Go Local | September 2016

GO LOCAL MAGAZINE . SEPTEMBER 2016

September 2016 Volume 2 . Issue 10 golocalmagazines.com

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM

reiki babies adventures in teaching happy herd Pulling together

new england doodlebug association

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TABLE OF CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2016 . VOLUME 2 . ISSUE 10

PULLING TOGETHER New England Doodlebug Association

33

Doodlebugs are the epitome of Yankee ingenuity, employing engineered solutions with make-do materials. Originating around World War II, a doodlebug is a homemade, Frankenstein “tractor,” built from accessible resources and modified for farm work. Since then, competitions have become as synonymous with harvest fairs as livestock exhibits and deep-fried delicacies.

6

EDITOR’S NOTE

8

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

10

ADVENTURES IN TEACHING With Mr. Prewandowski

15

EXTREME MAKEOVER Lunchbox edition

19

GO CREATE Watercolor leaf painting

20

GO LOCAL PICKS CT Valley Distillery Smuggler’s Rum

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 3

TABLE OF CONTENTS SEPTEMBER 2016 . VOLUME 2 . ISSUE 10

HANDCRAFTED IN SUFFIELD

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50

GO LOCAL PICKS Grain-Free-Ola, Tidal Gems & Bowl Cozies Connecticut Trolley Museum tours

53

AUTUMN IN THE ORCHARD Johnny Appleseed’s Farm

57

GO EAT Late Summer Harvest Pasta Primavera

59

CELEBRATE FIBER ARTS In Monson, Massachusetts

56

LOCAL EINSTEIN Put your thinking cap on!

58

FINAL COUNTDOWN 7 fall festivals, fairs & events

23

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HANDCRAFTED IN SUFFIELD Woods Hollow Leather Co.

29

LOCAL SNAPSHOT Mighty oaks from little acorns grow

30

TAKE A HIKE Crane Hill/Twelve Mile Recreation Area

39

IN THE GARAGE 1963.5 Mercury Marauder

41

HAPPY HERD Windy Crow Farm

47

REIKI BABIES In East Windsor, Connecticut

4 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

facebook.com/GoLocalMagazines 

REIKI BABIES

HAPPY HERD

41

TWO MEN TROOP 275 AUTUMN INFROM THE ORCHARD

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GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 5

EDITOR’S NOTE ! AMBER E. WAKLEY

The back to school season is here and even though it’s difficult to accept summer’s end, the first month of autumn is flush with renewal and anticipation. I certainly recognize the reluctancy to transition from the reverie of warmer days, but there are so many reasons to love September; the doors are wide open to a fresh start. Capitalize on that magic.

Despite having my locker-lined hallway days far behind me, I can’t resist relishing in the memories of a new school year. For me, there’s a certain euphoria in reminiscing over the smell of a freshly pressed ditto or the concentration of curating the perfect brown paper bag textbook cover. Although most of my distinct school memories are mostly extinct - like illustrated lesson plans using transparencies and an overhead projector that academic cycle still sticks with me after all these years. It’s a rejuvenating new season, a sort of launch pad for productivity, creativity, reinvention and positive energy.

I feel like the New Year is arbitrarily placed in January when autumn unleashes our best intentions. The feeling of a fresh start is prefaced with crisp air and determination that comes at the beginning of fall. We begin to reap the rewards of the growing season and celebrate distinct pastimes characteristic of New England. This month our pages embrace this change with stories emulating passage, growth and good old fashioned Yankee ingenuity. It’s that pragmatic approach to problem solving that conceived the New England Doodlebug Association (NEDA), a decades-old club dedicated to homemade pulling tractors made exclusively from old truck parts. From Somers, we sat down with NEDA president, Tom Modzelewski, to learn more about these vernacular contraptions that are gearing up for a season of pulling this fall. The back to school vibe is personified in Longmeadow with Heritage Academy teacher, Peter Prewandowski, an inspiring educator who shares his approach for teaching both locally and abroad. We also caught some Zen with Jillian Whet-

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

6 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

PHOTOGRAPHY Aria Bracci Amelia Ingraham Jacqueline Sidor CONTRIBUTING WRITERS David Abare Aria Bracci 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 Matt Mahaney Sandy Neumann

 JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO

29

ton, founder of Rieki Babies which specializes in healing for moms and their children. On the creative side, Matt Haddock is creating masterful leather pieces as sole crafter at Woods Hollow Leather, while the Monson Arts Council prepares for the Celebrate Fiber Arts Festival at the end of the month. Our region is home to some of the most beautiful farmland - we visited Windy Crow Farms in Stafford Springs and Johnny Appleseed’s Farm in Ellington to epitomize the agricultural landscape at the turn of the season. You may also have noticed that we grew a spine! I’m ecstatic to see Go Local grow to such exceptional quality.

Freshly sharpened pencils of the school year mark a new beginning and the opportunity to create a new pattern of growth. I hope the changing season refuels passion into your less-humid days. I can’t help but change with the season, downshifting to a simpler life that reflects the values of a grade school classroom.

Share everything, have courage, live a balanced life, be curious, play, pursue knowledge - it’s the root of understanding - and be grateful.

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

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THE COST OF ELECTRICITY CONTINUES TO FORTUNATELY SO DOES THE

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GO ON, YOUR SAY!

BECAUSE EVERYONE DESERVES THEIR 15 MINUTES OF FAME

Stylist/Persian Cat Breeder

LYNN

LISA Retired

JIM Mason

ROGER Retired

JUKEBOX JIM Musician

KIRSTIE Teacher

What characters were on your lunchbox as a kid?

Super plaid

Holly Hobby

G.I. Joe

Gene Autry

Wonder Dog

Curious George

Favorite way to enjoy apples?

In a pie!

Cut with cinnamon.

Apple crisp

Apple pie

Fresh picked Macoun.

Apple cider

Bob Dylan

Country

Metallica

Sirius Radio, 50s music.

Chris Smither

Adele

Smell of lead in the pencil sharpener.

Grass

Church bells

School bells

“Stairway to Heaven”

Cinnamon

Wine

Beer

German chocolate

Beer

The body parts.

Moldy cheese

What did you want to be at 10 years old?

Out of school!

A nurse in the E.R.

Soldier

A professional singer

Writer

Teacher

What’s your theme song?

Twilight Zone theme song

“Crazy B”

by Buckcherry

“Crazy Train”

by Ozzy Osbourne

“Rock Around the Clock” by Bill Haley & His Comets

“Heart of Gold”

by Neil Young

“I Want It That Way”

by Backstreet Boys

Snow White

Little Women

The Jungle Book

I don’t remember.

The Cat in the Hat

The Giving Tree

Currently playing in your car?

What sounds or smells remind you of your school days?

If we opened your fridge, what would you try to hide?

Favorite childhood book?

8 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

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GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 9

! 

ALEXA NAPOLITAN JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO

10 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

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BEATNIK POETRY COFFEE HOUSE EVENING IN TANZANIA

After receiving his Master’s Degree in Education from Keene State College, Peter learned that teaching truly was his passion— one that has led him to live and educate children on three continents—North America, Africa, and Europe.

Peter taught in Tanzania for a number of years as well as several years in Bulgaria, both of which he refers to as “great adventures.” Although his teaching timeline includes a number of jumps back and forth across the Atlantic Ocean, Peter’s experience overseas was something he always hoped to do.

“I wanted to do something overseas—maybe volunteer work.

Then, there was an opening at a school in Tanzania—and because our Western Massachusetts Diocese had a relationship with this location, it made sense to go there,” recalls Peter. “And I could point to it on the map and say, Tanzania, okay, I can go there.”

His journey brought some of his most memorable students and stories of his teaching career, while also presenting him an opportunity to learn about himself as a person, an educator, and a minister of faith.

To him, being a good teacher is about showing students there is

nothing they can’t do if they push themselves to their limits— something he understands can be difficult depending on the age of the child. However, his ultimate goal is to open students’ eyes to the world around them in the way his adventures did for him.

“In anything, but certainly in education, you’re either moving forward or you’re backsliding,” says Peter. “I guess what I want kids to know about their own education is that you’re always moving and you have to let your teacher—me—push you. You have to be strong enough, brave enough, and ready to let that happen.”

Mr. Pre finds the flexibility of a private school curriculum an excellent avenue to push his students to succeed. Without the requirement of teaching the same exact lesson plans every year, he’s able to mix it up and give students a hands-on approach to learning. He’s used some of his favorite lessons on all three continents he’s taught.

