Co-owners Stephanie DeFina, Kayla Gates and Matt Gates opened Ludlow Coffee on East Street in this former mill town with a vision. They wanted to give the community a comfortable place to gather. “Everyone goes home, they go to school or they go to work. There’s two locations in people’s lives,” DeFina explained.
A FAMILY OF BUSINESSES FOR ALL YOUR SENIOR CARE NEEDS
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A NOTE
FROM THE EDITOR . TRENT LEVAKIS
Happy June, Go Local readers!
Summer is almost here and as I write up my editor’s note for this edition, I can’t help but be reminded how fast time flies. I have now been editor of Go Local for a full half year and, so far, it has been a welcome addition to my work with Reminder Publishing.
B eing able to connect with and help shine a light on some of the region’s best and unique businesses has been a pleasure, but the best thing has really been getting to meet and learn more about the people running the businesses across our communities themselves.
A s our world has changed and cell phones can dominate our attention, we often can lose sight of the importance of community as we fall into habits of isolation. I fall into that trap too, but just getting out in the world and engaging in it is a great way to reground ourselves in the world and communities we live in.
Each month, I spend time driving around Western Mass. and Northern Connecticut trying to identify potential future features for the magazine, and as someone who grew up in the same area, I didn’t quite appreciate how much the area has to offer. In Massachusetts, especially people from the eastern part of the state can often act as if there isn’t much out here outside of farmland, but that could not be further from the truth.
The number of people and their businesses that make up our uniquely collective communities is the power and foundation of what makes the region so special for those who choose to live in it. Despite the crazy world we live in, we live in a special region of the country. For the most part, people here care for their communities and efforts are made to support one another. I am thankful to live and be a member of society here and am happy to be part of a publication highlighting so many great people and the businesses that make it the place it is.
Continuing with this in mind, this month’s Go Local features three locally owned and operated businesses making waves in their communities not only as viable businesses but as community-oriented spaces.
Ludlow Coffee is growing as a hub for morning drinks as well as community gatherings, Mindful Necessities in Springfield is committed to offering herbal wellness options for the community and Mario’s Pizza in Somers is celebrating five years in the community they are proud to call home as a go-to for families and pizza lovers.
L et this edition of Go Local be another reminder and celebration of the great regional community we all share!
Thanks for reading, Trent Levakis, Editor
Maza
Trent Levakis CREATIVE
Beth Thurber, Manager
Susan Bartlett . Sophia McClellan
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
Ludlow
COFFEE CO.
Co-owners Stephanie DeFina, Kayla Gates and Matt Gates opened Ludlow Coffee on East Street in this former mill town with a vision.
They wanted to give the community a comfortable place to gather.
“Everyone goes home, they go to school or they go to work. There’s two locations in people’s lives,” DeFina explained. “They need a beautiful third location that’s not just a bar or a restaurant. They need a place to hang out and connect with their community.”
Coffee may be their commodity, but fellowship is their focus.
“The community part was something we all felt was really important,” said Kayla Gates. “It’s part of the reason why we have couches. You know, a lot of times now you see places opening up with just the tables and chairs, and it meant a lot for us to provide comfy seating so people feel like they can stay and hang out for a while and connect with other people, and we see it coming to fruition, which is really special.”
K ayla said they often see regulars meeting up and spending time together over coffee.
The shop offers plenty of places to sit and chat, from the ample number of tables for two to the trio of couches
arranged in a friendly grouping before a picture window. A bookcase overflowing with novels and boxed games and a low coffee table offering local newspapers provide more reasons to sip and linger.
The coffee, however, from their classic drip cup of joe to their espressos, cappuccinos, macchiatos, and signature lattes, is the shop’s ultimate draw. The brand of beans — and the handcrafted specialty offerings made from brewing those beans — are all carefully selected to set the independent shop apart from popular area chains. Ludlow Coffee exclusively serves George Howell Coffee, which is based in Acton, Massachusetts.
“George Howell has been around for years,” DeFina said. “They, more famously, are in the Boston area. So, we decided to bring really high-quality coffee out to Western Mass at much more affordable prices.”
