Welcome to August and Crossroads News!
We are in! The Chamber successfully completed its move to 1A River Road in Sturbridge last month. While we await the water to be turned on and a few more renovations to be completed inside, the office and new tourist information center is now open for business serving our Members and welcoming visitors. This issue of CROSSROADS recaps some big happenings we enjoyed last month and shares the latest news and great seasonal events from our Members and friends. We will be back with Fun at Five networking in September. NOTE: If you missed our callout for brochures, racks cards and menus for distribution in the new Visitor Center, we'd love to share your offerings and point tourists to your venue. Drop them off during business hours or call us if you have questions.
CROSSROADS is our Members' platform to share their latest news with over 1,000 fellow Chamber Members and subscribers in our community. Thank you for entering your latest offerings on our Events calendar and emailing us your press releases, links and photos for inclusion in CROSSROADS. NEXT ISSUE: AUGUST 15, 2023
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CHAMBER OFFICE INFO
OPEN Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.
No appointment is necessary. Give us a ring at 508-347-2761 to be sure we are here.
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Recap: Drivin' It Ho(l)me for Health & Education Car Show
The 2nd Annual Drivin' It Ho(l)me For Health & Education Car Show took place on Saturday, July 15th under perfect sunny skies at Oakholm Brewing Company. This beautiful Brookfield venue was the ideal location to showcase some incredible vintage automobiles. There were even more cool cars this year, plus delicious craft brews, groovy tunes provided by Bruce Marshall of The Valley's Classic Hits 97.7, tasty food, vendors and good old summertime family fun. It was a distinct pleasure working with our partners to produce this special event. We look forward to the 3rd annual show in 2024! Hope to see you there on July 20!
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS! Lamoureux FORD, ColBro First Aid & Safety Training, Old Sturbridge Village & Harrington Auxiliary
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Scoops of Hope Ribbon Cutting Revisited
Scoops of Hope, a division of the Center of Hope Foundation, Inc., is now OPEN for business at 54 Foster Street in Southbridge. You can see by the photos from the July 26 Ribbon Cutting above that the opening of this new nice cream shop was highly anticipated and the ceremony was very well attended! Offering delicious food and homemade ice cream, the shop provides meaningful employment for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Thank you to all who came out to welcome Scoops of Hope to the Southbridge community! The shop is open Wednesday-Sunday from 11am to 8:00am. You can learn more and check out the tasty offerings on their menu at www.scoopsofhope.com. |
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CMS Chamber Night at the WooSox!
It was a hot time at the ball park last Friday evening as the Chamber took over the JetBlue Hangar in right field at Polar Park to watch the WooSox take on the Rochester Red Wings. Pictured above top row left to right: right field view at sunset, raffle winner, the party space at JetBlue Hangar. Bottom row: Alix with our WooSox night sponsors Hadley Zabinski (Paw Plaza) and Mike Wales (Michael L. Wales Painting Company), Rita Schiano (Live a Flourishing Life) seen here on the jumbotron sang the National Anthem before the first pitch (she was great!), and the fireworks display after the game. Thank you to Paw Plaza and Michael L. Wales Painting Company for sponsoring this event and to everyone who joined us!
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Sponsorships Available
Get noticed! Sponsoring a Chamber event or program can give you exposure to the people that you want to do business with. Our affiliation with the Worcester Regional Chamber means exposure to 2,300 member businesses and an e-mail list of more than 10,000 professionals.
Programs for the Chamber's fall and winter season are in the works. We will be seeking sponsors for upcoming Fun at Fives and other events. If your company would be interested in being a sponsor, or would like more information about sponsorship, please contact Alix at 508-347-2761 or email [email protected].
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FEATURED MEMBER2MEMBER OFFER!
508-347-2111
Chamber Members, enjoy 10% off bulk products when you use your Member2Members Card!
Click on the M2M logo to view all the M2M deals!
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9th Annual Sip & Stars Event
Welcomes Stargazers and Lifelong Learners
When is the last time you kicked back and did some stargazing? As the Perseids Meteor Shower hits its annual summer peak, Hitchcock Academy invites you to do just that at its 9th annual Sip & Stars fundraiser for the nonprofit community center. With generous support from Country Bank, Rapscallion Brewery, Brimfield Winery and B.T.’s Smokehouse, Hitchcock will welcome stargazers to the fields of the Brimfield Winery on Saturday, August 12th (Rain date August 13th) starting at 6pm, for a guided tour of the night sky, complemented by sips of local beer and wine. The signature summer celebration highlights the community building and life-long learning for which Hitchcock is known, while encouraging us all to slow down and enjoy one of life’s simplest pleasures.
