GL_MARCH_2025

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DIY TREATS 4 DOGS

It’s the perfect way to pamper your pooch and a paws-a-tively awesome experience for pet parents. e decorateyour-own dog-safe treat workshops at DIY Treats 4 Dogs, located at 8B South Rd. in Somers, o er a one-of-a-kind creative experience for dog owners and dog-lovers alike. Under the watchful eye of business owner Donna Shovlin, workshop attendees turn their chosen dog treat shapes into a platter full of Insta-worthy showpieces.

A NOTE

Hello Go Local readers! I want to start by introducing myself, as this is my rst editor’s note. My name is Lauren LeBel and I am the editor of Go Local magazine.

I have been with e Reminder for a little over four years, starting as a freelance writer, then sta writer, before entering my current role as editor of Go Local and special sections, as well as managing editor of the Hampshire County Reminder, e Original Pennysaver and the Holyoke-Chicopee Herald.

roughout these various roles, one of my favorite parts about my work has been this monthly publication.

Every month, Go Local features diverse businesses — both old and new — across Western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut. From small storefronts to established eateries, Go Local allows readers to dive in and learn about the history of each business and the focus of the work they provide the community.

is month, Go Local highlights three businesses, including the Brewcade, a fairly new arcade and bar in Agawam that o ers a variety of vintage and classic games for all; DIY Treats 4 Dogs, a dog treat decorating studio in Somers and American Healthy Homes, an East Longmeadow-based company working to improve your indoor home environment.

In addition to these features, March Go Local shares CSA, or Community Supported Agriculture, resources in our area.

CSA is a type of food distribution between local farms and consumers. ose who are CSA members pay a fee to support a farm, and in return, receive regular supplies of fresh produce.

A few summers ago, my mom became a CSA member at a small, family-owned farm/market in our town. Every Wednesday for 12 weeks she would go to the market and pick up the products to bring home. From cucumbers to peaches, spinach and summer squash, my family would look forward to the options that we could incorporate into basic meals, along with trying new recipes.

Along with the homegrown, natural ingredients we were consuming, a huge part of becoming a CSA member was to support local. It’s a winwin for all involved!

If you’re thinking about becoming a CSA member, you’re in luck. e harvest season will be here before you know it — the time to sign up is now.

Let our CSA guide help you, help them as we “go local” this spring.

anks for reading, Lauren LeBel, editor

INTERIM EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Chris Maza

EDITOR

Lauren LeBel

CREATIVE

Beth Thurber, Manager

Susan Bartlett . Sophia Kelleher

Leigh Catchepaugh . Lorie Perry

ADVERTISING

Scott Greene, Manager

Jeanette Lee . Lisa Nolan

Matt Mahaney . Paul Poutre

Paula Dimauro . Evan Marcyoniak

Shannon Bliven . Roxanne Longtin Miller

Katerina Lopez . Andy Shaw

Carolyn Napolitan, Sales Assistant

Curtis Panlilio, Operations Director

I D Y TREATS 4 DOGS

It’s the perfect way to pamper your pooch and a paws-atively awesome experience for pet parents.

e decorate-your-own dog-safe treat workshops at DIY Treats 4 Dogs, located at 8B South Rd. in Somers, o er a one-of-a-kind creative experience for dog owners and dog-lovers alike. Under the watchful eye of business owner Donna Shovlin, workshop attendees turn their chosen dog treat shapes into a platter full of Insta-worthy showpieces.

“I truly, truly love it. People come in here and they have more fun than they think they will,” Shovlin shared. “ ey come in thinking, ‘Oh, I’m going to decorate some treats,’ and they leave smiling.”

Customers register for the workshops online, with each season o ering a new selection of themes. “For the workshops in March we’ll do a St. Patrick’s Day theme workshop, a spring-themed workshop and at the end of

the month an Easter-themed workshop, Shovlin said, adding that custom decorating themes — such as for a sports team, a birthday party, a date night or girl’s night out, or team-building business activity, are also available by request. Most workshops have from 10 to 12 participants. Workshop prices run from $35 to $55 per person, depending upon the number of treats decorated.