For example, a small drip regular or decaf coffee at Ludlow coffee is priced at $2.75. A small espresso is $2.99. A classic cappuccino or latte is $4.99. The shop’s signature latte, which boasts a selection of flavors, is $5.99.
And the coffees they pour aren't the only items Kayla and DeFina have worked to source locally. As a small business, their goal has been to support other local vendors.
K ayla shared that the regular milk the shop uses is
! DEBBIE GARDNER
MARC ST. ONGE
sourced from Maple Line Farms in Hadley. Their alternative milks — oat and almond — are from Esselon Café and Coffee Roasters, also from Hadley. Their baked goods are sourced from Chmura’s bakery in Indian Orchard and Morning Glory Bakery of Belchertown. The maple syrup used in their maple latte is from the Hardwick Sugar Shack in Hardwick. The chouriço the shop uses in their newly introduced sandwich menu, along with other sandwich choices, comes from Katie Street Market.
“It’s locally owned, right here in Ludlow,” Kayla said of the Portuguese sausage purveyor.
They also offer candles and company-branded sweatshirts from La Vele by Mimi, a fellow business located a few doors away.
“They’re small, they just opened up,” Defina added.
But sourcing as many supplies from fellow small businesses isn’t the only way DeFina and the Gates work to support the community.
Beyond their menu offerings, Ludlow Coffee also regularly sponsors numerous in-café events- from vendor popups and monthly romance and sci-fi book clubs to creative gatherings such as a recent paint and coffee sip - as well as supporting fundraising for community-based causes, such as the annual Walk to End Alzheimer’s, which takes place in Holyoke in October.
“ We fundraised over $1,000 for the Alzheimer’s Association last year and hopefully, more this year,” DeFina said, adding that the shop’s now popular blueberry pancake latte
and iced matcha were originally introduced last fall to help support that fundraiser because the drinks had a purplish color.
It’s just one of a rotating selection of signature lattes that have been inspired by customers, DeFina said, adding that a regular customer had mentioned having a blueberry pancake latte at a shop on the West Coast and perhaps the shop should try the flavor. The current trio of bananainspired drink offerings - including a banana split flavor choice- all came from a customer’s suggestion as well, Kayla added.
Drink flavor choices rotate weekly and monthly. But at the beginning of each season, the café lets the customers help decide the next signature drinks, DeFina explained.
“So, we do a kind of like a tournament bracket-style, with four-to-eight beverages, like flavor drinks for lattes, and the customers get to vote on what they want as our next signature,” Defina said. “So, we always have one customer-voted signature, which is a fun way to bring them along with the journey.”
FROM IDEA TO SUCCESSFUL STARTUP
DeFina and Kayla have known each other since they were undergrad students at Simmons University in Boston. But when that friendship formed nine years ago, neither had the dream of being a coffee shop owner.
In fact, both have gone on to successful business careers, with Kayla working full-time for MassMutual in Springfield
and DeFina working for TIAA Financial Services Institution in New York. It was Kayla who had what DeFina described as an “amazing idea” to get into the coffee business about a year ago.
“The idea to start a coffee shop was mine, but then we all came together to make it what it is,” Kayla explained.
“Matt and I had been talking about it, and then, because Steph and I we’re best friends, we hang out all the time, I talked to her about it because I wanted her thoughts on it,” Kayla explained, adding she asked DeFina, “What do you think about this? Wouldn’t it be so cool?”
And then, DeFina said, Kayla put a PowerPoint pitch deck up on the TV, outlining her plans.
“And she said, ‘Yeah, let me get in on that,’” Kayla said.
The decision to site their new business in Ludlow was easy. Kayla and Matt had grown up there, their families had been in the town for generations, and they had plans to start a family in Ludlow.
The trio started talking seriously about their coffee shop concept in November of 2024. From initial concept to open-for-business was about eight months, including finding the location, a former restaurant, at 135 East St., renovating and redecorating the space, and securing the necessary permits to open their new coffee shop.
