Northampton, MA March 2024

Our Home Issue

March is for the Home

Home. So much contained in that little four letter word. Home is our grounding. Our base. Our launchpad. It’s where we start and end each day. And while the particulars look different for each of us, the meaning and value it holds for all of us is undeniable.

Author Wendy Wunder said, “The magic thing about home is that it feels good to leave, and it feels even better to come back.” As we thought about home - we wanted to highlight what makes it special to our readers. That of course includes the food and drinks, the aesthetic and design, but most importantly - the people.

We feel like the lucky ones as we got to learn more about the businesses and individuals that comprise our communities and hope the small lens into their lives and work brings people in this community together.

As you flip through the pages of this issue, we hope you’ll feel encouraged and connected to the people around you - in your city, neighborhood and most all of - your home.

Every month, we hear from readers who keep this magazine for longer than just the month labeled on the cover. They say they hold onto it for months as coffee table art or an accessory in their home. We feel proud to create a resource that is valued in our community and strive every month to deliver the value you expect. Thanks for letting us be a part of your home.

Happy March!

CANDICE BERUBE, PUBLISHER @NORTHAMPTON_CITY_LIFESTYLE

city scene

1: Winter at Look Park 2: Orange olive oil cake with cranberry orange curd and vanilla buttercream 3: Thornes Marketplace ready to ring in the new year

4: Alexandra Paquin performs Falling in Love During a Pandemic and Waking up in Reality at CitySpace. 5: Kiln room at Easthampton Clay 6: Window design at Assemble made + curated by Justin Brown in Northampton 7: Sumac and Poppy Shortbread at Small Oven Bakery in Easthampton

EASTHAMPTON CLAY NORTHAMPTON.LIVE SMALL OVEN BAKERY

CITYSPACE

LINDSEY SNOW

MARKETPLACE

business monthly

Retiring Cooley Dickinson Hospital Leader Raising $34K for 34 Years of Service

Cooley Dickinson Hospital’s chief community relations and communications officer Jeff Harness has announced his retirement and is seeking to raise $34,000 in support of the hospital’s New Beginnings program.  The goal represents his 34 years of service to the organization. New Beginnings is a program that promotes education and support for pregnant and postpartum people in, or working towards, recovery from substance use. The program's goal is to help foster a connection between parents and their new babies.

bankESB Donates $50,000 to United Way

bankESB and its employees donated $50,000 to the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region. Employees pledged nearly $23,000 of their own funds in the bank’s United Way workplace campaign. These funds combined with the bank’s dollar-for-dollar match and additional corporate contribution to total $50,000 for the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region. “bankESB and our employees are proud to support the United Way in its mission,” said bankESB President and CEO Matthew S. Sosik.

Positively Africana Opens At Thornes Marketplace

On Jan. 18, Positively Africana held its grand opening celebration on the second level of Thornes Marketplace. The celebration treated its guests to sushi made by Zumba instructor and chef SuSu Min Aung and vibrant African culture, as well as shopping and relaxing. Northampton Mayor Gina-Louise Sciarra, Chamber of Commerce members, and friends and family of the store attended the festivities. The store, open since November, has been welcomed by the Northampton community.

Photography: Provided

Photography: Provided

Photography: Thornes Marketplace

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK

Although the Pure Food Market family always knew their father’s strong legacy of personal service at the store, it wasn’t until after Donald Puza’s death in April 2021 that they learned the full extent of what that meant.

Christmas decorations. Other times he dropped off bags of groceries to families who were struggling. Don took care of everyone. That’s a legacy that he has passed on to his children, the third generation to run the store.

THE STORE FEATURES AN OLD-FASHIONED BUTCHER SHOP WHERE CUSTOMERS CAN ASK FOR SPECIFIC CUTS OF MEAT.

“We didn’t know the full impact he had on the community,” explains Vicky Puza-Allen, daughter of Don and co-manager. “After he passed away and the store closed, people kept showing up, leaving cards and flowers and Diet Cokes (Don’s favorite). The outpouring of support was beyond what we ever could have expected.”

Don’s belief in personal service and that family always came first extended in concrete ways to the loyal customers of Pure Food Market, many of whom shopped there for decades and are the second or third generation to do so.

Vicky recalled a time as a teenager when her dad brought them to a customer’s home because the customer needed someone to put up her

“That’s what has kept us going, our dad’s legacy,” notes Vicky. “We’ve been family-owned and operated since 1947. We see generations of family members now shopping in the store or working for us. I know almost all of them by name and, if I don’t know, then I ask.”

