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Breakfast of champions

World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast returns to downtown Springfield

By Keith O’Connor

Special to The Republican

If you want to enjoy a breakfast of champions on Saturday, you’ll want to head downtown.

Priced at a bargain — $3 for adults and $1 for kids under 12 — Springfield’s World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast features pancakes topped with butter donated by Cabot Creamery, bacon donated by Smithfield Foods, Little Bites donated by Bimbo Bakeries USA, coffee donated

Breakfast

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and brewed by the Sheraton Springfield, H.P. Hood milk and orange juice, and Springfield water right from the tap.

Organized by the Spirit of Springfield, breakfast begins at 8 a.m. and will continue until 11 a.m. — or until everyone in line has been served a plate of pancakes to enjoy at 200 tables lined up along Main Street from State to Bridge streets in Springfield.

This year’s honorary breakfast chair is State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez.

“I am humbled and deeply grateful to have been selected to serve as this year’s honorary chair. The World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast is one of the most vibrant family-friendly events, not just in Springfield, but throughout the state. The popular event adds to the cultural vibrancy of Springfield by bringing people together regardless of race, creed, gender, ethnicity or background to have fun and celebrate all that is good,” Gonzalez said.

The state representative first attended the breakfast after moving to Springfield in 1997, while at the time working in

the mayor’s office. When he became a father, his children would accompany him, and now, his grandchildren, calling it a “great experience” for his family.

“This year’s breakfast is more patriotic than ever before as we celebrate not only the 250th anniversary of this great country of ours, but also the 363rd birthday of the founding of Springfield, more than 100 years before our Declaration of Independence from British rule,” Gonzalez said.

He will lead a special speaking program at 9:30 a.m. at the Bruce Landon Way Stage that will include a show of patriotism as Vanessa Ford, accompanied by the Sci-Tech Band with the assistance of the St. Michael’s Academy Choir, sings “God Bless America.”

And, spoiler alert for those who don’t already know about it: There will be a “surprise” patriotic flash mob during the speaking program.

“We had a flash mob perform at one of our breakfasts many years ago. I’ve been waiting to stage another ever since and with the 250th anniversary of America this year, I thought this would be

“This year’s breakfast is more patriotic than ever before, as we celebrate not only the 250th anniversary of this great country of ours, but also the 363rd birthday of the founding of Springfield, more than 100 years before our Declaration of Independence from British rule.”

Artist repurposes old books in D’Amour Museum exhibit

By Ashley P otter apotter@repub.com

Where most people might see an old, dusty book, Donna Castellanos senses opportunity.

The Illinois artist takes damaged and abandoned books and transforms them into works of art. In one, book covers, pages and bindings from a 1940s “Book of Knowledge” encyclopedia set are transformed into a tree of knowledge.

In another creation, “Fall Asleep Reading Sheep,” book bindings, salvaged table legs, papier-mache and wood are assembled to look like a fluffy sheep.

“I used to do a lot more assemblage work,” Castellanos said in an interview with The Republican. Most of her art has been made with objects that were forgotten or left behind, often from estate sales and thrift stores.

“But books started creeping in because they were constantly being left at estate sales, especially encyclopedias. For me, it was, like, 23 volumes of a set meant multiple materials that I could use,” she said.

Castellanos’ work, all part of the exhibit “Book of Wonder, Cover to Cover,” is on display through September on the second floor of the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

From floor to ceiling, books are everywhere. Old covers are wrapped around pillars

‘Cover to Cover’

in the museum’s hobby. Designs made out of book illustrations hang from the museum’s ceiling. Rugs that might seem to be crocheted were crafted by rolling and weaving hundreds of pages of paper.

Walking through the gallery, Castellanos had a story to share behind nearly every piece in the exhibit.

Many were inspired by her own life, she said, including both good and bad moments.

“I realized I do better when it’s more personal,” she said. “And I think a lot of the things are relatable to other people, I hope.”

One of the pieces in the exhibit, “Ikey,” depicts Castellanos’ family cat chasing after a bird. It is made of chicken wire, papier-mache and encyclopedia set covers.

Another tells a much sadder story — the day her father died while mowing

New exhibit looks at how Springfield became a ‘City of Firsts’

By K eith O ’C onnor

Special to The

Republican

Springfield’s contribution to the American language through its association with Merriam-Webster Dictionaries from 1777 to 1879 illustrate how definitions and national identity have shifted over time.

Station. The Duryea brothers, Charles and Frank, designed and built the first gasoline-powered automobile. (THE REPUBLICAN, FILE PHOTO)

That is just one of the many stories visitors to the Springfield Museums will learn as part of the opening of “Declaration of Innovation: Springfield’s Revolutionary Ideas,” on view at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History from May 16 to Sept. 27.

Timed to coincide with the nation’s 250th anniversary, the exhibition explores how bold thinking has shaped Springfield’s identity as the “City of Firsts.” Through immersive environments, hands-on activities and compelling storytelling, visitors will discover how ordinary people sparked extraordinary change across centuries.

