Northampton, MA April 2024

Investing in ourselves and our community

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Investing in ourselves and our community

Investment by definition is the act of devoting time, effort, energy or finances to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result. We can invest in a lot of things such as our community, our relationships, our finances, and our health with the hope that the effort will have a positive impact. We can invest in our community by supporting our local businesses, schools and local organizations. We can serve the community through volunteerism and investment in future generations. On a larger scale, we can participate in public surveys and stay educated and involved with future city planning. Investing in our finances helps create wealth, meets long-term financial goals and secures our retirement. On a personal level, we can invest in our families and enrich relationships by giving time and effort to the people in our lives that mean the most to us. This type of investment has the most meaningful impact to not only ourselves but to the people closest to us.

While investing in ourselves, relationships, community and finances can look very different from person to person, the effort we put into these areas of our lives are done with the common goal of having a positive impact that yields results. In this issue, we wanted to share about some of the ways that we can invest in our community and with those that we love.

Yours in health,

CANDICE BERUBE, PUBLISHER @NORTHAMPTON_CITY_LIFESTYLE

Tina

Tina

Corporate Team

city scene

NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LINDSAY BARRON LABONTE

MT. TOM’S HOMEMADE ICE CREAM

HILLS WINERY

business monthly

bankESB Raises $35,000 for Local Food Pantries

Matthew S. Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced that the bank’s third annual  Neighbors Helping Neighbors fundraising drive raised $35,000 for local food pantries. This brings the program’s three-year total to nearly $110,000. The appeal is part of bankESB’s charitable giving program, The Giving Tree. Throughout November, the bank invited customers, employees, and community members to donate at bankESB branches. All donations were matched by bankESB and the total was divided among food pantries in Western Massachusetts communities.

Florence Bank Promotes Andre Motulski to Vice President/Controller

Andre Motulski joined the bank’s team as assistant vice president/controller in September 2019. He holds a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Central Connecticut State University and is a Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Commissioned Risk Management Examiner. In his new role, Motulski is responsible for managing financial records, ensuring regulatory compliance and assessing risks associated with lending and investment activities. Motulski is involved in the community, serving on the Finance Committee for Hampshire Regional YMCA in Northampton.

$12,500 Donated to Junior Achievement on behalf of bankESB

BankESB has made a $12,500 donation to the Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts in partnership with the Elan Charitable Giving Program. BankESB selected Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts who offers lessons on financial literacy, work and career readiness, and entrepreneurship. They work to help young people discover what’s possible in their lives by connecting what they learn in school with life outside the classroom. BankESB is proud to be a long-time supporter of Junior Achievement.

Photography: Submitted Photo

Photography: Submitted Photo

Photography: Submitted Photo

A Sustainable Future

Simple ways to make a large impact

BY NIKI LANKOWSKI

Grow Food Northampton's Farmers Market

At Grow Food Northampton, when we talk about the concept of investment, our thoughts go less to stock portfolios and more to this definition of the word: an act of devoting time, effort, or energy to a particular undertaking with the expectation of a worthwhile result.

In 2024, join Grow Food Northampton in committing to investments in. . .

THE EARTH

Planting native species - Choose native plants for landscaping, as they are adapted to the local environment and support local wildlife. Check out Nasami Plant Trust for educational workshops and to purchase plants. NativePlantTrust.org

Joining or organizing community cleanup events - Start small in your neighborhood or join the Connecticut River Conservancy’s (CRC) mailing list. CRC will be hosting tree planting events to strengthen riverbanks this spring and its annual Source to Sea Cleanup in the fall. CTRiver.org

Planting a tree - Participate in tree planting initiatives to combat deforestation and contribute to carbon sequestration. The City of Northampton will host their annual Arbor Day tree giveaway on April 26 in front of City Hall. The trees are free of charge for residents to plant on private property.

THE LOCAL FOOD SYSTEM

Shopping local - Grow Food Northampton’s Tuesday Market opens for the season on April 16. Plan a stop every Tuesday between 1:30-6:30 in the plaza behind Thornes Marketplace in downtown Northampton and enjoy the largest selection of local food and crafts around. Looking for local food anytime? River Valley Coop in Northampton and Easthampton are the go-to.