Visibility is expected to be especially clear due to the waning of the moon. Guests can expect to learn about constellations, the planets, meteors, and more as members of the Aldrich Astronomical Society offer a guided tour of the night sky as well as telescopes for up-close viewing of the meteors. The Perseids Meteor Shower has been known to boast 50 to 100 meteors per hour. Aldrich Astronomical Society (AAS), was founded in 1932 and is one of the oldest amateur astronomy clubs in the United States and is dedicated to promoting an understanding of the night sky.
“Learning is at the heart of Hitchcock’s mission, along with building community,” says Executive Director Cindy Skowrya. “So this event is a special one for us, in that it showcases what we are all about, and is one of several key fundraisers that allow us to continue to offer opportunities for learning and connection to the community.”
Admission includes a full pour of Brimfield Winery’s own wine or Rapscallion beer. In the early hours before sunset, crowds will enjoy live music from Brickyard Sessions. BT’s Smokehouse will be on site selling food. While picnics may also be brought in, no outside alcoholic beverages are allowed.
Tickets are $25 for patrons 21 and over; under 21 tickets are $10. They can be purchased at www.hitchcockacademy.org or on site while supplies last; advance purchase is encouraged. Attendees should bring blankets or chairs, bug spray and flashlights. Telescopes are also encouraged.
In case of inclement weather, the event will be moved to Sunday. A move will be announced on Hitchcock’s Facebook page, and an email will be sent out to all ticket holders.
Hitchcock Academy is a community center located at 2 Brookfield Road in Brimfield serving the community with educational, recreational, and cultural programming. More information can be found at www.hitchcockacademy.org.
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bankHometown Parent Wins National Top Workplaces Award
OXFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, July 24, 2023 — Hometown Financial Group, parent company of bankHometown, announced today that it was named a 2023 Financial Services Industry Top Workplaces national award winner.
This award is based solely on feedback from employees of participating workplaces, gathered through an anonymous, third-party survey administered by Energage, LLC, a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. Top Workplaces Industry awards celebrate organizations that have built a people-first workplace culture and mark them as an employer of choice within their sector.
This is the second year in a row that bankHometown’s parent company has been recognized nationally in the financial services industry category. The company also was named a national Top Workplaces USA winner as well as a Hartford Courant Top Workplaces winner in 2022.
“To be nationally recognized as an employer of choice in financial services is a tremendous honor, particularly since it’s the direct result of feedback from those who know us best: our employees,” said bankHometown President and CEO Robert J. Morton. “I’m proud of our employees’ passion and dedication to helping our customers, our communities, and each other unlock their potential, every day. As an employer, we’re equally committed to nurturing an environment where everyone feels valued and respected, and where employees can unlock their own potential, personally and professionally.”
“Earning a Top Workplaces award is a badge of honor for companies, especially because it comes authentically from their employees," said Eric Rubino, Energage CEO. "That’s something to be proud of. In today’s market, leaders must ensure that employees have a voice and are heard. That’s paramount. Top Workplaces do this, and it pays dividends.”
About Hometown Financial Group
Hometown Financial Group is a $4.5 billion mutual multi-bank holding company headquartered in Easthampton, Massachusetts, and is the parent company of bankESB, bankHometown, and Abington Bank. For more information, visit bankHFG.com.
About bankHometown
Founded in 1889, bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts and has $1.3 billion in assets and 16 branches located throughout Central Massachusetts and northeast Connecticut. Through its sponsorship and charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, bankHometown and the Hometown Bank Community Foundation support non-profit organizations and causes throughout Worcester and Windham Counties. In 2022, The Giving Tree donated approximately $320,000 and over the last decade has donated more than $2.5 million. For more information, visit bankhometown.com.
