SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield College Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship has been awarded a $265,000 grant from the Davis Educational Foundation to assist in the creation of faculty-development opportunities focused on the implementation of real-time assessment procedures to help increase and maintain student academic success.

The grant will allow the center to fund faculty from across departments and schools to engage in workshops on assessment, implement those strategies into their courses, and use the assessment data to evaluate program-learning outcomes. 

The goals are to improve the timelines of interventions when students are not meeting learning objectives and to move the class forward when all students are meeting those objectives. The center will coordinate the training and provide faculty with the ability to engage in scholarship around the development of these assessment procedures.

CHICOPEE — Elms College will present its 88th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 18 at 10 a.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The academic procession begins at 9:30 a.m.

The commencement speaker, healthcare entrepreneur and philanthropist William Lyons III, plans to deliver an inspirational address and will receive an honorary degree.

Lyons and his brothers founded Blackstone Medical Inc. in 1996 and built it into a true Pioneer Valley success story; the company was even named a ‘model business’ by the Romney administration for creating local jobs in the high-tech arena. By the time Blackstone Medical was acquired by Orthofix International in 2006, it was the world’s largest privately held spinal-implant company, and had introduced more than 20 instrument and implant systems throughout the U.S. and in more than 30 countries.

Prior to forming Blackstone Medical Inc., Lyons served as chairman, president, and CEO of Brimfield Precision Inc., a medical-device contract-manufacturing business. During his manufacturing career, he became a founding partner in an orthopedic development company that later merged into the Orthopedic Products Group of Johnson & Johnson. He also was a founding member of the board of directors of Exactech Inc., a public company specializing in orthopedic products. Locally, he was a founder of Mechtech of Western Massachusetts, a nonprofit machining apprenticeship training company. He continues to serve as a consultant to the medical-device-manufacturing industry and as an investor in medical-device startup companies.

As philanthropists, Lyons and his wife, Cynthia, who is the chair of the board of trustees at Elms College, are focused on supporting local educational projects, medical-research and cancer-care projects, and programs that benefit military families. They have donated to many causes in the Pioneer Valley area, including the town of Wilbraham tornado-relief fund, Mercy Medical Center’s Sister Caritas Cancer Center, and Elms College.

Honorary degrees will also be awarded to Savina Martin, co-chair of the Massachusetts Poor People’s Campaign, and Kathryn Buckley-Brawner, executive director of Catholic Charities Agency in the Diocese of Springfield, in recognition of their contributions to the world.

As a national activist on homelessness and issues affecting women who has spoken around the country on systemic racism and poverty issues, Martin has challenged politicians and policy makers to build sustainable, low-income housing and support for urban areas. A veteran and a woman of color, today she works particularly among homeless women veterans in Boston.

Buckley-Brawner has worked with Catholic Charities since 2004, and has been at the forefront of the agency’s effort to provide services and assistance to the victims of the 2011 tornado, Tropical Storm Irene, and other events. As a refugee reception and placement agency subcontracted through the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops, the agency has helped to resettle dozens of refugees into Western Mass.

PIONEER VALLEY — The Speaker Sisterhood, a network of public speaking clubs for women, is holding a company-wide, month-long, open-house celebration for its network of 24 clubs in April. The goal of the clubs is to provide a community to women who want to increase confidence, boost public-speaking skills, have fun, and maybe even change the world.

The Pioneer Valley network of Speaker Sisterhood clubs will hold open houses on the following dates. Amherst on Thursday, April 11, 7-9 p.m.; Florence on Wednesday, April 10, 3-5 p.m.; Holyoke on Friday, April 26, 9:30-11:30 a.m.; Northampton #1 on Thursday, April 18, 6-8 p.m.; and Northampton #2 on Monday, April 22, 6-8 p.m.

The two-hour open houses will offer an overview of what club meetings entail, how to join, and what members can expect to gain. Guests will hear experiences from current members and can also volunteer to give a two-minute speech to practice public speaking and get a glimpse of the powerful experience each meeting offers.

“Each Speaker Sisterhood club isn’t just a place to practice speaking in front of a group, it’s a tribe of like-minded women who are supporting and empowering each other to follow their dreams by building confidence in their voice,” said Angela Lussier, founder and CEO of the Speaker Sisterhood, which is based in Holyoke.

Each club experience offers a year-long curriculum that not only helps members become better public speakers, but also takes them on a self-discovery adventure. The Speaker Sisterhood’s curriculum, “The Secret Life of Speaking Up,” is focused on helping women discover, awaken, and create their voice through the art of public speaking.

SPRINGFIELD — Smith & Wesson Corp. announced it has contributed more than $32,000 to the Pioneer Valley USO. Proceeds raised from the company’s annual game dinner have benefited the Pioneer Valley USO and its programs supporting American military personnel and their families for more than a decade. Armed-forces members and families access the USO for social, recreational, educational, and entertainment programs and services.

“We always appreciate the tremendous support this event receives,” said David Mendoza, Pioneer Valley USO board president. “We are honored to be the recipient of the funds raised from the annual Smith & Wesson game dinner. This event is a wonderful opportunity for the USO to raise awareness of our presence in the Pioneer Valley and provide needed support to our military personnel and their families in Western Massachusetts.”

At the annual event, Smith & Wesson game dinner attendees enjoy a variety of wild game dishes prepared by a team of dedicated volunteers. One of the most popular events of its kind, the dinner hosts nearly 500 guests, and this year featured menu items including pheasant, elk, bear, boar, moose, and venison. Led by Chef Norm Boucher from Chicopee Comprehensive High School’s culinary department, volunteers created dishes like antelope meatballs marinara, southern-style pulled boar, pot roast of Maine black bear, and wild bird pot pie. In addition to the food-preparation team, Smith & Wesson volunteers donated more than 500 personal hours to make the event a success. The game meat was donated by hunters affiliated with Smith & Wesson, Foggy Mountain Guide Service, and Linx Wildlife Management, among others. This year’s event included a limited number of sponsorships, giving local businesses the opportunity to show their support. Big-game sponsor Thorn Industries of Three Rivers, as well as other area businesses, provided additional support for the USO.

