Go Local | October 2016

GO LOCAL MAGAZINE . OCTOBER 2016

October 2016 Volume 2 . Issue 11 golocalmagazines.com

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM

more than a game strike up the band redux of you

get lost making the maze at scantic valley farm

2 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2016 . VOLUME 2 . ISSUE 11

GET LOST

Making the maze at Scantic Valley Farm

33

Long before the cool air rolls in and flannel shirts reemerge, the Barrett family is carefully planning, designing, creating and marketing their interactive “live puzzle” at Scantic Valley Farm in Somers, Connecticut.

While the premise of this quintessential fall experience is simple, like any farm venture, its creation is not so rudimentary.

6

EDITOR’S NOTE

8

GO ON, YOUR SAY Everyone deserves their 15 minutes of fame

11

STRIKE UP THE BAND Ellington HS Marching Band

14

SHARE YOUR STORY Holiday traditions & celebrations

16

BUILDING ON A DREAM Foster Hill Farm

20

GO LOCAL PICK Rusty Truck Flowers Autumn bouquet

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS OCTOBER 2016 . VOLUME 2 . ISSUE 11

STRIKE UP THE BAND

22

AUTUMN EXCURSION

Scenic drives & seasonal highlights

27

LOCAL SNAPSHOT Autumn fields

29

MORE THAN A GAME Special Olympics Massachusetts

39

GO EAT Oynx Moonshine Apple Cake

41

REDUX FOR YOU Art of seat weaving

4 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

facebook.com/GoLocalMagazines ï…‹

44

GO LOCAL P ICKS Fork art, handmade cards & truffles

47

SOMETHING GOOD FROM TWISTED WOOD Tornado Fire Starters

53

IN THE GARAGE 1965 Chevy II Nova

55

ART OF STONE CARVING In Longmeadow, MA

60

LOCAL EINSTEIN Put your thinking cap on!

58

FINAL COUNTDOWN 7 places to watch football

11

BUILDING A DREAM

MORE THAN A GAME

29

TWO MEN TROOP 275 AUTUMN INFROM THE ORCHARD

16

41

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EDITOR’S NOTE ! AMBER E. WAKLEY

Perhaps it’s my deep-seated affection for root vegetables and cucurbits or the contentment offered by a temperate jaunt, but I’ve been anticipating autumn’s arrival for weeks - I have no problem waving goodbye to the nefarious humidity. Yes, I’ll surely miss the long days of light, but October brings a new rhythm to the air, one that’s calm and less chaotic than its warmer-month counterparts. It’s as if crisp air ignites each day with auspicious change and the opportunity to create a new pattern of positive growth.

I have [happily] found myself back in the kitchen, making the most of autumn’s harvest; it’s hard to whittle down my favorite belly-warming foods. I recently pulled out my grandmother’s heavy-duty Pyrex glassware once again. The vintage “Spice of Life” baking dishes - the ones with the harvest design of sage green, brown, yellow and orange vegetables - has welcomed countless meals over their lifetime. As I chopped up an enormous sweet potato and sprinkled each chunk with cinnamon, I wondered just how many comforting recipes came to fruition in this very dish. By the end of meal prep, I could practically taste her coveted scalloped potatoes and ham. Yes, there’s a certain peace in being a home-loving soul and autumn days were meant for this sort of contemplation.

Each story you’re about to unfold represents the best of what this season has to offer - when farm stands are piled high and the landscape takes on a whole new vivid dimension. We began at Scantic Valley Farm in Somers, where the Barrett family has carefully planned, designed, and created an 8-acre corn maze to celebrate one of fall’s best traditions - they share what it takes to “get lost.” In Longmeadow, we met Al and Betsy McKee, experts in the art and history of stone carving in the Pioneer Valley; their story begins pretty close to home. In Enfield, we met Sue Muldoon, the artist behind Redux For you; she’s reviving the art and craft of chair caning and seat weaving. The fall season

CO-PUBLISHER Dan Buendo ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Doug Fabian EDITOR Amber Wakley QUALITY CONTROL Carolyn Napolitan

6 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY Dorothy Drobney Amelia Ingraham Jacqueline Sidor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Alexa Napolitan Jacquelyn Schors Amy White MURPHY BROWN Jacquelyn Schors

ADVERTISING Kim Barba Paula Dimauro Jan Ellis Kristine Hughes Foster Robert Gebo Scott Greene Nancy Holloway Jeanette Grenier Matt Mahaney Sandy Neumann Lisa Nolan Gary Rogers

 JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO

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welcomes back soccer, to celebrate we met John Ford, a Special Olympics coach from East Longmeadow who continues to empower athletes to perform at their best each year. We also took a trip to Foster Hill Farm in Stafford, stepped off with the Ellington High School Marching Band, and took a trip to Monson to meet the Wilson Family - together they’re making something good from twisted wood.

With the festive months just around the corner, Go Local is gathering together a collection of your favorite family traditions, special recipes or food that celebrates cultural heritage, and stories of good citizens who make the season brighter. If you would like to share your story, flip to page 54 for details about how to submit your story for consideration.

In The Great Gatsby Fitzgerald wrote, “Life starts all over again when it gets crisp in the fall.” I couldn’t agree more - autumn is a time for letting go - we’re in a season of transition. Embrace change with the yellowing leaves, practice balance and celebrate the abundance of fall in New England.

Amber Wakley is the Editor of Go Local Magazine and currently in a love affair with all things local. Perpetuate the passion and send local stories, “I Am Local” suggestions, “Go Local Picks,” recipes, “In the Garage” recommendations and more to:  AMBER@THEREMINDER.COM CREATIVE Beth Thurber, Manager Leigh Catchepaugh Liz O’Donoghue Leo Pilares Andrea Spohr BUSINESS ADDRESS: 280 North Main Street East Longmeadow, MA 01028 Tel: 413.525.6661 Fax: 413.525.5882

 THE GO LOCAL COMMUNITY WILBRAHAM

A PRODUCT OF

MONSON EAST LONGMEADOW

AGAWAM

LONGMEADOW Route 190

Route 190

SUFFIELD

HAMPDEN

Route 190

SOMERS ENFIELD

EAST WINDSOR

ELLINGTON

Route 190

STAFFORD SPRINGS

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 7

GO ON, YOUR SAY!

BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES THEIR 15 MINUTES OF FAME

Soap Maker

JILL

CHRIS Sauce Boss

MAE Mrs. Sauce Boss

JESSE Culinary Wizard

BRIAN Public Works

FANCY NANCY Owner, dazzlestudios.com

If you could dress up as anyone or anything, what would you be?

Pocahontas

Knights Templar

Marilyn Monroe

David Bowie at any point in his career.

The Tin Man

A dog. I will dress up as my dog...or a toaster.

What are you munching on during Sunday football?

Creamy corn dip

Loaded nachos

Whatever my husband cooks.

Pizza & wings are great Sunday football foods.

Wings

Cucumbers and hummus.

Hot apple cider

Porters & Stouts

Vanilla Chai

Clyde’s Blackout Cider

Apple cider

Fresh ginger tea... or bourbon.

What are three components of the perfect brunch?

Eggs, fruit & coffee.

Bacon, sausage & scrambled eggs.

Maple sausage, roast beef sandwich & mimosas.

Spicy Bloody Marys, corned beef hash & good company.

What’s brunch?

Champagne, Eggs Florentine & great company!

Which historical figure would you like to have coffee or a beer with?

George Washington

Marilyn Monroe

It would be interesting to pick Edgar Allen Poe’s brain over a drink.

Henry Ford

Pocahontas

Favorite fall beverage?

What’s your most annoying nervous habit?

When the weather gets cool, what’s your go-to comfort food?

If you were a ghost, who or where would you haunt?

Marco Polo

Picking my cuticles.

Leg shaking and nail biting.

Fidgeting

Cracking my knuckles & back.

Shaking my leg.

Nail biting, teeth grinding and fiddling with my hair - I have an endless list.

Mac ‘n cheese

Pot roast with mashed potatoes and extra thick gravy.

Pecan and/or pumpkin pie.

Beef stew

Chili & corn bread.

Mac ‘n cheese

My mother-in-law

I would haunt all of New England.

Wal-Mart

Yachts, oyster bars & bourbon distilleries. My life as a ghost is exciting.

My sister-in-law

8 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

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Enjoy our events throughout the week including Open Mic Mondays, Acoustic Tuesdays, Trivia Wednesdays and karaoke and live bands throughout the weekend.

COME VISIT US AT OUR NEW LOCATION 87 West Road Ellington, CT

(860) 896-3333 thehiddenstill.com Mon. 4pm-1am Tues.-Thurs. 11:30am-1am Fri.-Sat. 11:30am-2am Sun. 11:30am-1am

 !