“We did a Beatnik Poetry Coffee House evening where the kids read original poems and they were the waiters and waitresses for their parents who came to watch,” laughs Peter. “And they

CANON ANDREA MWAKA SCHOOL IN DODOMA, TANZANIA

12 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

dressed like Beatniks and we even penciled in little goatees on the boys. I did it at Heritage Academy, in Bulgaria, and then in a 7th grade class in Africa.”

These types of lesson plans are likely rooted in his ever-present love of drama and theater. Before becoming an Education major, Peter studied drama. Now, at Heritage Academy, he loves challenging the kids with original plays such as last year’s version of Peter Pan and this year’s Willy Wonka.

Fortunately, it isn’t only his own passions that are explored through his theater productions. Many of his young students flourish under his directing, allowing them to explore their own passions for drama.

Often times, their parents take notice.

“Mr. Pre allows the students to bring their own flair to each role,” says Tiffany and Scott Greene, parents of two of Peter’s students, Adam and Joshua. “Our younger son has come to love the stage, and recently played Captain Hook in the Heritage Academy Production of Peter Pan, directed by Peter.”

Throughout the years, Peter says it’s truly been an honor to have had an influence on his students and to have been a role model in their lives. He still hears from several students via email and he’s even considering joining the Facebook world to keep in touch more easily.

One of the most humbling moments for him as an educator was having the chance to speak at one of his first Tanzanian student’s wedding ceremony in 2011 before he moved back to the States. Then, he was able to meet the student’s new baby when he visited two years ago.

“It’s great to hear about the impact I’ve made on the children,” says Peter fondly. “One of my first students in New Jersey, his mother sent me a framed quote that reads, The Teacher said to the students: ‘Come to the edge’ and they responded, ‘It’s too high.’ ‘Come to the edge,’ the teacher demanded. And they came and the teacher pushed them and they flew,’ so I guess I still believe that and strive to be that.”

In the nearly 25 years since Peter received that framed quote, he’s become a positive influence on countless children. Although his globetrotting days may be over, each year at Heritage Academy is its own unique adventure.

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14 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

It takes up to 15 times for a child to try a food before they like it! Try incorporating new foods along with some old favorites. It’s also helpful to try new foods at snack times versus busy mealtimes. We want to expose our kids to new healthy foods without pressuring them.

Danielle Meunier

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 15

Healthy Habits!

SNACK SMART! Kick the chips and empty-calorie munchies for raw veggies, fruits and whole grain goodness. You may want to try: trail mix (nuts + dried fruits + non-dairy chocolate chips), fruit kabobs, sliced apples sprinkled with cinnamon, hummus & whole grain crackers, olives or frozen yogurt.

GET ‘EM IN THE KITCHEN Involving kids in the process of grocery shopping and meal prep is an opportunity to learn about nutrition and gives kids a feeling of accomplishment - little chefs are also more likely to eat something they prepared themselves.

BE REALISTIC Take baby steps when introducing new foods and behaviors - move slowly over time and stay positive!

PLAN, PREP, PACK! Whether you’re packing food intended for a character lunchbox or headed to the office with an insulated tote, make sure you’re ready! Pulling off healthier meal options will be less overwhelming with a plan and pre-prep.

Maybe try setting aside some time to: wash fruits and veggies (cut those that won’t spoil); cook your grains all at once for the week; pre-make proteins, like chicken/egg/tuna salads and items like hummus (if you choose homemade).

MONKEY SEE, MONKEY DO Be a role model for healthy eating, it’s good for ‘ya anyway!

16 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

Don’t forget the fruit! Encourage new discoveries by buying a new type of fruit each week or make fruit-eating fun by having kids make their own “fruit kabobs.”

Cut fruit into bite size pieces, then using bamboo skewers (perhaps popsicle sticks for youngsters) thread favorite fruits and enjoy! Feeling fancy? Stamp out shaped designs using small cookie cutters. Experiment with local, in-season produce this month (fruit availability may vary): apples, melons, pears, plums and raspberries. Blueberries could also still be hanging on earlier in the month!

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NEW LOCAL FEATURE!

GO CREATE - DIY INSPIRATION  SUBMITTED & CREATED BY JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO . JMSARTANDPHOTO.COM

Watercolor Leaf Printing

Anyone can be an artist with this easy-to-do DIY painting project.

Let the dramatic changes of the season inspire your creativity!

Using simple materials and seasonal themes this project is

Watercolor paper or card stock Watercolor paint Paint brushes Pencil

deceptively easy, yet still dynamic. Feel free to modify the idea to fit your style - a great project for kids, those looking for a pleasant distraction or those just starting to spread their art wings!

STEP 1: Go outside and find some leaves, look for a variety of shapes and textures. Leaves with some life left in them work best. STEP 2: Have the watercolor paper and pencil ready.

Quickly paint a leaf with watercolor. STEP 3: Place your piece of watercolor paper on top of your painted leaf. Press down with your hands and then rub with your pencil until the veins of the leaf start showing through on the back.

STEP 4: Flip the watercolor paper over and carefully peel the leaf off to reveal the print. Save the leaf so you can paint it again if you wish to repeat that shape in your painting. STEP 5: Repeat steps 2, 3 & 4 as many times as you like. Try overlapping some leaves and fill your whole paper. STEP 6: Paint random brush strokes and splatters in the left over white spaces of the painting. Don’t be afraid to try painting over some of your leaves as well.

Each month freelance photographer JACQUELINE SIDOR brings Go Local stories to life by capturing distinct editorial images with depth and personality. As an art teacher at Stafford Elementary, she has a passion for sharing her love of art and inspiring creativity - both in and out of the classroom. Jackie is an all around visual artist, creator and photographer. Her talents have brought her all over New England, specifically documenting all aspects of life, specializing in concert and wedding photography. For more information go to JMSARTANDPHOTO.COM

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19

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

ARTISANAL SPIRITS CONNECTICUT VALLEY DISTILLERY SMUGGLERS RUM . ELLINGTON, CT CTVALLEYDISTILLERY.COM . FACEBOOK.COM/SMUGGLERSRUM . (860) 966-7248

Produced out of Ellington, Smuggler’s Rum brings back a tradition and history that has been long forgotten. Rum manufacturing was a pillar of colonial America’s industry and by the mid-1700s New England was home to over 150 rum distilleries. With the Molasses Act of 1733 - one of the main sugar source ingredients of rum - colonies saw a shift toward bourbon and decline in rum. However, many in the colonies boldly ignored what was seen as the overreaching hand of authority and smuggled sugar and molasses from the West Indies to continue their production of rum. Though prohibition is one of the most intriguing and nefarious points in our history; with rum runners delivering in the dark of night, bootleggers driving through rough undeveloped roads and hidden stills.

Prohibition agents posed threats at every turn and brought a halt to all major production of liquor in New England, almost completely losing our distilling legacy. That is until today.

Connecticut Valley Distillery’s Smuggler’s Rum is more than just a tip of the hat to our area’s rich rum history, they are breathing new life into old traditions. Rich Gummoe has spent years researching and learning to locally produce the highest quality rum. Originally gaining interest through learning about his own family’s involvement of smuggling liquor during prohibition, Gummoe’s thirst for knowledge was not sated by research alone. Possessed by passion, he began learning the ins and outs of distilling from one of the oldest producers of German distillation systems and even traveled to Japan to gain a better understanding of the fermentation process. Smuggler’s Rum is made from fresh spring water in Ellington and blended by hand in small batches. Gummoe and his partner Mary Goetter currently have two Rums on the market - Smuggler’s Silver and Smuggler’s Spiced - both of which are New England styles of rum that one might have seen in colonial America. One bottle at a time, the two are reviving a family legacy and hope to create spirit brands that reflect the Connecticut shoreline traditions for clear handcrafted fine artisanal spirit beverages. Take a sip and taste tradition, available at fine retailers including: Mark’s Country Wine and Liquor (Ellington) Joe’s Fine Wine & Spirits (Enfield), Ruby’s Fine Wine & Liquors (Stafford), Joe’s Fine Wine & Spirits (East Windsor) and Kaman’s Wine and Liquor (Somers). Find additional locations: ctvalleydistillery.com/find 20 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

SPRINGFIELD VALLEY HYPNOSIS CENTER SANDY NEUMANN, CERTIFIED HYPNOCOACHÂŽ

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

What distinguishes you from other Businesses in your category?

Many other Hypnotists work with large groups, my focus is on the individual and private confidential programs. Every person has their own challenges and I believe clients deserve undivided attention to help them successfully achieve their goals. My background and training in psychology, hypnosis, NLP, mindfulness, creative visualization and business, enables me to not only be a good hypnotist, but a life coach that can really get great results while tapping into the subconscious mind where change happens.

