Hit Broadway musical opens at Majestic Theater, Page D2
At left are actors, from left, Yewande Odetoyinbo (Becky), Chelsie Nectow (Jenna) and Lyndsay Hart (Dawn) in a scene from the hit musical "Waitress," which runs at West Springfield’s Majestic Theater through June 1. Above, Michael King acts out a scene with Nectow. (KAIT RANKINS PHOTOS)
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican
‘Sugar, butter, flour,” three key words repeated throughout the Broadway hit musical “Waitress,” can be heard echoing throughout West Springfield’s Majestic Theater beginning today.
The popular play created by Jessie Nelson, with music and lyrics by acclaimed singer/songwriter Sara Bareilles, made its debut at the American Repertory Theater in Cambridge before running on Broadway from 2016 to 2020.
Based on the 2007 indie film of the same name, the play follows the story of Jenna, a waitress at Joe’s Pie Diner in the South. Growing up, Jenna learned to bake from her mother, who had a pie recipe for just about every life situation. As an adult, baking becomes more than just a vocation — it’s her greatest joy and the best medicine for dealing with her dysfunctional marriage and the disappointments of her small-town life. “Waitress” features an eclectic cast of characters who bring this hopeful story to life and bring audiences on a journey full of new love, new life and finding out what a little “sugar, butter and flour” can do.
The cast includes Chelsie Nectow as Jenna, Gregory Boover as Dr. Pomatter, Yewande Odetoyinbo as Becky, Lyndsay Hart as Dawn, Nicholas Futris as Ogie, Michael King as Earl, Mark Dean as Joe, and Joshua
Mason as Cal.
The Majestic’s Associate Producing Director Sue Dziura will also direct this play.
“The music is top notch and beautiful and the story, set in a small town, is relatable about real people and their relationships and resiliency. The main character, Jenna, is stuck in life given her circumstances. The play focuses on her moving beyond those challenges and creating a better life for herself while working in a diner noted for her own recipe pies that she bakes,” Dziura said.
Nectow plays pie maker Jenna.
“It is really a treat to be working as an actor on a show that is so well written, but that is not always the case with some authors. For me, personally, it makes it much easier to access how my character is feeling when SEE ‘WAITRESS’, PAGE D5
THURSDAY
The Drake: A.R.P.S. Music Fundraiser — w/ Yasu & Friends. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Rockstar Karaoke. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
The Drake: Peacefest — A Benefit Concert. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
The Meeting House: Dave Brinnel. 827 Williams St., Longmeadow
Theodores’: Peter Poirier Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House
Restaurant & Pub: Baird Souls. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
The Drake: Kristine Leschper & Anna McClellan with Bobbie. 44 N. Pleasant St., Amherst
Theodores’: Chris Fitz. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House
Restaurant & Pub: Jimmy McArdle and Jerry Murphy. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
MONDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: 50% off individual deep dish pizza (dine in only). 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
TUESDAY
Uno Chicago Grill: Blues Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub. com or submitted online to www. masslive.com/myevent
FANS OF THE BAND
Lonesome Brothers might describe guitarist Jim Armenti’s playing as somewhat poetic. Armenti’s mastery of the fretboard incorporates a sense of both lyricism and meter. So, it probably comes as no surprise that Armenti also has been delving into actual poetry his entire life. This passion has led to the publication of a new book of the musician’s poems, accompanied by photos by local photographer Dave Madeloni, called “Sun on the Muddy.”
They both will be present at an event featuring the new book at 6:30 p.m. today at Sip 413 (90 Maple St. in the Florence section of Northampton). Of course, the event will also feature some of Armenti’s music.
Armenti answered a few questions about his journey into poetry and the new book, which grew from a project of trying to write a poem each day.
Q. What inspired you to write a poem every day,
when did it start, and how long did this go on?
A. When COVID started, I received an invitation from a painter/friend to respond with writing to her daily paintings on small metal plates which she sent in emails. I was awake at 4 a.m., so the first thing I did after coffee was to look at the image and write a poem. Sometimes she sent groups, and I wrote more than one poem a day for about two years. Nearly 800 poems.
Size: 3.5 x 3.6
Q. Did you think of putting out a book when you were doing it, or did that just happen later on?
A. We had a show in Concord, Massachusetts, at an art museum, so the project was in the Gazette, and my neighbor, Dan Lombardo, read it and commented to me at the local transfer station. He was the special collections
librarian at Jones Library for a few decades, and he said he would like to curate the poems. He is the one who found a memoir within all of the poems, and that became the book which he proposed to Levellers Press, and which they published.
Q. Have you always written poetry? Or is this a new venture? When did
John Walsh back on the hunt for ‘America’s Most Wanted’
By
‘Paw Patrol’ live show comes to Springfield for
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican Pound Puppies, once the rage of many children, have taken a backseat to a new group of four-footed friends.
