 0 - 6 2 3 - 8 7 74 VINEAN DIVY FLOWER S. CO M
Rossi Bros. LLC; 3.75 in; 5 in; 00068645
VINTAGE CARS
& HOT RODS
FABRICATION RESTORATION
MAINTENANCE REPAIRS
Family Owned.
Fine Tuned.
WE have a passion for making a classic car run & look great! Vintage & Hot Rod Restorations Mechanical Services • Mechanical Upgrades rossibrosvintagecarsandhotrods.com 34 West Street, Stafford Springs, CT
860-684-9229
GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 21
! MIASHA LEE NATE BLAIS
AURORA'S PIZZA I
f you are in Enfield, Connecticut and stumble across a place on 117 Hazard Ave. called Aurora’s Pizza, then you’re in for a treat. They make specialty pizzas in Guatemalan style. Owner Karen Valenzuela said, “To me Guatemalan food is made with lots of flavor. It’s what I know from seeing my mother, grandmother, and uncle when they cooked and baked back in Guatemala. I grew up seeing them and learned a lot at a young age.” Valenzuela was born in Guatemala and came to the United States when she was 14. Her first job was at her uncle’s bakery when she was 12 years old, and she has been baking and working at restaurants ever since. Aurora’s Pizza is an expansion of Aurora’s Restaurant on Capitol Avenue in Hartford, Connecticut run by Valenzuela’s mother, sister and brother. The family always wanted something of their own and the opportunity came in Hartford first. Then they wanted to expand and try their hand at pizzas. When a location became available in Enfield, they took it.
22 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
When Aurora’s Pizza opened on January 15, 2023, Valenzuela didn’t know what to expect. She explained she is not from Enfield, and wasn’t familiar with the area. Valenzuela also knew that some people may not be familiar with Guatemalan food, but then she said she thought “It’s pizza, everybody loves pizza.” Valenzuela shared people supported the business when they opened, and soon more people kept coming back to try new foods aside from their pizza. “We have gotten a lot of good feedback,” Valenzuela said. “Customers have said to me they love the food and it’s different from what they’ve tried before. It’s important to show a part of who I am and introduce people to something new, there’s not a lot of places that have Guatemalan food and breads nearby, so we thought on bringing what we missed from Guatemala.” Valenzuela’s goal for 2024 is to bring a lot more dineins since most of the business is takeout or delivery. She wants to show that Aurora’s Pizza has a nice and cozy atmosphere, as well as a beautiful outdoor space for the summer. Customers can bring their own bottle of wine, beer, whatever they prefer. “What makes me happy is seeing the same people come back every week or seeing their name on the ticket because I memorized names sometimes,” said Valenzuela. “That really means that they like it and they’re willing to support, which I’m grateful for.” Aurora’s specializes in pizzas such as melanzana, margherita, Hawaiian, chicken a la vodka, meat lovers, veggie lover and the Aurora Supreme that includes chicken, ham, pepperoni, chorizo, onions, green and red peppers and serrano chili pepper. They also offer other dishes like platanos con crema, tacos dorados stuffed with sautéed shredded chicken and Guatemalan fries. Most Guatemalan meals include jam-packed flavor from peppers and chilies, corn, beans and rice. “We stand out because of the Guatemalan twist that we have,” Valenzuela said. “It’s more of a Latin flavor. We are also the only place that sells pizza by the slice. We don’t use regular Italian sausage for our pizzas. We use spicy chorizo instead, so that makes our pizza stand out. But we are more than pizza, we have salads, bowls, breakfast and grinders.” AURORA’S PIZZA IS OPEN MONDAY, WEDNESDAY, THURSDAY AND FRIDAY FROM 10:30 A.M.- 8 P.M., SATURDAYS FROM 12-8 P.M. AND SUNDAYS FROM 11 A.M.- 8 P.M. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.AURORASPIZZA117.COM. FOR QUESTIONS CALL 860-835-5181.
GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 23
GO EAT ! RECIPE SUBMITTED BY NATHAN BLAIS
Sweet Potato Chips with Cream Cheese Dip 2 Cups sunflower seed oil 2 Large sweet potatoes 1 Tbsp brown sugar 1 Tbsp paprika 1 Tsp garlic powder 1 Tsp dry mustard 1 Tsp white pepper 1 Tsp chili powder Salt For the dip: Cream cheese, half block 1/4 Cup ranch 1/4 Cup sour cream Dill, garlic powder, onion powder, s+p, to taste
Using a food processor or mandolin, slice your sweet potatoes thin. I shallow fried the sweet potatoes once at a lower temp and raised the oil to a higher temp, start around 325F for about 3 minutes, and then raise it to 350F-375F and refry until golden brown. Fry in batches so you don’t overcrowd the pan. Mix together all your seasonings and toss as soon as they come out of the oil the second time. To make the dip, mix together softened cream cheese and the rest of the ingredients and garnish with green onion. Enjoy!
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!
24 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
we are local. PLACE YOUR VALENTINE’S ORDERS TODAY!