“It is always wonderful to see such a dedicated team of volunteers come together for this event year after year,” said Mark Smith, president of Smith & Wesson’s Manufacturing Services Division. “We want to thank our volunteers and generous contributors who support this event and the Pioneer Valley USO, which offers critical aid to American service personnel and their families.”

HOLYOKE — Accounting Today, a leading publication in the certified public accounting industry, has named Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. a regional leader in its top-100 listing in the March issue.

Accounting Today’s annual ranking surveys the largest practices in both tax and accounting in 10 major geographic regions across the country. It employs a host of benchmarking data to evaluate the firms’ growth strategies, service areas, and specific client niches. MBK was recognized as a top firm in the New England region.

“MBK is dedicated to our belief in the power and potential of Western Massachusetts,” said Managing Partner James Barrett. “We are very proud to have this local commitment recognized on a national level. Our staff works very hard to provide excellent service to our clients as well as resources and information to business owners and decision makers in our marketplace.”

FLORENCE — Florence Bank has named Susan Seaver its Community Support Award winner for 2019. Seaver, a mortgage loan originator, joined Florence Bank in May 2014 and has 30 years of banking experience. 

The Community Support Award was established by the bank in 1997 as a means of formally recognizing employees who are active participants in community events and donate their personal and professional time to local not-for-profit organizations.

Each year, the award recipient has the opportunity to select a not-for-profit organization of his or her choice, and the bank makes a donation to that organization. At Seaver’s recommendation, Florence Bank will make a donation to the Michael J. Dias Foundation of Ludlow, which has a mission to help those who are battling the disease of addiction.

Seaver is an active member of the community service committee at the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley, and serves as a designated financial counselor for the Way Finders organization, working to confront homelessness in communities throughout Western Mass. She also volunteers as a classroom reader in support of the Link to Libraries organization in East Longmeadow and is an avid supporter of the Michael J. Dias Foundation.

“Sue is the ideal choice for the Community Support Award,” said John Heaps Jr., president and CEO of Florence Bank. “Her positive energy, commitment to numerous local nonprofit organizations, and dedication to helping those in need within our community is exemplary.”

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) announced the promotion of John Kovalchik to director of ACO Operations. 

With extensive experience leading healthcare-management initiatives (most recently as manager of the Center for Behavioral Health at HMC), Kovalchik is well-positioned to bring the facility to the next level by improving quality of care, meeting measurable benchmarks, accurately reflecting the hospital’s population’s health risks, and maintaining lower overall healthcare costs — all mandates of value-based ACO models, said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems Inc.

“We are thrilled to welcome John to this key role,” Hatiras said. “John brings a wealth of experience to this position and an enthusiasm for integrating the management of patient care and cost-saving initiatives which are vital to our community.”

ACOs, or accountable-care organizations, are provider-led organizations that support new federal and state initiatives to shift from the previous model of fee-for-service healthcare to a value-based system that puts more of the risk on the provider, Kovalchik explained. The overall goals of ACOs are to improve quality of care and patient health outcomes by meeting measurable benchmarks, ensuring patients are accessing healthcare at the appropriate levels, and controlling the overall costs of healthcare by working within population-based models.

In his new position, Kovalchik is overseeing management initiatives for the two ACOs in which HMC participates. The first is through a unique partnership with UMass Memorial Medical Center, involving 50,000 lives split among seven hospitals, four federally qualified health centers, and several private physicians’ offices, covering Central and Western Mass. The second is a statewide ACO participating in a major new demonstration to support a value-based restructuring of MassHealth’s healthcare delivery and payment system. For this initiative, HMC partners with the Boston Accountable Care Organization and BMC Healthnet Plan to form an ACO named the BMC Healthnet Plan Community Alliance. 

Kovalchik is also overseeing HMC’s $750,000 CHART grant from the Health Policy Commission, which provides medication-assisted treatment to patients struggling with opiate addiction with the goal of preventing recidivism and “helping patients to survive and thrive,” he said.

“System change is very exciting, and this is all in the service of providing great and more efficient healthcare,” said Kovalchik, who holds a master’s degree in social work from the University of Connecticut with a focus on healthcare administration, and has directed clinical programming and served in management roles at several local organizations. In his previous role as manager of Behavioral Health at HMC, he participated in ACO planning discussions and sees his new position as a natural transition.

“A significant portion of our patients fall into one of the public-payer buckets [Medicare and MassHealth]. We have a great team of dedicated nurses, patient navigators, quality/analytic professionals, community health workers, and physicians helping these patient populations on a daily basis,” he said. “We also help people with housing, nutrition, obesity, food insecurity … we’re trying to get people to the right levels of care at the right time, and control the ever-rising costs of healthcare.”

HOLYOKE — The Students on the Autism Spectrum Club at Holyoke Community College and the HCC Admissions office will host an open house on Thursday, April 4 for prospective students on the autism spectrum, along with their parents, teachers, guidance counselors, and other support persons. 

Members of the club will lead campus tours, and Admissions staff will hold information sessions on academic programs and HCC support programs.

The open house will run from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the PeoplesBank Conference Room (301/303) of the HCC Kittredge Center for Business & Workforce Development on the main campus at 303 Homestead Ave.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to hcc.edu/sasopenhouse. For  more information, e-mail Bryn Nowell in the HCC Admissions office at [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — The law firm of Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury and Murphy, P.C. announced that attorneys Stefan Sjoberg and Talia Landry have recently joined the firm.

Both were born and raised in Western Mass. and are graduates of Western New England University School of Law. Sjoberg’s practice encompasses business law, estate planning, probate litigation, and taxation. Landry’s practice includes estate planning and elder law, personal injury, and commercial litigation.