Stars of stage, screen and television, the “Paw Patrol” pups are bringing their allnew live stage show — based on the top-rated Nickelodeon animated preschool series called “Paw Patrol” — to Springfield’s MassMutual Center for two shows on April 22 and 23.
Showtimes are 6:30 p.m.
The current stage show called “Paw Patrol Live! A Mighty Adventure,” picks up where Paramount Pictures’ box office hit “Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie” left off.
The show’s storyline follows Chase, Marshall, Skye and the rest of the pack after they saved Adventure City with their mighty pup powers. They are about to hold the “PAW-some-est” street party
“A big thing we emphasize with the ‘Mighty Adventure’ is that we have a full understanding that this is a long time for kids to be expected to sit in their seats and just watch the show. ... We encourage kids to get up, dance and sing along.”
Dean Yurecka, ‘Paw Patrol Live’ actor
ever. But when supervillain scientist Victoria Vance feels left out of the festivities, she unleashes her latest invention to crash the party and steal the spotlight for herself. Armed with their super-charged powers, the mighty pups must outsmart Victoria to ensure Adventure City’s biggest bash goes off without a hitch. Using their power of paw-sitivity and mighty teamwork, the need to foil her plans if they want their party to continue.
According to a press release announcing the new show, which hit the road in October, the live production is filled with “heroic action, catchy tunes, and ‘bark-loads’ of interactive fun.”
“Paw Patrol Live” actor Dean Yurecka noted many of the interactive aspects of the show are the result of an
“amazing” new pup called Liberty.
“A big thing we emphasize with the ‘Mighty Adventure’ is that we have a full understanding that this is a long time for kids to be expected to sit in their seats and just watch the show. There is no expectation for that to happen. We encourage kids to get up, dance and sing along. And Liberty does a great job of making callouts to the audience who call back to her. The minute kids walk through the doors to the theater, they are part of the Junior Patrol program which Liberty leads,” Yurecka said.
While the new music in the show features live background tracks, both the show’s human stars and pups sing live.
The best hope for rounding up the bad guys isn’t a creature in a bat suit or a hard-drinking homicide cop. No, it’s a former hotel executive who hosted the TV show “America’s Most Wanted” when his 6-year-old son, Adam, was kidnapped and murdered.
The unwelcome news for the evil-doers is that he’s back. Starting Monday, John Walsh will be cohosting “America’s Most Wanted” again. With his 40-year-old son, Callahan, Walsh returns to the Fox stu-
dios to skewer the perpetrators who have, so far, evaded the long arm of the law.
Of course, the real heroes of this task are viewers who may spot somebody in the supermarket or recognize a neighbor and are willing to report their sightings to the police.
So far, the series has helped capture almost 2,000 fugitives, has assisted in locating 65 missing children and has aired more than 1,000 episodes.
Originally launched in 1988, Walsh has been on and off
“I think just about anyone can sympathize with what Jenna is going through ... how she puts her emotions and feelings
aside to focus on her busy life.”
Chelsie Nectow, who plays Jenna in the Majestic Theater’s production of ‘Waitress’
CONTINUES FROM PAGE D2
the music and lyrics reflect where Jenna’s character is emotionally at the time,” Nectow said
She agrees with the director that the characters, especially Jenna who she portrays, are “relatable.”
“I think just about anyone can sympathize with what Jenna is going through ... how she puts her emotions and feelings aside to focus on her busy life. As with many of us, Jenna is dealing with the rat race of day-to-day life between work and family. There isn’t simply enough time for her to sit down and reflect on what she is feeling,” Nectow said.
There is a “method to her madness,” as the saying goes, when Jenna is baking up a storm in the kitchen.
“Baking her pies gives Jenna an escape, but it is not necessarily always a healthy escape. It means she is not confronting some real issues in her life. Yet even though she hasn’t been dealt an easy hand in life, Jenna still manages to treat those in her life with love and compassion.
you first decide to write poems or any words without music?
Chelsie Nectow plays Jenna in the Majestic Theater’s run of “Waitress,” opening today in West Springfield. (KAIT RANKINS PHOTO)
Her kindness and strength are compelling, and we are eventually led on a journey where she stands up for herself and begins to make changes her life,” Nectow said.
“All of Jenna’s pies have really eccentric names based on what is happening in her life, such as ‘My Husband Is a Jerk Chicken Pot Pie,” she added.
While not a pastry chef of Jenna’s accord, Nectow noted that she “loves pies.”
“Key lime pie, chocolate cream, lemon meringue and fruit pies are among my favorites,” she said.
And what would a night at the theater be without some pie? Granny’s Pie Factory in East Hartford is the Majestic’s pie sponsor for the show, and their pies will be for sale in The Majestic’s café.
Tickets to the show — which runs through June 1 — range in price from $35 to $38 and can be purchased in person at the box office or by calling 413-747-7797. Box office hours are Monday through Friday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. For more information, visit www.majestictheater.com
A. I have written poems my entire life but for some reason didn’t credit them as writing per se. Among other things I wrote a series in college under the name Treetop Kenny. I often have written poems for birthdays, births, marriage etc. and have lost most, but not all. I think the songs stuck more simply because they have a place to be, i.e., performance and CDs.