JACQUELINE SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO AMY WHITE

up the Stepping off with Ellington High School Marching Band

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 11

ELLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL MARCHING BAND SENIORS, CLASS OF 2017

DIRECTOR OF INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, MATT DELASSUS

(L-R) DRUM MAJOR, TESSA WEBB; COLOR GUARD CO-CAPTAIN’S MIRIAM COHEN AND MOLLY MCGRATH; DRUM MAJOR, LOGAN MCDONALD

clarinets and saxophones, round out the band. The color guard’s flags allow for a visual interpretation of the music and, as Ellington’s color guard co-captain Molly McGrath summarizes, “Keeps the team together and looking as pretty as possible.”

In addition to rehearsing the music on their individual instruments, students at band camp learn proper stepping, marching techniques and physical endurance. They must learn how to be one unit perfectly in tune and in step with each other, marching forward and backward, turning, snaking among each other and even dancing, while simultaneously playing a heavy musical instrument or spinning a hefty flag. They learn to move their feet using a roll step, a fluid movement that helps keep their torsos completely still. It’s hard work, but the students look forward to it. Says McGrath, “It’s hard practicing in the sun and the heat, but it makes us better.” Her partner, co-captain Miriam Cohen agrees with a nod and a smile, saying, “It keeps us in such great shape, too,” then half-jokingly adds, “I have raging biceps!”

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While band camp kicks off their school year, their training continues throughout it, with music courses during school and practice after, led primarily by Mr. DeLassus. During his senior year in high school, DeLassus served as drum major of his school’s marching band. It was this experience, that, he says, “Enlightened me to the possibility that I could be a band teacher.” Currently, he is the school’s only band teacher, and his students are a loyal bunch. Commitment is an essential part of being in marching band, and it’s one of the things DeLassus enjoys most.

Since he’ll usually have these students all four years of their high school career, he feels it gives him multiple opportunities to inspire them to be their best. As he puts it, “It’s not always about music.”

DeLassus has been at Ellington High School for six years, and from the beginning, he’s had a vision for the marching band. His first year, there were 33 students in the band, so goal number one was to increase the number of participants. Then there’s the

fundraising, which is a never-ending process when there are instruments to purchase, uniforms to dry-clean and buses to hire. Until recently, the band mostly performed at larger venues such as Connecticut Day at the Big E, the annual Four Town Fair and Ellington’s own Memorial Day Parade, and they continue to do these shows. But this year, they will perform their first field show, yet another goal that has been reached. And in the near future, a newly-acquired grant promises lights for the Ellington Knights’ athletic fields. This gives DeLassus hope that, along with growing in size and skill, “We’ll be a mainstay at the night football games.”

Another part of his plan includes a more active involvement in marching band competitions. Every two years, the band travels to a spring music festival to perform and compete. Their most recent trip was to 2015’s Festival Disney at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Ellington’s was the only marching band to earn a Superior rating. Current drum major Logan McDonald recalls the awe-inspiring experience, saying, “Getting out there and marching and suddenly looking up and seeing Cinderella’s castle…Yeah, it was really cool.” McGrath agrees, saying, “I never thought I’d be in a Disney parade, performing in front of people who were on their vacation.” In the works this year is a trip to Virginia Beach to perform as part of a parade competition, where last time they competed, they won the Esprit de Corps award for their spirit and enthusiasm.

Passion for music helps to keep that enthusiasm up when challenges arise. McDonald sums it up best: “Challenges help the band grow.

Everyone there loves playing an instrument and we’re all doing what we love.” One of the biggest challenges the marching band faces is the ability to work as a team, especially as freshmen members join at the beginning of the year. To help them band together and get to know one another, student leaders plan team-building activities such as going out to breakfast before a performance. For McDonald, that is the biggest reward for all of his hard work as drum major. He says, “You start with a bunch of kids who may not even know each other and we all come together and become one unit, moving as one. That progress, even in a couple of months, is amazing. It’s a lot to accomplish.”

McGrath says she enjoys the immediate gratification of putting on an amazing show and “seeing how happy people get when we do that.”

But there are greater life lessons students learn from being involved in the school’s marching band. Drum major Tessa Webb has learned much from having a leadership role. She says, “It’s made a huge difference in my life. It forces me to command a big group of people, and that is something I can use outside of band.” Cohen says, “I almost wasn’t going to do color guard, but it’s made an instrumental difference in my life because I’m a lot more confident in my ability to communicate with others.” Indeed, it seems there is much more to marching band than pep rallies and football games.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 13

14 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

THE KITCHEN

GO LOCAL BIZ

INTERVIEW WITH BOBBY BARKETT

A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSE LOCAL BUSINESS IN OUR REGION

What distinguishes you from other Businesses in your category?

In a town where upscale cuisine and pizza dominate the menus of most restaurants, The Kitchen has crafted a niche by offering a variety of comfort foods including all-day breakfast, deli sandwiches, fresh salads, hot dishes, seafood, as well as classic burgers & dogs with all the fixings and soft-serve ice cream. The restaurant’s menu maintains traditional fare, but it also provides guests with more options when craving a little something special.

Something people might be surprised to Learn about you or your business.

I think folks are happily surprised about The Kitchen. Customers love our homemade recipes such as our corned beef and sweet potato hashes to our fish tacos with fresh roasted corn salsa - our soups and dressings are all home-made as well!

We partner with local businesses such as Arnold’s Meats and Broad Brook Brewing Company. We take the time to get to know our customers with each visit. We also do customized catering!

Why should people do business with you?

I grew up here in Longmeadow and my wife and I have chosen to raise our children here. My family has done business in Western Massachusetts for three generations. I care about this community. I will to the best of my ability, support and serve all of our customers. Consequently, my staff and I tirelessly workKit-4x2.125-268302_Layout to create a relaxed, family atmosphere. believe the 1 The 1 9/20/16 I2:04 PMit’s Page reason many customers come back week after week.

All-Day Breakfast Lunch • Dinner Soft Serve Ice Cream Customized Catering Daily Homemade Specialties

791 Williams Street | Longmeadow 413-754-3770 thekitchenlongmeadow.com

address

791 Williams Street . Longmeadow, MA

hours

Monday - Saturday 7AM - 9PM . Sunday 7AM - 4PM

Contact

Tel: (413) 754-3770 Web: thekitchenlongmeadow.com

“Welcome Home to the Kitchen”

THE KITCHEN breakfast - lunch - dinner - catering

OPEN Monday - Saturday 7 am - 9 pm Sunday 7 am - 4 pm GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 15

 !

DOROTHY DROBNEY, DROBNEY PHOTOGRAPHY AMBER WAKLEY

L

ike a seed planted, Foster Hill Farm is a dream realized for Karl and Kim Milikowski – even if it wasn’t completely planned. It’s easy to understand this sentiment as you pull down the long stretch of gravel driveway leading to their farm; the popping of soft gravel serves as a welcome to somewhere special.

The tract of landscape along Stafford Street is devoted to the care and breeding of donkeys, expertly grown crops and a strong tradition of New England heritage. The two sit on a dusty-yellow porch swing looking over plans for the property, without question they belong here.

Foster Hill Farm is discernibly striking, a tribute to classic colonial homes and farms of the 18th century. First on the right is a carefully organized garden shop with an unique timbered ceiling.

It’s filled with seasonal plants, home and garden finds, and locally produced items. Today, there’s a wide selection of mums, decorative pumpkins and fall findings. The next is a rustic-red stable 16 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

with cupola cap, where their herd of miniature and standard donkeys reside. A split rail fence meets stone columns in each corner; inside are specimen gardens, flowers and herbs. Their home rounds out the property, beautiful construction paying tribute to the rich heritage of the land.

Everything at Foster Hill Farm was a systematic vision of the two. Karl was born and raised in Stafford; he remembers the paintings on the windows at Sullivan’s Pharmacy and the food at the Arizona. Since he was five, he worked with his family at Chestnut Hill Nursery, a full-service greenhouse and garden center. He learned invaluable skills here, compounding his expertise with a horticulture degree at College of DuPage in West Chicago, Illinois. He returned to Stafford, working with his parents and overseeing greenhouse production until 2007.

He has always worked for a family-owned company, whether it was his own or another garden center.

GO_LOCAL_OCTOBER_Layout 1 9/28/16 7:02 PM Page 17

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Now offering wings on Sunday during football season, and look for our seasonal treats.

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Kim’s background is a bit different, growing up in the busier landscape of Manchester, Connecticut, before earning a business degree at the University of Connecticut. Up until this past June, she owned a number of Express Wireless stores, an independent franchise of Verizon Wireless.

While her professional experience is a bit different from your typical farmer, she has always loved gardening and the outdoors. She recalls, with a sincere smile, visiting her great grandfather’s farm where he grew big boy tomatoes.

She has a collection of rich memories, including snapping green beans on the same dusty-yellow porch swing that suspends from their porch now.

