INSIDE: Smith College Spring Bulb Show returns this weekend. Page D2
Old Deerfield Spring Sampler Craft Fair comes to Big E grounds. Page D4
Spring is BLOOMING
By Keith O’Connor Special to The Republican
It may be difficult, but you are going to have to resist the temptation to pick the flowers while attending the 2026 Spring Bulb Show at Smith College, which runs Saturday through March 22. Held each March in the Lyman Plant House & Conservatory, the show is bursting with flowering bulbs, including the stars of the show — tulips and daffodils — as well as anemone, erythronium, Chionodoxa, muscari, hyacinthus and Veltheimia, which are also among the 9,000 bulbs in bloom.
“If you are attending the show for the first time, you will be seeing more color than you could ever imagine,” said John Berryhill, director of the Botanic Garden at the Northampton college, in an interview with The Republican. “We are also excited to have Smith College students integrated into the bub show, adding another layer of complexity and interest for visitors.”
Berryhill noted the Botanic Garden is a 130-year-old
SEE SPRING, PAGE D3
Flowers bloom inside of the Lyman Plant House & Conservatory at Smith College during a past year’s Spring Bulb Show. (PHOTOS COURTESY SMITH COLLEGE)
Gail Gullotti, of Vermont, checks out the flowers at a past year’s Spring Bulb Show at Smith College's Lyman Plant House & Conservatory. (HOANG 'LEON' NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
institution that provides both diverse teaching collections for the Smith learning community and a place of enjoyment, beauty, and recreation for the broader community which they can visit all year.
“One thing I always feel compelled to share with people is that the Botanic Garden is so much more than just Lyman. A lot of people think it’s just the greenhouse collections, but it really is a world-class arboretum that folks might not be compelled to visit during a snowy, cold, winter’s day. But soon enough, by the end of the bulb
show, our outdoor gardens will start waking up and our trees will start to awaken from their slumber, and the value of those outdoor collections will be revealed once again,” he said.
Berryhill expects about 20,000 visitors, as in past years, to attend the show.
“I think we see such a large crowd because of the timing — that earlier in the greenhouse we can force those bulbs to flower a little earlier than their outdoor counterparts. And I think everybody, especially in a winter like this, is craving that life-affirming energy that the botanical world gives us in the spring. And your first chance of getting a massive dose of
“The Botanic Garden is so much more than just Lyman. A lot of people think it’s just the greenhouse collections, but it really is a world-class arboretum.”
John Berryhill, director of the Botanic Garden at Smith College
that is at Smith College,” he said.
What seems like a two-week experience for the public is really a year-round project at the Botanic Garden. They start preparing for next year’s show by ordering bulbs in late August. In October, Smith students will pot up new bulbs and place them into cold storage in Lyman. Beginning in early January, the bulbs are moved into the warm greenhouses based on a schedule
designed for each species, where they are coaxed into blooming simultaneously through careful timing and temperature control despite their different natural bloom times.
Prior to Saturday’s opening, there will be a lecture by botanist and writer Peter Grima on Friday at 7:30 p.m., with a preview of the bulb show to follow. Grima’s lecture, “Emily Dickinson: Western Mass. Botanist,” will delve into
Dickinson’s botanical interest, the expansive herbarium she created, and how her poetry can reflect this exploration into the plant life of Amherst and the surrounding region.
The student art installations in Lyman, commissioned especially for the show, feature the works of Smith senior Annika Peterson and sophomore Cola Shi.
“We’re not talking about paintings. They will be using
Flowers bloom inside of the Lyman Plant House & Conservatory at Smith College during a past year’s Spring Bulb Show. (PHOTO COURTESY SMITH COLLEGE)
Spring is calling
And the Old Deerfield Craft Fair, being held this weekend on Big E grounds, is ready to answer
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican
Every year, visitors eager to shake off the winter blues turn out in droves to the Old Deerfield Spring Sampler Craft Fair held on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition.
“This year we have 34 new vendors among 120 in total selling everything for spring and Easter, from handcrafted birdhouses to hand-blown glass bunnies and everything in-between,” said Jennifer Smith, coordinator of the Old Deerfield Craft Fairs, in an interview with The Republican.
The annual show will be held inside the Young Building on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $7 for adults and children 12 and under are free.
Among the many categories featured in the show are clothing, dolls/soft sculpture, fine arts, photography, jewelry, leather, metal/sculpture, music, pottery, woodworking and more.
New vendors for spring include Dale and Tasha Rosemond who own Carib -
hangings of all sorts — from a tree of life to a layered piano mandala and a steampunk multilayered owl to an engraved elephant.
Created by Lana, based in Torrington, Connecticut, is owned by Russian native Lana Becker, who creates handcrafted home décor working with eye-catching colors and luxurious fabrics of the highest quality from Italy where she travels twice yearly.
“I’ve been doing my handcraft for five years, but I’ve only been attending fairs for about three years. While
showing at a Christmas fair in November, a crafter in a neighboring booth recommended I consider applying to the Old Deerfield Craft Fair. Days later I traveled to their Christmas Sampler at the Eastern States Exposition and liked what I saw,” Becker said.
