OCTOBER 2021

October 2021 Volume 7 . Issue 11 golocalmagazines.com

bNapoli Italian

authentic Italian Cuisine

Local Weddings Fall 2021

Artisans at middle river

Check it out

echo hill

Orchards & Distillery

2 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

new this month OCTOBER 2021 . VOLUME 7 . ISSUE 11

11

BNAPOLI ITALIAN You won’t find a hearty Spaghetti and Meatballs, or for that matter a cheesy Chicken Parmesan on the menu at bNapoli Italian where the focus is on authentic Italian cuisine combined with a fine dining experience. “My dream behind bNapoli was to offer customers dishes you would find from different regions of Italy, but predominately Southern Italian cuisine which is my heritage.

6

A NOTE

11

BNAPOLI ITALIAN

17

ECHO HILL ORCHARDS & WINERY

From The Editor Authentic Italian Cuisine A Family Affair

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OCTOBER 2021 . VOLUME 7 . ISSUE 11

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a note

FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR . G. MICHAEL DOBBS

It’s funny how seasons work – at least for me.

Just when you’re sort of sick of one season, here comes another for a change of pace.

Now, I’m probably out-of-step here as usually people my age are hankering to retire to someplace like the South or the Southwest where the seasons are not so dramatically different.

Of course being in New England, one season can butt right into the middle of another thanks to our famed changeable weather.

I like the changes.

Once upon a time, New Englanders looked to the sky to figure out the changing of the seasons. They felt the heat or the cold. They saw changes in trees and plants and the shortening of the days.

I see it at my neighborhood drug store. Now, There is a different schedule. I know that fall is approaching in late July when the school supplies are being stocked on shelves. Then of course, Halloween and fall are noted with the appearance of costumes and candy sometime in late August. Thanksgiving is barely noted but Christmas should arrive sometime in October.

I understand the needs of modern day merchandising, but being a geezer I readily admit I miss the timing of my youth. Back to school happened in August. Halloween wasn’t seen until late September. The pace of life was different.

I loved seeing fall approach and still do. The temperatures slowly but surely decrease offering needed refreshment. Sweaters and jackets could hide a multiple of sins when it came to weight.

As a kid I got excited with school supply shopping. Yes, the decisions about what type of pen to buy and the all-important choice of notebook and ring binders weighed heavily on me.

Yes, I was and remain a proud nerd. To this day, I still slow down when walking past a display of school supplies to see what the choices are for young people.

Fall always seemed to be a very reasonable time of year. It was harvest time with farmers markets bursting with apples, root vegetables and winter squash. It’s a time to celebrate the growing season and all it can offer.

Yes, I love fall.

In this issue of Go Local we look at Echo Hill Orchard & Distillery in Monson as one of our feature stories. Few things are more “fall,” than visiting an apple orchard in New England. In this case, there are more than just apples, but wine and whiskey in the forms of flavored “moonshine.”

Sounds good to me.

We also have a list of three additional fall destinations that can keep your weekends busy.

So, take this copy of Go Local with you and hit the road. I hope you take the time to enjoy the beauties and pleasures of fall in New England.

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

MANAGING EDITOR G. Michael Dobbs

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bNapoli Y

ou won’t find a hearty Spaghetti and Meatballs, or for that matter a cheesy Chicken Parmesan on the menu at bNapoli Italian where the focus is on authentic Italian cuisine combined with a fine dining experience.

“My dream behind bNapoli was to offer customers dishes you would find from different regions of Italy, but predominately Southern Italian cuisine which is my heritage. I wanted to create a cosmopolitan atmosphere like you might find in a New York, Miami or Boston restaurant, where you could forget for a minute that you are in Western Massachusetts,” said owner Jerry Moccia.

ITALIAN

Moccia brought everything he knew with him from Italy - from his authentic Italian heritage to Italy’s regional cuisines - when arriving in the United States in 2001. He arrived in Springfield from a little town outside of Naples, where the restaurateur grew up with parents who owned a restaurant.

“The hospitality industry became a part of me over the years. I had family in America and had been coming here every couple of years, only this time one thing led to another and I decided to stay. My first job was working for a food distributor based in Springfield, where I was a field rep selling to restaurants.

I always had it in my mind to open my

own restaurant here. When I learned about a pizzeria in West Springfield that was up for sale, I made the investment in my future and opened what today is Bella Napoli Pizzeria and Catering,” said Moccia.

“Bella Napoli was a very busy pizzeria.

It continues today to offer many Italian American dishes using the same highquality ingredients that we are known for at bNapoli - from PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) San Marzano tomatoes grown in a small region between Naples and Salerno to our own homemade rustic pasta made from 100% semolina. Its success allowed me in 2014 to purchase the former Curry GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 11

Copy Center next door and fulfill my dream of opening a full-scale dining experience later in 2016,” he added.

Moccia noted what became apparent to him was the fact that many people in Western Massachusetts thought of Italian as Spaghetti and Meatballs or Chicken Parmigiana.

“That isn’t what you find in Italy. We have spaghetti, but you eat your meatballs separately, and our chicken is more like a Milanese topped with arugula,” he added.

What diners can expect when at bNapoli is a menu rich with all foods you would find in Italy’s many different regions.

“We do Polenta the correct way, it’s a Northern Italian dish, and we marry that with Salt Brick Chicken, which is chicken under a salt brick that releases salt as the chicken cooks in the oven. We also do a pan roasted Branzino that is typically found in Naples and Sicily, and another dish ‘to die for’ is our grilled Cyprus Octopus appetizer or ‘anti pasti’ as we call them, made with preserved lemon, evoo, and mint. Then what we do is take these typical true Italian dishes and modernize them with today’s culinary techniques and garnishes,” Moccia said.

Among the other many true Italian pasta dishes on the bNapoli menu include Veal Bolognese, Skillet Rigatoni Alfredo, Lemon Ricotta Gnocchi and Chitarra, while other entrees consist of Saffron Risotto, Veal Filetto, Veal and Ricotta Meatball, Cioppino, as well as a 30-day, in-house, dry-aged Angus Ribeye and Atlantic Haddock.

It is a common fact that wine and food pairings, whether in Italy or the states, go together and bNapoli has a selection of over 100 wines - stored in a state-ofthe-art wine room - to perfectly complement whatever 12 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

Italian dish you order. Their wine list is updated on a weekly basis to pair with their farm-totable menu.

Moccia noted they take “great pride” in their craft cocktails that rival those created at the much beloved Hawthorne cocktail bar in Boston that closed earlier this year.

“Craft cocktails are as important to customers today as your dinner menu. We make all of our own infusions and we don’t use flavored liquors. Our simple syrups such as blackberry and strawberry are made in-house from our own purees, and we also make our own Limoncello and Irish Crème,” he said.

The current drink menu includes over 30 cocktails from “nuova” such as their Spiced Pineapple DTO and Summer Blossom to “classico” including a Vodka or Gin Martini, Cosmopolitan and Manhattan, as well as “aperitvo” from their Americano, Giro d’Italia and Negroni Bianco. Diners can also build their own margarita drinks. Similar to their food menu, all ingredients are listed on their website.

