Year: 2017

WESTFIELD — The American Lighthouse Foundation (ALF) honored Tighe & Bond’s Duncan Mellor with its 2017 Distinguished Lighthouse Community Service Award at its annual gala at the Nonatum Resort in Kennebunkport, Maine on May 7. Every year, the organization honors one person who has contributed significantly to ALF’s mission.

Since 2011, Mellor has donated his engineering and waterfront expertise to upgrade the Whaleback Lighthouse in Kittery, Maine. This three-phase project included designing repairs for two granite breakwaters and a new docking system with walkways that achieved federal government approval and met ALF’s goals for public access and safety.

“This is a well-deserved honor for Duncan — and just one example of his exceptional expertise and commitment to our coastlines and waterfronts,” said Tighe & Bond President and CEO David Pinsky.

Mellor leads Tighe & Bond’s coastal engineering services with more than 30 years of experience in the profession. Clients throughout New England know him well for his role in complex coastal projects and solving all types of shoreline and waterfront challenges. Mellor has also overseen unique projects that have required highly creative solutions, such as tidal turbines, offshore structures, and lighthouses.

A licensed engineer in New Hampshire and Maine, Mellor has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and master’s degree in Ocean Engineering, both from the University of New Hampshire.

CHICOPEE — Sunshine Village announced several personnel changes as the organization continues to grow its programming footprint in the area to just under 500 participants.

Recently, Jenny Galat was promoted to program manager of the new Litwin Center Day Habilitation Program. Since 2013, Galat has worked for the organization as a developmental specialist, case manager, and program supervisor. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology with a concentration in social work from Saint Anselm’s College. When it opens this summer, she will oversee the new program’s focus on innovative day services for adults aged 18-32 years old.

As it expands, Sunshine Village welcomes Nichole Chilson as human resource generalist to assist with employee benefits, safety and health protocol compliance, and employee-relations initiatives. Chilson brings more than 25 years of human-resources and customer-service experience. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in criminal justice from Western New England University.

In addition, the organization recently named Amie Miarecki director of community relations. She brings 15 years of experience working in health and human services, including marketing, community relations, and resource development. She will promote Sunshine Village’s mission to help everyone shine by engaging with community partners and employers. Miarecki holds a master’s degree in corporate and organizational communication with a specialization in leadership from Northeastern University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in sociology from UMass Amherst.

Sunshine Village is a nonprofit organization with a main campus in Chicopee and additional sites in Chicopee, Springfield, Three Rivers, and Westfield. Since 1967, it has provided day services for people with developmental disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum.

SPRINGFIELD — A new course coming this fall to the UMass Center at Springfield will help healthcare professionals enhance their language skills. “Spanish for Healthcare Professions” will be offered at the center beginning in September.

“We have a significant Latino population in Western Massachusetts, and it’s essential that healthcare professionals be able to communicate with these residents,” said Daniel Montagna, director of Operations at the UMass Center. “Through a collaboration with the UMass Amherst Spanish and Portuguese program, we’re hoping to offer this as well as other healthcare and business language courses at the center in the future.”

The course is designed to meet the needs of healthcare professionals who wish to increase fluency in Spanish through written and oral practices. The class is aimed at students with an intermediate level of Spanish (the equivalent of four or five semesters of college Spanish or of four years of high-school Spanish). Heritage speakers who can communicate in Spanish but want to develop a knowledge of the professional terminology of the health professions may also benefit from the class.

An informational session is scheduled for Thursday, May 25 from 5 to 6:30 p.m. at the UMass Center in Tower Square. The instructor will be available, and potential students will be able to register for the class. For more information, contact Jayne Reino at (413) 885-4716 or [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — Single-family home sales were up 2.3% in the Pioneer Valley in April compared to the same time last year, while the median price fell 0.2% to $194,000, according to the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley.

In Franklin County, sales were down 5.7%, while the median price fell 11.3% from a year earlier. In Hampden County, sales were up 6.7%, while the median price was down 1.3%. And in Hampshire County, sales fell 5.1% from April 2016, while the median price was up 7.9%.

CHICOPEE — Hilton recently broke ground on a new Tru by Hilton property located in Chicopee. The celebration marked the first groundbreaking of the company’s Tru by Hilton in Massachusetts. Attendees, numbering about 150, included a roster of dignitaries and executives who were instrumental in pushing the project forward, including state Sen. James Welch; state Reps. Michael Finn, Joseph Wagner, and Angelo Puppolo; and Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos.