Times and current theme o erings are listed on the DIY Treats 4 Dogs website at DIYTreats4Dogs. ere is also a “connect” tab on the website where clients can inquire about private workshops.

e creative force behind these dog-safe treats, Shovlin develops the theme for each workshop and then creates custom cookie cutters to match that theme using a 3D printer. ose cookie cutters leave the treats with coloring-book-like outlines, making it easy for workshop participants to decorate their treats.

“We pre-bake the treats and set up the workshops like being on a food show, where everything is set up in front of them,” Shovlin explained. She then teaches “people how to decorate [their treats] step-by-step.”

“We do it that way so people of all ages can come out and have a good time,” Shovlin added. e secret ingredient that makes Shovlin’s dogsafe treats so special is the decorator icing, which she said, “dries hard and doesn’t need refrigeration.” at icing is not only the key to the photo-worthy results workshop attendees get at DIY Treats 4 Dogs, it is also the product that launched Shovlin’s sister — and primary — business — Pastries 4 Pets.

Manufactured in an industrial site in Somers, the specialty icing is a product Shovlin developed working with her father-in-law, a food chemist shortly after she started making dog treats as a business. Shovlin said Pastries 4 Pets now ships the specialty icing — which comes as a powder that decorators mix with water and food coloring — to clients all over the world.

“We invented the icing for [dog] treats because at the time the only thing available had a lot of sugar in it,”

Shovlin said. When she began looking for a dog-friendly icing, Shovlin had recently upended her Union, Connecticut, bakery business called Hart Pastries — one where she had been creating cakes and pies and such for people — pivoting to a business baking treats for dogs. at change came when a neighbor asked Shovlin if she could come up with a wheat-free treat for her dog with allergies.

“I was baking out of a commercial kitchen and was learning to make gluten-free baked goods for humans when my neighbor asked me if I could do something gluten-free for her dog,” Shovlin said.

“Little did she know … ” she added with a chuckle.

She found baking for dogs enjoyable, and quickly found there was a market for the wheat-free treats, which, 14 years ago when she started baking them and selling them at a farmers’ market in Somers, “weren’t available at the time like they are now.” Her decorated dog treats at local farmers markets soon drew a loyal fan base, outselling her regular baked goods, and Shovlin closed Hart Pastries to open a brick-and-mortar dog bakery — Pastries 4 Pets — and a pet boutique, rst in Sta ord Springs and later in Wilmington, Connecticut. Her rst forays

into treat decorating workshops took place at her store, where she o ered periodic sip and decorate events.

e icing business soon outgrew her space at Pastries 4 Pets, and as that business took o , Shovlin baked away from the retail pet bakery, moving the icing business to the industrial park in Somers. But she still baked dog treats, using them to host in-person — and during the coronavirus pandemic — online workshops for icing customers to show them how to use the product on their own treats. Shovlin also helped potential dog treat business owners learn how to follow Department of Agriculture guidelines for baking dog-safe treats.

“I am very passionate about people succeeding in their business. I love small business owners,” Shovlin said of her work with other dog treat bakers.

e icing customers’ excitement about the decorating workshops also helped fuel Shovlin’s desire to begin offering treat-decorating for the public again, as she’s now doing at DIY Treats 4 Dogs.

“I always wanted to go back to [the decorating workshops],” Shovlin said, recalling how popular the decorate and sip events were in her original dog bakery in Wilmington.

Shovlin also recently added another option for clients looking for her decorated dog treats, but not able to come to a workshop. She’s created what she calls Pup Packs.

“It’s a convenient way for people to get treats. ey can order their dog treats — they don’t have to come in and decorate them,” Shovlin said. Clients can pick from the current themes on the DIY Treats 4 Dogs website and “we decorate about ve treats per pack,” she shared.