Becker earned a degree in economics from Moscow University and later had a store in Russia where she sold clothes and furniture from Italy and other countries. She eventually moved to the United States
In the spirit of the festivities surrounding the Holyoke St Patrick’s Parade 2026 the Hibernians of Hampden/Hampshire counties invite the public to attend the annual
Creations in Middletown, Connecticut, and Lana Becker of Created by Lana.
“We belong to a number of Facebook groups and learned that Old Deerfield Craft Fairs bring in the crowds and that the organizers are great to work with, which is important,” Tasha Rosemond said.
Inspired by their Caribbean heritage, the Rosemonds create laser-crafted and handpoured resin décor which they describe as “sawdust meets sparkle.”
“It all started as a way for
us to relax after work, then COVID hit giving us more time at home to work on our craft which we eventually turned into a business,” Tasha said.
“Our most popular items are our charcuterie boards made with dried or silk flowers followed by our Star Wars-themed wall art, which is layered to create a 3D effect,” she added.
Their many other products include serving boards and trays, coasters and other barware, and decorative wall
Sunday March 15,2026 –8am Mass at St Jerome Church Holyoke Breakfast to follow at Wyckoff CC Holyoke
Guest Speaker-Ian Delahanty Associate Professor of History at Springfield College Presentation of the 2026 Hibernian Christian Charity Award to Sister Betsy Sullivan SSJ
Tickets are $30.00 per person by March 10 Contact Joe O’Connor 413-627-7148 or Fran Hennessey at 413-785-5687
Above, from left, Nan Hurlburt, of Tangled Vine Jewelry, smiles from behind a display of earrings, and Aurora Walker, of Agawam, holds a stuffed kitty from Catastic Crafts by Kaity at a past year’s Old Deerfield Spring Sampler Craft Fair on the grounds of the Eastern States Exposition. The 2026 fair returns this weekend. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTOS)
This floral serving round is one of the many handcrafted items created and sold by CaribCreations, one of the new vendors at this year's Old Deerfield Spring Sampler Craft Fair. (CARIBCREATIONS)
SEE CRAFT, PAGE D6
Nightclubs
THURSDAY
Theodores’: Luke Curran. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Country Music. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
FRIDAY
Delaney House: Alex Touhey. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Wyckoff Country Club: BTown Trio. 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke
MGM Springfield: MGM Comedy Roar Comedy Club presents Ray Lau. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
Theodores’: One Dime Band. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Uno Chicago Grill: Roots, Blues and Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
West Springfield’s Irish House Restaurant & Pub: Brothers By Law. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SATURDAY
MGM Springfield: MGM Comedy Roar Comedy Club presents Ray Lau. 1 MGM Way, Springfield
Theodores’: Peter Parcek Trio feat. Ed Spargo & Liviu Pop. 201 Worthington St., Springfield
Wyckoff Country Club: Off Minor Trio. 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke
Uno Chicago Grill: Modern, Contemporary Rock. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield West Springfield’s Irish House
Restaurant & Pub: New Leaf. 429 Morgan Road, West Springfield
SUNDAY
Delaney House: Trivia with Bobby Roast Beef. 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke
Wyckoff Country Club: Sunday Brunch with DJ Munch. 233 Easthampton Road, Holyoke
Uno Chicago Grill: Jazz. 820 W. Columbus Ave., Springfield
The Republican is not responsible for unannounced schedule changes. Listings must be received two weeks before the date of the event. Items should be mailed to: Entertainment Guide, The Republican, P.O. Box 1329, Springfield, MA 01102-1329, emailed to pmastriano@repub.com or submitted online to www.masslive.com/ myevent
Longmeadow native working with Grammy-winning producer
TARIFFS AREN’T
that popular these days, but there’s probably plenty of local support for one particular Tariff.
Longmeadow native Jordan Tariff, who now lives in California, has been tossed around by the sometimes stormy seas of the music business over the past few years, but he is finally righting his ship. Tariff just released a new single and will be dropping another one on March 13.
But there were times when the singer-songwriter wondered if he’d ever do music professionally again. After a rapid ascension in the music industry, the old tale of “creative differences,” along with his own youthful hesitancy and then a severe illness sidetracked him several times.
Tariff first grabbed the attention of music industry people with his Instagram profile, where he posted covers of other artists’ songs. It wasn’t long before he had 100,000 followers and Capitol Records reached out to him with an opportunity to develop his career.
“But I never really loved doing covers. It’s a great way to get your foot in the door, but I had been writing music the whole time,” he said. “I just didn’t know what to do with my own music.”
Tariff had moved to Los Angeles to pursue music after finishing his first year at Bryant University.
“I had kind of wanted to do it, but I think I lacked the courage to do so, and the fact that Bryant was a great school made me hesitate,” he said.
“But when things started to get some traction, I thought, ‘I have to go.’”
But then hurdles cropped up when the label seemed intent on expediting his career rather than let him take the time to develop.