HOLYOKE — Hundreds of high-school seniors will spend the morning at Holyoke Community College (HCC) on Thursday, April 4 for the 13th annual Credit for Life Fair, an interactive event designed to help young people develop financial-literacy skills and learn the basics of money management. 

The fair will run from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the gymnasium of HCC’s Bartley Center for Athletics & Recreation. During a brief orientation, Gary Rome, owner of Gary Rome Hyundai, will offer remarks about the importance of financial literacy from a business owner’s point of view. 

This is the 10th year HCC has hosted this event, which is organized by a committee of financial experts from banks and other agencies in the Pioneer Valley, including Holyoke Credit Union, bankESB, Loan Depot, Mount Holyoke College, United Bank, PeoplesBank, and Lambert & Pryor Insurance. 

Participating schools include Holyoke High School (North and South), Easthampton High School, South Hadley High School, West Springfield High School, Agawam High School, Granby High School, Paulo Freire Social Justice Charter School, Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Cooperative, and Mount Tom Academy, an alternative high school on the HCC campus.

“We are expecting approximately 500 students as well as about 80 volunteers to help them navigate the fair,” said Barbara Baran, marketing officer for Holyoke Credit Union and coordinator of the Credit for Life Fair. “Every year our goal is to give students a great financial learning experience that will stay with them for many years to come. They learn about credit and credit scores, the importance of saving money, how hard their parents have to work to support them, and much, much more.”

Rather than imparting this wisdom through lectures, Credit for Life attendees are given a scenario in which they are 25 years old and have a job, a salary, and debt. They then proceed from booth to booth, where they are required to make financial decisions on essential elements such as housing, food, transportation, and insurance, ultimately trying to balance their budgets and live within their means.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University recently announced it is one of 48 colleges and universities to be awarded a grant from Truth Initiative to adopt a 100% tobacco-free or smoke-free campus policy. The effort is part of a national movement among students, faculty, and administrators to address smoking and tobacco use at college campuses throughout the U.S.

“We are truly excited to make Bay Path University a safe, healthy, and productive environment,” said Michael Giampietro, vice president for Finance & Administrative Services. “The health benefits of reducing second-hand smoke exposure are invaluable and could also help students prepare for the workforce, where smoke-free policies are already the norm.”

Ninety-nine percent of all smokers start smoking before the age of 26, making college campuses a critical part in the fight against youth tobacco use. Since 2015, the Truth Initiative Tobacco-Free College Program, in partnership with CVS Health, has awarded more than $1.8 million in funding to 154 colleges and universities to prevent young adults from starting tobacco use, help tobacco smokers quit, and reduce everyone’s exposure to secondhand smoke. 

“Our goal is to make campus environments healthier places to live, work, and learn,” said Robin Koval, CEO and president of the Truth Initiative. “We are proud to continue to build relationships and provide grants to minority-serving institutions, HBCUs [historically black colleges and universities], women’s colleges, and community colleges to give them the tools to go tobacco-free and be the generation that ends smoking.”

Bay Path University’s efforts are part of a growing trend to clean the air on campuses. Currently, more than 2,342 higher-education institutions in the U.S. have gone smoke- or tobacco-free.

“The grant from Truth Initiative has set us up for success, and I’m positive we can achieve our goals,” said Giampietro.

NORTH ADAMS — Michelle Carleton has been promoted to vice president of Residential Services at Berkshire Family and Individual Resources Inc. (BFAIR). She is responsible for overseeing the DDS Residential & Acquired Brain Injury Residential Services, Adult Family Care/Shared Living, and the director of Maintenance.

“With the recent structure reorganization, Michelle’s promotion to vice president of Residential Services is well-deserved. She has brought much experience to this position and continues to provide the level of support and service that matches the BFAIR mission,” said Rich Weisenflue, BFAIR CEO.

Carleton has more than three decades of experience working in the healthcare and human-service field. Since joining BFAIR in March 2017, she has held the positions of Acquired Brain Injury Program coordinator and most recently director of Acquired Brain Injury Residential Services.

HOLYOKE — SPARK EforAll Holyoke continues to support entrepreneurs and idea sharing with two pitch contests planned for this spring. Both contests are an opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to share, receive feedback, and possibly win prize money for a business or nonprofit idea.

The first event is a pitch contest for food and drink-themed ideas, hosted on Wednesday, April 10 at 6 p.m. at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute (164 Race St., Holyoke). The deadline to apply is Thursday, March 28 at 11:59 a.m.

The second event is an all-deas pitch contest, and will be held on Wednesday, April 24 at 6 p.m. in the community room of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church (485 Appleton St., Holyoke). The deadline to apply for that contest is Thursday, April 11 at 11:59 a.m. Entrepreneurs can apply for either pitch contest at eforall.org/ma/holyoke.

Prizes for the winners, who will be chosen by a panel of judges, are $1,000 for the grand prize winner, $750 for second place, $500 for third place, and $500 for the fan favorite (audience vote).

Audience members will have as much fun as the entrepreneurs at the EforAll pitch contests. There are two networking opportunities — before and after each contest — and up to 15 entrepreneurs will be talking about their ideas, looking for feedback and advice. It’s a chance to catch the enthusiasm and energy of passionate people looking to create a business or nonprofit.

SPARK EforAll Holyoke is actively seeking entrepreneurs, specialists, mentors, and sponsors for its summer accelerator. For more information about SPARK EforAll Holyoke, e-mail Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, executive director, at [email protected], or visit eforall.org/ma/holyoke.

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates decreased in 23 labor-market areas and remained unchanged in one labor-market area in the state during the month of February, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to February 2018, the rates dropped in 24 labor market areas.

Eight of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published reported seasonal job gains in February. The largest gains occurred in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Springfield, Worcester, Peabody-Salem-Beverly, and Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton areas. Jobs in the Framingham area remained unchanged over the month.

From February 2018 to February 2019, eight of the 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Leominster-Gardner, Springfield, New Bedford, and Barnstable areas.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for February was 3.2%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of February is down one-tenth of a percentage point at 3.0%.