Q. Do you find writing poetry different from writing song lyrics? If so, what’s the difference for you?
A. For me they are not the same either in form or style. I write songs in song/lyric form, nearly always using some common, repeated rhyme scheme and grouped as verse/chorus/bridge, etc. The poems in the book are mostly free verse. In song, I like narratives, not always, but often. This is also true in poetry, I like a poem to get somewhere, and I like them
“Song lyrics are bound to an external beat, and the poems make their own.”
JIM ARMENTI, OF LONESOME BROTHERS
to be relatively clear in point of view. Even my songs seem to not give up their source but still make a point. Song lyrics are bound to an external beat, and the poems make their own.
Q. Speaking of songs, do you usually write music first or lyrics first? And why?
A. I am a juggler with songwriting. The elements of song — melody, groove, lyrics — have to come together, but I generally go at all three at once until tone, subject and voice have found something. The idea, the words and the point of view.
Q. In the poems there seems to be a focus on a lot of physical objects. What is it about physical objects
or the physical world that inspires you to write — as opposed to more abstract concepts that some poets get into?
A. That’s a great question. About the only time I give up on a song is when the abstraction persists, and I can’t find the idea a place in the physical world. Ideas are abstractions and there are no songs or poems without an idea, but the ideas need the bricks of words, and ideas supported by more ideas is philosophy, which I love, but is not a poem or a song. Analogy is the weakest form of argument in Western philosophy, but analogy allows the movement of the sun to be rebirth, in a song or poem.
Q. Where does the title of the book come from?
A. “Sun on the Muddy” is the title of a song on my solo CD, “The Poetry of Longing.” It’s a song that I made to copy a joyful tune my father would make when we spontaneously would be going to the drive-in or for ice cream. His song was called “Leave the dishes in the sink.” My song is about taking the day off and playing frivolously and uselessly in the swamp.
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849
431 Granby Road, Chicopee
413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots
6:15PM Early Bird
6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15
Open Seating
2 Halls for Players
Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
WEDNESDAY
Polish American Citizens Club
355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385
Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
Doors Open at 4pm.
Minimum Admission $50
1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900
2 - $500 Cover Alls
3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus
1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM
MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot
6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
CALL TODAY 413-788-1250 TO LIST HERE
Min. Entry Package $15
By K eith O ’C onnor Special to The Republican SPRINGFIELD
— There is always something new at the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and that is exactly the title, “Something New,” of their performance on Saturday, April 19, at Springfield Symphony Hall.
Showtime is 3 p.m.
“Something New” features guest conductor JoAnn Falletta, as well as guest artists Tim McAllister on saxophone, Nikki Chooi on violin, and guest visual choreographer Adrian Wyard.
“I can’t tell you how special it is to have JoAnn Falletta come back to conduct with us.
The last time she was here two years ago our audiences were blown away and our musicians would tell you it is a very special experience to have her on stage with us. So, I’m really excited and honored to have JoAnn come back once again,” said Paul Lambert, president and CEO of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra.
“I am tremendously looking forward to making music with the musicians of the SSO again, and to reconnect with my friends Paul and Renato (Renato Wendel, director
of operations and orchestra personnel manager), who are wonderful stewards of the orchestra,” Falletta said.
The concert begins with Fuchs’ “Eventide,” a piece inspired by spiritual tunes and featuring the saxophone’s looping melodies, performed by Tim McAllister. Renowned violinist Nikki Chooi then presents Mendelssohn’s “Violin Concerto,” a romantic masterpiece composed for Mendelssohn’s close friend Ferdinand David. Mussorgsky’s “Pictures at an Exhibition,” orchestrated by Ravel, follows, transforming the solo piano work into a vibrant orchestral showcase. Mussorgsky’s composition, inspired by drawings and designs by Viktor Hartmann, will transport listeners to an art exhibition, culminating in the majestic “Great Gate of Kiev.”
This concert weaves together American, German, and Russian music with a French flair.
Asked if it is unusual for a saxophone to be considered as a classical instrument, the conductor said, “No.”
“We tend to think about saxophone as a jazz instrument, but it is also a very beautiful
“I am tremendously looking forward to making music with the musicians of the SSO again, and to reconnect with my friends.”
GUEST CONDUCTOR JOANN FALLETTA
Water Pilsner is an “earthy, floral and slightly spicy”
DESPITE THE RUDE interruption by some snow last week, I’ve been in a spring mood, which usually means I start hankering for a crisp and tasty pilsner.
Fortunately, I was able to try a great version of the style made by a brewery in the eastern part of the state: Bent Water Brewing in Lynn. Bent Water Pilsner pours a brilliant straw-like hue and features an earthy, floral and slightly spicy nose.
