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January 2026 Volume 12 . Issue 2 golocalmagazines.com

R. MICHELSON GALLERIES A BEACON OF CREATIVITY

BOOK CLUB ON THE GO BOOK EVENTS SERVICE

KIL'N IT POTTERY STUDIO & TIPSY PAINT BRUSH COMMUNITY ART STUDIO

2 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

JANUARY 2026 . VOLUME 12 . ISSUE 2

R. MICHELSON GALLERIES

For more than four decades, R. Michelson Galleries has stood as a beacon of creativity in downtown Northampton, redefining what fine art can look like and who it is for. From museum curators and collectors to families with young children, the gallery welcomes visitors into a world where illustration, sculpture, and contemporary fine art share equal footing.

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A NOTE

From The Editor

KIL'N IT POTTERY STUDIO & TIPSY PAINT BRUSH Community Art Studio

MICHELSON GALLERIES 12 R. A Beacon Of Creativity

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 3

JANUARY 2026 . VOLUME 12 . ISSUE 2

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A NOTE

FROM THE EDITOR . TRENT LEVAKIS

Happy New Year, Go Local readers! I am not one for putting all my eggs in the basket off, “New Year, new me,” with each mark of our trip around the sun, but I at least can admit the turn of the yearly calendar is always a good reflection point amidst the pace of everyday life in these modern times. As I reflect on this year a lot has changed for me personally, most notably I got married in May to my high school sweetheart. Because we have been together for so long the day was literally years in the making and finally the timing was perfect in 2025 for us to tie the knot. Our perfect day had far from perfect weather, as a nasty rainstorm was ongoing into our reception and the cold temperatures for a May 31 date was not ideal for everyone attending the outdoor spring wedding. Still, there was not a single moment from the day and evening that was ruined because of it thanks to a collective positive spirit among our loved ones as we all gathered snugly under our venue’s outdoor pavilion. The experience brought to the front of mind a cliché saying but a true one at that, based from life experiences: you get the most out of what you make of things. This attitude can be taken for so many different facets of life whether it’s about your job, a trip, spending time with friends or family. I have also been able to reflect on my now four years spent with Reminder Publishing. When I started I definitely felt the effects of imposter syndrome. As someone who came from a background in news built up through sports reporting, the new opportunity quickly became another educational one for me, akin to another college experience. I felt overwhelmed at times adjusting to general news coverage but wanted to see through my career efforts of becoming a reporter and stuck with it. Now four years in, I still have my moments of second guessing myself, but thanks to allowing myself to become immersed in the work and leaning on and learning from my Reminder colleagues, I am at a point now where I see and feel the growth in my own abilities, and have even now expanded as an editor for our beloved Go Local magazine. Building a good foundation is the key to getting better at anything. Approaching things with that in mind helps you stay in control of your day-to-day life as you look to get the most out of what you are looking for in this world. The start of the new year is the perfect time to change habits and get yourself on a new track that works best for the individual, but most importantly much of life is about continuing to add the building blocks necessary to keep growing as a person and making the most of our time here, regardless of the calendar. To kick off the new year this month, Go Local highlights three businesses that have also laid down their own building blocks in order to reach their current status: R. Michelson Galleries, a growing hub for fine art and children’s book illustrations in the region; CT Book Club, a mobile book club and seller expanding the joy of reading in the region; and Enfield’s Kil’N It Pottery Studio & Tipsy Paint Brush, a mother-daughter-run business that continues to grow in thanks to its unique event offerings. Happy New Year, Trent Levakis, Editor 6 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

EXECUTIVE 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

THE GO LOCAL COMMUNITY

holyoke

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GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM Send local story ideas to: news@thereminder.com

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KIL'N IT POTTERY STUDIO TIPSY PAINT BRUSH stepping outside your comfort zone

ew Year’s resolutions are personal goals we make at the start of the year, so for 2026 let’s challenge ourselves, step outside of our comfort zone and try new experiences. At Kil’n It Pottery Studio & Tipsy Paint Brush in Enfield, CT, anyone can come in, become creative and get in touch with their inner artist. Located at 610 Enfield St., Kil’n It Pottery Studio & Tipsy Paint Brush is a women-owned business operated by mother/daughter team Wendy Gingras and Melanie Markham. Two studios together in one very spacious location as Kil’n It Pottery Studio offers sculpting and pottery wheel workshops with step-by-step instruction, while Tipsy Paint Brush offers paint & sip parties with canvas painting and wine bottle painting. Tipsy Paint