The 108-room, four-story hotel is located at 440 Memorial Dr. and is owned by BK Investments. It is expected to be completed in May 2018.

“Tru is a game-changing brand, as evidenced by its statement-making entrance to the midscale category and now the Chicopee market,” said Alexandra Jaritz, global head of Tru by Hilton. “We know the brand will have broad appeal to Springfield-area travelers who span generations but share a similar ‘zest for life’ mindset. At its core, Tru is value-engineered to provide guests with a contemporary, consistent, and fresh experience in an affordable way, while at the same time being operationally efficient to our owners.”

Added owner and developer Hershal Patel, “today’s groundbreaking in Chicopee demonstrates Hilton’s commitment to this new brand and, importantly, its owners. Tru fills a void in the midscale category, and we’re delighted to bring this exciting new Hilton brand to life. It will add to the offerings in Chicopee and provide a new option for travelers who believe that being cost-conscious and having a great stay don’t have to be mutually exclusive.”

This project will mark BK Investments’ third project in Chicopee, following the 90-room Hampton Inn and the 115-room Residence Inn Chicopee.

HOLYOKE — More than 650 people gathered at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on May 16 to celebrate diversity through fashion at a fund-raiser for Unify Against Bullying. Students of all shapes, sizes, styles, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and physical ability from 30 different schools in Massachusetts and Connecticut strutted their stuff at the nonprofit’s third annual Fashion Show, presented by Robert Charles Photography of East Longmeadow.

“Through the show, our goal is to help students see that it’s important to celebrate our differences, rather than step back from them. What makes us each unique is ultimately what makes us stronger as a community,” said Edward Zemba, President of Unify Against Bullying. This year’s event raised over $56,000 toward its anti-bullying initiatives.

Greta Salóme, Icelandic performer, joined the students on stage for a moving performance which portrayed an example of dealing with bullying and what it takes to rise above it. During the skit, she performed her song, “Hear Them Calling,” which she sang in the finals of Eurovision in 2016.

“The song is about listening to the positive voices within,” said Salóme, who, having dealt with bullying in her own life, was inspired to join the Unify movement after hearing of the worldwide #UnifySelfieChallenge in 2016. The social-media campaign began with a challenge to gain participation from 50 states and 50 countries within a 50-day time span, which the organization accomplished.

While in the U.S., Salóme plans to visit local schools to speak on behalf of Unify Against Bullying. She hopes to use her experiences to help educate today’s children that our differences are what make people unique. Her message is aligned with the nonprofit’s in that she wants to empower students to make smart choices and embrace diversity.

Also performing at the Fashion Show was local high-school student Kenny Roche, who uses his background in performance to create viral music videos about ending violence, accepting diversity, and bringing an end to bullying. He debuted a new song with a focus on anti-bullying that he created for the show. His original single, “Stop the Violence,” became a viral sensation earlier in 2017 with more than 950,000 views on Facebook. Unify Against Bullying also celebrated its first national partner for this year’s Fashion Show, Paul Mitchell’s new hair-care brand, Neon.

The mission of Unify Against Bullying is to bring an end to bullying through the celebration of true diversity. Unify intends to accomplish this goal through providing grants to those who are in the best position to make a difference: children, parents, teachers, and administrators.

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Hills Bancorp, parent of Berkshire Bank, announced today that it plans to relocate its corporate headquarters to Boston later this year, a move to support the bank’s continued strategic growth throughout the Northeast.

The company also announced a definitive agreement to acquire Commerce Bancshares Corp. and its subsidiary, Commerce Bank, in Worcester, adding 16 new branches in Eastern Mass. and a well-established commercial team to capitalize on growth opportunities and further solidify its regional presence. The combined institution will be the largest regional bank in Massachusetts and the first regional bank headquartered in Boston in decades.

“Locating our corporate headquarters in Boston will not take us away from our roots in Berkshire County; we remain committed to all of our employees, customers, and communities,” said Michael Daly, CEO of Berkshire Bank. “Boston will offer our senior executives connectivity with government leaders, regulators, and decision makers, and provide the ability to attract broader workforce talent as the bank continues to grow. With the addition of the Commerce team, we will be able to leverage the strengths of both banks and capitalize on growth opportunities in the attractive, high-growth Eastern Massachusetts markets. This is not only important to Boston, but to all our local markets, to be the first regional bank with a Boston headquarters in decades.”

