It started as a simple idea. Combine one owner’s experience with and love of animals with another owner’s passion for the healing power of yoga. The result became Animal Aura Yoga, located at 367 Russell Rd. in the Hampshire Mall in Hadley, Massachusetts. “We knew the community deserved the chance to experience the happiness and wellness that pups and yoga brings.
A FAMILY OF BUSINESSES FOR ALL YOUR SENIOR CARE NEEDS
We believe exceptional senior care comes from the heart. As third-generation owners, we combine decades of experience with deep-rooted family values and a wealth of resources to support your loved ones. Whether it’s through our IN-HOME CARE SERVICES, our welcoming ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITIES, or our robust SENIOR EDUCATION & CASE MANAGEMENT programs, we’re here to provide you and your loved one compassionate care, support, and guidance.
ARBORS CHICOPEE 929 Memorial Drive Chicopee MA 01020 413-206-9979
ARBORS AMHERST 130 University Drive Amherst, MA 01002 413-225-2629
ARBORS WESTFIELD 140 Court Street Westfield, MA 01085 413-203-9445
ARBORS GREENFIELD 15 Meridian Street Greenfield, MA 0130 413-339-3259 INTEGRA HOME HEALTH 200 North Main Street East Longmeadow, MA 01028 413-224-1912 IVY ELLINGTON 123 West Road Ellington, CT 06029 860-281-2973
FROM THE EDITOR TRENT LEVAKIS
Happy Spring Go Local readers!
With the return of longer days and warmer weather, Spring is always a good reset mentally and physically for us all after we each go through our human versions of hibernation that happens during the dark and cold winter months here in New England.
With our clocks sprung forward the weekend prior to me writing this note, I could genuinely feel an internal reset had taken place inside, like a cloud that had been hanging over my head was now gone. This annual occurrence has once again given me newfound energy and eagerness to be outside with the sun staying out longer and the weather warming up. With the eagerness for Spring, this month’s Go Local features three businesses that could be a part of your life soon as you also adjust to the new season.
With the warmer weather bringing us out of our homes more regularly and looking for something new to do activity wise, Animal Aura Yoga in Hadley is the place for yoga and fun with pets. This new business is looking to continue its momentum into the spring season as a newly opened yoga studio offers classes alongside puppies.
Staying active goes with creating a healthy lifestyle, so why not get your yoga sessions in alongside adorable puppies. While the puppies aren’t for sale, the sessions with and stress relief from them are, as Animal Aura looks to become a household name for yoga and puppy lovers in the region.
Personally speaking, the warmer weather definitely makes it easier dayto-day to get out and be active. While trying to maintain that active lifestyle, businesses like Fortune Fuel – Driven by Nutrition in Somers are looking to supplement health journeys through their protein shakes and other healthoriented drinks.
The family affair at Fortune Fuel aims to be a partner for anyone in the community actively or just starting on their healthy lifestyle journey, using their own story as motivation for anyone who is looking to make their drinks a consistent part of that journey.
Arguably the most enjoyable part of the weather getting better is more opportunities for us to get together with our loved ones, friends or family, and take advantage of the weather. Whether it’s weekend trips or back yard hangouts, the spring season helps us all get back on track socially for the summer months.
W hile lounging and enjoying the company of your loved ones in the warmer weather, one perfect addition to the gathering can be a nice bottle of wine, and what better place to find locally curated and crafted wine options than this edition’s third business being featured: Tip Top Wine Shop in Easthampton. By the time of this note’s publishing, we should be in the clear weather wise for the real spring season to be underway, but just in case we aren’t I plead we all stay positive as we are so close to being in the clear for the warmth to return in 2026. Go Local wishes you a happy and healthy April.