Kim and Karl met at Stafford High School (as adults), through a business expo. Kim was there with her business. Kim says Karl faked an issue with his phone, later coming to the store to ask her out – as they say – the rest is history. After they married, they were looking for a property to build their to-be-realized dream.

“We looked for years to find a good lot, all the ones we looked at were filled with ravines and just weren’t suitable for a farm,” says Kim. “On our way back from looking at [another] back lot, we were driving down Stafford Street going home. I looked to this field through the woods.

I just wanted a property like this to be for sale.

Karl went down to the town hall to find out who owned this land.

He called – which is totally out of character for him – John Green.

The property had been in his family for 200 years.”

Kim and Karl describe John as a gruff and tough man and although not officially for sale, was looking to sell the property – but not just to anyone. They sat at his kitchen table and John began with “what do you want to do with my land?”

“We knew what we wanted, a post and beam style home,” says Karl. “He didn’t want it developed and wanted it to be a certain way. Eventually he offered it to us for sale. Without hesitation we bought the property – on a handshake. We both walked out like “what the hell happened?” We just bought a piece of property!”

Acquiring the land allowed them to pursue their passions. For Kim, it was growing a herd of mini donkeys as well as full-size adoptable. For Karl it was the opportunity to rekindle his love of working in the greenhouse.

“The timing was right for this,” says Kim. “Stafford Conservatory had closed down and so did Chestnut Hill - there was an opportunity to get back into it” says Kim. “In the back of our mind we also always wanted to breed the minis. When we moved here, it allowed us the space to start breeding.”

18 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

For Karl it was to pursue his passion for greenhouse growing, ornamentals and flowers. He toyed with the idea of buying back Chestnut Hill, but to him it’s truly heartbreaking to see the property in its current condition, even if his family didn’t own the business at the time of its closing.

“This is a smaller scale and a little different, says Karl. “There are a lot of good memories there [Chestnut Hill], but I wanted to do it all on my own. I’m happy to be doing this. It’s great to be here, working with Kim and building something together.”

With vast experience, including being part owner of a greenhouse company called Star Steel Structure and past-President of the Connecticut Greenhouse Growers Association, he continues the legacy of his family, right here on Stafford Street. He’s in the midst of building new greenhouses, everything will be grown on-site. Spring will bring herbs, perennials, hanging baskets, annuals, and vegetables. During the summer he will prepare for fall, growing mums, corn stalks, pumpkins, and other decorative plants and products. This year, Karl has a wide selection of mums (grown on-site) for sale, along with pumpkins. This year, Kim and Karl are donating 100% of their pumpkin revenue to Safe Net Ministries, a Stafford organization providing temporary assistance to those in need of food, clothing, utilities and shelter.

When Kim and Karl moved to Foster Hill Farm they already had two miniature donkeys. On a trip to Ireland they stumbled upon a farm called, The Donkey Sanctuary. Back in the states they discovered another, Peaceful Donkey Rescue in Texas. The rescue needed distribution in the northeast, Kim and Karl were happy to oblige. Their donkeys come from a number of places. Some are surrenders from people who can’t take care of them and others come from the Bureau of Land Management, they go out and thin wild herds. The rest are strays, mostly from Texas that are used to smuggle drugs across the border. Once they reach Mexico, they’re slapped on the rear and let go. The rescue they work with is in San Angelo, right in the heart of that; they have 3,000 donkeys in their system.

“Most donkeys for adoption are standard size, 36” inches or bigger,” says Kim. “Just like dogs, many adoptions come from the south, people just don’t value animals like they do here. It’s the same thing with donkeys; they use them for all sorts of terrible things like roping practice.”

Donkeys are easy to love, with a sweet disposition and gentle temperament. Most are intended as companion animals, suitable to live with any equine animal. Many find themselves on gentleman farms as a buddy for older horses.

“We love the minis, they are wonderful animals with very sweet, gentle temperaments,” says Karl. “They love attention and to be petted; they thrive on it and appreciate all of that attention.”

Here, there’s no shortage of attention. A team of volunteers help care for the donkeys, time is spent with them each day. They also receive frequent visits from Senior Moments, an elder care service based out of Tolland. Even John loved to come down here and visit, they would give him a cup of coffee and he would visit the animals. Most importantly, they’ve been able to adopt out around thirty donkeys, have welcomed more to the farm, and look forward to a huge adoption event this spring.

The farm really serves as a tribute, not just to the couple’s passions, but also to the heritage of Stafford. It carries on the tradition of the Foster family who drove oxen across the fields 200 years ago. Every time a donkey is born, a suitable name is chosen based on people who used to live here; their names are inscribed in a family bible gifted by John.

It’s an homage to the family business, one Karl holds near and dear.

For Kim, it’s realizing a world outside a corporate environment – she has gladly (and proudly) traded pointy high-heeled shoes for $14.99 flannel shirts. This isn’t just a business, it’s something they have built from the ground up and one they look forward to thoughtfully growing.

“It will always be about family business – that’s all I know,” says Karl.

“I’m grateful to get up everyday and walk outside with these boots and just do what makes me happy – instead of fulfilling all of these obligations,” says Kim. “I love being able to just cut brush and be completely filthy.”

“All our ideas are centered on staying here,” says Karl. We won’t be millionaires – but hopefully able to pay the bills and most importantly - be happy together.”

FOSTER HILL FARM IS OPEN, DAILY 9AM - 6PM, THROUGH MID-OCTOBER! PLEASE CALL FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS AND SPECIFIC AUTUMN HOURS 21 STAFFORD STREET . STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT . (860) 729-6310 FOSTERHILLFARMDONKEYS.COM . FACEBOOK.COM/FOSTERHILLFARM GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19

 JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO

AUTUMN BOUQUET RUSTY TRUCK FLOWERS . 199 JOBS HILL ROAD . ELLINGTON, CT . FACEBOOK.COM/RUSTYTRUCKFLOWERS . (860) 870-8320

Named as a tribute to her family’s light green 1965 International truck, Holly Godek’s flower stand on Jobs Hill Road in Ellington is not hard to find. Made from rough-cut lumber and finished with hand painted floral embellishments, its rustic charm is a highlight along this stretch of country road.

Holly’s love for cut flowers began about twelve years ago. Since then she has been “bitten by the fresh cut flower bug.” Everything is homegrown and just about everything is started from seed. She begins her flowers in January and then they head out into her little greenhouse. Holly’s husband helps with irrigation, using water from their pond as well as manure from their chickens and goats. Once ready, she cuts the flowers in the early morning or evening, when it’s cooler and at a time with more moisture and energy. She then strips the leaves to prevent bacteria from growing, making sure that every bouquet will last longer.

“Each year I try to incorporate something different, overall I 20 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

grow about 200 different flowers and shrubs,” says Holly. “I know my flowers and I visit them every day; you can feel the difference.

I always try to find something unique and rare, something that people have never seen.”

The United States used to grow 80% of the cut flowers sold in our country. Today, however, the number has flipped and we import around 80%, mostly from Columbia. The result is a giant carbon footprint. Rusty Truck Flowers grows everything on-site never importing, bringing back the forgotten tradition and skill. Most varieties in Holly’s bouquets cannot be found at garden centers.

She prefers to grow the flowers your grandma grew, old fashioned varieties like Larkspur, Clematis, Carnations, Bupleurum and Queen Anne’s Lace. With such a variety every arrangement is breathtakingly unique. Once you have Holly’s hand-cut flowers, you will go out of your way to brighten your house with beautiful energy.

149 NORTH ROAD, RTE 140, EAST WINDSOR, CT TEL. (860) 623-2100 or (888) 457-7778

ESTATE AUCTION EVERY THURSDAY AUCTION & EVENT CALENDAR OCTOBER 2016 Thurs. Oct. 6

Look for the “Three Little Pigs” this year!

5:30pm Early Bird Auction 7:00pm Estate Auction

Thurs. Oct. 13 5:30pm Early Bird Auction 7:00pm Estate Auction Thurs. Oct. 20 5:30pm Early Bird Auction 7:00pm Estate Auction Thurs. Oct. 27 5:30pm Early Bird Auction 7:00pm Estate Auction

Giant 8 Acre Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch Our General Store is full of Fall goods, syrup, T-shirts, gourd art & more. Enjoy a hayride and some delicious CT grown foods featuring our farm-raised beef!

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Special Olympics is the world’s largest sports organization for people with intellectual disabilities. The organization supports unified programs, which combine players with and without intellectual disabilities on the same team as well as traditional teams made up of all athletes with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics includes over 30 different individual and team sports.

“At this point, I’ve coached everything from skating to floor hockey, bowling, bocce—pretty much anything they asked me to do,” laughs John. “Now, I stick with mostly soccer and volleyball.”