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Community Food Collaborative Launches Another Year
STURBRIDGE – The Community Food Collaborative (CFC) is currently in its sixth year. Each year, the ten committee members who organize and maintain the CFC garden get anxious for Spring to finally arrive so we can get started. We try to get as many things as possible done early so we can hit the ground running. For the last two years we’ve had the challenge of not having enough water pressure to water the 21 raised beds sufficiently therefore having to hand watering. So last fall, we hired a contractor to install a direct connection from the main water supply to our piping in the garden thereby giving us more water pressure. We also ordered a larger pump and inverter, a larger battery bank to keep up with the larger pump and ordered more solar panels to make it all work. Along with help from students at Tantasqua Regional High School, we installed over 800 linear feet of dripline piping to all the beds. We were so glad to get this project done but it started to rain and continued to rain so we couldn’t try out the expanded system to see if it worked properly. When the sun finally made an appearance, the system filled the three water tanks in no time at all and everything worked fine.
The CFC garden is in its sixth year! We started to notice some of the raised beds were rotting and the corners falling apart. We decided to replace ten beds each year until all 21 beds are new. This time we purchased a new wood product called accoya which is essentially an organic pressure-treated wood which has about a 20-year lifespan vs. the 5-6 years we are currently getting. The replacement frames were built by the Tantasqua carpentry students. They had built the original beds 6 years ago and again when we expanded the garden. This time Southbridge Sheet Metal made brackets to hold the beds together further strengthening them. While the ten new beds and brackets were an increase in cost, we felt based on their lifespan, it would be more economical.
Our Spring Work Day was May 13, and all 10 new raised beds were installed replacing 10 of the worse looking beds. We will continue to do this until all former beds have been replaced. Our regular work shifts for this season started on June 1st. Our new head gardener, Suzanne, started many of the plants from seed this year versus buying plants. Our former head gardener still volunteers with us but is unable to put in the hours she used to work. Between she and our new head gardener, we have a wealth of knowledge available to us. Suzanne has also earned the credentials of Master Gardener, not an easy feat!
It has been a year of challenge for crops for us ever since Mr. Rabbit and his extended family have decided to adopt us. One entire bed of string beans disappeared almost overnight. If you see very fat rabbits in the vicinity of the CFC garden, you’ll know where they have been eating! In spite of our uninvited guests, all other crops are doing great. While we have a few bugs and pests, we are working to keep them under control and the crops that we have started to harvest look great and plentiful. Last year during the 2022 season, we donated to the St. John Paul II Food Pantry in Southbridge produce that served 1,528 people which included 331 Seniors and 588 households. We were also able to make 14 regular deliveries of fresh produce to Food Share in Southbridge for ~ 60-75 households. How do we accomplish all of this? Joe Coan, the CFC garden’s president says, “We have wonderful and dedicated volunteers! We could not do all of this on our own. We have made many new friends and they have gotten to know each other while volunteering. It’s really a lot of fun. We’d love to have you join us. We volunteer Tuesday and Thursday late afternoons from 5-6:30 PM and Sunday mornings from 9-10:30 AM.” Can’t come every week? Not a problem. We all have demands on our time. We are flexible. Come when you can even if it isn’t for the full 90 minutes.
Our second challenge this year was the disappearance of our website. Long story, short - we are currently building our new website. In the meantime, we have an active Facebook page so check us out at www.facebook.com/CFCGardens/. You can also email us at: [email protected].
Yes, six years is a long time for an all-volunteer organization to still be very active, but we love what we do and want to do this to help the food insecure individuals, families, and seniors who live among us. Want to help out? The garden committee welcomes volunteers, new or used garden tools, and in-kind services. Pay a visit and take a look at the garden. See the amazing work we and the volunteers are doing for our local communities. The CFC garden is located behind the Sturbridge Town Hall lower parking lot. We are a fun group wanting to help the less fortunate. Please join us – we’d love to welcome you!
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Harrington Auxiliary Presents “A Story of Survival”
SOUTHBRIDGE: The Harrington Auxiliary, in conjunction with The Overlook, is pleased to present “A Story of Survival,” featuring Lynne Detarando Grden, who will speak about her lifelong struggle with Cystic Fibrosis and arduous journey leading to a lifesaving double lung transplant. The event takes place on Tuesday, August 22, 2023, at 4:30 pm in The Overlook’s Center for Performing Arts, 88 Masonic Home Road, Charlton, MA.
This event is part of The Overlook University Series; the general public is invited and there is no charge to attend.