The proposed acquisition provides significant scale in Eastern Mass. The combined franchise will operate its corporate headquarters, four branches, and three lending offices in Greater Boston, and an additional 15 branches in and around Worcester, with $3 billion in loans and $2 billion in deposits. On completion of the deal, Berkshire Bank will have 113 branches serving customers across the Northeast. Berkshire is committed to growing its operating model, levering its platforms such as the MyBanker concierge banking service, and expects commercial, wealth-management, and private-banking businesses to be focuses of its strategy in Greater Boston.

Berkshire Bank’s operational center will remain in downtown Pittsfield, and the relocation will not have any impact on its employees. Additionally, its current regional hubs serving markets in New York’s Capital and Central regions, the Hartford/Springfield region, Southern Vermont, as well as operations around Princeton, N.J., will continue to be significant contributors.

“Relocating our corporate headquarters to Boston’s financial district is a well-timed move that will make us stronger by driving value and adding jobs that will benefit our employees and customers across our footprint,” said Sean Gray, chief operating officer. “As a successful regional bank, having our headquarters in a strong hub for the financial-services industry provides economic value and takes advantage of the largest New England market to fuel growth and increase our ability capitalize on our investment in all of our communities.”

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Central Cultural District (SCCD) has issued a call to artists for a unique opportunity in downtown Springfield. The Cultural District is searching for artists to host a solo show in their Art Stop pop-up gallery program and sell their work in one of three locations downtown – New England Public Radio (NEPR), UMass Springfield, and 1550 Main.

The RFP asks for proposals from artists of all mediums to show their work from July to October. Requirements to what the art should look like are fairly laid-back, to best enable creative expression. All art will be available for sale during the display period, with 100% of proceeds going directly back to the creator. A stipend of $200 will also be awarded to the chosen artists.

The Art Stop venues include a small community meeting space at NEPR which has been used for its youth arts program, MediaLab, and yoga classes; the highly visible first-floor lobby of 1550 Main, trafficked by hundreds of people daily; and the sunny and recently renovated main entryway of the UMass Center at Springfield. The SCCD hopes artists will draw inspiration from these differing spaces.

“Art Stop has now become a flagship program of the Cultural District,” said director Morgan Drewniany. “We began this in October of last year and continued the effort in April, expanding to include Tower Square. Visitors love the unique blend of art, music, and community at the openings, and artists love being able to connect directly with their audience, as well as have a platform to sell their work downtown.”

A joint reception will be held between the three locations in mid-summer, with gallery openings, street art, and performances between the locations to encourage walking, and light food and drinks, all provided by the SCCD and the artist hosts.

The Springfield Central Cultural District encompasses an area of the metro center of Springfield and is membership-based, involving many of the downtown arts institutions. Its mission is to create and sustain a vibrant cultural environment in Springfield.

The request for proposal and more details on this program can be found at springfieldculture.org/artistresources. Any questions can be forwarded to Drewniany at [email protected] or (413) 454-1195.

SPRINGFIELD — Girls on the Run of Western MA will host its 5K celebration on Sunday, June 4 at Springfield College.

The run will begin at 10:30 a.m., but festivities, including a group warm-up and talk by Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, will begin at 10 a.m. Early arrival is suggested. There will also be food trucks and face painting.

Girls on the Run is a physical, activity-based, positive youth-development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3-8. During the 10-week program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections, and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season, celebratory 5K event. Participation in the 5K event is open to the public.

Girls on the Run drew 500 girls and 160 volunteer coaches to the program this season, more than 1,200 participants are expected at the 5K event. Last season’s event brought together more than 1,000 program participants, families, friends, and community members.

The event will begin on the track and do two loops around the campus. The cost is $20 for adults and $12 for children, and includes an event shirt. To register, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org, or register on site the day of the event beginning at 8:30 a.m.

CHICOPEE — Elms College will present its 86th commencement exercises on Saturday, May 20 at 10 a.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The keynote speaker will be Carolyn Jacobs, renowned social-work professor and spiritual director.

