Biz Briefs: Wood Brothers Music now offering Band and String Instrument Rentals
Music to their ears: Wood Bros. Music of Pittsfield will now be offering a complete line of band and string instrument rentals for the 2016-2017 school year. Owner Chip Winnard also is working with RS Berkeley, a New Jersey-based instrument manufacturing company, which has been the sponsor for several clinics in area schools, including North Adams' Drury High School, Adams' Hoosac Valley, Wahconah High School and several Pittsfield schools including the city's elementary, middle and high schools.
Winnard said this new venture coincides with a move and expansion for Wood Brothers to a larger store within the Allendale Shopping Center.
RS Berkeley, which has a strong commitment to philanthropy works closely with many of the country's top school band programs and organizations including: Jazz at Lincoln Center (under the direction of Wynton Marsalis); VH-1's "Save the Music," and most recently, The Rolling Stones — as part of the band’s Musician to Musician initiative — distributing instruments to enthusiastic young musicians in Havana, Cuba.
More info on band and string instrument rentals can be found online.
Catalog time: Annie Selke, founder, designer and CEO of Pine Cone Hill and Dash & Albert Rug Company, has released her first direct-to-consumer catalog.
Hitting homes on September 19, Selke's retail catalog will feature products from all Annie Selke brands, including luxury bedding basics, a new Moroccan-inspired Alanya collection from Pine Cone Hill, perennial rug favorites from Dash & Albert, and beautifully-designed Annie Selke Furniture pieces. Readers will enjoy page after page of thoughtfully designed rooms, sure to bring inspiration to decorating novices and experts alike.
Helping Louisiana: Big Y World Class Market is partnering with the American Red Cross to raise donations for those affected by the devastating Floods in Louisiana.
Starting Sunday, Aug. 28, and continuing through Sunday, Sept. 11, Big Y customers and employees will have the opportunity to donate to American Red Cross disaster relief at all Big Y locations throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. Donation containers will be available at all Big Y registers. The funds raised will support people in the communities affected by the Louisiana Floods.
Big Y, its customers and employees have a strong tradition of supporting those in need through the American Red Cross. Past relief campaigns include the 2004 Tsunami, Hurricane Katrina, and the earthquakes in both Japan and Haiti. The 10-plus-year partnership has raised over $445,000 to support both international and domestic disasters.
He's got ink: HoB•ToP, a design company specializing in hobby-related t-shirts bearing original pen-and-ink drawings from local artist John Broderick, will formally open its doors on 208 Main Street in Lee on Saturday, Aug. 27. Broderick has created more than 40 designs that include "baseball," "the pitcher" and "catcher," reflecting the artist’s life-long love of the sport. Themes also include softball, football, basketball, swimming and non-sports hobbies such as gardening.
Each shirt is silk-screened using a water-based ink that will not crack or peel. Printed on high-quality 100 percent cotton, the shirts can be ironed without destroying the image.
While this week marks the opening of the first physical storefront, HoB•ToP has been selling its designs for more than 15 years. Broderick has an active website and has sold his shirts through other retailers and organizations, notably the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, N.Y. For more info about the business, go online.