Desserts, or “dolci” as they say in Italy, on the current menu include a Lemon Curd Brulee of blueberry, toasted almond, lemon and mint; Triple Cioccolato di Mousse made with white, milk and dark chocolate, and genoise; Affogato bNapoli consisting of gelato espresso, fresh cream and pistachio biscotti, and Budino di Caffe, a coffee pudding, with salted caramel and GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 13

hazelnut brittle.

Attention to details - from cocktails to service to food preparation - is number one in the restaurant business, Moccia noted.

“There is so much that goes on behind the scenes in the kitchen. Even the tiniest of details can make a big difference, like how we scrub our clamshells by hand before plating them, making our own whipped cream, or desserts from scratch,” Moccia said.

“We are also all about customer service. When you go to a nice restaurant you want to feel important, and it is our goal to make everyone feel like a VIP when they walk through our doors,” he added.

While some food critics and diners might refer to bNapoli as “high end,” Moccia prefers to call it “high touch,” which is a more modern term today with a focus on the customer.

Still, if it is Spaghetti and Meatballs the American way that you crave, Moccia’s Bella Napoli Pizzeria and Catering offers the American Italian cuisine you crave. The nearly endless menu consists of everything from thin or thick crust gourmet pizzas, grinders and sandwiches, calzones, wraps and more to full dinners including Veal and fresh free-range Chicken Parmigiana and Marsala to house Fried Fish and almost any combination of pastas you can think of all alongside several desserts including the ever-popular favorite - Cannoli.

And, if you really need that Chicken Parmigiana or another dish not on the menu, Moccia said they will make an entrée upon request for a guest “as long as we have the proper ingredients on hand.”

bNapoli is located on 185 Elm St. in West Springfield. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

For more information, visit bnapoliitalian.com or call 413-240-2106 for reservations.

Hours at Bella Napoli Pizzeria located next to bNapoli are Tuesday through Thursday from 11 a.m. to 9:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 9 p.m. Delivery is available by calling 413-734-7400.

For more information, visit bellanapolima.com.

14 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

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Echo Hill Orchards & Distillery

! KEITH O’CONNOR  NATE BLAIS

T

hey wanted to find a new job so that they could spend more time together as a family.

He had an idea to make it happen, but she wasn’t so sure about it.

His idea eventually came to fruition in 1997 and today Rich and Terry Krupczak are owners of Echo Hill Orchards & Distillery in Monson.

“We’ve lived in Monson since 1987 and owned Four Seasons package store in Hadley. It was a 45-minute commute and from the time one of us left in the morning and returned home in the evening the children would be asleep. We didn’t want to miss seeing them grow up and decided that we needed to do something where we would all be together,” said Rich Krupczak.

Then one day while driving by Echo Hill, Krupczak saw a large “For Sale” sign offering the farmland for commercial use.

And he knew that was his answer - to purchase the property where the family could work together.

“We were familiar with the farm and had brought our young children several times to pick apples. I was amazed at how big it was, offering 21 different varieties of apples, and we got lost among the orchards,” Krupczak laughed.

In fact, it was while picking apples one day with their young daughters, Samantha and Ashley, now 30 and 27 respectively, that Rich began to think about purchasing the orchards. Later when he mentioned his idea to Terry, she wasn’t so sure about taking on the responsibility of running a farm, especially since she was pregnant at the time.

However, it wasn’t long before Terry could be persuaded by her husband, who felt it would be a great place for their kids to grow up. She also didn’t want to see GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 17

the land developed.

“That was her biggest point. She had seen many plots in Hampden on her childhood road developed into homes and was afraid what would happen to Echo Hill,” Krupczak said It was September 1997 when the Krupczaks met with the owners Fred and Margaret Baxter to look over the property and agree upon a price.

“It was pruning time and the Baxters didn’t want to invest any more money into the orchards by hiring a crew to do the job if they weren’t going to benefit from the harvest. So, even before taking ownership of the property, I found myself in the winter with my own crew pruning the apple, peach and pear trees,” Krupczak said.

“Although they gave us some sage advice from their own experience, there really wasn’t much time for them to give us everything there is to know on how to manage the orchards. So, over the years I had to learn much from reading books, and by trial and error. We are still learning to this day and working on improving what we do,” he added.

As they began to settle in, the Krupczaks soon found that tending to the orchards is a never-ending job. In January through March there is pruning to be done, as well as beginning the wine making process.

March and April involve cleaning up after pruning, as well as continuing to make their wines and other by products of the harvest. In April, the trees need to be sprayed about every 10 days to prevent fungus.

May and June see the chores of mowing the grass and getting the land ready for planting pumpkin and sunflower seeds in July.

“August is our slow month when we get our store and the rest of our property ready for the “make it or break it” season of September and October. It’s also the last chance for any of us to take a vacation before opening up for picking,” Krupczak said.

Today, Echo Hill Orchards Winery & Distillery is solely a family affair. Currently, the couple’s sons, Greg, 25, and Chris, 22, have taken on most of the responsibility of maintaining the farm land, as well as helping to produce the wines/moonshines/grogs and ports. Ashley, 26, has been responsible for managing their social media platform, bar and tasting area on top of working her full-time job for the USDA in Hadley. Mia, 20, is a full-time Springfield College student and also runs the bar, assisting with anything that needs to be done for the business.

Their daughter, Samantha, 30, is married and has moved on to her own career at MassMutual.

It was while visiting Truro Vineyards in 2004 that Rich got the idea to expand their business to include a winery as a way to diversify and bring in additional revenue.

“Terry and I were in North Truro and we took a tour of the vineyards and saw the wine making process. I thought to myself, ‘We can do that,’ but when 18 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

I shared my thoughts with Terry, she thought I wanted to replace all the trees in our orchard from which we had been making a living. I explained to her my idea was to make fruit wines from the apples and peaches and other fruits we were now growing,” he said.

After obtaining a Massachusetts winery license as well as a Distiller’s license and wine pour permit, the first batch of wines for sale rolled out in 2005. The winery produces sweet and dry wines. Among the varieties of sweet wines include Macoun Dessert Wine, Apricot Chardonnay, Sangria, and Blueberries & Apple.

Dry wines include Cranberries & Apples, Crimson Gold Pinot Grigio, Ciderpress Zinfandel, Picking Bucket Pinot Noir, Indian Apple Merlot and others.

“Our most popular wines include our Goblin Grog/Pumpkin Chardonnay made with sweet cinnamon, pumpkin and apple white wine. It sold out last year, so we doubled the amount produced for this year. This batch is a little bit sweeter than the last. Our peach, raspberry, and strawberry apple wines are next in line in popularity,” Krupczak said.

The distillery offers moonshine, ports, grogs and more ranging from 40 to 90 proof including a Cranberry Blackberry Port, Monson Bourbon Whiskey, Monson Apple Vodka and many more including a Christmas Grog Growler of Merlot blended with honey, cider, brown sugar, cloves, cinnamon sticks, oranges, raisins, and brandy that is best served warm, but some even enjoy it chilled, Krupczak noted.

