Sandy McKnight Songwriter Series to Feature Women Artists in May

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LEE, Mass. — The Sandy McKnight Songwriter Series at Appetito will continue its bi-monthly program in May with a focus on five women of song, stage, and screen.

The series, held on the first and third Fridays of each month, will feature two events in May: Friday, May 2, with special guest host Benita Zahn, along with JoAnne Redding and series producer Liv Cummins, and Friday, May 16, showcasing Aimee Van Dyne and Barbara Stein. Both events will take place from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Appetito Restaurant, located at 54 Main Street in Lee.

The Songwriter Series honors the memory of local singer-songwriter Sandy McKnight, who passed away in May 2024.

Benita Zahn, a former NY Emmy Award-winning anchor/reporter now working as a certified Health and Wellness Coach and performer, will co-host the May 2nd event. Liv Cummins, a singer/songwriter, comedy performer, musical theater dramatist, and educator, is the series producer and a longtime collaborator of Sandy McKnight. JoAnne Redding is a singer/songwriter known for her soulful blend of blues, country, jazz, and roots rock.

The May 16 event will feature Aimee Van Dyne, a Folk-Americana singer-songwriter and a two-time John Lennon Songwriting Contest Finalist, and Barbara Stein, a music lover and player whose sound blends alt-rock and Americana blues.

The Sandy McKnight Songwriters Fund, which organizes the series, was created to honor McKnight’s legacy of supporting songwriters and building community. The series includes both featured artists and an open mic session for songwriters.

Appetito Restaurant, owned by Rebecca and Gilbert Clerget, provides the venue for the series.

 

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The Enchanted Altar Celebrating Six Months of Opening

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
LEE, Mass. — The Enchanted Altar, a new shop offering natural medicines, candles, and other handcrafted items, has marked its six-month milestone in business.
 
Nicole Webster Clark, the owner, stated that she has dreamed of opening a store since childhood.
 
"It didn't have that name, necessarily, but it had the vision and the desire there, and then I've always loved such as fantasy adventure, romance, all that kind of epic world situations," Clark said about the 6 Park Place store.
 
Clark said her grandparents influenced her with their love of plants and natural remedies.
 
"My grandparents, on my mother's side had a very large garden in town, and they were Italian, and we pick dandelions, make dandelion salad, and go in the garden, and just found things in the yard. And I just love the plant aspect of that," she said.
 
Clark also said that it was important that the store was located in Lee. She opened the store in honor of her late aunt who grew up in Lee.
 
"It was very important to me that it was in Lee. It's in Lee, or I'm not doing it," she said, "My aunt also grew up in Lee went to Lee High School, so it was her all along pushing me."
 
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