Grden was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis at the age of five and faced many medical complications and physical challenges throughout her life. As her medical condition deteriorated, she lost her ability to speak and function independently and subsequently was placed on the donor list for a double lung transplant. Several attempts throughout the years to secure an appropriate match were thwarted and Grden eventually entered hospice care.
However, in 2015 a suitable donor was found, and Grden was urgently flown to Cleveland Clinic where she underwent lengthy, but successful, lung transplantation surgery. “I got to start my life over,” said Grden. “Before I was so focused on just trying to breathe.”
During the last eight years, Grden has engaged in physical activities once unimaginable. She hikes, swims, travels and fulfilled a dream to visit Italy where she climbed Mount Etna.
Following the transplant, Grden’s medical team suggested that her cognitive abilities might be somewhat diminished. Determined to prove them wrong, she enrolled in a real estate agent program and passed the test with a near perfect score. In the ensuing years, she has built a remarkable business, earning industry kudos for her success.
Grateful for the expansive community support she and her family received throughout her life and especially during her many hospitalizations, Grden now devotes much of her time as a volunteer and spokesperson for New England Donor Services (NEDS). She regularly shares her story of perseverance, resilience, faith, love of family and community, and hope for the future. Grden has inspired audiences at various community events, in hospitals, at medical conferences, high schools, church groups and professional organizations.
“A Story of Survival” recounts the obstacles Grden faced and overcame, thanks to an organ donor and a supportive medical team. In addition to relating her personal story, she will present alarming statistics that clearly indicate the importance of organ donation and dispel long-held myths and misconceptions about the process. The Auxiliary will make a donation to New England Donor Services in Grden’s name.
Registration is required; please RSVP by August 15 to Harrington Hospital Volunteer Services at 508-765-6472 or email [email protected].
Harrington Auxiliary, established in 1932, is a non-profit organization of dedicated and impassioned volunteers whose mission is to support and enhance the excellent services provided by the UMass Memorial Health Harrington.
(Photos courtesy Lynne Grden)
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North Brookfield Savings Bank’s Back-to-School Supply Drive Returns!
Backpacks, lunchboxes and supplies will be collected at all branches for local school children in need.
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North Brookfield Savings Bank employee proudly displays some of the school supplies donated in 2022
by generous community members, customers and NBSB employees.
Left to right: Cold Spring School Staff Member Andrea Mastalerz and NBSB Customer Experience Associate, Stephanie Cusson
North Brookfield, MA - North Brookfield Savings Bank is proud to be a strong supporter of local school systems and the talented and ambitious students who attend them. They believe that every child, regardless of their financial circumstances, should have the opportunity to start the school year feeling confident, excited and ready to learn. That is why North Brookfield Savings Bank is kicking off the sixth year of their overwhelmingly popular Back-to-School Supply Drive.
Throughout the entire month of August, North Brookfield Savings Bank will be collecting school supplies and monetary donations at all branch locations in North Brookfield, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Ware, Belchertown and Three Rivers. All donations collected will be delivered to local public schools to be distributed to school children who may not have the needed supplies to start their year. To get things underway, the Bank kicked off the fundraiser by purchasing over $500 in supplies. The branch employees, equipped with brightly patterned backpacks, lunchboxes, pencil cases, notebooks and various other fun supplies, are getting creative with their “Back-to-School” themed tables, in hopes it will encourage those visiting the branch to donate as well.
Some suggested school supply donation items that can be dropped at any North Brookfield Savings Bank branch location are:
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· New Backpacks (unisex)
· Lunchboxes
· Spiral Notebooks
· Pocket Folders
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· 12” Standard Rulers
· #2 Pencils
· Pencil Sharpeners
· Pencil Case
· Colored Pencils
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· Washable Markers
· Erasers
· Glue Sticks
· Scissors
· Tissues
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“North Brookfield Savings Bank is incredibly proud to once again host the Back-to-School Supply Drive. We want all children to begin the school year with the essential supplies they need, in turn giving them the confidence and enthusiasm that allows them to continue to learn successfully,” said Nicole Syriac, Digital Marketing Strategist. “It was so amazing to witness the generosity displayed during our annual Back to School Supply Drive. Customers, community members and our employees were so giving and really showed how much they care for the children of our schools. We look forward to seeing that same generosity this year!”
To learn more about North Brookfield Savings Bank’s community giving efforts and all the convenient banking products and services offered, visit www.NorthBrookfieldSavingsBank.com.
