SEPTEMBER 2020

September 2020 Volume 6 . Issue 10 golocalmagazines.com

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2 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

new this month SEPTEMBER 2020 . VOLUME 6 . ISSUE 10

13

ROOTS SOCCER ACADEMY World Cup soccer announcer Andres Cantor from the Telemundo network is famous for roaring out a loud “Goal” when one is scored.

But for young children possibly beginning their soccer careers in Westfield at Roots Athletic Center’s Soccer Academy, it isn’t always about making a goal...

6

A NOTE

13

ROOTS SOCCER ACADEMY

17

MONSOON ROASTERY

From The Editor Youth Soccer in Westfield

High-Quality, Freshly Roasted Coffee

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SEPTEMBER 2020 . VOLUME 6 . ISSUE 10

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GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 5

a note

FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR . G. MICHAEL DOBBS

I’m not a coffee drinker.

I’m well aware that sounds odd. After all being a coffee drinker is part of being an American adult, especially of my generation.

I do like iced coffee drinks but that clearly doesn’t count.

And while I intellectually understand the lure of coffee, I don’t really emotionally connect. Movie director David Lynch once said, “Even bad coffee is better than no coffee at all.”

How important is coffee? The great composer J. S. Bach once said, “Without my morning coffee, I’m just like a dried-up piece of goat.”

The stereotype for the classic reporter involved coffee – copious amount of Joe. I think everyone on my editorial staff is a coffee hound.

In fact a survey taken in 2014 in the United Kingdom noted that journalists are the number one profession when it comes to coffee drinking.

So, while I’ve got the Bourbon and tobacco habits that are part of the stereotype – don’t worry my new bosses made sure I got rid of the emergency bottle I kept at work – the coffee habit escapes me.

I come by this naturally. Neither of my parents were big coffee drinkers. My dad used to guilt my mom into sharing a cup of coffee with him at breakfast. She poured a large amount of cream and used plenty of sugar to get it down.

He didn’t want to drink alone. My parents tried “Postum,” a grain-based coffee substitute without the caffeine for a while, although eventually my mom just drank hot water.

When they did drink coffee, it was always instant. Blame it on the technological advances of the late 1950s and early 60s when instant coffee was seen as something modern. I know the phrase “instant coffee” is met with scorn today.

In buying coffee back when I was kid there was nothing like the selection we have today. Yes, there was a bunch of different brands, but the flavored coffees as well as the specific types of beans used were not something that existed.

The most exotic coffee buying experience I could recall was at the old A & P markets where they had grinding machines at the checkout so your coffee could be freshly ground.

Today coffee is a science. It’s not just about beans, but how they are roasted, how they are brewed and how they are served.

Does anyone still drink the coffee that came out of vending machines? Are there still those kinds of machines? I’m assuming they are museum pieces today.

Coffee has ceased being something that came in three basic configurations: regular, decaf and instant. The coffee experience as I see it, but not experience it, is extremely broad.

My wife and I have gone to Monsoon Coffee Roasters in Springfield several times and despite my not following the one true religion, I’ve always enjoyed it. The aroma of the roasted beans is incredible and the people are knowledgeable and inviting.

The experience there almost makes me want to try hot coffee – almost. Right now I’ll stick to the iced versions.

- G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor

MANAGING EDITOR G. Michael Dobbs

CREATIVE

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

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! KEITH O’CONNOR  NATE BLAIS

ROOTS Soccer Academy W

orld Cup soccer announcer Andres Cantor from the Telemundo network is famous for roaring out a loud “Goal” when one is scored.

But for young children possibly beginning their soccer careers in Westfield at Roots Athletic Center’s Soccer Academy, it isn’t always about making a goal.

“The nice part about soccer, in addition to promoting health and well-being and the physical ability to move forward into other sports, is the life lessons it offers.

Once children are older, that’s when the technical aspects of the sport come into play. But, in the beginning with three- and four-year-old kids in our Turf Tykes class, it is more about being out on the field

and engaging in physical activity, and us helping them to work independently while still developing their cooperative skills,” said Jason Blunt, program director at Roots Athletic Center, about being physically literate.

“It’s one of those sports that encompasses all those valuable physical, social and mental life lessons needed to succeed in life, whether playing sports, making music, participating in the arts, or whatever you choose to do with your life,” he added. said Jason Blunt.

According to the “Active for Life Raising physically literate kids” website, physical literacy is a life cycle beginning with youngsters developing the skills, confidence and love of movement to be GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 13

physically active. It begins when parents encourage moving in infancy, develops throughout life, and can be a gift that is shared between generations. The benefits of being physically active include increased self-esteem and happiness, higher test scores, reduced risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, and diabetes, and higher annual earnings.

