AUGUST 2021

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2 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

new this month AUGUST 2021 . VOLUME 7 . ISSUE 9

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ORCHARDWORKS Are you in the market for a magic wand? Maybe you’re a wizard with an upcoming battle with Voldemort, or maybe you’re planning a magical birthday party for someone, or maybe you just think magic wands look cool and you want one to display in your home.

6

A NOTE

13

ORCHARDWORKS MAGIC WANDS

19

WESTFIELD BREWING CO.

From The Editor Experience some magic in Stafford, CT

So much more than your typical brewery.

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AUGUST 2021 . VOLUME 7 . ISSUE 9

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a note

FROM THE MANAGING EDITOR . G. MICHAEL DOBBS

It’s a great time to be a beer drinker, isn’t it?

I mean if you’re even close to my age, you may recall that beer in this country was, sort of, all the same.

I never thought there was much difference in the beers in the 1960s through the 1980s. They were all amber, all lagers, and while there were conceivably taste differences, for the life of me I could never tell.

Pabst’s Blue Ribbon, Budweiser, Miller, Schaefer, Schlitz, Falstaff, Carling and Ballantine were names familiar to generations of beer-drinking Americans.

Regional and local brands were also important. How about Hampden Ale and Piels – a very local brand and a regional brand, both of which were brewed in Chicopee, MA, along the Connecticut River.

Yes, there was plenty of brand loyalty and before they went national in distribution I would read how Coors had a fanatical following. Actor Paul Newman had cases flown into movie sets because that was his favorite. It was a very big deal with people in the eastern half of this country.

It’s fair to say people truly identified with their brand of beer.

The large national brands slowly but surely eroded the market base of many smaller regional brews and for some people American beers seemed interchangeable and mediocre.

Today, though, thanks to craft brewing, the variety of beer is staggering and local is king. People are still fierce about their brand and their brew, but it’s clear as well that folks are willing to try new types of beers and new flavors.

In this issue, we have a story about one of our many craft breweries, Westfield River in Southwick, MA. What makes so many craft breweries so attractive isn’t just the beer they brew, but the food and entertainment offerings so many of them have.

A craft brewery is a point of destination and once you visit one, you want to visit more. And speaking of destination, this issue of Go Local has seven great places in Massachusetts and Connecticut for summer fun, plus three festivals that are coming up in August.

As long as the weather holds out, August has plenty to offer.

By the way, you need a reason to visit Rice Fruit Farm? Open all yearround this place is filled with tasty treats from ice cream to fresh baked goods.

In full disclosure, I have to admit that while I enjoy a beer – I had one last night – I’m more of a brown liquor guy – scotch and bourbon. I only wish we had a few distilleries in our region that I could visit. Until then I’ll have to plan another trip to Scotland or my first trip to Kentucky.

MANAGING EDITOR G. Michael Dobbs

CREATIVE

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

DESIGN Michelle Johnson, Manager

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GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM - G. Michael Dobbs, Managing Editor 6 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

Send local story ideas to: Michelle Johnson: mjohnson@repub.com

s b d y n a OrchardW W d e v r a C o d Harry Potter inspired!! rks n a H Choose your wand, let your wand choose you, or design your special custom wand!

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A

re you in the market for a magic wand? Maybe you’re a wizard with an upcoming battle with Voldemort, or maybe you’re planning a magical birthday party for someone, or maybe you just think magic wands look cool and you want one to display in your home. Whatever the reason, head on over to OrchardWorks Magic Wands in Stafford, Connecticut to see the magic happening there.

Owners Janet and Edward Bareiss have been creating the wands for over 10 years, and recently moved into their shop in Stafford. When asked what motivated them to begin their unusual business, they explained that “Ed’s daughter asked for simple magic wands for her 9th birthday party, which we made, and were then encouraged to try selling them online. We started an Etsy shop and things took off from there.”

Creating the wands and running the business is now a full time job for Janet (an engineer and former teacher) and a part-time job for Ed (an aerospace metallurgist.) When it comes to making the wands, Ed says “this is all self-taught.

Engineering school and working in aerospace helps quite a bit with regard to the tools and shop practices, but everything else is just learning from mistakes and trying to minimize how many mistakes happen in the first place.

Janet is similarly self-taught with the finishing work. Lots of experimentation and practice is required to consistently achieve the look and quality that we insist on providing.”

Their customers include all age ranges, and some know exactly what they want, while others have “no idea what to even ask for.” They buy the wands for birthdays and holiday gifts, as part of a costume, or as a display piece for their home. “Custom pieces are a big gift idea during the holidays and we generally have to stop taking orders for Christmas before Halloween, the backlog just gets too long!” says Ed. “They are very special to many people, especially custom pieces they helped design and/or got to watch being made for them.”

