Year: 2014

HOLYOKE — The Brightside Angel Campaign has long been a local holiday tradition, offering gifts with special meaning. All proceeds from the annual campaign, now in its 30th year, directly benefit those served by the programs and services of Brightside for Families and Children, now serving more than 580 children, their siblings and their families in their homes and schools with in-home counseling and family support. In addition to the traditional paper Brightside Angels, several items will be available this year including the 30th anniversary edition of the porcelain angel ornament, an angel wind chime, magnets, jewelry items and the return of the angel white chocolate lollipops. These items can be purchased throughout the day at the Holyoke Mall on Nov. 21. Further, the paper Brightside Angels will again be available at all O’Connell’s Convenience Plus locations throughout Western Massachusetts through the generosity of O’Connell’s owner Michael Sobon, the major sponsor of the campaign. “Brightside’s work is at the heart of the Mission of the Sisters of Providence Health System, offering in-home counseling, mentoring, family support and services tailored to the unique needs of each child and their family,” said Diane Dukette, Vice President of Fund Development, Sisters of Providence Health System. “Thanks to the generosity of O’Connell’s Convenience Plus, Michael and Joan Sobon, and many other supporters, Brightside is able to provide services to so many children and families in our community.” For more information, please visit www.brightsideangels.com or call the Fund Development Office at Sisters of Providence Health System, (413) 748-9920.

AMHERST — A new grant will allow fisheries oceanographer Molly Lutcavage, director of the Large Pelagics Research Center (LPRC) at UMass Amherst’s Gloucester Marine Research Station, with postdoctoral fellow Angelia Vanderlaan and colleagues, to design, conduct, and analyze the first autonomous aerial vehicle surveys of Atlantic bluefin tuna to provide fishery-independent regional estimates of their numbers.

Funded recently by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) with a one-year, $145,694 grant, she and her team will develop new analytical techniques next season to provide a more quantitative method of estimating the size and number of individuals within surface schools of the most important commercial tuna species in the Atlantic. At present, these estimates are made subjectively by observers and/or spotter pilots.

“The goal is to combine high-resolution, aerial imagery taken using an unmanned aerial vehicle with sonar acoustic surveys to improve the quality of Atlantic bluefin tuna-stock assessments,” said Lutcavage. “To achieve this, we’ll need to complete some smaller pilot studies to make sure the techniques we plan to use are giving us accurate information and to allow us to remove biases inherent in aerial surveys.”

Lutcavage’s research group is one of NOAA’s pilot research groups in the use of a hexacopter, or remote-controlled aerial vehicle, to study fish in natural conditions at sea. These small, maneuverable craft carry a high-resolution camera mounted in the belly, to hover over schools of tuna, allowing researchers to photograph and later count individuals in the group. Coupled with sonar, the new aerial survey tool should offer an unmatched, detailed picture of bluefin tuna populations in the north Atlantic. They nicknamed their aerial vehicle WASABI, for Water Imaging Aerial Surveying Automated Biological Instrument.

“We are doing this work in collaboration with NOAA’s Northeast Fisheries Science Center fisheries acoustics expert, Mike Jech, and University of New Hampshire Center for Coastal and Ocean Mapping staff — sonar expert Tom Weber and aerial ocean mosaic mapping expert Yuri Rzhanov,” she said. “It’s the result of a 20-year attempt to focus on developing direct assessment capability.”

As usual for the LPRC, Lutcavage’s Gloucester-based research team will collaborate with long-term tuna-research partners and stars of television’s Wicked Tuna series, Captain Bill “Hollywood” Muniz and his spotter, Mark Brochu. Wayne Perryman, leader of a NOAA project using hexacopters to study killer whales off the coast of British Columbia, is advising the UMass Amherst group on this project.

SPRINGFIELD — More than 100 choral voices, an audience sing-along, and a chorus line of tap-dancing Santas — all that and more is on the slate for the Springfield Symphony Orchestra’s annual “Home for the Follidays” concert at Symphony Hall. On Dec. 6, guest conductor Harvey Felder will lead members of the Springfield Symphony Orchestra and renowned Jeans ‘n’ Classics vocalists Gavin Hope and Andrea Koziol in delivering a festive musical celebration with a hint of rock.