Soccer enjoys immense popularity around the world for both players and spectators and is played by more than 265 million people in a Fifa Big Count survey.

“In general, soccer is a more affordable sport compared to what it costs parents to outfit a child to play hockey. It’s also more accessible…...a universal activity for all kids no matter what shape, size or interest level. Anyone can step onto the soccer field and benefit,” Blunt said.

Soccer classes at Roots - there are nine different sessions focusing on developing different game skills - begin with the coed Turf Tykes and continues with Mighty Kickers and Might Kickers Plus for boys and girls ages 5-6, Junior Kickers and Junior Kickers Plus for boys and girls ages 7-8, coed Senior Kickers for ages 9-10, coed Goalkeeper Training for ages 9 14 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

and older, coed Striker Training for ages 9 and older, and coed Fast Feet Training for ages 9 and older. The “plus” classes involve joining the Roots Soccer Academy team with one training per week, games every weekend, and a Roots team jersey.

So, what about kids whose parents signed them up for soccer lessons, but all the child wants to do is to get off of the field and go home?

“I’ve coached plenty of kids who aren’t necessarily your typical athletes, but when it comes to soccer time, it’s something they look forward to coming here for. Of course, there is always the child who just isn’t sure about it, but we don’t really see that much because we take the extra effort to put a fun and exciting hat on their soccer experience,” Blunt said.

Blunt noted they are doing everything possible to keep kids, staff and patrons safe while at Roots Athletic Center, and are strictly following guidelines established by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the state of Massachusetts, and the Westfield Health Department.

“Our large facility with open spaces both indoors and outdoors has allowed

us to design practice, training, and programs that follow social distancing guidelines, while still allowing for those intimate coaching conversations. Our class sizes are now smaller, so you won’t find massive groups of kids together at the same time. And, we also take cleaning very seriously and sanitize all equipment such as balls and cones before and after each use,” he said.

Blunt’s love for soccer began when his parents signed him up to play.

“We lived in central Connecticut where soccer was a popular sport, and I excelled and moved through different programs, ultimately playing in high school and for a few years at Westfield State University,” Blunt said.

After college, he worked in a variety of different coaching jobs, including at the YMCA, before being “lucky enough to come to Roots to coach,” he said.

Roots Soccer Academy begins its fall schedule on Sept. 15 and runs through Oct. 31.

Seven classes are offered per session and depending on the program prices are $155, $200, $225 and $45 for add-on games.

Roots Athletic Center - housed in a 100,000 square foot building on 181 Root Road in Westfield - is about more than just soccer. The indoor/outdoor facility with three large indoor artificial turf fields (each measuring 200 feet by 100 feet), the largest indoor track in New England, and two outdoor international size turf fields with lights, also is home to Roots Learning Center, Roots Gymnastics, Roots Aquatics and Fitness Center and Roots Cycle. The Center also hosts birthday parties and holds a summer camp with an introduction to everything they have to offer at the sports facility. They also lease space to The Batter’s Box baseball and training facility.

“Roots Athletic Center is a great place for kids to stay out of trouble and take a break from always being in front of the computer screen or playing video games.

While at Roots, kids will learn together in a positive, supervised atmosphere with coaches who care about their long-term welfare,” said Frank DeMarinis, owner of Roots Athletic Center.

“Most importantly, athletics provides children with the opportunity to grow into adulthood with the proper attributes needed to survive in today’s world - good ethics, determination, and the desire to work hard and never give up,” he added.

For more information or to register for classes, visit rootsathleticcenter.com or call 413-562-7221.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 15

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L

et’s get the facts first about the most popular beverage in the world - coffee.

Americans consume 450 million cups of coffee every day, with over 400 billion cups consumed yearly around the world.

That’s a lot of beans with nearly 25 million farmers worldwide depending on coffee crops for their economic livelihood, according to “The Book of Incredible Information” published by West Side Publishing.

“Coffee is one of the top-traded commodities in the world,” said Tim Monson, who began Monsoon Roastery yes, that’s right, Monson with an extra ‘o’ - with his wife, Andrea, in early 2018.

It goes without saying that the couple enjoys “a good cup of joe,” but they wanted more - they wanted the best cup of coffee that would knock their socks off.

Monsoon Roastery, located in Gasoline Alley in Springfield, was born out of that very desire and to bring high-quality, freshly roasted coffee to local residents, businesses and their partners.