Currently, John coaches as well as oversees the entire Greater Springfield area soccer program. In total, the soccer program includes six teams of varying levels and age groups—Under-8 beginners, two unified teams, two traditional teams, and masters’ team.

As a part of Special Olympics, John has forged relationships with athletes from across the region and become a role model in their lives. John has also been a pioneer in efforts to promote 30 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

the inclusion of these athletes into local communities and sports organizations.

Special Olympics Project UNIFY® promotes the idea of treating athletes like anyone else and breaking the stigma that an athlete with intellectual disabilities is different than any other athlete.

“It’s a slow progress, but we’re making strides. You are starting to see athletes with these disabilities playing for their high school teams,” says John. “I think the stigma is always there, but we’re trying to get to a point where these kids can be leaders in their schools, teams and communities.”

In addition to supporting efforts like Special Olympics Project UNIFY®, John has assisted in creating resources for people to better understand intellectual disabilities.

A few years back, John traveled to Montenegro as a part of a Special Olympics Coaching Fellowship program. During his fellowship, he and three other coaches from the United States collaborated with coaches from Montenegro and Serbia in an effort to further the organization’s development worldwide.

Something special that came out of the fellowship was the Athlete-Centered Coaching Guide—a handbook for Special Olympics coaches that includes a lot of great information on intellectual disabilities and how best to work with athletes with certain disabilities. John and a fellow writer will present the guide at a regional meeting later this month.

“It’s funny to think that it all started in this little bar in Montenegro,” John laughs, referring to the guide’s origins. “But our fellowship was about creating more of an understanding—you know, we didn’t all speak the same language, but I realized that you might not speak the same language, but you kind of do. People are people. That’s what all of this is about.”

Despite all the groundbreaking work John has been a part of during his involvement with Special Olympics, he stands behind the fact that his biggest accomplishment has been getting to share Special Olympics with his children, Jake and Kelsi.

“Both my kids got involved with Special Olympics for their community service hours in school,” says John. “They both loved it— Jake is more quiet and Kelsi is more outgoing, but the athletes loved them both and they made a difference. That’s what my parents taught me—make a difference in the lives of others and give something back to the community. To see my kids do that

makes me really proud.”

Likewise, John’s children feel they’ve become better people by growing up with a father whose life is lived selflessly and humbly.

“Just by observing him, I’ve learned so much about how to communicate with others and how important commitment is,” says John’s daughter, Kelsi. “I appreciate so much that I’ve gotten to grow up with a father who’s ingrained compassion, generosity and desire into my life and worldview.”

This compassion and generosity are qualities John brings to his coaching style with his Special Olympics athletes as well as any other team he’s coached. In addition to developing athletic skills, character and confidence building is his main focus. To him, confidence is the key to success both in sport and in life.

“It doesn’t matter if they stay in the sport—it applies to life. If you have the selfesteem and the confidence that you can do anything—because you actually can—you will be successful,” notes John.

Author’s Note: I’ve had the privilege of knowing John Ford since I was very young as my older brother and his son, Jake, grew up best friends. My Dad and John have a close friendship of their own and spent years coaching together. He says it best: “Even when John had a million things going on with his own kids, he never neglected his commitment to the Special Olympics. I always admired him for that.” We are honored to know you, John!

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 31

1.9% INTEREST FOR 36 MONTHS.

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The Shoppe Keepers of Somers & Somersville

Invite you to our 3rd Annual

Antique Co-op

October 15 & 16

Ladies Autumn Eve Thursday, October 13

Multiple Dealers • 4-8pm

Spirits & Treats Served | Candlelit & Jack-O-Lantern Walkways Somersvillage J. Howard Cox

Gifts & Gourmet Baskets 111 Main St.

Antiques & Collectibles 62 South Rd.

Colonial Kassandra Flower Shoppe Herbs Unlimited 611 Main St.

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❦ Margaret’s ❦ Fox Glove Antiques ❦ J. Howard Cox ❦ Ginger & Pickles

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SUPREME AUTO SERVICE CENTER 68 South Road (Route 83), Somers

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A

s crisp temperatures summon the vibrant patinas of autumn, there’s a definitive list of activities that define the season. The mellow warmth beckons authentic adventures; pumpkin patches with twisting vines, warm cider flecked with cinnamon and wagon rides laden with hay are all characteristics of the perfect fall day. Perhaps the most iconic – a rite of passage even – is enjoying the challenging labyrinth of a corn maze.

Long before the cool air rolls in and flannel shirts reemerge, the Barrett family is carefully planning, designing, creating and marketing their interactive “live puzzle” at Scantic Valley Farm in Somers, Connecticut. Nancy and Andy are at the helm of the beloved autumn tradition, with the help of their sons, Hayden

and Cooper, and a group of dedicated staff members. While the premise of this quintessential fall experience is simple, like any farm venture, its creation is not so rudimentary.

Seven years ago, when they first began the maze, the farm was at sort of a crossroads with their broad leaf tobacco. Haggled by a narrowing number of buyers and strong-armed by lack of control marketing their crop, they scaled back on their production and began to focus on what they could control. For years the Barretts had been growing pumpkins and specialty fall products with a small self-serve wagon across the street. In brainstorming what to do next, they realized a corn maze – as big as they imagined – did not exist amongst the Southern New England landscape.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 33

“We love the fall and thought that would be a good addition to what we were already doing,” says Nancy. “As a farmer, you have to be careful not to overlap your seasons because you can only spread yourself so thin. It was a good way to bring people to the farm for a different season.”

The approximately 70-acre farm is a local source for all-natural grass fed beef, heritage pork, farm fresh eggs, and pick-your-own strawberries and blueberries. Come harvest, Scantic Valley Farm opens their gates to one of the area’s largest corn mazes (8 acres), pick-your-own pumpkins, hayrides, delicious CT grown foods, a barnyard viewing area, and plenty of wholesome fun activities in the “OK Corral”- a play area for kids.

Creating a corn maze requires careful planning and design, which can range from simple geometric paths to highly detailed designs – like the one at Scantic Valley Farm. To get going, the Barretts teamed up with “The Corn Maze Guy,” or Don Watts, a farmer/graphic designer/maze designer who has been cutting corn mazes for over 20 years.

“We have been working with Don since the beginning. The first year he did everything, I didn’t know anything about the process and we had so many other things to get ready at the farm,” Nancy explains.

“After that, I have always drawn out the maze. Having the idea, taking it to paper, defining the theme and deciding what games tie in – I love that part.”

Each year their family and workers brainstorm a new theme, two are a shoo-in: farming and anything fall or Halloween. Using a grid overlaid on top of the field plot, Nancy sketches a representation of that season’s theme – past corn creations have included a “Happy Trails” western theme, Jack and the Bean Stalk, Frankenstein and a farmers feed the world tribute. With the experience of a farmer and talent of a graphic designer, Nancy creates an elaborate pictorial maze that is both challenging and fun. She sends her concept to Don and the two “tweak” different aspects of the design to ensure paths aren’t too close together and there is enough space to create thick walls of towering corn. Don mentions that Nancy is one of his few customers that possesses the skill and talent to design her own corn maze – and do it well. He makes very few changes and says she knows how to create good flow and keep trails apart; it’s living art.

Typically in mid-June the corn is purposefully planted in opposing directions, using twice as much seed as a normal cornfield. Come September this technique helps to provide the perfect stand of corn where maze goers focus on navigating the cut paths. Don comes out to mow when it’s between one foot and two feet high, around midJuly (crops are cut young so there’s less material to remove). Using a zero-turn lawnmower and GPS device, Don navigates the field following precise coordinates aligned with Nancy’s drawing. Using software he adapted specifically for mowing corn mazes, he blazes a trail, rarely looking away from the mounted display. He says the system he created is so accurate he’s even mowed at night, and many mazes are completed in just a few hours. He travels as far west as Nebraska, north to Vermont and south to North Carolina. Scantic Valley Farm was just one of the 65 farms he’s had the pleasure of mowing this 34 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

this year. Don’s specialty is providing reasonably priced services to a group of people he respects the most.

“I really enjoy what I do,” says Don. “I love to travel and work with farmers – they are the best, nicest and hardest working people I have met.”

Since Don pulled away from the farm on Ninth District Road this past July, the Barrett Family has maintained the 3-miles of cut trails (a task spearheaded by Hayden and Cooper), ensured proper irrigation – especially this year – and prepared activities that coordinate with their 2016 theme, The Three Little Pigs.