Shovlin further explained that the Pup Pack would also include a dog toy from the small boutique she operates inside her decorating studio. “We ask the size of the dog, and if it is a boy or a girl” to make sure the toy is appropriate, she added.

e charge for a Pup Pack is $25 — and when it’s ready, Shovlin sends the client a code that unlocks a drop box just outside the decorating studio’s door. at way, she said, clients can pick up the treats at their convenience, whether the studio is open or not. “ e code is good from midnight to midnight,” Shovlin said. “We do it [that way] so they don’t have to pay shipping.”

DIY Treats 4 Dogs can also create a dog-safe, treatdecorated birthday cake for a Pup Pack, upon request. “Lots of people call it ‘Barkday,’ it’s very popular,” Shovlin added.

As spring approaches the sun shines its rays upon New England. The air loses its bite and takes the form of a pleasant breeze. Naturally, a craving for fresh fruit and vegetables arises. Where better to obtain the best produce than New England? This year, explore the area and CSA o erings. CSA produce is a local harvest and always has a homegrown taste.

CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture. It is a partnership between farms and consumers. Members pay in advance for a “share” of the farm’s harvest for a set portion of the year. As a CSA member, you will pick up the selection of fresh produce, herbs, or even owers on a designated day at the farm.

Does this sound like a good way to eat healthy this summer to you? Head over to the websites of each farm listed on the next page to ll out a CSA application. But don’t wait, shares ll up quickly!

DOWN TO EARTH FARM CSA

109 BRADWAY RD. STAFFORD

860-458-9019 getdowntoearth.org

Down to Earth Farm’s CSA o ers a unique experience. It provides members with the opportunity to work on the farm where their fresh produce will be grown. Work sessions are two hours every other week and involve tasks such as soil preparation, planting, watering, weeding and harvesting. There is always sta on site to provide support and work times are exible. One person is required to work at the farm for two hours every other week and participate in two of the monthly “Crop Mobs” which includes a potluck lunch. A minimum deposit is made when submitting a membership application. Members receive a share of the harvest weekly from mid-June through the end of October.

BORDUA FARMS

1528 MAIN ST. SOUTH WINDSOR

860-930-6406 · borduafarms.com

Bordua Farms provides a bountiful CSA that allows members to receive an assortment of produce once a week for 18 weeks. Each share is expected to feed a family of two-to-four people. Examples of produce in each share are beets, cabbage, herbs, melons and peppers. Membership costs $540 for the 2025 season and includes 18 weeks of farm fresh vegetables, weekly recipes/inspiration, a vegetable storage guide and access to the exlusive CSA Community Hub Facebook Page. Other options include a co ee share, which costs $60 and a fruit share, which costs $50.

Kosinski Farms and Farmstand

336 / 420 Russellville Rd. · Westfield 413-572-4344 · kosinskifarms.net

The Kosinski Farms CSA family commits to raising members’ food with sustainable and environmentally responsible practices. The food is guaranteed to be grown and harvested locally. The season starts with the rst pick of strawberries, usually the second week of June and contin-

ues through the middle of October. Pick up dates are contingent on the weather and may need to be adjusted. The CSA 2025 season begins June 10.

Granny’s Place

844 Main St. Agawam 413-786-9366 · grannysplacefarm.com

Granny’s Place provides farm shares from mid-June to October. Two share sizes are available: Small (Individual) Share or Regular (family of three to ve) Share. Members receive a weekly supply of fresh produce. Visit their website for pricing.

Syme Family Farm

72 Windsorville Rd. Broad Brook 860-623-5925 symefamilyfarm.com

The Syme Family Farm CSA is a little di erent from the usual fruit and vegetable share. The farm in Broad Brook o ers a Cut Flower Club CSA, where members sign up and pre-pay for three to six weeks worth of locally grown ower bouquets. Flowers are picked up weekly between July and August. There are three options for the cut ower club including the six-week mixed bouquet program, which is $150, the three-week mixed bouquet club, $75 and the four-week lisanthus club, $100. Seasonal fruits and eggs are also available.

