GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2023

MADE BY LLC

Thanks to the internet, you can get anything online and delivered right to your door, but there’s something special about receiving a handcrafted item that someone else took the time to make. Made By LLC, a small family run business in Suffield, Connecticut specializes in handcrafted gifts of all kinds, from award winning jams and jellies, to handcrafted pens, to custom gift baskets.

A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Maine to visit a friend.

We woke up one morning and decided to take a walk to a little café in her sweet town, get some breakfast and coffee, and shop around.

Despite it – at the time – being the end of July, the air was crisp, and there were a few fallen leaves on the ground.

I breathed in the clean, calm salt air, listened to the light crunch of a few leaves under my feet, tightened the tie of my sweater that rested on my shoulders and closed my eyes beneath my sunglasses as we moved to sit on a park bench.

“It feels like fall,” she remarked.

“I know – like September,” I said.

I always feel a burst of energy when spring becomes summer, temperatures warm and the sun beams through green leaved trees.

But the sense of renewal that I feel when fall comes cannot compare.

I have a favorite tree in Hampden near Laughing Brook Wildlife Sanctuary that I pass on my commute to one of our offices. I did not realize I had a “favorite tree,” until this year, when I passed it just the other day and thought to myself, “here it comes…” as it is the first tree I see each year relinquishing its deep green hues for burnt oranges and bright yellows.

In fact, I always look forward to this drive in autumn. Traveling along North Monson Road, Glendale Road and onto Main Street in Hampden is a tiny slice of heaven – admiring the richly colored trees, passing Ferrindino Maple’s beautifully manicured grounds. Until the past few years, a home on North Monson Road would always line their lengthy stonewalls that run next to the road with pumpkins. The house recently sold, and the new owners likely do not know what a tradition this was for passersby, but I always appreciated the sight of the orange gourds.

It is easy to get sentimental for a season that has so many wonderful memories tied to it. Fall ushers in the holiday season – and if readers have not figured out my love for the holidays by now, well, I don’t know what to say.

Autumn also brings back baking season. Of course, I can – and do – bake in the summer, but something about heating up the oven on the sweltering days we experience is just not appealing. This months Go Local recipe features a fall staple: gooey cinnamon buns. Fall is the time, after all, to indulge.

But – if you are looking for a healthier option, take a peek at one of this months featured articles on TRIBE POWER BITES and test out their white cinn – also known as white cinnamon roll – bites. Single mother Kim Prada started her business by simply wanting a healthy snack for herself as she runs around. She soon found others want the same – and began to make her bites for the masses.

If you are not a baker but can appreciate a good homemade treat or gift – Made By LLC, a family run business in Suffield, Connecticut, has just the stuff. Awardwinning jams and jellies, handcrafted pens, custom gift baskets and more are just at your fingertips.

Readers who enjoy a cool fall day on an eclectic adventure may want to pop by two shops – Let’s Get Wired LLC in Stafford Springs, Connecticut and Oldies from the Estate in Indian Orchard, Massachusetts. Both shops may overwhelm with the copious treasures they include, but for those who love a good hunt, ‘Oldies offers nearly everything one could need for a home – or everything one did not realize they needed until they found it. For those who appreciate all things celestial – Let’s Get Wired LLC offers crystals, handmade wire wrapped jewelry and other services, such as Reiki and crystal healing services.

That serene day in Maine reminded me of life’s simple pleasures: a delicious specialty coffee, laughs with friends and perusing unique storefronts – all leading up to a classic New England autumn.

Thanks for reading, -Payton North, Executive Editor

EXECUTIVE EDITOR

Payton North

CREATIVE

Beth Thurber, Manager

Susan Bartlett . Sophia Kelleher . Leigh Catchepaugh

Lorie Perry . Molly Arnio

CONTENT

Lauren LeBel

ADVERTISING

Scott Greene, Manager

Jeanette Lee . Lisa Nolan . Roxanne Longtin Miller

Matt Mahaney . Paula Dimauro . Terry O’ Donnell

Evan Marcyoniak . Carly Goodrich . Andy Shaw

Hannah Bigos . Jake Liquori

Carolyn Napolitan, Sales Assistant

Curtis Panlilio, Operations Director

Fran Smith, General Manager

Four Town Fair; 7.625 in; 5 in; 00065377

THURSDAY

4PM Fair Opens

5PM Annual Car Show

6-9PM “Josh & the Electric Storm”

(Main Stage)

6PM Illusionist David Garrity

7PM Doodlebug Pulling Contest - Class I

FRIDAY

4PM Fair Opens

5:30PM Illusionist

6PM Beef-Steer Show

7PM King of the Pumpkin Patch, Doodlebug Class II

7-11PM “Shovelhead” (Main Stage)