It’s not uncommon to hear customers’ names yelled out throughout the day as they are greeted by the staff.

Working with and selling high-quality food is paramount to the family. Don was adamant about using local farms, and they’ve carried on that tradition and several others. The store features an old-fashioned butcher shop where customers can ask for specific cuts of meat and have it sliced up for them fresh. In the deli, the family

prepares all kinds of store-made salads from scratch and other specialty items.  In the spring and summer, most of the produce is locally grown. The store also runs different specials with items like golumbkis and lazy pierogi, two traditional Polish dishes

Although the store used to have more traditional grocery items, the last decades have seen them focus on the areas of the store that make them unique: the old-fashioned butcher shop and the deli filled with store-made items. This focus, as well as good prices on their items, sets them apart from the chain grocery stores.

“You will always receive personal service and we follow Dad’s legacy of family first,” says Vicky. She recognizes that competing for business with the bigger chain stores is challenging, but she knows that these components make the market a unique and personalized experience for shoppers.

This page, top: The late Donald Puza

This page, bottom: Pure Food Market offers locally-sourced produce. Next page, top: Customers find a wide range of produce.

Middle: Multiple generations have run the store.

Bottom: Local produce at good prices.

HE WAS EVERYBODY’S FATHER, GRANDFATHER AND FRIEND.

The Puza family history is long and proud. Vicky’s great-grandfather came over from Poland around 1906 and sold meat door to door. The original market briefly started as a small business in Holyoke, before moving to Westfield for 15 years, and then to Southampton in 1964. At the time, it was the very first market in the town. It moved to its current location on College Highway in 1989.

Although the day-to-day operations are in the hands of Vicky and her siblings Josh Puza and Lisa Heath, all Don’s children, many other family members also work at the business. Whether or not they are a blood relative means little to this team.

“Staff may come and go but they will always be a part of our family,” says Vicky.

With customers and employees all clearly part of the Pure Food Market family, the current generation of managers has succeeded in ensuring that Don Puza's legacy of personalized service and putting family first has lasted.

Located at 31 College Highway in Southampton, Puza’s Pure Food Market is open daily. For more information, call 413.527.3819 or visit its Facebook page.

MAKING THE BEST HOME AND GARDEN COME WARM WEATHER

Spring Ready

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK

Top: Spring is great time to apply mulch to beautify gardens. |

Bottom Left: Dethatching helps the grass.|

Bottom Right: Dusting is critical in the early spring.

March is a time for spring cleaning homes and yards to get them spruced up from the winter months and ready for the warmer months. Even if the weather isn’t cooperating, there are many things that homeowners can do now to make for a more enjoyable spring and summer season.

One of the first things to take care of inside the home is the accumulation of dust and dirt that tends to accumulate during the winter. Whether that be from closed windows or tracking in mud, it’s nice to remove it as soon as possible.

“During the winter months, we tend to keep our windows shut to keep the warmth inside. This lack of ventilation traps dust particles indoors, allowing them to accumulate more easily,” explains Carrielynn Fournier, owner and operation of Busy Bee Cleans. “Without fresh air circulation, dust has nowhere to escape, leading to a buildup on furniture, shelves, and other surfaces.”

After a thorough dusting and vacuuming of the house, early spring is a good time to pay some extra attention to the windows, vents and curtains. “Curtains can gather a lot of dust, mold, or dirt if not cleaned every so often and can lead to allergies and an unhygienic home,” says Carrielynn.

It’s also a good time to start sprucing up patios and porches, cleaning furniture and rugs and assessing if anything needs to be replaced this year.

Once all the snow has melted, homeowners should start by looking at the area around their driveways for possible damage from snow removal.

“Snow plows tend to rip up the grass areas closest to the corners and outer edges of the driveway,” explains Brayden Burgielewicz, owner of Brayden’s Landscaping. “To fix these areas I recommend you apply a fresh coat of loam, as well as new grass seed. After your repairs have been done it's a must that you water those areas for best results.”

Up next would be a quick assessment of the lawn looking for new bare spots and getting rid of the old grass by dethatching with a machine or rake. After dethatching, Brayden recommends applying grass seed to bare spots, with hay on top to keep the seeds in place and act as a fertilizer.

Once the grass is set, homeowners should turn their attention to seasonal plantings that may need pruning such as forsythias, lavender or dogwood. Spring is also a good time to add new mulch to garden beds, trim shrubs, and get sprinkler systems up and running.

