By TERESA WINCHESTEROTEGO

The weather outside was quite chilly on Saturday, March 8, never rising above the freezing point, but the atmosphere inside 354 Main—a long-standing commercial building renovated and transformed by owner Bill Hovard into a shop, gallery, and small events center—was warm and friendly. Some 30 people showed up for Hovard’s second annual “Seed Swap: Planting Seeds for Change!” event.

Hovard conceived of the swap as a way of promoting a more connected community.

“It’s really about sharing, another event to bring the community together and support each other, especially in these uncertain times,” Hovard said, noting that the event draws in a cross section of the community, bridging diverse factions that might not otherwise be coming together.