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

Hypnosis is a simple, safe and highly effective way for people to address the problems of daily life. It is used routinely in the healthcare industry as a valued tool. Athletes use it to improve focus and performance, while successful business professionals and celebrities use it for relaxation and stress management. Hypnosis has been practiced for thousands of years, and has been recognized and accepted in the medical community.

Why should people do business with you?

It is not always easy to understand why we behave in certain ways or why we think the way we do, but in order to make lasting changes, getting the right tools and Hypnotist to so is crucial. Education and ongoing training that I enroll in constantly keeps me fresh with new techniques and advances in the field. I also teach my clients how to use these tools to help themselves. Upon completion, most of my clients admit that they got way more out of their program than they were initially seeking.

They actually feel transformed and relieved with a brand new awareness of their own possibilities.

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off-the-rack big box store varieties. The grain feels dense and durable while still being supple and smooth to the touch. Does utilizing finer source material and employing such devoted craftsmanship in Matt’s works come at a premium?

“When you’re buying something that’s handcrafted, handmade-whether it’s leather or any other goods-you’re paying for the craftsman’s time and labor and the material may be two if not three times more expensive than you’d find in a mass produced product,” says Matt. “Though when someone has one of my products and they might, say, put some conditioner on it after a year or so and it looks brand new, that word of mouth spreads pretty quickly.”

Matt uses as much local material as possible, including Wickett-Craig in Pennsylvania, one of the oldest tanneries in the country – all American made hides – and another supplier out near the Cape called Waterhouse Leather. The challenge sometimes is that not everything is made in the USA anymore, it’s often expensive, so it’s hard to source all USA-made products.

The exceptional quality that results from Matt’s handiwork is plainly evident from simply looking around his workspace, the tactile pleasure one receives from pulling a newly finished belt through your hands, or even scanning the Woods Hollow website which showcases all his items in exquisite photographs he snapped himself. After completing any or all of these endeavors, it would be easy to assume there are few challenges Matt faces in his craft but that’s not entirely true.

of the start of things. I did a lot of research online, started watching YouTube videos and slowly built a little workshop,” Matt recalls.

Days before I spoke with Matt, the inside of my own leather wallet that I purchased from a major retailer had started to tear. I asked him why that seemed to happen so frequently and what differentiates his finished product from the one I own, or others that are mass-produced.

“Most of the leather items you’re going to buy in a mass production store are not true, 100% full grain leather, which is what I use,” says Matt. “What that means is that when you have a cow hide, they manipulate [the leather] in a way where they might cut the piece in half, refinish the top of the bottom half and then even cut it again and again – repurposing it until you end up with ten pieces that become dyed and machined to make a belt, etc. You have now taken away layers and layers of the skin, which takes away from the strength and it’s why you see the tears or the cracks in six months.”

Running one of Matt’s handcrafted belts through my hands, squeezing the hide and flexing it, it’s apparent these are not 24 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

“Being a newer crafter, it’s just making mistakes really. I have a very detail-oriented process and if there’s one mistake I won’t sell the product. I may sell it at a reduced price to a friend or family member, but I want everything to look really good,” Matt says. “One of the other learning curves is that there are so many different kinds of leather – some that’s very firm and others that are more flimsy for leather bags, different kinds for upholstery and so on. It’s a matter of discovering by trial and error which ones you like working with most or that work best. Also, not everyone can see the value in, say, a ninety-dollar belt. Finding the right customers in the right markets can be tough sometimes, but I have used social media and word of mouth to help grow the business.”

So is there a target customer for the handcrafted, leather goods that Matt puts his heart and soul into at Woods Hollow?

“My target customer is really not that specific,” says Matt. One thing that I realized pretty quickly is that it’s not just men that are buying my products; it’s also women that want to buy gifts for maybe their husbands, etc. ‘Oh his wallet is disgusting; I should buy one for him,’ I have heard at craft fairs I have done. It really kind of opened up my mind and market as to who my customers are. I am always trying to design new products-women’s clutches, purses, and tote bags. I am also working on some briefcases and backpacks. I do some custom work, for weddings I create groomsmen’s gifts, like wallets, with their initials engraved or match belts to their shoes or watches – making the whole outfit look clean and sophisticated.”

I have already taken my mass-produced, torn wallet and thrown it into the garbage receptacle at my apartment complex – a maneuver that terrified a feasting squirrel and sent him leaping out and onto a neighboring pine tree, and me several inches into the air. Once my heart returns to the inside of my chest, I plan on visiting Matt’s website and purchasing one of his fine crafted pieces to replace what I threw away. I’m certain it will not only last longer than the previous one, but will never be used as unintentional mortar fire at a squirrel.

Matt Haddock is the owner and sole crafter at Woods Hollow Leather, based in West Suffield, CT. At this time his items are sold primarily online at woodshollowleather.com but he also can sometimes be found at local flea markets and craft fairs.

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CRANE HILL / TWELVE MILE RECREATION AREA

139 CRANE HILL ROAD . WILBRAHAM, MA I love discovering new trails and hidden nooks, whether it be a scenic stroll or grand hiking adventure. While I have my old favorites scattered throughout the region, finding a new trek is always a reason to lace up my boots - especially this time of year. While I haven’t packed away my summer clothes just yet, the temperatures are certainly waning and I couldn’t be happier for the welcomed reprieve from that hot humidity.

Crane Hill/Twelve Mile Recreation area in Wilbraham has been on my radar for quite some time so I was pretty excited to see what it had to offer. The parking area is easy to find, about 1 mile from Route 20/Boston Post Road. I parked in the first lot on the right, but there is another a short distance down the road on the left.

I didn’t do too much research before departing, which is never a good idea, even when you’re traversing a small local system of trails like this. In addition to the four miles of trails, the property is also home to an 18-hole disc golf course. There’s a small kiosk between the lot and wood line, certainly an important resource to consider if setting out on any of these trails. The Crane Hill Loop - marked white - extends the circumference of the property, with several other spur paths jutting off the main loop. With numerous, well-worn footpaths intersecting all over, I honestly wasn’t too sure where the trail actually started. I knew that Chuck Phillips Trail - marked orange - began near the 14th hole, so I headed in that direction. Sure enough, a sign greeted my path.

The Chuck Phillips Trail was beautiful, pine needles the hue of terracotta covered the ground and long, tapered ferns provided a vivid contrast at my feet. While the trail was easy to recognize on this section, it was not marked well (in my humble opinion). The trail extends to the Spear Brook - here it just ends abruptly - so I turned around and doubled back to the Crane Hill Loop Trail. I took a right back on the loop and noticed the Summit Trail on my left - marked yellow - just a short distance from the Chuck Phillips Trail. I read this trail was steep - it’s no joke. While the trek up is short, it’s steady, switching back and forth to accommodate the quick rise 30 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

in elevation - 620 feet in a half mile to be exact. However, when you’re climbing a summit you’re always rewarded for your efforts, just know your limitations. A stone cairn greets your arrival at the top and rocky outcrops provide a nice place to relax. While the view in the distance was covered by bright green leaves on this day, in a few short weeks autumn will give way to a beautiful view of rolling hills in the distance.

After a sip of water, I went down the way I came - although an unmarked trail does descend down the other side connecting back to the white trail. I doubled back around, finding myself on the disc golf course. I sort of lost the trail at this point, the course area is also intermittently marked and the excess of spur trails create a little bit of confusion. I walked the disc-golf course for a bit and then rediscovered the white trail, which led me back to the parking lot. One thing I did notice here was the absence of garbage containers. PLEASE take out what you carry in, there was a bit of litter left behind in the parking lot by disrespectful visitors.

An enjoyable jaunt, this area offered a great mix of landscape features including a stream, beaver dam, fields, forest and varied elevation. For more information on all the trails maintained by Crane Hill Park in Wilbraham, visit the Parks and Recreation section at www.wilbraham-ma.gov. There you’ll find information on trails, including maps, trail descriptions and disc-golf course features.

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CLUB MEMBER, ALEX KRAUSE

VICE PRESIDENT, BILL PELTON IV

NEDA PRESIDENT, TOM MODZELEWSKI

“As I know it, the first draw was between Pat Dodd and Harold Snow, first place was probably a case of beer,” laughs Bill IV. “They ran out of weights so they had people climbing up onto the stone boat to try and weigh it down. It was right on Sullivan Avenue in South Windsor; there weren’t too many regulations back then [in the early 1940s]. As I understand it – now we’re going back so far that most, if any, of the people there aren’t even alive anymore - the oxen didn’t show that year to the Wapping Fair. So Pat Dodd and Harold Snow – a couple of local mechanics or farmers, whichever they were – got their machines there and decided to pull in place of the oxen.”