“I just didn’t have the opportunity to explore what I
Jordan Tariff, a Longmeadow native who now lives in California, has been steadily working on his music journey the past few years. (SUBMITTED PHOTO)
wanted to say or how I wanted to approach it. I had a lot of naïveté,” he said. “Longmeadow is a small town, so leaving there and going to Hollywood, I just had to trust everybody around me and hope they had the best intentions.”
Unfortunately, tensions grew to the point where Tariff and label wound up suing each other. The lawsuits prevented him from releasing his own music as the label owned the master tapes.
“So I couldn’t release my music under my own name, so I started writing for other people and that just kind of snowballed,” he said.
Along the way, Tariff also became extremely ill to the point where his girlfriend had to help him get out of bed every day.
“I got to the point where I was wondering if it was worth spending a ton of money to live in a place where I couldn’t even pursue my dreams and I’m just sick all
the time,” he said. In the end, it turned out to be Lyme disease, so he moved
“Longmeadow is a small town, so leaving there and going to Hollywood, I just had to trust everybody around me and hope they had the best intentions.”
Jordan Tariff
George Lenker LIVE WIRE
in 2000 and earned a fine arts degree from Tunxis Community College in Farmington, Connecticut
“My focus in the past has been on Christmas shows, where I sell my gnomes, angels, Christmas pillows and other holiday items.
Now, since Christmas has past, I have been making all-new things for the spring because people don’t want to buy Christmas right now,” Becker said.
“When making my fabric pieces, it must be your own design. You must decorate it paying attention to the smallest of details, then there is the quality fabric. This is what differentiates me from others. I put my heart into it and my customers love what I do,” she added.
The Spring Sampler Craft Fair is also all about food, noted Smith, whether grabbing a snack or a bite for lunch at the concession stands, or purchasing something to bring home from a specialty food vendor.
“Our many new exhibitors this year also include firsttime specialty food vendors such as Tommy Pickles, with all kinds and flavors of the
crunchy green treat,” Smith said.
Other take-home treats include gourmet marshmallows, fudge, chocolates, candy, jams and jellies, pies, hot sauces, balsamic vinegar, savory seasonings, baked nuts, honey, and many other goodies.
While shopping the aisles of the craft fair, visitors will be serenaded by the sounds of Piper Pichette, who will perform on her strolling harp. There also will be a free family craft table for kids to create something special.
Above all the noise, be sure to listen to overhead announcements throughout the day to hear if you are a winner after signing up near the information booth for a chance to win a prize donated by the artisans, as well as gift certificates and free passes to the fall craft fair.
The Eastern States Exposition charges $5 for parking, however, visitors can turn in the parking receipt at the information booth for a 2-for-1 coupon to the September craft fair, held outdoors in Old Deerfield.
Proceeds from the week-
end event support the many historical and educational programs of the nonprofit Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Association, organizers of the Old Deerfield Craft Fairs.
For more information or to sign up for a discount coupon, visit deerfield-craft. org.
TUESDAY
Chicopee Elks #1849
431 Granby Road, Chicopee 413-592-1849
Bingo Tuesday
Doors Open at 4PM
2 Progressive Jackpots 6:15PM Early Bird 6:20PM Start
Min. Entry Package $15 Open Seating
2 Halls for Players Handicap Restroom 1st Floor
WEDNESDAY
Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385
Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm
Doors Open at 4pm. Minimum Admission $50
1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900
2 - $500 Cover Alls
3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with additional attendence. Full Kitchen 4-6:30pm.
THURSDAY
Fairview Knights of Columbus
1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011
DOORS OPEN 4:30PM
MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start
Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms
Min. Entry Package $15
Erin Bowler and her mother, Dawn Bowler, both of Springfield, admire jewelry at Sha-Sha Beads at a past year’s Old Deerfield Craft Fair Spring Sampler. (STEVEN E. NANTON PHOTO)
Above, Pamila Satchfield of Lakefall Arts adjusts some wind chimes at a past year’s Old Deerfield Spring Sampler Craft Fair. At left are dried flower resin coasters by CaribCreations.
Hours
for the spring bulb show are daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
a variety of materials to create a visual artistic presentation that doesn’t stand alone but complements the flower show and feels integrated into the layout,” Berryhill said.
Peterson, who learned about the bulb show’s student installation from a girlfriend who interned at the Botanic Garden, was intrigued by the idea of submitting art to complement the exhibit.
“I took art classes throughout high school and expected to major in art at Smith,” said Peterson, a senior at Smith College, who is a dual major in English and film and media studies. “I didn’t really get to take many studio art classes, and I thought this could be a project at least in my senior year where I could showcase my artistic ability. So, I applied on a whim based on their prompt ‘Doing and knowing as a way of making.’”
“I wouldn’t have applied if the prompt wasn’t tailored to something that I had an idea for, and the prompt reminded me of a studio arts foundation class I took at Smith. We were working with all these interesting materials, simple materials, like paper and wire, but we were using them to experiment with and mimic form, especially organic things,” she said about making a bug sculpture inspired by withered leaves she had found.
Her idea for the bulb show was similar to the process she used for her sculpture work in Professor Susan Montgomery’s studio arts foundation class.
