Month: November 2016

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Springfield native and investigative journalist Eileen Markey will read from and discuss her new book, A Radical Faith: The Assassination of Sr. Maura on Saturday, Nov. 26 at 2 p.m. at the Irish Cultural Center of Western New England’s new center at 429 Morgan Road in West Springfield. The public is welcome to attend this free event.

Markey’s book focuses on the life of Maryknoll Sister Maura Clarke, one of four American women — three of them Roman Catholic nuns — who were brutally murdered in El Salvador in December 1980. News of the killing shocked the American public and set off a decade of debate over Cold War policy in Latin America. But as Congress held hearings; the State Department, CIA, and FBI traded memos; and supporters held emotional memorial services, the women themselves became symbols, shorn of context and background: hapless victims.

Drawing on interviews with Clarke’s family and the people she loved and worked with, her letters, and still heavily redacted government documents, Markey followed the trail of her life through four countries. Working in poor communities transformed Clarke from an obedient and rule-bound young woman into a provocative critic of authority who pushed the boundaries of what it meant to be faithful to religious conviction — even if it meant challenging the CIA-backed regimes terrorizing the poor of Latin America.

In examining the forces that shaped Clarke’s life, Markey was able to look closely at the inheritance of Irish nationalism, the immigrant experience in New York, the Cold War, the adaptations of the Catholic Church at Vatican II, and the social and political movements that convulsed Central America in the 1970s and 1980s. Her story continues to be relevant as the crimes of the 1980s in Central America begin to be prosecuted, the fallout of those wars continue to reverberate in current immigration patterns, as Americans continue to grapple with the role of faith in public life and negotiate a world of distraction and fear.

SHEFFIELD — Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation’s HousingUs initiative today announced over $30,000 in grants to five lead organizations to plan and convene outreach activities that bring residents together to explore the interrelated issues of affordable housing, economic development, and town-center vitality. The awards follow a request for proposals announced in mid-July that has resulted in at least one funded project in each of the four counties Berkshire Taconic serves.

“Affordable housing and economic development are mutually reinforcing elements of a healthy community and pressing issues for our region,” said David Rich, chair of the HousingUs advisory board and a Berkshire Taconic board member. “With these grants, HousingUs aims to inspire innovative thinking and cross-sector collaboration that can lead to sustainable solutions for our towns.”

Locally, one of the grants was an $8,000 award to Berkshire Regional Planning Commission in Pittsfield to host a day-long housing institute for municipal leaders, advocates, and developers. Modeled on a successful annual event run by the statewide agency Massachusetts Housing Partnership (MHP), the program will feature planning, financing, and development consultants and technical-training breakout sessions. Project partners in addition to MHP are the Community Development Corporation of South Berkshire, Construct, Age Friendly Berkshires, and the towns of Great Barrington and Lenox.

The other four grants included $3,600 to the Housing Committee of Hillsdale, N.Y., $6,400 to Hudson River Housing in Poughkeepsie, N.Y., $5,000 to Philmont Beautification Inc. in Philmont, N.Y., and $8,000 to the Salisbury Affordable Housing Commission in Salisbury, Conn.

Established in 2000, HousingUs is a collaborative effort of nonprofit organizations and community leaders to promote broad-based affordable-housing options in towns throughout the northwest corner of Connecticut, Dutchess and Columbia counties in New York, and Berkshire County in Massachusetts. Governed by an advisory board of local community representatives, HousingUs is one of several leadership initiatives that receive annual investments from Berkshire Taconic beyond its regular grant-making initiatives.

“The future of our towns depends on the availability of affordable housing, good jobs, and a range of opportunities to meaningfully engage in community life,” said Peter Taylor, president of Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. “We believe the solutions are at hand, so we are eager to gather experts, leaders, and residents in every county we serve to find and achieve them together.”

HOLYOKE — The Salvation Army Holyoke Corps will kick off its annual Red Kettle Campaign on Friday, Nov. 11 at noon on the upper level of Holyoke Mall, near Sears.