“It was a hell of an idea, look what they started,” adds Tom. Since then, doodlebug drawing competitions have become as synonymous with harvest fairs as livestock exhibits and deep-fried delicacies.

The goal of a doodlebug draw is to move a load of deadweight a total of 3 feet in a consecutive motion. Depending on the fair, members get 3-5 minutes to accomplish this task. Whoever moves the load 3 feet will move onto the next round where more weight is added, it just keeps going from there until the last two machines compete. The winner is whoever pulls it the farthest, whether it be one or two inches. NEDA places as many participants as possible, generally 1-6 members. Winners receive ribbons and some a payout…a small payout. Tom says they’re definitely not doing this sport to get rich and the payouts are probably similar to what participants were paid in the 60s, if they got paid at all back then.

“I used to watch doodlebug draws when I was a kid at the Four Town Fair – I was probably 11 or 12 years old – sometimes until 2:00am,” says Tom. “I just loved watching the old iron get out there, blow smoke with parts falling off everywhere, shaking and rattling all the while moving a whole bunch of weight. It was awesome. Time went by and I always wanted to join, but I never really had a facility or someone to help me 34 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

get involved. I started working for a construction company and Bill IV’s father (Bill III) stored hay next door. He and I got friendly and that was my ‘in.’ He hooked me up with the parts to build my first doodlebug – it’s been six or eight years since then.”

“I worked with Tom at the same time, with the same company and he got me into this, a sort of chain reaction,” says Alex.

“I’m a bad influence,” laughs Tom. “My family has been doing this for a while, so I have a few different ones [doodlebugs], but right now my primaries are a 1957 GMC, called the TransAm with a Firebird painted on the hood, and a 1969 International Load Star – that one is pretty much how it was as a truck, I just cut the cab off,” says Bill IV. Then my family has a whole bunch of others. I started when I was 11; I’ve been doing this for 16 years now. It’s an affordable, fun hobby that isn’t super competitive. It’s pretty much take whatever junk you’ve got laying around, throw it together and see how much weight it will pull.”

The garage (and club) is filled with dynamic fusions of welded vehicles. One is a late 1930s Ford with a 1951 engine and a Model A rear. Another is a 1989 F350 front half and the back half is a 1960s International Harvester – they “just” welded the two together. A converted 1928 Maxim fire truck is also in the fleet, it’s welded together from a collection of pieces that date back to the 1950s. It’s a lot of homemade stuff, but nothing about them is an actual tractor.

“It’s pretty hodgepodge, the possibilities are endless,” says Tom when asked about how many vehicles make up one doodlebug.

“The only thing we can’t use –in our club – is construction equipment, tractors or agricultural equipment parts. It has to be roadspecific parts, but you can put together as many combinations you want from whatever you can find.”

There are three classes of doodlebugs – 3,500, 5,000 and 8,000 pounds. Each class is divided into chain drive and shaft drive divisions – even though there may be 16 doodlebugs in one class, not all 16 will be competing against each other. They contend chain versus chain, shaft versus shaft. Chain drives tend to have

more pull and power than a shaft drive. Middle-class weight starts with a load around 20,000 pounds. An excavator loads concrete blocks onto the “sled,” a long platform constructed of large timbers with steel hitching points on either end. Drivers back in to hitch up, pulling it back and forth in either direction.

They pull on a variety of surfaces, depending on location it can be clay, process or pavement. Record weight pulls are staggering, some reaching over 100,000 pounds. Remarkably, that’s with a five thousand pound doodlebug. Last year they had the most weight pulled on the stone boat in probably twenty five years at 104,000 pounds - the winner pulled it about 2 inches. The guys said “it was awesome.”

“To the people that come to the shows and watch, they might not realize there’s actually a lot of science and engineering that goes into these machines,” says Alex. “A lot of mechanical advantage, fulcrums and hitch points. There are a lot of tiny little things you can change to gain advantage or moves. There’s a lot to it.”

The club is unique, made up of members who have been pulling together for decades. It’s not really competitive and you don’t show up with your doodlebug like you would a race with your own pit crew. Everybody else with a doodlebug is your pit crew; everyone helps everyone throughout the whole draw. Each wants the other guy to win, almost as much as they want to win themselves. If your machine breaks, there are six guys surrounding it to help get it running again.

“I like the camaraderie of the group, that’s probably my favorite thing, other than actually getting out there on my doodlebug and getting a last minute pull – like in the last eight seconds – that’s pretty awesome,” says Tom. “You get a pretty good adrenaline rush.

I mean, it’s not like you’re on a rocket ship, but to us, it’s pretty fun.”

“The pulls are a blast, unless you break something of course, then it’s not so much,” says Alex. “To me it’s days like this, just being here in the middle of nowhere inside a barn with bad lighting and leaks. I couldn’t tell you how many times we’ve been out here until midnight, one o’clock in the morning working on things. I like that aspect of it – not everyone would think this is cool – but being here and doing it is a good time.”

There is so much history here, even if there hasn’t been a lot of record keeping in the last sixty years. The club has around 40 machines collectively. Each member, about 45, is on the hunt for those rare, hard-to-find relics of the past. Currently, the oldest GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 35

SEE NEDA AT THE WAPPING FAIR (SOUTH WINDSOR), SEPT. 8-11 AND AT THE FOUR TOWN FAIR (SOMERS), SEPT. 15-18. FOR MORE INFORMATION & A COMPLETE SCHEDULE VISIT FACEBOOK.COM/NEDOODLEBUGS

36 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

machine is a 1923 White, owned by Larry Dubiel in Somers. The newest is a repurposed 1997 FedEx truck – it’s the only computercontrolled doodlebug in the fleet. Most of the guys involved with this club work on a farm, at a construction company or is a contractor of some sort. They have access to heavy equipment, trailers, shops and tools.

“My International came out of a field somewhere before we got it; apparently it had someone living in it – that’s a fun story,” smiles Bill IV. “I acquired a 1957 GMC that was actually built in the 70s as a doodlebug, was also used for tobacco rigging, which it did up until about three years ago. I like that it was still being used for the original purpose until just recently.”

“We have some long time members, like Al Nunes from Windsor.

He’s had the same doodlebug since he was 13 years old; I imagine he’s in his mid-60s by now,” says Tom. “He built it out of a truck he used to drive around on his farm and it’s the same exact doodlebug he built back then. Jon Cohen, another member, has been driving a La France for over 50 years. Some of these guys have been doing it for a long time, even spending their wedding anniversaries at the fair. I think Bill IV’s dad did.”

“Yeah, I think my parents’ honeymoon plans fell through and they ended up going to the Berlin Fair instead,” laughs Bill IV. “I bet you they tied cans on the back of the doodlebug,” adds Tom. “You have to be devoted, I would say this club has surely caused some fights between significant others.”

Bill IV’s father is now semi-retired, but has been known to pull one of his machines out of the weeds if his “stones are busted” enough.

Either way, he’s always at the pull with guys like Stanley Lombard from Somers, who has become a lifetime member. They don’t necessarily pull anymore, but are a part of the measuring and “pit” crew. In the end, the group just likes having everyone together for a draw, whether they’re driving or not.

NEDA has seven events, beginning with a Spring Draw in May, but it’s not currently open to the public and there’s no payout. Tom refers to it as a “shakedown run.” It’s the chance to pull machines out of the weeds, see what’s broken and have time to fix it before fair season. While not advertised very much, prospective members can come down and pay a $10 one-day membership fee to try your luck at a pull. From there, they head off to the Lebanon Fair, Hartford County 4H Fair, Hebron Fair, Wapping Fair, Four Town Fair and the Berlin Fair.

Back in the barn, the guys exchange stories, like when Tom beat the machine so hard that the crankshaft sheared right off the engine. Within that same draw, Bill IV spun his tires mid-air and slammed it down so hard it busted the engine loose and put the fan through the radiator buckling the sheet metal. They call that “good carnage.” Yup, that’s what this club is all about – sharing memories, having some laughs and building machines that could pull something the weight of a houseboat or cargo carrier. Welcome to New England everyone.

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IN THE GARAGE ROLLING UP THE DOORS ON LOCAL GARAGES

RICHARD GIRARD

1963.5 MERCURY MARAUDER ! JACQUIE SCHORS

T

he heat wave has passed, but the summer sun is still shining with a gentle tepid breeze as classic rock tickles forth from the PA system set under an EZ-Up canopy.