Ed, who makes all the custom orders,

Orchard WOrks

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 13

adds, “we’ve been making custom wands for people all over the world this whole time (10+ years) but being in the new store lets us offer an in- person experience where people can come in, pick the piece of wood, help design all the details, and then watch it get made right in front of them. Or they can order it to be shipped or picked up later. For the in-person experience, we definitely recommend scheduling ahead of time, but sometimes we have openings for walk-ins. Wands can take anywhere from six minutes to six hours or more to make. It’s all about the complexity, the setup work needed, how hard the wood is to work, and the detailing. Every wood and thus every wand is different.”

In addition to the custom orders, there is a large selection of wands to choose from either on-line or in the store. The wands can be made from about 150 different types of wood. Janet and Ed say they go through “tons of Birch, Ash, Hickory, Mahogany, Black Walnut, and Cherry. Purple Heart and Ebony are also very popular.”

The couple sells thousands of wands a year, with prices ranging from under $20.00 for a standard wand, and from $35.00 and up for a custom design. The couple also makes wands for other venues and stores. They say that “the Cloak and Wand is a great little place in Old Mystic Village and we’re just delighted to have them as a client.

We also have several other stores we work with, like Oliver’s Wands (Maynard, MA), Twilight House of Salem (Salem, MA), Hierophany & Hedge (Covington, KY) and more. It’s quite difficult to list them all, but those are some of the more notable ones at the moment.”

Pre-COVID, Janet and Ed “used to do shows and 14 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

festivals all over the East coast, from Maryland to Maine. These included Harry Potter themed events, Steampunk themed events, and local craft and art events. There’s no fixed recipe for a good event, so you have to learn how to find the right mix of attendees and market to them properly. We have heard for years that we should get into the Renaissance Faire circuit but we’ve never even been to one, let alone tried our hand at vending there. We had planned to dip our toes into that pond last year before everything closed up. Now that we have the actual store, that’s really our focus.

So, we plan to fulfill the obligations we have for events coming up, which include Harry Potter Day held in Waterbury back in July; ConnectiCon in September; Wizard World (Philadelphia) in November; New England WizardFest (Marlborough, MA) in December; and then hopefully we’ll have the staff in place to run the store and a big event simultaneously.

It’s a big commitment to run the store. But we’re enjoying it a lot, especially getting to see the excitement and happiness in people’s faces again, and share that with them. Overall, the most fun is knowing how much happiness we get to send out into the world.”

OrchardWorks Magic Wands is located at 13 Furnace Avenue in Stafford, Connecticut www.OrchardWorksCT.com 413-318-4679

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 15

16 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

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! KEITH O’CONNOR  NATE BLAIS

A

brewery and tap room for tasting their distinct and flavorful beers. A delicious and inspiring pub fare menu. A cozy event space. A summer concert series. Even their own distillery. All housed in a rustic barn in Southwick that for many years was home to the popular Chuck’s Steak House.

As the craft brewing market began to explode around the country, Westfield River Brewing Company entered the fray in 2012. It was their desire to make their own mark in the growing industry by tapping into the demand for good tasting, quality beers not mass produced using cheaper ingredients.

“It was master brewer Sergio Bonavita - a longtime home brewer who attended some workshops at Budweiser to further hone his skills - who came to me and our other partners about opening a full-scale brewery. A lifelong friend of mine and craft beer lover, Sergio has always been an entrepreneur and he was ready not to just dip his toe in home brewing any longer, but to jump in all the way. And we followed him, never expecting the success we would soon realize,” Josh Kelleher said.

Similar to many upstart craft brewers around the country who set up shop in abandoned mills and vacant manufacturing spaces, Westfield River Brewing Company opened its doors in an industrial warehouse in Westfield. However, their doors weren’t open to the public, and the location was used to simply brew their libations and market them to restaurants, bars and package stores in Western Massachusetts.

Two years later in 2014 when an unexpected opportunity presented itself, Bonavita and Kelleher found themselves touring the former Chuck’s Steak House in Southwick, which had come onto the market for lease.

“Once we walked into that quaint old barn and experienced it’s unique charm and beauty, we knew we had to make use of this very cool building as our new home. The move was a good way for us to step outside industry expectations and try something different for our brewery,” Kelleher said.

“It was never our intention when we opened in 2012 to do anything more than

Westfield River Brewing Company

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19

just sell our beer to those bars, restaurants and package stores who would carry our product that, along the way, was quickly growing in popularity. But now we operate a 100-year-old dairy farm and renovated barn with 53-acres out back to do with what we pleased,” he added.

The brewery co-owner noted that the move contributed to their quickly becoming “more of a destination brewery,” where people would “come to hang out with family and friends” - Kelleher noted they have created a very family-friendly atmosphere - to enjoy a pint or two over good conversation and perhaps a little bite to eat.

Then a defining moment the next year in 2015 further shaped the future direction of the brewery.

“We held a big fall festival…..didn’t advertise and only promoted it on Facebook and with posters in the brewery…..and over 1,000 people showed up. The next thing we knew people were coming up to us asking if they could get married here, and we soon found ourselves in the event business which has grown in popularity over the past five years,” Kelleher said.