“I knew when I started at

the Springfield Museums back in June 2024 that we were going to mark America’s 250th anniversary. It’s one of those historic anniversaries that only comes around once in a career, once in a lifetime. So, I knew a lot of doors would open with the celebration and this was an exhibit we would need to do,” said Elizabeth Kapp, curator of history at the Springfield Museums. The exhibit features four thematic sections including “Road to Revolution,” “Designing the Dictionary,” “Inventing the Industrial Revolution,” and “Springfield: Past, Present and Future.” There is also a

TUESDAY

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Bingo Tuesday

Doors Open at 4PM

2 Progressive Jackpots 6:15PM Early Bird 6:20PM Start

Min. Entry Package $15

Open Seating

2 Halls for Players Handicap Restroom 1st Floor

WEDNESDAY

Polish American Citizens Club 355 East Street, Ludlow, 583-6385

Bingo Wednesdays 6:30-9:30pm

Doors Open at 4pm. Minimum Admission $50

1 - 1199 Progressive Betty Boop 50/50 Prize $900

2 - $500 Cover Alls

3 - $400 Special Games All regular games $100 with 80 people or More. All Cards are included with Admission. Prizes climb with

THURSDAY

Fairview Knights of Columbus 1599 Memorial Drive, Chicopee (413) 532-2011

DOORS OPEN 4:30PM MASKS OPTIONAL Progressive Jackpot 6:15pm Early Bird 6:20pm Start

Electronic Bingo Aval. Snack Bar, Open Seating, Handicap Restrooms

Min. Entry Package $15

“Everything is pointing to what might be one of our biggest if not the biggest year ever. We have 70,000 requests for free tickets, 5,000 more than last year.”

JUDITH MATT, PRESIDENT, SPIRIT OF SPRINGFIELD

the ideal time,” said Judith A. Matt, president of the Spirit of Springfield.

To organize the patriotic assembly, Matt turned to Ashley Kohl Bassett, owner of Ohana School of Performing Arts in Chicopee, to make it happen.

“I saw Judy while attending an event in January and she mentioned that she would love to do a flash mob at the breakfast. I was excited to hear her idea and on board with her suggestion, and we later met to brainstorm at her office,” Bassett said.

“Judy wanted something patriotic and we discussed what the best song choice would be and the goal we wanted to achieve — to further bring the community together by adding joy and positive energy through the excitement of a flash mob,” she added.

So, Bassett went to work choreographing a dance set to the John Mellencamp tune, “R.O.C.K. in the U.S.A.”

While dancers from her

the smiles on everyone’s faces as they get out of their seats at the breakfast table to join in the flash mob with us,” Bassett said, adding that it will be an easy dance to follow

school and Mary Ann’s Studio of Dance will help lead the flash mob, Bassett said she made a tutorial video of the dance and will share it on the community stage for anyone who wants to join in.

“I’m really excited to see

along with.

As an additional tip of the hat to America’s 250th birthday, Matt noted a garrison American flag will be strung high across Main Street, attached to two ladder trucks from the Springfield Fire

Department.

But — if you want to add a patriotic face to your pancake on Saturday — then you will have to bring along your own can of whipped cream and a few strawberries and blueberries.

Before Saturday arrives, Mercy Medical Center will have already mixed more than 500 gallons of batter donated by Performance Foodservice and MGM Springfield. The Hampden County Sheriff’s Department will have cooked 1,050 pounds of bacon and loaded it into 100 foil pans donated by Mansfield Paper Company. Michael’s Party Rentals will have set up three cooking tents, more than 200 tables and just over 1,000 chairs. Springfield’s Department of Public Works will have picked up paper supplies donated by Baystate Health and Mansfield Paper Company and delivered the bacon to MGM Springfield.

On Saturday morning, before the sun rises, H. P. Hood will have delivered hundreds

of gallons of milk, juice and cream that Yellowstone Landscape will have transferred to refrigerated trucks provided by Quality Beverage, Performance Foodservice, and

Opens May 16

Get on your bike for free breakfast

In honor of National Bike Month, the City of Springfield is encouraging visitors to Saturday’s World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast to bike downtown. Free, secure bike parking will be available at the Beacon Bank parking lot on Harrison Avenue for those who choose to bike in. Additionally, all cyclists will receive a free breakfast ticket. Don’t have a bike? No problem. You can find the ValleyBike Share station — which offers e-bikes for rent — nearest to you by going online to valleybike. org or by downloading the mobile app on Apple and Android.

Home Grown Springfield — Sodexo. Soon after, Sheraton Springfield will be brewing

Explore the bold inventions, groundbreaking ideas, and creative thinkers that shaped the City of Firsts— from the American Revolution to the industrial age and beyond.

forensic investigative genetic genealogy DNA collection on a volunteer basis.

DNA samples will be collected in the form of cheek swabs and will be used to help support ongoing unsolved homicide investigations in Hampden County.

“Every case we carry represents a life lost and a family still waiting for answers,” Hampden District Attorney Anthony D. Gulluni said in a statement. “Forensic genetic genealogy has become an important tool in that work, and community participation plays a real role in helping us move these cases forward.”