Brush is also a BYOB (Bring Your Own Beverage) establishment, meaning guests can bring their own alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and snacks. They must be 21 with a positive ID to consume alcoholic beverages. Melanie is the manager of Kil’n It Pottery Studio. She’s been doing ceramics and all other types of mediums of art for 15 years. Melanie has been in love with art since she was little, especially with her mother Wendy always gearing her towards creative outlets. She worked alongside other master potters and managed other pottery studios since she was fifteen. “I’m very passionate about spreading knowledge about art,” Melanie said. “I’m really grateful that we have so many young artists that come in here that I can pass my knowledge along to and send GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 7

them off to great futures.” She continued, “I love that we are such an inclusive studio, and I try my best to make sure anyone can come in and try out these sorts of projects. I’m all about spreading the fun and spreading the joy.” Wendy is the owner of Kil’n It Pottery Studio and Tipsy Paint Brush. She studied at Parsons School of Design in New York City and was a graphic designer for 40 years. “We cater to beginners or experienced artists,” said Wendy. “Both are welcomed in our studio, and we believe everyone has artistic abilities. They just need a place to find them.” She went on to say, “We’re a family business, and we wanted to provide a space that was affordable for everyone to paint or create pottery. We’re for anybody who wants to try it out.” Enfield resident Julie Cotnoir heard about Kil’n It Pottery Studio & Tipsy Paint Brush on social media. She and her mother did a paint and sip night a couple of years ago and cherished celebrating her mother’s birthday with a gift of painting. “I love seeing their social media posts and how all ages can have fun together,” Cotnoir replied. “It’s a great way for family and friends to make special memories and have a keepsake of their time together.” Before opening the studio, Wendy was operating Tipsy Paint Brush on a traveling basis for 10 years at different restaurants, halls, bars and homes from Springfield to Hartford and the surrounding areas. It grew to be one of the largest paint party businesses traveling in the Pioneer Valley and she gained a large customer base on Facebook. Wendy grew Tipsy Paint Brush to the point where she wanted to leave her full-time corporate career as a senior graphic designer and open her own art studio along with her daughter, the potter. Melanie was working at a pottery studio at the time and worked there for eight years and became the manager. This made for the perfect opportunity for mother and daughter as Wendy wanted to join forces with her and open a studio with painting and pottery. “Melanie is my carbon copy,” Wendy happily said. “She is my mini me through and through. We work amazingly together. We didn’t know of another art studio that offers both pottery and painting in one location. I knew it would be a hit.” Melanie added, “We both always had long-term goals of doing something like this, so it felt like a dream that it finally happened. This has brought us closer together and our relationship stronger. In some situations, people would say it’s hard to work with your family, but I think this just gives us more opportunities to spend time together in our adult lives.” Kil’n It Pottery Studio & Tipsy Paint Brush opened in November of 2019. After being open for four months, 8 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

they had to close due to the pandemic. During quarantine, Wendy and Melanie sold kits to-go, as well as doing deliveries within Enfield and offering curbside pickup. They featured kits for painting ceramic, painting canvas and painting glassware for people to have activities at home during the shutdown. “Those kits were flying out the door and that kept us afloat until we were able to open in June,” Wendy said. “When we opened the studio again, it slowly filled up and then we were packed. It fulfills my heart to see other people get creative and fall in love with what they have created.” In the past seven years, Kil’n It Pottery Studio & Tipsy Paint Brush went from a staff of three to a staff of 12. They now have three to four classes a day when they used to have just one. They’ve purchased a second kil’n to keep up with all of the pottery. And they’ve also added more classes on the weekends, doing two pottery wheel workshops a day. It has become the creative outlet for the community in Enfield and surrounding towns. People from New York, Boston, Rhode Island and New Hampshire have come to find their own art therapy. Melanie said, “I feel that we immediately got a great response from the community really needing something like this and we’ve only grown since then.” She continued, “We started so small, just me and my mother running this place. Now, we have a large staff and we’re able to give a lot of good job opportunities to young artists in the area as well.” Overall, Melanie hopes her experience truly continues to express her passion for the community and helping others. With the new year, she and Wendy are always thinking of fresh ways of bringing art to children and folks discovering something new about themselves every time they come. KIL’N IT POTTERY STUDIO & TIPSY PAINT BRUSH ARE OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH FRIDAY FROM 12-8 P.M., SATURDAYS FROM 10 A.M. TO 8 P.M. AND SUNDAYS FROM 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M. THEY ARE CLOSED ON MONDAYS, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF CERTAIN HOLIDAYS. GO ONLINE AT KILNITPOTTERYSTUDIO.COM AND TIPSYPAINTBRUSHPARTIES.COM TO SIGN UP FOR CLASSES & WORKSHOPS. YOU CAN WALK INTO THEIR STUDIO TO PAINT CERAMICS AS WELL. KIL’N IT POTTERY & TIPSY PAINT BRUSH OFFER PRIVATE PARTIES FOR LARGE OR SMALL GROUPS. MORE INFORMATION IS ON THEIR WEBSITE. PRIVATE PARTIES TO PAINT CERAMICS CAN BE BOOKED RIGHT ON THE WEBSITE. PAINT PARTIES RANGE FROM $35 TO $42. POTTERY WORKSHOPS RANGE FROM $55 TO $65 AND INCLUDE A SECOND VISIT TO PAINT THE POTTERY THAT YOU CREATE.