And while it certainly hits all the marks of a classic pilsner, it veers slightly away from tradition with an extra oomph of bitterness at the end. The malt adds just enough sweetness but keeps it light in line with the style, finishing crisp with a touch of hop bitterness. It comes in at 5.2% ABV.
Tony Porreca, a brewer and the production manager at Bent Water, talked about the beer.
Q. You make three pilsners, although two (Agganis and Common Hope) are limited editions, what are the differences you tried to achieve with each?
A. The main difference between the pilsners is that
PICKLES ARE FRONTand-center this spring in the foodie chatter on social media, and pickle-enhanced items are beginning to turn up in eateries everywhere. One quick-service restaurant chain, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, has even gone so far as to introduce a full-blown, limited-time-only Pickle Menu.
In developing the menu, the company’s research and development staff reportedly made the pickles themselves a top priority, specifying barrel-aged, thick-cut slices to ensure that crunch and flavor were primary to the Popeye’s pickle menu experience.
Common Hope is a dryhopped Italian pilsner while the other two are closer to a German pilsner. The Italian pilsner style has far less history and tradition than a German or Czech style, so it allowed us to have a little more fun and creativity in the dry hop addition to make a unique tasting beer that still offers the clean drinkability of a pilsner.
Q. As far as Bent Water Pilsner, what was your thinking in what types of flavors you wanted to achieve?
A. Creating and brewing pilsners and traditionally inspired lagers takes a little more finesse than something like an IPA. It’s easy enough to toss hops into something to boost aroma and flavor to differentiate, but cleaner
To be held at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden, the gala food sampling fundraiser will this year be spotlighting Square One, the Springfield- and Holyoke-based organization that delivers family-friendly education and support services.
To lead off its Pickle Menu, Popeyes brought back the Pickle Fries the chain had developed for an earlier limited-time-only promotion. Sliced pickles, coated with the same batter Popeyes uses for its signature chicken, are deep-fried and served with a side of ranch dressing.
A new component created for the current Pickle menu is a pickle-flavored glaze, a concoction that Popeyes describes as “spice-forward” but not aggressively hot. The glaze’s flavor structure, which is built with dill, red pepper, and ancho chili, is being featured on three items — bonein wings, boneless wings and a Pickle Glaze chicken sandwich.
A Pickle Lemonade is part of the Pickle Menu as well; it’s sweetened lemonade spiked with a 2-ounce shot of pickle juice.
Pickle flavor is making cameo appearances in other places this spring. Dutch Bros, the Oregon-based coffee chain, is promoting a pickle-infused energy drink, and the snack aisle in supermarkets are currently wellstocked with pickle-flavored chips and crunchables.
TikTok influencers might be hyping the status of pickle juice as the flavor of the moment, but the question for those in the restaurant indus-
try is a variant of one they’ve grown accustomed to asking — is “pickle-flavored” a trend or just a fad?
Side Dishes
• Wahlburgers is currently featuring a limited-time-only Pepperoni Smash burger. Assembled on a bun brushed with garlic butter, and made with a certified Angus Beef patty, the Pepperoni Smash is garnished with cooked-crisp pepperoni and provolone cheese before being finished with the chain’s signature rosemary-tomato jam
The Pepperoni Smash burger will be available at participating locations through mid-June; there’s a Wahlburgers in Springfield as part of the MGM-Springfield casino complex.
• The East of the River-Five Town Chamber of Commerce, ERC5, is hosting its annual Feast in the East on April 29 starting at 5 p.m.
Tickets to the event can be ordered at erc5ma.chambermaster.com. The East of the River-Five Town Chamber of Commerce can be reached at 413-575-7230.
• Little Caesars Pizza is bringing back a fan favorite in the form of a Stuffed Pretzel Crust Pizza. The pie comes spread with cheddar cheese sauce and is topped with mozzarella, Muenster, and grated cheddar; marinara can requested as a sauce alternative.
There are Little Caesars locations on St. James Avenue in Springfield, on North Main Street in East Longmeadow and on Memorial Drive in Chicopee.
• Bond124 in Somers is now featuring a weekly Taco Tuesday menu. Available every Tuesday from 11:30 a.m. until the kitchen’s late evening closing time, the selection includes three-taco orders in shrimp, carne asada, Baja (fish), BBQ chicken and veggie variations.
Appetizer nibbles such as
SUNDAY, MAY 11, 2025
Show Mom that you recognize and appreciate all she does throughout the year by celebrating Mother’s Day at her favorite Table 3 restaurant.
CEDAR STREET GRILLE will be offering their unique brunch menu plus some amazing Mother’s Day specials from 10am–2pm, as well as dinner reservations featuring our daily menu from 4–8pm. We always sell out early for Mother’s Day, so make your reservations now.
THE BARN AT WIGHT FARM’S spectacular annual Mother’s Day brunch buffet will be brimming with all mom’s favorites and will be hosted in our beautiful Winthrop Room with seating from 10am to 4pm. The cost is $46.95 for adults and $21.95 for children 5-12 (not including tax and gratuity).