Diners who once frequented Chuck’s Steak House in its heyday will remember its downstairs lounge and warming fireplace, where you would wait for your table to be ready in the dining room upstairs. Today that lounge is the tap room for drinking and eating, and is where Bonavita does his brewing. There is also a front patio where you can eat and drink al fresco. The former main dining room upstairs is now their event space for weddings, birthday parties, baby and bridal showers, retirement parties and more. And, they just added a new back patio where the Tobacco Road Barrel Room is located.

“We can cater smaller events ourselves and also have a variety of different caterers we can bring in for bigger celebrations to suit the needs of our guests…..and from the fancy to casual pizza parties,” Kelleher said.

So, what about the star of the show - the beer?

“After home brewing for 10 years, Sergio had accumulated over 100 recipes and what we offer on tap is constantly changing. Variety is important to him, and once we sell out of one batch, another beer replaces it. He loves making sours, lagers and IPAs. The Dude and Coastal Haze are our most popular beers and both staples on our tap menu. White Pumpkin is our seasonal fall beer, Red White and Raz comes out each summer, in the spring we offer a German Maibock, and, of course, when the time comes, we always have an Oktoberfest beer. Both The Dude and Raspberry Sour won us second place as ‘favorite beer’ at the consumer-voted competition called Boston Back Bay Beer Battle,” Kelleher said.

“We named The Dude in honor of one of our favorite movies - and it pays tribute to the popular character in “The Big Lebowski” movie who drank White Russians.

A White Russian is made with vodka, coffee liqueur and cream, so Sergio opted for a cold brew coffee stout with vanilla bean and chocolate malt when creating Dude,” he added.

20 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

Among some of the current beers on tap and their descriptions are: Roy’s Lager - 4.1% Our lightest beer, crisp easy drinking lager Coastal Haze IPA - 7.4% New England IPA with Mosaic hops and Citra Session - 4.1% Light easy drinking IPA with Cascade and Centennial Emerge - 6.3% Slightly fruity and finished with Champagne yeast for a clean dry finish Dead Man Walking - 8.1% West Coast Style IPA with Magnum, Cascade, Simcoe, Columbus, Centennial; Bitter and Piney Red White and Raz - 4.9% Raspberry summer wheat beer Citrus Seltzer - 4.0% Hard seltzer The Dude - 6.9% Cold brew coffee stout with vanilla bean and chocolate malt Big Red Barn - 9.5% Imperial red ale, malty Shandy - 4.0% Refreshing blend of beer, lemonade (traditional, strawberry, peach or pineapple).

There are also plenty of cocktails to choose from when visiting Westfield River Brewing Company for a casual good time.

Those looking for a sweeter treat can choose from a WRBC Old Fashion, Whiskey Arnold Palmer, Lavender Mule, Island Time, Georgia Smash, Strawberry Sparkler, Mint Cucumber Refresher, and Jungle Bird.

And all of the spirits that go into crafting their special concoctions are by Tobacco Road Distillery.

“We are Tobacco Road Distillery. We began our newest project in 2019 after realizing that not everyone who attends a wedding or other event with us wants to only drink beer. So, we began production on our own line of spirits including vodka, rum, gin and bourbon,” Kelleher said.

To address the food needs of their new venture in Southwick and an empty kitchen, partner Dave Delmonte stepped up to the plate, so to speak, to bring back the food option for Westfield River Brewing Company.

“Dave had been in the restaurant business for a good part of his life and he jumped at the chance to staff our kitchen and put together a whole new menu for customers to enjoy. When creating his dishes, GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 21

Dave was conscious of the fact that most customers are craft beer drinkers and usually want something light to eat. So, he geared the menu to them, but with selections for every taste and for kids as well.

And we couldn’t be happier with the additional value it brings to the business…..it’s just tremendous,” Kelleher said.

The menu includes “sharebles” from loaded pub chips to ale-brined wings, “handhelds” from a Nashville fried chicken sandwich to hamburgers and a hot dog, and “tacos” from pulled pork to grilled fish.

Outside the comforts of the barn’s warm atmosphere, its quaint tap room, and overhead event space can be found 53-acres of farmland offering the beautiful vistas of Mount Tom and Provin Mountain as the backdrop for its summer concert series.

Remaining performances feature The Breakers - A Tribute To Tom Petty with special guests The Eagles Experience on Saturday, August 21, from 2-10 p.m.

Pirate Flag - A Tribute To Kenny Chesney raises a ruckus from 4-10 p.m. on Saturday, August 28. Music for both events begins at 4:30 p.m. and tickets, available at westfieldriverbrewing.com, are $25 for The Breakers and $30 for Pirate Flag.

Then as Mother Nature paints a picturesque palate of colors on the mountains beyond, the brewery will hold its annual Fall Fest on Saturday, Oct. 16, from 2-10 p.m.

“This will be our 7th annual Fall Fest after the coronavirus put a damper on last year’s festivities.