The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 6,600-job gain in February, and an over-the-year gain of 20,300 jobs.

The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor-market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates.

GREENFIELD — In celebration of the Week of the Young Child, Elms College Off-Campus will host a presentation and workshop by professor and author Megan Dowd Lambert of Simmons University on Saturday, April 6 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Greenfield Community College (GCC) dining room. This event is free and open to the public, and refreshments will be served.

The presentation and workshop, titled “How to Shake Up Storytime and Get Kids Talking About What They See,” will draw on Lambert’s book Reading Picture Books with Children. Lambert will provide attendees with tips and tools to create dynamic, engaging shared reading experiences that put children and their responses to art, text, and design at the heart of storytime. She will also address how her Whole Book Approach storytime model, developed in association with the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art, can support kids’ critical engagement with picture-book representations of race, class, gender, and other aspects of identity.

Upon completion of the workshop, participants will receive a certificate of attendance confirming that they have successfully completed the training.

This event is sponsored by Elms College and GCC. World Eye Bookstore will have books for sale, and a book signing will follow the workshop.

Seating is limited. Register by contacting Meghan Keane, Elms College off-campus program coordinator, at [email protected] or (413) 775-1257.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest is looking for nominees for its fifth Continued Excellence Award, and will accept nominations through Friday, May 3. The winner of the award will be unveiled at the magazine’s 40 Under Forty gala on Thursday, June 20.

Four years ago, BusinessWest inaugurated the award to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who had significantly built on their achievements since they were honored.

The first two winners were Delcie Bean, president of Paragus Strategic IT, and Dr. Jonathan Bayuk, president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center. Both were originally named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2008. The judges chose two winners in 2017: Scott Foster, an attorney with Bulkley, Richardson and Gelinas (40 Under Forty class of 2011); and Nicole Griffin, owner of Griffin Staffing Network (class of 2014). Last year, Samalid Hogan, regional director of the Massachusetts Small Business Development Center (class of 2013), took home the honor.

“So many 40 Under Forty honorees have refused to rest on their laurels,” said Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest. “Once again, we want to honor those who continue to build upon their strong records of service in business, within the community, and as regional leaders.”

Candidates must hail from 40 Under Forty classes prior to the year of the award — in this case, classes 2007-18 — and will be judged on qualities including outstanding leadership, dedicated community involvement, professional achievement, and ability to inspire. The award’s presenting sponsor is Health New England.

The nomination form is available by clicking here. For your convenience, a list of the past 12 40 Under Forty classes may be found here. For more information call Bevin Peters, Marketing and Events Director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

HOLYOKE — The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke recently welcomed its new board chair, Matthew Mainville, executive director of the Holyoke Housing Authority. He has been involved with the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke as a board member for the last nine years, serving as first vice chair for the last four years.

Mainville has 15 years of progressive housing experience in mixed finance development, HOPE VI, and facilities and operational management. He was named executive director of the Holyoke Housing Authority in 2013, overseeing 49 employees and a $22 million budget. An active member of the community, he serves as a board member of the Holyoke Economic Development and Industrial Corp., a member of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission Regional Housing Committee, and a board member with the United Way Emergency Food and Shelter Program.

Matthew received bachelor’s and master’s degrees from UMass Amherst.

The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke also expressed its appreciation for its past board chair, James Sullivan, president of O’Connell Development Group. He led the organization for the past four years and has been a pillar in community development for decades. He will continue to stay involved in the board, serving as an executive committee member.

HOLYOKE — BusinessWest launched its Difference Makers program in 2009 to celebrate individuals, groups, organizations, and families that are positively impacting the Pioneer Valley and are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The class of 2019 will be honored at the Log Cabin on Thursday, March 28. Limited tickets remain, but time is running out to reserve a seat.

This year’s honorees are Carla Cosenzi, co-president of TommyCar Auto Group; the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts; Peter Gagliardi, president and CEO of Way Finders; Frederick and Marjorie Hurst, publisher and editor of An African American Point of View; Joe Peters, vice chairman and former president of Universal Plastics; and the Springfield Museums. They were profiled in the Feb. 4 issue.

The Difference Makers Gala begins at 5 p.m., and tickets cost $75. To reserve a spot, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected]. The presenting sponsor is Baystate Health/Health New England, and other event sponsors include Royal, P.C., Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., Development Associates, TommyCar Auto Group, and Viability Inc.

NORTHAMPTON — Mark Sullivan, president of D.A. Sullivan & Sons, announced the recent promotion of Jennifer Adams to director of Business Development.

Since joining the company in 2012 as an administrative assistant, Adams has assumed increasing responsibility and is now responsible for all company-wide marketing initiatives, including advertising, website updates, and social-media channels. She also assists with company procurement by coordinating all phases of the proposal process in response to private, state, and U.S. government requests for proposals/qualifications, as well as assisting estimators with bid-related forms and documentation.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College will hold an open house on Thursday, April 11 at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute for anyone interested in taking classes there as well as members of the general public who want to tour the facility and sample dishes prepared by students and staff. 

The “Taste & Tour” event runs from 5 to 7 p.m. at the 164 Race St. facility and coincides with an open house at the adjacent Freight Farms hydroponic container farm, where visitors can learn about the ongoing urban-farming project there managed by HCC.

Guests at the open house will be able to tour the state-of-the-art, 20,000-square-foot Culinary Arts Institute, view cooking demonstrations, sample appetizers, meet faculty chefs, and learn about HCC’s certificate and associate-degree programs in Culinary Arts, as well as the college’s non-credit culinary and hospitality workforce-training programs.

HCC Admissions counselors will take on-the-spot applications and talk with students about programs and the enrollment process, including applying for financial aid and preparing for the college placement test.