The campaign supports vital programming and services for children, seniors, and families, and this year’s goal is $90,000. All funds raised in the red kettles stay in the local community to provide much-needed services year-round.

HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly networking event on Wednesday, Nov. 16 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Homewood Suites by Hilton on 375 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke.

The Holyoke Chamber is hosting a shoe drive at the event to provide Dress for Success Western Massachusetts clients with gently used or new shoes. Handbags, jewelry, and scarves to accessorize interview suits and dresses are also welcome. Donations will help empower area women and inspire them to take charge of their lives. Bring your business cards, bring your gently worn shoes (secured by a rubber band) and accessories, and browse the Ambassadors bake sale for freshly baked sweet breads and plan to make some new friends.

Admission is $10 for members in advance and $15 for non-member guests and at the door. To reserve a spot, call the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at (413) 534-3376 or register online at holyokechamber.com.

CHICOPEE — On Tuesday, Nov. 29, HRMA of Western New England will present a half-day symposium on both prevention and operational strategies for handling an incident of workplace violence at a school or business.

This session is geared towards both human resources and operations professionals and will feature specific topics such as “Lockdown vs. Evacuation,” “It All Comes Down to Policy,” The Office Is High Ground,” “Fear: Is It Good or Bad?” and much more. This course will also provide all attendees with a base mindset and thought process that will keep them as safe while they are away from work as much as it does while they are at work.

This event runs from noon to 4 p.m., with a buffet lunch included. Tickets cost $75. For more information, contact Allison Ebner at (413) 789-6400 or [email protected], or visit hrmawne.shrm.org.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — DiGrigoli Salon announced that Kim Lavallee has been promoted from master stylist to elite stylist, and Carrie Muller has been promoted from junior stylist to senior stylist. Both are alumni of the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology.

Lavallee joined the DiGrigoli Salon artistic team in June 2011 and has made major strides in her career since then. In addition to doing hair, Kim is also a skilled makeup artist, both in cosmetic and special effects, and is often featured on WWLP-22News and Mass Appeal showcasing her talents.

Muller started with DiGrigoli Salon this past February and has already been promoted twice. As the salon manager, she has many responsibilities, but she remains eager to learn and grow artistically as a stylist. This dedication has resulted in a strong clientele base and a continual refinement of her skills.

DiGrigoli Salon, located at 1578 Riverdale St. in West Springfield, is owned by Paul DiGrigoli and has been offering professional beauty services to the public since 1987.

SPRINGFIELD — AnyCafé, a Springfield startup company formed at Western New England University by five students, has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help raise funds through pre-sales of its product. The startup company grew out of a program sponsored by Valley Venture Mentors.

AnyCafé has developed a coffee mug that will conveniently brew coffee inside the mug anytime, anywhere. The user can add cold or hot water, and use a K-Cup coffee insert. The mug operates using batteries, a wall plug, or a car-charging adapter. A patent is pending on the AnyCafé Travel Brewer.

The student developers include engineering seniors Logan Carlson from Horseheads, N.Y., Chris Urciuoli from Victor, N.Y., and Ryan Noon from Kutztown, Pa.; Evan Choquette, a computer science major from Rocky Hill, Conn.; and Michael Belinski, a marketing major from Quinebaug, Conn.

The Kickstarter campaign will run through Tuesday, Dec. 13, and will allow consumers to purchase the mug for a discounted price. To visit the AnyCafé Kickstarter campaign, click here.

AnyCafé is also sponsoring a unique holiday tree display at the annual Festival of Trees in Tower Square in downtown Springfield from Nov. 25 through Dec. 11.

SPRINGFIELD — The Boys and Girls Club Family Center at 100 Acorn St. in Springfield will open its doors to members of the community for Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday, Nov. 20 from 2 to 6 p.m. This event is co-sponsored by the Springfield Youth Collaboration (MLK Family Services, Dunbar YMCA, and South End Community Center).

In his first year as the Family Center’s new executive director, Keshawn Dodds is happy to be able to reach out to residents in the city and from various neighborhoods in Mason Square who may not be able to enjoy the holiday for a variety of reasons.