Scantic Valley Farm offers a family-oriented experience that is safe and embraces the outdoors. When creating the harvest haven, the Barretts envisioned an agricultural getaway they imagined visiting. One that was inviting, wholesome and separate from commercial counterparts. There are nostalgic games, like tetherball, tic tac toe and even a corn bin filled with dried kernel corn (similar to a sandbox) where kids can dig using a spread of toys. Inside the corn maze participants are encouraged to find hidden posts and using a crayon, transfer a series of pictures to paper from engraved linoleum blocks. Once all five pictures are transferred to the activity page, it can be redeemed for the chance to win that year’s thematic t-shirt. You’re welcome to take as long as needed to complete the maze, but typically it is accomplished in around an hour or hour and a half; on the way out ring their antique school bell to celebrate your victory! For younger explorers, a smaller maze bordering the large ensures age appropriate fun for everyone. Their farmhouse food trailer is also a popular stop, featuring a menu with their very own beef and pork – from burgers to chili and hot dogs. If you want to take some home, the general store sells their delicious meats, penny candy, limited edition maze t-shirts, jam, syrup, local honey and gourd art.

“We want to get families outside together on the farm and expose them to – maybe not everything we do each day – but to

a part of what we do,” says Nancy. “We have beautiful unobstructed sunrises and sunsets, not everyone has that; I want to share it. I’m thrilled to see people enjoying their time on the farm.”

“Some visiting families just lay out in the grass; they might live in the city and this [farm] is completely different to what they have at home,” says Andy. “This is a place to get away from it all; the opportunity to disconnect and connect with your family.”

In general, agritourism is becoming a more popular way for farmers to open their doors to the public for a wide variety of activities and experiences, including buying produce or dairy direct from a farm stand, you-pick produce, feeding animals, and navigating corn mazes. For families, it’s a way to slow down and discover new destinations, experience the natural environment, reconnect with agricultural heritage and have an understanding of food sources – a mainstay of why we’re alive.

For farmers, it’s a way to generate additional income, provide quality products and produce, educate visitors, and a viable technique to preserve farmland and greenspace.

“We’re not teaching everyone how to grow their own food, but hopefully to appreciate those people who are,” says Nancy. “It’s as simple as understanding the burgers we serve – that was a couple of years in the making. The meals we serve this very weekend were actually started three years ago. From breeding, to birthing, and raising them carefully and thoughtfully, it takes several years to get this product here today and make this meal possible. It’s a process and we’re quite proud to say that the main ingredient we serve is raised right here.”

Nancy says she’s honored to be the next generation of farming in her family; her grandparents purchased the land where Scantic Valley Farm sits in 1936. Back then they raised laying hens, sold fertilized eggs to hatcheries, and grew potatoes and tobacco. Nancy grew up on an adjacent lot and always enjoyed the strong connection she felt to the land. Now, she and her

SCANTIC VALLEY FARM . 327 NINTH DISTRICT ROAD . SOMERS, CT OPEN SATURDAYS & SUNDAYS ONLY (THROUGH OCTOBER 30): 11AM – DUSK COLUMBUS DAY . OCT 10: 11AM – DUSK FOR DETAILS & SPECIAL DISCOUNTS, LIKE VINTAGE T-SHIRT AND/OR TWIN DAY CALL (860)749-3286 OR VISIT SCANTICVALLEYFARM.COM GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 35

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her family continue what her grandparents started. Shortly after moving on to the farm, Nancy and her family started a herd of Belted Galloways, a heritage cattle breed originating from Scotland. In subsequent years they have also added pigs, you-pick strawberries and blueberries, and laying hens. The most recent addition to the family homestead is what they call the “Maple Lot,” a 1 acre gridded plot of sugar maple trees. Over the course of just a few days this past spring Hayden and Cooper dug holes and planted 70 trees alongside their grandfather. The thoughtful preserve – and clear point of pride for the boys – will perpetuate current maple syrup production while faithfully spreading their family’s roots.

For the Barretts, it’s truly all about family. In the process of providing warm seasonal memories for other families, they have inadvertently created their own.

“Family is what we enjoy, it’s one of the best parts” says Andy. “A lot of our nieces and nephews stay with us while they are working here, there’s a lot of camaraderie and it’s like a big family reunion. It’s hard work, but a lot of fun.”

“I want families to experience picking a pumpkin right from the field, visit animals and see a portion of what we do on the farm,” says Nancy. “This offers a slice of something different – like our hobbyhorse race track. You pick a wooden hobbyhorse out of “stable rack” and race around the track trying to beat your grandparents, parent, siblings or friends. It’s just fun and people love it. To see people out there of all ages racing each other and having a good time – it’s hysterical.”

That’s exactly what you’ll find here, the collective effort of family. Cooper, the self-proclaimed “trailblazer and food tester,” is the “customer service guy” working the strawberry booth with Nancy. Hayden loves picking pumpkins and being out in the field. Andy does a little bit of everything – like building all the thematic games – but the food is his charge, he’s overseeing production and scheming next years theme in the food booth with his creative staff.

With acres of attractions and delicious food to eat, the Barretts are all about offering authentic outdoor experiences that will build lasting memories and traditions. The fall festivities this season are an important piece of what they do on the farm and as Nancy says, “is a unique way to utilize and preserve farmland for an active agricultural activity - that’s something we feel really good about.”

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 37

GO LOCAL BIZ A CELEBRATION OF DIVERSE LOCAL BUSINESS IN OUR REGION

EAST SPRINGFIELD VETERINARY HOSPITAL INTERVIEW WITH ANDREW HERSMAN, DVM

What distinguishes you from other Businesses in your category?

We are able to grow our business by committing to offer progressive, compassionate and unique care. We have maintained the same strong staff over the years that share similar values. We feel it is important to offer urgent care along with wellness visits to our patients and clients who need help quickly. We also offer extended hours at night four days per week and Saturday appointments for people who work.

Something people might be surprised to Learn about you or your business.

Dr. Andrew Hersman and Amy (Hersman) Zander are from Wilbraham. Andrew graduated from Minnechaug in 1990; Amy in 1987. Brother/sister followed in the footsteps of their father, Dr. Richard Hersman, who practiced in Greater Springfield since the 70s. We’re expanding into Wilbraham this fall with the purchase of Wilbraham Animal Hospital while continuing to grow at East Springfield Veterinary Hospital. We will offer both locations to better serve our clients.

Why should people do business with you? address

525 Page Boulevard . Springfield, MA 01104 2424 Boston Road . Wilbraham, MA 01095

hours Monday & Wednesday 8AM-9PM Tuesday & Thursday 8AM-8PM Friday 8AM-5PM . Saturday 8AM-2PM Contact Tel: (413) 739-6389 . (413) 596-8395 Web: eastspringfieldveterinaryhospital.com Email: esvh@esvhospital.com

We offer wellness visits, urgent care, surgeries, progressive dentistry, and extensive diagnostic services. We treat our clients (both two and four legged) like family, and hold the welfare of all pets close to our hearts.

Dr. and Mrs. Rowe would like to thank their clients for 35 wonderful years at Wilbraham Animal Hospital!

38 GO LOCAL OCTOVER 2016

GO EAT ! RECIPE SUBMITTED BY CHRIS & AMY WHITE, A COUPLE IN THE KITCHEN BLOG

Onyx Moonshine Apple Cake Chunky sweaters, vibrant leaves and pumpkin spice everything are sure signs of fall - although nothing celebrates the season more than enjoying autumn’s best gift. This apple recipe is a whole new pedigree of harvest baking with an unexpected twist to a farmhouse classic. The straightforward dessert gives orchard fruit a kick with a spirited bath (optional of course) in Onyx Moonshine (locally produced). Topped with a plastering of buttery, cinnamon-sugar goodness, this crumbly cake is sure to shine this autumn season!

FIND ONYX IN BOTH MA & CT AT ONYXMOONSHINE.COM

5

3 cups 2 cups 1 tsp.

1 tsp.

3/4 tsp.

1 cup 2

Medium apples, peeled and diced (feel free to soak them in Onyx Moonshine for a day or so, if you dare).

All-purpose flour Granulated sugar Baking soda Salt Ground cinnamon Vegetable oil Large eggs

TOPPING 3 tbsp.

3 tbsp.

1 tbsp.

1 tbsp.

Teachers by day and would-be chefs by night, CHRIS & AMY WHITE live by the motto "the couple that sautés together, stays together." The two spend a lot of their at-home time creating culinary concoctions in their kitchen, which inspired their blog "A Couple in the Kitchen." When they aren't cooking, they're eating out, traveling, or in some other way thinking about their next great seasonally inspired, local ingredient meal. You'll find their recipes, versions of other people's recipes, restaurant and other types of reviews, and miscellaneous additional food-related posts on their blog, acoupleinthekitchen.us

All-purpose flour Granulated sugar Ground cinnamon Unsalted butter, room temperature

Preheat oven to 350°F. Combine all cake ingredients in a large bowl, and toss to coat apples. Place in a 9” x 13” pan that has been greased with butter or coated with cooking spray.