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 9

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R. MICHELSON GALLERIES Redefining Fine Art Through Picture Books ! TINA LESNIAK NATE BLAIS

or more than four decades, R. Michelson Galleries has stood as a beacon of creativity in downtown Northampton, redefining what fine art can look like and who it is for. From museum curators and collectors to families with young children, the gallery welcomes visitors into a world where illustration, sculpture, and contemporary fine art share equal footing. At the heart of it all is founder and owner Richard Michelson, whose journey to Western Massachusetts—and to becoming one of the nation’s most influential champions of picture book art—began with a chance decision and a borrowed hallway. “In 1979, my wife literally picked the Amherst/ Northampton area off a map; neither of us had ever been here before,” Michelson said. Growing up in East New York, Brooklyn, he longed for a community rich with culture. On the drive to his new home, he stopped for dinner and happened to be reading a poetry chapbook illustrated with wood engravings by a young artist named Barry Moser. A note in the book revealed Moser taught at Williston-Northampton Prep School. “I picked up a phone book and called,” he said. That spontaneous connection led to the gallery’s first exhibition—hung not in a traditional gallery space, but in a narrow corridor between two stores on the second floor of Thornes Marketplace. Michelson and Moser priced the engravings between $25 and $50. Unable to afford a formal storefront, Michelson improvised. “I bought a shower curtain from my neighbor’s store, pulled it closed at the end of the workday, and secured it with a padlock,” he said. From that humble beginning, R. Michelson Galleries began its unlikely ascent. Over the years, the gallery relocated several times and gradually expanded its roster of artists, including Leonard Baskin, who had returned to the area after years in

12 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

England. At a time when abstract, pop, and op art dominated the art world, Michelson found himself drawn to emotionally rich representational work. The turn toward children’s book illustration, however, came reluctantly. In 1985, when Moser was asked to illustrate a picture book, Michelson admits he was skeptical. “Are you going to start painting cute little watercolor bunnies?” he joked. When the exhibition sold nothing, Michelson nonetheless found himself introduced to emerging literary giants Jane Yolen and Eric Carle. “I did not grow up with books,” he said. The first children’s book his daughter recalls him reading aloud was Franz Kafka’s "The Metamorphosis." But exposure to the artistry of picture books changed everything. “I had to admit that the art was equal in both skill and vision to anything I saw in my favorite museums.” What followed was a decade of financial risk and cultural resistance. “There was no market for original children’s art books when I began exhibiting it, and we lost money for over a decade,” Michelson said. Museums did not return his calls. Then the tide slowly shifted. Advances in color printing and the rise of a new generation of parents ushered in what became known as the golden age of picture books. Eventually, museums began to take notice. One pivotal call came from a Chrysler Museum curator named Nicholas Clark, who would go on to become the founding director of the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art in nearby Amherst. Today, Michelson curates more than a dozen major museum exhibitions around the world each year. Most recently, filmmaker George Lucas acquired more than 200 works from R. Michelson artists — including Ezra Jack Keats, Jerry Pinkney, and Bryan Collier — for his Museum of Narrative Art opening in Los Angeles in 2026. Michelson sees illustration and fine art as inherently intertwined. “When Michelangelo was painting the Sistine Chapel, he was illustrating a book,” he said. “It did not restrict his genius.” He believes illustrators simply work with text as a point of departure, rather than as a limitation. “I am pleased to have played a small part in dissolving the differentiation between the two.” Today, illustration has become the gallery’s primary economic engine. “People come from all over the world to visit our gallery and surround themselves with the illustrations they most love,” Michelson said. At the same time, the gallery continues to exhibit leading contemporary fine artists and sculptors, maintaining its broad artistic mission. R. Michelson Galleries has also helped shape the area’s identity as a regional arts destination. Alongside institutions like the Eric Carle Museum, Norman Rockwell Museum, and the Dr. Seuss Museum, the gallery has helped GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 13

