Deep Dives & Light Laughs

In this episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs, we sit down with Dave Petty, the owner and heart behind The Frame Center (a family-run business with over 50 years of history) in Hanover, MA. As a second-generation business owner, Dave has transformed his family’s framing business into a hub for the South Shore arts community. From supporting local artists and art associations to launching creative initiatives like the Inside the Frame podcast, Dave’s passion for fostering creativity is unmatched. Beyond framing, Dave serves on the boards of the North River Arts Society and the South Shore Art Center. He is passionate about art, community, and the connections they foster.

In this episode, we dive into the following topics with Dave:

• The history of The Frame Center (founded by his father) and Dave’s journey from a teenager in the family garage to leading The Frame Center.
• How The Frame Center supports local artists and contributes to the vibrant South Shore art scene.
• The inspiration behind The Frame Center’s educational videos and podcast, Inside the Frame, and how it builds connections through art.
• Why custom framing is both an art and a science and how it brings out the best in any piece.
• Tips for artists and collectors on choosing the right frames.

To learn more about The Frame Center and Dave's Podcast, visit FrameCenter.com or follow @framecenter on Instagram and check out the Podcast, Inside the Frame on Youtube.

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Megan Ward, Executive Director of The James Library & Center for the Arts, and Tracey Kelly, Assistant Director, join Larry and Lindsay on the latest episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs. Megan and Tracey are at the heart of this beloved Norwell nonprofit, which blends music, art, and literature to enrich the South Shore community.

In this episode, Megan and Tracey dive into their personal journeys with The James and share what makes this cultural hub so unique. We explore:

• The history and evolution of The James Library since 1874.
• How The James curates diverse programs in music, art, and literature.
• The library’s role in fostering community and supporting local artists.
• Memorable moments and the impact The James has had on the South Shore.

Tune in to hear how The James Library brings people together through the arts and why it remains a cornerstone of the local creative scene.

To learn more about The James Library & Center for the Arts, visit jameslibrary.org or follow @thejameslibrary on Instagram and Facebook.

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Lisey Good, the former Board President (and currently, the powerhouse behind the Communication and Fundraising efforts) of the Scituate Animal Shelter, joins Larry and Lindsay on the seventeenth episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs. Lisey has dedicated over a decade to the Scituate Animal Shelter ("SAS") and tells us what drew her to it and this line of work.

In this episode, Lisey shares her journey from marketing and interior design to animal advocacy, highlighting the incredible mission of SAS. We dive into:

• The challenges and rewards of managing animal care, fostering, and adoption.
• Why adopting pets (especially during the holidays) can change lives— both for the animals and their new families.
• How SAS connects with the community and ways to get involved through volunteering, fostering, and donations.
• Memorable success stories of animals finding their forever homes. (Shoutout to Freddie!)

Listen in to learn about the heart behind SAS and the connections that make a difference— for people and pets alike. 

To learn more about Scituate Animal Shelter (and peep the animals currently at the shelter!), visit their website ScituateAnimalShelter.org, or their Instagram and Facebook page: @scituateanimalshelter.

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Kristine Jelstrom-Hamill and Shelley Sommer, two incredible guests who live and breathe books, join Larry and Lindsay on the sixteenth episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs. Together, they bring a wealth of knowledge and passion to our conversation about the best books of 2024 and the perfect books to gift for the holidays.

Kristine has a rich background in the literary world. Formerly the librarian at Martinson Elementary, she now oversees all things books as the Book Manager at Buttonwood Books and Toys in Cohasset. From frontlist buying to special orders and events, Kristine’s work centers around sharing her love of books with the community. 

After 15 years at the John F. Kennedy Library, Shelley pursued her graduate degree in children’s literature at Simmons University. For 22 years, Shelley directed the library at Inly School, where she now teaches middle school writing. She’s also a published author, a reviewer for School Library Journal, and facilitates a book club for the Duxbury Senior Center. 

Tune in to hear Kristine and Shelley recount the best books of 2024, and share expert recommendations for the best books to gift this holiday season, from heartwarming reads to thrillers and everything in between. We also get into the importance of having and keeping independent book stores in our community and learn a new phrase around this: "See it here, buy it here, keep us here."

To learn more about Buttonwood Books and Toys, visit their website www.buttonwoodbooksandtoys.com or their Instagram page, @buttonwoodbooksandtoys.

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Jill Landry and Lindsay Platz, the magic makers from Beach Plum Floral, join Larry and Lindsay on the fifteenth episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs. We're officially introducing you all to the idea of "quiet connectors" in our community. We think they're just as important as the loud or obvious connectors and want to peel back the curtain on the ways they support (and beautify!) our community.

Founded in 2011, Beach Plum Floral creates weddings that beautifully reflect each couple’s style, and just last year expanded with J. Landry Co. to offer specialized services in brand activations, experiential design, and luxury weddings.