In a separate bowl, combine topping ingredients and pat over top before placing in oven. Bake for 40 - 45 minutes, until bubbly. If desired, dust with confectioner’s sugar before serving.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 39

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! AMY WHITE  DOROTHY DROBNEY, DROBNEY PHOTOGRAPHY

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 41

"

However, as most New Englanders know, not many things actually do last forever, neither the heat of summer nor the seats of those old chairs.

Since these same New Englanders have a reputation for being a thrifty lot, many would prefer not to have to replace their chairs, especially in the era of “Reduce, Reuse, Recycle.” So, while you may not have a seat weaver among your friends and family, have no fear, Go Local is here. Meet Sue Muldoon of Enfield, Connecticut, a bona fide seat weaver whose specialty is restoring chairs at her home business, Redux for You. About thirty years ago, Sue took an adult education class to learn the antique art of chair caning. Chair caning is the art of applying materials derived from the rattan palm, a vine native to Southeast Asia, to the backs and/or seats of chairs. The shiny bark of the rattan is known as cane, while the pithy part inside is the flat, or round, reed. These pieces are cut in all different sizes and then woven together by hand into different patterns onto the furniture. After learning caning, Sue also learned to use rush, wicker, and other modalities of seat weaving, all from her former high school teacher whose name, if you can believe it, was Mr. Reedy.

For nearly 25 years, Sue fixed chairs as a hobby. She joined the SeatWeaver’s Guild, a group of people that share her passion and gather at least once a year in a different part of the country. At one of these gatherings, she attended a business clinic that offered advice on how to turn this hobby of sorts into a career. Shortly afterwards, fate intervened; she badly broke her ankle and was homebound for nearly three months with nothing to do 42 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

but work on the old chairs she had been collecting and storing in her basement.

That was three years ago, and now, classic restoration of other people’s chairs makes up the majority of Sue’s business.

One of the biggest challenges Sue faces is working quickly enough. People don’t realize how time-consuming the restoration process can be. All of her work is done by hand. Depending on the materials and the size of the chair, it can take anywhere from two to fifteen hours to finish a single chair. Because there are so few people around who know how to do it, even in just a few years, her business is doing well. She says, “I always have a backlog of chairs to fix.”

Regardless of the challenges, Sue loves her handiwork. Specifically, she loves the stories people share about their old chairs. She explains, “Chairs are history, they are family heirlooms. It’s more about restoring memories than about restoring chairs.” She offers the example of a gentleman who brought her his grandmother’s rocking chair. When she gave it back to him and he saw it for the first time, he was nearly in tears. He said that he really wished his mother could have seen it. That chair reminded him so much of his family’s matriarchs, and Sue helped him bring that back into his life.

Something that bothers Sue is when people call what she does “a lost art.”

While many see it that way, she doesn’t. In fact, part of Sue’s mission is to teach seat weaving to others. She will be teaching a class on seat weaving later this fall in Tolland. She also is willing to travel to local area schools to do demonstrations like the one she did recently at the Coventry Farmers’ Market when the theme was “Homesteading Skills.” She’ll be there again on October 23rd. She also attends craft shows like the Roseland Cottage Fine Arts and Crafts Festival in Woodstock (October 15-16) to display both her skills and some of her finished products. As winter approaches, she can be found in Coventry again, this time during Artists’ Open Studios of Northeast CT which will be the last weekend in November and the first weekend in December this year. Although her business keeps her busy, she thinks it’s important to share her craft. She says, “If we don’t start teaching some younger kids, it will be a lost art.”

Whether she is traveling to a seat weavers’ gathering or off to demonstrate her skills at a show or farmers’ market, Sue travels in style in her van she has fondly named “Bessie.” Bessie is a blue and white 1994 Ford Club Wagon that has been cleared of all but one of its bench seats and outfitted by Sue to become a traveling studio. Her doors are upholstered with denim jeans pockets which hold all of her tools. She even has an awning to shade Sue while she works. Bessie is quite the eye-catcher, and certainly helps draw in onlookers.

In addition to chair repair, Sue also has an artistic streak; in fact she was a fine arts major in college. So, she enjoys making funkier, novelty chairs with what she calls “alternative seating.” For example, she weaves men’s neckties together to create chair seats, substituting the ties for the cane. She has also repurposed leather belts bought at thrift shops to become the top for a stool. She says, “I love to see things repurposed or repaired rather than thrown away.”

To sum up Sue Muldoon, this self-professed “chair nerd” says it best: “I love chairs. I always have.” You can see photos of Sue’s repurposed and original chairs on her website, or in person at Chic and Antique in Suffield or Muldoon’s Landscaping and Marketplace in Coventry, where some of her items are for sale. Both of these shops also serve as convenient places for people to drop off chairs to her that need work. For more information or to contact Sue, go to her website, www. reduxforyou.com or give her a call at 860-394-5470.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 43

GO LOCAL PICKS

SPREADING THE WORD ABOUT COOL PRODUCTS AND SERVICES JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR

FORK ART JEWELRY FORK ART JEWELRY HANDCRAFTED BY LAURA . WILBRAHAM, MA . (413) 575-0433 FORKARTJEWELRY.COM . FACEBOOK.COM/FORKARTJEWELRY

Using antique silverware Laura creates jewelry and crafts that are elegant and fun, perfect for everyday wear or a formal occasion. She shows true artistry and craftsmanship with every piece. Laura’s collection includes wrap bracelets, pendants, rings, business card holders and even cell phone stands. Her website showcases a variety of creations from spoon bracelets with a pearl Swarovski bead to a fork pendant with mother of pearl slice cabochon - it’s hard to pick a favorite. You can even request custom creations made from your own family’s silverware, fashioning a wearable keepsake. Take a look at her Facebook page or website to see her full line and which events she’ll be at next.

WATERCOLOR CARDS WINDOWBOX BOUTIQUE . 72 MAIN STREET . STAFFORD SPRINGS, CT WINDOWBOXBOUTIQUE.COM . (860) 987-7421

Franceen Munson creates these wonderful whimsical expressions of autumn with playful watercolor illustrations on 5x7 postcards. She captures the energy of the season with brightcolored brush and pen strokes; perfect to send to a friend or even a note of appreciation for a teacher or colleague. Letters and cards are a tangible reminder of our emotional bonds. Receiving and sending mail or a personal note makes your heart bloom. This feeling is mirrored in Franceen’s store where she sells her cards for all seasons, as well as her handpicked collections of antique and locally produced items.

44 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

ACORN PEANUT BUTTER TRUFFLE WICKED GOOD TREATS BY ELAINE . WILBRAHAM, MA WICKEDGOODTREATSBYELAINE.COM . (413) 596-3949

A peanut butter truffle with a buckeye center - they literally can’t be beat. Elaine’s buckeye recipe has placed two years consecutively in the dessert category at the Springfield Convention and Visitor Bureau Food Fest. Adorable and elegant, these fall creations sit atop a milk or dark chocolate maple leaf and make perfect fall party favors or an addition to any holiday table. For years Elaine has created handmade desserts and chocolates for local festivals and fairs. With the help of Valley Venture Mentors, Elaine was able to leave her old career and commit all her time to her treats.

We are very grateful for that! To find Elaine and her gourmet chocolates, visit her website to view her list of great events!

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WAKLEY  AMBER DOROTHY DROBNEY, DROBNEY PHOTOGRAPHY ! DOROTHY DROBNEY, DROBNEY PHOTOGRAPHY AMBER WAKLEY

I

t’s that time of year when warm fires return to forgotten stoves and smoke gently billows from the crown of masonry chimneys. Bonfires welcome groups of friends and family, cutting the cool air with a warm glow. It’s the signal of a new season.

In Monson, the Wilson Family is igniting these favorite fall pastimes with their home-based business, Tornado Firestarters. But these aren’t typical fire starters; they are the collective effort of a tight-knit family looking to make a difference in their local community. Seth and Amy, with the encouragement of their children Jack and Isabelle, have manufactured something good from twisted wood.

Their endeavor began in the aftermath of the 2011 tornado and October snowstorm. The outbreak of storms began in early June with an EF3 rated tornado ripping through the Connecticut River Valley and into Monson; surely an event that has not escaped the memories of residents in its path. Damaging winds around 60 MPH and fierce hail plagued the earth, the swath of devastation was just 100 yards from the Wilson home.

Isabelle was at swim practice as the storm progressed eastward

to Monson.

“My brother and mom came to get me; Jack told me there was a tornado warning and hail was coming down really hard,” recalls Isabelle. “I didn’t have time to change, we had to go. On the way home we had to stop under trees because the hail was so bad we thought it was going to break the windshield. When we got home I looked out the window and saw leaves and debris everywhere. I kept yelling, it’s a twister, it’s a twister!”

The Wilson family hunkered down, opening windows to relieve the pressure within their home before retreating to the basement. Once the storm has passed they reemerged. Remarkably, their home and property was mostly unscathed, at least in comparison to their neighbors.