*Reservations require a $25 per guest non-refundable deposit. Tables are reserved for 2 hours per reservation and checks cannot be split.
THE DUCK AND AVELLINO will be serving a pre-fixe menu with all mom’s favorites, fantastic holiday cocktails, and decadent desserts. Pricing is $45.95 for adults and a children’s menu is available for children under 12. Seating is 11am–4pm.
*Reservations require a $25 per guest non-refundable deposit.
Scan QR Code for more information on Mother’s Day with Table 3 and for reservations
THURSDAY
Bombyx Brass Collective Concert: Thu., 6:30 p.m. Holyoke High School. Free admission, donations accepted. 500 Beech St., Holyoke; Brennan Wedl & Silvie's Okay — Queer Indie Country: Thu., 8 p.m. Blue Room at CitySpace, $18-$20. 43 Main St., Easthampton;
Longmeadow Historical Society
Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: Thu.Sun,. noon-5 p.m. Daffodil Days will feature the gardens of Jeff and Nancy Hayes. Hundreds of daffodils are there for the cutting. The property will be open to the public for cutting every day through April 20. Hours are noon to 5 p.m. There are numerous varieties of daffodils available, from early bloomers to later in the season. There are hundreds of double yellow flowers, but also many more unusual whites with orange, pink or yellow centers. Please bring your own flower clippers. After you cut your bouquet, please leave the contribution of your choosing in the available containers. All donations will go directly to the Longmeadow Historical Society to support its programs. Checks may be made to the Longmeadow Historical Society and cash donations can be left in the donation jars in the yard, 56 Williams St., Longmeadow.
Friday Fish Fry: Fri., 5-7 p.m. Swift River Sportsman's Club, through April 18. Prices range from $14 for fish and chips to $18 for a fish, shrimp and chip combo. Clam chowder is also available. For more information, call the club at 413323-9387, 350 Cold Spring Road, Belchertown.
Impressions of Ethiopia — Kaethe Hostetter in Concert: Fri., 7 p.m. Montague Common Hall. Suggested donation $20; no one turned away for lack of funds. For tickets, visit weathervane-arts.org, 34 Main St., Montague.
Longmeadow Historical Society
Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: See Thursday listing
MGM Roar Comedy Club presents Ryan Hamilton: Fri, 8 p.m.; Sat, 7 and 9:30 p.m. MGM Springfield, in the Armory. For tickets, visit mgmspringfield.mgmresorts.com/ en/ entertainment/roar-comedy-club. html, $37.85. 1 MGM Way, Springfield.
R.I.S.E. Fest: Fri., 5-8 p.m.; Sat., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Northampton Center for the Arts. Bestselling authors and illustrators will join young area artists at this community celebration and showcase dedicated to uplifting the mental health benefits of art in all mediums. An acronym for
Resilience in Self Expression, R.I.S.E. Fest is co-founded by Expressive Arts Educator Gina M. Krosoczka and Jarrett J. Krosoczka, a New York Times-bestselling graphic novelist behind 46 published books. Family experiences will include: presentations and signings by authors and illustrators Holly Black, Emma Hunsinger, Kyle Lukoff, Jamar Nicholas, Raúl The Third, Brian Selznick, Tillie Walden, and others; and performances by local youth musicians, dancers, and improvisers; as well as expressive arts workshops, $5. 33 Hawley St., Northampton; 413-5847327 or nohoarts.org.
SATURDAY
18th Century Encampment & Militia Muster: Sat, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Agawam Historical Association's Thomas Smith House will host reenactment groups on 250th anniversary of the call to arms responding to the April 19, 1775, battles of Lexington and Concord. This event is free and open to the public. The day's events will include children’s activities, demonstrations of blacksmithing, tinsmithing, open fire cooking, textile arts and musket drills, 251 North West St., Feeding Hills, thethomassmithhouse.com.
Longmeadow Historical Society
Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: See Thursday listing MGM Roar Comedy Club presents Ryan Hamilton: See Friday listing New England Spring Cluster Dog Shows: Sat.-Sun., Eastern States Exposition, Better Living Center. allbreed dog shows sponsored by the South Windsor Kennel Club, Pioneer Valley Kennel Club and the Springfield Kennel Club. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-7372443 or www.thebige.com.
R.I.S.E. Fest: See Friday listing Spring Party: Sat., Springfield Lodge of the Elks #61. There will be breakfast served from 11 a.m. to noon, followed by an Easter egg hunt. 440 Tiffany St., Springfield. Springfield Symphony Orchestra Concert: Sat, Springfield Symphony Hall, "Something New"; JoAnn Falletta, conductor; Tim McAllister, saxophone; Nikki Chooi, violin; Adrian Wyard, visuals choreographer. For tickets, visit symphony hallspringfield.com/events/detail/ something-new. Tickets start at $25. 34 Court St., Springfield. 413733-2291 or www.symphonyhall. com.