Local organizations have joined the effort in support of the community. The Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has provided a grant to assist with the purchase of healthy side dishes, while bankESB has provided funds for food and will also have several volunteers at the dinner. Farm Credit East is working with farmers to donate produce as well. American International College (AIC) is dishing up the trimmings, donating macaroni and cheese, sweet potatoes, and rice pilaf.

“Working closely with the Springfield Youth Collaboration, we understand that there are people in our community who struggle to make ends meet every day or who live alone and feel they have little to celebrate,” said Dodds, an AIC alumnus. “Our neighbors are family, and we need to be present for them. We are grateful for the positive response from the organizations asked to help. Their generosity and concern for those who may not have the financial means or emotional support that many of us may take for granted has helped make this event possible.”

The Family Center anticipates serving approximately 200 guests. The event is free and open to the public. No reservations are needed.

SPRINGFIELD — Sixty-one percent of likely voters say they support legalizing marijuana for use by adults ages 21 and older, while 34% say they oppose the plan, and 4% are undecided, according to the latest survey from the Western New England University Polling Institute.

The telephone survey of 417 likely voters, conducted Oct. 23 through Nov. 2, found that support for marijuana legalization has risen by nine points over the past month, while opposition has dropped by eight points. Likely voters favored legalization by a margin of 52% to 42% in a Polling Institute survey conducted Sept. 24 through Oct. 3.

Marijuana legalization is one of four statewide ballot questions that voters will consider on Tuesday. The Polling Institute also found in its latest survey that:

• 52% of likely voters said they oppose lifting the cap on charter schools in Massachusetts, while 39% support the proposal, and 8% are undecided.

• 65% of likely voters said they support a proposed ban on the confinement of hens, calves, and pigs in ways that prevent them from lying down, standing up, fully extending their limits, or turning around freely. Twenty-five percent of likely voters oppose the restrictions, and 9% are undecided.

• 50 percent of likely voters oppose allowing the state to license a second slots parlor in Massachusetts, while 32% said they support the plan, and 17% said they are undecided.

Tim Vercellotti, director of the Polling Institute and a professor of Political Science at Western New England University, said the large percentage of voters who said they were undecided about licensing a second slots parlor in the state was unusual so close to Election Day.

“Our interviewers reported many instances in which survey respondents simply did not understand the term ‘slots parlor’ in the question,” Vercellotti said. “The ballot that voters will view on Tuesday has a lengthy explanation of the term, and the actual results of the ballot question could be very different from what we are seeing in our survey.”

In the race for the presidency, the Polling Institute found that Democrat Hillary Clinton is maintaining a sizable lead over Republican Donald Trump, 56% to 26%, with 8% of likely voters saying they support Libertarian Gary Johnson and 3% backing Jill Stein, the Green-Rainbow Party nominee. The results reflected little change from the last Polling Institute survey conducted Sept. 24 through Oct. 3, in which Clinton led Trump by a margin of 58% to 26% among likely voters.

Looking past the election, more than half of likely voters — 54% — said they were very or somewhat confident that the country would unite behind the winner of the presidential election. But partisan differences also emerged in the responses to the question. Sixty-five percent of Democrats said they were very or somewhat confident, compared to 49% of Republican likely voters. Forty-three percent of likely voters said they were not very confident or not at all confident that the country would unite behind the winner, a sentiment voiced by 33% of Democrats and 49% of Republicans.

“Voters are slightly more confident than not that the country will unite behind the winner, but there is some disagreement depending on your partisanship and the candidate that you support,” Vercellotti said.

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that Gregory Lindenmuth has joined Berkshire as executive vice president, chief risk officer, reporting to the bank’s president, Richard Marotta.

Lindenmuth joins Berkshire Bank from the FDIC, where he worked for 24 years, most recently as a senior risk examiner for the Division of Risk Management Supervision. Through this position, he has gained expert understanding of capital markets, including investments, derivatives, securitizations, market risk, liquidity/funds management, and mortgage banking. He also excels in modeling profit plans, establishing budgets, and setting strategic objectives. In his new role, he will lead the loan workout, credit, and enterprise risk management teams.