MGM Springfield has been the lead sponsor of the breakfast since 2013 with additional support this year from Monson Savings Bank, All States Materials, TD Bank and GoNetSpeed.

hundreds of gallons of coffee, and MGM Springfield will start warming the bacon.

Volunteer cooks, servers, ticket sellers and cleaners from all over the community then arrive to lend a helping hand.

Live entertainment will begin at 8 a.m. on the Bruce Landon Way Stage by Sci-Tech Jazz Band, Ohana School of Performing Arts, and Mary Ann’s Studio of Dance. Red Grass Ministries — BRKN Music, Community Music School, Libertas Academy Charter School, and Springfield Prep Charter School will grace the Harrison Avenue Stage.

Children and adults alike also will be able to grab a photo with Boomer from the Springfield Thunderbirds at their table in front of the MassMutual Center.

Other ongoings in Court Square, sponsored by Monson Savings Bank, include games to play, reenactors representing the Springfield Armory National Historic Site, William Diamond Jr. Fife & Drum Corps, and equipment and apparatus from the Springfield

Police and Fire Departments.

All States Materials will also be onsite with heavy equipment. There will also be a prize wheel with giveaways courtesy of WWLP-TV22News.

Multiple community service organizations and businesses

will staff tables at the event and provide information about their services, including 319th Recruiting Square/G-Fit, All in Energy, All States Materials, Alzheimer’s Association, Baystate Noble Hospital, Community Autism Services,

Community Bank, Country Bank, Department of Children and Families, Edward Jones, GoNet Speed, Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department, HCS Head Start, Home Grown SpringfieldSodexo, League of Women Voters – Springfield Unit, Libertas Academy Charter School, Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence, Massachusetts Army National Guard, Monson Savings Bank, New Valley Bank & Trust, Office of Attorney General, Phoenix Charter Academy Springfield, Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA), Pioneer Valley Yacht Club, and Scouting America Western Massachusetts Council, just to name a few.

The Hampden District Attorney’s Office will also have a booth set up at the breakfast, where it will be conducting

Additional support for the breakfast is provided by Costco, Elegant Affairs, MassMutual Center, Springfield Parking Authority, Springfield Department of Parks, Buildings and Recreation Management and the Springfield Police Department.

Parking, priced at $5, is available at the I-91 North and South Garages, Convention Center Carpark, Columbus Center Garage and Union Station Garage.

The day-long schedule is complete when everyone has gone home. Afterwards, the Springfield Business Improvement District, Hampden County Sheriff’s Department and the Springfield Department of Public Works make certain that Main Street is clean and ready to reopen for traffic around 3 p.m.

Matt has overseen many breakfasts since 1986 and is predicting a big turnout this year.

“Of course, your best plans are at the whim of the weather, otherwise everything is pointing to what might be one of our biggest if not the biggest year ever. We have 70,000 requests for free tickets, 5,000 more than last year,” she said.

For more information about the World’s Largest Pancake Breakfast, visit spiritof springfield.org.

Celebrating Mom’s favorite wines

MY 89-YEAR-OLD mom has always had great taste in everything — including wine

When it comes to my family’s love of wine, we can thank my mom, Gloria Ross.

She was the one who liked wine when my dad met her in New York City in the early 1960s.

She would often order a glass or two of wine when they went out on dates in Manhattan.

My mom knew a fair bit about wine after traveling around Europe with a group of friends one summer. Eventually, my dad wanted to know what was so special about wine, so he started ordering some for himself as well.

After that, my dad and his dad went wine crazy, and I caught the wine bug as well.

In fact, I can pretty much thank my 89-year-old mom for many of the things I’m passionate about decades later.

Art, music, movies, museums, skiing — my mom loves them all.

Her passion for the arts started when she was in high school just outside of Chicago, my mom was recently telling me. She would volunteer to usher at theaters and go to plays in the city.

After graduating from Iowa State University with a degree in dietary science, my mom moved to New York City in the late 1950s. There, she worked as a dietitian and continued to be an avid museum and concert goer.

She was also fortunate enough to experience the first wave of foreign films that swept into the country in the late 1950s. She would often go to see movies by Fellini, Bergman and Truffaut at the nearby Thalia movie theater on the Upper West Side.

New York City is also where my mom fell in love with skiing. A roommate of hers would go to Stowe, Vermont, almost every weekend in the

winter to go skiing, my mom was recently telling me. She started going with her to Stowe and immediately fell in love with the sport.

And when my parents got married and moved to my dad’s hometown of Scranton in the mid 1960s, my mom made sure to keep her passions thriving in Pennsylvania.

We skied every weekend in the Poconos.

We often went to New York City to see plays, operas and ballets.

My mom also helped bring world-renowned classical musicians to Scranton as a board member of Scranton Community Concerts.

And my mom feels right at home and can spend hours in a museum, carefully looking at paintings and other art.