Ludlow Coffee officially opened its doors in July of 2025, with Matt, whose previous careers involved music and managing people, overseeing the day-to-day operations, Kayla working on financials and recipe development, and
DeFina handling the marketing and social media for the new business.
According to Matt, business has been good, with a steady, loyal clientele that results in about 80 to 90 drink and food purchases during weekdays, with up to 150 daily purchases on the weekend.
“ We made our menu to compete with, I mean, honestly, the only local coffee originally when we opened, was Dunkin and Starbucks, so we wanted to take a more traditional approach to what we offered,” DeFina explained. “So, our macchiato is a macchiato and not a latte. No shade but yeah, we wanted to have a very traditional menu,” she added, describing the slate of coffees that include not only a true macchiato but also a cappuccino, espresso, Americano, cortado, red eye, café au lait, latte and mocha, as well as steeped tea, chi latte, dirty latte, matcha latte and hot chocolate. All beverages but the hot chocolate are available hot or iced.
“ We wanted people … especially the old Portuguese folks that may live here, [to get] a good cappuccino,” DeFina said. “We just have a blast making different concoctions.”
LUDLOW COFFEE, LOCATED AT 135 EAST ST., IS OPEN 6 A.M. TO 4 P.M. TUESDAY TO FRIDAY, 7 A.M. TO 4 P.M. SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THE COFFEE SHOP IS CLOSED ON MONDAY. CHECK ITS WEBSITE AT LUDLOWCOFFEECO.COM FOR THE SHOP’S FULL MENU AND UPCOMING SPECIAL EVENTS.
GO LOCAL PICKS
46TH ANNUL FATHER'S DAY ROAD RACE
SPRINGFIELD JCC
594 CONVERSE ST • LONGMEADOW, MA
JUNE 21 - 9AM
This event welcomes participants of all ages and abilities, including serious runners, fun runners, new runners, walkers, families, and individuals with special needs. The race includes a 10K, 5K, and an inclusive EveryOneMile with a PJ Library StoryWalk. Participants in the 10K or 5K will receive a race t-shirt, and those who purchase a commemorative 'sneaker' will honor a father, grandfather, mentor, or any special father figure. The route starts in the parking lot of the Springfield JCC, at 594 Converse Street in Longmeadow, MA. It follows local roads in a loop bringing you back to the JCC to complete 5k. Run the loop again to complete the 10k.
For more information and to register visit: https://tinyurl.com/JCC-RACE
FATHER'S DAY AT THE FARM
SUB EDGE FARM
199 TOWN FARM RD • FARMINGTON, CT
JUNE 21 • 11AM - 3PM
Dads dine decadently, sip freely, and celebrate leisurely. Bright and open with a lively farm scene, savor all there is to enjoy. Father’s Day Festival experience includes Dad's favorite adult beverages, seafood raw bar, brunch classics, grilled butchers cuts including steaks, made-to-order omelets, paella, and desserts. Spoil your dad and the whole family.
For more information and to purchase tickets visit: https://tinyurl.com/SUB-EDGE-FARM
CORNHOLE TOURNAMENT AT THE TENDER
STEAMING TENDER RESTAURANT
28 DEPOT ST • PALMER, MA
JUNE 13 • 2PM - 4PM
A fun Father's Day Tournament at The Steaming Tender! Free beer tasting by Berkshire Brewing. Smoked chicken and smoked corn on the cob will be available for purchase and of course many more options from their amazing menu. Please tell everyone you know and as many Father/Son combos to make this a very special day. Come early and get some food and a spot at The Park. As a special to those who register and play, The Steaming Tender is giving you a Free Dessert! Their Famous Whiskey Bread Pudding! Doors open at 12 p.m. and bags fly at 1 p.m. Bring a chair and a pop-up tent if youd like as their is limited seating and will be outdoors.