Best,
Trent Levakis, Editor
Chris Maza EDITOR
Trent Levakis
CREATIVE
Beth Thurber, Manager
Susan Bartlett . Sophia Kelleher
Leigh Catchepaugh . Lorie Perry
ADVERTISING
Scott Greene, Manager
Jeanette Lee . Lisa Nolan
Matt Mahaney . Paul Poutre
Paula Dimauro . Evan Marcyoniak
Roxanne Miller-Longtin . Andy Shaw
Laura Tassistro . Shannon Spada
Carolyn Napolitan, Sales Assistant
Curtis Panlilio, Operations Director
Animal Aura Yoga
It started as a simple idea. Combine one owner’s experience with and love of animals with another owner’s passion for the healing power of yoga.
The result became Animal Aura Yoga, located at 367 Russell Rd. in the Hampshire Mall in Hadley, Massachusetts.
“ We knew the community deserved the chance to experience the happiness and wellness that pups and yoga brings and we wanted to create a space where people could relax, recharge and simply enjoy the moment,” said Animal Aura Yoga co-owner Donna French of Wilbraham.
The Animal Aura concept
This isn’t like the puppy yoga studios that have recently sprung up in Hartford, Boston, or other major cities. French and studio co-owner and yoga aficionado Martin Lopez of Amherst took the best of what they gleaned from studying these businesses and folded it into a concept that’s all their own.
“There isn’t any precedent for our puppies and yoga, we’re kind of trend-setting,” said Lopez. “There’s puppies and yoga in Boston and there’s puppies and yoga in Hartford, but we’re trying to make it different, a complete package.
“ You can schedule a yoga session, or a puppies and yoga, which is 30 minutes of yoga and 30 minutes with the puppies,” Lopez said. “Or you can come in and snuggle with the puppies.”
Right now, the puppy-focused sessions - either yoga or snuggles - are available on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays, according to Lopez.
Kid’s birthday parties with puppies, as well as private events combining yoga and puppies or just puppies, are also among the offerings at Animal Aura Yoga.
Animal Aura Yoga does require children to be 6 years of age or older to participate in yoga classes, snuggle sessions and birthday parties. Pre-registration is advised for all classes and sessions, though walk-ins are accepted for weekend class sessions.
For the puppies, it’s about more than just snuggles
Though the puppies are an integral part of the offerings at Animal Aura Yoga, French emphasized that these puppies, which all come from local owners, are actually in the studio for their own benefit, not just to add a snuggle factor to yoga and other experiences. She said having the puppies in the yoga studio and around people affords an opportunity for them to become socialized, making them better pets in the long run.
“ We use the words local owners and partners,” French said of the studio’s relationship with the puppies. “We use many different ways to find these puppies, traditional newspapers, social media; we ask for people with litters to contact us. The puppies must be seven to 12 weeks old,
must be vaccinated and they are here on Saturdays and Sundays. We ask the owners to come with their puppies, though some do drop them off.”
Clients interested in learning which dog breed of puppies will be in the studio on any given week can check the Animal Aura website. And despite requests from many a smitten client, French said the puppies in their studio are not for sale.
To make sure these puppies are getting the best possible socialization experience, French said Animal Aura Yoga has partnered with dog trainer and animal behaviorist Justine Antunes, owner of Practically Perfect Mutt of Wilbraham, Inc.
“If we see something, we can text her and she gives a little advice,” French said. “She helps us with the stimulation, makes sure the puppies aren’t overstimulated.”
But even before the puppies come out, every visitor to Animal Aura Yoga gets a dose of doggy love, according to French.
“ We have a studio dog; she is a 4-year-old French bulldog named Roxy, and the studio is built around her,” French said, explaining that Roxy came to her house for four days a year ago, and has since become a permanent part of her family. “She networks, she will greet people coming through the door, she will greet everyone at the studio. Sometimes, she will just sit with one person, and we’ll learn later that that person is going through a hard time.”
“She just wants love,” French joked. “There are no boundaries with Roxy.”
From colleagues to co-owners
Though both French and Lopez have drawn on their backgrounds to create Animal Aura Yoga, that isn’t what initially brought the partners together. Though French has experience with animals - raising and showing rabbits for 20 years, and working with the Big E on their Farmarama exhibits - and Lopez has experience as personal trainer and became a certified yoga instructor after experiencing its healing power when going through a divorce, the pair met in a totally different industry.
