Early April is an amazing time of year in Franklin County, Massachusetts, when Winter and Spring overlap. You can ski in the mountains in the morning and bike or kayak in the afternoon. With the combination of these Winter and Spring conditions, it is the perfect time of year to hold the Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon, an annual event which [...]
Avery’s General Store in Charlemont is one of the oldest general stores in New England. Opened in 1861, the store was passed down through five generations of Averys. Today the store is an employee-owned and employee-run business. Although it has changed hands over the years, it has always maintained its classic New England charm, proudly wearing the slogan “If you can’t find it at Avery’s, you probably don’t need it.”
Over the years, the store has served the surrounding hilltown residents, making it easy to stop in for some quick groceries, rather than having to take the drive to Greenfield. At Avery’s you can find fresh house-made sandwiches and more fresh meat at their deli, local produce and groceries, hardware items, and more. The staff are incredibly helpful and friendly and they will always try to help you get what you’re looking for, even if they don’t have it on-hand at the moment.
During these difficult times, Avery’s has maintained flexibility to be able to support the community and continue to provide its products and services. They offer contact-free curbside-pickup. Just call ahead and they will bring out your order to your vehicle. Avery’s is open Monday through Saturday, 8:30 am to 5:30 pm. Support this local business which has been a staple of our community for over 160 years so that it can continue to run for many more years.
Avery’s is located at 127 Main Street in Charlemont. Contact them at 1-413-339-4915 or mail@averysgeneral.store. Visit averysgeneral.store for more info!
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.com/blog.
The Hicks Family Farm Corn Maze will be open for the 2021 season on Saturday, September 4th! Corn mazes have long been a favorite fall activity in New England and we are lucky to have our own amazing local corn maze right here in Franklin County. You can easily find the Hicks Corn Maze on the Mohawk Trail/Route 2 in Charlemont, MA.
A 5th generation farm in operation, Hicks will be celebrating its 11th year of the corn maze this year. Check out the scavenger hunt in the maze or play mini golf in the field. Plus, don’t miss the haunted weekends in October, Friday and Saturday nights from 7 to 9 pm.
Visit the Hicks Family Farm Corn Maze Saturdays and Sundays from 10 am to 5 pm, September 4th through October 30th and the evenings during their haunted weekends. Tickets for the corn maze are $8 for children 12 and under and $10 for adults.
For more information and to view aerial photos of past years’ mazes, visit hickscornmaze.com.
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
Mohawk Trail Concerts has been presenting high quality chamber music to Western Massachusetts in an informal, friendly setting since 1970. Catch the last two events of the Mohawk Trail Concert Series for the 2021 [...]
Winter is here and with the arrival of beautiful fresh white snow, everyone is itching to get out and play! Getting outside and playing in the snow is a great way to cure the winter and Covid blues. Plus, it’s easy to social distance and keep everyone safe while doing so. Check out these local beautiful spots where you can bask in a winter wonderland!
Berkshire East Mountain Resort in Charlemont opened on December 17. The mountain crew has been working hard to make snow and keep the trails maintained for excellent riding conditions. This season, things will be different due to Covid, but Berkshire East has been preparing new systems and amenities to make the season safe and fun. For example, they are asking that all non-season pass holders book their tickets in advance so that they can control the number of skiers on the mountain. For dining, they ask that reservations for dining inside at Crazy Horse be made in advance. Or you can check out their new outdoor dining service. Order online from an even larger selection of food than in the past, and then pick up your order from the window when it’s ready. Plan ahead for your day at Berkshire East by reading their information online related to Covid-19. This will help to make it a safe and enjoyable season for all.
As of December 14, Northfield Mountain announced that they will not be selling trail passes or renting equipment. But the good news is, if you have your own gear, you can still access the trails when the snow cover is sufficient. Just note that the trails will not be groomed or patrolled, so know your limits and plan ahead because there will be no restroom or warming facilities. When the snow cover is thin, the public will be allowed to use the trails for hiking or cycling on fat bikes. All trail users must wear face masks at all times. Check their Facebook page or website for any updates around this.
Happy trails!
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For more information about community happenings and real estate news visit Wanda's Blog at www.wandamooney.
During these times, it’s tough to know how to help. However, our local ski resort’s owner, Jon Schaefer, found a simple thing that many people and companies can do to help the doctors and medical professionals who are taking care of sick patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. To date, [...]
For the past 35 years, the Charlemont Reggae Festival has been bringing good music and good vibes to our beloved Charlemont in the hills of Western Franklin County. This Saturday, August 17th, spend the day at the Charlemont Fairgrounds and join the loving community of people who come out for the reggae festival. There will be food vendors [...]
This is an amazing time of year where Winter and Summer overlap in our area. You can be skiing in the mountains in the morning and biking on the roads or kayaking the rivers in the afternoon. This makes it the perfect time of year to hold a pentathlon, combining five outdoor activities into one event. The 8th Annual Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon is this Saturday, April 6, starting and finishing at Berkshire East Mountain Resort.
The race has five legs- a 4 mile trail run, 16 mile road bike, 2 mile river paddle, 2 mile obstacle course run, and finally a climb up Berkshire East to a ski/snowboard down to the finish line. Participate in the pentathlon on your own as a “Braveheart” or as part of a team of two or five people. There is a special category for family teams, as well! The pentathlon is a fun way to challenge yourself in a variety of sports in the same race. After the race, all participants are welcome to a free meal at Berkshire East and a free beer from Berkshire Brewing Company!
You can also be part of the fun as a volunteer! The Berkshire Highlands Pentathlon is still seeking volunteers to help time and monitor the course. Volunteers are crucial to making this event happen and receive a free T-shirt and meal to say thanks for their help. Sign up for a volunteer role here.
Of course, supporters are always needed to boost up the participants. Come out and cheer on the participants as they challenge themselves. There are several great viewing areas for different legs of the course. Check out the best places to spectate here. Participants will meet at 10:15 am and the race starts at 11:00 am.
For more information and to register for the Pentathlon, click here.
Good luck to all the racers!
We still have a few months until Spring, but that doesn’t mean you need to stay cooped up inside the house until then! Break through the cabin fever and head out to these local gems in Franklin County for outdoor adventuring in the snow.
Berkshire East Mountain Resort has activities year round. But in the winter, it is the best local mountain, located right in Charlemont, MA! It is a great beginner mountain but has trails for those more advanced as well. They offer lessons for snowboarding and skiing and have high quality equipment rentals. You can also take a fun ride on a tube at their snow tubing park. Afterwards, warm up inside the Crazy Horse Bar and Grill for some good food and drinks.
If sometimes you prefer a slower pace through the snow, then head over to Stump Sprouts Cross Country Ski Center, just up the road from Berkshire East in Hawley, MA. There you can cross country ski or snowshoe with beautiful expansive views of rural northwestern Massachusetts.
For more great cross country adventuring with different views, check out Northfield Mountain Cross Country Ski Area. Located on Route 63 in Northfield, they have 25 miles of trails groomed for classical and freestyle skiing. There, you can rent skis and snowshoesand take a lesson with a ski instructor. They also have trailside warming huts and a cozy base area yurt. Visit them Wednesday through Sunday 9 am to 4:30 pm.
Visit shelburnefalls.com or franklincc.org for more ideas on how to stay active this winter!
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