“Greg’s broad banking knowledge and significant expertise in capital markets, interest-rate risk, mortgage banking, and overall risk management position him to provide important strategic direction as Berkshire continues to grow,” Marotta said.

Lindenmuth holds a bachelor’s degree in operations management from the Plattsburgh State University of New York and an MBA in corporate finance from Clarkson University. With the FDIC, he was a capital markets, mortgage banking, and fraud specialist and a member of the National Examination Procedures Committee. He also co-developed and co-presented the FDIC’s technical-assistance videos on interest-rate risk and has been an active speaker at New England Directors’ Colleges.

SPRINGFIELD — Every Halloween, students at DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology in West Springfield decorate and donate an array of pumpkins to Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield. This year was no different.

On Oct. 28, approximately 40 of the best pumpkins were delivered, painted with artistic designs and familiar characters meant to brighten the day for the children and their families. Dressed in costumes, a group of DiGrigoli students went to the hospital themselves to donate Olaf, Pikachu, Jack Skellington, a Minion, a Ninja Turtle, and several more characters and designs to the appreciative children.

“Patients and families are thrilled to receive a special surprise which helps to make their visit to the hospital less stressful,” said Lee Roberts, public relations specialist for Shriners. “We are all very grateful for DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology’s continued support in helping us carry out our mission of improving the lives of children every day.”

School owner Paul DiGrigoli, purchases more than 80 pumpkins every year as a part of a Halloween-themed design competition for the students.

“We love this,” he said. “Our students and faculty love the children and really enjoy this event. Community is very important to us.”

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College Director of Strength and Conditioning Brian Thompson recently received an official appointment as an expert technical consultant to the Chinese National Fitness Trainers Assoc. by the Chinese Sports Bureau. Thompson is the only non-Chinese citizen ever to receive this status.

“It’s a huge honor to receive this appointment, and it is the culmination of many years of collaboration between Springfield College and the Chinese Sports Bureau,” said Thompson, who has given more than 50 international presentations. “Over the years, Springfield College has established very strong relationships in China.”

Throughout his tenure, Thompson has made multiple visits to China to help educate coaches on proper strength and conditioning programming and methods, and to assist in the growth of strength and conditioning through coaching development.

During the summer of 2015, Thompson conducted a five-day workshop titled “Keys to Increasing Athletic Performance” at the Shandong Training Center in Jinan, China. During Thompson’s visit, he worked with 25 former Chinese national champion athletes who are making the transition into coaching at the national level.

“The strength and conditioning field is a relatively new field to coaches and athletes in China,” said Thompson. “On many occasions, it’s the coaches of the teams who are helping with strength training in China. Where we have been able to help is providing these individuals with proper training and methods to assist their athletes.”

Along with the five-day workshop, Thompson has also recently presented at the Beijing Sport University International Training Summit, focusing on developing strength, power, and speed methods for basketball athletes. He also recently hosted a seminar on “Developing a Strength and Conditioning Philosophy” to coaches and athletes from the Chinese Culture University in Taiwan.

On top of his strength and conditioning duties at Springfield College, Thompson is a professor of Exercise Science and the graduate coordinator for the strength and conditioning program. He began working in strength and conditioning in 1987 and has trained athletes at the elementary-school, middle-school, high-school, collegiate, professional, Paralympic, and Olympic levels. He has presented and conducted strength- and conditioning-related workshops in Australia, China, Mexico, Taiwan, and throughout the U.S.

SPRINGFIELD — On Sunday, Nov. 6, Court Square in downtown Springfield will be a bit more reminiscent of what it might have been 200 years ago. The Springfield Central Cultural District (SCCD) will present three local organists, playing pieces in Old First Church at 3 p.m. The concert will be free and open to the public, and families are encouraged to attend together.