“I have many pictures of past bulb shows and looked at those old pictures to sketch some flowers I thought were especially interesting. From them, I recreated these flowers of wire, breaking them down to their essential elements and rec-
reating them to draw closer attention to their naturalized form,” Peterson said, Visitors can also explore “Koanbanchinemma (do you see the light (in me)” in the Church Gallery in the west-facing hall of Lyman. The exhibit features six Nipmuc artists, cultural and land stewards: Rachel Healing
Bayliss (Natick Nipmuc), Willow Daly and Keely Curliss (of Pequoig Farm), Scott Strong Hawk Foster, Andre StrongBearHeart Gaines Roberson Jr. and Kimberly Toney.
Toney, who is the coordinating curator for Native American and Indigenous Collections at Brown Univer-
sity Libraries, is co-curator of this exhibit in partnership with the Botanic Garden of Smith College and with the support of the Smith Office for the Arts.
On display through May 24, at its core, “Koanbanchinemma” calls for a heightened awareness of the ways in which Indigenous knowledge systems can awaken our senses, our understanding, and our collective responsibility to care for the natural world. Through the contributions of Nipmuc artists and cultural practitioners, this work foregrounds Indigenous methodologies, challenging dominant narratives of environmental stewardship and knowledge production.
Hours for the spring bulb show are daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., with extended hours
until 8 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.
While a $5 donation is suggested, the show is free to be accessible to everyone, students and the general public, as is Lyman all year long thanks to the support of the college, as well as the Friends of the Botanic Garden.
There is no parking on College Lane for the show. Visitor parking can be found on Elm Street near central campus, in the visitor spots in the Smith College parking garage on West Street, in the long-term municipal lot behind the Forbes Library also on West Street, as well as downtown. On weekends and after 5 p.m. on weekdays, permit-only campus lots open for general parking.
To learn more, go online to garden.smith.edu.
Willow
Above, Brianna Sloane, of Huntington, checks out the flowers at the Spring Bulb Show at Smith College’s Lyman Plant House & Conservatory with her daughter Oona. At left, flowers bloom during a past year’s show. (HOANG ‘LEON’ NGUYEN / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE PHOTOS)
Beloved Northampton pub sold — and news from Barrel One Collective
TODAY FEATURES A GLUT OF news from the 15 brands of New England’s Barrel One Collective, but we interrupt that regularly scheduled column for some breaking news: Northampton’s Ye Ol’ Watering Hole and Beer Can Museum is being sold to new owners.
After 35 years, owners Jimmy and Colleen McGorry will be turning over the reins to the storied establishment. But regulars (like myself) need not worry that this transaction will mean massive
Pink Floyd tribute band to play Springfield Symphony Hall
By K eith O ’C onnor
Special to The Republican SPRINGFIELD — Rolling Stone magazine calls Brit Floyd — who are taking their 15th anniversary tour to Springfield Symphony Hall on Sunday — “widely recognized as the world’s premiere Pink Floyd experience.”
Called “The Moon, The Wall and Beyond” in celebration of two of the most iconic and influential albums in rock history, the tour launched in February in Canada and continues through August. Since their founding in Liverpool, Brit Floyd have performed over 1,500 shows in some 40 countries.
Showtime for the concert presented by MGM Springfield is 7 p.m.
Described as a “theatrical concert experience,” the new production features state-ofthe-art laser and light shows, massive LED walls, background singers, inflatables — including Algie the pig created for Floyd’s 1977 “Animals” album — and more.
Brit Floyd cofounders include longtime guitarist/lead vocalist and musical director and creative architect of the shows Damian Darlington, and bassist/lead vocalist Ian Cattell. Catell is a Syracuse
changes that will make the place lose its charm. The McGorrys are selling the pub to longtime employee Dan Brechner and his wife, Jenna. That means it’s in good hands.
The bar, fashioned impressively after a true Irish pub, also features more than 3,500 beer cans, some dating back as far as 1938. The place is also known for its keen attention to pulling a proper pint of Guinness. Jimmy’s last hurrah will be on St. Patrick’s Day before he and Colleen ride off into the sunset.
So, you might want to grab a pint there, welcome Dan and Jenna as new owners, and listen to Jimmy’s Paddy’s Day tradition of playing and singing some Irish music for the final time. Rumor has it that another Irish-American who likes to discuss beer and music might be joining him on some tunes.
OK, now on to Barrel One Collective: As local and regional beer fans know, Barrel One Collective is the largest craft beer producer in New England that was
BRIT FLOYD
native who has received multiple accolades for his part in the city’s history through his contribution to the global music scene. The duo will be accompanied by a band of musicians who will take to the stage to perform notefor-note renditions of all the classic Pink Floyd tracks. Tickets, available online at symphonyhallspringfield. com, range in price from $59 to $211 and more.
Darlington, in Buffalo with the snow falling on a day off between shows, took time to answer a few questions from The Republican.
