Here in Franklin County, we are so lucky to have a variety of delicious eateries, who use fresh, local products. Wells Provisions in Charlemont is no different in that category. They use all local products such as coffee from Barrington Coffee Roasting Company, meat from Freeman Farms in Heath, vegetables from Good Bunch Farm, maple syrup from Winston Sugar House and more. Yet on top of all that, Wells Provisions brings a whole new flavor to the area. 

Wesley and Levi Janssen moved their family of five to Western Mass last year from New Orleans, where they had built their careers in the restaurant business. Now they are offering their fine dining New Orleans style dishes in a casual Western Mass hilltown environment. 

The menu at Wells Provisions includes classics from their home in the South such as Gumbo, Po-Boys, cajun poutine, and shrimp & grits. You can stop in for a delicious meal or pick up a gourmet ready-to-heat meal from their fridge and bring it home to enjoy. They offer a full breakfast menu, lunch menu, and they even have an ice cream window for scoops of local Maple Valley, Bart’s, and Snow’s ice cream. 

Check out my Community Video below showing my own visit to Wells Provisions with some words from Wesley and Levi. I highly recommend visiting this wonderful addition to our local business community. 

Visit their website at wellsprovisions.com for more information such as the menu, hours of operation, and stories from the Janssens in their blog.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.
 

This weekend, you can be a part of a 100-year-old Greenfield tradition. The Greenfield Winter Carnival Centennial Celebration is happening this Friday, February 4 through Sunday, February 6, 2022 with events all over Greenfield, Mass and even some events happening all month [...]

The Franklin County Festival of Trees, a three-weekend holiday season event starts today, Friday, November 26, 2021. The festival, which began in 2016, had to take a year hiatus last year due to the pandemic, but is happily returning this year. For the next three weekends, on Fridays 5-8 pm and Saturdays 12-6 pm, the Festival of Trees will be at Aromatic Fillers, 253 Greenfield Road in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

There will be as many as 100 or more decorated trees which have been sponsored by local families, individuals, and businesses. Attend the festival and enjoy the beautiful display of trees, plus enjoy exciting performances throughout the event. Purchase raffle tickets and enter the raffle for your favorite trees. At the end of the three weeks, on Sunday, December 12, a winner for each tree will be chosen. 

The idea behind the Festival of Trees, coordinated by April Healey and the Kiwanis Club, is to bring people together in a positive and joyous way while raising money for projects and programs which support the community. In previous years, the money raised benefited programs like Warm the Children, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Franklin County, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office Regional Dog Shelter, United Way of Franklin County, Stone Soup Café, Community Action Pioneer Valley and the Children’s Advocacy Center of Franklin County and North Quabbin. This year, the goal is to raise $30,000 for community grants.

Be sure not to miss this beautiful event and support local holiday fundraising. For more information, visit the Franklin County Festival of Trees Facebook page.
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.

Moonlight Magic returns to Shelburne Falls to kick off the holiday season in a joyous way. Moonlight Magic is held on Black Friday (the day after Thanksgiving) every year as a way to bring the community together in excitement for the holidays, while supporting our local shops, businesses, and artisans. This Friday, November 26th, 2021 the events start at 4 pm, when shops stay open later, vendors line the streets, and the holiday lights turn on throughout the village. 

The events continue through 9 pm with a Moonlight Magic Parade through downtown, plus a boat parade on the river! There will also be a special lighting of the community tree, visits with Santa, carolers, and performances. Especially fun this year will be Mo’s Fudge Factor’s Truffle Shuffle, a truffle scavenger hunt through the village! Be sure to buy tickets in advance for the Truffle Shuffle as there are only a limited number available.

Moonlight Magic is a great opportunity to do your holiday shopping. Be sure to stop by the book sale at the Arms Library, the craft fair at the Eagles Club, and the Makers and Artists Pop-Up Shop at The Mill on Conway Street. Not to mention, all the vendors and shops to explore throughout the village.

And of course, it wouldn’t be Moonlight Magic without lots of delicious food. Be sure to visit the many food vendors along the street or check out the local restaurants and eateries. 

For the full schedule of events and other information, go to shelburnefalls.com. 

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.

One of the many great things about living in Western Mass is the thriving music and art scene. Our community places a strong importance on the arts and we are lucky to have many opportunities to enjoy live music locally. Hawks and Reed Performing Arts Center in Greenfield is a central hub for the live music scene with a constant offering of events and performances from both local artists and those passing through our area.

Every week there is something exciting happening at Hawks and Reed. This Friday, November 5th, check out the grammy-winning Rebirth Brass Band. They are a true “New Orleans institution,” mixed with funk and hip-hop to create their signature sound. Doors open at 8 pm and the show starts at 9 pm. Get your tickets here.

Then, on Saturday night, November 6th at 7 pm, enjoy the music of singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist Larry Campbell and singer-guitarist Teresa Williams. The duo toured in Levon Helm’s band for seven years and played with other famous artists like Phil Lesh, Little Feat, Jorma Kaukonen, and Jack Cassidy. Doors open at 5:30 pm. Find more information and purchase tickets here.

To finish off the weekend, Hawks and Reed is hosting Susan Werner on Sunday, November 7th at 7 pm. Susan, deemed by National Public Radio as “The Empress of the Unexpected,” performs original music ranging from rock/folk to Tin Pan Alley to gospel, country, chamber music and more. Learn more about her accomplishments and purchase tickets here.

To find out what other amazing shows are coming to the Hawks and Reed stage, go to hawksandreed.com. 