It’s Wednesday evening and cars are pulling into formation for a weekly car show. Everything from a 2015 convertible Thunderbird to a 1930 Rat Rod truck makes the lineup. Everyone is here because they choose to be; the atmosphere is relaxed and pleasant.

Richard Girard is one of those people, rolling into the show with a turquoise 1963.5 Mercury Marauder. 1963 and a half?

“Here, I’ll explain that half for ya. In ‘63 it had another roof, which was square (the reverse-angled Breezeway model). It couldn’t make good [racing] time, but there had to be a production car in order to race NASCAR. So they redesigned it making the semi-fastback roof for racing. That’s why it came out with a half year,” states Girard with an impish pleasure stemmed from having a car with such an unusual point of interest.

“When I was kid - I was, oh I don’t know, eight or ten years old - and I was working on a farm, tobacco back then. I was driving the tractors and stuff like that up and down the roads.

I’ve been driving ever since. My first car I bought was a 1952 Ford and I bought it off of a relative up in New Hampshire. I had it by the time I was out of school. I graduated in ‘64, so I

would say I got it in ‘62 or ‘63, somewhere in that range,” says Richard. “I got this one, I don’t remember what month, but I bought it in 2001 and it only had 58,000 original miles on it. I knew about this car for about 20 years before it became available [for purchase]. I had my eyes on this one because it was parked en route between my house and my father’s house.

I would go by it once, twice a day, sitting there for almost 20 years. Then it disappeared for about a year and came back with a for sale sign on it. That’s when I was able to buy it. [It felt like] I had won the lottery. I’ve done repairs, but repairs don’t make a restoration. The whole top had to be painted because around the top of the windshield and all around the back window was rusted. I didn’t do a complete restoration because when you’re original, you’re only original once.”

Richard sure is an original with a bright pink rhinestone baseball hat and a roguish humor. We were glad you let us in your garage and gave us a little bit of history.

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 39

GO_LOCAL_SEPT_Layout 1 8/30/16 12:08 PM Page 40

and

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! 

AMY WHITE JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 41

Windy Crow Farm was Joe’s childhood home. His father built a house on the land in 1948, and they had horses and sheep there for many years. Barbie and Joe carried on the work of the farm when they were married, naming it Windy Crow in tribute to Joe’s parents who liked to say, “Two old crows live here,” funnier because the farm is on Crow Hill Road. When the last horse they owned passed, Joe fulfilled his lifelong dream of owning alpacas. They started with two white males, a bonded pair, in 2010. Today, through breeding as well as adopting alpacas, their small family has grown into an entire herd. The latest baby, known as a cria, joined the herd earlier this summer, and another is expected by summer’s end.

Alpacas, along with camels and llamas, are members of the camelid species. Native to South America, they have been domesticated for thousands of years and are bred specifically for their fiber. Alpaca fleece is a soft, silky, natural fiber. It is similar to sheep’s wool, except it does not contain lanolin, which makes it hypoallergenic, and therefore an excellent alternative to wool.

It is also warmer, less prickly, and more luxurious in texture.

After shearing the animals, Barbie and Joe process the fiber themselves, which has increased the bond they feel toward their pets.

“We love our animals, but now that we process our own fiber, I can’t even describe that love,” says Barbie.

Each alpaca can produce five to ten pounds of fiber each year, and processing it is a hands-on specialty that involves carding, spinning, weaving and finishing the fiber.

They learned how to do this after joining the Nutmeg Spinners Guild. Joe prefers to use a drop-, or hand-spindle, while Barbie uses a wheel. They sell some of their yarn, but Barbie also knits and crochets with it.

Barbie explains that alpaca yarn doesn’t have the “memory” that sheep’s wool has, which means that garments made from it alone can easily stretch out over time.

Therefore, she often mixes the ultra-silky 42 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

ultra-silky wool from her English Angora rabbits with the alpaca fiber.

She and Joe raise the rabbits specifically for this purpose. They also have Lionhead rabbits, named after the wooly mane that encircles their heads. Along with their alpacas, they showcase these rabbits at agricultural fairs and shows like the 4-H Fair and The Big E. The Lytwyns also show their chickens. Currently they are breeding Cochins, Silkies and Ameraucanas. The Cochins have a distinctive excess of plumage, especially around their legs and feet. The Silkies have black beaks, and are named after their fluffy, silky, hair-like feathers. The Ameraucanas are sometimes called “Easter Egg” chickens because their eggs are light blue. All of these have produced what Barbie calls “an overabundance of eggs,” which she sells or trades for homegrown summer veggies since the goats have devoured her own vegetable garden.

The final type of animal living at Windy Crow Farm, for now anyway, is the Nigerian dwarf goat. Barbie’s aunt had three female goats, and when she died, the Lytwyns took the goats in and, as Barbie says, “The rest is history.” They breed them, often sell kids to other farms, and raise them for their milk. Their milk is particularly high in butterfat, making this breed popular among dairies for cheese and soap making. She calls her husband “an incredible cook,” and says he makes feta cheese from the goats’ milk.

Barbie speaks of the goats as pets; they all have names and personalities. She describes an incident earlier that very morning when she suddenly heard the sound of splintering wood echoing across the yard. Lo and behold, one of her male goats decided to use his horns to make a new exit from his shed. And so she bestowed on him a new nickname: The Renovator. She gives him an excuse, that he is “in rut,” meaning he is currently experiencing an increase in hormones in preparation for breeding. Otherwise, this type of goat is gentle, easily trainable, and small enough in size to make a perfect pet.

While Joe works in addition to running the farm, Barbie’s full time job is the farm animals. Besides taking care of them, she brings them out into the community for outreach. About once a week, she will pack one of her “farm babies” into her van and head to the Stafford Public Library for children’s story time, allowing the children to experience the animals up close. She has also taken animals to day care centers and nursing homes in the area. The goats in particular, because of their small size and gentle demeanor, make excellent “visitor” animals. She refers to her work with the animals as “therapy,” both for herself and for others.

Barbie also welcomes visitors to come to the farm for tours, and looks forward to any opportunity to share her farm family with other people.

Any money the Lytwyns may make, from the sale of a kid goat or some alpaca fiber for example, goes directly back into the farm. With this in mind, I asked Barbie the question that begged to be asked: Why do you do this? She handed us a dozen farm-fresh eggs as she, Becky the rooster, and the two rescue dogs followed us back to our motorcycle.

Becky preened in the chrome and Wally barked a farewell. Then this selfdescribed “crazy critter owner” beamed with a smile that shined from deep in her eyes and answered, “For love.” It’s that simple.

To plan a visit, contact Barbie via Facebook on the Windy Crow Farm page or at (860) 929-9104.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 43

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Happily accepting new clients. We are here when you need us!

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We specialize in comprehensive financial planning designed to help position clients for a solid financial future. We have a reputation within certain specializations, such as assisting people with pre and post retirement planning, financial planning for women especially in times of transition, such as widowhood or divorce. We are known for our persistence and follow through to empower clients to take action with their own financial plans.

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As a financial planner and business owner, I have a great deal of experience in all facets of operating a business. I am fortunate that I can bring that skill to community organizations as well as to other business owners in their planning. It is very rewarding as I feel like I am helping in both my personal and professional life.

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I treat each of my clients as if their situation were my own. My 25 year experience in the financial industry, along with my distinction of Certified Financial Plannertm ensures you are receiving the best financial plan. My business is based on referrals, which is the ultimate compliment any advisor can receive. I work closely with many Attorneys and CPAs to ensure my clients have a comprehensive plan of action to guarantee their financial peace of mind.

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LOCAL HARVEST Farmer’s Market Mantrabands are simple, elegant bracelets with a touch of delicate polish and an uplifting message; promoting a lifestyle of optimism, positivity and mindfulness.

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GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 47

“I know that my purpose on this earth is to help people,” says Jillian. “Help others to see themselves in a way that inspires them to lead positive lives; to help them recognize the triggers of their stress and know how to use that to their advantage. To help others know that they are enough and to build their confidence. To learn something new every day from everyone [around you] because I know there is so much we all have to give.”

Part of Jillian’s blossoming was the practice of Reiki. The linguist definition of Reiki breaks the word down in two parts. Rei is defined as higher power, higher intelligence or God’s wisdom.