Oxen Hill Farm

1434 Hill St. · Suffield

860-986-2284 oxenhillfarm.com

Oxen Hill Farm o ers three customizable shares curated to meet the needs of each individual. Oxen Hill Farm is one of few USDA Certi ed Organic vegetable farms in North Central Connecticut, which is something you can feel good about! Payments can be made in full or three equal installments. Members can also swap out items in their share each week. According to Oxen Hill Farm’s website, details were still being nalized for the 2025 season at the time of publication.

Mountain View Farm

393 East St. Easthampton 413-329-0211 mountainviewfarmcsa.com

Mountain View Farm o ers three di erent share pack-

ages. The Small Share costs $560, the Medium Farm Share is $760 and the Large Share is $1,050. All share packages include U-Pick access. U-Pick gives members access to elds where you will nd a harvest of items such as owers, cherry tomatoes, cilantro, peas and beans. Farm share distribution begins in early June and runs through the end of October.

Easy Pickin’s Orchard

46 Bailey Rd. · Enfield 860-763-3276 easypickinsorchard.com

Easy Pickin’s Orchard has been o ering CSA shares for more than a decade from their pick-your-own farm. Each box picked up from the CSA will feature whichever fresh fruits and vegetables are in their prime during the season. Easy Pickin’s utilizes an integrated pest management system to ensure high-quality growing practices. The farm o ers a full share, which feeds a family of four, and a half share, which feeds one to two people. Payments can be made in full or in three installments.

YELLOW STONEHOUSE FARM

354 Root Rd. · WESTFIELD 413-562-2164 yellowstonehousefarmcsa.com

West eld’s rst USDA Certi ed Organic CSA program, Yellow Stonehouse Farm is a 79-acre property located in both West eld and Southampton. Cultivating over 17 acres of certi ed organic vegetable and owers for their CSA shareholders for their growing season, early June through late October. There are options for a weekly full or every other week farm share. Shares can be split with an adult outside of your immediate family as well for a set cost. Payments can be paid in full or over three paymens. Pick up days are Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and the day is selected when purchasing a share.

For pricing, CSA details and speci c pickup locations (many producers o er various sites) for the 2025 season, please contact the farm directly. This is not a comprehensive list. If you would like to be included in future publications, please contact: llebel@thereminder.com.

GO GREEN: Remember to bring a reusable bag, basket or bin with you to pick up your CSA harvest. The less plastic, the better!

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AMERICAN HEALTHY HOMES

When you own a home, there’s always something to do. And for many homeowners time, family commitments and age can make it hard to keep up with those oh-so-necessary maintenance chores. And poor maintenance can a ect not only your quality of life, but it can also a ect the value of your most important asset — your home.

at’s where American Healthy Homes steps in. e East Longmeadow-based company specializes in home maintenance and home management projects.

According to owner Michael Sacenti, American Healthy Homes is committed to making homes “Safer, Healthier and More E cient … Naturally!”

After a 34-year career in commercial real estate, Sacenti said he started his home maintenance business 16 years ago when he joined Green Home Solutions, a franchise o ering an all-natural process to remove mold from basements and other areas of the home.

Sacenti said his experience with the impact of indoor air quality on the occupants in commercial buildings had prompted him to focus on the e ect indoor air quality had on the well-being of individual homeowners, “I thought it would be welcomed by health-conscious people,” Sacenti said of the rst iteration of his business, which assisted homeowners throughout the 413-area code with mold remediation and odor removal.

e all-natural, two-product treatment for mold and odor remediation proved to be a much-needed service by many area homeowners, especially as the coronavirus pandemic brought attention to indoor air quality. But

over the years Sacenti said he found many of his mold remediation customers also had other needs — from junk removal to small and large home maintenance jobs.

In 2020 he founded American Healthy Homes, adding the services he found customers wanted and needed to his existing mold remediation business.