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.

Downtown Greenfield will be filled with Halloween spirit this Saturday, October 30th with the Trick or Treat Rag Shag Parade and Costume Contest. Join in the fun from 4:00 to 6:00 pm, starting with trick or treating. Pick up a free reflective trick or treat bag on the City Common and then go door to door to Greenfield’s downtown businesses for treats from 4:00 to 5:30 pm.

Be sure to wear your best Halloween costume and enter the costume contest. To enter the contest, pick a number at the town common. Then you will be called to show your costume to the judges. Awards will follow. 

At 5:30 pm, line up with the Rag Shag Parade at Mohawk Mall parking lot for their parade led by the Greenfield High School Band and police officers. The parade’s route will turn onto Miles Street and end at the Energy Park. 

After the parade, enjoy a free showing of It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown at Greenfield Cinemas starting at 6 pm. 

There’s lots of Halloween fun to be had in Downtown Greenfield this Saturday so don’t miss out!

For more information on the Trick or Treat Rag Shag Parade and Costume Contest, call the Recreation Department at 772-1553 or visit their website, www.greenfieldrecreation.com/halloween.

Photo taken from Greenfield Recreation Department Facebook Page.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

The Great Falls Festival, also known as Pumpkinfest, is back this year in Turners Falls! This Saturday, October 23, join in the fall fun on Avenue A. Bring your own carved and painted pumpkin to add to the display in front of St. Kaz from 10 am onwards. Costumes are encouraged, so come dressed up and bring your Halloween spirit. 

It wouldn’t be Pumpkinfest without local pumpkin beer. Pioneer Valley Brewery brewed up a special Pumpkin Fest Pumpkin Ale just for this event. Hitchcock Brewery will also be there pouring their Nice Rumpkin Toasted Pumkin Ale. Try them both and decide who makes the better pumpkin ale. Berkshire Brewing Company, the first brewers to attend the original Pumpkinfest, will be under the beer tent too.

Pumpkinfest will run from 12 to 8 pm with lots of entertainment, food, games, and local craft beer. Entrance is free to the public, which means you can spend more on beer, food, and fun. Take advantage of the free shuttles from Turners Falls High School and Sheffield School. 

See what else will be happening this weekend at Pumpkinfest by following the Great Falls Festival Facebook page.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

With the cooler weather, beautiful fall foliage, and the sound of leaves rustling outside, you’re probably in the mood for fun Fall activities. This weekend, you can head to Bernardston for the annual Scarecrow in the Park competition. All are invited to enter the contest to create a scarecrow to stand in Cushman Park. The scarecrows are judged based on certain categories which this year will be Scariest, Funniest, Prettiest, Most Interesting Use of Materials, and the rotating category will be Science. 

Come to Cushman Park this Saturday, October 16th and Sunday, October 17th to view all the scarecrows and enjoy live music, artists’ booths, delicious food, children’s activities, and the tractor parade. Follow Scarecrow in the Park on Facebook to preview the variety of artists and craftspeople who will sell their crafts at the event.

Scarecrow in the Park is a fundraiser for Bernardston Kiwanis Scholarship fund, so come out for a fun day at Cushman Park while supporting this wonderful local cause. 

Click here for more information about Scarecrow in the Park or email scarecrowinthepark@gmail.com.

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

With cooler weather and beautiful autumn foliage, now is the best time of year to enjoy the wilderness in Western Mass. There are many ways to get outside and enjoy, including running, kayaking, and mountain biking. Why not do all three at the 6th Annual Great River Challenge Off-Road Triathlon in Northfield, Massachusetts! This event is happening this Saturday, October 9th, so act fast to get involved. 

Drawing its name from the longest river in New England, the Great River Challenge Triathlon starts with a paddle down a scenic stretch of the Connecticut River, followed by a run on single track trails and in the woods, and finished by a mountain bike ride on mixed single track and open trails. There are options for short or long courses which can be done either solo or as a relay team. 

If you want to be part of the fun but don’t want to participate, you can also register to volunteer. Volunteers help with parking, registration, water stations, and more. Sign up to volunteer here.

For 6 years, the Great River Challenge Triathlon has promoted the Upper Pioneer Valley’s cultural and natural resources, as well as a healthy and active lifestyle in our local community. This event benefits the signature programs of the Northfield Kiwanis Foundation for area children and families.

To learn more about the Great River Challenge Triathlon and to sign up, go to greatriverchallenge.com.

Photo credit: greatriverchallenge.com/gallery

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog. 

The Big E is back! Also known as “New England’s Great State Fair,”  the Big E is the sixth largest fair in the nation. The events kick off Friday, September 17 and will run until October 3rd at the Eastern States Exposition in West Springfield. 

There are so many fun activities at the Big E - you’ll find something for everyone. Originally created as an agricultural fair, the Big E stays true to its history by continuing to host agricultural events. These events include livestock shows, 4-H demos, and craft/skill demonstrations. View the agricultural events schedule here.

Many people love to travel to the Big E for the exciting activities and entertainment it has to offer. The midway rides have all sorts of thrilling experiences. Check out the Big Parade, the Circus Spectacular, live concerts, and more. 

You can’t have a fair without delicious food and the Big E does not fall short. Of course there is the classic fried food, baked potatoes, and corndogs. But you can also find a variety of cuisine from around the world and some sit-down venues to dine as well. Then go for a drink at one of the several bars, saloons, beer garden, and cocktail bar.

Check out all the Big E has to offer at thebige.com. 

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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.