establish Western Massachusetts as a national hub for book illustration. A new four-story mural on the back of the gallery building, designed by assistant gallery manager Meghan Zaremba, features beloved characters from Arthur, Paddington, Elephant and Piggie, Madeline, Where the Wild Things Are, and more. “The mural has become a must-see tourist attraction,” Michelson said. “Then people come inside to see the original artwork.” The gallery itself now occupies a stately 1913 building with four floors and soaring 60-foot ceilings. “We’ve come a long way from our original hallway,” Michelson said. The multiple rooms allow him to curate diverse exhibitions simultaneously, making the space inviting for seasoned collectors and first-time visitors alike. That inclusivity remains central to the gallery’s mission. “We welcome young children and their families into the gallery and want everyone to feel comfortable,” Michelson said, listing his staff by name. “There aren’t too many places left where three generations can visit together and all be equally excited to see a Dr. Seuss original watercolor or a Jules Feiffer drawing from The Phantom Tollbooth. How cool is that!” Looking ahead, the gallery shows no signs of slowing down. Its artists have collectively earned 18 Caldecott Medals and 43 Caldecott Honor Awards through the years. Upcoming highlights include original artwork from Ian Falconer’s Olivia series and the first-ever exhibition of Sandra Boynton’s beloved hippos, pigs, and gnus. Rare wood sculptures by Leonard Baskin are also slated for exhibition in 2026. “Come visit us,” Michelson said. “We can talk about art all day, but seeing the work in person will take you to another level entirely.” RMICHELSON GALLERIES IS OPEN SUNDAY FROM NOON TO 5 P.M., MONDAY BY APPOINTMENT, TUESDAY-THURRSDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M., FRIDAY NOON TO 8 P.M., AND SATURDAY 10 A.M. TO 8 P.M. VISIT THEIR WEBSITE AT WWW.RMICHELSON.COM OR CALL 413-586-3964 FOR MORE INFO. YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW THEIR FACEBOOK PAGE AT WWW.FACEBOOK.COM/R.MICHELSON.GALLERIES.

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BOOK CLUB ON THE GO

t’s everything people love about a bookstore, only there’s no brick-and-mortar building. Book Club on the Go may call South Windsor, Connecticut, home base, but bibliophiles will find its unique blend of books and local artisan-crafted gifts at myriad places, from a library author event to a pub-based book club to a mini book fair at a local business to a Grown-Up Book Fair at a popular brewery. It’s another example of how, sometimes, a penchant can become the pathway to a business. For Cynde Acanto, that penchant was her love of books. “I always had a passion for reading. I credit my parents for that,” Acanto said as she recounted the origins of her mobile bookselling business. Acanto said she was leading a series of local book clubs when the opportunity to purchase an existing bookstore presented itself in 2013. “I had a background in retail management and had an opportunity, and just went from there,” Acanto explained. And for five years, her business thrived, offering her the opportunity to make solid connections with customers and vendors. But then she had a family, and her priorities changed. “We did well, and I enjoyed it, but I realized it was very

event-driven – author events, book clubs – and my son was small, and I wanted the flexibility to be able to attend his sporting events. So, I made the decision to close the bookstore in 2019,” Acanto said, adding that as the shop shut its doors in August of that year, she turned her efforts toward a mobile business focused on events and online book orders. “It was fortuitous, COVID would have killed us,” Acanto said of her original brick and mortar book shop. “But the mobile business took right off, even during COVID.” She started hosting more successful mobile-based events — book clubs, author events and book fairs right up to the COVID-19 shutdown. “I was running four to five book clubs, all kinds of author events, but as COVID progressed, all kinds of events started getting cancelled,” Acanto shared, adding that during COVID, she cancelled nearly 60 planned events. “At that time, I built an online presence and started delivering books and contactless deliveries to people’s homes, and I would do online Zoom book clubs.” Book Club on the Go delivered to eight local towns in Connecticut during COVID-19, Acanto said. “It was sameday or next-day at a time when a lot of the online [sellers] were overwhelmed.” GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 19

