Company Notebook

Hometown Mortgage Recognized on MassHousing Top Ten List

EASTHAMPTON — Hometown Mortgage, a division of bankESB, has been recognized as the eighth-largest lender on the MassHousing Top Ten Lenders list, underscoring the company’s continued commitment to expanding access to homeownership across the Commonwealth. In 2025, Hometown Mortgage delivered strong lending performance while helping individuals and families achieve their homeownership goals. Over the course of the year, the company originated more than $401 million in new mortgage loans, issued more than $110 million in new home equity loans and lines of credit, and provided $3.5 million in grant and down payment assistance to qualified borrowers. In addition to the organization’s recognition, Hometown Mortgage’s regional director, Maria Luker, received individual distinction from MassHousing, ranking among the top two loan originators across Massachusetts and first in originations in Middlesex, Essex, and Norfolk counties. She also ranks among the top three lenders in Suffolk, Berkshire, and Plymouth counties. Banker & Tradesman also ranked Hometown Mortgage among the top 10 lenders in Massachusetts across several key categories, including third in non-purchase lending, including home equity loans, home equity lines of credit, and refinances; sixth in number of condominium loans granted; eighth in condominium loans by dollar volume; and 10th in number of single-family home loans granted.

Erin Rosario Launches Ryse 361

EAST LONGMEADOW — Entrepreneur and former collegiate athlete Erin Rosario has launched Ryse 361, a platform centered on intentional growth, continuous improvement, and personal development. The first initiatives under Ryse 361 focus on developing student-athlete leaders through programs such as the Student-Athlete Leadership Circle, which provides structured leadership development sessions designed to help athletes strengthen qualities such as goal setting, confidence, communication, coachability, and accountability. Sessions are held live online via Zoom, making the program accessible to student-athletes across the country who want to develop the personal qualities that help them grow as athletes, teammates, and leaders. The Student-Athlete Leadership Circle focuses on practical topics such as vision setting, realistic goal planning, accountability, and building habits that support long-term growth. Sessions are structured to give athletes tools they can apply immediately within their teams, their training, and their everyday routines. The initiative is being developed in collaboration with Dearing Leadership, founded by leadership educator and former collegiate coach Joel Dearing, who is also Rosario’s father. His decades of experience in coaching, recruiting, and character-based leadership development help shape the program’s leadership curriculum. Student-Athlete Leadership Circle sessions will take place live on the third Wednesday of each month, with replays available within 24 hours and a growing library of past discussions accessible to members through the program’s online portal. Rosario said the broader vision for Ryse 361 centers on helping individuals intentionally develop the mindset and habits that support continuous improvement.

Lexlacedup Opens in Holyoke

HOLYOKE — Lexlacedup, a new streetwear and fashion retail store, celebrated its grand opening on March 14 at 523 South St., Holyoke. Founded by 23-year-old Holyoke native Alexis Rodriguez, the store offers a curated selection of clothing, sneakers, and accessories while championing a message of resilience and hope for the local community. Born from a desire to build something meaningful in his hometown, Lexlacedup is more than a retail space; it is a testament to perseverance. Rodriguez established the brand after overcoming personal hardships, channeling his experiences into a mission to inspire others. The store aims to show local youth that success is attainable regardless of one’s circumstances and to foster a sense of pride within the city. For the past four years, Rodriguez has organized a summer basketball tournament in memory of a close friend lost to suicide. The event serves as a platform for mental health awareness and brings residents together for a positive cause. A portion of tournament proceeds funds the following year’s event, and plans are underway to establish a scholarship for local youth.

NBT Bank Donates $29,000 to Community Organizations

PITTSFIELD — NBT Bank representatives presented 13 area organizations with year-end contributions totaling $29,000 as part of NBT’s Days of Giving campaign in Berkshire County. The donations supported food assistance, clothing donations, counseling, housing, healthcare, heating, and veterans’ needs. NBT Bank Massachusetts Senior Commercial Banking Relationship Manager Aidan Gilligan; Market Manager Amanda Goewey; Business Banking Officer Michael Hogan; and Branch Managers Abby Rossi, Amber Wilson, Al Bedini, Stephen Raftery, and Trey Sondrini visited the organizations in December and presented each with donations. The organizations receiving funds from NBT included Sheffield Food Assistance, the People’s Pantry, Berkshire Food Project, Al Nelson Center Food Pantry, Living Hope Community Church, Berkshire Nursing Families, Berkshire Community Action Council, Berkshire Veterans Outreach, Berkshire Helping Hands, Roots Rising, Pittsfield Community Food Pantry, Berkshire Grown, and Construct Inc.