ABOUT NORTH BROOKFIELD SAVINGS BANK
North Brookfield Savings Bank is a mutual savings bank with full-service branches in North Brookfield, East Brookfield, West Brookfield, Ware, Belchertown, and the Three Rivers Village of Palmer. NBSB offers a wide variety of deposit and loan products for individuals and businesses throughout Central and Western Massachusetts and has been a steadfast supporter of the communities it serves since 1854. All deposits are insured by the FDIC and the Depositors Insurance Fund. North Brookfield Savings Bank was voted Best Bank in Central Massachusetts for 2021 and was named “Community Icon” Among the Top Extraordinary Banks in the Nation in 2022. For additional information, please call 1-866-711-6272 or visit us online at www.NorthBrookfieldSavingsBank.com.
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Senior Dogs Fetch Grant at Second Chance
Community Veterinary Hospitals
EAST BROOKFIELD, MA (July 31, 2023) - Old dogs have something to wag about this summer, as The Grey Muzzle Organization announces the recipients of its annual grants, and dogs at Second Chance Animal Services Community Veterinary Hospitals are among the winners.
Second Chance, which has Community Veterinary Hospitals in North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield and Worcester, is one of 90 animal welfare groups chosen from 370 applicants to receive a grant to help local senior dogs. Together the winning groups received a total of $848,000 in grants to help save or improve the lives of at-risk old dogs in their communities.
“This grant will help us give senior dogs like 16-year-old Charlie Brown the veterinary care they need,” said Lindsay Doray, Second Chance’s Chief Development Officer. “No one is more grateful or loving than an old dog, and we’re looking forward to helping more senior dogs get the second chance they all deserve.”
Over the past 15 years, the national nonprofit Grey Muzzle Organization has provided more than $4.6 million in grants to support its vision of “a world where no old dog dies alone and afraid.”
“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re delighted to help deserving organizations like Second Chance make a difference in the lives of dogs and people in their communities,” Grey Muzzle’s Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer said. “Many senior dogs in Massachusetts are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the wonderful work of Second Chance.”
Second Chance helps over 44,000 pets a year and operates four veterinary hospitals in Central and Western Massachusetts communities. These hospitals offer full-service veterinary care at competitive rates with subsidized rates for those that qualify. With this generous grant, senior pets with needs that strain their owner’s budget can now get the care they need. For more information, please call the closest Second Chance hospital. Visit www.secondchanceanimals.org/vetcare/ for location phone numbers.
The national nonprofit The Grey Muzzle Organization improves the lives of at-risk senior dogs by providing funding and resources to animal shelters, rescue organizations, sanctuaries, and other nonprofit groups nationwide. For details, please visit www.greymuzzle.org
PHOTO: When her son and daughter-in-law passed away, a grieving mother inherited their elderly dog. Charlie Brown was her last link to the kids, but he was 16 years old and desperately needed dental surgery. The cost of Charlie Brown's surgery was more than her budget could bear. Thanks to a generous grant we recently received from The Grey Muzzle Organization, Charlie Brown was able to get his surgery. The grant has allowed his owner to know that she is giving Charlie Brown the best chance possible while still being able to meet her own needs.
About Second Chance Animal Services:
Second Chance Animal Services is a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1999. Second Chance began as an animal shelter and grew to help more pets in need. Today Second Chance operates Community Veterinary Hospitals in North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield, and Worcester providing access to the highest-quality veterinary care for all. Subsidized rates are provided to underserved communities to ensure access to care for all pets in need. Last year Second Chance helped over 44,000 pets live better lives through full-service veterinary care, spay/neuter services, adoption services, community & educational outreach programs, training, and a pet food pantry. For more information, visit Second Chance’s website at www.secondchanceanimals.org.
Follow Second Chance on Twitter: @secondchanceas
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Debra Kizilcan to Speak at National Guild of Hypnotists Convention
Deb K will speak about Cancer Support Hypnosis at the National Guild of Hypnotists in Marlborough, MA on Sunday, August 13, 2023. Find out how the power of hypnosis is supporting the best health in your mind, body and spirit.
View the video on YouTube.
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The #1 Hispanic Newspaper in MA
The latest digital issue of Vocero Hispano is available on their website.
Reach the Hispanic Market directly with the #1 Statewide Hispanic Newspaper in Massachusetts. Email [email protected] to get started.