“We didn’t have damage at our house – we had branches and shards – but just 100 yards away it was much different,” remembers Amy. “Our neighbor called, hysterical, asking if we were okay. The woods at her house were just gone, the house was okay, but everything else was ripped apart.”

“Our neighbors got hit really bad,” says Isabelle. “We walked GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 47

TORNADO FIRESTARTERS MONSON, MA TORNADOFIRESTARTERS.COM 413-219-7060

through the woods up to their house, I just remember being in a daze. Everything was messed up and there were trees all over the place.”

The Wilsons were lucky, but couldn’t shrug the strong feelings of compassion for others in the community. In the subsequent days, the family helped clear branches and debris and took the neighbors into their home.

“We went downtown and it was like a whole different world; where did all of this come from and how could it not have affected us and done such horrible things to other people just next door?”

In October, the damage was compounded with the “Halloween nor’easter” that produced unusually high amounts of snow and ice on top of leaf-laden trees. Branches collapsed – again – leaving a trail of considerable damage.

“A couple weeks after the storm we wondered what we could do with all the damaged wood,” says Jack.

“We could hear [wood] chippers around the clock,” Amy elicits.

“There’s got to be something we can do,” adds Isabelle.

The Wilson family was determined to assist in the restoration of the scarred landscape, which served as a lasting reminder of the storm’s impact.

“We used to make fire starters for our grandparents, who have 48 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

lived up in Maine for a long time,” says Jack. “We used to make them out of wood shavings - from my dad’s workshop - then melt candlewax over them all together.”

“We had a concept and there was so much debris here, someone has to do something with it,” says Seth. “We toyed with the idea of kindling bundles, but fire starters are what made sense.

We figured out how to make something really great together and then we started talking about the brand. It wasn’t until Jack created the logo, with tornado within the “T,” it was then we knew we had something.”

For a seemingly simple product, there’s a lot that goes into creating the eco-friendly starters. First it’s collecting the chips, which the Wilsons say they’re still using debris from the tornado and storm- damaged trees. Using everything – old pallets, screens and even ski poles, the Wilson family have fashioned DIY drying racks, an essential step in the process. It’s a clever and pragmatic approach, a practice that seems to be a fun problem solving activity for the family. Once dried, the chips are bagged for storage – which keep indefinitely – and then assembled by hand by the Wilsons. They joke about the calluses on their thumbs and tendonitis from fulfilling large orders. They literally do all the work by hand and as Isabelle says, “it’s what makes us a family business.”

“Jack and Seth work in the greenhouse early in the morning, before it gets too hot during the summer,” says Amy. “They sit in our family room and put them all together and Isabelle is very good at the labeling – every single one that we have ever sold. Everyone contributes.”

“It’s amazing, it has really taught the kids the foundation of any business,” says Seth. “No business, no matter how complicated at its core, is any more complex than this business. You have to make the product, sell, but materials needed, understanding of overhead – it’s the same principles as a computer software business or web design business. There’s a lot behind the product, including working with forestry organizations and regulators for shipping across state lines. It’s understanding costs and determining how to reinvest and grow the business.”

“It’s been a great family experience and the chance for them to understand a business and see it through,” adds Amy. Together, they have created something awesome. The product is fast and convenient, the peeled wick (the edge of the cup) catches instantly, even when lighting damp wood. They are virtually free of ashes, creating less risk of chimney fires; they also light without the use of flammable liquids. The product is completely green, with renewable material nestled neatly within a compostable cup. Inside are woodchips, sawdust and unscented grade wax to keep it all together. The starters are non-toxic and barbeque friendly, leaving no residual flavor and can be used to cook grilled food. The best part about the product is that they are used to heal the community. Visually, the twisted wood is depleting, but the Wilsons have also created a full circle process by donating trees to help rebuild their local community. Following the storm they filled their trailer with trees and bushes, surprise delivering vegetation to replace the barren landscape. To them, this is the best part. Purchasing Tornado Firestarters will help increase the donations they’re able to make in the future.

“The key for us is getting the word out,” says Seth. “We have a lot of really loyal customers and Big Y has been a really great supporter; we really appreciate that. Their ad promotions are true, they really do support local businesses.”

The Wilsons are looking for more advantageous partnerships, along with their current list of over 100 campgrounds nationwide. Locally, Tornado Firestarters can be purchased at Big Y World Class Markets, Whole Foods, River Valley Market in Northampton, Randall’s Farm in Ludlow, Atkins Farms in Amherst, Highland Park Market in Suffield, and even Tree House Brewery in Monson.

They really have something great here, a sustainable product that is helping rebuild a community, even five years later. For the Wilsons it’s also about family, an experience Jack says brings them together. To him the business – ironically – is “pretty cool.”

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 49

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IN THE GARAGE

ROLLING UP THE DOORS ON LOCAL GARAGES

BOB CHUNYK

1965 CHEVY II NOVA ! JACQUELYN SCHORS

B

ob Chunyk of Somers, Connecticut, has a 1965 Chevy II Nova parked in his pristine garage. Not just for show, this is Bob’s everyday car, as long as weather permits. He welcomes me in and introduces himself along with a love and knowledge of Novas.

Bob grew up in Islip, Long Island, where he got his aircraft and power plant license; he worked in general aviation airports before going into the Air Force. In 1963 Bob was stationed at Westover Air Force Base and at the age of 21 was sent overseas to Vietnam.

“This car was in the BX (Base Exchange) for sale, it was $1,600 then. I was only making forty dollars a week so there was no way I could afford it,” says Bob with a beaming grin and chuckle with the memory of days gone by.

After four years, Bob got out of the service and took a job back at Westover as an airplane mechanic.

“Through the thirty years at Westover I was known as Nova Bob, I’ve always been a Nova nut,” says Bob. “I’ve had five through the years. I had a ‘63 Nova convertible, a ‘65 Nova two door sedan, ‘63 Nova hardtop and another ‘62. I kept buying my Novas and having fun with them - just trade up and trade up - then I eventually got this one ten years ago. It’s exactly what I wanted and I finally got it; this is my favorite one.”

The first Nova ever produced was in 1962, it was just a general

economy car. In 1965 it really caught on - it came with a 327 V8 motor. Bob’s is a 283 and originally came with a 327; it was very fast because it only weighs 2,000 pounds! Bob says you could push it down the street.

“Another neat thing about the ‘65 - and kind of a hard thing - is it’s a “one year only car.” It’s the only year they changed everything, ‘65 [parts] will only fit a ‘65,” Bob explains. “They only produced 50,000 of these cars, many have been wrecked and crushed into beer cans; they are getting harder and harder to find parts.

As I see them [parts], I just buy them and tuck them away in the basement, that way if I ever need them, I have them.”

As our tour winds down, Bob says that pride of ownership is in your blood, it’s fun, and being in the car just really makes him feel good.

“You hear every squeak and every rattle, but that’s life and part of having an older car,” Bob says with a smile in his eyes. “I’m really happy with this car; I’m going to hold on to this one.”

WHAT’S IN YOUR GARAGE? Go Local is looking for customs, classics, bikes and trikes anything that rides or glides - for our newest feature In the Garage.

Have something to share? Email amber@thereminder.com GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 53

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A

s the nights grow longer the colors will fade like the summer, then leaves will start to brown and crinkle. The kids have settled into their school routines and are excitedly waiting for their anticipated reprieve of tricks and treats and they are then able to release the glint of mischief in their eyes. New Englanders young and old relish in the festive activities the season brings with fairs and pumpkin carving, toasting seeds, and the ghost stories as Halloween approaches. History is all around us here, and this time of year has a way of stirring our intrigue. There are whispers of the past waiting for you to bend your ear their way and those who choose to listen hear the best tales.

Al and Betsy McKee met when they were 12 years old. Al was new to town and going door to door raising money for the Boy Scouts. As seniors in high school the two began to date and though going to different colleges in western New York they soon were married. Al, having finished med school and Betsy, nursing school, the two moved to Pittsburgh then Vermont where they bought their first house, an historic fixer upper. They spent most of their time undoing misguided attempts at restoration from the previous owner while building a small family with the addition of a daughter and a son. Al’s new job at Bay State Medical Center brought them to Massachusetts where they settled in Longmeadow.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 55

Al sits back in the patio chair in a comfortable, yet poised position, “This was the very first house we saw when we came to town.”

It was a little rough, it had been lived in by one family for 100 years and the previous owner was an elderly woman who had lived here her whole life, she hadn’t changed it much. There was electricity and running water, but barely, so our realtor was probably convinced we’d be like, ‘God no, get us one that has already been fixed up,’ but we didn’t.” Says Betsy finishing Al’s sentence.

They began working on the house, making updates for modern living but ensuring the historical integrity of the property. “Whenever we were at a lull or had to save up money for the next project we would do research because that is basically free. We’d go to the deed place, go to the cemetery, go to the historical society and see what we could learn about the house and that is how we got deeper and deeper in learning about the family.”