Q. To what do you attribute Brit Floyd’s success?
A. First and foremost, it comes down to the success of Pink Floyd and their amazing music, which we have the great fortune and the pleasure to get to play. It is that combined with our attention
to detail, the quality of our performance, the show we put on by going out of the way to create every aspect of a Pink Floyd concert — with the music, the videos, the lights, the lasers, the inflatables. It’s everything that people would have experienced back in the day when they went to see Pink Floyd live back in the ’70s, ’80s and ’90s. And I’ve made it my passion to recreate the music and show to the
level and the standard that we do. I think that is reflected in the concerts and one of the reasons audiences keep coming back again and again to see our shows.
Q. What drew you to the music of Pink Floyd?
A. I was about 13 years old when I properly experienced Pink Floyd. A friend of mine had a copy of The Wall album. At that time, I was already playing guitar, already searching for music and becoming a fan of progressive rock and classic rock and what have you. When I listened to the album I had been given, it was an instant hit with me. I loved the fact that there was a narrative running through it and obviously David Gilmour’s amazing guitar work and all the cool sound effects. It was so appealing... the way everything was drawn together throughout the whole album... and from that point I wanted to seek out the rest of their catalogue of music.
Q. What do you think made Pink Floyd such a success?
A. They’re timeless. There are things covered in their lyrics, subject matter that is just as relevant today as back in the ’60s, ’70s and ’80s when they were written. It’s kind of like progressive rock, but it isn’t at the same time. It’s very accessible music. There is such a variety of styles going on if you listen to all of their albums. There is such an
George Lenker Beer Nut
Syracuse singer and bassist Ian Cattell performs in Brit Floyd, an internationally touring tribute to Pink Floyd. (PROVIDED PHOTO BY JIM HOULE)
FRIDAY
GCC Community Chorus Preview Concert: “Spring Mix”: Fri., 12:1512:45 p.m. Greenfield Community College, takes place in Sloan Theater. Free, donations gratefully accepted. 1 College Drive, Greenfield.
SATURDAY
CitySpace Bluegrass — Pickers, Singers, & Strummers: Sat., Blue Room at CitySpace, 4-7 p.m. Join bluegrass musician David Clark Carroll and CitySpace for a fun, open bluegrass jam! Bring your instruments and your favorite tunes — from Bill Monroe to the Stanley Brothers and beyond. Held every first Saturday of the month during Art Walk Easthampton, this monthly jam brings the community together for music, connection, and good old-fashioned fun. All are welcome. Free to join. All ages. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
CitySpace Tiny Pop-Up Market: Sat., Blue Room at CitySpace, 4 p.m. Free. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
Old Deerfield Spring Craft Fair: Sat, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Eastern States Exposition, Young Building, Admission: $7, 12 and under are free. 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. 413-7372443 or www.thebige.com.
”Sherlock Holmes” Silent Film and Live Music: Sat., 2 p.m. West Springfield Public Library. The screening will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films, The program is free and open to the public. 200 Park St., West Springfield. 413-736-4561 or www.wspl.org.
Tour of Old Town Hall: Sat., Blue Room at CitySpace, 4 p.m. Join CitySpace for a tour of the second floor of Old Town Hall. Learn about the history of the historic municipal and learn about its current and upcoming restoration projects. While you are at Old Town Hall check out the gallery exhibitions at the Elusie and ECA galleries, CitySpace Bluegrass and the tiny pop-up market. The tour is free and open to the public. 43 Main St., Easthampton.
“Wings of Fire; The Hybrid Prince” Book Launch: Sat., 4 p.m. Academy of Music Theatre, The No. 1 New York Times bestselling series for kids is back with a brand new tale this spring: “Wings of Fire: The Hybrid Prince.” The 16th book in the series lands on shelves this week, and Northampton-area readers and their families are invited to celebrate “The Hybrid Prince”
CALENDAR
ON THE AIR
‘Mourning Songbook’
MIFA Victory Theatre is partnering with New England Public Media for the radio debut of “Cancionero de luto (Mourning Songbook)” on Sunday, March 8. The piece, composed by Armando Bayolo and performed by the MIFA Victory Players with music director Tianhui Ng and the Yale Choral Artists led by director Jeffrey Douma, will broadcast on NEPM’s Classical channel at 4 p.m. Donald Sanders, executive artistic director of the Victory Theatre, called the piece “beautiful” and “moving.” “This is a very emotional piece in a way that a lot of great music is, and so I really encourage people to not be scared. Listen to it,” he said in an interview with The Republican. Classical NEPM can be listened to online at nepm.org/classical, on the Classical NEPM App, and by tuning into 91.9 FM (Hampden County), 89.3 FM (Hampshire County), 91.7 FM (Franklin County), 89.5 FM (Southern Berkshire County), and 98.9 FM (Northern Berkshire County).
with author Tui T. Sutherland on Saturday at 4 p.m. at the Academy of Music. High Five Books will have signed copies of the books for sale. Free tickets are available to families in need by contacting High Five Books, admission ranges from $8.25-$23.25. 274 Main St., Northampton; 413-584-9032 or www.aomtheatre.com.
