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MA Farmers Market Week Celebrated at The Downtown Market!
A crowd converges on the Caring Health Center tent for giveaway
items including mini-first aid kits, bottles of water and items for the
kids, during the MA Farmers Market Week celebration at
The Downtown Market.
Beautiful weather and a few additional vendors made for a nice celebration at The Downtown Market at Tower Square Park during MA Farmers Market Week (the week of August 18).
On Wednesday of that week patrons took time out of their busy schedules to shop with local farmers, and craft and food vendors at the weekly downtown market.
In addition, a few organizations were on hand for that day as a public service and to provide information helpful to local families. Those organizations included Giggle Gardens daycare center, the Caring Health Center and Baystate Medical Center.
Also a new vendor, Wynn Image Makers, has joined the market for the remainder of the season, selling natural skin care products, to bring the vendor total at the market to fifteen. Below is a list of all of the vendors at The Downtown Market:
Rudy's Greenhouse Nilsa Santiago
Hickory Dell Farm Wynn Image Makers
Green Acres Fruit Farm Jewelry by Migdalia
Something to Talk About Harmonic Healing
Tupperware Wildtree Herbs
Usborne Books It's A Girl Thing
Feast the Eyes Villa Pizza
Tower Grill
The Downtown Market, which is open every Wednesday June - September from 10am - 3pm at the Tower Square Park (corner of Main & Bridge streets) is sponsored and supported by www.SpringfieldDowntown.com and Tower Square.
You have probably already noticed some subtle changes in the lighting in the retail area and office tower of Tower Square, as efforts have been underway for several years to conserve energy here.
Now in a move to take it to the next level, the management office is completely overhauling the lighting on all three levels of the parking garage to install lights that are more environmentally friendly.
In August, the existing high pressure sodium lighting in the garage will be replaced with high efficiency florescent lamp fixtures. The new light fixtures will be placed in a more efficient pattern that will help to illuminate the garage better. The new lamps are more ecological, as they contain the least amount of mercury of any other lamps of their type available on the market today.
The new lighting system will allow for better control of lights on the perimeter of the garage, actually providing the ability to turn off some unneccessary lighting (as much as 50%) on sunny days, while maintaining safe illumination within the garage. That is something that the older lighting system did not allow.
The change to the more efficient light fixtures will take the garage kilowatt usage from over 634,000kwh a year to just under 227,000kwh a year. The annual energy cost savings will be more than $60,000.
In addition, the new garage lamps, as with all other lamps used at Tower Square, will be recycled through the manufacturer's lamp recycling program after they burn out.
SPECIAL NOTE:
Work crews are expected to begin installation of the new garage lighting system in early August. The work could take several months to complete. For the safety of both the workers and Tower Square's garage patrons, drivers are asked to proceed through the garage with additional caution while the project is underway.
Changes Announced for the
Purchase of Discounted Parking Validations
If you park at Tower Square or at any of the city-owned garages, and you participate in the Springfield Parking Authority's (SPA) discount program, there are some changes you need to know about.
Beginning in August, the SPA will handle all sales transactions for the parking discount program at their offices located at 150 Bridge Street across from Tower Square. While the Tower Square garage will continue to participate in the discount program, the Tower Square management office will no longer be selling the SPA discount stickers.
This change comes about as the city garages introduce a new parking payment system using tokens in lieu of tickets and sticker validations. Tower Square, a privately owned garage, will however, continue to use the current ticket and sticker validation program.
Both the new city garage tokens and the validation stickers for the Tower Square garage tickets will now be available only at the SPA offices.
Did You Meet Jaba the Mutt?
Jaba, an adoptable dog from the MSPCA, paid a visit to
Tower Square in July, where he was greeted with smiles and
pats on the head from office workers and downtown patrons.
There's nothing like a visit from man's best friend to liven up the work place! Tower Square office workers and patrons alike enjoyed a little meet and greet with Jaba the Mutt last month in Center Court, as part of the MSPCA's marketing initiative on behalf of the animals at the shelter.
MSPCA staff member Liza Fisher and volunteers who used to bring animals to the former Edwards Books location, are now front and center in Center Court every third Thursday of the month. From 12:15 - 1:15pm staff members bring one adoptable dog to help attract attention, along with information about how you can adopt a homeless pet from the MSPCA.