Joining a CSA - CSA stands for Community Supported Agriculture, a model many local farms use to sell shares of their harvest in advance. It provides financial support to the farmer and shares in the risks and rewards

CONTINUED >

Garden plot at Salvo House Community Garden

Tree planting along Mill River in Florence

Seedlings for sale at Red Fire Farm.

“CHOOS E NATIVE PLANTS FOR LANDSC APING, AS THEYADAPT THE LOC AL ENVIRONMENT AND SUPPORT LOCAL WILDLIFE.”

of the growing season. Three great options for local CSAs, depending on your location and needs are: Crimson and Clover Farm in Florence, Red Fire Farm in Montague, and Mountain View Farm in Easthampton. All have various options for the type and size of CSA, as well as various pick-up options. Plus, CSAs offer extras like pick-your-own to make the most of the growing season.

Growing your own - Reduce your food miles to zero by growing your fruits, vegetables and herbs. A patch of yard, a community garden plot, or a ceramic pot

are all great places to grow your own. The Valley is also full of farms that grow healthy seedlings to get you going!

OURSELVES AND OUR CHILDREN

Planting seeds for the future - Help young people understand environmental responsibility, enjoy locally grown foods, and support environmentally-friendly food systems for a better future by setting examples at home. Talking about these topics, cooking together, and joining community events as a family help to grow future ambassadors for a healthy planet.

Having healthy food - Growing and purchasing local nutrient-rich foods and consuming lots of fresh local produce is a powerful way to support physical and mental health, boost energy levels, and enhance overall quality of life.

Investing in your community - A strong and resilient community starts with engaged members. Supporting small businesses, attending local events, and getting to know your neighbors all go a long way to fostering a brighter future.

Cherry tomatoes ripening in the sun.

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK

In today's dynamic housing market, where prices soar, more homeowners are opting to renovate and update their existing homes rather than face the challenges of buying new ones. Amidst this surge in home improvement endeavors, Construct Associates, Inc.

“We’re not seeing a lot of trends,” explains Stephen. Many clients do bathroom and kitchen renovations that often bring the best return on their investment and last the test of time.

Whether clients are dreaming of a kitchen remodel, bathroom renovation,

“I TELL CLIENTS: DO IT FOR YOU, NOT FOR RESALE.”

emerges as a beacon of expertise and innovation, offering comprehensive design and construction services to help homeowners realize their vision of the perfect living space.

“I tell clients: do it for you, not for resale.” says Stephen Ross, owner of Construct Associates. “You should get to enjoy the renovations, not the next person. Make the house what you want it to be.”

Stephen explained that many people are choosing to stay in their homes for the long haul, creating a home that fits all their needs rather than buying a home that fits some. People are also choosing renovations that will last for decades rather than styles that may be over in a few years.

or a complete overhaul of their living space, Construct Associates, Inc. offers a comprehensive suite of design and construction services to bring your vision to life. From historic renovations to cutting-edge new construction projects, their skilled workforce and stateof-the-art resources ensure that every project is executed with precision and care. Moreover, their affiliations with esteemed organizations such as the National Association of Home Builders and the Home Builders & Remodelers Association of Western Massachusetts underscore their commitment to industry best practices and excellence.

“Some of our employees have been here since day one and many have at least 10 years of experience,” says Stephen.

At Construct Associates, Inc., efficiency and quality go hand in hand. Through years of refinement, they have perfected their process to deliver exceptional results while adhering to realistic timelines and budgets. From the initial consultation to the final touches, clients can expect transparent communication, meticulous attention to detail, and a seamless experience from start to finish.

Whether embarking on a residential renovation or a light commercial project, their team of experts will guide clients every step of the way, ensuring that their vision is realized. The process begins with an initial meeting to discuss the goals and requirements for the project, as well as issues related to design requirements, zoning and building codes, budget, and site conditions.

“Most people come in with a vision and I try not to interfere with that,” says Stephen, “but I will share my experience because I’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work.”

Founded in 1984, Construct Associates, Inc. boasts a rich history of craftsmanship and client satisfaction. With a diverse portfolio spanning antique to ultra-modern designs, the company prides itself on

“MAKE THE HOUSE WHAT YOU WANT IT TO BE.”

its ability to deliver solutions tailored to each client's unique preferences and requirements. Stephen continues to lead the charge, drawing upon his extensive experience and passion for construction to uphold the company's reputation.