Echo Hill also has a small country style gift shop where visitors can purchase their hand-poured candles, as well as a selection of accessories and apparel.

Visitors planning on visiting Echo Hill Orchards to pick this October will find Macintosh, Cortland, Macoun, Crimson Crisp, Crimson Gold, Golden Delicious, Hampshire Mac’s, Liberty, Royal Crimson and some other varieties grown on the back mountain ripe for picking.

Sunflowers will be in bloom for PYO. Bring your own clippers if you are interested in picking them. Pumpkins and pears will also be ripe into October, as well as other later varieties of apples on the farm.

Customers are welcome to bring their own wagons to the orchard where they can pick ½ peck bags for $10, half bushel bags for $25, and bushel bags for $40 each. Sunflowers can be picked for $1 per stem. Payment is by cash only for PYO. No pets are allowed on the premises.

Echo Hill Orchards Winery & Distillery is located on 101 Wilbraham Road in Monson. They GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19

are open for picking through October from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesdays through Fridays. Saturdays, Sundays and Columbus Day they are open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Everyone needs to be out of the orchard by 6 p.m. each day.

The tasting area - with its 47 seats indoors as well as seating outdoors in good weather, is open Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 6 p.m., Fridays from noon to 7 p.m., Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Sundays and Columbus Day from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Flights of five samples, your choice of wines and lower proof moonshines are $10 per flight. They also offer an enticing and creative list of fall signature drinks such as Moonshine Margaritas, Caramel Apple Sangria, Raspberry Mule, Spicy Lemonade and others, including Farmer Richie, fit for a farmer like Rich after a long day made of Monson Apple Vodka, soda water, and lime. Food trucks roll in on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and there is a selection of meats, cheeses and other snacks available for purchase in their store.

More info can be found on www.echohillorchards.com, as well as on their Echo Hill Orchards & Winery Facebook page.

20 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

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go local picks

COOL STUFF JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR AND ONLINE!

IT’S YOUR TURN CORN MAZE THE APPLE PLACE

SATURDAY AND SUNDAYS 11 AM EDT – 6 PM EDT 540 SOMERS ROAD/ ROUTE 83 • EAST LONGMEADOW, MA “It’s Your Turn” to have some FUN! Open 11AM-6PM Saturdays/ Sundays! Tie Dye Trailer Food truck Open 12-4! Foot long Hotdogs, Hand Cut Fries, Garlic Parm Fries, Fried Dough, Pie Fry! Tickets Available at Entrance: 4 & Under Free, 5-9 $10, 10 & Up $12 Terror in the Maze 2021 runs 10/30 and 10/31 from 7pm to 11 pm and is recommended for guests 13 and older. Visit The Apple Place Facebook page for more details.

Online fast pass ticket purchase for Terror in the Maze go to: https://the-apple-place-llc.ticketleap.com/corn-maze/ For general admission please purchase day of at the door.

Parental discretion is advised.

FLOATING PUMPKIN PATCH

THE LUDLOW COMMUNITY CENTER/RANDALL BOYS & GIRLS CLUB

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16TH • 12 PM - 3PM 91 CLAUDIA’S WAY, LUDLOW, MA

FALL FARM FESTIVAL ROARING ACRES ALPACAS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2021 AT 10 AM EDT – 3 PM EDT 685 HALE STREET, SUFFIELD, CT

The Ludlow Community Center/Randall Boys & Girls Club is hosting our second Annual Pumpkin Floating Pumpkin Patch! As a family, you can have fun swimming, picking out, and decorating your favorite pumpkin! Event fee: $10 per pumpkin (pre-registration required) Swim sessions are 30 minutes.

Each session is limited to 25 participants.

Ages 1-5 years old: 12:00 pm Ages 6-12 years old: 12:30 pm, 1:00 pm, 1:30 pm, and 2:30 pm

Celebrate the best of Fall with us at Roaring Acres Alpacas! Fall Farm Festival is a one-day event on Saturday, October 23rd, 2021. We will be extending our open farm hours on the day of the event from 10am-3pm (the rain date, if necessary, will be October 24th). We will be hosting over thirty local vendors who each sell unique items, plus there will be trick-or-treating opportunities for the kids, petting & feeding our farm animals, and food! Costumes are highly encouraged to get into the spirit of the season.

Register at www.ludlowbgc.org Registration: Sept 13 - Oct 12

Admission is free and tickets are not required, though we do suggest pre-registering any trick-or-treaters as participation is not guaranteed for walk-ups. Visit their Facebook page for more info and to pre-register.

24 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

!  VICKI MITCHELL

C

lassy, fun, and adorable are some words to describe the wide selection of items gathered for you at the shop Artisans at Middle River in Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Owner Dot Drobney is enjoying her 4th career as a shop owner and curator of the pieces of art, handiwork, and edibles she has selected to sell. She currently carries work from 38 artists on consignment, 31 of whom are from Connecticut, and sells several local products such as maple syrup, honey, soaps, and candles. What is really interesting is that Dot can tell you fascinating stories about all of the handmade items and the artists who made them. For instance, there are wonderful children’s dresses, t-shirts, scarves, kitchen towels, and table runners in a beautiful shade of indigo. The woman who makes them actually grows her own indigo (a fleshy plant in the bean family,) harvests it, and brews the dye she uses.

Another woman hand dyes the reeds and makes the straps she incorporates into her woven baskets, backpacks, and other décor. The Marilyn Mae Farm soy candles are hand-poured, with fragrances including strawberry rhubarb pie and “s’more o’ that.” A portion of the proceeds from several of the candle selections supports causes such as autism awareness and rare childhood diseases. The Juniper Loft Soap Company makes small batches of goat milk soap featuring scents like Lily of the Valley, Berry Riesling, and Lilac Blooms.

A selection of nut butters (no peanuts!) featuring flavors of ginger snaps, cinnamon snickerdoodle, and coconut cardamom, are made by a small company called Ground Up. It is a women-owned busi-

Artisans at Middle River

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 25

ness that provides job training to women “overcoming adversity through the sale of healthy and delicious nut butters.” Another treat available is Bee Infuzed specialty honey with different flavors including Chai, cinnamon, Matcha, turmeric, and even chilipepper cayenne!

The Knitty Professor, a craftswoman who turns out adorable knit animals with whimsical features, is an actual UCONN professor who taught herself to knit during COVID. Other artists include jewelry designers, textile creators, a wooden bowl turner, a block print artist, a wind chime creator, and an eco-print silk scarf designer, who are among the many talented people whose work is featured. Family members’ work is also featured in the shop. Dot’s husband Mark makes the eye-catching laser engraved wooden pieces, which are always favorably received by customers. Her niece, Alicia Corsini, crochets children’s clothing and women’s accessories, and also makes “designer” face masks. Dot herself, a “semi-professional” photographer, has her work on display. She specializes in portraits of children and dogs, and has also photographed weddings in the past. In fact, she explains that “I had been thinking about expanding my photo work into more of a gallery type setting and, just as my lease was expiring at my third and final photo studio, the opportunity to rent my space here in Stafford arose...which I took as a good sign.