SUNDAY
Grant Us Peace — Vaughan Williams’ Dona Nobis Pacem: Sun., 2 p.m. Abbey Chapel, Mount Holyoke College. Tianhui Ng and Arianne Abela will conduct Pioneer Valley Symphony Orchestra and a combined choir of Pioneer Valley Symphony Chorus, the Amherst College Glee Club, and Illumine Vocal Arts Ensemble. The highlight of the concert will be Ralph Vaughan Williams’ profound and timely “Dona Nobis Pacem,” featuring Sherezade Panthaki, soprano, and Tyler Simpson, bass-baritone. Other works on the program include Aaron Copland’s “Appalachian Spring”; Ralph Vaughan Williams’ “The Turtle Dove;” and Gustav Holst’s “Ave Maria”, $10$30. 50 College St., South Hadley; www.mtholyoke.edu.
MGM Springfield presents Brit Floyd: Sun., 7 p.m. Springfield Symphony Hall, For tickets, visit www.ticketmaster.com, $59.64. 34 Court St., Springfield. 413-7332291 or www.symphonyhall.com.
Old Deerfield Spring Craft Fair: See Saturday listing
Quadrangle
George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: “Ancient Treasures,” a display of artifacts from ancient China, Greece,
Rome and Egypt. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission to the Springfield Museums is free.
Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Permanent exhibits: The Indian Motocycle Collection is the largest collection of Indian cycles and memorabilia in the world. The Firearms Collection includes more than 1,600 firearms, with the largest collection of Smith & Wesson guns in the world. The Automobile Collection includes an 1899 Knox, a 1901 Crestmobile, a 1925 Rolls-Royce roadster, and a 1928 Rolls-Royce roadster.
Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “One Foot in Two Places” by Olwen O’Herlihy Dowling, through Oct. 4. “Dr. Seuss Birthday Party,” March 7, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This all-day celebration is free with museum admission and will be held rain, shine, or snow. Guests can enjoy a full day of whimsical entertainment, interactive games, and creative activities. Highlights include a meet-and-greet with the Cat in the Hat, cotton candy, balloon animals, giant bubble displays, trivia, hands-on art projects, and birthday cupcakes. Timed entry to the Dr. Seuss Museum will be available on a first-come, first-served basis at the Welcome Center on the day of the event. Visitors are encouraged to arrive early to secure their preferred entry time. “Markets, Foodways, and the Essence of Place: Works from the Museo de Arte de Ponce,” through Sept. 6. Museum a la Carte. March 5, 12:15-1:30 p.m. “Finding Her Beat.” Free. Documentary film with Dawn Mikkelson and Keri Pickett, directors, 88 minutes. “Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural,” through July 26.
Springfield Science Museum:
“Math Alive!” Exhibition, through May 3. This special exhibit reveals how real math powers sports, nature, robotics, music, dance, movie-making, and more. Free with museum admission. “Stars Over Springfield,” March 6, 7–8:30 p.m. Cost is $7 public, $5 members. Join for a beginner’s astronomy program featuring a short talk by a local expert, hands-on activities or demonstrations, a planetarium show with the historic Korkosz starball and Zeiss projector, and stargazing in the rooftop observatory. Recommended for ages 8 and older. This month’s topic is “Naked Eye Astronomy.”
The Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum: Permanent exhibit. Firstfloor exhibition provides opportunities to explore new sounds and vocabulary, play rhyming games, invent stories, and engage in activities that encourage teamwork and creative thinking, with interactive three-dimensional exhibits. Second floor contains Geisel’s personal memorabilia. To reserve a time slot, visit springfieldmuseums.org.
Quadrangle admission - $25 for adults, $16.50 for seniors (60+) and college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Welcome Center and Museum store. Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.
Museums
Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store, and weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum.org for information. Hours: Tue.-Tue, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups Wed. Admission is $8 adults; $8
children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); and free for members/infants. Military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount off the price of regular admission. 29 South Broad St., Westfield, or www.ameliaparkmuseum.org.
Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Cooking with Eric Carle,” through Aug. 23. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or www.carlemuseum.org.
Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: Various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Museum hours: Tues.-Thurs. and Sun. 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 220 South Pleasant St., Amherst or www.amherst.edu.
Norman Rockwell Museum: “Shine A Light: The Art and Life of Deb Koffman,” through June 7. “Jazz Age Illustration,” through April 6. Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedom,” $5 fee, available on the museum’s website at NRM.org “A Brief History of Illustration: The Abyss,” through May 31. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www.nrm.org. Old Sturbridge Village: “Maple Days,” Wed.-Sun. through March 15, 9:30 a.m.- 4 p.m. Included with general admission. Route 20, Sturbridge or www.osv.org.
Smith College Museum of Art: SCMA Exhibition “A City in Flux: Reflecting on Venice,” through March 22. SCMA Exhibition “Crafting Worlds,” through Aug. 23. This installation explores how artisans in Japan utilized materials and handcrafted techniques to forge social relationships and engage with the world around them. “Don’t Mind if I Do” exhibit, through June 28. Artists include: Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo, Pelenakeke
Donald Sanders, seen here in 2023, is the executive artistic director of the MIFA Victory Theatre in Holyoke. (DON TREEGER / THE REPUBLICAN, FILE)
Calendar
Brown, Sky Cubacub, Emilie L. Gossiaux, Felicia Griffin, Joselia Rebekah Hughes, Jeff Kasper, and Finnegan Shannon. Curator: Lauren Leving. All exhibits are free. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or www.scma.smith. edu.