Stephen started with Construct in 1988 as a carpenter and became a partner in 2006. His craftsmanship can be seen throughout the valley, in many downtown Northampton commercial locations and dozens of residential projects throughout the Valley. Although his partner, Bob Walker, retired in March 2023 after 30 years with the company, Stephen has no plans to stop working.

“I’m not going anywhere,” he says. “I love the work that I do.”

For more information or to schedule an initial consultation, visit ConstructAssociates. com or call 413-584-1224.

INVESTING

in our

THE VALLEY OFFERS NUMEROUS WAYS TO GIVE BACK

COMMUNITY

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK

One of the best ways to improve and better our communities is to invest our time and resources in them. That can look different for everyone as people strive to best use their strengths and capabilities to improve the world around them. Here is a list of possible ways for local residents to invest in the communities around them.

NORTHAMPTON SURVIVAL CENTER

The Northampton Survival Center is an emergency food pantry dedicated to improving the quality of life for low-income individuals and families throughout Hampshire County by providing nutritious food and other resources in an atmosphere of dignity and respect. For more information, call 413-320-1886 or email info@northamptonsurvival.org.

FRIENDS OF HAMPSHIRE COUNTY HOMELESS

The expressed mission of The Friends is to help homeless people in Hampshire County live with dignity by providing emergency shelter and related services, creating housing, and advocating for the homeless. For more information, call (413) 320-1886 or email volunteer@hamphomeless.org.

COMMUNITY ACTION RSVP

RSVP matches people age 55 and older with volunteer opportunities around the Valley. Volunteers provide their background, skills and interests and RSVP coordinates a volunteer opportunity that matches them. For more information, call 413-387-4558 or email rsvp@communityaction.us.

BUILD, REPAIR, GROW

The mission of Build, Repair, Grow is to provide young people with training in practical skills critical for developing individual resiliency, problem-solving, and self-sufficiency. We do this through leading workshops in growing and cooking food, basic

One of the best ways to improve  our communities is to invest our time in them.

carpentry, sewing, and bike repair to students in elementary through high school. For more information, visit BuildRepairGrow.org .

KEVS FOUNDATION

The goal of KEVS Foundation is to educate and help prevent Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) in children and young adults. KEVS Foundation facilitates FREE youth heart screenings, helps to provide program resources for public access defibrillator programs and teaches the importance of early bystander CPR/ AED education and awareness in our communities. For more information, visit KevsFoundation.com  or email KEVSFoundation@gmail.com

Left page: Volunteers work at Northampton Survival Center's emergency food pantry. | This page, left: Youth learn essential carpentry skills through Build, Repair, Grow. | This page, right: KEVS Foundation has donated many AED’s across western Massachusetts.

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK | PHOTOGRAPHY BY COLIN MCGAHAN PHOTOGRAPHY

Easthampton Together WinterFest Brings

Once again, the Easthampton community came together to invest their time and support in WinterFest and raise much-needed funds for Nashawannuck Pond. The 11th annual event on Feb. 10 included over 35 events and countless volunteers all across the city.

“We encourage businesses and organizations to think outside the box, working together to support each other while supporting the health of the pond we all love,” explained Beth Tiffany, a member of the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee. “The nice thing about WinterFest is that it offers local businesses the opportunity to support the event, and thereby the pond, in many different and important ways. February can be a quiet time in Easthampton, after the holidays. WinterFest attracts many people from different areas outside of Easthampton.”

WinterFest actually began in January with online photo contests and snowflake-making contests, as well as trivia about Mt. Tom’s Homemade Ice Cream flavor and the pond itself. On the big day, the trivia continued at New City Brewery. Abandoned Building Brewery hosted chili tasting and bingo. The municipal lot at 50 Payson Ave. hosted community organizations such as Resilient Arts, Girl Scouts and a kids community service group raising funds for Dakin Humane Society, as well as horse-drawn wagon rides from Clay Hill Farm and food from Thai Chili Food Truck and Mama Sweet Treats. At Nashawannuck Pond, the fire department held a polar plunge, a community fire and a historical ice harvest with historian Dennis Picard. To warm up after the outdoor events, attendees could visit the vendor and craft fair at Keystone Mill.