LONGMEADOW — Leavitt Family Jewish Home, part of JGS Lifecare and Chelsea Jewish Lifecare, acknowledged Dr. Udaya Jagadeesan and Dr. David Pierangelo for their outstanding work. Both doctors recently received a certificate from the Society for Post-Acute and Long-Term Care Medicine (AMDA) in honor of the National Day of Recognition for Long-Term Care Physicians. This certificate recognizes the dedication, compassion, and quality of care that Jagadeesan and Pierangelo provide to the long-term residents at Leavitt Family Jewish Home.

“We are so proud to have Dr. Jagadeesan and Dr. Pierangelo taking care of our residents,” said Robert Whitten, executive director of the Leavitt Family Jewish Home. “Their hard work and devotion are an inspiration to all of us. It’s no wonder they are beloved by residents and staff alike.”

The U.S. Congress designated this day in 2010 to honor AMDA founder Dr. William Dowd, who recognized that residents of nursing homes were patients with complex medical problems and that physicians need to be involved in establishing standards of management and clinical care for the frail elderly and other residents in long-term-care facilities.

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate in February fell one-tenth of a percentage point to 3.0%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts added 6,600 jobs in February. Over the month, the private sector added 5,600 jobs as gains occurred in education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation, and utilities; other services; financial activities; and construction. Manufacturing lost jobs over the month, while the job level in information remained unchanged. 

From February 2018 to February 2019, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates Massachusetts added 20,300 jobs. The February unemployment rate was eight-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.8% reported by the BLS.

“The Commonwealth continues to experience job and labor-force growth alongside an unemployment rate that has remained below 4% for 34 consecutive months. Our workforce-development agencies remain committed to ensuring that all regions and communities in Massachusetts can better access our high demand job categories during this period of strong economic growth,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said.

The labor force increased by 3,100 from 3,840,500 in January, as 6,200 more residents were employed and 3,100 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped six-tenths of a percentage point.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — increased one-tenth of a percentage point to 68.0%. Compared to February 2018, the labor-force participation rate is up 1.0%.

The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in professional, scientific, and business services; and education and health services.

GREENFIELD — The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) and the Charles River Watershed Assoc. (CRWA), two national leaders in the effort to clean up the nation’s rivers, called on Massachusetts lawmakers to take legislative action on reducing trash before it reaches rivers.

The two organizations pointed to a number of bills currently working their way through the Massachusetts State House that would, if approved, go a long way to reduce or eliminate trash that might otherwise end up in the state’s waterways. The proposed legislation includes measures to eliminate single-use plastic bags, restrict single-use plastic straws, and eliminate foam from food containers.

“For years, thousands of volunteers from these two organizations have been doing their part to keep our rivers clean,” noted CRC Cleanup Coordinator Stacey Lennard. “Now we want decision makers at the state level to do their part in helping redesign our economy so there isn’t waste in the first place.”

Added Emily Norton, CRWA’s executive director, “with environmental regulations being rolled back weekly at the federal level, it is more important than ever that we have strong protections for our waterways at both the state and the local levels. We need your help to make sure that happens.”

CRC and CRWA also called on the public to join them in urging legislators to do their part by:

• Signing CRC’s petition telling manufacturers, businesses, and local government to lead the way on overhauling how plastic and other waste products are made and used, and to take greater responsibility in solving the trash crisis (visit www.ctriver.org/takeaction);

• Joining CRC and CRWA at Lobby for Your Rivers Day on Thursday, March 28 to receive training in how to talk to elected officials about better pollution policies (visit bit.ly/LobbyForRivers to sign up);

• Joining the 23rd annual Source to Sea Cleanup on Friday and Saturday, Sept. 27-28, along the Connecticut River and tributary streams across the four-state watershed (visit www.ctriver.org/cleanupto learn more); and

• Participating in the 20th annual Earth Day Charles River Cleanup on Saturday, April 27 from 9 a.m. to noon. It is co-hosted by the Charles River Conservancy, Charles River Esplanade, Emerald Necklace Conservancy, Massachusetts DCR, Waltham Land Trust, and state Sen. William Brownsberger (www.crwa.org/cleanup).

WESTFIELD — The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce will hold its Legislative Lunch on Friday, April 12 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. Those attending include state Sen. Donald Humason Jr.; state Rep. John Velis; Jon Gould, representative of state Sen. Adam Hinds; and Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan. Other invited guests include state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, Smitty Pignatelli, and Lindsay Sabadosa. Tony Cignoli, political consultant with A.L. Cignoli Co., will moderate the event, which will give attendees an opportunity to address business concerns to their legislators.

“I love putting this event on for both our members and local legislators,” said Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, adding that this is an opportunity for the business community to get in front of politicians during budget hearings at the State House, and/or to bring any concerns to them.

To reserve tickets or inquire about sponsorship opportunities, visit westfieldbiz.org/events, or contact the chamber office at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail [email protected]. The cost is $35 for members and $50 for non-members. RSVP by Friday, April 5 (no refunds after this date).

Sponsors include: event sponsor, Polish National Credit Union; house sponsor, Mestek Inc.; small-business sponsor, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention; bronze sponsors, Armbrook Village, Berkshire Family & Individual Resources, and MedExpress Urgent Care.

CHICOPEE — Elms College will host a Take Back the Night rally and march on Thursday, March 28 starting at 6:30 p.m. on the Keating Quadrangle.

At 6:30, participants will gather at the firepit on the Quad to make posters for the rally, which will kick off at 7 with a poetry reading by writer Jordan Rice. At 7:30, the Elms community will march through the streets of downtown Chicopee to ‘take back the night.’ At 8:30, the marchers will return to campus and gather once again on the Quad to read true stories of assault survivors.