Rocky’s Ace Hardware Celebrates 100 Years

SPRINGFIELD — Rocky’s Ace Hardware announced its 100th anniversary, marking a century of helping neighbors build, repair, and improve the places they call home. Founded in 1926 in Springfield, Rocky’s has grown from a single local hardware store into a family-owned chain of 52 locations across New England, Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Florida. Through generations of change, Rocky’s has strived to be a trusted community partner, known for personal service, knowledgeable teams, and familiar faces that customers count on. Rocky’s continues to offer a wide selection and expert services, from paint color matching and key cutting to lawn and garden supplies and home improvement essentials. As one of the largest Ace Hardware dealers, Rocky’s combines the strength of a nationwide brand with the hometown care of a family business. Rocky’s looks forward to celebrating its 100th anniversary with customers and neighbors throughout 2026, honoring the past while building for the future.

Springfield’s TrimBoard Featured on This Old House

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield-based architectural millwork company TrimBoard was recently featured on the PBS home renovation series This Old House as part of the renovation of a historic Victorian home in Needham. In Season 47, Episode 16, “Suburban Victorian: Trim and Proper,” master carpenter Charlie Silva tours TrimBoard’s Springfield facility to see how custom exterior window surrounds are fabricated before installation at the project site. During the segment, Doug Bell, architectural millwork expert at TrimBoard, demonstrates how the team manufactures custom trim using a rice hull composite material and precision, computer-controlled routing technology. The window surrounds are fabricated, assembled, sealed, and paint-matched at the company’s shop before being delivered ready for installation. The Needham project highlights how prefabricated millwork can help builders maintain historic architectural detail while improving efficiency and durability during renovations.

Bulkley Richardson Supports Baystate Children’s Hospital

SPRINGFIELD — From her tail wags to the instant smiles she inspires, Isabela, Baystate Children’s Hospital’s first-ever facility dog, earns her unofficial title of chief comfort officer every day. To help secure her future, Bulkley Richardson made a $10,000 donation to help sustain the Facility Dog Program, which provides goal-oriented, animal-assisted therapy to pediatric patients, families, and hospital staff. Unlike volunteer therapy dogs, facility dogs like Isa work full-time alongside specially trained clinicians to help children meet specific medical and emotional goals. Isa supports patients by providing comfort during stressful or painful procedures, assisting with physical and occupational therapy goals, offering emotional and bereavement support, and helping normalize the hospital environment for children and families. Isa also plays a meaningful role in supporting hospital staff, offering comfort during difficult moments and helping improve morale.

Allied Flooring Drive Generates $3,616 for Jenna’s Blessing Bags

AGAWAM — Allied Flooring, Paint and Design announced a donation of $3,615.97 to Jenna’s Blessing Bags, made possible through the generosity of customers and the local community during the company’s holiday donation drive. Throughout the holiday season, collection bins were placed at all three Allied Flooring showroom locations. Customers who donated at least 10 items to support Jenna’s Blessing Bags received 5% off their pre-tax purchase, and Allied Flooring matched the community’s generosity with a 5% monetary donation. The response from the community was overwhelming, with donation bins filling quickly across all locations. As a result, Allied Flooring was able to present a check for $3,615.97 to the organization. Jenna’s Blessing Bags is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting individuals in need by providing essential items and care packages to those facing hardship.

GCAi Launches Monthly ‘Tower Square Times’

SPRINGFIELD — Garvey Communication Associates Inc. (GCAi) has officially launched Tower Square Times, a new, monthly digital publication created in collaboration with Tower Square management and dedicated to everything happening at the downtown Springfield office tower and retail destination. Each issue is packed with the latest news and announcements from Tower Square tenants and shops, buzzworthy updates on downtown events, and exclusive business spotlights. Tenants and businesses can get in on the action by submitting their news to [email protected] — spots fill up fast, so it’s first come, first served every month. Sign up and find out more at visittowersquare.com. In addition, every month, one Tower Square tenant will win a prize courtesy of Tower Square’s supporting businesses. The first prize is being sponsored by Springfield Wine Exchange, the wine shop on the first floor of Tower Square.

TRE Olive Earns Two Medals at World Olive Oil Competition

EAST LONGMEADOW — TRE Olive, a producer of premium extra-virgin olive oils, announced it has been awarded two silver medals at the 2026 NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition for its TRE Olive AO Extra Virgin Olive Oil and its TRE Olive Select Extra Virgin Olive Oil. The honor places TRE Olive among a select group of producers recognized by the world’s largest and most influential olive oil quality competition. The NYIOOC World Olive Oil Competition, held annually in New York, is widely regarded as the definitive standard for olive oil excellence. Each year, an international panel of expert judges evaluates thousands of oils from dozens of countries, awarding medals only to those that demonstrate exceptional flavor, aroma, and quality. A silver medal is among the most coveted recognitions in the global olive oil industry. The award-winning TRE Olive AO Extra Virgin Olive Oil is produced using organic farming practices, without the use of synthetic pesticides or fertilizers. The AO label reflects the olive oil’s organic certification in the European Union; the U.S. distribution warehouse was not inspected in time for USDA certification. TRE Olive Select Olive Oil is a well-balanced extra virgin olive oil that is slightly sharp and has a peppery finish. It’s made with 100% Carolea olives that are selected when the olives are perfect for making olive oil.