The evening’s holiday performance will continue this year’s partnership with Jeans ‘n’ Classics, star performers in the arts and entertainment scene, who combine popular sounds with the power of a world-class symphony. The evening will combine such Christmas standards as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Christmas Song”; Hanukkah favorites including “Unending Flame” and “Hal’lulu”; and seasonal selections like “Let it Snow” and “Sleigh Ride.” The Jeans ‘n’ Classics vocalists will lend their talents to orchestral arrangements of “I Listen to the Bells,” “Santa Baby,” and more. The show will also feature the return of the SSO’s Tap Dancing Santas, under the direction of choreographer and dance instructor David Michael Bovat, plus special guest cantor Martin Levson from Sinai Temple in Springfield, as well as a visit from St. Nick himself.

The evening will also feature the SSO’s 12th annual silent auction, a fund-raising event that benefits its educational and outreach programs. Auction items include spa packages, ski lift tickets, a getaway weekend, restaurant gift cards, and much more. Items will be available for browsing and bidding before the performance and during intermission, and winning bidders may claim their items immediately following the concert.

The SSO will also continue its tradition of supporting Springfield’s Children’s Study Home with a toy drive. On concert night, audience members are encouraged to make the holidays a little happier for local families in need by bringing a donation of a new, unwrapped toy. Collection bins will be available on the lobby level at Symphony Hall.

“Home for the Follidays” will begin at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m. The show’s guest sponsors are Lenox and Big Y, whil the guest artist sponsors are the Gaudreau Group and DIF Design. Media Sponsors are ABC40 and BusinessWest. MassMutual Financial Group is the official sponsor of the 71st concert season. For group and individual tickets, call the Springfield Symphony Box Office at (413) 733-2291 or visit in person at 1350 Main St., Springfield. Tickets are also available online at tickets.springfieldsymphony.org.

HOLYOKE — CISA (Community Involved in Sustaining Agriculture) will present a broad-ranging panel discussion, titled “Our Farms, Our Food: the Future of Local Food in Hampden County,” concerning the future of local agriculture and the local food movement in Hampden County, on Wednesday, Nov. 19, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Holyoke Senior Center.

A region with rural farmland, changing suburban landscapes, and vibrant urban-agriculture projects, Hampden County has unique challenges and opportunities for farmers and for consumers interested in local food, hunger, and sustaining farm businesses and land. Speakers include Elizabeth O’Gilvie of Gardening the Community, Gene Kosinski of Kosinski Farms, Karen Randall of Randall’s Farm and Greenhouse, and Margaret Christie of CISA.

This event is free and open to the public, and light appetizers will be provided. To RSVP by Nov. 17 or for more information, contact Claire Morenon at (413) 665-7100, ext. 16.

HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. announced the membership of Senior Associate Thomas Dowling in the Assoc. of Certified Fraud Examiners. Requirements for the certification include meeting the ACFE’s character, experience, and educational requirements and demonstrating knowledge in four areas critical to the fight against fraud: fraudulent financial transactions, fraud prevention and deterrence, legal elements of fraud, and fraud investigation.

“Fraud is a real issue for all organizations,” Dowling said. “As a certified fraud examiner, I am looking to help organizations understand fraud, assess their fraud risks, and provide tools and services to prevent, detect, and correct fraudulent behaviors.”

Howard Cheney, MBK partner and director of Auditing and Accounting, called Dowling “a great asset to the firm. With his new certification, he can provide our clients with the vigilant protection they need in today’s business landscape.”

Dowling graduated magna cum laude with a bachelor’s degree in accountancy from Bentley University and continued at Bentley to earn his master’s degree in taxation, graduating with high distinction. In addition to his new ACFE certification, he is a member of AICPA, MSCPA, and the Beta Gamma Sigma International Business Honor Society. He can be reached at (413) 322-3494 or [email protected].

WILLIAMSTOWN — Marilyn and Carl Faulkner, former owners of the Williams Inn in Williamstown, were awarded the NEIRA Life Membership Award at the NEIRA (New England Inns and Resorts Assoc.) annual meeting.

The Faulkners owned and managed a number of inns and hotels throughout New England. Carl attended Bentley University and began his career in hospitality shortly after graduating, starting out as a lobby porter, followed by an elevator operator, and then a relief doorman. By 1965, he was assistant manager of a Ramada Inn, advancing to general manager by 1967.