Rice is the author of the forthcoming Constellarium and co-editor of the anthology Voices of Transgender Parents. Her poems have been published or are forthcoming in Colorado Review, Feminist Wire, Mid-American Review, and Mississippi Review, among others. Her poetry has been selected for the 2010 Indiana Review Poetry Prize, the 2010 Richard Peterson Poetry Prize from Crab Orchard Review, the 2008 Gulf Coast Prize in Poetry, and the 2008 Milton Kessler Memorial Prize for Poetry from Harpur Palate. She earned a Ph.D. from Western Michigan University, where she served as associate editor for New Issues Poetry & Prose and as an assistant poetry editor for Third Coast. She earned an master of fine arts degree from Virginia Commonwealth University. Rice is an executive section editor for Dublin Poetry Review.

Take Back The Night started in the 1960s. The organization’s mission is to end sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual abuse, and all other forms of sexual violence, and to create safe communities and respectful relationships through awareness events and initiatives. Take Back The Night Events have been documented in more than 36 countries and more than 800 communities, with more locations taking a stand every year.

SPRINGFIELD — Women’s History Month is a great excuse to fill a family-engagement day with activities that focus on the many achievements of girls and women. With that in mind, the Springfield Museums will present “We Can Do It: A Celebration of Girls and Women” on Saturday, March 23 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is free with museum admission.

This interactive and thought-provoking program complements the special exhibits currently on display at the Museums: Elizabeth Bishop’s “Working Women: Defying Convention” and “Taking Care of Business: A Century of Women and Work in Springfield,” both open through May 26.

Jenny Powers, Family Engagement coordinator, said she wanted to create an inspiring day that allowed time and space for asking questions, noting that “our curators and the authors we invited will be ready to share wisdom and help everyone present consider why and how we achieve great things such as the wonderful exhibits we have at our Museums.”

Events include “Meet a History Curator” (Margaret Humberston) from 11 to 11:30 a.m.; “Meet an Art Curator” (Maggie North) from 11:30 a.m. to noon; “Artist and Sitter: Noteworthy Women in the Fine Arts Collection” at noon; and an author panel discussion at 1 p.m. with Natasha Lowe and Jaime Deenihan. Finally, at 3 p.m., Lyra Music will present “Melodic Canvases,” a live musical performance by pianist Ellyses Kuan and cellist Julie Reimann of Boston-based Duo Amie with guest violinist Emma Milian.

HOLYOKE — Peter Novak, general agent of Charter Oak Financial, a MassMutual firm, was inducted into the GAMA International Management Hall of Fame on March 18 in recognition of his career-long contributions to and leadership in the financial-services industry.

The Hall of Fame Award is regarded as the highest honor bestowed upon distinguished insurance and financial-services distribution field leaders and is granted based on a nominee’s accomplishments in advancing the art and science of agency/firm building, advancing the mission and work of the financial services industry, enhancing the quality of public and private life, and promoting professional education in the financial-services industry. 

A 35-year industry veteran, Novak has been a MassMutual field leader since joining the company in 1995. Under the leadership of Novak and his partner, General Agent Brendan Naughton, Charter Oak has grown regionally to include presence in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York. The firm has historically won MassMutual’s most prestigious awards for growth and leadership. Novak previously served as general agent to MassMutual’s Rochester, N.Y. agency; co-general agent at the New England/Robinson Co. in Waterbury, Conn.; and as an agent at New York Life Insurance Co.

Novak has been a GAMA member since 1985, with service to the boards of both GAMA International (2015-17) and the GAMA Foundation (2004-06). A contributor to the organization’s research, publications, and conferences, he has been recognized regularly with numerous GAMA awards, including the James Krueger First in Class Award (2010-11, 2017), International Management Award (2004-06, 2008-14), Master Agency Award (2002, 2007-17), the National Management Award (NMA), platinum level (2001-03); and the Cy Pick Award (2018). He received the NMA Traditional Gold Award in 2000 after earning his first NMA in 1999.

“Pete has been a GAMA member for 30 years, and his contributions have been significant,” said GAMA International CEO Bonnie Godsman. “From speaking on stage at LAMP to being a thought leader in the GAMA Foundation boardroom, Pete has help shaped GAMA and the profession at large. We are proud to induct him into the Hall of Fame.”

MassMutual Chairman, President, and CEO Roger Crandall added that “Pete is deserving of a place in the GAMA International Hall of Fame by virtue of the example he sets through his outstanding leadership, generosity, and extraordinary accomplishments.”

In addition to his work with GAMA, Novak is the co-founder of the Charter Oak Fund, Charter Oak’s charitable arm, which supports numerous local philanthropic causes and organizations; a member of the board of trustees of the Kosciuszko Foundation; and a board member of the Central European Institute (CEI) at Quinnipiac University. In 2013, he and his wife, Kasia, established the Novak Family Polish Chair at the university in support of CEI to strengthen ties between the U.S. and Eastern European countries with developing economies. His travels to Poland in this capacity have been instrumental in bridging the gap between the business and insurance industries here and in Poland.

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will host a graduate open house on Tuesday, March 26 beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Sprague Cultural Arts Center on the AIC campus located at 1000 State St. in Springfield.

The open house is for the working professional looking to attend graduate school and is designed to give prospective students access to all the information they need in one convenient location while providing an opportunity to meet faculty, staff, and other students in order to gain insight to AIC programs, admission processes, college financing, and housing.

According to Kerry Barnes, AIC’s vice president for Admissions, “AIC offers an array of master and doctoral degree programs in business, psychology, education, and the health sciences, including nursing, occupational therapy, and physical therapy, with blended and online programs, to help advance career opportunities. We know that time is extremely valuable between demanding work schedules and family life. Our goal is to offer an open house that welcomes working professionals and makes it easy for them to gather helpful information as they consider next steps in their career aspirations.”

More information on graduate-degree programs at AIC is available online at www.aic.edu or by calling the Admissions Office at (413) 205-3201.

NORTHAMPTON — A ribbon-cutting ceremony has been scheduled for Friday, April 5 at 1 p.m. at the site of phase 3 of the Atwood Professional Campus located at 15 Atwood Dr. in Northampton.