Jill, with a lifelong passion for nature and a background as a wedding photographer, brings her unique vision and environmental inspiration to every project. Meanwhile, Lindsay, who joined Jill’s team in 2021 (plus, listen to hear their connection story!), brings her expertise in logistics, planning, and creativity from a diverse career spanning corporate, hospitality, and non-profit event planning. Together, they’ve built a team (and an amazing one at that!) that can take on any design challenge with both grace and grit. #shoutouttofloyd

Tune in to hear Jill and Lindsay share their journey, the challenges of rebuilding after the pandemic, and their thoughts on the evolution of event design through Beach Plum Floral and J. Landry Co. You’ll get an inside look at how they turn clients' dreams into reality, from intimate weddings to expansive brand activations INCLUDING the incredible holiday pop ups at The Venetian restaurant in Weymouth, MA and Levitate Backyard in Marshfield, MA. 

To learn more about Beach Plum Floral visit their website (www.beachplumfloral.com) or their Instagram pages @beachplumfloral and @jlandry_co, respectively.

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Julia Driscoll and Grace Moore, best friends originally from Norwell, MA, and Co-Founders of the Wicked Women Maker's Market ("WWMM"), join Larry and Lindsay on the fourteenth episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs. The WWMM is a holiday fair supporting South Shore artisans founded by our guests in 2019!

What began with 12 artists at Grace’s home has become a major community event, now attracting over 1,500 shoppers. The 6th annual market will feature 45 local makers at the Marshfield Fairgrounds on November 30. 

With a deep passion for the arts, Julia and Grace share the story of how they founded WWMM as a way to create opportunities for local artists and foster meaningful connections within their community. Listen to hear them share what's different at this year's market, the types of artisans you can expect to find there, and how they balance their own creative pursuits as artists of different mediums (Julia: sewing, painting, and curating vintage fashion through her brand, Odd Cow and Grace: creating funky accessories under her brand, Tacky Brand) while also working at the North River Arts Society (Julia!) and Beach Plum Floral (Grace!). 

To see the full line up of artisans and purchase tickets to the Wicked Women Maker's Market, occurring on Small Business Saturday (November 30th), visit their Instagram page @wickedwomenmakersmarket.

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Kyle Wrentz, Co-Founder and Artistic Director of Break a Leg Theater Works (affectionately known as "BAL"), joins Larry and Lindsay on the thirteenth episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs. BAL is a non-profit children's theater that has been transforming the South Shore for the past nine years. 

Kyle shares stories about the 40+ productions he's co-directed and 25+ guest artists from Broadway and Hollywood that he's collaborated with at BAL. Listen to hear how this non-profit proudly provides exceptional performing arts experiences for young performers (ages 8-18!) and what he sees blossom in kids in BAL. Kyle also tells us about his 22 years of professional acting experience, including performing in The Lion King on Broadway, where he understudied the roles of Simba and Scar, and being part of the acclaimed a cappella group American Vybe at Epcot. He also tells us about the prestigious awards ceremonies and events (read: televised!) that he's performed at! 

To learn more about the Break a Leg Theater Works and to purchase tickets to their upcoming SHINE Gala on October 24th at 1620 Winery in Plymouth, visit the website at breakalegtheater.com, or follow them on Instagram @breakalegtheaterworks and Facebook @breakalegtheater.

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BONUS EPISODE ALERT! Larry and Lindsay were invited by episode eleven's own, Rob Hakala, on The South Shore's Morning News on 95.9 WATD-FM on Thursday, September 19th! Listen to hear Rob turn the tables on Larry and Lindsay: the interviewee becomes the interview...er. And shout out to Beth Foster, Rob's co-host, who made us feel so welcome in the studio! 

To learn more about The South Shore’s Morning News tune into 95.9 FM, Monday through Friday from 5:00-10:00 AM, visit the website at 959watd.com, or follow him on Instagram and Facebook @ssmorningnews.

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Rob Hakala, the 20+ year host of The South Shore’s Morning News at 95.9 WATD-FM Marshfield, joins Larry and Lindsay on the eleventh episode of Deep Dives & Light Laughs. He shares stories from his incredible nine years of interviewing Steve Carell at the "Thing on the Porch" at Marshfield Hills General Store and other tales of getting started in broadcasting. He had a passion for radio ever since he received his first radio and microphone at the age of 12. Years later, he wound up broadcasting for “real” at Curry College’s 91.5 WMLN-FM in Milton. Soon after, he ended up at 95.9 WATD for his first stint as a news reporter and afternoon anchor. Rob left 95.9 WATD to work full-time for Shadow Traffic in Boston, but the South Shore called him back. He returned to 95.9 WATD in November, 2000 to host a brand new program called “The South Shore’s Morning News.” The program was designed and created by Rob and former WATD News Director Aaron Katersky.

To learn more about The South Shore’s Morning News tune into 95.9 FM, Monday through Friday from 5:00-10:00 AM, visit the website at 959watd.com, or follow him on Instagram and Facebook @ssmorningnews.

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This week, Larry and Lindsay catch up after a busy summer. Listen to find out why we almost called this episode, "Big Bootie Banter" and to hear us recount our first ten episodes and all of the cool and groovy people we'd had the pleasure of interviewing.

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