Living in the Upper Connecticut River Valley, we are so fortunate to be able to take a short drive and visit a bunch of different talented artists right in their studios. This Saturday and Sunday, you can take advantage of this when 9 local potters will open their doors to the public for the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail. The artists will also be hosting 13 guest potters from as far away as North Carolina.

From 10 am to 5 pm on Saturday, April 28 and Sunday, April 29, this free event will feature sales and demonstrations right at the artists’ studios. In the beautiful village of Shelburne Falls, two local potters are participating in the trail. Molly Cantor of Molly Cantor Pottery will have her doors open to the public and is featuring guest potter Liz Rodriguez from Rockland, MA. You can also stop by Stephen Earp’s studio and see the work of his guest, Evelyn Snyder of Florence, MA. Down the road in Greenfield, Lucy Fagella will be showing off her work along with her guest potter, Martha Grover of Bethel, MA. View the full list of participating potters here.

Before you take the drive along the Pottery Trail, be sure to pick up a Trail Passport. Bring it with you to any of the participating studios and have it stamped. If you receive at least 7 stamps, you will have the chance to win a piece from one of the potters on the trail.

Plan your route ahead of time using the trail map. Don’t forget to make your last stop the 2nd Annual Pottery Trail After Hours Party, Saturday 5:30-8:30 pm at Snow Farm in Williamsburg. Check out some more potter demos, a kiln opening, and enjoy food catered by Local Burgy and the Pottery Trail Ale made special for this event by Lefty’s Brewing Company. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door.

For more information about all the happenings this weekend, visit the Asparagus Valley Pottery Trail website.

See you on the trail!

As a former board member of the Greater Shelburne Falls Area Business Association (GSFABA) and a resident of the hilltowns, I love to support this association. The work they do benefits the hilltowns of West Franklin County, by boosting tourism, exposing businesses, and working together with the towns to make it a great place to live.

That is why I am excited that this Saturday, April 7, GSFABA will host their 22nd Annual Auction. Attend the auction and bid on exciting items donated by local businesses such as getaways, glass by Josh Simpson, and bike passes to Berkshire East’s Thunder Mountain Park. There will also be a variety of local food and beverage gift baskets and restaurant gift certificates.

The evening starts at 6 pm at the Shelburne-Buckland Community Center with a silent auction, followed by an exciting live auction. Plus, enjoy live music and local food, beer and wine while you bid.

Tickets are $15 in advance and $20 at the door. The proceeds from the auction will go towards GSFABA’s non-profit subsidiary, West County Arts & Culture, which supports the region’s creative economy. Contact Angela Varilly at 413-775-8281 for more information or visit shelburnefalls.com.

What a difference a year can make.  Inventory is at an all time low and average sales price is on the rise.

Franklin County sales were up 36.4% and the median price went up by 45.8% in February, 2018 compared to February, 2017.  The sales and median price also increased in both Hampshire and Hampden [...]

Spring is just around the corner, which for homeowners means time for spring cleaning. Before you start scrubbing, building, or make changes to your home, head over to the North West New England Home Show this weekend, March 17 and 18. Local businesses and contractors will be there for you to give advice and new ideas for your home and [...]

It’s March! For New Englanders, this means sugaring season is upon us. One of my personal favorite places to visit in Franklin County for delicious maple syrup is Davenport Maple Farm Restaurant. I highly recommend taking a scenic drive there on the weekends to enjoy their homemade breakfast or lunch.

Fresh Maple Syrup

When you visit the [...]

Recently, I had the opportunity to tour Greenspace CoWork, Greenfield’s first co-working space. I was very impressed with the style and feel of this space, one which seems to me would allow someone to focus and work all day. Located on the third floor of Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in downtown Greenfield, Greenspace offers memberships for use of their open work environment, free WiFi, and free coffee. Its members are people in a variety of careers, who desire a secure place to work independently, while having the ability to interact with other professionals and meet with clients in a presentable space.

Jeremy Goldsher and Jeff Sauser opened the space in February of this year, with open tables, couches, and a kitchenette. They kept the industrial style of the building, preserving the 170-year old wood floors and brick walls, and adding decor that embellishes that style. Goldsher and Sauser received a $100,000 collaborative Workspace Program grant from Mass Development, which they will use to add a conference room, private office pods, and soundproof phone booths.

So if you are looking to get out of your home office or that crowded coffee shop and into a clean, quiet, open space, then take a free tour of Greenspace CoWork. Memberships cost $150 a month, or $125 a month with a 6-month commitment. You can also purchase a one-day membership whenever you want for only $20. Visit their website for more information: greenspacecowork.com

Franklin County sales were up 27.0% and the median price was down 2.1% in January, 2018 compared to January, 2017.  The sales and median price went up in Hampshire and Hampden [...]

This Friday, March 2nd and Saturday, March 3rd, check out the 39th Annual Pottery Seconds and More Sale! Purchase beautiful, hand-crafted items at low prices. Meet the talented artists behind the pottery. Enjoy performances by Artspace Strings for Kids students. Plus, you could win a door prize donated by one of the [...]

Common Ground Fitness Center

There’s a new fitness center in Greenfield that opened up at the beginning of the year! Locally owned by Eric and Hannah Mosher, the gym is called Common Ground and occupies the space that was formerly ACD Women’s Fitness, a gym that was just for women. The Moshers are taking a different approach to the center. They want the space to be all-inclusive, an environment where everyone feels comfortable to exercise and be healthy. Hence, they chose the name Common Ground.

Classes and More

Common Ground offers a variety of classes, plus personal training ,and exercise equipment. Their classes range from PiYo which is a combination of pilates and yoga, TRX, Boxing, Zumba, and more. Eric also teaches a class called Basic, where he draws on his experiences as an Army Sergeant to push his students to their limits. They plan to add spinning classes and P90X in the near future.

Affordable Rates

Another way that Common Ground allows its center to be all-inclusive, is by offering affordable rates. Eric and Hannah want to offer the lowest rates possible so that their clients feel financially comfortable. In this way, they believe they can make a difference health-wise in the community by making their fitness center accessible to all. On top of their low membership rates, they also offer low drop-in rates for non-members who want to occasionally come in.

So if you are looking for a quality, all-inclusive, affordable gym in Greenfield, stop by Eric and Hannah’s fitness center on High Street or check out their website, www.commongroundfitness.com. Common Ground Fitness is just what our community needs to start off a healthy new year.

The 96th Annual Greenfield Winter Carnival is happening this weekend with fun events scheduled for the entire family. Here are just some of the events to look forward to, but check their website or Facebook page for a full listing of [...]