“Martin and I first met when he was working for a solar company in Chicopee,” French said. “He was incredibly kind and very knowledgeable about solar sales, and he offered to help me with my training. I immediately noticed his natural ability to empower people and help them feel more comfortable and confident in the sales process.
French said the two were working as independent contractors for solar sales and energy supply in the Boston area when they first encountered the pups and yoga concept.
“Over time, we saw firsthand the powerful impact the experience had on people – the joy, relaxation and sense of connection it created,” French said. “That experience planted a seed for us.”
She said the pair started talking about opening a pups and yoga studio of their own, “a place where we could do
things a little differently and create something special for the community,” French said. She and Lopez initially thought about trying the concept out on weekends and were looking for a spot in Amherst, possibly a church, to do a test run.
“I was talking to a woman at one of the churches in Amherst; she said there really is no parking in Amherst and there’s really no parking in Northampton, but ‘did you know they are trying to restructure the Joann’s Fabric space in Hampshire Mall?’” French said.
French said she approached the mall management, and after negotiations with both the mall and the Town of Hadley, secured the space to open Animal Aura Yoga, with plenty of parking for their clients.
Animal Aura Yoga started with a soft opening in August of 2025 and an official grand opening in February of this year, just before Valentine’s Day. Beyond navigating some new business bumps in the beginning, Lopez said Animal Aura Yoga has experienced an outpouring of support from the community, including the surrounding colleges.
“It never crossed my mind that people would be that expressive in embracing what we are doing. That’s one of the most pleasant surprises,” Lopez said.
French said she feels the key to their growing success is that they aren’t like any other pups and yoga studio. “We’re creating our own lane,” she explained.
And Animal Aura Yoga isn’t just relying on the puppy factor to draw clients to the studio. At the suggestion of a yoga client who had experienced something similar in California, the studio brought in a harp player for some Valentine’s Day pup yoga sessions, a move that proved very popular.
French said she’d also made arrangements with a man who raises Angora rabbits to bring his bunnies to the studio for a bunnies and yoga session in March. She and Lopez are also looking into adding Tibetan sound bowls to some yoga classes to enhance the relaxation experience for clients.
Lopez said the studio is also planning to expand its yoga schedule to include class offerings Monday through Friday in addition to the current Wednesday and weekend class and snuggle schedule. In addition to their work with Practically Perfect Mutt, French said the studio has also partnered with nonprofit called 22Mohawks that provides community-based, peer-led suicide prevention services for veterans and first responders. The studio has a display of items for sale, with 100% of the money going to support these services.
ANIMAL AURA YOGA IS OPEN WEDNESDAY FROM 3 TO 6 P.M., SATURDAY AND SUNDAY FROM 11 A.M. TO 5 P.M. WALK-INS ARE WELCOMED (SPACE PERMITTING). FOR MORE INFORMATION ON CLASSES AND PRICES, AND TO REGISTER FOR A CLASS, VISIT ANIMAL-AURA.COM
GO LOCAL PICKS
NORTHAMPTON RECORD FAIR!
NORTHAMPTON HIGH SCHOOL
380 ELM ST • NORTHAMPTON, MA
APRIL 11 • 9AM - 5PM
Local and regional record dealers from around the North East are bringing out thousands of vinyl records and CDs for your digging pleasure. 75+ tables of vinyl records and CDs! Early admission from 9-11AM is $10 for the die hard's looking to snatch the rare finds. Early admission comes with a raffle ticket to potentially be one of the winners of gift certificates to local record stores and 3 $50 shopping sprees for the fair. The raffle will be called at 11AM. Plus, first 300 people before 11am get a free Recordville tote bag! $5 general admission from 11-5PM. All ages, everyone's invited.