It’s our favorite day of the year and we usually bring in about 20 to 30 vendors selling everything from handmade furniture to uniquely-fashioned jewelry and many other crafts. There will also be food trucks and local bands galore playing all day and The Dave Mathews Tribute Band will be headlining the event.

There will also be face painting and other things for kids to do at this big family-friendly festival for all ages,” Kelleher said.

While Westfield River Brewing Co. suspended selling their beers to bars, restaurants and package stores for the past five years in order to meet the demands of customers on weekends at the brewery, Kelleher said they have invested in additional brewing equipment, including fermenters and a canning line, and will soon return to the marketplace with their beers.

Westfield River Brewing Co. is located on 707 College Highway in Southwick. Hours are Thursday and Friday from 4-9 p.m., Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

For more information, visit westfieldriverbrewing. com or email WestfieldRiverBrewing@yahoo.com.

22 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

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Proprietors

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

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Learn more at: MiracleMethod.com/easystep 33 Grattan St. Chicopee, MA

One coupon per order through 9/30/21 • Valid at participating locations only.

413-589-0769 Each Miracle Method franchise is independently owned and operated.

miraclemethod.com

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 23

go local picks

COOL STUFF JUST OUTSIDE YOUR DOOR AND ONLINE!

MOONLIGHT PADDLE STAFFORD LIONS CLUB FRIDAY - AUGUST 20, 2021 • STAFFORDVILLE LAKE ROUTE 19 STAFFORDVILLE, CT 06076 • BEHIND STAFFORDVILLE SCHOOL Gate Opens At 6:30pm / Launch At 7:30pm Free Paddling (Bring your own kayak or canoe) Boats MUST be cleaned before entering lake Free Hotdogs and Snacks Enter the Raffle to win a Kayak Package (Grand Prize includes Kayak, paddle and PFD) Raffle Tickets are $5 each or 3 for $10 For more information, please visit our website at www.staffordlionsclub.org or contact Diane Amuso at dbawamuso@gmail.com or 860 559-9153

GREEN RIVER FESTIVAL SIGNATURE SUMMER EVENT

FRIDAY, AUGUST 27TH AT 12:00 PM - SUNDAY, AUGUST 29TH AT 9:00 PM, 89 WISDOM WAY GREENFIELD, MA, 01301

THUNDER IN THE VALLEY FESTIVAL 95 PARK HILL RD. EASTHAMPTON, MA.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 14TH FROM 2:00 PM UNTIL 10:00 PM, LOCATED AT MOLITORIS ORCHARD IN EASTHAMPTON

Located at the Franklin County Fairgrounds in Greenfield.

The Green River Festival is Western Massachusetts’ signature summer event. An outrageous celebration of world class music, great local food, beer & wine, a handmade craft fair, and lots of family games and activities! Returning for 2021!

MUSIC, Food Trucks, Friends are what you will find at this year’s 6th annual Thunder in the Valley Festival! Don’t miss this incredible day of Music & Fun! The best part is 100% of the proceeds raised goes to the Childrens Miracle Network Hospital @ Baystate Childrens Hospital!

signaturesoundspresents.com/shows/green-river-festival

www.thunderinthevalleyfestivalma.com/events/2021thunder-in-the-valley-festival-concert

24 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

Rice Fruit Farm ! KEITH O’CONNOR  NATE BLAIS

R

ice Fruit Farm in Wilbraham is much more than its name implies.

“We call it the quintessential New England farm stand. But we’re also a restaurant, ice cream shop and a place you can come to buy convenience items like milk, eggs, juice and more. We’re a destination spot today for folks near and far,” said co-owner Anthony Maloni, III. A Wilbraham institution for over 100 years, Rice Fruit Farm was founded in 1894 and for many years was operated by Jesse L. Rice, a third generation owner of the farm, who after his son Wayne died in 2007, had no family to continue to run the business. When he later became ill, Rice reluctantly put the property up for sale in 2009 and died the following year.

Considered by many as a landmark in town serving regulars who came for breakfast and lunch and to purchase fresh fruit and baked goods, Rice Fruit Farm

provided first jobs for many of the town’s teenagers.

Maloni and his brother Dominic eventually purchased the property in November 2012 and re-opened the business in April 2015.

“We were originally looking for a new spot to sell our ice cream and figured the site would be a good location. Also, with our real estate and business backgrounds we knew that we could figure out the rest of the business that was once housed on the farm and make a real go of it,” Maloni said.

Today, Maloni noted he feels more like a “steward” of Rice Fruit Farm than its owner and he said he is “okay with that.”

“I had visited Rice Fruit Farm as a customer before it closed down and at the time didn’t realize how important it was to the community. Everyone seems to have a story about the farm - how they always visited the farm stand with their

grandfather or how they would stop to pick up donuts after church on Sunday or memories of holding their first job here,” Maloni said.