To sign up visit: https://tinyurl.com/3x38r9b9
PIZZERIA & RISTORANTE
If you want to experience what Italian cuisine has to offer, come to Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante in Somers, CT, on 48 South Road in the Southfield Corners Shops with dine-in, takeout and delivery. The locally owned and operated restaurant is welcoming for families and anyone who wants to experience true authentic Italian recipes brought over from Bracigliano, Italy.
Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante is more than just a pizza shop. Owners Mario Ferrentino and Nikko Plescia offer something for everyone with choices of appetizers, soups, arrays of salads, wings, grinders, pizzas, pastas and many classic Italian dinner entrees. Ferrentino and Plescia manage the restaurant and run a close-knit team of amazing employees. They do a little bit of everything to keep the kitchen clean and to keep the operation running smooth, taking pride in serving good, quality Italian food and bringing new creative ideas to the table.
In March of 2026, Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante celebrated its fifth anniversary and has become a staple in the heart of Somers.
“It feels great,” said Ferrentino. “We work so hard day in and day out to be the best and give the best to our customers. When we opened during COVID, it was challenging, but the amount of support we got from the community from day one was overwhelming and we’re so happy to be in Somers. It’s been the best five years of my life and we’re looking forward to many years to come.”
Plescia added, “It’s an awesome thing to celebrate. We love
Somers and met some amazing customers that now we consider as close as family. With our restaurant, it’s important to get to know the community and marking five years is a great milestone to show that we’re here for the long run.”
Ferrentino comes from a family well-versed in the restaurant business. His father, Claudio, along with his uncles, owns the landmark Teresa’s Restaurant in Ware, MA. His other family members have restaurants all over Massachusetts and Connecticut. It’s been something Ferrentino has been doing his entire life, which he loves and has a passion for.
Plescia wanted to be an environmental police officer growing up, but started off as a dishwasher when he was 15 years old. After eventually working his way through various positions, he realized that he wanted to be a part of the food and restaurant industry. Plescia began working at Teresa’s Restaurant and developed a love for it. There he met Ferrentino and the two became close friends and have worked together for many years since.
As time went on, Ferrentino was looking to open a restaurant and Plescia was looking to branch out and start something new, leading to the duo deciding to join forces and, from that point, Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante was born.
“The best part about working with Mario is that I’m working with a family member,” said Plescia. “He’s someone that I’m close with, someone that I trust and get along well with.”
Ferrentino reiterated, “We work well off one another, dating back to our years working together at my father’s restau-
rant. Having a good working relationship is key to having a successful business and it’s an extra bonus that we have a close friendship outside of work as well.”
Ferrentino wanted a place where people can not only order take-out and delivery, but also offer an inviting space to dine in and enjoy a nice meal with family and friends. Somers was the town Ferrentino envisioned because it was close to where he grew up in East Longmeadow, MA. He fell in love with the town and family atmosphere, describing Somers as a town he watched from afar. When the opportunity came, Ferrentino knew it was the perfect fit.
“Somers is a very tight-knit, close family community where everybody helps each other and looks out for one another,” said Ferrentino. “I honestly couldn’t imagine a better home for a restaurant. I couldn’t be happier in Somers.”
For someone going to Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante for the first time, Plescia and Ferrentino would recommend their pizzas like the Margherita (plum tomato sauce, fresh mozzarella & fresh basil) and the Olivia (tomatoes, eggplant, fresh basil, mozzarella, spices, oil & garlic sauce) named after Ferrentino’s daughter. They also added that for their dinner options, the Chicken Marsala (with sautéed mushrooms in a sweet Marsala wine sauce) and the Chicken Piccata (with capers in a lemon, butter & wine sauce) are both great choices.
Mathew Bys from Ludlow, MA, has followed Ferrentino’s cooking abilities from his last restaurant. When Bys heard Ferrentino was opening a pizza shop in Somers, he was thrilled and knew he had to be there. “Mario’s Pizzeria & Ristorante is a great place for a quick delicious meal that won’t
rip your wallet from your pocket,” Bys said. “My favorite things to eat there are the combo pizza and the spicy calamari depending on how my taste buds are feeling.”