Carl and Marilyn were married in 1967, and in 1968 they began running their first inn, the Governor Bradford Motor Inn in Plymouth. The Faulkners, staples in the New England hospitality industry for decades, began managing the Williams Inn in 1979, running the property until their retirement in 2014. They received the award for their tourism-industry work and participation with NEIRA throughout their careers.

NEIRA is a collection of more than 250 independently owned and operated lodging properties throughout New England. NEIRA life members are individuals who have been active members of the association for at least 10 years and have since retired from the hospitality business.

Today, the Williams Inn is owned by Williams College and managed by Main Street Hospitality Group. For more information, call (413) 458-9371 or visit www.williamsinn.com.

SPRINGFIELD — The new Springfield Central Cultural District will stage its first major event, “Plug into the Creative Valley,” on Tuesday, Nov. 18, from 6 to 8 p.m. The free event will be held at the Springfield Central Library Rotunda, 220 State St., Springfield.

This is an opportunity for creative-minded individuals to connect to new opportunities and take part in envisioning the cultural district. The evening will include appetizers, White Lion beer, networking, interactive idea mapping, the opportunity to learn about becoming a member, and a chance to meet the cultural district director, Katy Moonan.

“I am very excited to have the chance to meet area artists and those who value and support art in Springfield,” Moonan said. “I hope everyone puts this on their calendars. I believe the power of an arts-enriched community lends itself to economic growth opportunities for our beautiful city.”

Free parking is available at 21 Edwards St. (at the Springfield Museums Welcome Center). The event is sponsored by the Springfield Business Improvement District and White Lion Brewing Co.

NORTHAMPTON — The trees in the Healing Garden at Cooley Dickinson Hospital will again be aglow this holiday season, and a lighting ceremony on Sunday, Nov. 23, at 4:30 p.m., will kick off the 15th annual Trees of Love & Thanksgiving fund-raising campaign.



Community members are invited to remember or honor a loved one through a donation of $15 per individual to the Trees of Love & Thanksgiving, a project of the Cooley Dickinson Hospital Auxiliary and Pastoral Care. Proceeds from this annual fund-raising initiative support the purchase of equipment that enhances patient care at Cooley Dickinson. Funds raised in 2014 will provide infant car beds, which are critical to ensuring the safety of underweight babies, and will support an infusion bay in the hospital’s new comprehensive Mass General Cancer Center at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Previous Trees of Love campaigns have supported 3-D mammography, which provides earlier cancer detection; and infant car beds.

Those wishing to donate can pick up a form at any hospital information desk or download a form. In addition to lights on the trees in the Healing Garden, the names of those being honored and remembered will be posted in the corridor adjacent to the hospital’s main lobby.

The Cooley Dickinson Auxiliary supports the hospital in its commitment to provide quality healthcare for the community through volunteerism, fund-raising, and advocacy. For more information, e-mail [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Falcons Director of Hockey Operations Bruce Landon will be recognized for his accomplishments and contributions to hockey in Massachusetts with an induction into the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame today.

Landon has a strong history with hockey in the Springfield area. He first came to Springfield in 1969, where he made his American Hockey League debut as a goaltender with the Springfield Kings. The Kingston, Ontario native spent the 1969-70, 1970-71, and 1971-72 seasons with the Kings. He appeared in 15 regular-season games when the team won the Calder Cup in 1971. From 1972 to 1977, Landon split time with the New England Whalers of the WHA, the Cape Codders of the NAHL, and the Jacksonville Barons and Rhode Island Reds, both of the AHL. He returned to Springfield for his final professional season with the Indians in 1977.

Following his retirement, Landon remained involved in local hockey. He held various positions within the Indians front office and was part of the organization during its 1990 and 1991 Calder Cup victories. In 1994, Landon helped found the Springfield Falcons franchise, which is entering its 21st season.

The 20th annual induction ceremony and dinner will be held at the Montvale Plaza in Stoneham at 6 p.m. Along with Landon, Jack Kelley, Edward “Ted” Cunniff, George Owen, Ed Barry, and Bernie Burke will be part of the 2014 class. Veteran sports broadcaster and 2008 Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame inductee Dave Shea will serve as the master of ceremonies.