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Enjoy Hitchcock's Summer Concerts on the Common!
The concert series is made possible with key support from Maestro Sponsors Country Bank the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and the Shirley Frye Memorial Fund.
August 2 | The Time Stretchers Band
The Best Tunes from the 50s to now
Rooster's Roaming Cantina
August 9 | The Island Castaways Band
Tropical Rock
Flippin' The Bird BBQ
August 16 | Sunshine & Blue Skies
Classic Rock, Pop, Country, Rhythm & Blues
Tony's Happy Valley Pizza
August 23 | Hard Knox
Classic sounds of the 70s, 80s and 90s
Rooster's Roaming Cantina
Hitchcock Academy is a community center located at 2 Brookfield Road in Brimfield serving the community with educational, recreational, and cultural programming. More information can be found at www.hitchcockacademy.org.
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Gateway Players Theatre of Southbridge presents “The Enchanted Bookshop Musical”, written by Todd Wallinger, music and lyrics by Stephen Murray. Presented by permission through special arrangement with Pioneer Drama Service, Inc. Performance dates are August 4th and 5th at 7:00pm and August 6th at 2pm. Please note that all performances will be held at the Southbridge Middle/High School. 132 Torry Road, Southbridge, MA 01550. Lou-Ellen Corkum is the Director, Kathi Grenier is the Producer, and James Joinville is the Musical Director.
This program is supported by a grant from the Southbridge Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Synopsis: An ordinary used book shop by day, A Likely Story becomes a magical place each night. Thanks to a spell from the Book Fairy, the characters inside the books come alive each and every night. Six of those characters — Dorothy Gale, Robin Hood, Pollyanna, Sherlock Holmes, Heidi, and Tom Sawyer — long to help Margie, the scatterbrained owner, save her struggling store. But they’re not allowed to leave the building or be seen by human eyes. So, when a pair of bungling smugglers comes looking for a stolen necklace hidden inside one of the books, the characters are torn. Should they warn Margie and risk disappearing forever? Or can they find a way to defeat the crooks without being seen? Including appearances by other literary characters such as the Queen of Hearts, Long John Silver, and Doctor Doolittle, and with a toe-tapping score from Stephen Murray featuring jazz, march, and pop tunes, this charming musical will enchant audiences young and old.
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The Pan-Mass Challenge: August 5-6
The Pan-Mass Challenge is a Massachusetts-based bike-a-thon that raises more money for charity than any other single athletic fundraising event in the country. Always held the first weekend in August, the PMC raises funds for Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a world leader in adult and pediatric cancer treatment and research Riders and volunteers often describe Sturbridge as a reunion. The beginning of the original route, it is the place where riders and volunteers congregate, register for the event, share a meal together and participate in the opening ceremonies.
On Saturday morning, volunteers prepare a healthy breakfast for the riders and manage the challenge of getting several thousand riders out of the hotel parking lot by 5:30 am!
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Center of Hope Foundation's
17th Annual Dick Hoyt Memorial Golf Tournament
Saturday, August 5th, 2023
7:15 AM Registration, 8:00 AM Shotgun Start
Leicester Country Club, 1430 Main Street, Leicester, MA
The Center of Hope Foundation, Inc. (CoHF) is a non-profit agency serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Changing lives and providing opportunities is not only what we do at the Center of Hope, but it is also who we are.
Join us on Saturday, August 5th at Leicester Country Club for a fun-filled day of golf with great games, prizes, raffles, and GREAT COMPANY!
With the support from sponsors, players, and volunteers, the CoHF can continue with its mission, offering the most opportunities possible for individuals with disabilities. Proceeds from this event also help us to continue our Holiday Giving Program. Around the holidays, gifts and other necessities are given to over 500 individuals and families who struggle financially. “We know that some of our program members or others in the community may not get the chance to experience the holidays like most,” said Erika Travinski, COO at the CoHF, “It is truly magical to see how the community comes together and help us provide this amazing support. We see smiles on family members’ faces knowing that their loved ones will wake up on Christmas morning beaming with happiness. There is no better feeling.”
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Redcoats & Rebels returns to Old Sturbridge Village
on August 5th and 6th!