Every time he’s in the area, Bys stops in. While eating there, he has shared the restaurant with numerous families headed to dance recitals, dirty from baseball games, to countless adult meetups with friends of all ages. “The laughter and conversation that fills those pizza oven-heated walls makes you feel right at home,” Bys said. “Coworkers, friends and even strangers have all recommended this restaurant. So, you know the food is good.”
Recently, the restaurant underwent some in-house renovations and added a bar with draft beer, along with a variety of wines, hard ciders, and hard seltzers. Ferrentino and Plescia wanted to give people that option so they could have it to make the place in the dining room and the whole dining experience as comfortable as possible. In the meantime, the two will continue to work hard and send out quality products they are proud of. “Our goal is to stay consistent and stay true to who we are,” Ferrentino said. “We want to continue growing our brand, being a part of this community and helping the town any way we can. We’re happy to have a home in Somers.”
MARIO’S PIZZERIA & RISTORANTE IS OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 11:30 A.M. TO 8 P.M., FRIDAY & SATURDAY FROM 11:30 A.M. TO 9 P.M. AND SUNDAYS FROM NOON TO 8 P.M. VISIT ITS WEBSITE AT MARIOSSOMERS.COM. YOU CAN ALSO FOLLOW IT ON FACEBOOK.COM/MARIOSPIZZERIAANDRISTORANTE WHERE IT RUNS WEEKLY DINNER AND PIZZA SPECIALS OF THE WEEK.
Peach Cobbler
5 peaches
¾ cup sugar
¼ teaspoon salt FOR THE BATTER:
6 tbsp butter
1 cup flour
1 cup granulated sugar
2 tsp baking powder
¼ tsp salt
¾ cup milk
1 tsp vanilla Cinnamon
Dice your peaches and add to a sauce pan with your sugar and salt. Cook for about 5-10 minutes on low heat.
Preheat your oven to 350 and add your butter to your baking dish and let melt in the oven.
While your butter is melting, make your batter. Add in your dry ingredients (minus cinnamon) to a mixing bowl and stir to combine, whisk in your milk and vanilla until you have a smooth batter.
Once your butter is melted, remove baking dish from the oven and add in your batter. Add peaches over the top of your batter, and generously sprinkle with cinnamon.
Add your baking dish back into the oven and bake for 40 minutes. Let cool and enjoy!
l
HERBAL WELLNESS Mindful Necessities
In a sunlit storefront in Springfield, jars of herbs line the walls, eco-friendly products fill carefully curated shelves and conversations about healing happen as naturally as breathing. For Keya Hicks, owner of Mindful Necessities Herbal Wellness, the shop is more than a business. It is the continuation of generations of healing traditions rooted in family, wellness and community care.
“My mission is really, and what inspired me, was that I come from a long line of ancestry of healers in my family,” Hicks said.
That legacy began in childhood. Hicks describes herself as a “pretty sickly” child who struggled with immunity and staying healthy. Her grandmother, an herbalist, became both caregiver and teacher, introducing her to natural remedies passed down through generations.
“She would literally teach me what she learned from
her parents and then their parents,” Hicks said. “She really inspired me as I saw over the years and from my youthful years how her remedies really helped keep her family healthy.”
Those lessons stayed with Hicks into adulthood and motherhood. As a single mother raising four boys, she often returned to the healing traditions her grandmother taught her.
“There were times that they would get their little scrapes and cuts, and I always tried to find ways to reconnect with what my grandmother taught me and how she kept me well as a child,” she said. “So, I would use those same healing traditions that I was wonderfully exposed to as a child growing up for my boys, and it kept my family healthy.”
Before opening her storefront, Hicks spent years involved in activism and social and economic justice work, helping people navigate challenges and seek positive change in their lives. Over time, that advocacy naturally evolved into wellness work.
“I’ve always been an advocate for healing and wellness,” she said. “I’ve worked with people, I’ve listened to their stories and I’ve offered alternative solutions to help them find the power within them to make change in their lives.”
That philosophy is now central to Mindful Necessities Herbal Wellness, which officially opened April 6. Hicks describes her approach as deeply holistic, emphasizing the connection between mind, body and spirit.