During one of their periods of research they found a book outlining a 1985 exhibit at the Wadsworth Atheneum called The Great River detailing the material history of the Connecticut River Valley.

As they were reading, they came across the name of Herman Newell.

They knew this name well from their earlier research as he had built their home in 1801.

“We were looking through the book and at the end they finished with a story about gravestones and it talked about Herman Newell, this carver in town carved this [certain] stone. And here we live right across the street from the cemetery [mentioned] so we ran over and found not only did he carve that stone and signed it but he carved many of the stones over there,” Al recalls.

“And he is one of the few who actually did sign his stones,” chimes in Betsy.

Al and Betsy both possess the quality that seems to modestly downplay the personal fortitude and motivation required to delve so deeply into a passion, “So we have been here since 1989 and have been researching this guy and other carvers ever since.”

Betsy reflects upon the genesis of their devotion to the topic, “We 56 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

had an interest in genealogy and that’s probably really how we got interested in this because gravestones have genealogical information on them. I think that’s how we started out with the graveyards, looking for genealogy. I guess we both have more of a scientific bend than an artistic bend so I guess it’s in our nature to see how things are done.”

“We have been branching out and going to more and more cemeteries. So this week with the forecast being clear we took off and went to Hingham and Cohasset and down as far as Plymouth and visited 18 cemeteries and took pictures in all of them. I download them into all of our files and then sort through them, name them and put them into files according to where they came from and then we can figure out using books and other sources of those who came before and try and figure out who they were carved by.”

The two tell of the early quarries that used to proliferate the area of Longmeadow and East Longmeadow that were known for their red rock, the dominant stone used on gravestones in the area. They explain the timeline of trends of the symbolic ornamentations, graveyards/cemeteries, what information appears on the stones, history of individual carvers and carver families. Their diligent detective work has made concrete discoveries, identifying carvers by their style and trademark connecting the dots of history. The two’s vast knowledge gain of the last 27 years is not just theirs to enjoy as members of the Longmeadow Cemetery Association, Longmeadow Historical Society, Association for Gravestone Studies and the Pioneer Valley History Network. They share their information adding and updating the area’s history.

“We have a couple of PowerPoint talks, one that Al does Art in the Face of Mortality, it’s all about the wonderful carving.” Al describes with great knowledge, proficiency and enthusiasm what the images of hourglasses, birds, cherubs, death, flowers and others represent and the timeline these trends follow. Though both Al and Betsy share a gravestone-hunting pastime, each delights in specializing in different aspects of their hunts and finds.

Betsy continues, “There are also the stories these things tell besides the artistry of the carving and the stories you’re learning in the symbolism. Some of them would record other information about them like how they died, that’s the talk I do about the causes of death found on gravestones. One of our favorites is from Glastonbury where it said the person was struck down by a clap of thunder, well you don’t die from thunder it was lightning. There might be a picture or a written description or both.”

The McKee’s are an inspiration as to what you can accomplish in your free time, they have helped write history. To get an up-close and personal view of the local history, add the Historical Society’s event, Ghosts in the Graveyard on October 21 from 6:30pm-8:00pm at Longmeadow Cemetery (763 Longmeadow Street) to your calendar for a fun, festive and historical adventure. For more information visit longmeadowhistoricalsociety.org

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 57

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5

7

AN OLD DIALECT WORD FOR A PIG’S “NOSE” IS CALLED WHAT?

[A] Vincent Price [B] John Carpenter

[C] Charles Cypher [D] Donald Pleasence

[A] Gruntle [B] Snout

[C] Rhinarium

[D] Nares

THE ORIONID METEOR SHOWER IS AN ANNUAL METEOR SHOWER LASTING APPROXIMATELY ONE WEEK IN LATE OCTOBER, WHICH COMET IS THIS SHOWER ASSOCIATED WITH?

[A] Whipple Comet

[B] Swife Tuttle Comet

[C] Halley’s Comet

[D] The Eclipse Comet

WHICH ONE OF THESE BIRDS DOES NOT MIGRATE IN THE AUTUMN?

[A] Swallows [B] Ravens

[C] Hummingbirds

[D] Trumpeter swans

THE ROSTER OF “REAL PERSON PEZ DISPENSERS” IS EXTREMELY LIMITED. WHICH TV FAMILY WAS THE FIRST TO HAVE A PEZ DISPENSER MADE IN THEIR ACTUAL LIKENESS?

[A] Osbourne family from The Osbournes

[B] Robertson family from Duck Dynasty

[C] Teutul family from Orange County Choppers

[D] Harrison family from Pawn Stars JACK O’ LANTERNS ORIGINATED IN IRELAND WHERE PEOPLE PLACED CANDLES IN HOLLOWED-OUT TURNIPS TO KEEP AWAY SPIRITS AND GHOSTS ON WHICH HOLIDAY?

[A] Mehregan [B] Lughnasa [C] Samhain [D Sukkot

IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE, AUTUMN BEGINS IN SEPTEMBER. WHEN DOES IT BEGIN IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE?

[A] November [B] January

[C] February

[D] March

8

DEATH VALLEY IS LOCATED IN WHAT AMERICAN DESERT? [A] Great Basin [B] Sonoran

[C] Chihuahuan

[D] Mojave

WHAT SONG WOULD YOU BE LISTENING TO IF YOU HEARD THE LINE “BUT TERROR TAKES THE SOUND BEFORE YOU MAKE IT”?

[A] “Halloween” by Dave Matthews Band [B] “Thriller” by Michael Jackson

[C] “Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon [D] “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, Jr.

# CORRECT

IQ

RANK

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

160 110 50 3

Prodigy Egghead Meh Simpleton

ANSWERS:

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

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Facebook: Yankee Upholstery Email: perrina01@yahoo.com GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 61

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

7 Places to Watch Football It’s game day and your Sunday ritual just got a little easier.

Whether you’re looking for savory eats, endless screens or a choice selection of local brews - we’ve got you covered! Here

are some great places to catch the game - so get out your jerseys and lucky socks in preparation to cheer with this list of game day destinations!

CASEY’S CAFE

GIO’S PIZZERIA

MURPHY’S PUB

ITALIAN VILLA

127 WEST ROAD . ELLINGTON, CT (860) 870-8784 . CASEYSCAFE.COM Known for their friendly staff, well executed comfort food and stocked bar, Casey’s never disappoints. Six TVs with the NFL Package and .50 cent wings make for a perfect, lowkey spot to kick back and enjoy your Sunday.

664 SUFFIELD ST . AGAWAM, MA (413) 301-7074 . MURPHYSPUBAGAWAM.COM

With the NFL Sunday Ticket, eight TVs in the bar and one on the patio, you are sure to see your team play. Munch on a Murphy’s Irish Nachos or get the Sunday game day special - a pitcher of Bud Light and 20 wings. Your order comes with a raffle ticket that enters you to win a jersey!

TOMATOE’S PIZZA & SPORTS BAR

44 S MAIN STREET . EAST WINDSOR, CT . (860) 370-9208 FACEBOOK.COM/TOMATOESPIZZASPORTSBAR Stellar wings or a New York style large cheese pizza and a pitcher of Bud Light are specials that come standard with every game. That’s only half the reason to come down to watch a little pigskin. The other? Garlic knots! Delicious, freshly baked, buttery and oh so good.

62 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016

THE PIZZA SHOPPE

134 SHAKER ROAD . EAST LONGMEADOW, MA (413) 525-2470 . PIZZA-SHOPPE.COM For over 60 years the Pizza Shoppe has been a mainstay in the area, serving up fresh and piping hot pies with house made sweet dough and sauce. 10 TVs playing all the games every Sunday and also home to a wide variety of beer. This place makes you feel like family.

9 ALLEN STREET . HAMPDEN, MA (413)566-8015 . GIOSPIZZERIA.COM Gio’s has always been a local hot spot with gourmet toppings, fresh crust and unique grinder options with top quality ingredients. Game day is always satisfying with 10 TVs, the NFL Package, $3.00 appetizers and $2.00 drink specials.

15 SOUTH ROAD . SOMERS, CT (860) 763-1342 It’s where the locals go, for sure. A down to earth place that accommodates and will always have a specialty pie well worth the try.

Watch the game in the expansive bar or lounge - each a laid back atmosphere and place to enjoy that Sunday Funday vibe.

KRAZY JAKE’S

2537 BOSTON ROAD . WILBRAHAM, MA (413) 596-6464 . KRAZYJAKES.COM Half off appetizers on game day (minus the seafood apps) and TVs galore are two reasons to come down for the game. The other is a toss-up between the wicked good clam chowder or their classic cheeseburger and fries.



JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 63

64 GO LOCAL OCTOBER 2016