“It’s as if people take ownership of the building when they visit us, and they are proud to have Rice Fruit Farm remaining in the community. Because it meant so much to so many people, we wanted to keep the same name and preserve as much as possible the original feel of the property. So, in our restoration which took two and a half years, we restored the 1924 barn to its original beauty. And by the time we opened our doors again to the public, they were welcomed with a mix of the old and the new and every day we hear someone saying ‘thank you’ for what we did,’ and it feels good,” he added.

From the kitchen and bakery “On the weekends it is often standingroom-only with customers waiting for a GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 25

seat for breakfast,” Maloni said about the popularity of their restaurant operation.

The breakfast menu consists mainly of sandwiches - two cage free eggs grilled on your choice of ciabatta, bagel or croissant and offered up in seven styles from their Steak N Egger and Bada Bing to traditional Egg and Cheese and Western. When lunchtime comes around, there are several style hot dogs to choose from including the famous “Long Dog” found at Cindy’s Drive-in, as well as a Grilled Cheese with a tomato option, Toasted B.L.T., Grilled Tuna Roll, and hot soup including broccoli cheddar, turkey lasagna, Italian wedding and pasta fagioli.

The quaint dining room featuring both booths and tables - they restored original trestle tables from MassMutual and built a large community table with wood found in the barn - is appointed with new decorations and memories from the past from original maple and oak flooring in the ice cream area to local artists showcasing their art on the dining area walls courtesy of the Scantic Valley and Wilbraham Art Leagues.

In addition to indoor seating, there are tables outside for those who prefer to dine al fresco, and there is a warming fire pit when the cooler weather sets in. Diners outdoors are serenaded on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday evenings by local bands and musicians weather permitting in spring, summer and fall.

“The bakery was well-known for its muffin tops and pies and we have continued the tradition that customers loved for so many years along with fresh-baked cookies, cider donuts, brownies and bagels that we bring in locally from Tandem Bagel Co.,” Maloni said.

Pies run the gamut from traditional apple, blueberry and pecan to strawberry rhubarb, chocolate cream and “fruit of the forest” filled with apple, rhubarb, raspberry, strawberry and blackberries. Other choices include pumpkin, cherry, peach and Dutch apple with crumb topping and caramel drizzle.

Bagel selections - over 20 of the crunchy delights to choose from - include plain, sesame, poppy seed, onion, everything, cinnamon raisin, snickerdoodle, French toast, hot and spicy, asiago, whole wheat, jalapeno, as well as seasonal varieties. And you can top them with a variety of spreads ranging from plain cream cheese to veggie and from honey nut to chive and several others such as creamy peanut butter and Nutella, the world’s most beloved hazelnut spread.

26 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

“The day before Thanksgiving is our busiest day of the year, followed by Christmas with hundreds of bakery pre-orders for parties and the holiday dinner tables,” Maloni said.

A family affair, Maloni said you will often find his wife and two oldest daughters, his brother and his nieces, and his parents helping out in the bakery and serving coffee and other beverages.

The fabulous ice cream Making your own ice cream - instead of bringing in a mass-produced product to sell - isn’t easy, and not everyone can do it and get it right, Maloni noted. But they had a lot of practice perfecting the art of ice cream making.

The Maloni’s parents, Anthony and Cindy Maloni, are longtime owners of Cindy’s Drive-in in Granby, the town’s original 1950s drive-in serving up their famous “Long Dog” and other treats alongside over 100 flavors of hard and soft ice cream.

Voted Best of Mass Ice Cream - People’s Choice and #4 Overall - by MassLive, their ice cream as some would say is “to die for.”

“Our ice cream is hard to beat. My brother Dominic is a foodie and has developed our recipes by trial and error. Not only is he a talented financial planner, but he also studied at Johnson and Wales University in Rhode Island, where he studied culinary arts, then food service management. He likes to keep our ice cream menu interesting for customers who are always looking for a new flavor to try, and we encourage sampling,” Maloni said.

“One of the advantages is that we can incorporate a number of items from our bakery into our ice cream such as brownies, cookies and pies, and have the ability to toast our own coconut and melt our cocoa.

We have many seasonal favorites like our Blueberry Cobbler which usually comes out in July and our Peach in July and August that is made from native peaches, similar in fashion to our Strawberry ice cream. In the fall, we have our Pumpkin and Pumpkin Oreo and Egg Nog at Christmastime. Then in honor of St. Patrick’s Day in March our Magically Delicious ice cream is made with Lucky Charms cereal,” he added.

Other flavors among a large menu for every taste include Grasshopper, Purple Cow, Sharktooth, Cookie Monster, Peppermint Stick, Limoncello, Very Berry, Mounds, Stacciatella, Moosetracks, Chocolate Chip

Cookie Dough, Coffee, and traditional Vanilla and Chocolate, as well as Rum Raisin, Cotton Candy, Grape-nut, and so many others. Soft serve features traditional vanilla, chocolate and twist.

For those with a heartier appetite there are sundaes with all the trimmings including Hot Fudge Brownie, Butterfinger Blast, Banana Split, Strawberry Shortcake, M&M’s and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup and other concoctions.

Flurries, milkshakes, and a root beer float round out the ice cream menu.