“One of the things with herbalists, we take a very holistic approach in addressing everything that bothers or enters the body that keeps it unwell,” she said. “It has to be the mind, it has to be the body as well as the spirit. And balancing those three because without one working right, all of the others will fail.”
R ather than focusing solely on illness, Hicks hopes customers leave her shop feeling empowered to actively participate in their own wellness journeys.
“My practice, it really isn’t about waging war on death and illness because we know that’s just part of the cycle of life,” she said. “But instead of that, I feel like if I am nurturing wholeness and wellness and helping people actively be participatory in their own wellness journey, that’s really my mission.”
Education is also a major part of the experience at Mindful Necessities. Customers browsing the shop can learn about herbs like chamomile and milk thistle and discover how natural ingredients may support wellness in everyday life.
“Some of them don’t know about milk thistle or chamomile maybe, or they don’t know all there is to know about these herbs and how they help people,” Hicks said. “Education is a big piece of my mission and helping people to understand you can make small changes that lead to larger changes in life.”
That commitment extends beyond herbal remedies.
Hicks carefully selects eco-friendly and ethically sourced products that align with her values around sustainability and environmental wellness.
“ Whether it’s products that I make myself, I handmake, or products that I sell in my store, they all have to be in alignment with that mission of wellness,” she said. “I believe in looking out for the ecosystem and working with ethical companies.”
Since opening, Hicks says the response from the community has been encouraging and emotional. Some visitors arrive ready to shop, while others simply want a place to talk and share their stories.
“Sometimes they don’t want to buy anything right away,” she said. “They just want to talk. They just want to tell their stories.”
O thers express gratitude that a wellness-focused herbal shop has opened in Springfield.
“They’re like, ‘Oh my goodness, I’ve been looking all over for a place, a store like this to open in an area like this,’” Hicks said.
For Hicks, those interactions reinforce the purpose behind her work. At her grand opening, she told visitors the space belongs to the community.
“This is the community store,” she said. “This is for everybody. All walks of life are welcome here.”
U ltimately, Hicks sees her role not simply as a business owner, but as someone dedicated to healing people and nurturing a healthier world.
“Because I’m a healer,” she said. “That’s what I do. I work to heal others and the world.”
MINDFUL NECESSITIES HERBAL WELLNESS IS OPEN TUESDAY THROUGH THURSDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 4 P.M. AND ON SATURDAY FROM 10 A.M. TO 6 P.M. FOR MORE INFORMATION VISIT WWW.MINDFULNECESSITIESSHOP.COM.
On a warm summer day, there’s nothing quite like having a nice beverage outside. Whether you’re looking to make a day of it or simply stopping for a few moments in between summertime activities, the combination of sitting back, taking in the fresh air and enjoying a nice, cold beer is pretty much synonymous with relaxation.
Luckily, our region is filled with locally owned breweries that offer the chance to do just that. With so many options, it can be hard to know where to start. So, here’s a list of a few family-friendly places in the area to grab a beer (and maybe a bite) in the sunshine.
TREE HOUSE BREWING CO. SOUTH DEERFIELD, MA
Considered by many to be a gold standard in brewing, the same holds true for their outdoor experience. Located on Route 5/10, the craft beer juggernaut’s South Deerfield location has an expansive outdoor area complete with a patio with tables, a garden area with picnic tables, a lawn litter with Adirondack chairs, walking paths and an outdoor stage. The beers and the vibes are both immaculate. Throw in an order for a woodfired pizza on top and you’ve got a combination that has led to more than a few great family lunch dates for the Mazas.
You can’t go wrong with Tree House’s other locations, whether it be its flagship location in Charlton with its own outdoor space including hiking trails, the golf course in Tewksbury or the seaside getaway on the Cape, but the South Deerfield location is quintessential Western Mass.