The New England Visionary Artists Museum: The New England Visionary Artists Museum has five exhibition showrooms hosting N.E. artists’ work in all media and is home to Anchor House of Artists, the region’s subsidized studio and representation support to artists living with neurodiverse conditions. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 2-6 p.m., with regular free public receptions on the second Friday of the month, from 5-8 p.m. Find them at 518 Pleasant Street. For more information, visit NEVAmuseum.org or call 413-588-4337. There is a $10 suggested admission donation asked at the door. Pleasant St., Northampton
Ventfort Hall Mansion and Gilded Age Museum: Permanent exhibit: guided tours of the first and second floors. Weekdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and weekends from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Self-guided tours are on the hour with the last self-guided tour weekdays at 2 p.m. Call to reserve at 413-637-3206. Admission is $18 adults, $17 seniors (65+), $10 students with ID, $7 children 5-17, and free for children 4 and younger.
“Ghost Tour with Robert Oakes,” March 7, 7 p.m. Minimum age to attend is age 12. Reservations are strongly recommended as tickets are limited. Walk-ins accommodated as space allows. “The Astrology of Love and Sex,” March 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Join Ventfort Hall’s own Astrology and Tarot guide Chelsea Gaia in the Ventfort Hall Library for a spirited lecture pulling the celestial curtain back on relationship astrology — synastry, compatibility, cosmic chemistry, fated meetings,
‘InHAIRitance’
Nyasia Velazquez admires “Ecotone/Echotone” by Veronica Perez at the opening reception of “InHAIRitance” at the Art for the Soul Gallery in Springfield. The exhibit, free to view in the gallery located on the second floor of Tower Square in downtown Springfield, is on display through May 17. For more information, visit artforthesoulgallery.com. (SOPHIE MARKHAM PHOTO)
and the signatures in a chart that hints at why or when something begins…or ends. Reservations are required as seating is limited, $30 per person. 104 Walker St., Lenox or www.gildedage.org.
Volleyball Hall of Fame: Permanent exhibit. Open Tues.-Sun, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Closed Mon. Last admission is 30 minutes prior to close. Admission is $8 adults; $5 seniors 65 and older; $5 students, active and retired military; and free for children 12 and under. Group rates also available online. 444 Dwight St., Holyoke or www.volleyhall.org.
Windsor Historical Society: Permanent exhibit: Explore the people, places and events that have shaped
Windsor for over four centuries. Hours: Wed.-Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m. with house tours at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. General admission to the library and historic houses is $10 for adults, $8 for seniors, $6 for students and free to children under 12 and WHS members. Visitors are free to browse the museum store and exhibit galleries at no charge. 96 Palisade Ave., Windsor or www.windsorhistoricalsociety.org.
Wistariahurst Museum: Permanent exhibit: Gardens and grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Carriage House and gift shop open Mon.Fri. 10 a.m.-2 p.m. For information about house tours, group tours and upcoming events visit www. wistariahurst.org. 238 Cabot St., Holyoke.
Yiddish Book Center: Permanent exhibit, “A Velt mit veltelekh: The Worlds of Jewish Culture.” The center will be open to the public on Thurs, Fri, Sun, and Mon. from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Closed Shabbos (Saturday) and Jewish and legal holidays. Admission is $8 adults, $6 seniors, and free for members, students and children. 1021 West St., Amherst or www.yiddishbookcenter.org.
Galleries
A.P.E. Gallery: Permanent exhibit. Hours: Tues.-Thurs. noon-5 p.m.; Fri.-Sat. noon-8 p.m.; Sun. noon-5 p.m.; “Intuition Exchange” Group
Exhibition, March 6-29. Arts Night Out/ Opening reception on March 13, from 5-8 p.m. Curated by Virginia Sandman. Free. 126 Main St., Northampton or www.apearts.org Amherst College-Fayerweather Hall: “Hallucinations,” work by Lisa Iglesias, through March 20. Free and open to all. College Street, Amherst Center for the Arts Trust Building: “Dissolving Thoughts: Oil Paintings on Canvas” by Karen Iglehart. March 5-28. Arts Night Out/ Reception on March 13, 5-8 p.m., in the Split-Level Gallery. Gallery Hours: Wed.-Sat. 12-7 p.m., closed Mon. & Tues. 33 Hawley St., Northampton Gallery A3 Amherst Art Alliance: “Romanum,” March 5-28. Opening reception March 6, 5-7 p.m. Free, www.gallerya3.com. 28 Amity St., Amherst or 413-256-4250.
LAVA Center: “Find Your Voice, Speak Your Mind: Student Artists Exhibit,” March 7-31, reception, March 7, noon-2 p.m. From the Academy at Charlemont. 324 Main St., Greenfield
Northampton Center for the Arts: “we were always beautiful…” Artwork by Rebecca Alexandra Herskovitz, March 5-28. Preview of the gallery on March 6, 6-7 p.m., including an artist talk at 6:30 p.m. Artist talk is free; there will be a 10% presale discount on artwork on March 6 only. On Wed, March 11, “Silent Disco Studio Hour” from 6-7 p.m. Admission is $10 adults; $1 ages 10-17. Reservations required. For more information, email whereveryouarestudios@gmail.com. 33 Hawley St., Northampton or www. nohoarts.org.