So, Tim brought his knowledge of the

service industry after working at various cafés, where he learned more about coffee and its origins - and Andrea brought her expertise in research, marketing and brand management to the table, and the rest as they say is history.

“My wife was pregnant with our daughter and we decided it was time to do something for ourselves, to support ourselves, and to bring our own dream to reality instead of supporting someone else’s,” Tim said.

For now, the quest to find the perfect cup begins with brokers in the United States who work with farms from around the world. Tim’s ultimate goal, however, is to travel the world at some point doing his own research and buying.

“I have conversations with our brokers and sometimes directly with the farms they represent, and it’s important that they share our philosophy of sustainable farming practices and that they have

an impact on their local communities.

Sustainability is key, meaning meeting society’s present food and textile needs without compromising the ability for current or future generations to meet their needs,” Tim said.

Socially and environmentally conscious, the couple believes in reducing, reusing and recycling.

Everything inside their roastery is made from repurposed materials and they have established composting programs with their wholesale partners, run on 100% wind power energy, and use compostable material at the roastery and special events held there.

A visit to the Monsoon coffee store - you can purchase coffee bags, swag and cold brew online, as well as order GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 17

online grab and go on the days they are open - is an adventure that will stimulate your taste buds, broaden your knowledge of faraway places, and give you a giggle or two with the names chosen for their blends. There is Flavasaurus Rex -Medium Roast (a seasonal blend, which means once the coffee sack is gone, so is the blend), Liquid Sunshine 2.1 - Light-Medium Roast, Organic Panic - Medium-Dark Roast, SoulRave 6-1 - Dark Roast, SweetSpot - Sugarcane Decaf, Overtime Single Origin Robusta, and Monsoon Expresso Blend to blow you away. All of the blends are made in small batches using an Ashe fluid bed roaster, and digital profiles are used to consistently create the same coffees batch after batch.

“Tim will say to me we have a new coffee and need a name for it. So, I will ask him where it is from, what are its characteristics, and is there anything interesting about the country it is from…....and we also try to draw in pop culture to the name. One of my favorite names was a line from rapper The Notorious B.I.G.’s song ‘Big Poppa’ that went ‘I love it when you call me Big Poppa.’ This particular coffee was from Papua, New Guinea, so we called it I Love It When You Call Me Big Papua - New Guinea. I designed a label for the coffee that was a tape cassette and the name and graphic resonated with people who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s and it made them laugh,” Andrea said.

But the couple’s creativity and fun with their product doesn’t stop there. Tim and Andrea make every single bag by hand, from their stamp to their seal. Each bag also includes a history behind the blend to educate coffee lovers about the bean and farm that went into making their brew.

For example, anyone who purchases their Liquid Sunshine 2.1 - Light-Medium Roast will learn it is from the Sidamo region of Ethiopia and features strong, fruity blueberry notes, and that some say Ethiopia is where the coffee plant was originally discovered in the 8th century. As for their SoulRave 6.1, it is a blend of two coffees. One coffee is from the Yirgacheffe region of southern Ethiopia. Awash River is a new naturally processed coffee from smallholder farmers serviced by the river Awash. These farmers rely on the great river and its many tributaries to cultivate coffee and sustain their communities.

Monsoon’s fresh roasted coffee bags and Nitro Cold Brew cans are also available for purchase at their Espresso Bar which opened in the summer of 2019.

“Coffee is inviting in nature. It’s not uncommon to want to meet with a friend or new business partner over a cup of coffee. Now we have people from all walks and professions coming together at our Roastery over a cup of coffee,” Andrea said.

Visitors to the Espresso Bar can also purchase artisanal pastries from different bakeries and restaurants every day and on Friday/Saturday they host a different food truck or mobile kitchen to add to the festive atmosphere.

18 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

The Espresso Bar fulfills the couple’s mission to “crosspromote so that the community can benefit from various high-quality products. This approach to partnerships helps to boost the local economy.”

Outdoor socially distant patio seating is available at the Espresso Bar which is open Thursday, Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The current coronavirus pandemic is one of the reasons you won’t find the Monsoon brand at your local farmer’s market right now, Andrea noted about the couple’s decision to begin their own online farmer’s market called Provisions.

“We started to talk about it back in April as a way to provide a safer alternative for those people really at risk for the coronavirus to be able to get curated local goods from the area. It was a natural for us because we already had our own distribution network to be able to deliver to people. We launched the new project in June in collaboration with Urban Artisan Farm, which is also located in Gasoline Alley, offering local produce, local meat options, local breads, mushroom, honey, maple syrup, jams and jellies and more, including a type of clarified butter call Dhee,” Tim said.