When summer came, and people started moving outdoors, Acanto said she began hosting social-distanced book clubs in area parks. “We were doing the East Windsor senior center book club outdoors, that gave us a great opportunity to get a little back to normal,” she shared. As the COVID-19 restrictions eased, Acanto said many of the events that had been scheduled prior to the lockdown picked up where they left off. “We have a great relationship with the Red Heat Tavern in South Windsor for a book club called Pints and Pages,” Acanto shared as an example of this resurgence. “It’s been running since 2020; it started just before COVID.” The Red Heat Tavern book clubs now include contemporary titles and an evening dedicated to Stephen King fans, according to the BookClubCT.com website. Other opportunities, such as author events with the Wood Memorial Library and Museum in South Windsor, now known as The Watershed, helped Book Club on the Go recover and grow after COVID-19. “For a large mobile live book event we have a partnership with the Otis Library in Norwich, Connecticut,” Acanto said. “They do an annual fundraiser with an author once a year, and we partner to provide the books.” The order for the Otis event usually includes 500 books, which Acanto coordinates with the publisher and the library. Public and private book club and author events – both in person and virtual — online new, used and audiobook sales, book swaps and book trivia events and the newest addition to Acanto’s mobile event repertoire, Book Fairs 20 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

for Grown Ups, have expanded Book Club On the Go into a robust business model. “Once we started adding the Grown Up Book Fairs, it opened up a nice new customer base for us,” said Acanto, adding that the recent Book Fairs she has hosted at locations such as the White Lion Brewing Company in Springfield and at the Shortstop Bar and Grill in Westfield have introduced her business to a new audience beyond her home base of Connecticut. Acanto also brings an annual book fair event to Brew Practitioners Brewery and Tap Room, a fellow womanowned business in East Longmeadow, Massachusetts, to celebrate International Women’s Day. Acanto said the mobile book fairs “really allow me to bring so many passions together. “I always love to bring a local author and local artisans to show off their wares,” she said. Another new addition to Acanto’s events — Blind Date with a Book — a packaged product that includes a book, a bookmark and book-related extras has also taken off. When asked if Acanto misses the brick-and-mortar bookselling experience, she said that once she went mobile with Book Club On the Go, she never looked back. “We were able to pivot and exist through COVID; COVID was a huge testing ground for so many businesses,” Acanto said. Once the business went through COVID, she said she knew she had a viable model. “I can do events I never would have been able to do as a brick and mortar,” Acanto continued. “I’m doing more mobile bookselling; authors and libraries reach out and need a bookseller … we cover events in all of Connecticut