“Coming from a customer service background, I was getting requests from customers to do junk removal, and I decided, if I’m in the customer service business, I should start removing junk,” Sacenti said. “ at has led us to providing our newest services, which are a preventative home maintenance program, handyman services and home management services, primarily for snowbirds and people who have second homes in Western Massachusetts.”

American Healthy Homes handyman services can include nearly any type of basic home repair or chore, from installing or changing out a smoke detector to repairing or replacing a faucet or electrical outlet to installing weatherstripping to deck and fence repairs. Outdoor services such as gutter cleaning, power washing homes and decks, and even furniture or playscape assembly, shelving or picture installations and setting up exercise equipment are services American Healthy Homes can provide to homeowners.

American Healthy Homes preventative home maintenance services — a program that provides four seasonal visits a year — is designed to help busy families or elders aging in place make sure annual home maintenance chores are performed on a regular schedule to prevent !

damage and costly repairs.

“We are doing between six and 10 di erent things each visit,” Sacenti said. e chores are geared to the season — with checks on air conditioning, sprinkler systems, sump pumps and garage door inspections in the spring, checking gutters and drainage, changing smoke detector batteries and draining hot water heaters in the summer, draining and closing out outdoor water supplies, inspecting and repairing caulking and cleaning gutters in the fall, and inspecting and maintaining humidi er systems, checking for potential winter tree hazards, changing smoke detector batteries in the winter. Changing out HVAC lters and fogging areas of the home prone to mold and bacteria are also part of American Healthy Homes’ seasonal maintenance chores.

As part of the preventative home maintenance program, Sacenti’s team also makes sure that all shut-o s — water, electricity and so on — are clearly marked for the homeowner and they know what to do in the case of an emergency.

Sacenti said for elder homeowners, his handyman and home maintenance services can help relieve the burden on adult children who are trying to help parents age in place.

“Usually, it’s the son or daughter who gets a call … ‘Can you do this? Can you do that?’ … and time-strapped people may not be able to drop what they are doing and go to mom’s house and take care of things,” he said.

Certi ed as an aging-in-place specialist by the National Association of Homebuilders, Sacenti said his team can also make sure all the proper equipment is installed for safe aging-in-place. American Healthy Homes can “make sure the grab rails are there, make sure there is fall

protection, make sure that if ramps are needed, they are installed — all of the things that people need so that they can stay in the family home for as long as possible.” e newest service American Healthy Homes now offers is in the area of home management — something Sacenti said can give peace of mind to individuals who maintain second homes in the 413 area, and to “snowbird” homeowners who winter in warmer climes. ose services can be anything from routine property checks to snow removal throughout the winter season to emergency repairs following a storm, or a pipe break. He gave an example of a routine property management visit.

“When [clients] leave to go to their second home, we would take care of their residence here for them,” Sacenti explained. “When we go into the home, we will run all the water — faucets, toilets, dishwasher and the water in the refrigerator — because those plastic lines can freeze really easily — check the hot water tank, check the thermostat to make sure it’s set properly to conserve energy and do an inspection to see if any other damage has occurred.”

If the inspection uncovers a situation that needs attention, Sacenti said he has a list of skilled and trusted specialists he can send out to make the appropriate repairs.

“We have vendors we can refer out, like snow removal, major plumbing projects, major electrical projects, siding, roo ng and emergency services,” he shared.

“We’re in the customer service business,” Sacenti said of the wide range of services American Healthy Homes now o ers to homeowners throughout the 413-area code.

GO LOCAL PICKS

COOL STUFF JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR

CELEBRATE GREEN SEASON IN HOLYOKE!

72ND ANNUAL ST. PATRICK'S PARADE HOLYOKE, MA

MARCH 23 . 11:10AM

e parade will kick o at 11:10 a.m. from Kmart Plaza on Rt. 5 – Northampton Street and ends on High Street. Over the years, the city of Holyoke has welcomed up to 400,000 people for this spectacular parade that showcases prize-winning oats, championship bands from the Northeast, and notable celebrities each year. Musical units include international bands as well as the famed and elaborately costumed Philadelphia Mummers string bands – an annual favorite since 1967.