Ki is the energy that we are all made up of; some call it our life force or spirit. When the two words are put together, it translates to “spiritually guided life force energy.” If your Ki is high, you feel at your best; clear thinking, confident and you feel strength like you’re firing on all cylinders. When your Ki is low you feel drained, anxious and even sick. It is believed that when your Ki is low, it’s due to blockages within your mind-body-spirit system or your chakras. These chakras are related to your physical, mental and spiritual health. Reiki sessions are used to cleanse and 48 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

bring your energies back in balance; therefore a session will have a healing effect. It is believed that we all have access to the life force and with training people learn to consciously channel this energy to help themselves and others. They do not transfer energy, but channel the life force to create a steady flow moving all energetic blockages that contribute to stress and pain.

“When I was first introduced to Reiki I felt like this is what I am supposed to do with my life,” says Jillian. “A lot of people who don’t really know about Reiki might consider it like praying.”

She went on to receive her Reiki 1, 2 and Master level in Usui Reiki. Listening to her intuition and focusing her meditation, she came up with the idea for her own business. It would be a way for her to spread her message of positivity through her experience, thus creating Reiki Babies.

“I want to spread positivity like the plague,” says Jillian with a smile. “I meditated for months, then one day during a meditation I just had Reiki Babies come to mind. It’s [the name] after my son Bryton, his nickname is Reiki Baby. Thinking about how my kids just give the most healing hugs, it just made sense that

I wanted it to be about moms, kids and babies. That’s what I know and love. I wanted to be able to create a space where they are able to freely release tension and for a few minutes just slow down their minds and not have to worry about bills, a grocery list or tasks going on at home. It’s a time to be in the moment with themselves and their child. Of course, we welcome dads and their kids. We don’t exclude males, but for me personally, it was important to focus on women and kids.”

Having learned so much from her own life and embracing those around her, Jillian is spreading valuable knowledge about taking care of yourself and teaching your child the same. She provides space for others to share their knowledge and enjoy the parental bonds intensely while learning how to accept the challenging times– and how to navigate them.

“I feel like this is a spiritual place, but it’s not religious,” says Jillian.

“It isn’t anything really wild, just a nice comfortable place where people can come meet like-minded individuals that have kids about the same age, and just take that moment and really live in it. The other big half of it is encouraging self-love.”

As of now Reiki Babies offers classes for 0-2 years of age, for momsto-be and mothers of children up to two years old. These classes offer a place for mothers to exchange ideas, issues and feelings of motherhood and raising children, and group and individual Reiki sessions.

Depending on your wants and needs, lessons incorporating crystals, breathing techniques, grounding techniques, essential oils, and health open you up to being the parent you wish to be. Classes for Reiki Kids ages 3-5 years old expand these lesson to not only parents, but their children, bringing about self awareness and control over one’s self. The hope is to expand age groups and grow Reiki Babies one step at a time.

Jillian says, “I want to leave this life a better place and know that I made a difference in peoples’ lives.”

JILLIAN WHETTON . REIKI BABIES MYREIKIBABIES.COM . FACEBOOK.COM/MYREIKIBABIES . (860) 830-4907

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 49

GO LOCAL PICKS

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

GRAIN-FREE-OLA EMILY’S GRAIN-FREE . LONGMEADOW, MA . (413) 342-0006 FACEBOOK.COM/EMILYSGRAINFREE . EMILYSGRAINFREE.COM

As we gain a better understanding of healthy eating, we are always on the search for go-to snacks made with real food and not processed food fillers. When Emily first began eating a grain-free diet, she found it very difficult - when travelling or even out for the day - to find grain-free, refined sugar-free products. Emily’s Grain-Free Granola fits the bill and is nothing short of sensational with rich nutty decadence draped in honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, and cardamom. The nutrient-filled food is made with all organic ingredients, is protein packed and low sugar (4g)! Emily’s Grain -Free products, including organic “Grain-Free-Ola” and grainfree muffins, can be purchased at Rice Fruit Farm in Wilbraham, Better Life Whole Foods in Springfield and River Valley Market Co-op in Northampton. Something so good has never tasted so indulgent. Healthy, Gluten-Free, mouthwatering and LOCAL!

TIDAL GEMS SEA GLASS CREATIONS BY MAUREEN . EAST LONGMEADOW, MA TIDALGEMS.COM . FACEBOOK: TIDAL GEMS . MAWILSON28@VERIZON.NET

After collecting sea glass for over 30 years, East Longmeadow resident Maureen Wilson has turned her found treasures into beautiful, one-of-a-kind jewelry and decorations. Her creations - including earrings, pendants, wine charms and ornaments - capture memories of summer visits to the ocean. Sea glass is formed when glass ends up in the ocean, spending years swaying along the ocean floor. Eventually the edges round and the once shiny glass gets a frosted texture.

Find Maureen’s creations this September at the Mattoon Street Arts Festival this in Springfield or at Oh So Pretties Handcrafted Gifts in Wilbraham.

50 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

BOWL COZY COZY CREATIONS . EAST WINDSOR, CT FACEBOOK.COM/COZYCREATIONSBYDLEWIS . EMAIL: DLEWIS328@ICLOUD.COM

With summer on the wane and fall just around the corner, these bowl cozies are a must have! Created by Grandmother and Granddaughter duo, Dolores and Jennifer Lewis, these “sculpted pot holders” are perfect for chilly bowls filled with ice cream or those brimming with steamy harvest soup. They come in 10” and 12” sizes, making them perfect for a single serving bowl or a large family style dish. Equipped with two sewing machines and a cutting mat in Dolores’s living room, these two entrepreneurial crafters make these cozies in a variety of colors, prints and patterns. Visit their Facebook page to order!

GO_LOCAL_SEPT_Layout 1 8/30/16 12:09 PM Page 51

1-800-466-2503 | WWW.FAMILYFORDINC.COM Route 190 • Enfield, CT • 860-745-1111

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Connecticut Medical Supply

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Kitchen Encounters offers friendly, local service. We will help you visualize your new kitchen or bath with our expert design service and we are ALWAYS a better value than the big box stores. You can trust Kitchen Encounters because our families are local, just like yours!

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www.ctmedicalsupply.com GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 51

GO_LOCAL_SEPT_Layout 1 8/30/16 12:10 PM Page 52

Collision Repair Signs • Commercial Lettering

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HILLTOPrestaurant & bar

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Hilltop Restaurant & Bar offers Dinner & Lunch Traditional Italian dishes, Seafood Specialties, Steaks, Prime Rib, Burgers, Wraps, Grinders, Salads, Sandwiches, & A Variety of Pizzas for Lunch and take out.

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Come Enjoy Our Patio & Fire Pit! Spacious Bar Lounge Big Screen TVs 14 Beers on Tap Outdoor Dining

39 Adamec Rd. • Willington, CT | www.hilltopct.net 52 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

 AMBER WAKLEY  JACQUELINE M. SIDOR, JMS ART & PHOTO

Johnny Appleseed’s Farm 13 Schoolhouse Road . Ellington, CT 06029 (860) 875-1000 . johnnyappleseedfarmct.com

The air is fresh and while it’s not yet crisp, on the westerly facing orchards of Johnny Appleseed’s Farm in Ellington, it feels like autumn; surely encouraged by the 70 acres of beautiful fruit trees. Trellised dwarf trees are sprawled with ripe apples, growing fruitfully in over ten varieties. With a consistent group of dedicated staff, Ken and Kim Shores have created this autumnal destination and as the calendar turns to September, so do the sentiments of fall.

“Gardner Chapman started the farm in the late 1970s, he was a builder, but at the time that industry was really slow and he kept the orchards as a hobby. His sons were into Vo-ag [curriculum] and eventually got involved in the business as well,” says Ken. “I had worked here for about ten years, managing the farm and taking care of day-to-day activities before taking over the business in 1989.”

Kim grew up in Pennsylvania and had worked in an orchard since she was fourteen years old. After moving to Connecticut, she could see the orchards from her apartment in Somers and decided to walk over and apply for a job. She was interviewed - by Ken - and was hired. He laughs saying, “she’s been stuck here ever since.” The two married and later acquired the orchard from Gardner Chapman.

The orchard began with just crops of apples and peaches, but since then the Shores have expanded to include a variety of vegetables as well as diverse local products. In 1996 they purchased their orchard on Schoolhouse Road in Ellington, a popular apple-picking destination near Crystal Lake at the border of Stafford Springs. For vegetables, they rent a number of parcels scattered throughout the area.

Ken and Kim say that in the past, 90% of their business was pick-your-own, but that aspect of their business has really waned in recent years; people are just busy. Nationwide, it’s not as popular as it once was; it’s not just a local trend.