HCC Receives $245,000 Grant for Itsy Bitsy Child Watch

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) has been awarded a $245,000 grant from the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation to add additional staff and evening hours to its Itsy Bitsy Child Watch program. The grant will pay for the hiring of two more staff workers (one full-time and one part-time). That will allow the child watch center to increase capacity by operating a second classroom during its busiest daytime hours and also by adding care hours in the evenings, starting this fall, for students who take classes at night. Itsy Bitsy Child Watch is a free center on HCC’s main campus for parents in need of short-term childcare while they attend class, study, or meet with tutors and advisers. It opened as a pilot program in the fall of 2022 and was so successful, it quickly reached capacity in its original location. In September 2025, the child watch center opened in a larger, newly renovated space funded by a previous $600,000 grant from the Davis Foundation. The new Itsy Bitsy Child Watch Center, located on the second floor of the Frost Building, roughly doubled the capacity of children it can serve at any given time, from 10 to 19. It has two full classrooms for different age groups, a dedicated children’s bathroom, an office, an adjoining gross motor skills room, and an expanded kitchenette with a dishwasher and full-size refrigerator.

Phoenix Charter Academy, AIC Launch Pathway to College

SPRINGFIELD — Phoenix Charter Academy is expanding higher education access for Springfield students to earn free college credits while still in high school. The free, public school announced an innovative partnership with American International College (AIC). Through the new Pathway to College program, students can now earn fully transferable college credits at no cost, integrated directly into their high school experience. Two Phoenix faculty members, Marie Keith and Diarmaid King, have been formally accredited as AIC adjunct professors, allowing Phoenix to deliver rigorous, college-level coursework on site that meets AIC’s academic standards. Upon completion, students receive official transcripts from AIC, giving them a significant head start on their post-secondary journey and reducing the long-term financial burden of a college degree. The Pathway to College program exposes Phoenix students to college academics in a structured and supportive environment. Students gain familiarity with college expectations, assessment methods, and academic rigor, while continuing to receive guidance and support from their high school community. This approach helps reduce barriers that often discourage students from pursuing higher education by building confidence, academic momentum, and a sense of belonging.

Dakin Humane Society Honored with Community Impact Award

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society was honored with the Harmony & Compassion Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) Community Impact Award as part of the festivities during the Chinese American Cultural & Heritage Society’s 2026 Lunar New Year event at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on March 1. The award was given on behalf of the Asian American Pacific Islander community that has benefited from Dakin’s outreach and work. The 2026 Lunar New Year event marked the Year of the Horse and is one of the most significant cultural celebrations in Chinese and East Asian communities. It is a time for families and communities to come together to honor traditions, embrace renewal, and share hopes for prosperity and happiness in the year ahead. The gala’s theme celebrated the spirit of togetherness and the richness of cultural heritage, and featured world-class Chinese performing artists and internationally recognized groups, traditional music, dance, martial arts, acrobatics, and more, in addition to the awards presentation.

MGM Springfield Opens Luxxe Spa

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield officially celebrated the opening of Luxxe Spa, a luxury wellness destination designed to offer guests a place to relax, recharge, and rejuvenate, on March 12. The curated spa experience features a range of services designed to restore both body and mind, including invigorating massage therapies, exfoliating body scrubs, hydrotherapy head spa treatments, infrared and steam saunas, an oxygen bar, customized facials tailored to individual needs, and more. Luxxe Spa aims to provide a serene and tranquil escape, creating a fully immersive self-care experience for guests. MGM Springfield is partnering with local entrepreneur Jessica Monteleone, founder and CEO of First Look Med Spa, who has more than 26 years of experience in the aesthetics industry. Monteleone is joined by business partner Lisa Davis, co-owner of First Look Med Spa and founder of Longmeadow-based Davis Practice Management.

Herrell’s Unveils Flavors from UMass Ice Cream Competition

AMHERST — On March 13, Herrell’s Ice Cream introduced five new flavors from the UMass Amherst Food Science Department’s 2025 Ice Cream Competition. The new flavors will be sold in both the Mill District and Thornes Marketplace locations The flavors being introduced are: $treet Nut$ (this year’s winner), a smoky molasses-cinnamon base with peanut butter, caramel swirl, and chocolate-covered pretzels; Guavalicious, a guava-cardamom base with cream cheese chunks; Date Night, floral date ice cream with a goji berry swirl; Tahini in a Bottle, a tahini-almond base with both pomegranate/raspberry and chocolate swirls; and Funky Monkey, a banana, goat cheese, cream cheese, gorgonzola cheese, and brie cheese base with apricot and graham cracker pieces.