This 66,000-square-foot, Class A, three-story professional office building compliments the existing office buildings located across the street at 8 and 22 Atwood Dr., immediately off exit 18 on I-91. Both previous buildings are fully occupied, with notable tenants including Cooley Dickinson Health Care Corp., Clinical & Support Options Inc., and New England Dermatology. The new building was erected at the site of the former Clarion Inn & Conference Center and is designed to appeal to professional and medical office tenants. The owners of Northwood Development, LLC — Edward O’Leary, Eileen O’Leary Sullivan, and Susan O’Leary Mulhern — developed this project.

The construction of the building was completed in January 2019. The Hampshire County Probate and Family Court has leased 22,000 square feet in the new building consisting of the entire first floor along with a portion of the second floor. Cooley Dickinson Health Care Corp. has also leased 7,682 square feet on the second floor for medical offices, and construction for that space is currently underway.

Development Associates of Agawam, the project manager and leasing agent for the project, has been developing commercial and industrial property throughout the Pioneer Valley for more than 35 years. The company has completed numerous major projects throughout the region, including the North American headquarters for Convergent Photonics in the Chicopee River Business Park, the Greenfield Corporate Center, Agilent Technologies, and many other single and multi-tenant facilities.

Development Associates manages a 2.3 million-square-foot portfolio of property from Greenfield to North Haven, Conn., including office, industrial, automotive, high-tech, manufacturing, and warehouse/distribution properties.

LONGMEADOW — Attaining a college or graduate degree is only the beginning of the road to success, and when it comes to salary, women often fall behind before they even start. Women, and especially women of color, generally earn 20% less than their male counterparts who have the same degree and same years of experience, and stand to lose over between $250,000 to $500,000 over the course of their lifetime. Success and pay parity for women requires extra attention to navigating the various phases of their careers — especially learning how to self-advocate.

In a workshop slated for Thursday, March 28, titled “The Art of Being Your Own Advocate: How Women Fall Behind Before We Even Start,” attendees will examine why self-advocacy around salary discussions is often uncomfortable for women, and how to overcome it. The event will be led by Cynthia Medina Carson, a Western Mass. native who is now a New York City-based CEO of a salary networking site and an expert on salary negotiation. As a women’s empowerment activist, she believes wage transparency and advocacy are powerful tools for women in the workforce.

This free event is open to the public and will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m. at Wright Hall, Bay Path University, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow. The workshop is hosted by Bay Path University’s Center of Excellence for Women in STEM, and is a part of Bay Path’s “Educate. Negotiate. Participate.” — a series of workshops, presentations, and curriculum highlights centered on addressing the wage gap. Professionals and students across disciplines, career stage, and industry are welcome. To learn more and to register, visit www.baypath.edu/beingyourownadvocate.

CHICOPEE — Elms College received a visit from the Earl of St. Andrews, a senior member of the House of Windsor, the reigning royal house of the U.K., on March 20.

George Philip Nicholas Windsor, Earl of St. Andrews, is the elder son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and his wife Katharine, Duchess of Kent. He holds the title Earl of St. Andrews as heir apparent to the Dukedom of Kent.

The earl’s grandfather was King George V, and his father is Prince Michael, the Duke of Kent, titles he will presumably inherit when his father passes. He is currently 37th in line for the throne.

The earl stopped by Elms College on his way through Springfield to attend a conference on the Middle East in Washington, D.C. later this week. The conference is co-sponsored by the Next Century Foundation, where he serves as a trustee with retired diplomat Mark Hambley, also a trustee of Elms College.

He is attending the conference, and visiting Springfield and Elms, in his capacity as Next Century Foundation trustee and also as the chancellor of the University of Bolton in the U.K.

NORTHAMPTON — Over the past few months, Massachusetts-based employers have been inundated with information about the upcoming Massachusetts Paid Family and Medical Leave requirements. Unfortunately, this deluge of information has done little to answer employers’ pressing questions. To date, most of this information has been speculative or otherwise subject to change before implementation. In fact, the most helpful information thus far, the new Massachusetts Department of Family and Medical Leave’s draft regulations, has only given an idea of what the program will probably look like. These draft regulations are just that: a draft. They are subject to change prior to the issuance of final regulations.

The good news is there are some things we do know for sure, and there is still some time before employer obligations go into effect. On Thursday, April 18, Royal, P.C. will host a discussion of the steps employers can begin to take to prepare for the implementation of Paid Family and Medical Leave.

The event will be held from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at 270 Pleasant St., Northampton. The price is $30 per person, and registration is limited. For more information or to register, contact Heather Loges at (413) 586-2288 or [email protected].

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) is offering Rape Aggression Defense (RAD) training for women beginning April 1.

The five-class series runs on Monday nights from 6:15 to 8:15 p.m. until May 6 in the fitness studio on the second floor of HCC’s Bartley Center for Athletics & Recreation. The class does not meet April 15 because the college is closed for the Patriots’ Day holiday.

Kellie Cournoyer, a veteran campus police officer with more than 20 years of law-enforcement experience, runs the program and teaches the course.

RAD teaches basic self-defense techniques to women of all ages who may find themselves in unsafe situations. The program veers from most self-defense systems to emphasize avoidance strategies more than physical contact. Participants will learn easy and effective self-defense and martial-arts techniques as well as additional training, including the use of aerosols.

The $25 course fee includes a free lifetime return and practice policy. For more information or to register, visit hcc.edu/bce or call HCC Community Services at (413) 552-2324.

They called the event ‘The New Wave’ — and that’s an appropriate name for the annual update on Springfield’s business and civic projects.

Staged by the city in partnership with the Springfield Regional Chamber, this annual late-winter event, the latest installment of which was staged Tuesday at the Basketball Hall of Fame, has had several names over the years, most of them rail-oriented — to coincide with the long-awaited revitalization of Union Station and also to provide plays on words such as the city being on the proverbial ‘right track.’

Most just call this the ‘update meeting,’ and they’ve been staged for maybe six or seven years now. That timeline coincides with Kevin Kennedy’s arrival as the city’s chief economic development officer and his more aggressive approach to telling the city’s story. It’s also a stretch when there has been a much better story to tell.