Taking some time in early spring to get the home and yard back on track will pay huge dividends in the long run. These tasks will set up both the home and yard to be more enjoyable in the warmer months.

For more information, go to BusyBeeCleans.com or BraydensLandscaping.com

An Eclectic Blend

A little bit of every style for the home at

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK PHOTOGRAPHY BY HANNAH JOSEPHINE PHOTOGRAPHY

Sticks & Bricks

Sticks & Bricks is not the typical vintage shop - but a modernized take with an old-school feeling. A mix of projects and parts for sale, as well as curated furniture, lighting and other household elements, come together to create a unique store and studio space.

“I love everything about furnishing a home with vintage and handmade items. It means your home is personal, it has heart,” explains Liz Karney, owner of Sticks & Bricks. “It also feels so good, for me anyway, to look around and be reminded of the artist you supported, the trip you took, the history that is embedded. Plus, I feel fantastic about keeping things out of the landfill and keeping the trees in the forest. Buying vintage does that so well.”

The combination of the store and its workshop means that Liz can “make and tinker with furniture right in Sticks & Bricks.”

Although she does fewer custom pieces than she used to, Liz spends significant time working with older pieces to give them a new feel and bringing in pieces for possible future projects.

“The store evolves with my tastes,” explains Liz. “I’m often attracted to what I need in my own house and it’s also dependent on what I can find.”

The store didn’t begin traditionally. Liz wasn’t looking at store space for herself at all. Back in 2008, with a young daughter, she tagged along with her partner to look at a space for him to open a coffee shop.

“I was not on board, I did not think he had time for a new business. But I love to dream and look at real estate, so we went. My business wasn't even a seed in my brain,” recalls Liz. “The space was so cute. There was an available apartment upstairs, and our daughter's elementary school was a block away. Dreamy. But I was still not convinced.”

With the landlord’s blessing, she took the week to process and came up with a plan: to use the downstairs as a studio and small store and live in the upstairs apartment.

CONTINUED >

The studio space.

“I THINK MOST PEOPLEWHO WALK T THE DOORS ARE INSPIRED.”

“I’d been working doing home repair, learning lots of new skills and using those to make lots of little things we didn’t need,” remembers Liz. “I’d been trying to find places to sell my projects and figured other people might want to sell theirs too. I’d still do home repair part-time, and if my little business didn’t work out, well, we could open a coffee shop then.”

With some paint to spruce up the place, a little planning, and moving in her projects and tools, Liz started the business. Slowly the sales happened and she was able to stop doing home repair jobs. The location and its proximity to her daughter’s school gave her some of the work-life balance that is so difficult for parents.

“Every sale felt like a miracle in the beginning. I couldn’t really believe it,” says Liz. “I remember

struggling to talk about it- it felt like bragging. How was this my job? If I could work downstairs after she was asleep, or on weekends, and I could cover the rent and take a little home, I felt like I was killing it!”

Fifteen years after its start in 2008, Sticks & Bricks offers its customers a wide range of unique items to fill their homes. The store’s website does an overview of the pieces available but the best way to experience them is to visit the store.

“I think most people who walk through the doors are inspired. Even if you don’t have a new home to furnish, we all know how wonderful it can be to refresh our current space,” says Liz. “ It might be a new rug or the perfect dining table, or maybe you just find yourself imagining how to move what you already own in new ways. There are lots of stores with beautiful homewares and furnishings, but I like to think that my strange and personal choices help people do the same for themselves.”

The eclectic collection of vintage, handmade and updated furnishings at Sticks & Bricks may be the feature aspect of the store, but Liz makes sure to support other local businesses by featuring other local artists and craftspeople. “It’s easier than ever to buy everything conveniently online, but when you can, let yourself take an extra couple hours and head downtown,” explains Liz. “There are some incredibly talented and hard-working shopkeepers making some magic out there.”

Sticks & Bricks is located at 90 King St. in Northampton and the store is open Wednesdays through Sundays. For more information, visit SticksAndBricksShop.com

THROUGH

Liz Karney, owner

SPRING ADVENTURES

Day trips abound in and near the valley

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK

Photo: Spring is in bloom at Look Park.

As the temperatures, hopefully, start to warm up in March and the snow melts, the Valley and its surrounding areas offer a range of opportunities for getting outside again. Of course, anyone who has lived here for some time knows that it’s also a good idea to have some backup plans for that late winter snowstorm. Here are some favorite springtime day trips.

