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Old Masters to Monet

Monet 1
Monet 2
Monet 3
Monet 4More than 150 guests attended the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts’ preview reception for the exhibition “Old Masters to Monet: Three Centuries of French Painting” from the Wadsworth Atheneum. Guests included exhibition sponsors and major donors to the Springfield Museums. The exhibition of 50 masterpieces will be on view through April 29. “Old Masters to Monet” was organized by the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art in Hartford. Presentation of the exhibition in Springfield is funded in part by the Michele and Donald D’Amour Fund, established in 2008 to bring world-class art exhibitions to the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. From top: from left, Patricia Hambley, Mark Hambley, and Joanna Rosenthal: from left, Joanna Rosenthal, David Starr; Holly Smith-Bové, president of the Springfield Museums; and Peggy Starr; from left, Lyman Wood; Merrie Wood; Heather Haskell, director of the Springfield Art Museums; Julia Courtney, curator of art, Springfield Museums; Michele D’Amour; Dr. Eric Zafran, curator of European art at the Wadsworth Atheneum; and Donald D’Amour; Dr. Paul Friedmann looks over some of the paintings.

















Food Fest West

The West of the River Chamber of Commerce (WRC) staged its Fifth Annual Food Fest West on Dec. 8 at Crestview Country Club in Agawam. Sponsored by Western Massachusetts Electric Co., First Niagara Bank, and OMG Inc., the event featured the foods of area restaurants including Carrabba’s Italian Grill, Casa di Lisa, Chez Josef, Crestview Country Club, Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, Magic Spoon, Mama Iguana’s, Nina’s Cookies, Nora’s, O’Connor’s Pub & Grille, Partners Restaurant, Tekoa Country Club, and Tokyo Asian Cuisine. Restaurants competed to win awards and prizes for best food and best presentation during the course of the evening. A chef auction was also be held, where attendees could bid on meals provided by their favorite chefs.  Proceeds raised by Food Fest West will go toward the Partnership for Education and the WRC Educational Fund, which provides grants to businesses for on-the-job training and continuing educational needs. Top, the team from the Magic Spoon. Bottom, some of the desserts that tempted attendees.






Award-winning Efforts


At Freedom Credit Union’s recent annual dinner, Ana Frasco, mortgage processor, top, received the President’s Award from Barry Crosby, Freedom president and CEO. The award recognizes her commitment to professional excellence. She was nominated by a colleague who recognized her exemplary attitude in her service to members and fellow employees, and her contributions to the success of the credit union. In addition, Julia Beaudoin, bottom, Freedom’s director of Human Resources, received a special Tribute Award from Crosby for her leadership actions taken during the tornado on June 1, 2011, ensuring the safety of employees and members at the Freedom branch on Main Street in Springfield.