Similar to much of the rest of the barn, Maloni said he wanted their ice cream parlor with its black and white

checkered floor to have “that 1920’s feel.” There is an old brass plate on display that once adorned a cash register from days gone by that his brother Jeremiah, who runs Cindy’s, purchased from a defunct dairy farm in Ludlow.

Also, standing tall against the wall is a vintage “Love Tester” penny arcade game which entertained young and old alike for over 90 years.

“The centerpiece to the ice cream parlor is the coolest sign we have. It says ‘Rice Fruit Farm - 200 Feet Ahead’ and once stood at the corner of Tinkham Road and Main Street welcoming people coming to Wilbraham to find GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 27

us down the road. We found it buried upside down and full of dust in a crawl space when working on the room,” Maloni said.

All the rest While at the moment the farm’s orchards and fields are not being used for growing fruits and vegetables, they bring in seasonal local and organic produce to sell at their farm stand.

“We sell in-season blueberries, strawberries, peaches, and apples, as well as healthy veggies including squash, corn, string beans, potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, lettuce, cabbage and more,” Maloni said, noting they also sell local honey, maple syrup other locally sourced unique and fun items.

While they don’t grown flowers, an assortment of beautiful hanging plants can also be found for sale As part of the farm, kids - many of whom today don’t often get to see animals close up can see goats, chickens, rabbits, and two turkeys and ducks who will be arriving shortly.

When fall arrives, there are tons of pumpkins from big to small to purchase and bring home to decorate for the Halloween season.

They also sell other autumn accoutrements such as corn stalks, bales of hay, mums, gourds and more.

“We also give students from Minnechaug Regional High School space to hold scarecrow making workshops as a fundraiser,” Maloni said.

In addition to local youngsters who often frequent Rice Fruit Farm after classes for a snack and to hang out together for a spell, Maloni noted Rice Fruit Farm has become a popular destination for area college students.

“What we see is that local kids attending Springfield College and Western New England College want to share their past experiences here with their new college friends, who come to find that it’s a cool thing to be seen at Rice Fruit Farm,” Maloni said.

Open year-round, seven days a week from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Rice Fruit Farm is located on 757 Main St. in Wilbraham.

For more information, visit ricefruitfarm. com, email info@ricefruitfarm.com, or call 413-596-4002. You can also get social and visit them on Facebook and Instagram.

28 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

!  VICKI MITCHELL

F

rom growing up in a refugee camp in Thailand to owning a fitness center in West Springfield, Massachusetts, Shan Maung’s story is one of hard work, perseverance, a desire to help people, and a love of Zumba. Here, he tells his (edited) story.

“I was born in Myanmar. When I was two years old, my dad risked his life and made a decision to leave the unsafe conditions there, and we fled to a refugee camp in Thailand. I spent roughly 14 years there, where my sisters and I went to school, created a new lifestyle, and met people from different ethnicities. That was where I basically grew up for half of my life. We had a very basic lifestyle. Food was supplied to us monthly by The Border Consortium. We would receive food based on the number

of people in the household. We would normally get rice, beans, tuna, flour, dried chili, and fish paste, and yearly we would get clothing. We eventually came to America in 2009 with a bag of clothes and not knowing anything about the country. It was the biggest turning point of my life. I was shy, didn’t know any English, and everything was different, from the clothes to the food to the way school was taught. I started in middle school, and although the education system was very different, the teachers were extremely helpful and nice.

“I discovered Zumba two years ago and fell in love with the concept of how Zumba brings people together and allows them to share the same passion…it can create a very welcoming environment. It became a hobby for me and I would take

4 to 5 classes a week before I became an instructor, encouraged by the many friends I made in class. I reached out to local gyms and asked if they needed a fitness instructor. Many of them didn’t want to hire me since I was new and had no experience. I didn’t give up... I kept emailing different gyms and had them put me on a substitute list so I could teach if anyone called out. The first class I ever taught was at the Club Fitness in West Springfield. I always bring the best energy to my classes and give 100%.

That’s how people keep coming back for more and more. They love it when I challenge them with different high intensity songs. I also connected with my students personally and became friends with them through social media.

A few months after getting my license, I GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 29

started teaching at four different schools and started to build followers. Knowledge is the key to success, and I love taking other instructors’ classes to see how they teach and learn from them.

“Unfortunately, my dad passed away from Covid in May 2020, and it changed my whole world. I was depressed and gaining lots of weight. I stopped teaching at that point. Covid cases were rising daily and people were dying. I pretty much isolated myself from people and disconnected myself from Zumba. I was lost. I hit my heaviest weight and I told 30 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

myself I need to stop hurting myself. In mid-summer, I posted on my Facebook that I will be offering virtual classes.

Once we were allowed outdoor gathering with social distancing, I started offering free classes 3 times a week. I invested in a speaker and started teaching classes outside. We had days when the weather was 90 or higher and we would still have classes. I brought ice cold water for people to have. People were stressed over Covid, and I wanted to give back by keeping them healthy and active. I did that for two months straight.

