Agenda

A Skinner Family Tour
June 25: The curators of Wistariahurst and the Joseph Allen Skinner Museum will host a jaunt around Holyoke and South Hadley to learn more about the lives of the Skinner family from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. William Skinner and his descendants are famed as much for their philanthropic gifts to social and educational institutions in this region as they are for business innovation and expertise in producing the highest-quality silk thread and satin fabrics. As manufacturer of Skinner’s Satins, William Skinner came to be widely known, and his own success was generously extended to Holyoke and the working people who lived there. The Skinner family supported the construction of a chapel, a hospital, a city library, a gymnasium, a coffeehouse, and a state park. The program includes transportation and tours of various Skinner venues, including Wistariahurst, the Skinner Chapel of the United Congregational Church, the Orchards (former home of Joseph Skinner and his family), and will conclude with a tour of the Joseph Allen Skinner Museum. Tickets are $25 per person, $20 for students and seniors. To make a reservation, call (413) 322-5660.

Summer Business Summit
June 27-28: The Resort and Conference Center of Hyannis will be the setting for the Summer Business Summit, hosted by the Massachusetts Chamber of Business and Industry of Boston. Nominations are being accepted for the Massachusetts Chamber, Business of the Year, and Employer of Choice awards. The two-day conference will feature educational speakers, presentations by lawmakers, VIP receptions, and more. For more information, visit www.masscbi.com.

Jazz & Art Festival
July 8-10: A Mardi Gras theme will kick off the 5th annual Hampden Bank Hoop City Jazz & Art Festival on July 8, featuring Glenn David Andrews with the Soul Rebels, and hosted by Wendell Pierce, star of the HBO series Treme. The celebration, planned at Springfield’s Court Square on the Esplanade, continues throughout the weekend with a lineup of world-class entertainment. On July 9, performances are slated by Marcus Anderson, the UK Kings of Jazz Groove, Down to the Bone, 17-year-old jazz newcomer Vincent Ingala, and Gerald Albright. On July 10, performances begin with the Eric Bascom Quintet, followed by Samirah Evans and Her Handsome Devils. Kendrick Oliver and the New Life Orchestra will also perform, and Latin jazz performer Poncho Sanchez will close out the festival. Organizers will also be increasing the number of merchandise vendors, artisans, and crafters as well as food vendors. For more information, visit www.hoopcityjazz.org.

40 Under Forty Gala
June 23: BusinessWest will present its 40 Under Forty Class of 2011 at a not-to-be-missed gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House, beginning at 5 p.m. The 40 Under Forty program, initiated in 2007, has become an early-summer tradition in the region. For more information call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or visit www.businesswest.com.

Western Mass.
Business Expo
Oct. 18: Businesses from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin, and Berkshire counties will come together for the premier trade show in the region, the Western Mass. Business Expo. Formerly known as the Market Show, the event, produced by BusinessWest and staged at the MassMutual Center in Springfield, has been revamped and improved to provide exposure and business opportunities for area companies. The cost for a 10-by-10 booth is $700 for members of all area chambers and $750 for non-members; corner booths are $750 for all chamber members and $800 for non-members, and a 10-by-20 booth is $1,200 for all chamber members and $1,250 for non-members. For more information, log onto www.businesswest.com or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.