7PM Illusionist

SATURDAY

8AM Fair Opens

9:30AM Open Working Oxen, Goat Show

10AM Fair Parade

10AM Dairy Cattle Fitting & Showmanship

11AM Dairy Cattle Judging Youth & Open

11AM Oxen Pulling

1PM Largest Frog & Frog Jumping Contest

3, 4:30, 6:30PM Illusionist

5PM Womens’ Skillet Throw Contest

SEPTEMBER

14, 15, 16 & 17

56 Egypt Rd., Somers

Adults - Thur $6 | Fri, Sat, Sun $10

Senior Citizens - Thur & Fri $5 Sat & Sun $10

Children 12 Years & Under - FREE Weekend Pass (4 Days) - $25

FREE PARKING!

Hours: Thur. 4PM-9PM, Fri. 4PM-11PM Sat. 8AM-11PM, Sun. 8AM-5PM

ALL 4 DAYS!

Midway, Antique & Farm Machinery, Livestock, Agricultural Exhibits, Amusement Rides & Stage Entertainment, Children’s Contests, Crafts & Much More!

www.4townfair.com

S & S Landscape and Tarnow; 7.625 in; 5 in; 00065369

Mon-Sat 9-6 Sun 9-4

Stone & Mulch | Pavers Walkways & Patios | Retaining Walls

Outdoor Kitchens & Bars

Design and Consultation Planting | Pruning & Trimming

Flower Beds & Islands | Topsoil Plants & Trees | Weekly Mowing

Lawn Renovation | Plowing Spring/Fall Cleanup... and more!

SATURDAY (continued)

6PM Open Swine Show

7PM Doodlebug Class III

7-11PM “Changes in Lattitudes” (Main Stage)

SUNDAY

8AM Fair Opens

8AM Open Horse Show

9AM Pony Pulling Contest

11AM Beef Fitting & Showmanship - Jr. & Sr.

11AM Sheep Showmanship

11AM Oxen Pulling

11AM Corn Eating Contest

Noon, 2:30, 4PM Illusionist

1-5PM “Steal ‘n Easy” (Main Stage)

2PM Horse Pulling Contest

3PM Pie Eating Contest

SPECIAL! ALL 4 DAYS!

SAW DOGS - Chainsaw Wood Carving w/ Matt Hass!

DAVID GARRITY - Illusionist

GO ONLINE TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS AND AVOID THE LINES! Like us on Facebook!

OLDIES FROM THE ESTATE

! KEITH O'CONNOR NATE BLAIS

How many times have you heard the old proverb spoken: “One person’s trash is another person’s treasure.”

Customers stopping into Oldies from the Estate will find plenty of “treasures,” notes Bill Wallace, who along with his wife, Beth, owns the Indian Orchard, Massachusetts shop they established back in 1995.

W hat Oldies from the Estate does today is to buy and sell items from the homes of people who are either moving and can’t or don’t want to take everything with them, or who just want to get rid of a few things.

“Knowing that moving or being faced with going through and cleaning out a deceased loved one’s home can be extremely stressful for a person, we can sometimes help. It could be by purchasing items we can turn a profit on, or help them to a find a home from other items that are not saleable for us because of their condition or need at the moment,” Beth said.

The idea for Oldies from the Estate dates back to when Bill was a youngster of no more than age 4 or 5 living in Springfield. He would often accompany his grandmother who was a house cleaner for wealthier people in the area. He just didn’t realize at the time where his inquisitiveness would lead one day.

“I would look at things in these homes that interested me and ask my grandmother questions about them. But life gets ahead of you and I went on as an adult to a career as a mechanic while my wife worked for the phone company,” he said.

Then retirement loomed for the couple and Bill began to remember his love and interest for many of the items he once saw as a child, many of which were already antiques or now years later qualify as antiques. Antiques must be at least 100 years old, while pieces over 50 years old

but less than 100 years are considered to be vintage or collectible.

“ To tell a funny story, I looked at my wife one day and asked, ‘Would you mind selling some things for us?’ She didn’t really know what I was talking about, to which I answered, ‘Perfect.’ We then had to scrape up a few nickels to rent a store down the street from us,” Bill said.

Now faced with an empty shop, he began attending local auctions and traveled as far as Maine, Vermont and the Canadian border to find and bring back things he thought “looked cool” to sell in the store.

“I would go to the boonies to buy super high-end pieces in New York and dealers, especially, could hardly wait to see what I would return with,” Bill said.

Eventually, he stopped going to auctions to focus more on purchasing goods out of people’s homes.

