Use this search box to find articles that have run in our newspapers over the last several years.
Reminder Assistant Editor WESTFIELD For many, the beginning of March signals the end of winter, Major League Baseball spring training camp and lower electricity bills due to daylight savings time. For all those involved in Westfield on Weekends (WoW), March signals the jumpstart to a new year of seasonal celebrations of the city's rich culture and heritage. WinterGreen Days one of WoW's four seasonal celebrations including SummerFest and the Vintage Baseball World Series, Colonial Harvest Day and Dickens Days is a two-month celebration of Westfield's Irish heritage through approximately 30 different events. "WinterGreen Days is a great opportunity to finally get out of the house and find a way to rediscover the many events that Westfield has to offer," Bob Plasse, president of WoW, said. He added that the purposes of these events are for residents to "beat the winter doldrums" and usher in the new spring season as a community. WinterGreen Days includes activities for all ages, such as the mayor's 14th annual Egg Hunt, concerts, craft nights, theater and lectures. Gerald Eugene Tracy, owner of the Teapot Gallery on Elm Street and former WoW member, said WinterGreen Days has grown significantly since its first year. "At first it was basically just a pub crawl [now called the Restaurant/Pub Tour] as a way for people to support local businesses," he explained. "Now that it's spreading itself into other categories, into the arts and lectures, it's an overall fun and educational experience and at the Teapot Gallery that's what we're all about." The third annual WinterGreen Days Restaurant/Pub Tour will take place on April 5 and will feature 10 of the city's eateries and entertainment venues including the School Street Bistro, Santiago's, the Teapot Gallery, Tommy D's, Whip City Brew, The Tavern, Piccolo's, The Maple Leaf Inn, Fired Up and the Westwood Restaurant and Pub. According to WinterGreen Days Chair Christopher Dunphy, the tour will feature live performances, hors d'oeuvres, prizes and a scavenger hunt. A $10 registration fee is required. "It's a great way to discover the surprisingly active and diversified night life available in Whip City," Dunphy said. Live performances throughout WinterGreen Days will include Zoe Darrow and the Fiddleheads, blues and folk group Woodford Way and dance troupe Emerald Road on March 15 at the Westfield Women's Club. "We are extremely pleased about bringing Zoe Darrow and the Fiddleheads back to Westfield," Dunphy said. "She performed recently at our Colonial Harvest Day event and absolutely thrilled the crowd." Other performances include Derek Mann Irish music and story telling on March 19 at the Westfield Athenaeum, Woodford Way at the Teapot Gallery on March 29 and Jazz Night at Westfield State College (WSC) on April 9. Dunphy also noted the WinterGreen Days collaboration with WSC, featuring this semester's various lectures, theater and musical performances. In conjunction with WSC's Sustainability Day on April 1, WinterGreen Days will feature a free lecture and discussion with Andrea Chasen of Al Gore's non-profit organization "The Climate Project." Attendees will have the opportunity to learn about climate change on local, national and global levels. Dunphy noted the importance of this particular event as fitting perfectly with WinterGreen Days' message of changing seasons. "We try to find appropriate entertainment that works in the spirit of this seasonal change [winter to spring]," Dunphy said. Executive Director of the Westfield Business Improvement District (WBID) Lisa McMahon noted her organization's "Taken in Westfield" Photo Contest in conjunction with WinterGreen Days, the Westfield Camera Club and the WBID's "Windows of Westfield Project." The project fills downtown's empty storefronts with revolving arts and crafts from various local artists until the fronts are no longer vacant. All submissions from local photographers, which must be matted or framed prints, are due to the Westfield Athenaeum between April 1 and April 21. Photos will be displayed during May and prizes will also be awarded, including the first prize of a $100 gift certificate to be used at any WBID member business. For more information about WoW or WinterGreen Days go to www.westfieldonweekends.org. The complete list of WinterGreen Days events from March 12 - April 26 is as follows: April - May: "Taken in Westfield" Photo Contest. The Westfield Camera Club, in cooperation with the WBID, invites local photographers to submit matted or framed prints to the Westfield Athenaeum