Which brings us back to the title of this year’s presentation. What’s been happening in Springfield over the past several years can truly be described as a wave — a $4.19 billion wave that is gathering momentum, and riders, as it moves.

That number conveys the dollar value of business and civic projects since that fateful day in 2011 when a tornado roared through the city. It’s an impressive number that, of course, includes MGM Springfield (almost a quarter of the total), CRRC, and several other nine- and eight-digit projects. But it also includes dozens, if not hundreds, of seven-, six-, and even five-digit projects that all add up — to a wave of positive energy.

And while that number is impressive, perhaps the more meaningful one is $400.4 million. That’s the dollar amount for projects announced since the last of these update meetings, a number that reflects everything from Big Y’s $42 million distribution expansion to MassMutual’s $50 million in investments in Springfield; from the new $14 million Educare facility to the $14 million headquarters for Way Finders taking shape on the site on the old Peter Pan bus station; from the planned renovation of the Paramount ($41 million) to the soon-to-be-announced (we hope) plans to renovate the long-vacant Elm Street block. And we’re pretty sure it doesn’t include a whole host of cannabis-related businesses now in the talking stages and a planned hotel on the site of the old York Street Jail.

This is what happens when a city gathers momentum and the attention of the development community. People want to be part of what’s happening. People want to ride the wave.

It’s a refreshing change from a dozen years ago when people were talking about the lights going out in this city with doubts about when and if they would go back on.

They have gone back on — and in a big way. And there should be even more evidence of this at the next update meeting.

HOLYOKE — Poised to boost its reach three-fold over the next five years, Girls Inc. of Holyoke has chosen a new name — Girls Inc. of the Valley — to embody its bigger, wider impact across Western Mass.

The agency will keep its headquarters in Holyoke, said Executive Director Suzanne Parker at a press conference this morning at WGBY’s headquarters in downtown Springfield, and stay as committed as ever to the city of its origin. But with Girls Inc. members now hailing from Springfield, Chicopee, South Hadley, and other surrounding communities, a name change was certainly needed.

“Girls Inc. of the Valley gives a message of inclusivity and will help us move forward,” said Parker, adding that the agency now serves more than 500 girls across the Pioneer Valley. “Not everyone realizes that we serve girls from several communities. As we continue to grow and expand our footprint, we are proud to have a name that better shows who we are.”

Girls from area communities will continue to benefit from Girls Inc. of the Valley programs held at the Holyoke center headquarters on everything from literacy to leadership, said Parker, but the agency is also expanding into surrounding communities and has partnered to work inside 10 schools, including Springfield’s Chestnut Academy Middle School and Chicopee’s Bellamy Middle School and Dupont Middle School.

“We began in Holyoke and will always be in touch with our deep legacy there,” said Melyssa Brown-Porter, chair of the board of directors of Girls Inc. and an alumna herself. “But our strategic goals all center around impacting more lives through growth in the Valley, and going where the girls need us the most. And the new name gives us the most room for growth.”

WESTFIELD — The Westfield Starfires and Director of Baseball Operations Evan Moorhouse announced the hiring of East Longmeadow native and former Baltimore Orioles prospect Frank Crinella to serve as special advisor to Baseball Operations.

“I couldn’t be more excited to join the Westfield Starfires,” Crinella said. “I look forward to watching the positive impact the Starfires have on the community and young ballplayers around Western Mass.”

Crinella comes to the Starfires after spending four seasons playing in the Orioles farm system, both in the infield and outfield. The Merrimack College graduate and former NE-10 Player of the Year is no stranger to summer collegiate baseball. Crinella has made stops at each of the three major summer leagues in New England, the FCBL (Pittsfield Suns), NECBL (Holyoke Blue Sox), and Cape Cod League (Bourne Braves).

“Frank’s experience at all levels of the game will make him an invaluable asset to our organization,” said Moorhouse, who was a baseball and hockey teammate of Crinella’s at Cathedral High School. “His work ethic and passion for the game of baseball have been unparalleled for as long as I’ve known him. We are fortunate to add someone with his baseball résumé to our staff and look forward to utilizing his knowledge as we progress through the season.”

Crinella’s responsibilities will vary from day to day, ranging from promotional execution to community engagement to helping players get acclimated to summer baseball.

“The Futures League is run with class and gives both players and fans the opportunity to see some of the best talent in the country,” said Crinella. “The time I spent playing was special, but I’m even more excited to give back to the league that opened so many doors for me.”

SPRINGFIELD — The MassHire Hampden County Workforce Board will hold a press conference on Friday, April 5 to launch its 2019 YouthWorks summer-jobs campaign. The event will take place at 1 p.m. at the Reed Institute, located at 152 Notre Dame St., Westfield. The agency’s goal is to place up to 800 youth in summer jobs.

Westfield Mayor Brian Sullivan will be joined by Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse, and Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos to announce the summer youth-employment initiative. Also in attendance will be state Sen. James Welch and state Reps. Joseph Wagner, John Velis, Jose Tosado, Aaron Vega, Carlos Gonzalez, and Bud Williams.

“Our summer-jobs campaign is the perfect opportunity for our employers to guide, educate, and engage our youth with the opportunity to realize the possibilities that lie before them in the world of work,” said Cleveland Burton, chair of the Hampden County Youth Council.

Each year, thousands of YouthWorks applications are received for a few hundred jobs. Employer participation is paramount to ensure a successful summer for youth between ages 14 and 21.

Youth employed through the YouthWorks summer-jobs program will earn $12 per hour, work an average of 125 hours over six weeks, and receive 15 hours of training in workplace-readiness skills and workplace safety.

Employers who are interested in hiring a youth, becoming a YouthWorks worksite, or donating money to help pay the wages for a youth to work should contact Kathryn Kirby, manager of Youth Employment and Workforce Programs, at (413) 755-1359.