After searching the globe to find some of the best coffee beans to share with customers, Tim has his favorites.

“I have two really key origins that are my favorites.

The first is El Salvador, there is just something about it. There are a couple of farms there that I really appreciate and I sometimes feel they are underrated.

I had a coffee from El Salvador that honestly came to my view what coffee could be. It was that first cup that blew my mind without cream and sugar, so I’ve always had a fondness for that. My second favorite origin is Cameroon. It’s a really underrated part of Africa. Their beans are often undervalued and came from a Dutch colonist who transplanted coffees there from the Jamaica Blue Mountains. The result is something absolutely wonderful,” he said.

As for what makes a great cup of coffee, Tim offered his thoughts on what sends him into coffee heaven.

“For me it would be slightly fruity and sweet, not too acidic or bitter to give you a pleasant drinking experience where you take a sip and say, ‘Ah, that’s great,’ and you want to take a couple more sips right away,” he said.

Monsoon Roastery is located at 270 Albany St. in Springfield. In addition to purchasing coffee at the Roastery, their brews are available for drinking and buying at many various locations throughout New England. A partial listing of their partners is available on their website.

For more information, visit monsoonroastery.com or call (413) 366-1123.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19

We Gotta Key for That!

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Chris@ResultsBegin.com www.ResultsBegin.com 20 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

Safe & Soft Re-Opening

“Hybrid Classes” Daily, Nights, Weekends Small In-Studio Classes, pre registration required along with Zoom-Live Stream Classes, “Yoga at Home”

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We specialize in welcoming new students.

And we offer classes for long time practitioners: Gentle, All Levels, Vinyasa Flow, Ashtanga

For Peace & Calm, Strength & Balance New & Returning Student Special: Unlimited Live Stream Zoom 2 Weeks, $30 2020:

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We are back at Longmeadow Shops Offering a great Every Thursday selection of ALL Noon-6pm LOCALLY GROWN Rain or Shine Products

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Agawam Pack & Ship Shipping, Packing, Mailbox Rental, Notary Public, Copy & Fax, Phone Accessories, Paper Shredding We Sell Nebo Lights Alan R. Cohen, 417 Springfield Street, Agawam, MA Richard A. Cohen,

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Proprietors Hours of Operation: Mon-Fri 9-6 Sat 10-2

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 21

go local picks

COOL STUFF JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR AND ONLINE!

GRANDPARENT’S DAY AT THE ZOO ZOO IN FOREST PARK AND EDUCATION CENTER SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2020 AT 10 AM – 4 PM

ZOO in Forest Park and Education Center Public · Hosted by ZOO in Forest Park and Education Center. Celebrate the grandparents in your life at The Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center! All grandparents get free admission to The Zoo on September 13th. The Zoo will be open 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., weather permitting. Enjoy this day with all grandparents and see if you can find the animals at our zoo that are grandparents too!

Admission: Adults - $10.00, Seniors/Military - $7.00 Children (Ages 1-12) - $5.00, Children Under 1 - FREE

293 Sumner Ave. Springfield, MA 01108 forestparkzoo.org

LOBSTER & BREWS! COUSINS MAINE LOBSTER IN HOPMEADOW BREWING COMPANY 205 OLD FARMS RD, AVON, CT 06001

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2020 AT 3 PM – 9 PM

Ever wondered what beer and lobster would taste like? Come find out on Friday, September 18 from 3:00pm – 9:00pm as Cousins Maine Lobster plans to roll into Hopmeadow Brewing Company (205 Old Farms Rd, Avon, CT 06001). You can’t go wrong with fresh beer and #RealMaineLobster, sourced and sustainably harvested directly from Maine. We do ask that our customers keep social distancing in mind and try to preorder from our app on this day. This is one seafood experience like you’ve never had before!

22 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

ECHO HILL ORCHARDS AND WINERY 101 WILBRAHAM ROAD, MONSON, MA ECHOHILLORCHARDS.COM • (413) 267-3303 Kicking off their 2020 PYO apple / fruit/sunflower season beginning August 29th through September and October, (as long as the crops and weather permits). Unfortunately due to restrictions and Covid - 19 health concerns we will not be running tractor rides for the entire 2020 Fall season. This 2020 Fall all PYO is walk out to enjoy the farm.

Hours: 12 pm-5 pm Wednesday -Friday 10 pm -5 pm Saturdays, Sundays, Labor Day and Columbus Day. Closed on regular Mondays and Tuesdays this year.