TREE HOUSE BREWING CO. IS LOCATED AT 1 COMMUNITY PLACE, SOUTH DEERFIELD, MA. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT TREEHOUSEBREW.COM/VISITING-DEERFIELD
TWO WEEKS NOTICE BREWING WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA
A stone’s throw from the bustle of Memorial Avenue in West Springfield is a secluded little slice of heaven for outdoor beer lovers. Two Weeks Notice’s outdoor patio located beside its taproom isn’t the biggest around, but it offers a comfortable sanctuary with a combination of picnic tables and umbrellas, lounge-worthy outdoor sofas and chairs, and patio games like cornhole and giant Connect 4. Adorning the wall is the unique and colorful mural created by late local artist Eric Clarke, bringing the area to life with a cast of characters. There’s an array of styles on tap
and a kitchen that’s slinging everything from snacks to belly-filling North Shorestyle roast beef sandwiches.
TWO WEEKS NOTICE BREWING IS LOCATED AT 110 BOSWORTH ST., WEST SPRINGFIELD, MA. FOR UPDATES, FOLLOW IT ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/TWOWEEKSNOTICEBREWCO
DUDLEYTOWN BREWING CO. | WINDSOR, CT
Dudleytown offers two different outdoor areas — a patio at the front of the building with table seating and a fire pit and an expansive deck off the back that offers panoramic views of the neighboring Fastpitch Nation Park. You can grab a beer and watch the action happening one of its 12 softball fields. The beers run the gamut from hazy IPAs to stouts to mixed berry sours and their own kitchen provides everything from giant pretzels to sandwiches to woodfired pizza.
DUDLEYTOWN BREWING IS LOCATED AT 1001 DAY HILL ROAD, WINDSOR, CT. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT DUDLEYTOWNBREWING.COM
SKYLINE BEER CO. | WESTFIELD, MA
Since moving to its current home on Southwick Road, Skyline has been leaning into the opportunity to offer an outdoor experience, steadily expanding its patio into a beer garden area with a terrific view of the farmland below. The patio is complete with climbing hop vines and its own outdoor bar. The beer garden area, including a stage in the far corner, provides a flexible space that has been used for everything from concerts to Easter egg hunts.
SKYLINE BEER CO. IS LOCATED AT 98 SOUTHWICK ROAD, WESTFIELD, MA. FOR UPDATES, FOLLOW IT ON FACEBOOK AT FACEBOOK.COM/SKYLINEBEERCO
THE RED BREWSTER BREWERY | ENFIELD, CT
A family-run farm brewery, The Red Brewster is a quaint, almost exclusively outdoor spot for a drink. It does have a small pouring house, but this spot is ideal for lovers of the outdoors with picnic tables (many under cover) and a fire pit as well as farm animals, including chickens, goats and alpacas. Because of the animals, however, you should leave your own furry companions at home. There’s a variety of beers to satisfy different palates. They don’t have their own food, but will have occasional food trucks.
THE RED BREWSTER IS LOCATED AT 50 WEYMOUTH ROAD, ENFIELD, CT. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT THEREDBREWSTER.COM
VANISHED VALLEY BREWING CO. | LUDLOW, MA
Vanished Valley has one of the largest outdoor venues in the area. To the rear of the building, you’ll find no shortage of tables both in the sun or in the shade under the tent. The space includes its own outdoor shack — which was actually the original brewhouse — where you can get your pours and, depending on the day and staffing, order food from the kitchen. The outdoor space also boasts a sprawling lawn where people can spread out, families can play, and folks can enjoy their large fire pit. The outdoor stage provides entertainment throughout the summer.
VANISHED VALLEY BREWING IS LOCATED AT 782 CENTER ST., LUDLOW, MA. FOR MORE INFO, VISIT VANISHEDVALLEY.COM
Treasures SECOND CHANCE
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~Antique & Vintage Gold, Silver and Costume Jewelry
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TUES, WED, & THUR Dinner for Two Includes a Bottle of House Wine Appetizer Combo for Two, 2 Salads or Soups, Two Entrées, One Dessert $72.95
LOCAL EINSTEIN
TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE - NO GOOGLING!