For more information visit: https://tinyurl.com/NorRecFair
SIP AND PAINT "SPRING BRIDGE ON CANVAS"
COSTA MARKET WINE SHOP
ONE MGM WAY • SPRINGFIELD, MA
APRIL 19 • 5:30PM - 7:30PM
Capture the colors of springtime! Paint an arched, stone bridge with glowing street lights and blossoming trees all around! Welcome spring with this colorful painting on a large 20x16 canvas. Talented instructors will lead you through the creative journey, step by step. No experience needed. Tipsy Paint Brush will bring out your creative side in a fun and friendly atmosphere! Price: $59 per person. Admission includes one glass of wine and an array of Charcuterie, Antipasto and Cheese. Food and Beverages are also available for purchase.
For more information email: kslabotsky@mgmspringfield.com
RINGLING BROS. AND BARNUM & BAILEY
PEOPLESBANK ARENA
ONE CIVIC CENTER PLAZA • HARTFORD, CT
APRIL 23 - 26
Get ready for The Greatest Show On Earth®! The reimagined Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey® invites children of all ages to a spectacle of superhuman feats, pushing the limits of possibility and thrilling families and fans of all generations. Get closer to the action than ever before. Feel part of the show with an immersive, 360-degree environment and new technology that creates real connections between you and unforgettable performers from all over the world. Witness daring and never-before-seen acts on a highwire, trapeze, bicycle, and much, much more. Share the laughter and awe-inspiring spirit of the circus and ignite your family’s spark of fun at The Greatest Show On Earth®. Come fun, come all!
For tickets and more information visit: www.Ringling.com
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FORTUNE FUEL
DRIVEN BY NUTRITION
Fortune Fuel-Driven by Nutrition, on 11 South Road Unit 9 in Somers, CT is a nutrition club that provides healthier alternatives, offering meal replacement shakes with high protein, vitamins, and minerals. Popular flavors include chocolate chip peanut butter banana, birthday cake, and strawberry cheesecake.
Energy/hydrating teas (customer favorites are the Liberty, the Spartan, and the Pey Pey Tea), protein coffees (that can be served hot, iced or as a coffee float packed with 40g of protein with under 2g of sugar), protein waffles and protein snacks. They also offer free wellness profiles, meal prep recipes, and workout routines, as well as hosting free tastings every third Thursday of the month from 5:45 p.m.7 p.m., where people can come in and preview the upcoming menu for what’s anticipated the following month to see new flavors the club is going to have.
O wner Kristina Forgue LaFortune said, “These are great to help answer any questions anyone has, and to help share what we do here at Fortune Fuel.”
L aFortune said through Fortune Fuel, she wanted to
share her story for those feeling alone and a lack of options in their health journey. To be a safe space for them to come in, sit and share their story and goals and help build a wellness journey together.
Growing up, LaFortune was always athletic. Then working full-time triggered her weight gain. When COVID hit, LaFortune was a mom at home working a full-time job with her dogs and her newborn daughter, Peyton. Her weight had spiraled out of control, and she was up to 396 pounds.
“I wanted to turn my health around,” said LaFortune. “I wanted longevity. I wasn’t a diabetic or pre-diabetic. I was just very large, and nothing worked. I couldn’t do things with my little girl anymore. She’s the reason why I started this journey.” She went on to say, “Peyton is very active, and the size I was, I couldn’t do all the things she enjoyed most like Go Kart rides or Bumper Boats at Sonny’s Place here in town. I couldn’t run around the yard, or a simple thing of going down a slide or swings. The little things that we take for granted were just so far that I needed to do something.”
Through fitness, moving, meal prepping and getting rid
of sugary drinks, LaFortune lost 137 pounds over the past year. She has brought a lot of friends and family members along to do what she is doing. Her oldest daughter Jayden, who is the operations manager at Fortune Fuel, lost 36 pounds as a freshman in college. “It feels really good,” said Jayden. “I didn’t let the stigma of the Freshman 15 take over my life and I’m so grateful that I have such a great support system around me.”
It is a family affair at Fortune Fuel with a dedicated staff that consists of manager Kaitlyn Christmas and assistant manager Lyndsie Brown who are Jayden’s friends and who LaFortune considers her additional daughters, along with fuel attendants (Fortune Fuel’s version of baristas), Aubrey Noke, Viola McDermott, Aubree Usher, and Charlee Cyr.