For more information visit: www.holyokestpatricksparade.com

MAMMA MANIA! ABBA TRIBUTE BAND

BROAD BROOK OPERA HOUSE

107 MAIN STREET BROAD BROOK, CT

MARCH 28 DOORS 6PM MUSIC 8PM

Prepare to be transported back to the vibrant 1970s as New York City’s premier ABBA tribute band, Mamma Mania! brings the classic hits of one of pop music's most iconic groups to life. With their dazzling costumes, awless harmonies, and captivating stage presence, this tribute captures the essence of ABBA’s unforgettable sound. Whether you’re a lifelong fan or new to their music, this tribute promises to be an unforgettable experience lled with energy, enthusiasm, and plenty of dancing. Don't miss your chance to be part of this extraordinary celebration of ABBA from some of New York’s nest!!

For tickets and information visit: bbohct.com

WESTERN MASS HOME & GARDEN SHOW

EASTERN STATES EXPOSITION

1305 MEMORIAL AVE . WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA

MARCH 27 - 30

One of the country's largest home shows with over 700 booths featuring everything for the home and garden from local and national vendors. is is an exhibition dedicated to Home & Garden. Whether you are a renter or a homeowner, if you are looking for home improvement ideas you will nd a complete resource for the latest products and top professionals. On ursday, March 27 only: Veterans and active military are admitted to the show free of charge.

For more information visit: www.westernmasshomeshow.com

BREWCADE

When someone calls a person a “game player,” it can mean one of two things. e negative connotation means a person who misrepresents their intentions, someone lled with deception and dishonesty. e other game player is someone who likes to have harmless fun playing interactive games, such as video games, tabletop games and card games.

Michael Sarnelli is the good kind. Last August he turned his love of game playing, especially those old school arcade games popular in the 1970s, 80s and 90s, into a business in Agawam called the Brewcade.

It was an idea that began to brew while on a family vacation early last year.

“My wife is a high school English teacher. We have three kids, ages 8, 10, and 12. She wanted them to see Salem and learn about all the history surrounding the town. While looking for other fun things to do, we stumbled upon a place called the Bit Bar, which was a bar with oldschool arcade games which I grew up on,” Sarnelli said, who grew up playing games and bowling at the former Games and Lanes in Agawam.

But it was a trip just a few months later to Raleigh, North Carolina, where they found a similar place called the Boxcar Bar + Arcade, that really cemented the idea.

“My wife and I were talking and I said, ‘We should open something like this. ere’s nothing like it around here.’

I’ve owned a barbershop for 15 plus years and know something about running a business. I talked with the people in Salem and Raleigh and their places seemed to be making money. So, the decision was to give it a shot,” Sarnelli said about eventually nding a location at 303 Walnut St. in Agawam.

“I found the games through a customer in my barbershop who knew someone who just happened to have these old treasures in a warehouse,” he added.

And they were in business.

Once inside the Brewcade, visitors can step back in time playing such games as Pacman, NFL Blitz, Terminator, Centipede, Defender, Virtual Fighter, Asteroids, Silver Strike Bowling, as well as Tokyo Drift, a driving game, and UltraCade, an arcade system in which the player chooses a classic game to play such as Space Invaders. If pinball is your game, there are two vintage machines — a fullyrestored 1969 Gator and 1977 Vulcan — as well as virtual pinball with over 600 playing elds. ere are also two dart boards, pool table, shu eboard and a foosball table for added fun.

e retro-theme vibe at the Brewcade continues with its motif.

“I have a friend who is a tattoo and gra ti artist who has decorated our walls with Mortal Kombat, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Rubik’s Cube gra ti,” Sarnelli said.

Tony Tessicini, 23, loves playing pool and his favorite

game, Pacman, while at the Brewcade.