Before I signed my lease, I contacted ten of my favorite artisans and asked if they’d join me in this venture. Within an hour of emailing, I heard back from all ten saying that if I rented it, they would come. That was in May of 2019, and we have now grown to a group of 38 artisans.”

A woman of many talents, Dot has, in fact, had several careers before opening her shop.

She says, “I taught for twenty years, earning my Bachelors at the age of 44, and my Masters at 51. I was a dental assistant/practice manager for 20 years before that, and finally pursued my dream to teach fifth grade and up. I was the Curator of Education at a local children’s museum for my first year, then taught a year of Kindergarten, two years as a remedial reading/math teacher, and six years as a fifth-grade teacher while completing my Masters in Reading/Language Arts.

I also obtained additional certification as a Reading Specialist and Reading Consultant, and spent my last 10 years as an Early Literacy Specialist in a K-2 school. I retired from teaching six years ago.”

26 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

Of her current business she says, “My biggest learning curve with establishing this business was streamlining the accounting portion of the shop. As the number of artisans grew, so did the amount of accounting that was necessary to keep track of sales.

Since most of my artisans are on a consignment basis, my husband and I developed a series of Excel spreadsheets for each artisan, and my wholesale accounts as well. Second to accounting challenges is learning how to utilize social media to promote the artisans, and new work as it arrives.”

She is obviously enjoying her latest endeavor and her favorite part is “when someone new walks in the door, pauses to look around, and says ‘WOW’! It makes me feel good that visitors appreciate the quality of the work created by our artisans.”

Artisans at Middle River is located at 60 Main Street in Stafford Springs, CT Artatmiddleriver@gmail.com 860-933-3653 Note that Arts on Main, a street-wide celebration, is held the second Friday of every month in Stafford Springs. For more information, check their Facebook page.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 27

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See our website for our Banquet & Catering Menu

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Apple Cake

5 Red Delicious apples, peeled, cored 3 Tbsp cinnamon 3 cups of unbleached or cake flour 1 cup granulated sugar 1 cup brown sugar 1Tbsp baking powder 4 eggs 1 cup vegetable oil 1/2 cup apple cider 1/4 cup walnuts 2 tsp vanilla FOR CRUMBLE 1/2 cup flour 1/4 cup oats 1/4 cup brown sugar 1 tbsp cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350F on convection.

Start by peeling and coring your apples, cut into slices. Put into a bowl and mix one tablespoon of your cinnamon and cover while you make your batter. Combine your dry ingredients and whisk until fully combined. Then start to incorporate your wet ingredients, whisk until you have a smooth cake batter and then fold in your apples. In a greased cake pan or bundt pan pour in your mixture and top with the crumble. Bake for an 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a tooth pic comes out mostly clean. Enjoy warm!

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!

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 33

The Final Countdown

7 places for apple and pumpkin picking

‘Tis the season for fresh, crisp apples and perfect pumpkins. Here’s our list of local apple orchards and pumpkin patches. As pumpkin and apple picking is dependent on the weather, we suggest calling each farm before visiting to ensure they’re open.

FERN VALLEY FARMS LLC 758 MAIN STREET, WILBRAHAM, MA FACEBOOK.COM/FERNVALLEYHAY

Fern Valley Farms grows many varieties of apples with a great view of the Pioneer Valley. Enter via 758 Main Street and drive up the road to the left.

IRISH BEND ORCHARD

90 PIONEER HEIGHTS RD, SOMERS, CT IRISHBENDORCHARD.COM Apple varieties include: Zestar, McIntosh, Cortland, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Honey Crisp, Empire, Early Fuji, Gala, Smokehouse, and Cameo. Free hayrides to their pumpkin patch.

All pumpkins from the patch are $5 each. Cash and credit cards accepted. Open Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

PARK HILL ORCHARD

82 PARK HILL ROAD, EASTHAMPTON, MA PARKHILLORCHARD.COM/PYO HOME OF THE ORIGINAL CIDER SLUSHIE

Park Hill Orchard is home to the area’s well-known “Art in the Orchard”, a walking sculpture trail which runs through November 28. The sculpture show is free and open during daylight hours and is the perfect opportunity for some fun photos. Pick-yourown hours are from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., no reservations necessary.

34 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

ECHO HILL ORCHARDS WINERY & DISTILLERY

101 WILBRAHAM ROAD, MONSON, MA ECHOHILLORCHARDS.COM

Pick-your-own is cash only (ATM on site) and is offered Wednesdays Fridays, 12-5 p.m. All pick-your-own is walk out on the farm, there are no tractors rides this season. Customers are welcome to bring their own wagons.

BASHISTA ORCHARDS & CIDER MILL

160 EAST STREET, SOUTHAMPTON, MA GOTCIDER.NET

Since 1926! in addition to apple picking, they sell cider donuts, apple cider, baked goods, local vegetables in season, country gifts, fresh locally produced maple syrup and maple candy, raw honey, and cider vinegar.

October apple varieties include Empire, Fuji, Jonafree, Jonagold, and Mutsu.

EASY PICKIN’S ORCHARD

FOSTER FAMILY FARM

Open since 1992, Easy Pickin’s grows over a dozen different varieties of apples. Visit their website for indepth descriptions of each type of apple. Cash/check preferred, credit/debit cards also accepted.

Solve their corn maze, enjoy a leisurely hayride, pick a pumpkin, and meet some friendly farm animals during your visit.

46 BAILEY ROAD, ENFIELD, CT EASYPICKINSORCHARD.COM

90 FOSTER STREET, SOUTH WINDSOR, CT FOSTERFARM.COM

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local einstein

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!

HOW MANY COLORS OF M&MS ARE FOUND IN A NORMAL BAG?

WHAT WAS THE NAME OF GOMEZ & MORTICIA’S DAUGHTER ON THE ADDAMS FAMILY?

[A] 5 [B] 6 [C] 7 [D] 8 HOW MUCH DOES THE LARGEST PUMPKIN EVER GROWN WEIGH?

[A] Tuesday [B] Wednesday [C] Thursday [D] Friday WHO DIED ON HALLOWEEN NIGHT?

[A] 2,624 lbs [B] 1,925 lbs [C] 1,522 lbs [D] 982 lbs

WHAT WAS STEPHEN KING’S FIRST PUBLISHED NOVEL?

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

IN MARY SHELLEY’S NOVEL, WHAT IS DR. FRANKENSTEIN’S FIRST NAME? [A] Igor [B] Vilhelm [C] Victor [D] Abraham

[A] The Shining [B] Carrie [C] Firestarter [D] Salem’s Lot

[A] The Addams Family [B] The Munsters [C] I Dream of Jeannie [D] Bewitched WHO WROTE THE LEGEND OF SLEEPY HOLLOW? [A] Washington Irving [B] Nathanial Hawthorne [C] Edgar Allen Poe [D] Oscar Wilde

36 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2021

WHAT WAS THE FIRST INDIVIDUALLY WRAPPED PENNY CANDY IN AMERICA? [A] Tootsie Rolls [B] Laffy Taffy [C] Smarties [D] Mary Janes

# CORRECT

IQ

RANK

ANSWERS:

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

160 110 50 3

Prodigy Egghead Meh Simpleton

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

WHAT WAS THE LONGEST-RUNNING SUPERNATURAL-THEMED SITCOM OF THE 1960S-1970S?