See the largest military re-enactment in New England with hundreds of costumed Revolutionary War reenactors, both soldiers and civilians, encamped on the Village Common. Visitors can not only explore our exhibits, galleries, and demonstrations and talk with our costumed historians about everyday life in early New England, but also tour the camps, witness recreated skirmishes and battles, see special presentations, and enjoy fife and drum music. Redcoats & Rebels is sponsored by DEXTER, The Edge since 1818.
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𝗦𝗨𝗠𝗠𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗧𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗞𝗜𝗡𝗚
𝗚𝗿𝗮𝗯 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗰𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗷𝗼𝗶𝗻 𝘂𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗲𝘁𝗶𝘇𝗲𝗿𝘀 & 𝗻𝗲𝘁𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘂𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗲𝗻𝘁!
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We're so excited to introduce a new series of unique dining events for you:
Community Brew Feasts!
Come join us for one of (or all!) five Friday nights of this late-summer season dinner series! This series will feature five different dinners inspired by summer gardens and favorite foods. Plus, each feast is accompanied by a curated tasting of three different beers from our friends at Lost Towns Brewing.
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We can't wait to serve up these special offerings consisting of some of our favorite seasonal foods and flavors! Take a look at this Community Brew Feast schedule, and be sure to purchase tickets to save your seats today!
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August 11 - Lobster Night
Clam Fritters, Salem Cross Garden Salad, Steamers, Whole Lobster, Local Corn on the Cob, New Potatoes,
Blueberry Lemon Trifle
Tickets are $75 per person and include sales tax and gratuity. Tickets can be purchased on our website or over the phone (508-867-2345). If you are unable to reach us by phone, please leave a message and a daytime callback number
so we can get back to you as soon as possible.
508-867-2345
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With summer at its peak, we have a special but limited time in this region to take advantage of the bounties of the summer growing season. All around talented Chef, Tony Pitts and the Avellino culinary team are excited to create a multi-course local farm inspired dinner. The focus of this evening will be to highlight fresh ingredients with distinctive flavors that only this special season can bring. You’ll also learn about some of the locally grown or raised treasures right in our own community.
The cost of this extraordinary dinner is $47 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Specialty cocktails, wine, or beer will be available from a cash bar. This dinner will undoubtedly sell out quickly, so please call 508-347-2321 to make your reservation.
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Tastes of the Valley - Farmer at the Table
Sunday, August 20, 2023 at 4:00PM
The Publick House, Sturbridge, MA
*Non-member rate includes a TLGV membership
Nestled among the woods and water of The Last Green Valley are hundreds of working farms. From their harvest comes the inspiration for local chefs to craft tantalizing meals. From their crops come the ingredients for brewers, vintners and distillers to invent unique sips and spirits. Tastes of the Valley - Farmer at the Table brings it all together for one special night in support of TLGV.
After enjoying a sampling of locally-crafted hors d’oeuvres, guests will enter historic Paige Hall to enjoy a five-course banquet. The Last Green Valley has brought together distinguished local chefs to craft four “one-night-only” dishes, plus dessert, using locally-grown ingredients as each chef masterfully showcases a creation that guests won’t find anywhere else. Paired with dinner will be a sampling of local wines, carefully chosen to complement the dishes’ flavors. To tie it all together, we’ve invited a local farmer or producer to sit at each table to discuss what it takes to keep the Heritage Corridor green and growing.
The night will also feature live and silent auctions, with items to be announced early summer.
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Executive Committee
Cynthia Saucier, Chair
Country Bank
Christina Hadis-Blackwell, First Vice Chair
The Center of Hope
Erika Travinski, Immediate Past Chair
The Center of Hope
Bruce Watkins, Treasurer
Karl Storz Endovision, Inc.
Board of Directors
Brad Arcoite
Table 3 Restaurant Group
Michael Checkosky
Cornerstone Bank
Alycia Dzik
Webster First Federal Credit Union
Rich Eichacker
Vibrance Technology Corp
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Kelly Hibbard
Harrington Hospital
Emily Klamm
Old Sturbridge Village
James Laney
ERA Key Realty
Anthony Marini
bankHometown
Geraldo Maldonado
Quinsigamond Community College
Trevor Nielsen
Edward Jones
Michael Wales
Michael L. Wales Painting Company
Hadley Zabinski
Paw Plaza
James Donahue
Old Sturbridge Village
Honorary Board Member
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1A River Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
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Alexandra McNitt
Executive Director
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Jack Starkey
Communications & Media
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