Taber Art Gallery: “River Valley Radical Futures,” through March 12. The gallery will host a closing talk from project lead and curator Alix Gerber and book launch on March 12 from 5-7 p.m. 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke or 413-552-2614.
Trinity United Methodist Church: Exhibit by Nicole Baker, Lynette Varnon, Lorrin Baker, through March 31. 361 Sumner Ave., Springfield, 413-737-5311.
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formed in 2024 by a merger of Boston’s Harpoon Brewing and New Hampshire’s Smuttynose Brewing Co. It also includes other brands such as Long Trail, Otter Creek and Wachusett brewing companies, among others.
The company certainly has been busy in the past few months. We might as well
get the bad news out of the way first: The Smuttynose restaurant and taproom had to be temporarily closed a few weeks ago due to damage incurred from a weatherrelated freak accident which caused a sprinkler system malfunction. The good news is that repairs are currently underway and a re-opening date will be shared as soon as possible.
On the flip side of the coin, Smuttynose will debut its
new Cold Shoals lager, a light beer that comes in at just 4%, alcohol by volume. The beer is named after the Isle of Shoals off the coast of Portsmouth, the original home of the Smuttynose Brewery. The lager will hit shelves sometime in March.
On a similar note, Harpoon is also adjusting to the industry trend in of responding to consumer demand for lower-ABV beers with the launch of Low Key, a 3.3% lager.
As spring starts to peek over the horizon, Wachusett Brewing in Westminster is rolling out three beverages with the coming warmer weather in mind. The first is Wachusett Country Lemonade Lager, which is Wachusett’s biggest year-round release, is already shipping to shelves and hitting select taps. Coming sometime in March will be Wachusett Big Blue Blueberry Ale, a new addition to the brewery’s fruit beer family.
Big Blue is a large 8% ABV ale that will mostly be available in Massachusetts. Wachusett is also adding another player in the cocktail game with Wachusett Raspberry Sweet Tea Vodka. The company had huge success in 2025 with Blueberry Lemonade Vodka, and will now be giving it a partner, which again will be mostly available in Massachusetts, with some distribution to other New England states.
SPRINGFIELD
back with his parents, who had moved to Vermont, for almost a year to recover.
“Recovering was a long and stressful process, but I was lucky enough to have a great doctor,” he said “It also changed the way I approached writing as well. I wrote a ton of music that I didn’t produce or release anywhere. But I got to get up every day and work on music.”
Tariff said before getting sick, he sometimes pondered why he pursued music, but being in an idyllic setting in Vermont gave him the answers.
“Was it to get critical acclaim and all these fans? Or am I doing it because I love it? And for a while I wasn’t sure, because you’re taught you have to be a product and a machine,” he said. “So going back to Vermont was a reminder to me that I could be on a deserted island somewhere and music is just a part of me, and no matter what else happens, I still get
to make music.”
Along the way, the lawsuits also got resolved when Tariff decided to simply talk to the label head face-to-face.
“I just decided to talk to him as a person and told him that we were spending a lot of time and money, so how can we resolve it and be in a place where we don’t have to sue each other anymore,” he said. “And it turned out to be so simple and easy because neither one of us wanted to pursue the lawsuits anymore. We had spent so much time and effort on those songs, it was a shame that they didn’t have a home out there.”
Now all his music seems to have a home. His most recent single, “Falling for the Stars,” was produced by Micah Nichols (who recently produced Brandon Lake’s Grammy-winning song, “Hard Fought Hallelujah,”) and Tariff is particularly excited about his next single, ”Existing.”
“I wrote it about not living life as it’s intended but just existing and not appreciating how incredible and wonderful everything really is.”
appeal there to how they bring it all together. As a result, there is a variety of people out there who find their music accessible. It doesn’t matter where you are in the world... you find Pink Floyd fans. It’s amazing. I’ve traveled all over the world playing this music and there are passionate fans in every corner of the globe.
Q. Your new tour honors the “Dark Side of the Moon” and “The Wall” albums by Pink Floyd. What do you think makes them special?
A. Well, they certainly are their bestselling and biggest albums, both in the Top 10 bestselling rock albums of all time. ‘Dark Side of the Moon’ is just such a perfect work from beginning to
end. It’s just such a coherent work and it all links together beautifully. And ‘The Wall,’ of course, is a narrative-based album. I think it captured the moment in the late ’70s. There were even elements of disco in it, which was relevant at the time. They are just such strong and powerful bodies of work. It’s just not surprising at all that they were as big and successful as they were at the time.
Q. When you created Brit Floyd, did you think you would one day be celebrating a 15th anniversary tour?
A. I never dreamed that I would still be doing this today. It’s not a great shock to me that I’m still here with the band a decade and a half since starting Brit Floyd. But it is amazing and wonderful — and it’s still growing to be a bigger thing that it was when we started.