Bram Stoker Harry Houdini Mary Shelley H.P. Lovecraft

s g n i Wedd FA L L 2 0 2 1

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 37

40 TABLE OF

CONTENTS Winter 2021

40 45

45

47 53

47 On the cover: The Bittner Wedding Photo by Pine and Birch Photography

38 GO LOCAL

Weddings OCTOBER 2021

53

67

Lucy Blooms Amazing Local Floral Designs

The Beauty Studio One Stop Shop for Bridal Beauty

Big Wheel Press Specializing in Bespoke Wedding Invites

Local Couples.

Real Weddings.

Local Couples featuring all the details of their special day.

Honeymooning Closer to Home Honeymoon Options.

Say “I Do” by The Lake

Four Seasons by the Lake is a rustic, romantic venue nestled in the beautiful town of Stafford, CT. We are a full-service event facility accommodating all budgets. Four Seasons offers a variety of menus with flavorful dishes fashioned to delight all palates. We offer services for both on and off site events.

51 Old Springfield Road • Stafford Springs, CT • 860-851-9445 fourseasonsstafford.com GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 39

lynne reznick photography

LucyBlooms

By Keith O’Connor

SPECIAL TO WEDDINGS

The coronavirus pandemic has affected all sectors of the economy, including the bridal industry and the need for flowers.

“Weddings have been postponed or cancelled, and some downsized.

Today’s weddings are a lot smaller and a lot of the details are more intentional,” said Clarissa Marchia, the artist behind creating the amazing floral designs that have come to define her thriving business known as Lucy Blooms.

“Personally, I’d rather produce an intentional event than a generic large event where most of the designs go unnoticed. I am finding myself having deeper conversations 40 GO LOCAL

Weddings OCTOBER 2021

with the couples about their story, their design preferences, and what they look for and want most in their wedding,” she added.

As part of the wedding side of her business, Marchia offers personal flowers, such as bouquets and flower wearables, centerpieces, and floral arches and installations that are more large-scale than other designs.

When booking a florist for your wedding, Marchia suggests choosing someone “who goes above and beyond for their client’s needs.”

“I create bespoke wedding experiences, meaning each wedding is custom to the couple and their love story. I use flowers as a medium of joy and love. It is such an honor for a couple to give me the opportunity

to decorate their special day using my creativity and designs. Flowers are my form of expressing myself, so to share that with others is such a special experience,” she said.

Marchia noted what sets her apart from others in the business is providing “an experience” for the brides and those grooms who take an active role in many aspects of planning the wedding.

“From the first moment we meet, I want to make sure what I’m designing is true to their story. I make sure to educate my clients through the process, as well as by sharing my knowledge of flowers with them and my artistic opinion about how I can enhance their wedding florals,” Marchia said.

“This is always my first step, even before I book the client. It’s important to meet them beforehand and get to know them before you start talking about their designs. I want their designs to feel as true to them as possible. Brides usually have more of an opinion when it comes to flowers, but I have had discussions with the other party, whether groom or bride,” she added.

As for a particular flower that brides ask for, Marchia said it “depends on the season.”

“Many people ask for multi-petaled flowers such as peonies and dahlias, but I would suggest that couples focus on the flowers in season for the best varieties,” she said.

Her website even notes they create flowers for those who want to elope.

“I am a huge fan of spontaneity and love, and an elopement is an expression of both coming together,” Marchia said.

While there was no “floral” major at the college she attended in San Francisco, Marchia said she is “proud to be a selftaught artist.”

lucy blooms

lucy blooms

lynne reznick photography

“It has taken me over 25 years to get to this point. Floral design is much more than the physical flower - it is about color, composition, interpretation, empathy, being present, tuning in to nature’s gift and meditating on it. The experiences I have had in my lifetime have given me this perspective, and I am hoping to change the way people think about flowers,” Marchia said.

“My drive and curiosity led me to learn everything I know today, and will continue to learn as the industry keeps changing.

There have been countless hours of tutorials, attending workshops, working alongside designers in New York City and Boston, and now always keeping up with the trends of the industry,” she added.

Working out of Northampton, beyond her wedding services Marchia offers event decoration, flower bars for events, home parties, everyday floral arrangements, weekly deliveries for businesses, creative services and more.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 41

lynne reznick photography

melanie zacek photography

Marchia offers a “Full Service Wedding” and “A La Carte” options.

Say “I Do” to A Ford SUV

The Full Service Wedding Package is personalized based on your vision for your wedding. It includes several consultations, complete customization of your wedding flowers, set up, delivery, and breakdown of your flowers, mood board, visual design proposal and more. The option is designed for couples who would like to make an investment in their wedding flowers and for those who want to decorate both their ceremony and reception with creative flowers. There is a minimum $4,000 investment with payment plan options available.

A La Carte Floral Services are created for weddings and events requiring lightly custom florals. It includes a streamlined quick and easy quoting process, personalized mood board, and two phone consultations, but does not include set up, delivery, breakdown or in-person consultations or on-site visits. There is no minimum, however, a 50% deposit is required.

1-800-466-2503 FAMILYFORDINC.COM

65 Hazard Ave. • Enfield, CT • 860-745-2151

42 GO LOCAL

Weddings OCTOBER 2021

For more information on Lucy Blooms and to see some of her floral creations, visit hellolucyblooms.com or call 413-478-7262.

A Bigger, Better Diamond for Less! Guaranteed!

Masterfully Crafted Floral Creations Tailored to Your Needs

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JEWELERS 2225 Northampton St., (K-Mart Plaza), Holyoke 413.536.5655 | 413.536.7337 | bradmatthewjewelers.com GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 43

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44 GO LOCAL

Weddings OCTOBER 2021

four wings photography

Beauty Studio THE

By Allison Billeter

SPECIAL TO WEDDINGS

Whether you’re just starting off the wedding planning process or are seeking a hair or makeup artist, we know a place that will satisfy all of your bridal beauty needs.

The Beauty Studio (TBS), located at 393 East Street in Ludlow, is a full-service salon, spa, and boutique. They opened for business in 2015 with the intention of focusing solely on bridal beauty.

“I have always loved everything about a wedding day,” says TBS owner Marsia Nogueira. “After receiving my cosmetology license ten years ago,

I quickly realized that doing event hair and makeup is where I was the happiest and where I wanted to focus my energy.” Nogueira is also a hair stylist and makeup artist for the salon along with their full freelance hair and makeup team.