They describe you-pick as more of a weekend destination, one shot, centered on big Agritourism activities. Years back, people would come once a week for peaches and apples, using their pickings to cook, can and freeze for the winter.

People just don’t really do that anymore.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 53

“We’ve been putting more and more effort into the retail side of the business,” says Ken. “We bought the Route 83 building in 2013, it was an attorney’s office before and we remodeled it into our market today.”

The Shores also have a farmstand building in Tolland, which they purchased almost 10 years ago, which was an old liquor store.

“We also grow everything from sweet corn, pumpkins, gourds, summer and winter squash, basil, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers,” says Kim. “We also have 5,000 mum plants, ornamental kale and asters ready for this fall. I source as much local goods as possible, including honey, syrup and sodas - anything I can get that’s close by.”

While much of their produce is local, there are a few items, like a product line from Kitchen Kettle Village that Kim brings in from Lancaster County, Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Dutch delicacies include jarred jelly and canned goods like relish, salsa and pickles. Kim grew up just twenty minutes away from the famous village known for delectable food gifts, so in a way, it’s the opportunity to share her roots with her neighbors in New England. She says those items are extremely popular this time of year and they have a hard time keeping products like pickled beets in stock - everyone love them! Kim likes having a lot of different items for her customers, like the addition of the cider donut machine last year. Nothing says fall in the northeast like the intoxicating smell of fresh, pillowy cider donuts - watching them being made and eating them warm is a whole other experience. She also stocks the walls and shelves with a collection from local makers, from wildlife photographers to artisans who create upcycled creations.

This year, Johnny Appleseed’s Farm has plenty of delicious, crisp apples, but like most orchards in Connecticut their peach crop has been wiped out. Fluctuating temperatures this past winter caused an early bloom, but the cold snap Valentine’s weekend killed all of those early buds.

“We get calls everyday about the loss of our peach crop,” sighs Kim. “It’s a huge part of our business that is just gone - everything. It’s a big loss. There wasn’t one flower or a peach up there, I still find it hard to believe there’s nothing out there, but it happens.

The trees look nice and healthy now though, we should have a great crop next year...as long as this doesn’t happen again.”

“Twenty acres of peach trees, it’s enough of a loss to be hurtful,” says Ken. “There aren’t really any peaches in Connecticut, unless you’re down toward the shore – then maybe. Even Pennsylvania and New Jersey are thin, depending on where they are. Farming is a gamble and this happens every once in awhile. This is also the northern fringe of peach growing. This is about as far north as they grow.”

54 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

Optimistically, the Shores are concentrating on what they do have, rather than what they don’t.

“We will still have big weekends in the fall, when entire families come out,” says Kim. “We have a corn maze, apple picking, tractor rides and plenty of areas for pictures - the view from the orchard is beautiful. We still offer all of that fall fun.”

Ken and Kim have been doing this for nearly thirty-five years now and their facility, specifically in Ellington, has come an impressively long way. When they first took over the business in the late 80s, the two also acquired the tiny shed-like farmstand that came with the property. Here, small selections of vegetables were put on display inside small wooden crates. From there, they upgraded to a big green and white canopied pole tent, but after losing two of the structures in a storm the couple decided to build some permanent walls. The new building is gorgeous, the semi-open-air facility serves as a background for quaint roadside charm, but more importantly allows for an extension of their season. They now work into the December holidays, offering trees, wreaths and kissing balls.

Aside from working outside and providing the community with fresh local products, Ken and Kim say, it’s the people that motivate them to continue farming.

“We don’t have kids, but we don’t need them,” smiles Kim. “Our employees are like family. A lot of them have kids and work part time, many are kids themselves and go to school, mothers and daughters work weekend shifts together and others have been returning for years. It really is like a family, we’re all very active in one another’s lives, celebrating marriages, baby showers and accomplishments.”

Because Kim and Ken offer several picking locations and crop ripening depends heavily on weather conditions, they strongly advise you call for the current picking conditions, times, and locations. U-pick apples tend to go through the end of October, along with hundreds of pumpkins at their stands and fields. It’s a short trip to the end of the season, now is the time to revel in the fall.

The Hidden Still is Northeast Connecticut’s premier location for top quality food, craft beer, and hand-crafted cocktails featuring moonshine from all over the country as well as local spirits.

Our seasonally inspired menu features a wide array of flavors to please any palate and we strive to offer an upscale experience at hometown prices.

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

Late Summer Harvest Pasta Primavera

Even though Pasta Primavera translates to “Spring Pasta” in English, this array of bright veggies comes to harvest much later in the season. With the absence of heavy cream, this lighter version is much lower in calories, fat and sodium - and is delightfully fresh tasting.

Glorious greens and the rainbow of garden-fresh goodness makes this dish a great option for meatless-Mondays or a beautiful bed for your favorite protein.

1/2 lb.

Penne pasta 1 cup Fresh peas 1/4 lb. Green beans, cut in half 1/4 lb. Sugar snap peas 3 Small carrots, cut into small rounds 1 small Yellow squash, diced 2 tbsp. Olive oil, divided 2 cloves Garlic, minced 1 tsp. Red pepper flakes 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan cheese 3/4 cup Ricotta cheese 1 tbsp. Chopped chives 1 tbsp. Chopped mint Kosher salt

Bring a large pot of salted water to boil. Cook pasta three minutes less than package directs.

Add the peas, green beans, snap peas, carrots and squash in with the pasta and cook for the remaining time (3-4 minutes), until pasta and vegetables are to desired tenderness.

In a large sauté pan, add 1 tbsp. olive oil, garlic and red pepper flakes. Put the heat on medium and begin to cook the garlic and pepper in the oil, taking care that it does not burn. Drain the pasta and vegetables and add them to the sauté pan; toss well. Stir in the parmesan and ricotta and salt to taste. Toss with the remaining tablespoon of olive oil and serve into pasta dishes. Sprinkle each dish with some chopped chives and mint.

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 GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 57

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MAUREEN SOLOMON (L) AND DAWN SULLIVAN (R) ARE PREPARING FOR THE CELEBRATE FIBER ARTS EXHIBITION & SALE, THE FIRST OF ITS KIND FOR THE MONSON ARTS COUNCIL

hirty-eight years ago, a group of Monson residents gathered to discuss the prospect of what would later become the Monson Arts Council; among these arts-minded people was Maureen Solomon.

“It [the Monson Arts Council] got started in the living room of my dear friend, Grace Makepeace,” Maureen explained. “Some people wanted to start with a play.”

So the group rallied to put on a production of a resident’s original musical, Feather in Her Cap, and Monson caught the art bug. Eleven years later, current Monson resident Dawn Sullivan discovered quilting. It would be nine years before she joined forces with Maureen, but fast-forward to the present day, and the two women are sitting in Dawn’s living room overlooking Calkins Pond and discussing the project that they’ve been planning for almost two years—Celebrate Fiber Arts.

Maureen had heard about Dawn, an avid quilter, through the local art community, but they didn’t cross paths until a few years ago at a community banquet. Now, they’re working together on a subcommittee to plan this three-day event. “I joined because I always wanted to be in the Arts Council,” Dawn said. “I was approached by Maureen and Sue James [another committee member] about being on this fiber arts show committee. I, of course, said yes. I was thrilled to do this.”

Celebrate Fiber Arts, which will take place September 30 through October 2, is a novel idea. For almost four decades the Monson Arts Council has hosted a slew of events, including children’s art camps, folk concerts, and their annual Holiday Craft Fair (which is as old as the group itself), but this specialized event is the first of its kind for the council.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 59

Combining an art exhibition with an art sale, this event seeks to highlight work in three areas of fiber arts. The first is weaving, which describes fibers woven into such items as garments, coverlets, rugs, wall hangings, and scarves.

“Weaving starts with wool,” said Maureen. “Or silk,” Dawn chimed in. Felting, which is less straightforward – even to seasoned fiber artists – falls into two styles: needle felting and wet felting. “It takes wool and mushes it up somehow to a dough-like consistency,” Dawn laughed. “I don’t even know exactly how it’s done.”

Quilting - the third category – requires three fabric layers (a back, batting, and top) that are then joined together by stitches.

Fiber artists within these mediums are encouraged to submit any original pieces, which can include recently completed art as well as earlier work, so artists still have the opportunity to gather together older pieces for submission before the September 10 deadline – if they might not have time to make something new.