Nowadays, my mom has slowed down a step or two. But she’s still the same fun, warm-hearted person everyone loves.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day and my mom’s 90th birthday this summer, this wine column is for you, mom, and features many of your favorite wines.

Let me add that any one of these outstanding wines would be a great gift for any mom anytime of the year.

wine tasting featuring wines and bottle signing with Kate Norris from Division Winemaking Company will be held on May 20 from 3:30 to 5:30 pm at Thornes Marketplace in Northampton and hosted by Provisions Northampton. Division Winemaking Company makes approachable, balanced Oregon wines using a wide range of grape varieties.

More recommended wines

Hope you enjoy.

My mom’s favorite wines

• Champagne: Who doesn’t love Champagne? And my mom definitely loves this iconic, dry sparkling wine from France’s Champagne region.

Recommended wine: Pol Roger Brut Reserve ($64.99 at Table & Vine in West Springfield)

• Riesling: In honor of my mom’s German heritage, white wines made with Riesling grapes from Germany can be charming and slightly sweet, although this gem is on the drier side.

Recommended wine: J.J. Prum Kabinett Wehlener Sonnenuhr ($60 Suggested Retail Price)

• Pinot Noir: One of my mom’s favorite Pinot Noir wines comes from this outstanding winery in Oregon’s Willamette Valley, which consistently produces complex, charismatic red wines.

Recommended wine: Beaux Freres Willamette Valley Pinot Noir ($76 SRP)

• Chardonnay: While many places make great Chardonnay wines, there’s something truly magical

When it comes to my family’s love of wine, we can thank my mom, Gloria Ross.

about the Chardonnays from Meursault in France’s Burgundy region. This phenomenal wine was created by Dominique Lafon, the greatest white wine maker in the world.

Recommended wine: Domaine Des Comtes Lafon Charmes Meursault Premier Cru ($481 SRP)

• Malbec: To help bring us back to earth, here’s an affordable, delicious, easy-drinking red wine in honor of my mom’s 90th birthday from 90+ Cellars made with Malbec grapes from Argentina.

Recommended wine: 90+ Cellars Lot 23 Old Vine Malbec ($8.99 at Table & Vine)

• Bordeaux: No list of recommended wines in honor of my mom would be complete without Chateau Gloria, the wonderful winery in France’s Bordeaux region that shares its name with my mom, and which produces this terrific red wine.

Recommended wine: Chateau Gloria ($52 SRP)

Local wine events

• Free wine tasting: A free

Everyday Wine (Wines under $15)

2022 J. Lohr Estates South Ridge Syrah ($13.99 at Table & Vine): Wonderful, easy-drinking red wine made with Syrah grapes from California’s Paso Robles region. Dark berry (especially blackberry) flavors mixed with hints of pepper and dark chocolate. Great with grilled meats.

Weekend Wine (Wines under $40)

2025 Aix Provence Rose ($19.99 at Table & Vine): I have written many times about the virtues of Provence rose wines and recently taught a wine tasting class about them. This particular gem from France’s Provence region (which makes the best rose wines in the world) has a dry, flinty, slightly mineral-like finish with hints of strawberry and raspberry.

Splurge Wine (Wines under $100)

Far Niente Napa Valley Chardonnay ($76 SRP): Here’s another great Chardonnay that’s ideal for any special occasion. Made with grapes from California’s Napa Valley region, the flavors here are graceful and delicate, including light hints of melted butter, honeydew melon and peach. Wonderful with all sorts of seafood and lighter meat dishes. Cheers!

Wine Press by Ken Ross appears on Masslive.com and in The Republican’s Weekend section.

Holyoke’s Donut Kings making tasty music for 40 years

WHEN ONE OF the founders of the Holyoke-based band

Donut Kings was asked what his favorite kind of donut is, he had a surprising answer.

“I don’t eat donuts,” Rikk Desgres said.

But the story behind the name is almost as unusual. Apparently, the band’s first guitarist loved donuts, and they called him “The Donut King.” But oddly, he never actually played out with the band. Desgres and drummer and co-founder Nate Crowell were setting up the band’s first-ever gig at Lemon’s in Chicopee.

“And all of a sudden, I was like, ‘Wait, did he just leave? ’So we went outside, only to see his car speeding out of the parking lot. He got so scared that he just left,” Desgres said.

Despite that shaky start, the group carried on and will now celebrate its 40th anniversary show on May 23 at Two Weeks Notice Brewing Company in West Springfield.

The band tried to get the original guitarist to come back to play for the 40th anniversary, but unfortunately, he’ll be out of town. Desgres said they were thinking it would be funny if it was the first time he was ever on stage with the band — even though he was the original guitarist 40 years ago.

Desgres said that the band has had to persevere through other ever-changing band lineups and musical styles. The group is now Desgres (who originally played bass but now plays tenor guitar), joined by Crowell on drums and Aaron Brennan on bass and Chapman Stick.

Desgres and Crowell formed the band in 1986 and leaned into influences such as a fellow Western Massachusetts band The Pajama Slave Dancers (from which Donut Kings took their humorous sensibilities). Other early influences include the Violent Femmes, where they got their

minimalist approach, and hard rock bands like Deep Purple, which the Donut Kings tried to emulate to get a bigger, harder sound.