“Since we have a full bridal team that is separate from our salon and spa team, we do not need to shut down the day of a wedding,” adds Nogueira. This allows their storefront to remain open during their normal operating hours and their bridal hair and makeup team to travel to each wedding.

“We travel ANYWHERE! We love to see new venues across New England

and beyond and also had our first destination wedding this year. Ninety nine percent of the time we are on-site at a wedding doing hair and makeup.”

Let’s dive deeper into their offerings.

MAKEUP

Brides and their bridal party can choose from traditional or airbrush makeup.

“Airbrush is the best option for brides getting married from May through October,” advises Nogueira. “It is waterproof, sweat-resistant, and transfer-proof, which is perfect for continuous photos and lasting all day in the warmer weather.” While GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 45

hair extensions for fullness and length if needed!”

BRIDAL TRIALS

Every bride is invited to a bridal trial prior to their wedding to solidify their look.

“If you are not ready to book our services, that is ok,” says Nogueira.

“In addition to regular bridal trials for those who already have us booked, we offer a pre-booking trial option where you can come to meet us and we can try out a few different looks and styles for you!” So neat!

PHOTOGRAPHY

In addition to bridal beauty, The Beauty Studio offers engagement sessions, elopement and full wedding photography packages. For non-bridal needs, they offer headshots, branding sessions, and senior photos.

SALON/SPA SERVICES talia persico photography

four wings photography

If you’re set for day-of bridal services, consider booking The Beauty Studio prior to your wedding (and honeymoon) for a haircut/color (including balayage), lash extension/ lift, cosmetic tattooing (microbladed brows, freckles, or lip blush), full body waxing, spray tan, massage, or a facial.

They sell a full line of take-home hair and beauty products.

CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

talia persico photography

many brides come in with inspiration photo from Pinterest or their friends’ weddings, some still aren’t sure what their bridal look will be yet. But they’ve got you covered!

themselves. Classic bridal glam!”

“For makeup I love when a bride says to me ‘I never really wear makeup but I want to feel like a bride.’ I want our brides to look like the best version of themselves but to still feel like

“I love the effortless beauty in bridal boho hair,” she says. “But we offer any kind of hairstyle from sleek updos to boho braids for both the bride and bridal party. We can also add clip-in

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HAIR

Nogueira’s ideal bridal client is one aiming for a boho beauty aesthetic.

TBS is also home to a trendy clothing and accessory boutique! Brides can come and do some honeymoon shopping, date night outfit shopping, or pick up some bridesmaid gifts. The Beauty Studio Boutique is a super fun place to shop even if you aren’t involved in the wedding planning process!

The Beauty Studio is an all-around fun place to treat yourself and get you looking and feeling your best for your wedding day and beyond. With a stylish team and trendy focus, you can’t go wrong!

For more information please visit: thebeautystudioma.com

PHOTOS BY NATE BLAIS

By Keith O’Connor

SPECIAL TO WEDDINGS

When it comes to wedding invitations today, etiquette has been thrown out the window and anything goes from the wacky to the gauche to the plain and simple of yesteryear.

Gone are the days when the late Emily Post - author and socialite - in the mid1950s offered her etiquette advice on what invitations should look like - written in the third person and engraved only in script, block or shaded block or old English on white note-paper. Her advice also included not using the phrase “the pleasure of your company, but the “honor of your presence.”

“Today’s couples are using the wedding invitation, as well as other printed materials, to reflect their own creativity and, more importantly, as a way to share their unique personal love story.

Gone are the days when a couple would simply go to a print shop and look through large, vast books filled with

sample invitations and choose one. By working with us, customers will never see another invite like theirs anywhere to be found, it is completely customized to their taste,” said Bill Muller, owner of Big Wheel Press in Easthampton.

Muller and his staff use traditional letterpress techniques and specialize in bespoke wedding invitations that are a personalized and timeless memento for that “very special day.” Big Wheel Press has an in-house design team to help couples create their own unique print materials, and they are also able to work with outside designers.

“Letterpress printing has a feel unlike any other printing process. The type is impressed into the paper and every invitation we print at Big Wheel Press is done by hand and becomes a family heirloom,” Muller said.

It all begins with “Save the Date” cards, many of which are also very inventive and often include a photo of the couple.

Now, because of the coronavirus and GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 47

I’m so glad we had our invitations designed and printed at Big Wheel Press

Our letterpress save the dates and thank you notes are perfect.

BIG WHEEL PRESS Design & Production of Custom Letterpress Wedding Stationery 413-203-1700 sales@bigwheelpress.com On the Nashawannuck Pond in Easthampton, Massachusetts

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the cancellation of many weddings, there are “Change the Date,” cards.

“We recently did a Save the Date card that was in the form of a coaster to use at home and that serves as a constant reminder. It was printed on 100% cotton cardstock that is nearly 1/8" thick and then die cut in the shape of a coaster. The card was square, with the round coaster in the middle that pops out. It was mailed in a colorful square envelope,” Muller said.

Wedding invitations in the 21st century can be anything the couple desires. Some have illustrations. Others incorporate photographs. Still others have fancy shapes. And the sky is the limit when it comes to choosing different papers, colored inks, and verses. (Visit Big Wheel Press at bigwheelpress.com to view the many out-of-the-box wedding invitations some couples have created along with Muller.)

Even the envelope used to mail out invitations gets special attention today.

The use of envelope liners has long been a tradition to add a “touch of class” and to protect the invitation in the mailing process. Liners up until recently have long been simply a blank or patterned piece of colored paper that is cut to fit inside the envelope and fold down with the envelope flap. Today, however, they are often used for more practical purposes to include additional information about the wedding or even a photograph of the couple.

“We just created a special wedding liner which included an old nautical map of where the couple were holding their wedding,” Muller said.

Place cards informing guests at which table they will be seated also get special attention today.

“We have taken the traditional letterpress and add a digital component. So, now we can take the same fine printed papers used for invitations and add digital images. For example, we just did a wedding where the bride wanted a floral watercolor image on her reception dinner place cards, and the name of the couple printed in letterpress. We created a watercolor image, scanned it

and then printed the image on our double-thick rag cardstock. Then the place cards were run through the letterpress to add the couple’ s names and finally our calligrapher filled in all the other names. The result was a high-end piece for their tables done for a reasonable price,” Muller said.

“We recently printed a menu for a couple to be placed at each seat. It didn’t just list each dinner option, but included an amazing description of each meal. We have also helped to design custom labels for wine and champagne bottles placed on the dinner table for guest to enjoy,” Muller said.

Couples are also utilizing the dinner table as another way to personalize their wedding and add a memento for guests to take home with them.

After the wedding and honeymoon, there are “thank-you’s” that will need to be written, and Muller suggests ordering them ahead of time along with your invitations.

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Benjamin Franklin post office in Philadelphia, where they use a reproduction of Franklin's original "frank" stamp.

Big Wheel Press wedding invites are sought after by more than just area couples.

“We have customers from as far away as New York and California. Their connection to us is often local with them having grown up in this area. Modern technology makes it easy for them to work with us from afar. We don’t have to rely just on the phone and mail anymore. There is the internet and email, video conferencing, and we can still drop samples in the mail for them to see and touch,” Muller said.