SUNDAY
Easter Brunch: Sun., 10:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Crestview Country Club. Call 413-786-2593 to make reservations,
which are required. Cost is $49.95 per person, tax and gratuity not included, $19.95 for children ages 4-12, and free for children 3 and under. 281 Shoemaker Lane, Agawam. 413-786-2593 or crestviewcc.org/.
Longmeadow Historical Society Daffodil Fundraiser 2025: See Thursday listing New England Spring Cluster Dog Shows: See Saturday listing Shaker Farms Country Club Easter Brunch: Sun., Shaker Farms Country Club. Two seatings available, 10 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. Reservations required, call 413-568-4087. $39.95 adults; $15.95 kids. Tax and gratuity for all parties, 866 Shaker Road, Westfield. 413-568-4087, ext. 20.
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece, Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free. For details, visit www.springfieldmuseums.org; Spring vacation week, April 21-25, “Art for All,” 10 a.m.-5 p.m. A week of activities inspired by the special exhibition Van Gogh for All. Free with museum admission. Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Permanent exhibit: more than two dozen Indian motorcycles and related memorabilia.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “Van Gogh for All.” Through Sept. 14. Museum a la Carte. April 17, 12:15 p.m. “Van Gogh: Poets & Lovers.” Cost $4, free
for members. Directed by David Bickerstaff.
Springfield Science Museum: “The Robot Zoo,” through May 4. Discover the magic of nature as a master engineer. Free with museum admission. Permanent exhibit: State-ofthe-art Zeiss Projector and updated International Space Station exhibit. The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. Firstfloor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. For tickets and more information, visit springfield museums.org.
Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Mount Greylock State Reservation: Visitor Center open daily. Hours: Daily 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Interpretive exhibits explore the park story through artifacts and displays. Trail maps, hike guidance, 13-minute orientation film, bathrooms, drinking water available. Wheelchair accessible. Spring vacation programs:. April 18, 1-3 p.m. Discover Greylock Family Friendly Trail Hike. Spring Vacation Programs:. April 19, 1-3 p.m. Mountain Mindfulness: Signs of Spring Mindful Walk. Nature Scavenger Hunt. Ongoing, Sun. 10 a.m.-3 p.m. For children and families. Self-guided adventurous quests invited you to search for natural treasures along part trails and inside the Visitor Center. 30 Rockwell Road, Lanesborough
Natural Bridge State Park: Visitors Center exhibits, daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., year-round; explore the park story through displays, artifacts and scavenger hunts. $2 parking fee; programs are free. 107 McAuley Road, North Adams
Northfield Mountain: “All About Otters” with naturalist David Brown. April 17, 6-7:30 p.m. No registration required. 99 Millers Falls Road, Northfield or www.firstlightpower. com/northfield.
Great Falls Discovery Center: Indoor Storywalk: “One Earth” by Eileen Spinelli. Through April 30; Count the reasons to love the planet and ways to protect it. For ages 4-8 and anyone who loves the earth, accompanied by an adult. Meet at the welcome desk. Outdoor Storywalk: “Spring is Here,” through April 30. Follow the path to book pages posted along the route. “Spring is Here!” by Heidi Pross Gay is for ages 2-8 and everyone looking for the first signs of spring. Great Hall exhibit: “Where We Are, Together” by Cameron Schmitz. Through May 26. Kidleidoscope Story Hour. April 18 & 25, 10:30-11:30 a.m., April 18, “Chipmunks”; April 25, Who Lives in a Tree?” For ages 3-6, accompanied by an adult. Program includes a story, activities, and crafts. Activities are indoors and outdoors, weather permitting. Nice & Easy Walks: April 18 & 25, 1-2 p.m. Easy-paced, 1 to 2-mile guided walk, along the Canalside Rail Trail or downtown Turners Falls, geared for seniors, but open to all. Dress for the weather with sturdy footwear and bring water. Inclement weather cancels. Meet at the main entrance. Earth Week Investigation Station and Indoor Storywalk: “One Earth.” April 19-27. Enjoy indoor and outdoor scavenger hunts, crafts, and activities to honor the Earth. For all ages. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls or www.greatfallsma. org.
The Zoo in Forest Park and Education Center: Eggstravaganza at Forest Park Zoo. April 19, 10 a.m. Eggstravaganza is a family-friendly event at The Zoo in Forest Park. Taking place the Saturday before Easter, this event features a Bunny Trail around The Zoo with goodies for the kids, a visit from the Easter Bunny, face painting, crafts, a scavenger hunt, and of course — animal encounters. Tickets are required. Parking, which is managed by the City of Springfield, is not included in the price of admission. Parking is $3-$5, cash only. $8-$13, forest parkzoo.org/eggstravaganza. Sumner Avenue, Springfield.
loaded quesadillas and pork carnitas are also available on Taco Tuesdays, as is a selection of margaritas.
The telephone number for Bond124 is 860-698-6011
• On Thursday, April 24, starting at 6:30 p.m., the Deep Roots Distillery USA in Sturbridge is hosting a Wild Game Dinner and Beer Pairing.