and Western Mass. as opposed to being locked into retail hours.” But being a mobile bookseller does mean you have to constantly be adaptable, Acanto added. “I think that you have to be creative all the time,” she said. “You have to be thinking of new venues, new events and obviously, storage — holding on to books in a storage venue, transporting the books … and they are heavy!” Her husband, she said, is a huge help with the heavy books part. She has also added four team members to help her run an expanded calendar of mobile events, so she doesn’t have to be present at every pub, brewery, book club, book fair or author event. Acanto said those team members are poet Joe Adomavicia, author Katherine Anderson, author Jessica Bottomley, who has led the monthly Stephen King Book Club for 11 years, and Julia Merriam, who leads the monthly Pints & Pages Book Club at Red Heat Tavern. Looking toward the future, Acanto said she’s “always striving to keep things new, and I’m always looking for new marketing opportunities for books.” “That’s the thing about books,” Acanto added, “They bring people together in multiple ways.” She shared the following upcoming Book Club On the Go events for January through April: JAN. 19, 2026: AT 5:30 P.M., PINTS & PAGES BOOK CLUB AT RED HEAT TAVERN, SOUTH WINDSOR, CT, DISCUSSING “THE WINTER PEOPLE” BY JENNIFER MCMAHON. JAN. 26, 2026: AT 5:30 P.M. STEPHEN KING BOOK CLUB AT RED HEAT TAVERN, SOUTH WINDSOR, CT, DISCUSSING “MR. MERCEDES.” FEB. 19, 2026: AT 5:30 P.M. STEPHEN KING BOOK CLUB AT RED HEAT TAVERN, SOUTH WINDSOR, CT. DISCUSSING “REVIVAL.” FEB. 26, 2026: AT 5:30 P.M., PINTS & PAGES BOOK CLUB AT RED HEAT TAVERN, SOUTH WINDSOR, CT, DISCUSSING A BOOK TO BE ANNOUNCED. MARCH 8, 2026: NOON TO 4 P.M. WOMEN’S DAY GROWN-UP BOOK FAIR AT BREW PRACTITIONERS, EAST LONGMEADOW, MA. SIP & SHOP WITH FEMALE AUTHORS AND ARTISANS AT BREW PRACTITIONERS, A WOMAN-OWNED BREWERY, ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY. MARCH 11, 2026: STEWING OVER MYSTERIES WITH AUTHOR TESS GERRITSEN AT THE PUBLIK HOUSE, 277 MAIN ST., STURBRIDGE, MA. BOOK CLUB ON THE GO WILL BE THE BOOKSELLER. DOORS OPEN AT 6:15 P.M. TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE ONLINE AT STURBRIDGELIBRARY.ORG OR IN PERSON AT THE JOSHUA HYDE PUBLIC LIBRARY, 306 MAIN ST., STURBRIDGE. TICKETS GO ON SALE ON MONDAY, JAN. 26: 2026. TICKETS INCLUDE BEEF STEW OR BUTTERNUT SQUASH SOUP, ROLLS, COFFEE AND DESSERT. APRIL 11, 2026: NOON TO 4 P.M. GROWN-UP BOOK AIR AT SONNY’S PLACE, SOMERS, CT FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE BOOK OPPORTUNITIES OFFERED BY BOOK CLUB ON THE GO, VISIT BOOKCLUBCT.COM. GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 21

we are local. Scan the QR Code to View Our Complete Menu

Claws and Paws Pet Salon

Delivery

546 Enfield St, Enfield, CT

“Where your pet is family”

(860) 265-2390

Chinese & Japanese Restaurant

clawsandpawspetsalon@yahoo.com Hours: Tues–Fri 8:00am–5:00pm

413-567-2037 • 413-567-2157 795 Maple Road • Longmeadow, MA

www.Lisbrotherslongmeadow.com

Over 3 Decades in Business!

WE BUY & SELL ALL TYPES OF STUFF FROM A TO Z!

COSTUME JEWELRY, FURNITURE, INSTRUMENTS, COLLECTIONS, COINS, WATCHES, TOYS, SILVER, ETC.

PIZZAS SALADS SOUPS GRINDERS WINGS

AUTHENTIC HOMEMADE EST. 2021 ITALIAN DINE-IN • TAKE OUT • DELIVERY DINNERS

TRUE ITALIAN HAND-TOSSED PIZZA COOKED DIRECTLY ON THE STONE!

Call Bill or Beth 413-543-6065 Email: oldiesfrom@aol.com 45 Parker Street • Indian Orchard, MA

Now g e s rvin & Beer Wine!

Wed., Thur. & Fri. 10-4:30 • Sat. 10-2:30 • Closed Sun., Mon. & Tues.

48 SOUTH RD, SOMERS CT • mariossomers.com

860-698-6988 • 860-698-6986

C O N N E C T I C U T ’ S P R E M I E R E Y E C A R E . . . F r o m E ye E xa m s t o G r e a t G l a s s e s

Making Your

VISION

Possible in 2026 New Patients are WELCOME! Come visit us at

A Private Family Eye Care Practice

230B Mountain Rd., Suffield, CT

Call Us Now For Your Appointment 860-386-5159 | connecticutvision.com 22 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

GO EAT ! RECIPE SUBMITTED BY NATHAN BLAIS

Chicken Meatballs 1 pound ground chicken 1 1/2 cup bread crumbs 3/4 cup pop puréed onion 2 garlic cloves Basil 1 tbsp olive oil 3/4 cup pasta sauce 1/2 cup whole milk 1 egg, beaten 1/2 cup parmesan 1 tsp oregano 1 teaspoon onion powder 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder

Preheat your oven to 350F. Add 1 medium yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves, basil, and olive oil to a food processor and pulse until fully puréed. To a large mixing bowl, add ground chicken, 1 cup bread crumbs, onion garlic basil mixture, pasta sauce, milk, egg, parmesan, herbs, spices, salt and pepper and mix. If your mixture is too sticky, add more breadcrumbs until you’re able to form balls. Roll them out and bake for 12-15 minutes. Let cool and enjoy in a sandwich, over pasta, or as an app!