Inductees to the Massachusetts Hockey Hall of Fame are chosen on the basis of accomplishments in the game of hockey, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to teams or organizations in college, amateur, or professional hockey, or on international teams representing the U.S. Each nominee must have distinguished himself or herself by exceptional performance and outstanding character reflecting favorably upon the game of hockey in Massachusetts, and be in good public standing in the community, an appropriate role model for young hockey players, and an exemplary representative of the game of hockey.

WARE — In 1914, the Ford Motor Co. announced an eight-hour workday and a minimum wage of $5 for that day’s labor, baseball legend Babe Ruth made his major-league debut with the Boston Red Sox, and the Baystate Visiting Nurse Assoc. was born. Country Bank congratulates the Baystate VNA & Hospice on being a valued member of the community for more than 100 years and has joined in the celebration with a donation of $20,000 to help the organization continue to provide care to those in need.

“We are so fortunate to have the BVNAH in our area caring for our friends and neighbors right in their own homes,” said Shelley Regin, the bank’s first vice president and director of marketing. “We are proud to support the VNA with this milestone event.”

Country Bank, serving Central and Western Mass. with 15 offices, is a full-service, mutual savings bank and a member of FDIC, DIF, and the SUM network. For more information, visit www.countrybank.com or call (800) 322-8233.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Just in time for the holidays, and in celebration of the eighth anniversary of the practice’s West Springfield location, the surgeons and staff at Eye and LASIK Center will perform free LASIK for 10 individuals during the month of December.

“The Gift of Sight is an opportunity for us to give back to our very supportive community in Western and Central Massachusetts,” said Dr. Pierre Alfred, medical director at Eye and LASIK. The life-changing opportunity, open to any Massachusetts resident, asks people to submit a brief application detailing why they want or need LASIK surgery. Applicants may also upload a video application via the company’s website.

“From a new mom’s frustration with glasses, to an upcoming wedding, to a soldier headed overseas, we’ve heard some really amazing stories so far,” said Dr. John Warren, partner and surgeon at Eye and LASIK Center. “LASIK is a life-changing procedure, and we couldn’t be more excited to be part of that process for these 10 individuals.”

Eye and LASIK Center has five locations, including West Springfield, Athol, Gardner, Greenfield, and Shelburne Falls. Applications and contest details are available at all practice locations, or online at eyeandlasik.com/giftofsight. The application deadline is Nov. 28, and the free LASIK procedures will be performed on Dec. 18. For more information, contact Dee Letourneau at (413) 774-7016 or [email protected].

NORTHAMPTON — On Nov. 8, Tattoo Afterlife, located in the former car-dealership space on the corner of Pleasant and Pearl streets, celebrated its grand opening with guest artists and an afterparty at One Bar & Grill. Matt Olivieri and Timmy Barnes, the partners behind Tattoo Afterlife, invested more than $250,000 into transforming the space into a high-end tattoo studio and showcase for the artists’ work.

Olivieri is the entrepreneur behind Redemption Aftercare, an organic, vegan, petroleum-free balm designed to be applied during and after a tattoo. Barnes, known as “Timmy B.” in the tattoo world, is a renowned tattoo artist with several sponsorships, including Rockstar energy drinks. Olivieri and Barnes originally owned a tattoo shop on Long Island before relocating to Barnes’ native Pioneer Valley.

In addition to Timmy B., Tattoo Afterlife’s resident artists include Justin Harris, Lindsay Baker, Sam Fiorino, Jonathan Penchoff, and Doug Sparks. Tattoo Afterlife is committed to tattooing as a holistic experience to be conducted with organic inks and accompanied by proper diet and skin care. As part of that focus, the space also houses Tranquillity Massage, which is available to customers looking to relax before getting tattooed.

WESTFIELD — Baystate Dental P.C., with 13 locations in the Greater Springfield region, recently received the 2014 Westfield Preservation Award from the Westfield Historical Commission for the renovation and repurposing of its former Morgan-Way House at 29 Broad St. in Westfield.

Nominated by the board of Westfield on the Weekends Inc., Baystate Dental P.C., owned and operated by Drs. Kevin Coughlin, Matthew Haluch, and Gary Circosta, were presented the award at City Hall on Oct. 23. Members of Baystate Dental, the Westfield Historical Commission, and the board of Westfield on the Weekends were all present. The Preservation Award recognizes those who have contributed to preserving Westfield’s heritage and historical integrity.