“In July, a friend was closing her studio due to a financial hardship. I reached out to her immediately and asked if I could buy the place. I was aware that we were in the middle of the pandemic and businesses were closing left and right.

I signed the lease the next day and I started to change things around in the studio. All I was doing was spending… lots of money went into that place and I was asking myself “Shan, what are you doing?” I used all of my savings, and was left with $300. It was lots of sweat, stress and tears going into that place. Once we officially opened, we had to follow strict guidelines due to Covid and couldn’t have more than 10 people per class. It was a lot to have a business running during the pandemic, but I didn’t give up. I had come so far and invested a lot already. I kept pushing myself and staying positive.”

This month, West Side Fitness is celebrating its one year anniversary!

Shan now employs six instructors, and in addition to Zumba, offers classes in Barre, VXN, Insanity, and toning, every day of the week. He says his favorite part of his business is that, “I am able to change people’s lives. I have met lots of people since I opened the studio. Some of them never worked out before and I am honored that my studio is their first workout place. When people come into my studio, they become part of the family. We create a friendly environment and supportive community for everyone to be themselves. I help people gain back their self-confidence and achieve their health goals. We are not strangers to each other...we are a big fitness family. I always tell my students to be bold, be awesome, be YOU. I love what I do and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.”

In the midst of all of this, Shan also had a dream to have a sushi franchise, and he is happy to announce that it opened last month! It is located in the Big Y at 433 Center Street in Ludlow, Massachusetts.

West Side Fitness is located at 15 Mosher Street in West Springfield, Massachusetts Westsidefitness01089@gmail.com Find them on Facebook and Google 413-474-1040

to REMINDER PUBLISHING

for bringing home 10 awards at this year’s 2021 ACP “Best of the Best” Annual Publication Awards

“WE ARE HOMETOWN NEWS” GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 31

go eat

! RECIPE SUBMITTED BY NATHAN BLAIS

Summer Chicken Salad

Leftover Rotisserie Chicken 1/2 cup mayo 1/4 cup grilled corn 1/4 cup fresh or pickled jalapeño, chopped

Start by shredding up rotisserie chicken.

In a bowl combine all your ingredients and mix thoroughly.

Enjoy on some nice toasted crusty bread or on top of a crisp summer salad!

1 tbsp sriracha Cilantro, to taste Salt and Pepper, to taste

NATHAN BLAIS I’m a photographer from Springfield. I combined my love for cooking and photography and turned it into a career. Check out my instagram @nateblais!

32 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

HELPING YOUR BODY PERFORM AT ITS PEAK!

Body of Work Therapeutic Massage

860.337.9410

42 Bridge Street • East Windsor, CT

Visit us at www.BodyOfWork-tm.com

Each office is independently owned and operated. Licensed in MA & CT

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ECFCU VISA Credit Card Benefits • No Annual Fee

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Helping You Memorialize Those Precious Moments in Your Life

“Pieces” Keepsake Boxes Beautiful Keepsake Box with 2 Photo Frames, 60 Memory Cards shaped as Puzzle Pieces that fit together to create a 26”x 40” image, with your guests’ handwritten messages on one side, and a photo of your choice on the other.

Birth Of A Child • Graduation • Weddings • Memorial Tribute Beautiful Cut Flowers & Arrangements Bulbs, Herbs & Plants • Vintage Collectibles

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keepnthyme.com 34 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

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Your Local, Family Owned Kitchen Experts.

Custom Closet Systems Kitchen & Bath Cabinetry • Laundry • Quartz Granite • Corian • Laminate • Full Remodeling

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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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15 RAILROAD AVENUE, WILBRAHAM 413-596-6535 | WWW.KITCHEN-ENCOUNTERS.COM

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 35

local snapshot  Liz O’Donoghue

36 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

1 Allen St. Hampden, MA

(413) 566-8324

di Hampden House

Mary’s Market

OUR NEW OUTDOOR PATIO IS OPEN!

OPEN DAILY

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT IS BACK!

Fresh Farm Produce Fresh Herbs Flowers, Plants Handmade Gifts

Friday & Saturday Nights Open for Lunch Friday thru Sunday Half Price Pizza Monday Night in Our Lounge

See our website for our Banquet & Catering Menu

lacucinahampden.com Lounge Open & Pizza 7 Days

Mon. 3pm-8pm | Tues.-Thurs. 3pm-8pm | Fri.-Sat. 11:30am-9pm Sun. 11:30am-8pm

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Over 40 yrs. experience in all phases of tree work!

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We specialize in all types of tree work with special equipment – cranes to 134 ft. 40+ years in business.

Free estimates. Free advice. Fully insured.