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!

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 23

1 Allen St. Hampden, MA

(413) 566-8324

di Hampden House We Offer 3 Different Spaces for All Your Event Needs We Also Offer Two Private Dining Spaces at Any Time. Open for Lunch Friday thru Sunday Half Price Pizza Monday Night in Our Lounge Full Dinner Menu Every Day

LIVE ENTERTAINMENT Friday & Saturday Nights

See our website for our Banquet & Catering Menu

lacucinahampden.com Lounge Open & Pizza 7 Days

Mon.-Thurs. 3pm-9pm | Fri.-Sat. 11:30am-10pm | Sun. 11:30am-9pm

BAR OPEN LATE

NEED SERVICE?

Jenks Productions Presents the 36th Annual Springfield Wedding &

FORD MOBILE SERVICE will come to you, service your vehicle right in your driveway, and be on their way.

Call 800.466.2503

JAN 10 & 11

860-365-5678 24 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

800-466-2503 | WWW.FAMILYFORDINC.COM Route 190 • Enfield, CT • 860-745-1111

Serving CT & MA for 36 Years

Complete Tree Care & Removal Service Stump Grinding • Crane Work • Expert Pruning Insect & Disease Control “Working with People Who Care About Trees!”

24 HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE • Fully Insured • FREE Estimates Soul warming Polish Food at the Delicatessen Restaurant & Sandwich Shop Belvedere of East Windsor, served hot with indoor seating or packaged to take home. We also deliver! (With online orders only). Pierogi, kielbasa, kapusta, stuffed cabbage, soups, pastries, potato pancakes, in-house smoked pastrami and brisket sandwiches.

860.749.7365 • 413.525.3916 CT Licensed Arborist #62445

mtsne.com MA Certified Arborist #1676

122 Prospect Hill Rd, East Windsor, CT (860) 654-0008 PierogiQueen.com Mon & Sat 10:30 – 4 | Tues–Fri 10:30 – 6 | Sun Closed

THE 413 CARD SHOW IS BACK! MOTHER’S DAY WEEKEND SPECTACULAR!

SATURDAY • MAY 9, 2026 • 9AM - 3PM Castle of Knights • 1599 Memorial Drive • Chicopee, MA

110 TABLES! SPORTS CARDS • POKÉMON & TCG MEMORABILIA • SUPPLIES & MORE! DOOR PRIZES EVERY HOUR! FREE PARKING the413cardshow@gmail.com

Admission $5

Kids 12 & Under and ALL MOMS FREE ALL TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR

MEDIA SPONSORS PROUD PARTNERS

BAR WILL BE OPEN FOR FOOD AND DRINK PURCHASES.

@413CARDSHOW GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 25

LOCAL EINSTEIN

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!

WHAT IS THE NAME FOR THE FIRST FULL MOON OF THE YEAR THAT OCCURS IN JANUARY?

NAME THIS U.S. STATE? [A] Mississippi [B] Arkansas [C] Alabama [D] Georgia

[A] Blue Moon [B] Winter Moon [C] Wolf Moon [D] Snow Moon

IN “MARY POPPINS,” WHAT HELPS THE MEDICINE GO DOWN? [A] A spoonful of kindness [B] A spoonful of sugar [C] A spoonful of happiness [D] A spoonful of honey

WHAT WAS THE FIRST JAPANESE CAR TO BE PRODUCED IN THE U.S. (1982)? [A] Toyota Camry [B] Honda Accord [C] Nissan Maxima [D] Mazda Miata

WHO IS THE FASTEST NHL PLAYER TO REACH 1,000 POINTS (424 GAMES)? [A] Wayne Gretzky [B] Mario Lemieux [C] Connor McDavid [D] Alex Ovechkin

HOW MANY YEARS AFTER THE DEBUT OF MICKEY MOUSE WAS IT BEFORE MINNIE MOUSE MADE HER FIRST APPEARANCE? [A] They appeared the same year [B] 1 year [C] 2 years [D] 5 years

WHAT IS THE FASTEST FLYING BIRD IN THE WORLD (OVER 200 MPH)?