Adam Popp, the chef at Deep Roots, is planning a four-course menu that will begin with a pre-dinner nibble of alligator andouille, then proceed on to a first course sausage sampler made with rabbit, elk and peasant.
Bison-mushroom sliders will follow as a second course.
For the dinner’s central focus, Popp and his team will be preparing Whiskey BBQ Wild Boar Baby Back ribs. Those will be served with mashed potatoes and a winter slaw.
Dessert is to be a dark lager chocolate cupcake frosted with Bourbon buttercream and a bacon fat
caramel drizzle. Select beers from Altruist Brewing Company of Sturbridge will be paired with each course.
Tickets for the dinner can be purchased online at deeprootsdistilleryusa. com. Deep Roots answers at 774-241-0045.
• On Sunday, April 20, Tekoa Country Club in Westfield will be hosting an Easter Brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Reservations can be made by calling 413-568-1636.
• Champney’s Restaurant & Tavern at the Deerfield Inn will be serving a classic Easter Dinner menu on Sunday, April 20.
A four-course prix fixe dinner will be available from 11:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Entree selections include Faroe Island Salmon, Roast Prime Rib of Beer, Worcester Baked Ham, Roast Spring Leg of Lamb, and an Artisanal Mushroom Risotto.
Price for the dinner is $60 plus tax and a 20% gratuity. Call Champney’s at 413774-5587 to inquire about reservations.
• Vanished Valley Brewing Company in Lud-
low has organized “Bloom & Brew: A Spring Beer Dinner” for Thursday, May 1.
The dinner, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., is to be a five-part experience. Tuna Ceviche with fire-roasted tomatoes and a citrus vinaigrette is planned as the first course, with a steak and cheese empanada to follow.
The dinner’s third course will be a fried goat cheese salad; the entree will be a diner’s choice option of either blackened salmon or chicken. Passion fruit creme brulee is planned for dessert.
One of five different Vanished Valley brews will accompany each course. Tickets for the dinner, which are $66 including tax and gratuity, can be purchased online at van ishedvalley.com/prod uct/may-beer-dinner. Vanished Valley answers at 413-610-1572.
Hugh Robert is a faculty member in Holyoke Community College’s hospitality and culinary arts program and has nearly 50 years of restaurant and educational experience. Robert can be reached online at OffTheMenuGuy@ aol.com.
beers put more emphasis on sound brewing practices to achieve the smooth and clean profile. We wanted to create a crisp and crushable lager that was different enough from our Premium Lager and Chill to be able to stand out in our portfolio.
Q. I see you used Magnum hops, which isn’t necessarily a type of hop I associate with pilsners. What led to that decision and are they used mostly for bittering? There’s definitely a stronger bitter aspect than many pilsners, which really finishes well.
A. I’ve always liked Magnum as a bittering hop for its clean bitterness and subtle spice. It is originally a German hop, so I thought it would be a good early boil addition to provide some bitterness paired with the later addition of Saaz.
Q. I like how the nose is very floral and how it blends really well into the malt structure. Which malts were used to give it that gentle sweetness?
A. Like a lot of lager recipes,
less is more for achieving the desired profile. Bent Water Pilsner is a base of pilsner malt with some Vienna to boost the golden color and give a touch of that subtle nutty and malty flavor.
Q. For someone who has never had it, is there a comparison you could give them to a well-known pilsner?
A. I think this beer is pretty unique in flavor and I can’t really come up with a direct comparison to what it tastes similar to. I would say it has more bitterness than an American style pilsner and is going to be closer to a German style pilsner.
Q. Outside of your own beers, what is your favorite pilsner?
A. I’m a big fan of pilsners and lagers in general. I think one of the best ways to judge a brewery is to start with their lager. Outside of Bent Water beers, I typically gravitate towards European and European-inspired lagers. Locally, Notch makes my favorite lagers in the area. Bent Water Brewing Company is located at 180 Commercial St. #18 in Lynn, Massachusetts. Its website can be found at bentwater brewing.com.
the air through the years with gigs on Lifetime, CNN and Investigation Discovery. But the reason he returns, he says, is because of his father.
“I had a hero dad who was a B-24 bomber pilot in World War II, and on his deathbed I asked him, I said — he died early at 52 of bone cancer — I said, ‘Why did you volunteer to go to World War II? You’ve been a role model my whole life,’ et cetera, et cetera.
“And he said one simple thing. He said, ‘Evil prevails when good men do nothing.’ So I just felt compelled to come out of retirement,” he says.
The pursuit has changed since he began the show, says Walsh.
“The internet is a wonderful
thing. It’s the information superhighway, but it’s the hunting ground for bad guys, particularly pedophiles. We catch bad guys through social media and our friends on social media are diehard. ... I brought a huge social media following to this show and the world has changed. It’s really become a very much more dangerous place. It’s way different than when I started in 1988 on ‘America’s Most Wanted’ with none of the tools we have now.”