Over the band’s 11 albums, you can hear even more threads woven into the group’s sound: punk, progressive, heavy metal, pop, alternative, goth, funk, experimental, folk, novelty and “just about any style that made us smile,” Desgres said.

As to what has held the two founding members together for so long, the answer is twopronged, Desgres said.

“One, we’re friends and respect each other. We’re very different, but we’re almost like brothers. And second, no one ever told us to quit, so we kept on going,” he said with a laugh.

While the group started out

THURSDAY

CALENDAR

“Hunter Gatherer — Salvaged Stories of American Culture” by photographer David Ricci: Thu, 6 p.m. Forbes Library. Join in for an artist talk with photographer David Ricci about his latest photobook “Hunter Gatherer: Salvaged Stories of American Culture.” This decade-long project reveals America’s complex cultural history through objects and scenes discovered at resale marketplaces nationwide, exploring themes of consumerism, objectification, racism, beauty standards, pop culture, and Christianity. This event will also be livestreamed on the Forbes Library YouTube channel. Free. 20 West Street, Northampton; 413-587-1011 or www.forbeslibrary.org.

United. Doors open at 5:30 p.m., show starts at 7 p.m. For ages 21+. Spaghetti dinner included. Lineup: Jess Miller, PJ Thibodeau and Jody Sloan, $40. 431 Granby Road, Chicopee.

as a trio, it has since expanded to four and even five members at different junctures. Desgres prefers the trio setup, although admits there are advantages to having extra hands on deck.

“With fewer people in the band, it’s easier is to manage. It’s like herding cats. With five people you got to get five people to agree on when you’re going to rehearse, and agree on playing a gig, and these days everybody’s in at least another band or two,” he said. “It might sound better with a couple of extra people, but with three people it’s easier to manage.”

For the 40th anniversary gig, Desgres said there will be a slideshow accompanying the band onstage. And, in between sets, they will share older videos of the group with the audience.

He added that all the various members of the band over the four decades have added to the sound and shaped it.

“All the other members have influenced things. Because it’s not my band, and it’s not Nate’s band; it’s truly a band,” he said. “How we got to where we are now is because of every member that has passed through. It’s like weaving a tapestry.”

Song Share Sessions for NonBinary, Trans and Women Singer-Songwriters: Thu., 7 p.m. Mill River Music and Guitars, Looking for a creative home in the Valley? Join host Jess Martin (she/they) at Mill River Music for the only song share session in the region dedicated exclusively to non-binary, transgender, and women songwriters. Free. 135 King St., Northampton; 413-505-0129 or www.millrivermusic.com.

FRIDAY

Gaga Dance Class: Fri., Arts and Industry Building-Florence, Gaga dance classes are predicated on a deep activation of the body and physical sensations. Invitations are curated to increase awareness of and further amplify sensation, and rather than turning from one prompt to another, information is layered, building into a multisensory, physically enlightening experience, $16. 221 Pine St., Florence; 413-348-7503 or www.artsindustryopenstudios.blogspot.com.

Opera House Players presents “Merrily We Roll Along”: Fri.-Sat., 8 p.m.; Sun., 2 p.m. Enfield Annex, Visit operahouseplayers.org/ tickets or get tickets at the door. Admission is $25 regular; and $21 seniors 60+, children, and students. 124 North Maple St., Enfield.

SATURDAY

Ashton’s Army FunnyRaising Comedy Show to benefit Blood Cancer United: Sat, 7 p.m. Chicopee Elks Lodge #1849. Comedy night fundraiser supporting Crystal Conroy as she honors the life of her son, Ashton, through a special evening benefiting Blood Cancer

Motorcycle Blessing in Palmer: Sat., 10 a.m. St. Paul’s Church of Palmer Unitarian Universalist, Motorcyclists of all kinds are welcome, including riders of cruisers, touring bikes, sport bikes, trikes, vintage motorcycles, and custom builds. Whether you’re a seasoned rider or just getting started, this gathering is open to all who share a love of the road. The event will feature a brief outdoor blessing for both bike and rider, focusing on safety, awareness, and the shared experience of riding. Each rider will receive a commemorative Blessing of the Bikes patch, and light refreshments will be available following the ceremony. The event is free and open to all riders. No registration is required, no charge. Park and Central streets, Palmer. Elephant’s Eye Band, Art Exhibits and Poetry Slam: Sat., 6-9 p.m. Blue Room at CitySpace, Art exhibits will feature works by local artists Todd Sinclair, Shamara Jones, David Higham, and Trevor Healy. From 6-6:30 p.m. Dr. James Hartley will present “Symbols of the Modern Era: T.S. Eliot and the visual art of poetry”; from 6:30-7 p.m. Johnny Allen of Big Bad Bollocks will perform; from 7-7:45 p.m. will be Kentucky Dave Chandler; from 7:45-9 p.m. will be Elephant’s Eye Band. Free and open to the public. 43 Main St., Easthampton. Freedom to be Ourselves — Transhealth’s Annual Benefit: Sat., 7:30 p.m. Academy of Music Theatre, $52.36 - $112. 274 Main St., Northampton; 413-584-9032 or www.aomtheatre.com.