With a steamer train, wildlife center, walking path, sweet shop and multiple playgrounds, Look Park is a great option for getting out some of that early spring energy. The park also has lots of open space to explore and for the kids to run around. LookPark.org

Ride the 11-mile paved trail along the former Boston & Maine Railroad, enjoying the scenic views along the way. Level paths allow you to enjoy the trail no matter your abilities. The trail is also open to walking and rollerblading mass.gov/locations/norwottuck-rail-trail

LOOK PARK

NORWOTTUCK RAIL TRAIL

Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary offers beautiful scenery.

Look Park offers many areas for quiet reflection.

Look Park come to life around the water.

MASSAUDUBON ARCADIA WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

Spanning Easthampton and Northampton, Arcadia’s diverse terrain (forest, meadows, grasslands, marsh, and wetlands) attracts an extraordinary variety of wildlife and wildflowers. With many trails to explore, the sanctuary offers a respite from busy lives. massaudubon.org/places-to-explore/wildlifesanctuaries/arcadia

HOLYOKE ST. PATRICK’S DAY PARADE

Held on St. Patrick’s Day this year, the parade is worth the drive down I-91. Featuring divisions from both Easthampton and Northampton with marchers, floats and bands, the parade weaves a nearly threemile route through downtown Holyoke and takes about three hours to complete. HolyokeStPatricksParade.com

MANHAN RAIL TRAIL

Nestled in the heart of the scenic Pioneer Valley of Western Massachusetts, Easthampton’s Manhan Rail Trail offers unique transportation and recreational opportunities to people of all ages and interests. With a total length of 6 miles, the trail connects to the Northampton system of trails in that city.  ManhanRailTrail.org

The mural on the Manhan Rail Trail.

Spring starts to bloom at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary.

NAISMITH MEMORIAL BASKETBALL HALL OF FAME

As much of the country enjoys college basketball’s “March Madness,” take a trip to the hall to learn about the sport of basketball. Located in Springfield, it is dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level and is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. HoopHall.com

ENJOY BREAKFAST WITH FRESH MAPLE SYRUP

Early spring is prime maple-sugaring season. Stop by one of the local sugar shacks for a delicious breakfast with locally sourced and fresh maple syrup. Steve’s Sugar Shack in Westhampton will host a benefit for the Westhampton Fire Department on Apr. 13. North Hadley Sugar Shack will be boiling on most days, depending on the weather. StevesSugarShack.com

NorthHadleySugarShack.com

THE MONTAGUE BOOK MILL

Not a basketball fan? Get lost in “books you don’t need in a place you can’t find” at the Montague Book Mill. This used bookstore housed in an 1842 gristmill is also home to a unique cafe, a gourmet restaurant, a record store and an artists’ collective. maq.ujw.mybluehost.me

Basketball Hall of Fame

Enjoying the maple syrup at Steve's Sugar Shack.

Busy breakfast morning at North Hadley Sugar Shack.

TONE + TEXTURE

STYLE YOUR HOME IN TONES AND TEXTURES WITH DESIGN HELP FROM HOUZZ INTERIOR DESIGN EXPERTS

ARTICLE BY NICOLETTE MARTIN

WOVEN + KNOTTED

LIVING BOHO-CHIC WITH WOVEN TEXTURES AND MACRAMÉ

Decorate your space with handmade textures such as the modern, maker revival of 1970s macramé and year-round tropical feel of wicker. MACRAMÉ Made through knotting instead of weaving, macramé can add a unique touch in many various ways. Houzz contributor Laura Gaskill suggests incorporating it as nursery decor, plant hangers, wall hangings and modern fiber arts. WICKER According to Houzz contributor Yanic Simard, “the best way to really embrace the luxury-cottage appeal of wicker and rattan is to combine different forms of the two in one space... Look for other unexpected places to add a natural twist to your home with a new material woven into your palette.”

AGAINST THE GRAIN

TIPS FOR DECORATING WITH NATURAL MATERIALS

Houzz contributor Katie Treggiden offers many ways to incorporate natural materials and natural-state timber into your home, including using wood to cover one wall in a home for a pleasing accent wall; featuring your firewood as a striking, stacked display; and mixing different types of wood and different finishes in the same space. “A simple way to incorporate the wood trend is to expose structural wooden beams already present in your home,” Katie says. “Instead of painting them or boxing them in, leave them raw or give them a coat of wax to enrich the tones.”