! VICKI MITCHELL  VICKI MITCHELL

d l e i f n E

Farmer's Market L

ooking to find beautiful, unique gifts; fresh fruit, vegetables, and flowers; handy household and personal items; tasty treats and first class entertainment, all from local providers? Then get to the Enfield Farmer’s Market on the Town Green, every Sunday through September 27th. There you will find over 35 local vendors selling everything from handmade jewelry, candles, soaps, art work, Alpaca woolen items and dog treats to fresh produce, flowers, honey, dairy products, and eggs, all from area farms.

While you stroll the Town Green, you will be entertained by Palmer, Massachusetts native Noah Lis, former contender on The Voice. You can even pick up a snack (pizza, pierogis, kettle corn, and more) and pull up a chair to the gazebo and relax while listening to Lis’ music for a most enjoyable outing.

The Farmer’s Market organizers,

Connie Provencher and Town Manager Christopher Bromson, along with other town staff, are thrilled with the number and quality of vendors, their corporate partners, and all of the visitors who have made coming to the event a safe, pleasurable way to reconnect.

One of the participating vendors is Jeanne Dubois, a retired art teacher, who sells beautifully handcrafted, quilled ornaments and note cards at her booth, The Quintessential Quill.

Quilling is a very old art form traced back to the 15th century. Believed to have been created by French and Italian nuns to adorn religious objects, it is the art of coiling, folding, and bending strips of paper to create decorative designs. Dubois donates her profits to a dog rescue organization, Monticello 2nd Chance Fur Dogs. Look for her booth at the Market, see her on

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 23

Facebook, or contact her at Jeannedubois58@ gmail.com.

Sokol Coffee Roasters is a small family business (mom, dad, and adult son Nathan, who is on the Autism spectrum) operated in Longmeadow, Massachusetts. The family sources their “green” beans from fair trade, organic coffee bean farms from many regions around the world. They micro-batch roast the green beans, providing “fresh and consistent roasted coffee beans,” according to Julie Sokol. After roasting, the beans must “rest” for 3 to 5 days before grinding to the customer’s specifications, or they can be left whole. Son Nathan enjoys the weighing and measuring of the beans, which are packaged in 12 ounce bags.

A small sampling of the coffee beans available are Columbia Organic Sierra Nevada, Organic Nicaragua Finca la Isabelia, and Sumatra Mandheling. Check their website to see what types are currently available at www.sokolcoffeeroasters.com or email them at sokolcoffeeroasters@gmail.com. Currently an on-line business, they hope to have a “brick and mortar” coffee shop one day.

The Roaring Acres Alpaca Farm is located on over 30 acres in Suffield, Connecticut. It is home to Suri and Huacaya Alpacas, Painted Desert Sheep, and a variety of ducks and chickens, including rare and heritage breeds.

Their booth at the Market features an assortment of items made from soft Alpaca wool, including socks, slippers, and stuffed toy animals. You can also visit the farm and new boutique shop…even feed the alpacas…at 685 Hale Street in Suffield. Check their website at www.roaringacresalpacas.com for visiting hours, or shop at www.etsy.com/shop/roaringacresalpacas.

Are you in the mood for some personal pampering that is both “people and earth friendly?” Then head on over to the Blessed Creek booth, where you will find an assortment of all natural soaps, shower gels, body and room sprays, hand scrubs, lip balms, and more. “Lovingly” made by Jeanie Wild, advanced esthetician, herbalist, and chandler, she says, “I love trying new formulas…I infuse healing plants into the oils and just have the best time being a mad soap scientist. I anxiously await making the first cut into the bars to discover the end texture, scent, and finally the feel and sudsing properties. I also impatiently wait the 8 weeks it takes for a full cure so I can present to you a nice hard, long lasting bar of soap.” You can also reach Wild at Jeanie@BlessedCreek.com.

Are you looking for some treats for your four-legged friends? Paws-A-Tively Delec24 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

table is one of the vendors offering just that! Elizabeth Sosnowich, the owner, operates out of her home in Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, making all natural treats and more for your dogs and cats.

She grows her own mint for mint bones, and uses local honey for her treats. In addition, she sells catnip mats, toys, blankets, and pillows. You can learn more by emailing her at bettydelectablebones@gmail.com.