Greenfield Bee Fest: Sat, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Greenfield Market Community Room, includin a special musical guest appearance from Mister G. Free and open to the public. 170 Main St., Greenfield.

The Nolumbeka Project presents Day of Remembrance: Great Falls Discovery Center, A commemoration of the Great Falls Massacre of May 19, 1676, and Metacom’s Resistance (aka King Philip’s War) 350 years ago. Tribal members and non-tribal public are welcome. Honored presenters include: Eastern Medicine Singers, Strong Eagle ‘Many Feathers’ Daly, Liz Coldwind Santana-Kiser, Roger Longtoe Sheehan, Dr. Margaret M. Bruchac, Martín Espada, Deborah

SEE CALENDAR, PAGE D10

Spears Moorehead, Robert Peters, Jose ‘Ite’ Santana, Diane Travis, Pat Allen, Carol Letson, and David Brule. For more information visit nolumbekaproject.org. Free and open to all. Held rain or shine. 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls. 413-8633221 or www.greatfallsma.org.

Northampton Community Music Center Springfest: Sat., 10 a.m.3:30 p.m. Downtown Northampton. Ensembles and students of NCMC will perform live music at three outdoor stages in downtown Northampton. The event is free and open to the public. The complete schedule can be found online at ncmc.net/springfest, Free. Main Street, Northampton.

Opera House Players presents “Merrily We Roll Along”: See Friday listing

R.I.S.E. Fest — Resilience in Self Expression: Sat., 11 a.m., Northampton High School, co-presented by the Northampton Arts Council and risefest413. This is a community celebration dedicated to honoring the creative voices of youth, Free. 380 Elm St., Northampton; 413-587-1344, ext. 3020.

Valley Jazz Voices Spring Concert: Sat., 3 p.m. Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity, The program features selections from the Great American Songbook, bringing a blend of swing, Latin, and pop-influence arrangements highlighting themes of love, all arranged and sung in the group’s signature four-part jazz harmony. For tickets and information go online to https://bombyx.live. Tickets are available online and in-person at the door. 130 Pine St., Florence. West African Drumming Workshop with the Wendell Warriors: Sat, 1 p.m. Forbes Library, Come out to play with the Wendell Warriors drumming ensemble and their leader Jafar Manselle. Manselle and his performance group will first perform a short set of West African drum rhythms used for village celebrations. He will then demonstrate the basic hand placements used to create the tones that make up the music. Then the drums will be handed over to the class participants, and everyone will get to practice first making the basic sounds. All drums and percussion instruments will be provided, however, if anyone has their own drum they can feel free to bring it. No registration needed. Free. 20 West Street, Northampton; 413-587-1011 or www.forbeslibrary.org

CALENDAR

Voices of the valley

Valley Jazz Voices will host their annual spring concert on Saturday at 3 p.m. at the Bombyx Center for Arts & Equity. The concert will feature selections from the Great American Songbook, as well as a blend of swing, Latin, and pop arrangements. Valley Jazz Voices, comprised of 40 local singers, is directed by Jeff Olmsted and accompanied by a jazz trio led by pianist Dylan Walter, with Wes Brown on bass and Miguel Gomba on drums. (SUBMITTED VIA VALLEY JAZZ VOICES)

SUNDAY

Live Music — Peter Weitzman: Sun, 2 p.m. Tangle Chocolate Lounge. Peter Weitzman is a local musician playing in a variety of ensembles. He will be wearing his solo singer/ songwriter hat for this gig, playing all original songs. Preview his original music online at peterweitzman.bandcamp.com, free. 5 Main St. Route 9, Williamsburg; Making Ground; Dialogues: Sun, 1-4 p.m. Blue Barn at Bramble Hill Farm. This spring, A.P.E. hosts another iteration of “Making Ground: Dialogues,” a series of learning engagements centered around collective study and reparative relationships to place. All offerings are free, with registration required. To register, visit apearts.org/ongoing#making-ground-1, Free. 593 South Pleasant St., Amherst. Opera House Players presents “Merrily We Roll Along”: See Friday listing West Springfield Coin Club Meeting: Sun, 7 p.m. Mittineague Congregational Church. A 30-minute video will be shown on the topic of collecting early series of United States coins. Refreshments will be available. Guests are always welcome. For further information, contact Peter Setian at 413-5969871. Free. 1840 Westfield St., West Springfield.

Quadrangle

George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum: Permanent exhibitions include Asian decorative arts, Japanese arms and armor, Chinese cloisonné, American and European paintings, antiquities, and rare decorative objects.

Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History: Permanent exhibits include vintage automobiles, Indian motorcycles, historic firearms, Hasbro GameLand, and other industrial and cultural artifacts.

Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts: “One Foot in Two Places” by Olwen O’Herlihy Dowling, through Oct. 4. “Markets, Foodways, and the Essence of Place: Works from the Museo de Arte de Ponce,” through Sept. 6, on the first floor of the Alpert Gallery. Museum a la Carte. May 14, 12:15 p.m., “Cambodians in Amherst: A History of the Khmer Community.”

Presented by Georgia Barnhill, former curator of graphic arts and director, Center for Historic Visual Culture at the American Antiquarian Society. Permanent exhibitions include American and European prints, paintings, drawings, and sculpture. On the first Wed. of every month through the end of 2026, admission is free for all visitors.

“Please Touch! A Tactile Exploration of Sante Graziani’s Mural,”

South Broad St., Westfield or www. ameliaparkmuseum.org.

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art: “Under the Cork Tree: The Story of Ferdinand,” through Nov. 8. Included with museum admission. “Cooking with Eric Carle,” Through Aug. 23. 125 West Bay Road, Amherst or www.carlemuseum.org.

Mead Art Museum: Permanent exhibit: various American and European paintings, Mexican ceramics, Tibetan scroll paintings and more. Museum hours: Tues.-Thurs. and Sun. 9 a.m.-midnight; Fri. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.; Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Free. 220 South Pleasant St., Amherst or www.amherst.edu.

Norman Rockwell Museum: Online exhibit: “Imagining Freedom.” “A Brief History of Illustration: The Abyss,” through May 31. “Norman Rockwell: The Human Touch,” through May 25. “Norman Rockwell’s Historic Stockbridge Studio Guided Tours,” through Nov. 8. Tour dates and times available online at NRM.org/Visit. Reservations required. “Shine A Light: The Art and Life of Deb Koffman,” through June 7. 9 Route 183, Stockbridge or www.nrm.org.

through July 26.

Springfield Science Museum: “Dinosaurs Still Live: The Story of Archosaurs.” This dynamic, 1,400-square-foot gallery in the Springfield Science Museum invites visitors of all ages to uncover the surprising connections between dinosaurs, birds, crocodilians, and pterosaurs.Permanent exhibits include dinosaurs, African wildlife, interactive STEM labs, Earth’s ecosystems, and immersive planetarium shows.

Quadrangle admission $25 for adults, $17.50 for seniors (60+), $16.50 college students with ID, $13 for children ages 3-17; free to children under age 3 and members, Springfield residents are free with proof of residency. Special exhibit fees may apply to all visitors. Welcome Center and Museum store. Closed Mon, Tues.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun. 11 a.m.-5 p.m.

Museums

Amelia Park Children’s Museum: Permanent exhibits include spaceship, construction site, library, grocery store, and weekday activities. Visit ameliaparkmuseum.org for information. Hours: Tue.-Tue., 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Open for groups Wed. Admission is $8 adults; $8 children (12 months and older); $4 grandparents/seniors (60+); and free members/infants. Military personnel and teachers receive a 10% discount. 29

Smith College Museum of Art: SCMA Exhibition “Crafting Worlds,” through Aug. 23. This installation explores how artisans in Japan utilized materials and handcrafted techniques to forge social relationships and engage with the world around them. It features lacquerware, ceramics, bamboo baskets, and metalwork from the 18ththrough 21st centuries. “Don’t Mind if I Do,” through June 28. Artists include: Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo, Pelenakeke Brown, Sky Cubacub, Emilie L. Gossiaux, Felicia Griffin, Joselia Rebekah Hughes, Jeff Kasper, and Finnegan Shannon. Curator is Lauren Leving. All exhibits at Smith Colege are free. Elm Street at Bedford Terrace, Northampton or www.scma.smith.edu.

The New England Visionary Artists Museum: The New England Visionary Artists Museum in Northampton has five exhibition showrooms hosting N.E. artists’ work in all media and is home to Anchor House of Artists, the region’s subsidized studio and representation support to artists living with neurodiverse conditions. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, 2-6 p.m., with regular free public receptions on the second Friday of the month, from 5-8 p.m. Find them at 518 Pleasant St. For more information, go online to NEVA-museum.org or call 413588-4337. There is a $10 suggested day admission donation asked at the door.

‘Firsts’

space where visitors can watch programming from the Smithsonian Channel, which provides a bigger picture of the American Revolution.

The exhibition’s story begins in the 1770s, immersing visitors in the experiences and perspectives of colonists

grappling with independence from British rule. Through interactive elements, guests can engage with the everyday realities of the period, including the impact of the Stamp Act, which taxed everyday goods.

In the Revolutionary Room, visitors will learn more about the Stamp Act of 1765, which helped to spark the American Revolution.

“It was the first direct tax

by the British on American colonists and it taxed paper, meaning things like newspapers, legal documents and playing cards, all made of paper, would now be taxed,” Kapp explained. “The additional tax on cards would boost their cost by one shilling (about $5-6 today), and our exhibit will show how these direct taxes changed the lives of colonist and made them see

things in a way that had not before.”