32 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 413.525.6062 | Petes-sweets.com
SINCE 1993
Classes Daily, Nights & Weekends Strength, Balance, Flexibility Stress Reduction & Inner Peace
www.heartsongyoga.com 413-525-0720
264 N. Main Street East Longmeadow, MA
15All%Dry OFF Cleaning
Expires March 15, 2024
262 Allen St. Springfield | 413-736-5476 | Hrs: Mon-Fri 7-6 • Sat 8-2 | ParkCleaners413.com 464 Main St. Wilbraham | 413-279-1516 | Hrs: Mon-Sat 8-4 • Sat 9-1
TAKING CARE OF YOUR BODY, MIND & SPIRIT
In-Studio classes and/or Zoom Livestream from home
SWEATER LOVE!
Darly’s Boutique and Much More LLC Clothing & Accessories... Jewelry... Decor... Gifts... and so much more!!
What’s not to LOVE??
287 Hazard Ave • Enfield, CT • 860-835-5725
Darly’s Boutique and Much More
darlysboutique3@gmail.com
COMING IN OUR MAY ISSUE
Reach engaged couples and their planners who are ready to make important purchasing decisions for the big day.
TO ADVERTISE...
Call Jeanette @ 860.729.1606 or email jgrenier@thereminder.com GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 25
SNOW DOG Six month old, Aquene (ah-keen-ah), enjoying her first time out in the snow. BETH THURBER
26 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
! HOPE E. TREMBLAY NATE BLAIS
GUILD ART SUPPLY, BIG WHEEL PRESS AND PIERCE’S FRAME SHOP W
hen he was 6 years-old, Bill Muller’s parents gave him a toy printing press and he was never the same. “I would print greeting cards and the family newsletter,” he said. Although that press was a toy, it was a creative outlet for Muller who loved taking paper and ink and making something that could spread joy or important information. As an adult, Muller was a paste-up artist at the Valley Advocate and began dabbling in graphic design, which led him to open Guild Art Supply in 1984. Located in Northampton then, Guild was the place for anyone serious about art to get their supplies. Now in Easthampton, it still is. While Muller has a passion for all things art, he also never lost his love of the press — the letter press, in particular — and he opened Big Wheel Press in 2005. Along the way he also acquired Pierce’s Frame Shop, a GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 27
Northampton staple since 1894. Today, Muller operates all three business at 1 Cottage St. in Easthampton and said it was Covid that made him bring all three businesses together in Easthampton. And while initially business was a struggle in the early pandemic, it began booming as people turned to creative outlets to deal with the stress. And he said the local art scene began to thrive and so did business. “There were a lot of murals painted in the Valley during that time and we have the biggest selection of mural/ graffiti paint in the northeast,” Muller said. Guild Art Supply also has something that only 24 other stores nationwide have — full sets of the new Pantone markers from Royal Talens. “There are 60 Pantone colors,” Muller said. Pantone is a universal color system that has assigned numbers to each color so graphic designers and printers can create the intended color perfectly. Muller said the markers are a dual-brush, non-alcohol marker that gives a beautiful line. In addition to high-end supplies such as markers, paint brushes, fountain pens and more, Guild also has items for someone just starting out or those interested in crafting rather than fine art. And once you’ve created your masterpiece, there are numerous framing options on-site through Pierce’s Frame Shop. But the best kept secret when it comes to art in the region could be Big Wheel Press, which is arguably Muller’s baby. “We use old-fashioned letter presses the old-fashioned way,” he said. Muller channeled his inner 6-year-old when he began creating greeting cards, which most people don’t know are sold nationally.
28 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
“We have a line of over 600 greeting cards we sell across the country,” said Muller, adding that his redesigned Winne the Pooh line is very popular. Muller also enjoys taking old presses and giving them new life. “We rescue presses,” he said. “We restore them and put them to use again.” Fixing and using the presses is also good for the environment, something important to Muller who noted that he tries to have an extremely small carbon footprint and said they use at most five gallons of solvent a year in the presses. Muller said Big Wheel Press attends an annual card show where he holds his own with the big card companies such as Hallmark and American Greetings. Big Wheel Press also does a lot of work for area colleges, including gifts for major donors, letters and informational packets. He has also done work for major clients, such as Spotify. Making the move to Easthampton and bringing the three businesses under one roof was a move Muller would make again and again. “Easthampton is really good,” he said. “The Oxbow Gallery also moved here and there are many artists. And we are located right on the waterfall — it’s beautiful.” And being in the middle of the regional arts hub is right where Muller wants to be. “I’ve been part of the arts scene here for 40 years and right now, the arts are doing so well,” he said. “In Easthampton, rents are lower and people are opening up studios and doing great work. There are little galleries opening up around the Valley … there’s a lot of positive energy.” GUILD ART SUPPLY, BIG WHEEL PRESS AND PIERCE’S FRAME SHOP ARE OPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M. - 6 P.M. AS WELL AS BY APPOINTMENT.
GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 29
LOCAL EINSTEIN
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!