The organizers hope to both show how beautiful and versatile the Old First Church space is, and provide income to local artists through this program. SCCD Director Morgan Drewniany explained that “we aren’t just putting on an event — we’re showing the potential in this historic building and hoping to encourage future activity in not just Old First Church, but throughout unexpected spaces in the Cultural District.”

This musical event will feature local organists Lad Pfeiffer, organist and director of Music at St. Michael’s Cathedral on State Street; Will Lucardi, a promising local high-school student; and Larry Picard, organist and director of Music at South Congregational Church on Maple Street. They will play the full-size 1958 Aeolian-Skinner organ with 56 ranks and 3,241 pipes, renovated in 1997.

Old First Church has been maintained by the Springfield Parks Department for eight years, since its purchase in 2008 when the previous congregation housed there closed its doors. The last public use of the organ was at Police Commissioner John Barbieri’s installation in 2014.

This event is organized by the Springfield Central Cultural District, with the help of the Springfield Parks Department and Robert McCarroll, a long-time downtown supporter of culture and historic preservation and SCCD board member. More program information can be found at springfieldculture.org/projects.

GREENFIELD — Combining the celebration of creativity with the generosity of giving, the United Way of Franklin County is holding its 17th annual Art & Leisure Auction on Friday, Nov. 18 beginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Greenfield Community College Dinning Commons.

Thanks to the generous support of local artists, businesses, and individuals, this year’s auction will feature more than 200 items, including Springfield Thunderbirds tickets; two $1,000 Southwest Airlines gift certificates; a one-week stay in Stowe, Vt.; a day trip for two to Martha’s Vineyard by private airplane; a season pass to Silverthorne Theater; gift certificates from numerous area business; handcrafted works of art; framed prints, paintings, and photographs; Tom White Pottery, fabric arts; and jewelry.

Featuring state Rep. Paul Mark as guest auctioneer, the event will feature leisure items and gifts from the Pioneer Valley and beyond for live and silent auctions. The United Way Art & Leisure Auction is presented by Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Greenfield Savings Bank, Steve Lewis Subaru, WAHI/Bear Country, and the Recorder.

The event will benefit the United Way of Franklin County and its 27 partner agencies. Hors d’oeuvres and refreshments are included included in the cost of admission, which is $20 per person in advance or $25 at the door. To purchase advance tickets, visit www.uw-fc.org, e-mail [email protected], or call (413) 772-2168.

SPRINGFIELD — The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts (CFWM) has launched its Capacity Program, which was created to promote a vibrant nonprofit sector in the Pioneer Valley. The program provides resources and support so that organizations can maximize their missions and, in turn, enrich the quality of life of people in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties.

The first offering of the Capacity Program will be a four-session training program for organizations interested in enhancing their organizational effectiveness. CFWM is bringing additional nonprofit experts to the Pioneer Valley to assist local organizations to better support their missions. Since space is limited to 12-15 organizations, CFWM conducted a competitive application process to select participants, which will be eligible to receive a $3,000 mini-grant to address a specific organizational need. Applications are now closed.

This spring, as part of the Capacity Program, the CFWM will promote philanthropy across the Pioneer Valley with Valley Gives Day on May 2. This will be the fifth edition of Valley Gives. Last year’s spring event was successful in bringing new donors into philanthropic giving, as 47% of all donors had never participated in Valley Gives previously.

“Valley Gives is a practical way for people living in the Pioneer Valley to show their support for the many organizations that make our region a great place to live,” said Valley Gives organizer Michael DeChiara. “This is an opportunity for people and businesses to invest locally to support our quality of life.”

Mary Lynn Sabourin, development director for Franklin Land Trust, said the trust received numerous new donors during last May’s event.

“The Franklin Land Trust has participated in Valley Gives for the past four years,” she said. “We consider our participation hugely successful for our nonprofit, raising over $50,000 in 2016, with close to half of the 286 donors being brand-new to the organization. We are excited to be part of a regional giving day that strengthens the Valley that we call home.”

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts is celebrating 25 years of encouraging generosity in the region this year. The foundation has given more than $140 million in grants, scholarships, and loans since 1991 in addition to promoting nonprofit sustainability.