Call Robb Wallace

413-782.8733

48 SOUTH RD, SOMERS CT 860-698-6988 • 860-698-6986 mariossomers.com

Granny’s Place Family Owned & Operated

“Come Get Your VEGGIES!” OPEN

10-5 Daily

Local Honey Farm Fresh Eggs “A Little Bit of Everything”

844 Main Street, Agawam, MA 413-786-9366 grannysplacefarm.com email: grannysplace09@comcast.net

wallacetree@gmail.com

Buying & Selling Quality Used Records Hours: Tues.-Sun. 11am-6pm

Andy Crespo

52 Main St. Apt. 6 Florence, MA

413-585-5738

andybarnowl@comcast.net GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 37

The Final Countdown

Summer Heat Wave!

Check out these great 7 places to beat the heat!

HURRICANE HARBOR AT SIX FLAGS NEW ENGLAND

NOMADS ADVENTURE QUEST

The ultimate local water park experience! Get your adrenaline fix with steep water slides or relax in one of their lazy rivers on a hot day. There’s something for everyone! Free with park admission to Six Flags.

Nomad’s is a great indoor outing for both kids and adults with an arcade, virtual reality, bumper cars, mini golf, laser tag, bowling, and more. Grab a bite or a brew at Red’s Tavern when you’re done!

1623 MAIN STREET, AGAWAM, MA SIXFLAGS.COM/NEWENGLAND

SCHOOL STREET SPRAY PARK AT SCHOOL STREET PARK

BIGELOW HOLLOW STATE PARK

The School Street Spray Park is guaranteed to keep the little ones cool with a variety of water features over a wide space. Open daily from 11 AM - 7 PM through Labor Day.

There’s nothing like spending a day on the water surrounded by tall pine trees and blue sky. Located just east of Stafford, CT in the Nipmuck State Forest, Bigelow Hollow is hidden gem. Bring your kayak, paddleboard, or take a dip with an inner tube and relax on this giant pond.

COREY STREET, AGAWAM, MA AGAWAM.MA.US/255/ PARKS-RECREATION

HAMPDEN MEMORIAL SPRAY PARK

SPRINGFIELD MUSEUMS

Keep the kiddos cool at this fun local spray park, open from 9 AM to 8 PM daily during summer months.

Immerse yourself in local history, art, and science in air-conditioned comfort! With five museums and the Dr. Seuss Sculpture Garden, you’re guaranteed a day full of fun and learning.

495 MAIN ST, HAMPDEN, MA HAMPDENMA.GOV/ PARKS-RECREATION/PAGES/SPRAY-PARK

38 GO LOCAL AUGUST 2021

100 BIDWELL ROAD, SOUTH WINDSOR, CT NOMADSADVENTUREQUEST.COM

21 EDWARDS ST, SPRINGFIELD, MA SPRINGFIELDMUSEUMS.ORG

98 BIGELOW HOLLOW ROAD, UNION, CT PORTAL.CT.GOV/DEEP/STATE-PARKS/PARKS/ BIGELOW-HOLLOW-STATE-PARK-NIPMUCKSTATE-FOREST

AQUATIC AND FAMILY CENTER AT JFK MIDDLE SCHOOL

100 BRIDGE ROAD, FLORENCE, MA NORTHAMPTONMA.GOV/811/AQUATIC-FAMILY-CENTER

Want to go for a swim? The pool at JFK Middle School in Florence is open for the summer. Call the pool at 413-587-1046 to check on lane availability for lap swimming.

local einstein

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!

SPACEX WAS FOUNDED IN 2002 BY WHICH AMERICAN ENTREPRENEUR?

WHICH CITY IS THE CAPITAL OF NEVADA?

[A] Brian Chesky [B] Elon Musk [C] Bill Gates [D] Travis Kalanick IN ROMAN MYTHOLOGY, VERITAS IS THE GODDESS OF WHAT?

[A] Carson City [B] Reno [C] Las Vegas [D] Henderson IN 1814, NAPOLEON WAS EXILED TO WHICH ISLAND OFF THE COAST OF TUSCANY?

[A] Love [B] Beauty [C] Truth [D] Happiness WHAT IS THE ONLY LETTER THAT DOES NOT APPEAR ON THE PERIODIC TABLE?

[A] Elba [B] Sardinia [C] Corsica [D] Sicily IN THE HUMAN BODY, WHAT IS THE HALLUX? [A] Big Toe [B] Pinky finger [C] Index finger [D] Ankle b

[A] B [B] J [C] X [D] D

[A] Theodore Roosevelt [B] Ronald Reagan [C] Ulysses S. Grant [D] John F. Kennedy WHAT IS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF MICHELIN STARS A RESTAURANT CAN RECEIVE? [A] Two [B] Three [C] Four [D] Five

THE RED SUPERGIANT STAR BETELGEUSE BELONGS TO WHICH CONSTELLATION? [A] Orion [B] Cygnus [C] Leo [D] Cassiopeia

# CORRECT

IQ

RANK

ANSWERS:

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

160 110 50 3

Prodigy Egghead Meh Simpleton

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

AWARDED POSTHUMOUSLY, WHO IS THE ONLY US PRESIDENT TO BE AWARDED THE MEDAL OF HONOR?

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 39