“It is somewhere fun to go where you can kick back and escape reality for a little while. I got hooked on playing when I was just a little kid after stepping up to my rst machine in an arcade,” Tessicini said.

He learned about the Brewcade while on Facebook.

“Someone posted on the Agawam [Facebook] Forum about the place and I decided to stop over,” Tessicini said about now being a frequent visitor who “loves to go there as many times as I can.”

“Me and my buddies often go and spend the night there. It’s an a ordable evening out,” he added.

On the bar side, Brewcade currently has on draft: Shock Top Belgian White, Down East Cider, Fort Hill Fresh Pick IPA, Sam Adams Winter Lager, Grey Sails Captain’s Daughter Double IPA, Harpoon Blueberry, Fiddlehead IPA, and Amherst Brewing Massachusetts Lager. ere are also cans of domestic beers, Truly, and Twisted Tea to purchase. Wine lovers have a choice of Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, and Cabernet Sauvignon.

For the children, and non-drinkers, there are cans of soda, juice boxes, and bottled water.

While there is no kitchen at the Brewcade, it is BYOF — bring your own food. ere are, however, bags of chips and cookies for sale and popcorn and pretzels at the bar and on the tables. ere are also menus at the bar where you can order food for delivery from local pizza, taco, Chinese and other eateries.

If playing arcade games isn’t really your thing, you can

belly up to the bar for a cool one and watch your favorite sports team on three big screen televisions.

But don’t let the word “brew” in their title scare you away.

“It’s very much a family atmosphere here. Families come in with their kids to play together and our bar is located in the back with our arcade in the front,” Sarnelli said.

Since opening in August, Sarnelli has introduced a Karaoke Party on Saturday nights and an Open-Mic Night on Friday to attract new customers and to add to all the fun.

“We also have a dart league on Monday nights. Just drop in and play,” he said.

If you want to host a birthday or other party at the Brewcade during o -hours, they require a $200 deposit, otherwise, they will just “give you a table” if it is during open hours. Contact them through their Facebook page to plan a party.

You don’t have to bring along a ton of quarters to play. Machines take tokens which are four for $1 with most games taking two to three tokens.

“I always say if you are spending, then we are staying, and I’ve been here until midnight at times,” Sarnelli said.

THE BREWCADE, 303 WALNUT ST., AGAWAM, IS OPEN THURSDAY THROUGH SATURDAY, 3-9 P.M. AND SUNDAY, 3-7 P.M.

Chicken Meatballs

1 pound ground chicken

1 egg

1/2 cup bread crumbs

1 tbsp olive oil

1 jalapeño, seeded and minced (optional)

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 tsp fresh ginger or ginger paste

1 tbsp cumin

2 tsp turmeric

Salt and pepper

Cilantro to garnish

Add olive oil to a sauté pan, turn pan to medium-low heat.

Mince your jalapeños, remove seeds beforehand, your garlic, and ginger and add to the pan, cook for 2-3 minutes and remove from heat.

Preheat your oven to 375F.

To a mixing bowl add your chicken, egg, bread crumbs, jalapeño mixture, and seasonings and mix. If they’re a little sticky add some more breadcrumbs. Form your meatballs and add to a sheet pan. Cook for 12-15 minutes.

I serve mine with rice and charred sautéed red onions and plain yogurt. Garnish with cilantro and enjoy!

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

goldanddiamondct.com

LOCAL EINSTEIN

WHERE WAS TAYLOR SWIFT BORN?

[A] Illinois

[B] Oregon

[C] Pennsylvania

[D] Rhode Island

[D] Indiana NAME THE STATE...

[A] Nebraska

[B] Illinois

[C] Nevada

IN “BACK TO THE FUTURE” WHERE DOES DOC BROWN GET THE PLUTONIUM FROM?

[A] Chinese businessmen

[B] Libyan terrorists

[C] Russian mob

[D] The future

WHAT WAS THE FIRST FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT IN CHINA?