Dawn and Maureen were also excited to announce that the entire application process can be completed easily online, which they hope will incentivize talented artists. Cash prizes will be awarded for first, second, and third place in each fiber category, and participants will have the opportunity to sell up to five additional pieces in the event’s sales shop. Participants can also choose to display exhibited pieces as “for sale.”

To accommodate the variety of artists and the large-scale pieces that some may produce, the exhibition will take place across four Main Street locations: Memorial Hall, the Monson House of Art, the United Methodist Church, and the Unitarian Universalist Church. According to Maureen, these locations were chosen because of their “size and accessibility,” particularly Memorial Hall, which has a spacious auditorium. Most vendors will run booths in the hall while others will set up in the House of Art, where representatives of fabric stores and pattern designers will display their wares. The church spaces will be mostly designated for exhibiting artists, but all of the buildings are within walking distance of one another.

In the spirit of the creative arts, the traditional sponsor levels of silver, gold, and platinum have been swapped for cotton, wool, and silk, respectively. Among the sponsors is the Massachusetts Cultural Council, which contributed a $700 grant for metal structures on which the exhibited art will be hung. Additional funding will be supplied through an event entry fee ($5, $3 for seniors and children), submission fee ($25 for one entry, $35 for two, $45 for three), and raffle tickets (6 for $5, or $1 each) to win select art pieces.

60 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

Celebrate FiberARTS Show Dates . Exhibition & Sales Shop Open September 30, 5pm-9pm October 1, 11am-5pm . October 2, noon-4pm

Today’s Equipment, Yesterday’s Values.

Want to celebrate Fiber Arts?

Visit: monsonartscouncil.com/artshow for submission details and event schedule.

Celebrate Fiber Arts is supported by local sponsors: Quilts & Treasures, Inc., Monson Quilts, Turley Publications, BB Landscaping, Gary L. DePace, Meeting House Fabric and Trim, the Monson Rotary Club, The Quilt and Cabbage, and WEBS.

Outside of these specific collaborative efforts, fiber arts— specifically quilting—has long had a communal tone, since the literal patch-working can commemorate events as it brings together pieces to make a functional whole. Dawn, for example, created a quilt using her husband’s cycling t-shirts to celebrate his athletic efforts and fundraising over the years. However, since these products are occasionally used as household items, a major struggle of event planning has been bridging the gap between fiber arts and fine arts.

Both Dawn and Maureen want fiber products to be seen as legitimate art that is deserving of exhibition, a goal they feel is strongly captured by the mission statement of Celebrate Fiber Arts, which reads: “Our mission is to celebrate the fiber arts (weaving, quilting, and felting). We seek excellence in artistic presentation allowing comparison and contrast among the media. It is our purpose to provide a venue that embraces multiple fiber arts and to stimulate excitement about this art form.” Emphasizing fiber products as an art form is exactly what they hope this event will do, since it elevates the art above mere crafts. “We wanted people to see the artistic beauty,” said Maureen, “Quilting and weaving—these are not just crafts. They are really arts.”

For this reason, the mission statement is more central than most, and Dawn and Maureen feel that it will not only be a tool for increasing attendance, but for increasing participation.

“I’ve done lots of fiber arts, but the one that has stuck with me is quilting,” explained Dawn. “I really never thought about it as art.” Maureen glanced at her, shocked. “I love to go to quilt shows since I get so inspired,” Dawn continued. “I’m now considering it art.” Though she herself has long been a quilter, it was only through exposure that Dawn came to see fiber arts as fine arts. Now both women, as well as the committee that has worked to bring this event to fruition, hope that other people will follow the same path. The first step? To “Celebrate Fiber Arts,” of course!

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RIDE THE RAILS CONNECTICUT TROLLEY MUSEUM . 58 NORTH ROAD . EAST WINDSOR, CT . (860) 627-6540 CT-TROLLEY.ORG . FACEBOOK.COM/TROLLEYMUSEUM . EMAIL: OFFICE@CERAWEB.ORG

Residents of the area, train enthusiasts, history buffs and those who love a day trip all gush about the Connecticut Trolley Museum in East Windsor, CT; educational, entertaining and grass roots fun is what you’ll find here. Enjoy museum exhibits that illustrate the history and evolution of the trolley and its impact on the society we know today. You will learn about our nation’s transit with an in-depth view of our local history. Once you have perused the Trolley Museum, head next door to view the Fire Museum housing antique trucks, equipment and even a replicated fire alarm office. Before your trolley ride, don’t forget to sneak a peek at the Motor Coach Museum, showcasing midcentury transit buses from both Connecticut and Massachusetts.

Founded in 1940, the Connecticut Trolley Museum is the nation’s oldest incorporated organization dedicated to the 62 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

preservation of the trolley era. The community has built and sustained this interactive archive with only one paid employee amongst the entire staff! Volunteers guide tours, answer phones, organize seasonal events, and are the motormen driving the trolleys imparting innumerable facts and stories - always with a smile. Check the website for hours and upcoming events such as Rails to the Darkside (rated PG-13), pumpkin patch visits by trolley or the Winterfest and the Tunnel of Lights, where you and your family can enjoy the festive displays while sipping on hot cider and hot cocoa. The museum is the epitome of what a group of dedicated people can achieve and they want to share it with you! It’s the perfect time of year for a ride - come during fall foliage season to see the leaves, learn something new and support the community all at once. All aboard!

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ON AVERAGE, A HEALTHY PERSON PASSES GAS HOW MANY TIMES A DAY?

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THE FINAL COUNTDOWN

7 Fall Fairs, Festivals & Fun Just as the leaves begin to change and our region comes alive with color, so do the celebrations of autumn. Around every corner is a harvest-filled event - from old-fashioned fairs and

hometown happenings to art festivals featuring the best in creative talent. There’s a whole new season of fun and our region is bursting with events that are distinctively New England.

HARVEST FESTIVAL

HARVEST DRAG RACE

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590 MAIN STREET . HAMPDEN, MA HAMPDENFEDERATEDCHURCH.ORG An eight year tradition at the Hampden Federated Church.

Browse 40+ crafters and vendors while enjoying kids activities, live entertainment, a bake sale and plant sale. Family friendly, free event and all are welcome. Saturday, October 1 from 8am - 2pm.

1 SPRING STREET . STAFFORD, CT FACEBOOK.COM/STATEOFELATION The ASB Factory showcases over 50 urban/graffiti inspired artists from the Northeast. Unique gallery space features installations, fine art and live graffiti art. Food vendors and music from Political Animal, Joey Bates, and more.

Sept. 10, 12pm-sundown.

FOUR TOWN FAIR

FOUR TOWN FAIRGROUNDS . 56 EGYPT RD . SOMERS, CT FOURTOWNFAIR.COM . (860) 749-6527 Dating back to 1838, this local tradition is a celebration of the rich agricultural heritage of Ellington, Enfield, Somers and E. Windsor.

Good ‘ol fashioned competitions include livestock, produce, crafts, horse shows and more.

Enjoy pulls, parades, music, food vendors and even a skillet throw! September 15-18.

66 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016

BENEFIT TRACTOR SHOW

E. CECCHI FARMS . 1131 SPFLD ST . FEEDING HILLS, MA AGAWAMHISTORICALASSOC.WEBS.COM . (413) 786-3236 Family event celebrating agricultural history and the machines that have put food on local tables for decades. Antique tractors, trucks and implements on display along with food, beverages, raffles and fun! Proceeds benefit the Agawam Historical Association. $2 per person, kids 12 & under free. October 8, 11am-3pm.

1 ARBOR PARK . ELLINGTON, CT ELLINGTONFARMERSMARKET.COM Turn your harvest into a drag race car! Attach wheels to any produce and send it down the 6.5” wide and 30’ long track.

Open to all ages, double elimination contest with prizes going to the top three speedy vegetables! Saturday, September 24, heats begin at 10:00am.

MATTOON STREET . SPRINGFIELD, MA MATTOONFESTIVAL.ORG Bursting with creativity for 44 years, it is the longest running art festival in the Pioneer Valley. Walk on a beautiful Victorian street while enjoying 100 art exhibitors, strolling musicians and local food vendors. Saturday, September 10 - Sunday, September 11.

SUFFIELD ON THE GREEN

TOWN GREEN . AT MAIN STREET AND MOUNTAIN ROAD FRIENDSOFSUFFIELD.ORG On the historic common in the center of Suffield, learn about dozens of community, civic and business groups - many serving up delicious food and bringing the fun with games for all ages. Integrated art/craft fair and live music complete the event. September 10 & 11: Saturday 10am-5pm, Sunday 11am-4pm

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68 GO LOCAL SEPTEMBER 2016