WHAT IS THE LONGEST RUNNING PRIME TIME TV SHOW OF ALL TIME?
WHAT IS THE LARGEST RODENT FOUND IN NORTH AMERICA? [A] Marmot [B] Weasel [C] Beaver [D] Prairie Dog
[A] Gunsmoke [B] The Simpsons [C] Law & Order [D] Family Guy
CATALONIA IS A REGION IN WHAT EUROPEAN COUNTRY?
WHAT IS THE RAREST OF THE EIGHT MAIN BLOOD TYPES?
[A] Spain [B] Italy [C] Portugal [D] Albania
[A] O negative [B] AB negative [C] AB positive [D] B positive
THE ISLAND OF SAIPAN IS A COMMONWEALTH OF WHAT COUNTRY?
WHAT IS THE SMALLEST UNIT OF DIGITAL INFORMATION?
[A] Japan [B] China [C] United Kingdom [D] United States IF A LIQUOR IS 100 PROOF HOW MUCH ALCOHOL DOES IT CONTAIN BY PERCENTAGE?
[A] Bit [B] Byte [C] Kilobyte [D] Yottabyte WHOSE SILHOUETTE IS FEATURED IN THE NBA LOGO? [A] Jerry West [B] Wilt Chamberlain [C] Larry Bird [D] Bill Russell
IQ
RANK
8-9 5-7 2-4 0-1
160 110 50 3
Prodigy Egghead Meh Simpleton
[A] Donatello [B] Bernini [C] Da Vinci [D] Michelangelo
ANSWERS:
3)A 6)A 9)D
# CORRECT
2)C 5)D 8)A
WHO SCULPTED THE FAMOUS STATUE OF DAVID?
1)B 4)B 7)C
[A] 20% [B] 30% [C] 50% [D] 75%
2024 LETR WESTERN MA POLAR PLUNGE
Special Olympics Massachusetts; 7.625 in; 2.25 in; 00069098
Sunday, March 10, 2024
HOSTED BY:
Kingsley Beach at Hampton Ponds State Park 1048 North Rd., Westfield, MA
The West Springfield Police is partnering with the Law Enforcement Torch Run for its Annual Polar Plunge! Set at Kingsley Beach at Hampton Ponds State Park, plungers can take turns running into the lake to support Special Olympics. AFTER THE PLUNGE, JOIN US FOR SOME FOOD, MUSIC, AND FUNDRAISING AND COSTUME AWARDS! GRAB YOUR BRAVEST, INCLUSION-CELEBRATING FRIENDS AND FAMILY, CREATE A PLUNGE TEAM, AND START FUNDRAISING!
Join or Donate at polarplungema.org • Contact PolarPlunge@SpecialOlympicsMA.org with any questions. 30 GO LOCAL FEBRUARY 2024
The Final Countdown
7 date night activities to do this Valentine’s Day THE BAKER’S PIN
34 BRIDGE ST, NORTHAMPTON, MA THEBAKERSPIN.COM (413) 586-7978 Try a cooking class with your loved one and make memories and recipes you won’t forget. The Bakers Pin offers handson classes, Zoom classes, and demonstrative classes. Check out their website for more information.
THUNDERBIRDS GAME
45 BRUCE LANDON WAY, SPRINGFIELD, MA SPRINGFIELDTHUNDERBIRDS.COM (413) 739-4625 If you’re looking for a fun date night, catch a Thunderbirds game. Enjoy snacks, drinks, and a fun environment. Check out their website for ticket information.
AGAWAM CINEMAS
R·DEE WINERY
Visit the Agawam Cinemas for a classic date night. Take it back to the basics and enjoy a movie and popcorn with your loved one. Visit their website for more information on showings and tickets.
Visit R·Dee Winery if you’re looking for a wine tasting. Choose four wines or sangrias to fill your flight. Check out their website for more information.
866 SUFFIELD ST, AGAWAM, MA AGAWAMCINEMAS.ORG (413) 285-7162
AMELIA PARK ARENA 21 S BROAD ST, WESTFIELD, MA AMELIAPARKARENA.ORG (413) 568-2503
Skate night makes for a great date night. Amelia Park even has themed skate nights. Skate rentals are available for $4 a pair. Check out their website for more information.
TIPSY PAINT BRUSH 610 ENFIELD ST, ENFIELD, CT TIPSYPAINTBRUSHPARTIES.COM (860) 698-6161
Join the Love in the Air Tipsy Paint Brush class with your significant other. Bring your own cocktails, soft drinks, and snacks. The studio welcomes all ages. Check out their website for more classes and information.
504 HAZARD AVE, ENFIELD, CT RDEEWINERY.COM (860) 692-2472
KIL’N IT POTTERY STUDIO 610 ENFIELD ST, ENFIELD, CT KILNITPOTTERYSTUDIO.COM (860) 698-6161
Attend the Heart Bowl Wheel Workshop this Valentine’s Day. It’s the perfect way to spend time with someone you love or a group of friends. Get creative and have fun doing it! Check out their website for more classes and information. GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 31