Magazine Archive
Magazine Archive
Community Through Food - The Barkett Family
There’s a good chance that when you walk into The Kitchen, you’ll see Bobby Barkett, dish towel slung over his shoulder or tucked into his apron, and a smile on his face. Moreover, he’ll probably know you, or your order, or your neighbors. If most towns have a local burger joint or a watering hole - a “Cheers''-type situation - then The Kitchen is Longmeadow’s, and that makes Barkett our resident Sam Malone.
Revenge Travel is Real
As I was looking into a Disney World vacation for a local family, I was shocked at how limited the availability was for February during school-vacation week in 2023. No matter how many times I refreshed the page, nada. 2023 seems so far away, but is it? Not when it comes to planning a vacation! March of 2020 brought a halt to travel, and now it is getting a breath of life again. Travel right now is surging as many countries and most recently cruise lines have loosened their restrictions. I am hungry for a vacation, you are hungry for a vacation. Americans are starving for a vacation. What can you do to assure you get the accommodations you want at the price point you desire? Get moving.
Much More in Storrs, Nov. 2022
Many of us here at Storrs Library love reading before going to bed, and we bet you do too. Did you know Storrs offers a digital resource that will allow you to read thousands of ebooks and digital magazines, or play an e-audiobook on nearly any device? If you’re tired of propping up a copy of A Tale of Two Cities on a pillow, you can instead be lulled to sleep listening to it read aloud. Intrigued? It’s time to download Libby.
President in Residence: Meet Bay Path’s 6th President
When we think of “college towns,” we think of Boston, Amherst, or Northampton. We think of dive bars, marching bands, and funky coffee shops. But amongst our Longmeadow Neighbors, and nestled in between historic Longmeadow homes, lives Bay Path University, an institution celebrating its 125th birthday. We caught up with one of your neighbors, a newer resident of Longmeadow, Sandra Doran, the 6th president of Bay Path University.
Much more in Storrs
Many of us here at Storrs Library love reading before going to bed, and we bet you do too. Did you know Storrs offers a digital resource that will allow you to read thousands of ebooks and digital magazines, or play an e-audiobook on nearly any device? If you’re tired of propping up a copy of A Tale of Two Cities on a pillow, you can instead be lulled to sleep listening to it read aloud. Intrigued? It’s time to download Libby.
Steven & Jenny Creelman: An inventor lives next door
Steven Creelman was raised in Longmeadow, and returned to town after stops in Florida, Chicago, and Eastern Massachusetts. While as a young person, he never imagined he’d move back into town, after falling in love and starting a family, he returned to a town where he felt a strong sense of community and support - and square footage for his growing family.
This “slimy” job is really a “numbers'“ job
You know that gooey stuff that kids love to play with? Slime is having a heyday, largely due to its supporting role in Hollywood blockbusters and television productions. It’s used as a substitute for almost any liquid that wouldn’t be practical, such as blood, liquid gold, lava, oil, mucus — even giant quantities of guacamole and mashed potatoes.
Brendan Abad: Building a better future
They say that when you’re young, you want to escape your birthplace, explore the world, and always vow never to return to your hometown. But in our town, even those who leave the nest tend to realize that later in life, especially if they choose to raise a family, that they don’t know how good they had it in Longmeadow.
Neighbors in Need: Seeking A Kidney Donation
There are many patients across the country waiting to receive an organ transplant. Donors can be both living and deceased. It is an incredible act to consider being an organ donor for someone in need. You can truly save a person’s life, in more ways than one. As a patient with chronic liver disease awaiting a liver transplant, please listen to my story and consider organ donation.
Dakin Humane Society: Celebrating animals and humans
The Pioneer Valley is home to more than 500 nonprofits working to improve the 413 - and each has its own, rich story to tell. One of the largest and most adorable nonprofits can be found just one town over, in Springfield, and has transformed, over decades, into a national leader for animal welfare that is meeting the needs of a changing community.
Protect your family online
With the school year out and summer in full swing, filling the hours can sometimes be a challenge. As, four to six hours a day in front of a screen has become the norm over the past couple years, it may be harder to structure that screen time during the leisure of summer.
Stay cool and save money this year
Saving money on your heating and cooling costs won’t just affect your wallet, but it will help save the planet, while also extending the life of your systems - which are some of the most valuable investments in your home. Our top five tips to improve energy efficiency will lessen your impact on the grid, and reduce the wear and tear on your AC unit - because it’s not getting any cooler this summer!
Paul & Kelsey Thompson: Falling into place
Everybody knows what it is like to relocate. Most people have moved homes at some point in their lives, often multiple times. Whether it was growing up, moving to a different town, moving out of your parent's house for the first time, relocating for work, or buying a new house with a significant other, moving somewhere new can be nerve-wracking.
Money Myth #3: Investing for a life beyond age 120
Eight years ago, my wife Lorie and I visited Human Longevity Inc, in LaJolla California. Longevity is run by famed Longevity Researcher, Dr. Craig Venter, who was the first person to map the human genome. That’s what we had done. The results- all positive and a map for living to 148.
The Absorption (Part 7)
Temperature’s rising, skin’s flaky and dry Can’t see Vancouver, can’t barely fly Drumsticks so heavy, go grab some bread I wish I was a baby, or a poult or an egg Dry turkey has got me on the run for some mayo or some mustard or some gravy or some custard.
Jonathan & Danielle Alger: A chance encounter
The ebb and flow of life can often be summarized in the well-known quote from the movie Forrest Gump stating, “Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re going to get.” This motto often rings true for most people because even the best laid plans are subject to life’s changes. The circumstances by which two people come together is unique for every couple and often happen when least expected.
The potential threat of an interconnected world
The year is 2010. It’s spring. Apple just announced a brand new product that claims to revolutionize the way people interact with each other, do work, and entertain themselves among many other things. They had been consistently putting out new connected devices, first with iPods, then with iPhones, all designed to make our lives easier, at a time when life was getting increasingly more complicated.
Park Story: Sustaining the ecosystem and legacy of Bliss and Laurel Parks (Part 2)
The April issue offered a discussion of the history of Bliss and Laurel Parks 70 years ago, ending in 1952 with the collapse of “the Pump” as the Town’s summer watering hole and the opening of the Bliss Park Pool. Today, the parklands remain a sanctuary in the middle of our Town.
The Absorption (Part 6)
Sugar rations during WWII landed American snackers to eat three times more popcorn. The salacious scribe, the paradise pear pundit, pasta maker David Bow Tie described this time period as “Corns gold rush” and the golden age of popcorn. Meanwhile, the research and development teams at Hauer Gang brands developed Pelican Briefs, it was rumored that this short form fitting turned the tide.
The Armata’s Family
If you live in or around Longmeadow, chances are you have heard of Armata’s. What makes the store so significant to so many residents is that Alexis Vallides, the owner, and her employees try to foster a familial environment, not only with each other as coworkers, but also with the customers. The fire that burned down the store last November definitely put that family to the test.