“It’s a lot of fun,” said Christmas. “It doesn’t feel like work when we’re here. It feels like a big hangout. We love the community. We love all the people that we help that come in especially when we do the tea drops for our communities. All of our regulars that come in make us feel like a family by letting us know how they’re doing in their lives.”
Brown added, “Some customers will come in and share their weight journey stories with us, so giving them the motivation and a healthy alternative is fulfilling. When we hear their progress, we get emotional because we’re a part of their journey and we feel connected to them.”
L aFortune points out that just drinking their shakes and teas is not going to be a miracle potion, but they can be used as a tool, an alternative or a new aid in their own fitness/health journey. “We help build accountability together through 21-day challenges, meal prepping, and group outings,” she said. “Keep moving and cheering each other on. Celebrating the wins and working through any struggles.”
Driving LaFortune in this effort is the straightforward idea that if she could help even five people realize that they’re not alone and that they’ll be able to do it if she is able to do it, it motivates them to do something different or try to change their lifestyle. She added to Go Local that is what makes the whole journey worth it. “The amount of people who have connected with me, and shared, that me sharing my journey has helped them is so heartwarming,” LaFortune replied. “To know that even in my dark times, my sharing helped them realize they too were not alone. And pushed them to get through their own hump.”
The idea to open the club began in March of 2025. There was another local club that was hosting a March Madness challenge and the grand prize for the winner was to put your tea on their menu. LaFortune’s daughter Peyton had submitted a tea for the challenge called the Pey Pey Tea (inspired and created alongside Kaitlyn Christmas). As the bracket went on, the Pey Pey Tea advanced week after week. Online votes poured in, and LaFortune picked up and delivered her drink to people all over town to help get more votes. She made it all the way to the finals against Mama Tea. She joked with the owner, and said if Pey Pey Tea does not win, she is just going to have to open her own club to
put it on the menu. Sure enough, Mama Tea took the win. Five months later, Fortune Fuel- Driven by Nutrition was born.
L aFortune and her family live in Enfield around the Somers line. They saw Somers as a tight community bringing everybody together. They wanted to do something with a local presence and Somers is what they had found to do that in.
Since Fortune Fuel opened in August of 2025, they have donated over a thousand teas within the community to bus drivers, teachers, schools, businesses, and organizations. They do walks, pair up with dance studios and participate in festivals & fairs like the Four Towns Fair. “The word has been getting out,” LaFortune said, “We’re trying to reach people through social media and word of mouth. Week after week, we get a little busier, word of mouth is spreading, and people are really liking what they get from us. We want to grow and fill the bar every day. Make it be the go-to place, and community connection.”
Right now, Fortune Fuel is working with the local Girl Scout troops, PTO’s, schools, and multiple sports teams. They are sponsoring a girls’ softball team in town and two local race car drivers at Stafford Speedway.
On April 4, Fortune Fuel will be hosting an Easter event for the kids. Breakfast and Tea with the Easter Bunny from 8 a.m.- 10 a.m. Enjoy protein waffles/pancakes paired with a kid refresher or tea for adults, fun crafts games, kids’ games, and photos. Local business Luxe Permanent Jewelry will be coming for a Sip and Bling event to the club on Sunday, April 12 from 1-3 p.m. And the PTO Fundraiser for Enfield Street will be held at Fortune Fuel on April 18. They will have a raffle table setup that LaFortune will provide some raffles for, and a portion of the day’s sales will go to the PTO. Plus, the PTO will get to design and create a shake & tea and name it for the event.
The club is booking now out to May with their new “On to Go” Outreach. Offering to come to you and your event or fundraiser. Offering ten percent back to the organization at the held event. A great give back while bringing fun and energy to the organization, business, or event itself.