Wildlife and nature photographer Stephen Woronecki, of Tobacco Valley Images, has a large display of his work at the Market. His photographs chronicle life along the Connecticut River, from approximately Hartford, Connecticut north to Springfield, Massachusetts. In addition to his scenic shots of landscapes, barns, sunsets, and rainbows, he has captured images of many of the bird species found along the river. These include osprey, Great Blue herons, white egrets, red-tailed hawks, Northern flickers, and his favorite…the eagles who nest in and around Suffield and Windsor, Connecticut. You can reach Woronecki, who works out of Windsor Locks, at TobaccoValleyImages@gmail.com.

Tulip’s Gift Shop, run by long-time friends Lori Davis and Michelle LaTulippe, is a craft consignment store in Enfield, Connecticut with over 25 crafters taking part. Some of the items they have on display at the Market are representative of the home décor they offer, including signs which can be customized to include all area towns. If you miss them at the Market, they have limited COVID hours at the store at 93B Raffia Road, or you can shop by appointment or on-line at www.tulipsgiftshop.com.

A booth not to miss, even though they are not selling anything, is Reborns With Reasons, a doll therapy program used in nursing homes and healthcare facilities in Connecticut and Massachusetts. Founded by Jaime Beebe, this organization provides extremely life-like baby dolls for seniors with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease because it has been found that interacting with these babies/dolls has a positive effect on their physical and emotional state.

Look for the purple tent with several well-behaved “babies” under it to learn more about this program, and make a

donation if you choose. Learn more on Facebook, or at rebornswithreasons@ gmail.com.

This is just a small sampling of the vendors you will find at the Market.

Visit in person to discover the other treasures to be found!

Note that masks must be worn by all attending. Also, some vendors can accept cash only, while others accept cash or credit.

The Enfield Farmer’s Market runs on Sundays through September 27th, from 10:00 to 1:00, on the Town Green at 820 Enfield Street, Enfield, Connecticut.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 25

go eat

! RECIPE SUBMITTED BY JANET PARÉ

AUTUMN AMBROSIA FRUIT SALAD

This creamy, festive, fruit salad makes a great appetizer or sidedish. With apple season here and holidays on the horizon, this dish makes a great addition to any menu.

FOR THE DRESSING: 8 oz. cream cheese, softened 1 cup sour cream 1/2 cup brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla FOR THE SALAD: 4 apples, cored and diced* 1 lb. seedless grapes, red, green or both 1 cup dried cherries, cranberries, golden raisins, or combination of each 1 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped and divided into 3/4 cup for salad and 1/4 cup for topping 1/2 cup shaved coconut, for topping * I used Gala, Pink Lady, Granny Smith and Honey Crisp but any crisp, tart variety will do.

26 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

Dressing: In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, sour cream, brown sugar and vanilla until smooth and creamy, about 2 - 3 minutes.

Salad: In a large bowl, combine apples, grapes, dried fruit, and 3/4 cup nuts.

Add the dressing and toss to coat.

Refrigerate at least 3 hours. When ready to serve, top with extra nuts and coconut. Enjoy!

JANET PARÉ is a home cook who began baking with her Memere (grandmother) at the age of 6. Retired and living in Southampton with her dog, Ziggy and cat, Elie Mae, she now enjoys cooking for family and friends.

I

t’s a story that begins back in 1964 with a heartfelt gift from a mother to her son that introduced him to the world of hand printing.

That son is Bill Muller, for whom art, design and handmade crafts has been a part of his life ever since. And the gift was The Ideal Toy Company’s home printing press, called The Big Press, that was seen in Popular Mechanics magazine. It was a plastic toy press, approximately 11” x 19” x 10” that came with all the accessories from ink to assorted blocks of type.

“I was six at the time and remember printing a family newsletter that I would share among them, as well as making some holiday cards,” Muller said.

He took that love of the toy printing press to high school in California where he did page layout with hot type for the school’s letterpress printed newspaper. Out of college, Muller worked for the Valley Advocate in the late ’70s where he operated stat cameras and photo typesetting equipment and did oldfashioned paste up.

Life happens and for the past 36 years Muller has been owner of Guild Art Supply. The store stocks a diverse selection of oil, acrylic and watercolor paints, as well as items ranging from drafting supplies, crafting goods, printmaking materials, crafts for kids, and an array of fine and decorative papers.

“We have a well-stocked fun inventory and artists who have found us are extremely happy, and 95 percent who visit us leave with what they wanted,” Muller said. He noted that COVID-19, which has caused the shutdown of some manufacturers in the United States and abroad, has led to some shortages of art supplies.

Despite the pandemic, Muller said his sale of art supplies both online and in the store has continued.