“Auctions can be quite stressful with everyone trying to outbid one another, sometimes resulting in paying more for that item than you might end up selling it for in the store. It is more pleasing and friendly to be one-on-one with customers in the privacy of their own homes. And what is good about that is you often get a history about the goods you are buying,” Beth said.

Today, if you were to take the alphabet from A-Z, Beth said she could “pretty much name something for each letter” to be found in the store.

A s for furniture, customers will find a mixed assortment of various styles and makes, “just as you might have in your home,” Beth noted, including beds, dressers, side tables, coffee tables, chairs, wooden cabinets used to display books, trophies, artwork, china, or other items someone might collect, or wooden pedestals which might be used to place a large vase or other item on.

O ther “treasures” to be found include art to decorate a wall, lamps, toys, costume jewelry, dolls, musical instruments, vinyl records, coins, sterling silver, oldfashioned door knobs and ice crem scoops, car parts such as old hubcaps and other accessories you might find in vintage cars, signs, outdoor items such as statuary, and farm items such as pitch forks, hoes, and other hand tools, milk cans, corn shuckers, butter churns, plows…the list is endless.

Along the way, the couple, both 70, has come upon a few unique items to add to their store’s collection, including some rare buggies, sleighs and authentic Western-style stagecoaches from way back when from a house in Connecticut, telephone booths, and even a porcelain autopsy table that eventually made its way to a museum.

Bill said he “still cannot believe” how many people tell him they were driving by, saw the store, and didn’t realize it was there.

“Sometimes when they see our name, Oldies from the Estate, they immediately think of antiques and are under

the impression that they can’t afford what’s inside. But, as antiques go, they are at the lowest price they have ever been,” Beth said.

“ We had a woman stop in who was going to be a grandmother for the first time. Both of her daughters were pregnant and due just a few months apart. She found a rocking chair and another child’s chair and between both paid about $50 telling me, ‘Oh my God, your prices are great.’ We are here to sell, not to look at everything in the store. If it sits too long, your profit margin is gone. We need to move our items and try very hard to be fair in our pricing. As long as we can make a few dollars over what we paid for something from someone’s home, we’re happy to move it along,” she added.

Bill cautioned against buying anything as an investment.

“I say save your money for the stock market. The worst thing you can do is to purchase something as a collectible. I hear over and over from older folks that they are keeping things for the future. Take Hummels, for example. These

porcelain figurines from Germany became especially popular after World War II and were collected by many people. Today they have gone the way of the wind and a younger generation has no interest in buying them. So, when you hear the word collectible from someone, I consider the word a marketing tool and you should run the other way,” he said.

B eth agrees.

“ You buy something because you will use it, enjoy it and not think that down the road you can cash in on it. The market changes so much in this business that you can’t guarantee something’s future worth,” she added.

Oldies from the Estate is located on 45 Parker St. in Indian Orchard.

HOURS ARE TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 4:30 PM. AND SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 2:30 P.M.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL (413) 543-6065 OR VISIT THEM ON FACEBOOK OR EBAY.

THE BIG E

GO LOCAL PICKS

COOL STUFF JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR AND ONLINE!

CELEBRATE THE VALLEY

Celebrate the Valley has something for everyone! Celebrate the community this year and enjoy the fall activities. Experience the new carnival rides, health and business expo, local restaurants, food trucks, beer, wine, live music, a car show, and fireworks! Don’t miss out on four days of fun in the sun!

For more information and events visit: simsburycoc.com/events

September 15 is the Big E opening day, and you do not want to miss out on the fun! Visit the Big E website or Facebook page to view the concert series lineup and ticket information. You can also purchase tickets online for the Circus Spectacular event that runs daily. Save money and time by purchasing your Big E tickets now!

For more information visit: thebige.com

This year’s South Windsor Apple Festival will be bigger and better than ever! Enjoy over 100 vendors and food trucks, signature apple pie, pony and hot air balloon rides, dunk tank, live music/dancers and much more. Free parking and admission!

For more information visit: facebook.com/SWAppleFest/

SOUTH WINDSOR APPLE FESTIVAL

SALMON BROOK PARK SALMON BROOK PARK ROAD · GRANBY, CT SEPTEMBER 21 - 24, 2023

GATE 9 (PUBLIC PARKING)

875 MEMORIAL AVENUE · WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA SEPTEMBER 15 - OCTOBER 1, 2023

JOHN J. MITCHELL FAIRGROUNDS 75 BROOKFIELD STREET · SOUTH WINDSOR, CT SEPTEMBER 23, 2023

Thanks to the internet, you can get anything online and delivered right to your door, but there’s something special about receiving a handcrafted item that someone else took the time to make.