WHAT GEOMETRIC SHAPE GENERALLY IS USED FOR STOP SIGNS?
[A] Octagon
[B] Hexagon
[C] Decagon
[D] Pentagon
WHAT IS THE NAME OF THE MLB TEAM BASED IN SEATTLE?
[A] Sounders
[B] Mariners
[C] Kraken
[D] Seahawks
WHAT IS THE HOTTEST PLANET IN THE SOLAR SYSTEM?
[A] Mars
[B] Mercury
[C] Jupiter
[D] Venus
WHAT YEAR WAS FATHER’S DAY FIRST CELEBRATED IN THE UNITED STATES?
[A] 1910
[B] 1920
[C] 1930
[D] 1940
WHAT IS STEPHEN KING’S LONGEST BOOK?
[A] The Stand
[B] It
[C] Under the Dome
[D] 11/22/63
FROM WHICH COUNTRY DOES GOUDA CHEESE ORIGINATE?
[A] Denmark
[B] Germany
[C] The Netherlands
[D] Austria
WHAT IS A GROUP OF GIRAFFES CALLED?
[A] Tower
[B] Troop
[C] Crew
[D] Flight
WHICH BEATLE CROSSED ABBEY ROAD FIRST?
[A] John
[B] Paul
[C] George
[D] Ringo
WHAT MOVIE POPULARIZED THE PHRASE “SHOW ME THE MONEY?”
[A] Moneyball
[B] Risky Business
[C] Jerry Maguire
[D] The Color of Money
The Final Countdown
7 Farms To Find Sweet Summer Strawberries*
*Call ahead for current crop availability and any seasonal changes.
EASY PICKIN’S ORCHARD
4805, 46 BAILEY ROAD • ENFIELD, CT
EASYPICKINSORCHARD.COM (860) 763-3276
Easy Pickin's Orchard offers a variety of berries and lots of vegetables. Visit their website for more information on pick your own fruits, and check out the online ordering option!
KOSINSKI FARMS
420 RUSSELLVILLE ROAD
WESTFIELD, MA
KOSINSKIFARMS.NET (413) 572-4344
Kosinski Farms has so much to offer with plants, fruits, veggies, herbs, deli meats, bakery items, jams, and seasonal decorations. Stop by for some fresh berries and enjoy local treats!
MEADOWBROOK FARM
185 MEADOWBROOK ROAD EAST LONGMEADOW, MA
MEADOWBROOKFARMMA.COM (413) 525-8588
Known for the most delicious strawberries in the area. They offer some of the best hand grown strawberries in Massachusetts. As soon as June arrives you and your family can enjoy some of the tastiest strawberries around.
PIE IN THE SKY BERRY FARM
139 FAIR STREET EXTENSION
NORTHAMPTON, MA (413) 650-0356
At Pie in the Sky Berry Farm, you can pick your own strawberries in June, and blueberries in July. In the fall, they offer cut your own Dahlias. Pie In the Sky is located just minutes from downtown Northampton with beautiful spring scenery.
DICKINSON FARM & GREENHOUSE
309 EAST STATE STREET• GRANBY, MA
DICKINSONSFARM.COM (413) 467-3794
A popular, family-owned farm renowned for thier local produce and expansive greenhouses. Summer features pick-your-own berries (such as strawberries) and home-grown native sweet corn and tomatoes.
BAXTER'S BERRY FARM
99 WILBRAHAM ROAD MONSON, MA (413) 310-4284
Baxter’s Berry Farm is a small, family-run farm, known for fresh berries, stone fruit, and seasonal farm activities. It’s a great spot for U-pick, farmstand shopping, and community - fr iendly farm days.
SCANTIC VALLEY FARM
327 9TH DISTRICT ROAD • SOMERS, CT SCANTICVALLEYFARM.COM (860) 749-3286
Pick your own berries at Scantic Valley Farm, or purchased pre-picked berries. Call ahead for daily updates and picking availability. June is the time for strawberries, but it doesn’t stop there. Enjoy blueberry picking and the blooming sunflower fields throughout July!