“What we’ve found, for example, is that many folks who haven’t picked up the brush in years are now returning to painting and other forms of art such as calligraphy during the pandemic. We also saw plenty of sales to students this summer who were taking online pre-college art courses ranging from painting to architecture. And, right now we are preparing art supply packets for elementary and other students not returning to the classroom, so that they can participate in art

! KEITH O’CONNOR  NATE BLAIS

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 27

classes remotely from home,” he said.

Muller’s own printing endeavors didn’t enter back into his life until he visited the studio of a friend and former employee, artist Ali Osborn. After watching him at work on the letterpress, Muller became obsessed with finding a letterpress and starting up his own studio which he now calls Big Wheel Press.

Today his letterpress shop using hot metal typesetting specializes in custom works and is known for its unique brand of wedding invitations, corporate materials, social stationery and a line of original greeting cards that are second to none.

Staff work closely with clients to make their product stand out using custom die cutting, hot foil stamping, and deep impression printing adding a rich texture to the final product.

The artistic works of Big Wheel Press can be seen in prominent museums creating original letterpress product for their gift shops, as well as prints for their collections. Their greeting cards, pocket notebooks and gift items are in museum stores around the world including the 28 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Morgan Library and Museum, Huntington Library, and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. Their work can also be seen in the collections of the University of Massachusetts Contemporary Art Museum, Mead Museum at Amherst College, and Historic Northampton.

“We have also worked with Turner Classic Movies, creating very fancy invitations for their annual Academy Awards party, and with Spotify on a gift that they gave to top rap artists on their streaming network,” Muller said.

But it is their clever and inventive original design greeting cards - for all occasions from simple thank you to birthday and sympathy cards, or in the words of Hallmark, “just because” - that have been attracting a lot of attention.

“I work with four other illustrators and we combine our thoughts on honing down the sentiments, then I put the final design touch on them for their conversion to printing on the letterpress,” Muller said.

There are funny cards that say on the front “Having a great time without you,” a romantic Mr. Rogers Valentine card, a new “Black lives matter” card, straightforward and simple cards with floral designs on the front that say “Happy Birthday,” even one based on an old restaurant placemat that offers instructions on how to eat a boiled lobster, as well as political cards that Muller claims sole creativity for. There are plenty to pick from all depicted on 18 pages on their website.

“People have been writing more during the pandemic and our greeting cards and personalized stationery have been very popular. Sadly, we’ve been selling a lot more sympathy cards,” Muller said.

In March, Muller consolidated Guild Art Supply and Big Wheel Press into one location on 1 Cottage St., Building 10, in Easthampton, across from Nashawannuck Pond. Because of the limitations placed on businesses and the need to maintain social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic, appointments to visit the shop are needed by calling (413) 586-6343.

“We are only allowing two to four people into the shop at a time. It’s a non-stressful environment where you can take your time for some 30 minutes picking out your art supplies and looking at our greeting cards and other products such as broadsides, post-

Glossary of printing terms Letterpress Printing Also referred to as relief printing, letterpress is a commercial printing process where the text or image is on a raised surface and then pressed against sheets or a continuous roll of paper.

Letterpress printing dates back to Johannes Gutenberg in Maiz, Germany, around 1450 and remained popular until the development of lighography late in the 18th century and later offset lithography in the early 20th century.

Foil Stamping Foil stamping, also known as hot stamping, is a type of relief printing involving using a heated metal plate and a thin strip of foil that is placed between the paper and the plate. The heated foil then transfers from the strip to the paper when the plate is pushed against the paper. The process can also be applied to card stock and plastics.

Die-cutting Used to create custom shapes and designs on a printed piece, die-cutting is a process by which a sharp steel blade is formed into a specific shape, then cut through the paper.

ers, notebooks and more. You can look over your shoulder and see our letterpress operation and talk about printing with us. It’s a fun experience and you can look out our windows at the waterfall outside and the canal that flows underneath the studio, where a blue heron and even an otter can be seen at times,” Muller said.

If you purchase a card or poster while visiting the shop that you decide you just have to frame and hang in your home or gift to someone else, Muller can help. His Pierce’s Frameshop in Northampton has been a tradition for over 100 years. They specialize in conservation-grade materials and staff remains ready to meet any framing challenge from posters to fine art, children’s finger painting to family heirlooms, shadow boxes, and more.

“I purchased Pierce’s Frameshop in 1987. It is the oldest continuous business in the area since 1894 and I believe one of the finest in the Valley. Our framing experts have been continuously booked since the pandemic, which I attribute to the fact that people have been at home staring at their walls and wanting something new to look at,” Muller said.