And, that’s a far cry from the early days when the town crier would walk the streets announcing a couple’s plan to marry.

In addition to their wedding invitation business, Big Wheel Press produces unique 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.

“Couples become so focused on planning their wedding that they don’t think ahead about thankyou notes. I guarantee you that when the day is over, if you have already have them in hand, then you will be very happy. You can start writing them sooner than later when memories of the day are still fresh in your mind, and you may want to personalize the note by mentioning a conversation you had with that guest during the wedding,” he said.

He noted most thank-you notes are “pretty classic” in design.

“Usually, they entail adding a floral image and are printed on the same paper as the invitation 50 GO LOCAL

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using the same color ink so that everything ties in together,” Muller said.

And, when it is time to mail out your invitations, Big Wheel Press is there to help if you wish.

“For one recent invitation, we tied up the package in decorative twine which consisted of an invitation, RSVP card, the appropriate envelopes, and an information card. Our calligrapher addressed the card, we stamped the envelope with antique stamps and sealed the envelope with sealing wax. We then delivered the completed invitations to a post office for hand cancellation.

For one wedding, we had the invitations hand cancelled at the

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 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.

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.

Muller has now consolidated his three businesses - Big Wheel Press, Guild Art Supply, and Pierce’s Frame Shop - into one location on 1 Cottage St., Building 10, in Easthampton.

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

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l e i n a D & a c c e b Re

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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS OCTOBER 4, 2020 ALL PHOTOS FEATURED FROM THE AMETRANO & JOHNSON WEDDING BY LINDSEY TOPHAM PHOTOGRAPHY

NAMES: Rebecca Ametrano & Daniel Johnson AGES: Rebecca - 35, Daniel - 36 OCCUPATIONS: Clinical Psychologists CEREMONY/RECEPTION: Quonquont Farm, Whately, MA INVITATIONS: Zola FLOWERS: Quonquont Farm, Whately, MA BRIDE’S DRESS: Jenny Yoo BRIDE’S SHOES: Badgley Mischka CATERER: Wheelhouse, Amherst, MA MUSIC: Jeremy Milligan VIDEOGRAPHER: Brian Hale, HaleChannel Studio, Chicopee, MA GROOM’S SUIT: Nordstrom CAKE: Green Fields Market, Greenfield, MA RINGS: Barmakian Jewelers HAIR/MAKEUP: The Beauty Studio, Ludlow, MA FIRST DANCE SONG: “True Companion” by Marc Cohn MEMORABLE MOMENTS: 1) Sharing our personalized vows during the ceremony, and 2) taking a moment at the end of our first dance to send our love and thanks to all of our family and friends watching the ceremony virtually.

BEST WEDDING ADVICE: There is no way everything will go exactly according to plan - roll with it and savor the day, however it unfolds!

HONEYMOON: Berkshires (because of COVID!)…planning a belated honeymoon in Hawaii

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k r a M Judi&

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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS OCTOBER 10, 2020 ALL PHOTOS FEATURED FROM THE WELLS WEDDING BY LINDSEY TOPHAM PHOTOGRAPHY

NAMES: Judi and Mark Wells AGES: 38 & 61 OCCUPATIONS: Registered Nurse, Retired College Professor CEREMONY/RECEPTION: Boylston Rooms, Easthampton, MA INVITATIONS: Minted FLOWERS: McClelland’s Florist, Chicopee, MA BRIDE’S DRESS/SHOES: David’s Bridal CATERER/CAKE: Myers Catering, Easthampton, MA MUSIC: DJ Wichy BRIDESMAID DRESSES: David’s Bridal HAIR/MAKEUP: Paolo’s Salon, Chicopee, MA FIRST DANCE SONG: “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You” by Lady A MEMORABLE MOMENT: Seeing my son get emotional when Mark read his vows to him THEME: Industrial/Rustic BEST WEDDING ADVICE: Don’t sweat the small stuff and enjoy your day!

HONEYMOON: Ireland once COVID restrictions lift

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Wear it twice... we’ll make it nice!

Once in a Lifetime…

Let Us Make It Special

Specializing in Wedding Gown Restoration since 1935.

262 Allen St. Springfield | 413-736-5476 | Hrs: Mon-Fri 7-6 • Sat 8-2 | ParkCleaners413.com 464 Main St. Wilbraham | Hrs: Mon-Sat 9-1

• Affordable luxury weddings • No hidden costs • Huge selection of linens and colors • Only one wedding per day • Beautiful Scenic Views • Outdoor Ceremonies

St. Anne Country Club

781 Shoemaker Lane, Feeding Hills, MA 01030 (413) 786 2088 www.STANNECC.com

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Family Owned Since 1918 Engagement Rings Lab-Grown & Natural-Mined Diamonds Repairs on Site

We don’t sell diamonds.

We help you buy them.

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Mon., Tue., Wed. & Fri. 9:30-5:30, Sat. 9:30-3:00, Sun. & Thu. Closed

735 Sumner Avenue Springfield, MA • 413-736-3262

Tue., Wed., Thu. & Fri. 9:30-5:30, Sat. 9:30-3:00, Sun. & Mon. Closed

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c i r E & e ll e h c Mi

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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS AUGUST 7, 2021 ALL PHOTOS FEATURED FROM THE ZIEMBA WEDDING BY SIMONE PLUS PHOTOGRAPHY

NAMES: Eric & Michelle Ziemba OCCUPATIONS: Teachers CEREMONY/RECEPTION: The Boylston Rooms, Easthampton, MA INVITATIONS: Minted FLOWERS: Dandelions Florist, Easthampton, MA BRIDE’S DRESS: Going to the Chapel Dress Shop, Enfield, CT BRIDE’S SHOES: David’s Bridal MUSIC: DJ Bigg Mann GROOM’S SUIT: Men’s Wearhouse CATERER/CAKE: Myers Catering, Easthampton, MA BRIDESMAID DRESSES: David’s Bridal RINGS: RJ Stohr Diamonds & Fine Jewelry, Pittsfield, MA HAIR/MAKEUP: Did themselves FIRST DANCE SONG: “No Matter Where You Are (Wedding Version)” by Us The Duo MEMORABLE MOMENT: The ceremony and exchanging our vows. We both don’t remember seeing a single person, we only saw each other.

BEST WEDDING ADVICE: Don’t sweat the small stuff and soak in every moment because it goes by so quickly.

HONEYMOON: Aruba in February 2022

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Think of us for your special celebrations!