The Morgan-Way house, built in the 1820s, has a rich history, but in recent years had fallen into disrepair and was slated to be demolished. Baystate Dental purchased the property and rehabilitated and restored the structure while preserving the architectural integrity of the building. The former home is now a thriving dental practice, and the structure remains a historical stalwart of Westfield’s Park Square.

LONGMEADOW — A detailed documentary that focuses on the seemingly simple act of giving will be screened at Bay Path University tonight, Nov. 10, at Mills Theatre on the Longmeadow campus. The event is free and open to the public.

The documentary What Is Philanthropy? focuses on the details and nuance of charitable giving and philanthropy. Produced by Grand Valley State University Professor Salvatore Alaimo, the 86-minute film portrays and discusses philanthropy and giving through the perspectives of a wide variety of people from across the country. Subjects include Alex Smith, quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs; U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley; Mike Farrell, Emmy-nominated star of M*A*S*H; Nell Newman, president and co-founder of Newman’s Own Organics; Evelyn Lauder of the Estée Lauder Companies; civil-rights leader Dr. William Anderson; and Amber Kriech, a young volunteer from Indiana.

“The purpose of the film is to enhance our understanding of the concept of philanthropy and its role in American culture and society,” said Alaimo. “It seeks to broaden our perspectives for giving, enhance our understanding for philanthropy’s capabilities, and provoke us to reflect on our giving.”

The film premiered at the Queens World Film Festival in New York in March and screened at the Bare Bones International Film & Music Festival in Muskogee, Okla. in April. More than a dozen other screenings are scheduled through the end of the year across the nation. View the trailer and find more information at whatisphilanthropy.org.

SOUTHWICK – Forastiere Family Funeral & Cremation announced the 30th anniversary of Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home, which opened on College Highway in Southwick in 1984.

“For three decades, we have had a professional and compassionate team caring for families in Southwick and surrounding communities,” said Frank Forastiere, president and funeral director of Forastiere Family Funeral & Cremation. “Building a connection within the community and earning the trust of the families we work with are important aspects of our longevity, and we hope to continue to provide the same quality of service for years to come.”

Forastiere Family Funeral & Cremation has served the Greater Springfield area since 1905, when Frank M. and Carmela Forastiere opened the original storefront on Water Street (now Columbus Avenue) in Springfield. In 1911, Forastiere’s flagship facility moved to William Street in Springfield before finally settling on Locust Street in Springfield, where it still resides today. Colonial Forastiere Funeral Home, located in Agawam, opened its doors in 1980, followed by Southwick Forastiere Funeral Home in 1984.

“We have a vested interest in this community. We care for its members during times of grief,” said Forastiere. “Our staff is dedicated to meeting the needs of each and every family that passes through our doors. That dedication means a lot to our clients.” For more information, visit www.forastiere.com.

SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Deval Patrick’s recent announcement of $2 million in MassWorks Infrastructure Program funding to MassDevelopment marks a critical step toward the creation of the Springfield Innovation Center. The project is a collaboration between DevelopSpringfield, the state Executive Office of Housing and Economic Development, MassDevelopment, the city of Springfield, Valley Venture Mentors, the Springfield Innovation Hub, and MassMutual.

“The Patrick administration has been committed to providing support to communities like Springfield so that they can grow and prosper,” said Secretary of Housing and Economic Development Greg Bialecki. “Revitalizing a community through infrastructure improvements will make it easier for businesses to grow and communities to flourish.”

The project includes rehabilitation of more than 16,000 square feet of mixed-use space, which will include a 9,000-square-foot business-accelerator program with co-working, presentation, and function space and an innovation café, as well as additional office space. “We are really looking forward to collaborating on this project,” said Paul Silva, co-founder of Valley Venture Mentors. “This new space will provide a home that will bring together more than 50 startups a year to collide with each other, investors, customers, and the local business community.”