WHICH POISON DO APPLE SEEDS CONTAIN? [A] Cyanide [B] Arsenic [C] Ricin [D] Strychnine

ANSWERS:

26 GO LOCAL JANUARY 2026

3)B 6)A 9)C

[A] Postman [B] Door-to-door salesman [C] Barber [D] Cartoonist

2)C 5)A 8)A

WHAT WAS CHARLIE BROWN’S FATHER’S OCCUPATION?

1)C 4)B 7)D

[A] Harpy Eagle [B] Spine-tailed Swift [C] Cooper’s Hawk [D] Peregrine Falcon

# CORRECT

RANK

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

160 110 50 3

Prodigy Egghead Meh Simpleton

The Final Countdown

7 ethnic restaurants offering a culinary experience! SARAY II TURKISH RESTAURANT

MOTU INDIAN KITCHEN

Experience the taste of Turkey at Saray II Turkish Restaurant! They offer a delicious array of authentic Turkish cuisine, prepared with passion and the finest ingredients. Complete your culinary journey with their tempting, homemade Turkish desserts. Saray II brings the heart of Turkish flavor to you.

Explore global flavors with an Indian twist crafted by true food lovers. Their menu seamlessly blends cherished Indian classics with creative international flair, all made from scratch for a delightful experience for every palate. Join them for food they love to cook, eat, and share!

1374 ALLEN ST • SPRINGFIELD, MA WWW.SARAY2TURKISHCUISINE.COM

CANA KOREAN RESTAURANT

159 GROVE ST • CHICOPEE, MA WWW.CANA-KOREAN-RESTAURANT.NET Cana Korean Restaurant is a hidden gem! They take pride in bringing the rich flavors and vibrant traditions of Korea to your table. Whether you’re a fan of classic dishes or looking for an interactive dining experience with Korean Table BBQ, discover the heart of Korea right here in your neighborhood.

HUASTECA MEXICAN RESTAURANT 55 DAY HILL RD • WINDSOR, CT WWW.THEHUASTECARESTAURANT.COM

Huasteca offers authentic Mexican cuisine inspired by Mexico’s diverse Huasteca region, focusing on fresh ingredients, traditional recipes (tacos, moles, seafood), and vibrant flavors in a warm, welcoming atmosphere, aiming to provide a genuine taste of Mexican culture with excellent food and service for a memorable dining experience.

520 N MAIN ST • EAST LONGMEADOW, MA WWW.ILOVEMOTU.COM

FRESH DISH HALAL 369 WALNUT ST EXT • AGAWAM, MA WWW.FRESHDISHHALAL.COM

Fresh Dish Halal is a Mediterranean food restaurant known for its authentic halal options and fresh ingredients. The restaurant offers a variety of dishes, including beef and lamb over rice, falafel, and chicken over rice, with a focus on flavorful and well-seasoned meals. They also provide delivery services, making it convenient for those seeking halal cuisine in the area.

YAAD FOOD

COCO THAI KITCHEN

Yaad Food Jamaican Restaurant was established in 2015. This small, family owned business prides itself on authentic island cuisine and top notch customer service. Whether you decide to visit our locations Indian Orchard or in Chicopee Center, you will find consistent delicious flavors. Their menu offers island specialties like jerk chicken and pork, escovitch fish, oxtail and curried chicken and goat.

Coco Thai Kitchen is your local spot for fresh, flavorful Thai food! They serve up authentic Thai dishes made with love and healthy, highquality ingredients — no MSG, ever. Whether you’re craving classic Pad Thai, crispy duck, or want to try something bold like Green Curry, they’ve got something for everyone. Spice it your way — mild, medium, or extra hot — and enjoy your meal with a refreshing Thai iced tea.

89 MAIN STREET • INDIAN ORCHARD, MA YAADFOODMA.COM

801 THOMPSONVILLE RD • SUFFIELD, CT WWW.COCOTHAIKITCHEN.COM

GOLOCALMAGAZINES.COM 27