Made By LLC, a small family run business in Suffield, Connecticut specializes in handcrafted gifts of all kinds, from award winning jams and jellies, to handcrafted pens, to custom gift baskets.

O wner/operator Libby Begin is the primary maker, her husband Ernie is a woodworker and their two young daughters Addie, 8, and Betty, 5, are on the cusp of being able to make their own goods as well. Addie helped create their spiced dandelion spread and she also sews dried corn cold and hot packs. Betty has Type 1 diabetes and her diagnosis inspired Begin to create a no sugar added spiced blueberry jam, which all the proceeds from that product are donated to Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

“ We are makers by trade,” Begin said. “That’s the thought behind the name, Made By LLC. Our logo has our company name rather large and there’s a blank space underneath where the maker signs their name. As we grow, we want it to encompass all of the things that we make and other makers too.”

Made By LLC has over 30 flavors of jams, jellies and

MADE LLC by

! MIASHA LEE BREAD & BEAST PHOTOGRAPHY/LISA NICHOLS ACCORSI PHOTOGRAPHY/BRITTANEY GALARNEAU

spreads. They are all spiced and seasonal, as they are only made with local fruit picked at the peak of ripeness. Their most popular are: spiced pear jam, spiced strawberry rhubarb jam, spiced blueberry jam, spiced hot pepper spread, spiced red raspberry jelly and spiced fig jam.

B egin told Go Local the original recipe for the spiced pear jam was passed down from her grandmother, Mema, and is truly a comfort food that remains her favorite flavor. She has added more flavors to the collection over time and loves to experiment with what they grow and create new flavors. One of Begin’s favorite flavors she developed is the smoky spiced peach jam and said it’s wonderful with a charcuterie board or as a condiment on a burger or sandwich.

Made By LLC is both licensed as a cottage food kitchen for items such as their jams and a six-acre farm named Cross Street Farm for items like their peppers and cucumbers that go into their hot sauces, pickles and more. They have a wide breadth of products from mustard to sugar and spice mixed nuts, beeswax wraps and twinkle honey. They are working on hot honey for this year, which will be a new product.

B egin has always been creative and is at her happiest when she’s making. Begin was in Higher Education before she become a stay-at-home mom from 2015-2018. At that time, she was making hundreds of jars of jams to give away because it brought her joy. “It was fun for me to

make,” Begin said. “I love consumable gifts and I think it’s really nice to give someone something they can use and enjoy.”

S he shared that everyone in her circle would tell her she should start a business and sell her goods. That prompted the idea for Begin, and it grew from there. In October of 2018, Made By LLC began when the cottage food law passed in Connecticut. Begin said, “I love to help people celebrate and getting to know customers through their orders is such a bonus for me.” She continued, “From birthdays and anniversaries to weddings and baby showers, they all are special. I pour so much love and care into making them because I am so honored when people choose my business to help celebrate life’s special moments.”

Made By LLC have participated in fairs such as Christmas in Suffield, Hayden Station’s Holiday Craft Fair in Windsor, Two Moms on a Mission Quarter Auctions and Suffield Alight. They had a grand reopening of their new and improved farmstand back in July, going from a small potting shed that was repurposed into a farm stand to a 7- by 8-foot greenhouse the Begin customized into the new farmstand.

Made By LLC is also part of a program at the Eastern States Exposition in the Connecticut building called being a “Showcase Vendor” as a way for small businesses to get their foot in the door at the Big E. They have won several awards from the Big E for their jams and jellies, blue ribbons for every flavor they have entered and “Best of Department” for both the Jam and Jelly departments for several years running. This is Made by LLC’s second year at the program and will be at the Connecticut building on Sept. 23 and 24. They will also be attending Christmas in Suffield at the Second Baptist Church on Saturday, Nov. 4.

B egin said she is hoping to upgrade to a commercial kitchen in the next couple of years so she can continue to add to Made By LLC’s product line and follow where inspiration leads her and her family.

“The thing that brings me joy is bringing joy to others,” Begin said. “I love making all of this stuff and I love sharing it with our customers.”

S he continued, “I love sharing it with my daughters as they’re growing up, instilling in them that work can be fun and enjoyable. It’s all about doing things that bring us joy. We just love both making and learning to make.”

MADE BY LLC IS LOCATED ON 50 CROSS ST. OPEN DAILY FROM 9 A.M.- 8 P.M. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.MADEBY.GIFTS OR CALL 860-368-0215 FOR MORE INFORMATION. FOLLOW THEM ON FACEBOOK AND INSTAGRAM WHERE THEY POST ABOUT FAIRS THEY ADD TO THEIR SCHEDULE.