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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS DECEMBER 20, 2020

(LEGAL DATE 11/28/20 – WILL EXPLAIN BELOW)

ALL PHOTOS FEATURED FROM THE BITTNER WEDDING BY PINE AND BIRCH PHOTOGRAPHY

NAMES: Bobby & Kayla Bittner AGES: Bobby (30) & Kayla (28) OCCUPATIONS: Diesel mechanic (Bobby) & ICU RN (Kayla) CEREMONY/RECEPTION: Valley View Farm, Haydenville, MA FLOWERS: I Do Flowers, Easthampton, MA BRIDE’S DRESS: Pearl Bridal Studio, Holyoke, MA BRIDE’S SHOES: Boot Barn WEDDING COORDINATOR: Dan Laflamme, Valley View Farm GROOM’S SUIT: Men’s Wearhouse BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Shop Revelry RINGS: Alpine Rings online (his); Joseph Jewelers in Danielson, CT (hers) HAIR/MARKEUP: Artistry by Marsia from The Beauty Studio, Ludlow, MA FIRST DANCE SONG: “Yours” by Russell Dickerson MEMORABLE MOMENT: It began to snow immediately after saying ‘I do’ THEME: Country, rustic, beer BEST WEDDING ADVICE: Don’t stress about the things that are out of your control NOTES: Our original date was 11/28/2020, but after COVID started, we were ultimately forced to have a small ceremony of 20 people.

However, four days before our wedding date I tested positive for COVID-19. Bobby, being the absolute best partner I could ask for, still made it all happen and we got legally married via Zoom with just our parents and siblings watching.

Then the weekend before Christmas we had our small ceremony, with just parents, siblings, grandparents, and a few close friends there.

We plan to have our dream reception on our oneyear anniversary on 11/28/21. But being a strong believer that everything happens for a reason, if I had not gotten sick, we wouldn’t have pushed back our ceremony date and gotten the amazing pictures with the snow.

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m a S & n e r u a L

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IT’S ALL IN THE DETAILS JULY 7, 2020 ALL PHOTOS FEATURED FROM THE NELSON WEDDING

BY MATTHEW CAVANAUGH PHOTOGRAPHY

NAMES: Lauren Tauer & Sam Nelson AGES: 29 & 29 OCCUPATIONS: Biology Research Associate & Information Technology CEREMONY: Breezy Acres Farm, Granby, MA RECEPTION: Bride’s Family Backyard, Chicopee, MA INVITATIONS: Minted FLOWERS: Viktor Lezhnyak, Westfield, MA BRIDE’S DRESS: Bridal Corner, Chicopee, MA BRIDE’S SHOES: Tom’s CATERER: Hamel’s Creative Catering, Holyoke, MA & three wonderful Chicopee Comp current/former culinary students as servers MUSIC: Absolute Entertainment, West Springfield, MA GROOM’S SUIT: Men’s Wearhouse CAKE: Ludlow Central Bakery, Ludlow, MA & desserts from Christine Wright, Woodstock, CT BRIDESMAID DRESSES: Blushing Bride, Peabody, MA RINGS: Bride - Lilooks, Stockholm, Sweden/Groom Rosler, Buenos Aires, Argentina HAIR: Kelly Mailloux, Profiles Salon, Chicopee, MA MAKEUP: Sarah Roux, Westfield, MA FIRST DANCE SONG: “Mirrorball” by Elbow MEMORABLE MOMENT: We forgot to bring our bouquets to the ceremony, so at the last moment, my mother and sister (maid of honor) pulled two sunflowers out of the field. It was perfect!!

THEME: Shades of blue and earthy natural decor OTHER/NOTES: We didn’t have a wedding planner, so my parents’ good friends (also our landlords) agreed to help out. When we saw the caterer driving the wrong direction, they called; when we realized we forgot the bouquets, they came; and when we didn’t realize we forgot the pastor’s gift, they thought “this looks important, better bring it with the flowers!”

Having them was a tremendous help and we are immensely appreciative of their support.

BEST WEDDING ADVICE: Roll with the punches. You can plan and hope for everything to go perfectly, but if it doesn’t, remember what really matters.

HONEYMOON: We have not had our honeymoon yet, but we plan to stick with our original plan to take the Amtrak’s Empire Builder to Oregon when it is safe to travel.

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Honeymooning

By Allison Billeter

SPECIAL TO WEDDINGS

My fiancé (now husband) Nick and I always dreamed of taking our honeymoon right after our October 2020 wedding -- going to Walt Disney World for a few days and then causally flying down to Turks and Caicos for our honeymoon. But boy oh boy, did COVID change that!

We were nowhere near comfortable going on a plane, let alone travel internationally, and travel restrictions strongly advised we not travel out of state. With this, we began to research local honeymoon options. We settled on a cute AirBnB in Dennis, MA (Cape Cod) on a lake with an outdoor hot tub.

Getting away after the big day was absolutely crucial! We relaxed like there was no tomorrow…sleeping in, having a cocktail or two, getting massages at a local spa (with masks on, of course), and relaxing in the hot tub. It didn’t matter where we were, as long as we got to destress and take in newlywed life.

Luckily for us New Englanders, we can find nearly any type of getaway near us: from the beach to the mountains, secluded or in the middle of a busy city.

There are plenty of places to explore!

Here are my tips and suggestions for taking a local honeymoon:

ROAD TRIP THROUGH ALL SIX NEW ENGLAND STATES Start by heading south to Connecticut, then travel east to Rhode Island, head up the east coast through Cape Cod/ Boston, hit Hampton Beach and the shores of Maine, then cross over into New Hampshire and visit the White Mountains, and scoot over to Burlington, VT for some lakeside love.

ASK FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR THEIR SUGGESTIONS Odds are someone you know has been to a super cool New England beach town every summer since they were little, or found a great hotel in Boston on a work retreat. Ask around for suggestions of local restaurants and things to do.

CLOSER TO HOME

PERUSE AIRBNB AND VRBO FOR COOL STAYS WITH EXTRAS You could find a hidden gem with its own pool or hot tub, or one with an awesome view of the mountains or the ocean.

GO SOMEWHERE YOU KNOW WELL, BUT AMP IT UP A NOTCH • Stay in a suite.

• Do a lavish activity like horseback riding, renting jet skis, or going on a private sailboat tour.

• Treat yourselves to some fancy meals or hire a personal chef to cook for you.

• Book a spa day.

• Catch a local performance.

Do something you haven’t done before: go to a craft class, visit a farm, immerse yourself in local culture.

PLACES TO STAY ON YOUR NEW ENGLAND HONEYMOON FOR RELAXATION

Miraval Berkshires Resort & Spa, Lenox, MA Wyndhurst Manor & Club, Lenox, MA Cliff House, Cape Neddick, ME Mountain View Grand Resort & Spa, Whitefield, NH White Barn Inn, Kennebunk, ME Winvian Farm, Morris, CT Twin Farms, Barnard, VT

FOR SEEING THE SIGHTS Portland Harbor Hotel, Portland, ME The Beachmere Inn, Ogunquit, ME Hawthorne Hotel, Salem, MA Hotel Vermont, Burlington, VT Omni Mount Washington Resort, Bretton Woods, NH Newport Beach Hotel and Suites, Middletown, RI

FOR HISTORY

Red Lion Inn, Stockbridge, MA Chatham Bars Inn, Chatham, MA The Adelphi Hotel, Saratoga Springs, NY Lenox Hotel, Boston, MA Fairmont Copley Plaza, Boston

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