L afortune’s goal is to do fitness camps where she can partner with different small local businesses in town or the Parks & Recreation Department and get more people together to do more outdoor activities. Whether it be hikes, walks, or an hour every day of cardio. “Everything we do is community-driven,” said LaFortune. “We want to keep hitting and reaching more people. Anything around the community is what we want to do. We’re a family company that wants to help out, be present and do different things around town.”
FORTUNE FUEL-DRIVEN BY NUTRITION IS OPEN MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 6 A.M.- 4 P.M., SATURDAYS FROM 8 A.M.- 3 P.M. AND SUNDAYS FROM 9 A.M.- 1 P.M. THEY POST EVERY SINGLE DAY ON THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AND EVERYTHING FROM THERE IS SHARED TO THEIR INSTAGRAM.
TIP TOP WINE SHOP
Tucked behind the historic mill buildings on Pleasant Street, just off the Manhan Rail Trail, Tip Top Wine Shop has quickly become a neighborhood destination for wine lovers and curious newcomers alike. The shop opened on Nov. 1, 2023, becoming the first store in Easthampton dedicated exclusively to quality wine. Owned and operated by local residents Miranda Brown and Lauren Clark, Tip Top was built around a simple idea: make great wine accessible, affordable, and part of everyday community life.
For Brown and Clark, opening a wine shop was both a personal and practical decision. Clark explains that the two were ready for a new professional chapter, one that allowed them to pursue their own vision. “Neither of us had started a business before, unless you count my co-owning a hotdog cart with my brother when we were in our teens,” she said. But the idea was also inspired by a gap in Easthampton’s local retail landscape. For years, residents who wanted a carefully selected bottle of wine often had to travel outside the city. “We were both tired of traveling out of town for a decent bottle of wine,” Clark adds.
A s longtime residents themselves, Brown and Clark believed the community was ready for a dedicated wine shop. Brown says the response they received while developing the idea confirmed their instincts. “Lauren and I both live in Easthampton, and we had been ready for years,” she says. “Once we started thinking seriously about opening a shop, we asked around town and received an overwhelmingly positive response, so we knew everyone else was ready, too.” That enthusiasm helped transform an idea into a
storefront in one of the city’s most vibrant commercial and artistic areas.
T ip Top Wine Shop fits naturally into the cluster of independent businesses behind the mills on Pleasant Street, near local breweries like New City Brewery and Abandoned Building Brewery. The neighborhood has become a hub for artists, small businesses, and visitors exploring the rail trail, making it an ideal location for a shop centered on discovery and conversation.
Inside Tip Top, customers find a carefully curated selection of wines from around the world. Many of the bottles come from small producers who prioritize natural, organic, or sustainably farmed grapes. Clark says their selection process focuses on quality and uniqueness rather than big-name brands. “We work with sales reps who are in our wheelhouse,” she explains, “meaning they focus on small producers from around the world who don’t use additives and who tend to make better wine for your money than the major brands you see at big-box stores, packies and supermarkets.” One of the shop’s pleasures, she says, is introducing customers to unfamiliar grapes and regions. “We like turning people on to delicious wines made with grapes no one’s heard of.”
Although wine is the shop’s central focus, Brown and Clark envisioned Tip Top as more than just a wine store. The shop also carries craft beer, cider, and a selection of nonalcoholic drinks. Customers can also pick up small specialty foods such as cheese and charcuterie, making it easy to assemble a casual gathering or picnic. For Brown, this range of offerings reflects the shop’s neighborhood
spirit. “We wanted our shop to be not just a wine store, but a real neighborhood spot where you could pop in for beer or snacks or a soda, too,” she says. Since opening, the owners have continued adjusting their inventory based on customer feedback to better serve local tastes.
Education and approachability are also central to Tip Top’s mission. Clark emphasizes that the shop welcomes both experienced wine enthusiasts and people who feel intimidated by wine culture. “We try to make enjoying wine as accessible and fun as possible,” she says. The staff focuses on describing wines in plain, everyday language rather than relying on technical jargon. Customers often apologize for “knowing nothing about wine,” Clark notes, but she reassures them that expertise isn’t necessary to enjoy it. “All they really need to know is whether a particular wine tastes good to them.”