Jacobs’ work in religion and spirituality, social-work clinical practice, organizational behavior, and teaching has been recognized with extensive publication and presentation credits. She retired from Smith College in May 2015 after 34 years, 14 of which saw her serve as the dean of the School of Social Work and Elizabeth Marting Treuhaft professor.

Today, she continues to serve the greater good on the board of directors for the Mind & Life Institute in Charlottesville, Va., an organization co-founded by the Dalai Lama, together with contemplative neuroscientist Francisco Varela and entrepreneur Adam Engle. She also serves on the board of trustees not only for Elms College, but also for Naropa University in Boulder, Colo., as well as on the advisory committee for Montague Catholic Social Ministries.

This will be the final commencement ceremony led by Elms College President Mary Reap, who announced last year that she would retire this summer. The trustees’ search committee has selected Harry Dumay to be the college’s 11th president.

SPRINGFIELD — First there were dice. Then came Wendy’s hamburgers, followed by Rubik’s Cube and SpongeBob. Now, Bob Bolduc and his team at Pride Stores want to add Square One to the list of famous ‘squares.’

The locally owned chain of gas stations and convenience stores is launching a campaign where customers may purchase a square for one dollar, in support of the work that Square One does with children and families throughout the region.

“We are proud to be supporting the programs and services that Square One offers to ensure that children and families have the tools they need to be successful,” Bolduc said. “Selling squares and displaying them in our stores will be a very visible way to help raise funds for the organization and create greater awareness of the work they are doing.”

The squares are available for purchase at the checkout registers of participating Pride locations. For every dollar donated, Pride will display a Square One square in the Pride location of purchase. All proceeds will benefit Square One’s early-learning and family-services initiatives.

“We are so grateful to Bob and his team at Pride for all their very generous support of our work,” said Kristine Allard, chief Development and Communications officer for Square One. “Whether we are teaching children to read and write, inspiring an appreciation of fine arts, providing a nourishing meal, or developing a healthy love of play, everything we do is driven by our vision of a bright future for all children, despite the daunting challenges they face at home.”

She added that many children in Square One programs are living in homeless shelters, struggle with food insecurity, have a parent who is in addiction recovery or post-incarcerated, or are in custody of an appointed legal guardian or foster parent. “Support from Pride and other businesses is critical to our ability to continue to serve these families.”

SPRINGFIELD — The Green & Healthy Homes Initiative (GHHI), following a national competition, has awarded grants and support to Partners for a Healthier Community in Springfield, as well as Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo (Buffalo, N.Y.), Health Net of West Michigan (Grand Rapids, Mich.), and Le Bonheur Community Health and Well-Being (Memphis, Tenn.), to advance their Pay for Success (PFS) projects.

GHHI is providing these grants and services through funding awarded last year from the Corp. for National and Community Service’s (CNCS) Social Innovation Fund (SIF) to support SIF Pay for Success projects that address social determinants of health. These awards will build off of the past work of the SIF projects to assess the feasibility of the PFS financing model and advance high-quality, promising projects toward launch.

Each of the PFS projects focuses on providing comprehensive services to asthmatics in low-income communities. These services include home-based care and addressing environmental triggers of asthma such as pests and mold. These services will lead to better health and quality-of-life outcomes for families and reduce emergency-department visits and hospitalizations due to asthma, saving healthcare costs. Prior work has shown that a PFS transaction is feasible, and GHHI will be working with the awardees to pilot the home-based services, work with their state Medicaid programs on any needed policies to advance PFS, and engage partners such as potential investors as the projects advance toward launch.

“We are honored to build upon the great work over the last couple years and advance these promising projects that will bring much-needed services for families,” said Ruth Ann Norton, GHHI president and CEO. “Through utilizing Pay for Success, we will help our partners scale home-based interventions for asthma. To truly impact the health of populations, we need to move beyond the walls of the hospital and clinics, and these four projects will establish a mechanism to truly scale services that address social determinants of health.”

Added Lois Nembhard, acting director of the Social Innovation Fund at CNCS, the grants “will help build a powerful pipeline to take more Pay for Success projects from feasibility to implementation. We are thrilled to support the expansion of Green & Healthy Homes Initiative’s work in providing customized developmental support for these four projects to advance health equity and address the social determinants of health.”