The $11,000 raised from WinterFest will go right back into Nashawannuck Pond to maintain and improve it. Some of those projects include the installation of barley straw to deter cyanobacteria, consultation and treatment fees to evaluate and kill invasive plants and evaluating the shoreline stability in four areas of the pond. There are also administration fees to take care of such as the website and newsletters.

The six volunteers of the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee start planning the event in the fall and manage the event through the day of activities, organizing and modifying as the weather requires.

“WinterFest was first planned in 2003, the brainchild of committee member Liz Provo, who retired from the committee in 2011,” recalled Tiffany. ”It started with the same historical ice harvester and a community fire and it has just continued to grow and change over the years.”

The committee received a $500 grant from the Mass Cultural Council to help support WinterFest. In 2023, the steering committee formed a 501c3 organization which will make it easier to raise funds.

“The Friends of Nashawannuck Pond was formed to help raise money to support the Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee and the city for maintaining the pond,” explained Tiffany. “This organization can apply for grant funding more easily than it could as a municipal steering committee.”

ART AS A COMMUNITITY INVESTMENT

ARTICLE BY TINA LESNIAK

NEVAmuseum offers space for all types of artists

A work of heart for decades, the New England Visionary Artists Museum (NEVAmuseum) offers space to artists who may not typically find a space to showcase their work.

“I like to think of the whole life of the project as simply an imagined thing; it has been built on a shared vision,” explained Michael Tillyer, who serves as co-director of the museum with his partner Susan Foley. “It is evident that this work has led to something concrete, and its voice is the artists who have used it.”

The museum’s groundbreaking work has five main purposes: subsidize artists with neurodiverse conditions, conserve and research regional self-taught and visionary art, give artists the chance to self-stage exhibitions, celebrate new music and performance and provide art education to income-sensitive citizens.

After it grew, Michael noticed that the work was being viewed by the public “through the lens of mental defect.”

“I sensed the growing need among community artists in our region for open space to show without the restraint of the selective gallery system that was primarily commercially motivated, so I began to invite established neurotypical community

One of the many exhibits at NEVAmuseum.

artists to show here,” explained Michael. “Thus, we achieved three things: integration within the regional creative community, an exhibition platform free from commercial restraints, and a center where everyone with a creative idea ready for success has a shot. What exists today is the off-center art center we refer to as the best, least-known gallery space in all the region because no one seems to know about us until they walk through our door at the less pleasant end of Pleasant Street.”

It all began in 1997 as Anchor House of Artists. As the years passed, the business received more small grants and community contributions that allowed it to grow from a 500-square-foot space to the 4000 square feet it occupies currently that offers five showrooms, a performance area, shared studio space and classroom space.

“Increasingly, it dawned on us that with our growing collection of artwork and life stories behind it, we had a museum with an expanded mission to steward, archive, research, and present these to the public,” recalled Michael. “In 2017, we put the new moniker, The New England Visionary Artists Museum, on the street, NEVAmuseum, and in June 2023, we incorporated it as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.”

This spring offers a wide range of collections for art lovers to view. Galleries 1 and 2 will host Mari Jean Champagne’s “expressionist, emotional mixed media artworks” and the museum wing will have a display by Becky Smith, Crying in the Wilderness: An Immigrant’s Journey in Detention. Washington State-based poet and anthologist Susan Rich will bring a poetry reading with Amherst College professor Kirun Kapur and Salem College professor and recent director of the Massachusetts Poetry Festival in the experimental performance arena.

NEVAmuseums’ investment in the art of an underserved community is crucial to the development of the community as a whole.

“American people are generally unaware of how museums stay open, how artists thrive, or how both play a role more essential to their nation than entertainment. Distraction and pleasure are important, but art is a vehicle for messaging about critical issues,” explained Michael. “Artists are great at singing praises, but they sound alarms, too. It is harder to like distressing or ugly art, but suppressing the cry of misery is perilous because healing cannot occur in silence.”

NEVAmuseum is located at 518 Pleasant St. in Northampton. For more information on the museum and its shows visit NEVA-Museum.org or call 413-588-4337.

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SO IS YOUR BEST CLIENT.