Pierce’s Frame Shop is located on Main St. in Northampton. Because of the current demand for framing and social distancing demanded by the coronavirus, patrons must make a reservation to visit the store by calling (413) 584-1207.

For more information, visit bigwheelpress.com or call 413-203-1700 or email them at sales@bigwheelpress.com.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 29

local einstein

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!

WHERE WAS THE FIRST LABOR DAY PARADE (1882)?

[A] [B] [C] [D]

3

WHERE WERE THE 2016 SUMMER OLYMPIC GAMES HELD?

Philadelphia New York City Washington D.C. Chicago

[A] Rio de Janeiro [B] Sochi [C] Sydney [D] Tokyo

“LISTEN TO THE GROUND, THERE IS MOVEMENT ALL AROUND” ARE THE FIRST WORDS OF WHICH 70S DISCO HIT?

WHAT IS THE OTHER NAME FOR A SEA COW?

[A] You Should Be Dancing [B] Night Fever [C] Stayin’ Alive [D] Disco Inferno

5

[A] Walrus [B] Seal [C] Manatee [D] Whale WHAT WOULD BE ON YOUR PLATE IF YOU ORDERED ABALONE IN A RESTAURANT?

EDWARD NIGMA IS BETTER KNOWN AS WHICH BATMAN CHARACTER?

[A] Artichokes [B] Sea Snails [C] Pasta [D] Truffles

[A] Penguin [B] Joker [C] Two-Face [D] Riddler

7

WHAT IS THE NAME OF SHERLOCK HOLMES’S OLDER BROTHER?

8

HOW MANY SQUARES DO YOU SEE? [A] 8 [B] 10 [C] 11 [D] 12

[A] James [B] Mycroft [C] Frederick [D] Bancroft

[A] Baking Powder [B] Baking Soda [C] Yeast [D] Salt

30 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2020

# CORRECT

IQ

RANK

ANSWERS:

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

160 110 50 3

Prodigy Egghead Meh Simpleton

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

WHEN USED IN THE KITCHEN, SODIUM BICARBONATE IS MORE COMMONLY KNOWN AS WHAT?

The Final Countdown

7 Local crafters who make face masks Please note: all masks listed for sale on Etsy are washable/reusable and non-medical grade. Sellers are not responsible for anyone that may become infected while wearing one of their masks. Ultimately, the safest thing to do is maintain social distance from others, wear a mask when social distancing is not possible, practice good hand hygiene, and stay at home. All photos courtesy of crafter Etsy shops.

SWEET STELLA’S BOUTIQUE

IN STITCHES AND STUFF CO. LAKESIDE GIFTS LLC

Stella offers curved fabric masks with a center seam over the nose and mouth in a variety of patterns including florals, paisley, plaid, and even sushi fabric!

In addition to face masks, shop owner Susan sews, crochets, knits, and machine embroiders. She will make any mask in any color and welcomes special orders.

STETHOSCOPE SHOP

MOMMA MADE THIS CRAFTS

LONGMEADOW, MA ETSY.COM/SHOP/SWEETSTELLASBOUTIQUE

STAFFORD, CT ETSY.COM/SHOP/STETHOSCOPESHOP

All masks in Kristina’s shop will be shipped the next business day.

Her masks come with two adhesive backed metal nose pieces that can be placed on the inside or outside of mask and removed before washing and reapplied a few times before replacing.

ENFIELD, CT ETSY.COM/SHOP/INSTITCHESANDSTUFFCO

FEEDING HILLS, MA ETSY.COM/SHOP/MOMMADETHISCRAFTS

Anne makes both pleated masks and curved masks with a center seam over the nose and mouth, appealing to many fit preferences. She also crafts straw cozies and drink cozies for hot/ cold beverages.

OLGA MOREO

MAMASBOUTIQUE08

SEWN FOR SEVEN

Quick shipping! Most masks are ready to ship and processed within 1-2 business days. Olga also offers a Buy 3/Get 2 Free, or Buy 4/Get 3 Free deal!

Shop owner Melanie creates pleated double-sided cotton face masks with elastic ear loops, as well as drink cozies.

Shop owner Lyubov is a mother of seven and has been sewing for years! Her three-layer masks are made with a built-in hydroknit filter. Tie straps offer comfort and fit to each individuals’ head shape.

EAST LONGMEADOW, MA ETSY.COM/SHOP/OLGAMOREO

EASTHAMPTON, MA ETSY.COM/SHOP/MAMASBOUTIQUE08

WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA ETSY.COM/SHOP/SEWNFORSEVEN

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 31