Johnny Appleseed’s Farm We Grow the Best

Both our Ellington and Tolland stores are open for the season...

Thank you for your patronage.

We have a nice selection of native fruits and vegetables, honey, and maple products. We also have CT made pies and breads as well as our own in store made apple cider donuts. We carry many other food items such as jams, sauces, bread mixes, pickled vegetables and much more. We also have some unique items made by local crafters.

Current store hours: Mon-Fri 9am-6pm Sat & Sun 9am-5:30pm

We regret, due to heavy crop losses we will not have any Pick Your Own this season.

Store locations:

185 West Rd. (Rte. 83) Ellington, CT

244 Hartford Turnpike (Rte. 30) Tolland, CT (on the Vernon town line) (860) 875-1000

Award-Winning Pierogi, Kielbasa, Kapusta, Golabki. Sauerkraut, Golabki-Stuffed Cabbage, and Cabbage Soup. Polish food is sold hot or packaged to reheat at home. Order online, call or walk in. Limited seating is available at our deli counter.

Polish Delicatessen

We’re Celebrating Our 25TH ANNIVERSARY!

The story of Ruth is one of the most popular and poignant stories of the Hebrew Bible: It is where Ruth pledges to look after her mother-in-law and speaks the famous biblical lines, “wherever you go, I will go, wherever you stay, I will stay…” The story of Ruth is a story about human caring and deep devotion and about the compassion and the commitment of a family member and a community to stand by the vulnerable and those in real need.

This too is the story of our community and our Ruth’s House.

We had a vision…. to provide support for individuals who were not in need of a skilled nursing facility, but who would benefit from assistance with day-to-day living activities (meals, bathing, medication management) in an environment that felt like home.

Ruth’s House Assisted Living is a beautiful, homelike residence for seniors of all faiths who value their independence, allowing them to live their lives with ease and dignity, surrounded by a caring and supportive community.

wherever you go, I will go, wherever you stay, I will stay…

LET'S GET WIRED LLC

Let’s Get Wired LLC, an alternative and holistic health company, opened shop at 91 Main St., Stafford Springs, Connecticut, in April.

O wner Charlette Michaud started the business in 2019, offering jewelry and more at vendor events, and expanded to a brick-and-mortar shop after her faithful followers wanted more ways to reach her services.

“ We had been traveling to shows for a few years and after COVID-19 restrictions were removed, we had many of our customers inquire as to when we would be opening a storefront,” Michaud said. “While working from home running the business, I invested in becoming Reiki certified and not only completed my Level 1 & 2 practitioner training, but also completed a master level to be able to teach Reiki to others.”

Michaud now needed a space to offer her Reiki services and wanted to train others.

“So overall we just needed space to help the business flourish and be able to continue offering more to our local community,” said Michaud.

L et’s Get Wired started as a way for Michaud — a self-

proclaimed “rockhead” — to share her love of crystals.

“For as long as I can remember I’ve been picking up stones, shells, sea glass and any little shiny objects I could find,” Michaud said. “Once I got into my late teen years, I started attending music festivals where I fell in love with the art of wire wrapped jewelry. I started the business ‘Let’s Get Wired’ by making handmade wire wraps to sell to friends and family.

Michaud continued, “As my business began to grow and evolve, I started educating customers on the healing properties associated with each crystal and we began bringing more and more crystals into the shop, until now here we are today.”

Michaud loves all crystals for their beauty and healing aspects but said Rainbow Fluorite is a favorite.

“Not only is it a wonderful crystal for cleansing your Aura, but it provides mental clarity and creative inspiration,” said Michaud. “It’s absolutely beautiful and comes in varying colors of blue, green, purple and yellow.”

S haring knowledge about crystals is a big part of Michaud’s business.

“Healing crystals have a wide variety of uses and benefits,” said Michaud. “Crystals help us to tap into a deeper sense of wellness. They can be wonderful allies for removing negative day to day habits, boosting our overall

energy level and vibration, as well as removing energy blockages from our chakras and so much more.”

For many people, crystals are simply visually appealing. And Michaud said that’s okay, “but for those that do believe in the healing properties of each crystal, they can tell you how powerful the magic of each crystal can be. As I always say, you have to believe to receive.”

Taking the belief in healing to the next level made sense when Michaud became interested in Reiki.

Michaud said Reiki is an energy healing technique in which a Reiki practitioner uses gentle hand movements with the intention to guide the flow of healthy energy through the client’s body to reduce stress and promote healing.

“At our shop we offer 30-minute and one-hour Reiki healing sessions to realign the chakras — the seven energy centers in your body — allowing for a healthy flow of life force energy and to remove stagnant unwanted energy from the body.”