2 OUT OF 3 of our readers regularly purchase from our ads.

ARTICLE BY ANGELA BROOCKERD PHOTOGRAPHY BY JANIE JONES

INDOOR PLANT GUIDE

Investing in indoor plants can not only spruce up your living space, but also bring numerous health and well-being benefits

Bringing the outdoors in with the use of house plants is a great way to add color and dimension to your space. We sat down with Jesse Nelson at Family Tree Nursery, based in Kansas, and discussed the benefits of incorporating plant life into your home.“There are plenty of studies on the health benefits of plants, and the evidence suggests that being around plants and caring for plant life increases overall wellness,” explains Nelson. “Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of  purifying the air.” There are a wide variety of indoor plants that work for any space and light situation that you may have. Regardless if you have a green thumb or a black thumb, there are plant varieties that fit your lifestyle. Here are a few of our favorite indoor plants to incorporate into your home.

Anthurium has gorgeous, colorful flowers and is the easiest indoor flowering plant to care for. It comes in a variety of colors including red, white, orange and purple. Anthurium likes to be dry, so let it go bone dry before watering. Fertilize every so often, especially when blooming. These plants do not like direct sunlight and can be repotted every three to five years.

This cascading plant is gaining popularity due to its succulent-like leaves and also because it is fairly easy to care for. The Hope Peperomia likes medium to bright direct sunlight. It does well as a tabletop plant or a hanging plant. Watering is only needed one time a month regardless of plant size.

“Anytime you bring a plant into a home or work environment, it’s going to make you feel better. It is going to beautify the space in a way that art cannot, and they also have the added benefit of  purifying the air.”

This is a slow-growing variety that is architectural and compact. This plant is a great statement piece and looks great in an entryway or by a chair. There are a lot of varieties and colors of the Dracaena. They are very resilient in low light and are great for an office space with little or no light. They like to stay on the dry side, so they like to be watered when they are about ½ to ¾ of the way dry. When watering, give it a good soak. Protip: A moisture meter can be purchased and used to determine how dry your plant is to help determine when it is time to water again.

ANTHURIUM:

DRACAENA JANET-CRAIG COMPACTA:

HOPE PEPEROMIA:

APRIL 2024

events

A SELECTION OF UPCOMING LOCAL EVENTS

APRIL 7TH

Syrup Stampede

Look Park, 300 North Main St, Florence | 10:00 AM

Syrup Stampede is a 5K run/walk to benefit Empty Arms Bereavement. Runners and walkers can register as teams or individuals. The course will be timed and prizes will be awarded in a variety of categories. For more information, visit SyrupStampede.com

APRIL 7TH

Circlesinging at Ethel, the Barn

60 High St, Southampton | 6:00 PM

Come join us in a circle and sing something new. Make joy, beauty and community together. Developed as an art form by Bobby McFerrin and his collaborators, CircleSinging is based on ancient musical traditions. It is an improvised community singing practice, like a drum circle for voices. For more information, visit MeetUp.com/pioneer-valley-vocal-improvisation-meetup-group

APRIL 13TH

Best of Valley Voices Story Slam

Academy of Music, 274 Main St, Northampton | 7:30 PM

The Academy of Music Theatre and New England Public Media celebrate their ninth season of Best of the Valley Story Slam! Audience members have selected the top three stories for the four Valley Voices Story Slams held in the last year. Join us as we choose the winner of this competition. For more information, visit aomtheatre.com.

APRIL 20TH

The Flo-Jam: Bombyx Contact Improv Class & Jam

BOMBYX Center for Arts and Equity, 130 Pine St, Northampton

The Class will focus on the fundamental physical skills of this partner dance form. Learn to stay in integrity with each choice, never forcing, never rushing. The Flo-Jam is an improvisational dance gathering where people explore movement and connection through touch, weight-sharing, and nonverbal communication. 9:30 a.m. and 11 a.m. For more information, visit Bombyx.live.

APRIL 25TH

Easthampton Brewfest 2024

The Boylston Rooms, 122 Pleasant St, Easthampton | 5:00 PM

Come sample local brews and enjoy eats from Myers catering while supporting a good cause. Proceeds from this event will be given to the Easthampton Community Center to assist them with the great work they do. For more information, visit AllEvents.in

APRIL 27TH

3rd Annual Press On: Indie Publishing Fair

CitySpace, 43 Main St, Easthampton | 11:00 AM

A day full of art and poetry activities, opportunities to meet the makers and buy printed matter. The event is open to all ages and always free in an accessible community space. For more information, visit CitySpaceEasthampton.org