The Springfield Innovation Hub’s goal is to create a series of “watering holes” throughout the Pioneer Valley with the flagship location being in downtown Springfield, said Delcie Bean, founder of the Springfield Innovation Hub. “These cafés will cater to audiences ranging from students to professors, business people to entrepreneurs, and just about anyone else looking for a cool, energetic spot to grab a coffee, have a meeting, or meet a friend. We will be featuring a mix of high-tech and low-tech solutions that will create a space that is both exciting and approachable. The objective of these watering holes is to create concentrations of energy and people where ‘collisions’ can occur. The Springfield Innovation Hub will be a 501(c)(3) organization which seeks only to spur economic growth and development by creating centers for energy, collaboration, and collision.”

DevelopSpringfield purchased a building earlier this month at 276-284 Bridge St. in a block of historic buildings known as the Trinity Block. On Oct. 20, the Springfield City Council approved the sale of a vacant adjacent building at 270-272 Bridge St. to DevelopSpringfield in the same block to support the project. Funds to advance the development of this project, including property acquisition and rehabilitation of the two buildings, have been provided by the Commonwealth through a MassWorks Infrastructure Program grant to MassDevelopment by MassMutual.

“Less than 500 feet around the corner from 1550 Main, the Springfield Innovation Center will represent an exciting addition to the city of firsts,” said MassDevelopment President and CEO Marty Jones. “MassDevelopment appreciates this vote of confidence in us from MassWorks, and looks forward to partnering with Mayor [Domenic] Sarno, DevelopSpringfield, and the local business community to continuing to make downtown Springfield a more attractive destination for businesses old and new alike.”

Planned rehabilitation includes the installation of an elevator, window restoration and replacement, mechanical-system upgrades, re-roofing, and re-pointing on the front exterior and interior fit-out for Valley Venture Mentors’ business accelerator and office space.

“The Springfield Innovation Center is conceived as a cornerstone of downtown Springfield’s newly designated Innovation District, building on the legacy of the area’s 19th-century history of industry and innovation, a wealth of architecturally significant historic buildings, and proximity to the downtown core,” said Jay Minkarah, President and CEO of DevelopSpringfield. The area was also impacted by a natural gas explosion in 2012, and the center will serve as a catalyst toward reinvestment and new development activity in this area. Added Sarno, “this is another initiative that will capitalize on the momentum that is building here in Springfield. This is another collaborative approach that we are taking to make downtown a more vibrant and eclectic mix of businesses and opportunity.”

LONGMEADOW — Glenmeadow Retirement held its 130th annual meeting of corporators on Nov. 3. Newly elected to the volunteer board of directors were Crystal Diamond, a realtor with Coldwell Banker, and Ian MacNeill, director and branch manager with UBS Financial Services. Debra Taylor, a community volunteer, was also elected as a new corporator.

Diamond and MacNeill join existing board members Suzanne Smith, chair; Paul Nicholson, vice chair; Mark Cress, treasurer; Dusty Hoyt, clerk; Dr. Lawrence Bernstein; William Burrows; David Carlson; Christopher Gill; Richard Goldstein; Ellen McKenna; Susan Megas; Ann Marie Rome; and Marie Stebbins.

Established in 1884, Glenmeadow is a nonprofit, accredited continuing-care retirement community, providing independent and assisted living at its campus at 24 Tabor Crossing in Longmeadow and expanded Glenmeadow at Home services throughout Greater Springfield.

HOLYOKE — On Saturday, Nov. 8, at 10 a.m., Wistariahurst Museum will host a workshop with local felt maker Sue McFarland. In this workshop, called “Painting with Wool: An Introduction to Felt Making,” participants will learn to make flat felt, beads, and ropes. The workshop will include a short history of felt making and a display of objects illustrating the different felt-making techniques.

A hand weaver since 1982, McFarland has expanded her fiber repertoire to include both two-dimensional and three-dimensional felt work. In 2004, she apprenticed with felt maker Christine White, author of Uniquely Felt. McFarland has sold her work at retail fairs and galleries in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont, and conducts workshops incorporating the fiber arts for K-12 students, adults, and educators. She has been published in the Interweave Press journal Hand-woven for her chenille tapestry scarves and her design for felted and needle-woven Temari (Japanese thread ball) ornaments. Her goal is to create aesthetically intriguing objects that are also functional.

The workshop is for adults and children over 12. Materials and equipment will be provided. The cost is $20, and registration is required, as space is limited. To register, call Wistariahurst at (413) 322-5660 or visit wistariahurst.org.