L et’s Get Wired also offers crystal healing services that can be added in addition to a Reiki session.

“ Various crystal tools will assist the practitioner during the healing process to create a more powerful flow of energy during a session,” said Michaud. “For example, a Cord Cutting session can be done to remove negative energy tied to the person having the session.”

Michaud is proud of the new space.

“Our shop is a ‘One Stop Spiritual Shop,’ we carry everything from rough gems and minerals to carved crystal figurines,” said Michaud. “We have sterling silver rings, pendants, bracelets and earrings. We have a wide variety of spiritual tools including candles, journals, tarot decks, oracle decks, books, incense, sage, Palo Santo, offering bowls, hemp backpacks, tapestries and more.”

Handmade items from local artisans are also offered on consignment.

Michaud described the shop as offering “all of the good vibes.”

“ We want this to be the holistic health hub of our community,” Michaud said. “That is why we have started offering free Sound Healing events at Hyde Park in our town to help raise donations for our local food pantry. We want to give back to the community just as much as they have gone out of their way in supporting us to be where we are today.”

L et’s Get Wired also has weekly live Facebook sales every Thursday at 7 p.m. where customers can shop online via the live video feed, and they ship orders anywhere in the USA or offer local pick up at their store. Michaud noted they will not be offering live shows during the month of September due to the fall fair

season.

In the winter months, Michaud has plans to host classes, including Reiki Practitioner, wire wrapping crystal healing and more. Michaud is currently in school to be certified in June 2024 for Guided Meditation and Breathwork as well as becoming a “Certified Ceremonial Facilitator,” which will be added to the services offered at Let’s Get Wired moving into 2024.

Michaud said in addition to the shop, Let’s Get Wired will be at numerous festivals and fairs this fall, including Stafford Spring’s Arts on Main Sept. 6, Woodstock Fair Sept. 1-4, Hebron Harvest Fair Sept. 7-10 and Four Town Fair Sept. 14-17.

LET'S GET WIRED IS LOCATED AT 91 MAIN STREET IN STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT. SEPTEMBER STORE HOURS ARE THURSDAY - SUNDAY, 11 A.M. TO 6 P.M. FOLLOW THEM ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/LETSGETWIREDSHOP/

Fabric Bookmarks

These bookmarks are easy to make, and the perfect way to use up your fabric scraps! They make the perfect little gift and take no time to make. You can mix and match fabric patterns and colors, or use all the same print. Check out the list of materials below and let's go create!

MATERIALS:

• Scraps of cotton fabric

• Fusible Interfacing

• Needle and thread (or sewing machine)

1. Start by cutting three pieces of fabric 4x4”. The fabric can be different or all the same. Then cut two pieces of interfacing 4x4”. This step can be skipped but offers stiffness to the bookmark. Cut one square of interfacing in half diagonally to make a triangle.

2. Iron the triangle interfacing to the wrong side of the fabric that you want to hang over the pages. Fold the other half of the fabric over and Iron them together so that you have a fabric triangle. Using the square that you’d like to be the back, iron the interfacing square on the wrong side of the fabric.

3. Layer your fabric’s right sides together in the following order: NON-Interfacing square on the bottom, triangle in the middle, and interfacing square on the top.

4. Pin the layers and sew with a ⅛” seam allowance around the edge leaving a 1.25-inch opening. Turn it right side out and top stitch around the entire edge to close the opening.

GO CREATE SUBMITTED BY SOPHIA KELLEHER

Air Fryer Cinnamon Buns

FOR THE DOUGH:

2 cups self rising flour

1/2 stick of butter, softened

1/2 cup of milk

2-3 Tbsp Greek yogurt

FOR THE FILLING:

1/2 stick of butter

1/2 cup brown sugar, maybe more

1-2 Tbsp cinnamon

ICING:

1/3 cup powdered sugar

Light cream

Spoonful of Greek yogurt

Mix together all your ingredients for the dough, make sure everything is fully combined. On a lightly floured surface, move your dough to that surface and knead for about 5 minutes - adding flour as needed. Roll your dough out into a rough circle about 1/5 inch thick. Spread your 1/2 stick of softened butter across the dough, add brown sugar and cinnamon, if it needs more add more to completely cover the butter. Roll the dough up from one side over to the other, cut each end off of the rolled up dough. Cut the rest of the dough into 4 equal parts, add to a sprayed ramekin and cook in the air fryer at 350F for 20 minutes or until golden brown, check halfway through. While they are cooking, whisk together powdered sugar, cream and Greek yogurt until smooth. Serve these HOT! 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!

Three years ago, 23-year-old single/Latina mom Kim Prada started making a healthy on-the-go snack alternative to eat during the day.