The museum was also able to obtain a deck of cards based on a real deck from 1765. Visitors will be able to play with the cards while thinking about the impact the tax had on the colonists who loved playing games. Visitors can also challenge themselves to decipher colonial-era cursive and try their hand at writing

the lawn. “XO When We Gather” is a multi-paneled piece that hangs on the wall, and each individual panel represents the lawn her father was working on that day, with bold lines meant to represent the grass.

“He cut the front yard, went to the back yard, took a swig of beer and tried to restart he lawnmower,” Castellanos said. “He had a heart attack and fell behind the picnic table.”

The bottom of the piece carries on the story — the red picnic table and the shadow of her father’s body behind it. The red picnic table, she said, “was a big part of our lives growing up.”

“We used the picnic table to constantly gather with our family and friends,” Castellanos said. “And when someone passes, people gather to support you.”

The work is made entirely out of encyclopedia covers, pamphlets from Mary Queen of Heaven Church and book screws.

Some of the other pieces are just for fun, she explained, like “Bookcase,” a briefcase made entirely out of old encyclopedias, and “Book Mobile,” a vintage toy car made out of salvaged book covers.

“I do enjoy a good play on words,” Castellanos said.

The exhibit features interactive stations. At one, “Tell Me About It,” guests can choose

a Daily Declaration, signing off with their very own John Hancock-style signature.

While Kapp said she wanted to offer museum visitors an exhibit “celebrating and honoring the American revolution,” she also thought it was important to offer people “other avenues of exploring the past.”

“Springfield is known as

Castellanos keeps and collects many of the objects she’s found in books over the years — from old letters and newspaper clippings to postcards and children’s illustrations.

from a variety of silly sculptures on display — whichever one speaks most to them, Castellanos said. They are then invited to sit down at a table and, using a provided typewriter, write about a memory the sculpture reminds them of. They can then add their page to a journal of other peoples’ stories.

Other interactive stations invite people to play checkers — with pieces made out of encyclopedia covers, of course — or draw their own stick figures based on faces from portraits found in early 1900s encyclopedias.

With her designs, Castellanos tries to honor the history of each book she uses. A lot of the time, she’ll find a handwritten message on the bookplate — a

label pasted inside of a book’s front cover — sharing who the book belonged to or who it was given to.

“People loved their books. They wrote their names, they dedicated their books,” Castellanos said. “I have a little folder that I keep the bookplates in.”

She gestured to a curtain in the exhibit — made entirely out of an old encyclopedia set — and pulled it back to reveal the original bookplate from that set that she weaved into the underside.

“This was given to a grandson by the grandmother,” she said. “So, here’s her dedication.”

Castellanos keeps and collects many of the objects she’s found in books over the years — from old letters and newspaper clippings to postcards and children’s illustrations.

Many of those objects found their way into her exhibit. One hall is dedicated entirely to these items. Visitors can flip through panels to see all of the different objects that people once kept in their books.

“Book of Wonder, Cover to Cover” is on display at the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts through Sept. 6. Tickets, which grant visitors admission to all five museums, are $25 adults, $17.50 seniors 60 and older, $16.50 college students, $13 youth ages 3 to 17, and free for children under 3 and Springfield residents with valid ID.

In July, Castellanos will return to the museums to host programs related to her exhibit.

‘Firsts’

the ‘City of Firsts,’ and I learned very quickly about those significant firsts after my arrival here. So, in the process of deciding how this exhibit was going to be framed, it took some time. I am proud of the result because it has become an exhibition that explores the many ways that revolutions can look like, the many different forms revolutions can take,” she said.

Drawing from the Museum’s History Library & Archives, the exhibition highlights Springfield’s contribution to the American language through its association with Merriam-Webster. Dictionaries from 1777 and 1879 illustrate how definitions and national identity have shifted over time. For example, the changing meaning of the word “patriot” offers a way to see how the United States transformed socially and politically following the American Revolution and through the Civil War.

The exhibition also explores Springfield’s emergence as a center of industrial innovation. Visitors can join an assembly line, using interchangeable parts to construct and customize a vehicle inspired by those in nearby galleries. Hands-on activities based on the first gasoline-powered automobile and the famed Gee Bee

racing planes demonstrate how the industrial age revolutionized Springfield and factories around the world.

When learning about Merriam-Webster, the city’s role in transportation with the Duryea and Gee Bee, and the assembly line, Kapp noted she hopes visitors will leave with an important key takeaway.

“We are offering visitors of all ages to get hands on with some of the revolutionary ideas that have come out of Springfield and changed the world. I’m hoping once people visit the exhibit and experience firsthand some of the ideas that would have been considered impossible back then, that they will realize revolutionary ideas can become reality. It is the people and their dedication behind these ideas that can really change our history and the world, and they can come from anyone,” she said.

The Springfield Museums are open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., also open Monday in July and August, and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tickets, good for admission to each museum, are $25 for adults, $13 for youths ages 3-17, $17.50 for seniors age 60 and over, $16.50 for students, and free to children under 3.

For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org, call 413-314-6436, or email welcomecenter@springfieldmuseums.org.