One of the shop’s most popular features is its regular Friday tasting events. These free tastings, open to anyone over 21, allow visitors to sample several wines and discover new favorites without committing to a full bottle. Brown says the events have become an important part of building relationships with customers. “We’re delighted that our Friday tastings have developed a pretty solid following,” she says. The gatherings give customers a chance to explore unfamiliar varieties while also providing the owners with immediate feedback about what people enjoy.
L aunching a new wine shop in today’s beverage market has not been without challenges. Clark points out that Tip Top opened during a period when alcohol consumption has been declining in the wake of the pandemic, while other products, from canned cocktails to cannabis, have increased competition. Economic uncertainty has also made small business ownership more complicated. Despite these challenges, Tip Top has steadily built a loyal clientele. Many customers, Clark says, are surprised by the concept of a curated wine shop after years of buying wine primarily from grocery stores or large package retailers. Once they experience the variety and personalized recommendations available at Tip Top, they often become regular visitors.
L ooking ahead, Brown and Clark hope to deepen their role as a community gathering place. The shop has already hosted workshops ranging from floral arranging to bookbinding and collage art, and the owners are eager to collaborate with local artists and educators on future events. These creative activities reflect the same spirit of exploration that defines the shop’s wine selection.
For Brown and Clark, Tip Top Wine Shop is ultimately about connection—between customers, producers, and the local community. As Clark puts it simply: “Patronize your local wine shop. They do their best to send you home with a bottle of wine you’ll love.”
TIP TOP WINE SHOP IS OPEN DAILY, FROM 11 A.M. TO 7 P.M. MONDAY THROUGH THURSDAY, 11 A.M. TO 8 P.M. ON FRIDAY AND SATURDAY, AND NOON TO 6 P.M. ON SUNDAY. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.TIPTOPWINESHOP.COM OR CALL 413-203-1165 FOR
Pasta with Broccoli Cream Sauce and Chicken
1 large broccoli crown
1 box Orecchiette
38 oz. boneless chicken breast
1 cup heavy cream
1 lemon + zest
1/2 white onion
1 head of garlic
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
3/4 cup pasta water
Parmesan
Fresh oregano
Salt & pepper
Start by roasting your head of garlic, chop down the middle drizzle with olive oil and roast in the oven at 375F for about 35 minutes or until tender.
Next, get a pot of heavily salted water on the stove and bring to a boil. While that’s doing it’s thing, season your chicken with salt and pepper and pan sear it, about 7 minutes per side. Remove chicken from the pan, after zesting your lemon, cut it in half and add it to your pan (second picture you can see which side to put it on) cook for about 5 minutes, remove and juice. Add in some 1 Tbsp of butter and your onions and a cup of broccoli chopped, cook for 5-7 minutes. Add in your cream, Parmesan cheese, oregano, lemon juice and zest simmer for 2 minutes. Add mixture to a blender with another Tbsp of butter, squeeze in your roasted garlic and blend. Pour back into the pan and set it over low heat.
Before the pasta is finished, reserve 3/4 cup of pasta water. Add pasta, chicken and the rest of your broccoli to your sauce with pasta water, mix and let simmer covered for about 10 minutes or until your broccoli is tender.
Enjoy!
NATHAN BLAIS I’m a photographer from Springfield. I combined my love for cooking and photography and turned it into a career. Check out my instagram @nateblais!
kielbasa,
LOCAL EINSTEIN
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!
THE TRADITION OF THE EASTER BUNNY ORIGINATED IN WHAT COUNTRY?
[A] Turkey
[B] Germany
[C] Ireland
[D] Austria
WHAT WAS BABE RUTH’S FIRST NAME?
[A] Henry
[B] Herman
[C] George
[D] Richard
DISNEY’S “SNOW WHITE AND THE SEVEN DWARFS” IS BASED ON A FAIRY TALE BY WHICH AUTHOR?