Prada was busy all the time and was always on the go. She explained she wanted to feel full for a longer time, but not snack on junk food so she bought a mixer and began experimenting with recipes.

Prada began making power bites and donated a batch of them to her mother’s church. Prada’s mom encouraged her to sell the bites, which she began doing during COVID. However, it wasn’t official - and Prada wanted to get the licensing and the LLC, but didn’t know what to name her business. She said she received an overwhelming amount of support from the community, and felt they were giving her a tribe-like atmosphere, so she named the business “TRIBE” in honor of them.

Now, at the age of 25, Prada has turned TRIBE POWER BITES LLC into a full-fledged business that is booming with 15 partnerships and a movement to bring people together.

“Nothing was ever intentional,” Prada said. “It was really based on me providing a healthier snack for myself and those around me; something I love to do while making it as a job.” She continued, “I’ve seen more customers. I’ve gained more relationships, more partnerships and that really is my motive. The business is great, the product is great, but I have a huge passion for people and humanity. It doesn’t feel like work when you’re doing something that you love and making connections I hold close to my

TRIBE POWER BITES ENERGIZING THE COMMUNITY

heart.”

TRIBE POWER BITES are locally homemade, glutenfree and kid-friendly. The most popular flavor is the white cinn (abbreviated for white cinnamon roll) one of Prada’s first flavors she came out with when she started made with old fashioned rolled oats, vanilla extract, honey, peanut butter, and white chocolate chips dusted in white cinnamon cane sugar. As well as the ‘OG’ M&M chunk, dark fantasy, cookies and dream, white cherry delight, espresso chip and glen cocco which is vegan. For the remainder of the summer, Prada will have ‘gimme s’more’ tribe flavor filled with mini marshmallows, milk chocolate chips and coated in gluten free graham crackers. In the fall, she’ll do caramel apple and pumpkin spice.

Springfield resident Barbara Mason saw a friend’s post on Facebook about TRIBE POWER BITES. This was her first order and she ordered two flavors, the ‘OG’ M&M chunk and glen cocco. “Both flavors were delicious,” Mason said. “She is very responsive to texts, customizes your order and offers delivery.”

Holyoke resident Jocelyn Roby mentors with EforAll and met Prada when she was in the program and has watched her business soar. Roby’s favorite flavor is the white cinn. Though she has a peanut allergy, Roby does custom orders using sunflower butter instead of peanut butter. “Kim is absolutely amazing,” Roby responded. “She is an extremely hard worker and cares so much about her business and customers.”

W hen Prada started TRIBE, her daughter Mia was

two years old. She is 5 now, and has been there making orders with her mom and trying out flavors with her. “Not only have I grown, and my business has grown, but my daughter has grown with me,” said Prada. “I wanted to make sure that I had a job where my daughter could be with me, and I’m blessed to even experience that with her.”

Prada’s current goals are to prioritize her catering, website and shipping for the fall and winter. She is also looking to build more partnerships and prioritize family. Prada said she wants to be more present with her daughter and doesn’t want to miss any milestones in her life. In the near future, Prada would like to open her own commercial kitchen. She explained the commercial kitchen would open a lot of doors for her, providing more space for her and TRIBE to grow.

“ You have to find that motivation and purpose to ‘what is your why’ and why do you keep going. My why is my daughter,” Prada said. “She is my motivator, and I would not be where I’m at if it wasn’t for her, but also just motivating other single moms and Latina moms.” She continued, “It doesn’t matter what background you come from. If I can do it and I came from the trenches, a lot of people can do whatever it is that they believe in with hard work and diligence.”

Customers can purchase TRIBE POWER BITES through their online shop, their partnerships or in person at their pop-up events. Their website, www.tribepowerbites.com and social medias are updated weekly with their TRIBE lineup and TRIBE TOUR, a monthly lineup of where people can connect with them in person. They put out a new tribe tour schedule each month.

TRIBE POWER BITES 15 PARTNERSHIPS

1. AUNTIE CATHIE’S KITCHEN - AGAWAM, MA

2. MAGIC BLEND - AGAWAM, MA

3. ELITE NUTRITION - EAST LONGMEADOW, MA

4. LIDS LIVE WELL - CHICOPEE, MA

5. COMMON GROUNDS - WILBRAHAM, MA

6. THE YOGA SHOP - LUDLOW, MA

7. RAMOS DETAILING - SPRINGFIELD, MA

8. BETTER LIFE WHOLE FOODS - SPRINGFIELD, MA

9. SALON SOLACE - EAST HAMPTON, MA

10. HEALTHY FLAVORS BY DOMINIKA - WESTFIELD, MA

11. CARA MIA MED SPA - SUFFIELD, CT

12. BOOST BOWLS - WEST HARTFORD, NEWTOWN & BETHEL CT

13. DEERE CREEK FARM - GRANBY, MA

14. THE ARTERY - HOLYOKE, MA

15. CUBITS CO-WORKS - HOLYOKE, MA

GOAT ON THE ROCKS

Photo taken at Fern Valley Farms in Wilbraham, MA

Beth Thurber

LOCAL EINSTEIN

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!