between April 1 and 21. Submission forms are available at the Athenaeum, and the WBID's Web site, www.thedistrictwestfield.com. Photos will be displayed during the month of May as part of the WBID's "Windows of Westfield Project." First prize: $100 gift certificate to be used at any WBID member business. Two Honor Prizes: $25 gift certificates. "People's Choice Award" photo: $100 gift certificate, based on viewer balloting during May. For more info, contact McMahon at 572-1260 or Eileen Doherty at 568-0491. March 12: Annual Community Craft Night from 6 - 8:30 p.m. at the Westfield Athenaeum. Join local craftspeople, including a seat weaver, yarn spinner, hooked rug maker, wood craftspeople, scrapbook artists, floorcloth artist, stamp maker, stained glass artist and more! For more information, contact Kate Deviny at 562-0716. March 15: Corned Beef and Cabbage Dinner at 5:30 p.m. at the First Congregational Church, Broad Street. For more information and reservations, call 568-2833. March 15: The Mayor's 14th Annual Egg Hunt at 10 a.m., Boy's and Girl's Club. Raindate: March 22. Free family fun with egg hunt, the Easter Bunny, games and prizes. Egg decorating will take place at the Teapot Gallery at 8 a.m. March 15: Kids Fair from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. The fun continues following the Mayor's Annual Egg Hunt. Wiggles characters, clowns, photos with Easter Bunny, games, prizes and more. Also a child I.D. finger print clinic with Westfield Police and Fire Departments. Tickets: $5. Benefits the Regional Animal Shelter Building Fund. March 15: Zoe Darrow and the Fiddleheads with Woodford Way and Emerald Road at 8 p.m. at the Westfield Woman's Club. Tickets: $10 adults and $8 seniors/students, available at Westfield Athenaeum, Erin's Own Irish Imports, the Tobacco Barn and With Heart and Hand. Made possible with a grant from the Westfield Arts Council. March 19: Derek Mann Irish Music and Story Telling at 7 p.m. at the Westfield Athenaeum. Comedy and music with an Irish flavor. March 26: A Celebration of Song: The American Songbook and Beyond at 7 p.m. at the Westfield Athenaeum. Jazz musicians Ellen Schwartz and Roger Bruno. March 29: Woodford Way presented by WoW and the Teapot Gallery at 7 p.m. at the Teapot Gallery, Elm Street. March 30: St. Patrick's Day Parade, Holyoke. Cheer on the WoW contingent and our local float committee with the Sons of Erin. March 31 - April 4: National Boys & Girls Week. For full calendar visit: www.boysandgirlsclubofwestfi eld.org April 1: Climate Change and Westfield: The Health of our Residents, the Health of our Economy and the Health of our Region An Inconvenient Truth? from 6 - 8 p.m., Denver Auditorium, WSC. Andrea N. Chasen of "The Climate Project," a non-profit organization founded by Al Gore, presents a version of the slide show on which the Academy Award-winning film, "An Inconvenient Truth" is based. A discussion of local and regional implications will follow. For more information visit www.wsc.mass.edu/calendar. April 2: Youth of the Year Awards Dinner at 6 p.m., School Street Bistro. Guest Speaker: WSC President Evan Dobelle. Tickets: $30 and are available at Boys and Girls Club. April 5: Third annual WinterGreen Days Restaurant/Pub Tour. A $10 donation to experience all the fun at ten Whip City hotspots in the District and beyond. Live music, food, scavenger hunt and a chance to win great prizes. For details: visit www.westfieldonweekends.org. April 9: Jazz Night at WSC at 7:30 p.m., Denver Auditorium. April 4 - 19: "Company" a Tony Award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical presented by the Westfield Theatre Group. April 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19 at 8 p.m. Matinees: April 12 and 19 at 2 p.m. Tickets: adults, $15, students/seniors, $12. Reservations: 572-6838 and www.westfieldtheatregroup.com. April 10 - 12: "Into the Woods" an Award winning Stephen Sondheim musical presented at Westfield High School. April 10, 11 and 12 at 7 p.m. Tickets: $8 adults, $5 seniors/students. April 17: WSC Chamber Concert 7:30 p.m. at Second Congregational Church, Western Avenue. April 23: Gardens to Attract Hummingbirds and Butterflies at 7 p.m. at Westfield Athenaeum Horticulturalist Pernell Gerver. April 25: Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield Chorale Festival at 7:30 p.m., Denver Auditorium, WSC. April 23-26: "A Midsummer Night's Dream" Shakespeare's classic comedy. Presented by the WSC Theatre Arts Program at Ely Studio Theatre on April 23 - 26 at 8 p.m., April 25 and 26 at 2:30 p.m. Tickets: $8 adults, $3 students / seniors. For more information: 572-5682. |