“The internet’s a double-edged sword for us,” adds Callahan. “You know, the internet has created life for the better in so many ways, but it’s created so many new ways to harm children. But technology allows us to recover these missing children faster than ever before, as well, like the Amber alerts.
“Now (social media) is part
of everyday life, and we’re really harnessing the power of social media, getting as many eyeballs on these images as possible. Whether it’s our missing children or our wanted fugitives, it’s all about somebody being the linchpin in that investigation that could be the key that unlocks the door to justice. It’s really just about seeing that photo, identifying that individual and then giving us the call, giving us the tip.”
Walsh says he’s never experienced a vigilante reaction in all the years he’s helmed the show. “I thought there’ll be some overzealous nutcase out there, then, as a sense of right, they’re going to be the avenger and they’re going to take the guy down. And I say it every week, I say, ‘Don’t do this. Let us do it. We’re the pros at it. We’ll get that guy. He’d be armed and dangerous
and you could be putting your life in danger.’
“But we have not had one incidence of anybody picking up a gun. They pick up the phone. They pick up their iPhone. They pick up their computers. They do the right thing. I tell them, ‘Here it is. Don’t take that chance. Call us.”
So who calls in the tips? Everybody, says Walsh.
“Over the years we’ve had at least 30 relatives turn in their own relatives because that relative will run home and hide or go to Mexico or somewhere and say, ‘Oh, the cops want me for stealing a car.’”
Later they realize it’s not just car theft their relatives are guilty of. “They’s say, ‘No, he’s not wanted for stealing a car. He’s wanted for killing his ex-wife or hurting somebody.’ But it’s never ceased to amaze me the range of tips.
“We get tips from everywhere. I caught guys in 45 countries. We get tips online from countries that the show has not even aired in. People are fascinated by crime. They’re fascinated by the website. And they’re fascinated by what I’m doing. And they just want to do the right thing,” he says.
“So, the tips come from everywhere. We get tips from guys in prison. We’re the most watched show in prison. And we have tips from guys in prison who say, ‘I hate child molesters. I’ve got four kids of my own. This guy’s in my cell under an alias, etc.’ So it never ceases to amaze me, but the tips come far and wide all over the world.”
Luaine Lee is a California-based correspondent who covers entertainment for Tribune News Service.
“In addition to the Paw Patrol theme song, some of the standout tunes in the show include ‘Save the Day’ at the end of Act I, which is a really great hi-energy song. ‘In My Mind’ is another standout which is super catchy to sing along to and lots of fun,” Yurecka said.
For “really big” “Paw Patrol” fans, Yurecka added there is a special VIP package available.
“You get a premium seat in the first couple of rows in the
theater or arena, an exclusive souvenir and maybe even meet your favorite ‘Paw Patrol’ character after the show. It’s a pretty cool experience,” he said about the special ticket, priced at $114.
Regular tickets are priced from $33 to $157 and are available online at massmutualcenter.com.
“A Mighty Adventure” marks the fourth “Paw Patrol Live!” touring production, created by VStar Entertainment Group and Nickelodeon. Since its debut in 2016, “Paw Patrol Live!“ shows have been seen by 6 million people.
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classical instrument as well, beloved in the United States and France and Russia, particularly,” Falletta said.
“We are so lucky to be premiering ‘Eventide, Concerto for Alto Saxophone’ in Springfield, due mostly to friendship. I love the SSO and jumped at the chance to invite my dear friends, composer Ken Fuchs and saxophonist Tim McAlllister to join in the concert. I absolutely adore the piece — I have loved Ken’s music since we were in Juilliard together, and his haunting beauty, spirituality, and inspiration will really move our audience. His music to me is a gorgeous American landscape externally, but also a landscape of the heart. And Tim’s stunning playing is the perfect expression of this lovely work,” she added.
Falletta noted that “friendship” is also the key word for Mussorgsky.
“When his painter friend Victor Hartmann died suddenly, the composer was devastated. He decided
to compose ‘Pictures at an Exhibition’ in memory of his friend, and every movement is a portrait of one of Hartmann’s paintings. Years later, this piano piece was ‘recast’ as a fantastic tour de force for orchestra by Maurice Ravel.
So, three artists brought his incredible masterpiece to life — Victor Hartmann, Modest Mussorgsky and Maurice Ravel,” she said.
Regarding the concert’s description as “weaving together American, German, and Russian music with a French flair,” Falletta noted it is “quite a mélange.”
“American, of course, with Ken Fuchs. Russian music at its best in Mussorgsky. The beauty of German romanticism in Mendelssohn’s ‘Violin Concerto’ which, incidentally, was written for his best friend, violinist Ferdinand David, yet another friendship tie. And the extraordinary transcription of the Mussorgky piece by perhaps the greatest of all French composers, Maurice Ravel. What a collection of riches,” she said.
For tickets — ranging in price from $25 to $80 — visit springfieldsymphony.org.