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday 12pm

Sunday

MARCH 2024

events

MARCH 1ST, 8TH & 15TH

Teen Bookbinding Workshop

Easthampton Public Library, 9 Park St, Easthampton | 3:00 PM

In this three-week series, led by artist Lisa Hersey of Antler Editions, explore different bookbinding techniques that can be recreated at home. Making a book can be as simple as folding one sheet of paper or involving 16 pages and sewing! Students will learn how to put content into their books for reproducing editions of their work.

MARCH 2ND

Ragged Blue

Fort Hill Brewery, 30 Fort Hill Rd, Easthampton | 4:00 PM

Ragged Blue plays a unique blend of bluegrass, Celtic, jazz, folk, and contemporary music, imbuing its music with its own unique Ragged Blue interpretation. Beautiful harmonies, sparkling instrumentals, and a variety of material make them who they are. Terry Atkinson on guitar & vocals; Corki Demers on fiddle/mandolin & vocals; John Rough on banjo & vocals; Joe Blumenthal on bass & vocals. For more information, visit forthillbrewery.com

MARCH 3RD

Bored Teachers: We Can’t Make This Stuff Up! Comedy Tour

Academy of Music, 274 Main St, Northampton | 4:00 PM

The Bored Teachers Comedy Tour features the funniest teacher-comedians joining comic forces on stage for a night of laughter you DO NOT want to miss… Put the lesson planning aside, set that red pen down, and come burn off the stress from the school year! Please note that PG-13 language is used during some sets. For information, visit aomtheatre.com

MARCH 15TH - 17TH

Back Porch Festival

Downtown Northampton

The Back Porch Festival was founded in 2014 as a one-day event at the Academy Of Music Theater in Northampton. It has since grown to a multi-venue event featuring the best in American roots music. The 2024 festival will feature 50 artists across 10 different venues in downtown Northampton throughout the weekend. For more information, including tickets and a schedule, visit backporchfest.com

MARCH 21ST

Hayes

Carll and Brandy Clark

BOMBYX Center for Arts and Equity, 130 Pine St, Northampton | 7:00 PM

The country simplicity that imbues Hayes Carll’s songs can sometimes hide the social conscience and sharp humor that also runs through them, but if you want to find those things, they are there. A 17-time Grammy-nominee, CMA award-winner and Tony-nominee, Brandy Clark is one of her generation's most esteemed songwriters and musicians. For more information, visit bombyx.live

MARCH 29TH

2024 Banff Mountain Film Festival

Academy of Music, 274 Main St, Northampton | 7:00 PM

Explore the edge of believable with captivating stories from the 48th Banff Centre Mountain Film and Book Festival. Stand on the highest peaks, ski the steepest slopes, and be a part of the gripping adventures waiting for you in this year’s Film Festival World Tour. Films selected for the 2023/2024 World Tour are sure to captivate and amaze you. For more information, visit aomtheatre.com

THE PIT STOP BBQ

A Barbeque Enthusiast's Dream

ARTICLE AND PHOTOGRAPHY BY MADELINE LEBLANC

The Pit Stop BBQ is a recent addition to Westfield’s culinary scene - a paradise for barbecue enthusiasts. As I ventured into this smokey haven, I couldn't resist trying their signature dishes.

First on my plate was the Brisket Loaded Potato – a masterpiece of flavors. The potato was generously loaded with succulent brisket, topped with melted cheese, and crowned with a dollop of tangy barbecue sauce. Each bite was a harmonious blend of textures and tastes.

Next up, the Pulled Pork Sandwich took center stage. The tender pulled pork, slow-cooked to perfection, nestled between two pillowy buns. The sandwich was a delightful symphony of smokiness and savory goodness, leaving me craving more.

Finally, the Brisket Mac and Cheese proved to be a comforting classic. The creamy mac and cheese provided the perfect canvas for the rich, smoky brisket. Every forkful was a delightful dance of cheesy indulgence and robust barbecue essence.

The Pit Stop BBQ has undoubtedly raised the bar for barbecue aficionados, offering a trifecta of culinary delights that will leave your taste buds in awe. Head over to The Pit Stop BBQ, located at 349 E Mountain Rd in Westfield. For more food reviews, and behind the scenes footage, head to my Instagram page @hellofoodreviews.

Brisket Mac 'N' Cheese

Brisket Loaded Baked Potato

Pulled Pork Sandwich