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Here comes the sun…
I will be repeating those words all summer long in hopes of manifesting good weather. And let’s be honest, we need it because there’s nothing like a warm, sunny summer in New England.
While I have much to look forward to this month, I am most excited for my trip to Cape Cod.
The last week of July, me and my family will be headed to Chatham, where we will be staying for one week.
From the cute shops downtown to the delicious eateries, the town has so much to offer.
However, the week has much more meaning than that.
We first went to the Cape as a family two years ago to celebrate my mom’s 60th birthday. After having such an incredible time, we decided to turn it into an annual trip. But little did we know, that would be our last trip with our mom.
My mom passed away in February 2024, after a two-and-a-half-year battle with cancer.
To honor her — and do what she would have wanted us to do — we have continued to go on the yearly Cape trip to celebrate her birthday and all that she was.
Of course, it’s bittersweet. But it’s important to hold on to the memories we have with our mom and continue to create new ones as we go. Because no matter what, I know she is still with us.
In addition to my upcoming trip, I am looking forward to all the things summer has to offer — laying by my pool, going on bike rides, eating (a lot) of lobster and obviously, ice cream.
In this month’s edition of Go Local, we highlight a local ice cream shop that has been around since 1990. The Summer House, located in Southwick, is a family-owned roadside eatery that serves up burgers, hot dogs, fries and ice cream — a classic summer lineup.
In East Longmeadow, The Living Room is filled with a collection of antiques and gifts for anyone, for any occasion. The shop owner, Chrissy Fazio, also utilizes her shop to help promote other women-owned businesses, both locally and globally based.
Last, but certainly not least, is the Riverside Reptiles Education Center in Enfield. The center houses a diverse collection of 100 species of indigenous and exotic amphibians and reptiles, invertebrates and freshwater fish from around the world.
So, if you are looking for a new place to eat at, a new store to shop, or a new attraction to fill your summer days, I suggest checking out one of the three businesses featured in this month’s magazine.
As always, thanks for reading,
Lauren LeBel, editor
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