IN WHAT YEAR WAS THE FIRST HARRY POTTER MOVIE RELEASED?

[A] 1998

[B] 2001

[C] 2005

[D] 2007

TO BE LEGALLY SOLD AS BOURBON, A WHISKEY’S MASH MUST CONTAIN AT LEAST 51% OF WHAT GRAIN?

[A] Corn

[B] Wheat

[C] Barley

[D] Oat

HOW LONG WAS PRESIDENT WILLIAM HENRY HARRISON IN OFFICE?

[A] 31 days

[B] 28 weeks

[C] 16 months

[D] 3 years

THE DROMEDARY CAMEL HAS HOW MANY HUMPS?

[A] none

[B] one

[C] two

[D] three

IN THE BOARD GAME MONOPOLY, HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO BUY A RAILROAD?

[A] $50

[B] $100

[C] $150

[D] $200

WHAT COUNTRY DID THE GOLDEN RETRIEVER ORIGINATE FROM?

[A] Ireland

[B] Germany

[C] Scotland

[D] Denmark

WHAT WAS THE FINAL APOLLO MISSION BY NASA?

[A] Apollo 14

[B] Apollo 15

[C] Apollo 16

[D] Apollo 17

A WORD THAT IS SPELLED THE SAME FORWARDS AND BACKWARDS IS CALLED WHAT?

[A] Anagram

[B] Synonym

[C] Palindrome

[D] Logogram

WHAT IS THE WORLD’S LARGEST ACTIVE VOLCANO?

[A] Mt. Etna

[B] Mauna Loa

[C] Mt. Kilimanjaro

[D] Popocatepetl

Reach

The Final Countdown

7 places to find the best cider donuts and seasonal treats!

THE APPLE PLACE

540 SOMERS RD, RTE 83 EAST LONGMEADOW, MA

THEAPPLEPLACE.NET

(413) 348-9628

Stop by the Apple Place for apple cider donuts made fresh daily. Enjoy all the fall treats like their soft cinnamon buns, scones, muffins, pies, breads, and more. Check out the orchard and the creamery!

MRS. MURPHYS DONUTS

538 COLLEGE HWY, SOUTHWICK, MA MRSMURPHYSDONUTS.COM

(413) 569-9076

Mrs. Murphys is known for its delicious donuts, from the classics to the specialty flavors. Enjoy the taste of fall with an apple fritter or an apple spice jelly-filled donut.

BLOSSOMING ACRES PUTNAM FARM

249 COLLEGE HWY, SOUTHWICK, MA

BLOSSOMINGACRES.NET

(413) 569-3663

Blossoming Acres “old fashion” country store is the perfect place to visit on a nice fall day. Their bakery offers cider donuts, pies, cookies, specialty breads, coffee, and more. Throughout the store, you’ll find local goods, handmade items, candies, jellies, and soaps.

CLARK FARMS INC AT BUSHY HILL ORCHARD

29 BUSHY HILL RD, GRANBY, CT CLARKFARMSCT.COM

(860) 653-4022

Clark Farms has it all from cider donuts to cider slushies! Stop by for sweet or hard cider, ice cream, wagon rides, and pick your own apples!

PARK HILL ORCHARD

82 PARK HILL RD, EASTHAMPTON, MA ARKHILLORCHARD.COM

(413) 303-0335

There is so much to do at Park Hill Orchards! Get your cider donut fix and walk through the Art In the Orchard exhibit. It’s the perfect way to spend a nice fall day with family and friends.

BASHISTA ORCHARDS

160 EAST ST, SOUTHAMPTON, MA GOTCIDER.NET

(413) 527-9091

Bashista Orchards has over 50 varieties of apples, peaches, pears, plums, and cherries. Stop by for a cider donut and check out the variety of baked goods they have to offer.

JOHNNY APPLESEED’S FARM

185 WEST RD, ELLINGTON, CT

JOHNNYAPPLESEEDFARMCT.COM

(860) 875-1000

Johnny Appleseed’s Farm has a variety of cider treats in store. Grab a store-made cider donut, maple products, pies, breads, honey, and other goods.

Photos courtesy of iStock