Last month Jaba the Mutt (a play on the name Jaba the Hutt.for any of you not familiar with the Star Wars character), a two year old pit-bull mix, received a lot of attention as he sniffed things out in Center Court. Jaba, a friendly dog, who appears to like people, was brought to the MSPCA shelter by his owner. According to Fisher, an older family dog in the same household had become too aggressive with the gentler Jaba. So now Jaba is looking for a new home.
The MSPCA is scheduled to return to Tower Square this month with another dog on Thursday, August 21.
In the meantime, if you are interested in meeting Jaba or any of the other adoptable pets at the MSPCA, you can stop by the shelter located at 171 Union Street in Springfield or call (413) 785-1221.
A small crowd gathered in Center Court last month to visit with the pet of the month,
andfind out more about the MSPCA's pet adoption program. The MSPCA is here on
the third Thursday of every month.
Mini Craft Fairs...
Grown to Not-So-Mini Events!
July's Tower Square Summer Crafts Fair was a hit with the lunchtime crowd,
as diners took time to browse and shop with the craft vendors set up at the Citywalk Cafes
What started out as an idea to have a handful of crafters and artisans sell their wares once a month at Tower Square to liven up the summer months, has turned into a series of full scale craft fair events!
Twice a year, the Tower Square management office produces two large craft fairs featuring more than 35 vendors. Those events are held in November for holiday shopping, and again in May just prior to Mother's Day.
Because of the popularity of the larger events, the decision was made to have smaller fairs once a month from June through September, featuring five to ten vendors. However, because sales are so good at the Tower Square fairs, crafters are now clamoring to participate! So the monthly events held on the third Thursday of the month have been expanded, and now feature as many as fifteen to twenty vendors.
The next Summer Crafts Fair will be held on Thursday, August 21 from 11am 2pm in the Citywalk Cafes Food Court, followed by another fair on Thursday, September 18.
Also, watch for more information on a special Breast Cancer Awareness Craft Fair coming in October, date and details to be announced!
WHAT'S IN SEASON
At The Downtown Market
Looking to plan a healthy home-grown menu for the summer months? To help you plan those meals here's a glance at what fruits and vegetables are in season in Massachusetts for the month of August according to the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC):
Apples, Beans, Beets, Blueberries, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cantaloupes, Carrots,
Cauliflower, Celery, Corn, Cucumber, Eggplant, Lettuce, Onions, Peaches, Peas,
Peppers, Potatoes, Radishes, Raspberries, Scallions, Spinach, Summer Squash, Tomatoes, Turnips & Watermelon.
You can stop by and visit the farm vendors at The Downtown Market at Tower Square Park on Wednesdays from 10am 3pm to get your farm fresh locally grown produce, and enjoy the taste of summer!
RECIPE OF THE MONTH
Tuscan Grilled Summer Vegetables
1 (1 lb.) eggplant, sliced into 2" thick rounds
1 white 1/2 lb. eggplant, sliced into 2" thick rounds
2 summer squash, cut into 2" thick slices lengthwise
2 zucchini, cut into 2" thick slices, lengthwise
2 patty pan squash, cut into 2" thick slices lengthwise
1 tbsp. Kosher salt
3 lg. ripe tomatoes, cut into 2" thick slices
1 yellow bell pepper, seeded, deveined, cut into 2" wide slices lengthwise
1 red bell pepper, seeded, deveined, cut into 2" wide slices, lengthwise
1 med. red onion, peeled, sliced into 1/2" thick rounds
1 c. coarsely chopped basil
2 c. Tuscan Marinade
TUSCAN MARINADE:
1/3 c. red wine
1/3 c. olive oil
2 cloves minced garlic
1 tbsp. grated orange rind
1/2 c. minced sage leaves
1/4 c. minced rosemary
1 tbsp. black peppercorns, crushed
Combine all marinade ingredients in glass bowl. Refrigerate in an air tight container for up to 3 days.
Place eggplant, zucchini and squash in a colander. Add salt. Toss and set aside to drain for 30 minutes. Rinse, pat dry, and place into a large shallow glass or ceramic dish. Add remaining vegetables and basil. Cover with marinade. Refrigerate 8 hours, turning once. Grill over hot coals until tender, about 5 to 10 minutes each side. Serves 6 to 8.
This marinade is also excellent for chicken and flank steak grilling.
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