[A] Pizza Hut

[B] KFC

[C] Panda Express

[D] McDonald’s

WHERE WAS ST. PATRICK MOST LIKELY BORN?

[A] Germany

[B] Ireland

[C] Scotland

[D] Norway

[A] Sow

[B] Cow

[C] Gilt

[D] Jill WHAT IS A FEMALE BEAR CALLED?

AROUND WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AMERICANS CLAIM IRISH ANCESTRY?

[A] 10%

[B] 2O%

[C] 30%

[D] 40%

WHO IS THE BOSTON CELTICS ALL-TIME POINTS LEADER?

[A] Larry Bird

[B] Jayson Tatum

[C] Paul Pierce

[D] John Havlicek

AN EARTHQUAKE THAT MEASURES 8 ON THE RICHTER SCALE IS HOW MANY TIMES STRONGER THAN AN EARTHQUAKE THAT MEASURES 4 ON THE SAME SCALE?

[A] 2 times stronger

[B] 3 times stronger

[C] 1000 times stronger

[D] 10,000 times stronger

The Final Countdown

7 Local Sugar Shacks

Maple syrup season is a short one - take a ride and check out some of these sweet spots!

RIVERS EDGE SUGARHOUSE

326 MANSFIELD RD • ASHFORD, CT

RIVERSEDGESUGARHOUSE.COM

Local, Pure 100% Maple Syrup homemade by the Hartenstein's. Even if they aren't boiling they have maple syrup to sell. Call for candy and cream orders. We are open for visits every time they are boiling. Syrup is available in pints, quarts and gallons. ey also make custom orders, and can ship anywhere in the US.

STEVE'S SUGAR SHACK

34 NORTH RD • WESTHAMPTON, MA

STEVESSUGARSHACK.COM

A maple sugar house restaurant open for breakfast during sugar season, Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m. - 1 p.m. through mid April. Breakfast items featuring maple products made on-site by owner Steve Holt.

SWEET WIND FARM

339 SOUTH RD • EAST HARTLAND, CT

SWEETWINDFARM.NET

e Case family has been maple sugaring for over 50 years! Pure maple syrup, maple sugar and other maple products produced at their sugarhouse. Held on the second Saturday in March every year, come join us for maple syrup making demonstrations and more family fun! Check out their Facebook page for updates.

WILLIAMS FARM SUGARHOUSE

491 GREENFIELD RD • DEERFIELD, MA WILLIAMSFARMSUGARHOUSE.COM

A family owned business that has been tapping sugar maple trees and making syrup for ve generations! Open for breakfast Fridays 8 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays 7:30 a.m. - 2 p.m. With a focus on tradional methods and a commitment to quality, Williams Farm Sugarhouse o ers a variety of maple products for customers to enjoy. Order maple products online year-round!

NORTH HADLEY SUGAR SHACK

181 RIVER DR • HADLEY, MA NORTHHADLEYSUGARSHACK.COM

Come visit this family farm sugarhouse during sugarin' season to watch them boil sap and make delicious maple syrups. Stop by thier Farm Market all year-round and enjoy a fresh cider donut, a warm breakfast sandwich, some fresh brewed co ee... or enjoy a made-to-order deli sandwich, or some homemade soup!

HARDWICK SUGAR SHACK

572 JACKSON RD • HARDWICK, MA HARDWICKSUGARSHACK.COM

Hardwick Sugar Shack produces maple syrup from the trees right here in central Massachusetts. e farm is open every Sunday in March from 11 a.m. - 4 p.m. Come and see how syrup is made. Find them on Facebook for more details.

SHATTUCK'S SUGARHOUSE

34 KOPEC AVE • BELCHERTOWN, MA

FACEBOOK.COM/SHATTUCKSSUGARHOUSE

A small family operated sugarhouse located in the quiet wooded area next to Jabish Brook. During sugaring season they o er group tours; call for arrangements. Maple products include maple syrup, maple cream and maple candy. eir products are available year round, and they o er free shipping.

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