[A] Hans Christian Andersen
[B] Charles Perrault
[C] Marie-Catherine D’Aulnoy
[D] The Brothers Grimm
NAME THE NOODLE…
[A] Pappardelle
[B] Rotini
[C] Mafalda
[D] Orecchiette
WHAT IS THE PGA RECORD FOR THE HIGHEST SCORE ON A PAR 4 HOLE?
[A] 7
[B] 10
[C] 13
[D] 16
WHAT WAS USED TO COLOR THE EMERALD CITY’S HORSES IN “THE WIZARD OF OZ?”
[A] Jell-O
[B] Chalk
[C] Spray paint
[D] Nail polish
HOW MANY CATS DID ABRAHAM LINCOLN HAVE IN THE WHITE HOUSE?
[A] One [B] Two [C] Three [D] Four
WHAT WAS THE TITLE OF TAYLOR SWIFT’S FIRST ALBUM (2006)?
[A] Fearless
[B] Taylor Swift
[C] Our Song
[D] 1989
APPROXIMATELY 76% OF PEOPLE EAT WHICH PART OF A CHOCOLATE EASTER BUNNY FIRST?
[A] Ears
[B] Feet
[C] Tail
[D] Hands
Got a great story idea?
We’re always on the lookout for a unique local business, an outstanding person in the community, creative craftsperson or the couple that’s been married for 50 years to feature in Go Local Magazine.
So don’t be shy! If you’ve got a great story idea, give us a shout and let us know what’s happening in your corner of the world.
Contact:tlevakis@thereminder.com and be part of Go Local!
7 courses to “hit the links” this spring!
COUNTRY CLUB OF WILBRAHAM
859 Stony Hill Rd Wilbraham, MA ccofwilbraham.com
A semi-private club that opened in 1927 designed by Willie Ogg, a professional golfer and club designer from Scotland. A back nine holes introduced in the spring of 2002 rolls through wooded terrain. Other features include a Juniors Program, pro shop and practice facilities.
FRANCONIA GOLF COURSE
619 Dwight Rd · Springfield, MA vets-franconia-golf.com
One of two Springfield Municipal Golf Courses, Franconia is an 18hole public golf course. The course features three sets of tees for different skill levels. The facility also offers a full pro shop, lessons, and Junior Golf Camp. The website offers tips to master each hole.
TOPSTONE GOLF COURSE
516 Griffin Rd #A South Windsor, CT topstonegc.com
Great conditions including lush fairways and rolling hills await golfers at Topstone — an 18-hole, par 72 Championship golf course. Topstone’s PGA Jr. League offers a scramble format that builds confidence and encourages sportsmanship among boys and girls of all skill levels. Off the course, the clubhouse offers a fully-stocked golf shop, Grill Room and banquet facility.
GREATHORSE
128 Wilbraham Rd · Hampden, MA greathorse.com
Named the #1 private club in Massachusetts by Northeast Golf, GreatHorse is a secluded, plush mountain retreat where beyond a top-notch golf experience, golfers and their families can enjoy a wide range of clubhouse amenities such as an outdoor pool, private spa, fitness center, golf simulators, tennis and platform tennis courts, and a restaurant and bar.
THE RANCH GOLF CLUB
65 Sunnyside Rd · Southwick, ma theranchgolfclub.com
Located at the foothills of the picturesque Berkshires. Each hole a stunning new picture; a new challenge of risk and reward. Beyond the 18th hole, a full practice facility awaits golfers and the Ranch Pub House offers a relaxing dining experience.
SUFFIELD COUNTRY CLUB
341 N Main St · Suffield, ct suffieldcc.com
Suffield Country Club provides a beautiful nine-hole private golf course designed by Orrin Smith, a swimming pool and three clay tennis courts. The club also offers a full service restaurant which is open from late March through November.
Designed by Geoffrey Cornish and built in 1963, the tall cedars lend a dramatic backdrop to most fairways that feature numerous water hazards and tactically placed sand traps to challenge even the best of golfers. Cedar Knob also offers golf lessons through its pro shop and special membership packages.
