Day: September 6, 2019

SPRINGFIELD — Wellfleet, an insurance provider and a Berkshire Hathaway company, has agreed to terms with National Guardian Life Insurance Co. (NGL) to acquire through renewals its Student and Special Risk business. Much of that business is processed through Commercial Travelers Life Insurance Co. in Utica, N.Y., a wholly owned NGL subsidiary.

Wellfleet will immediately assume responsibility for administrating NGL’s special-risk policies and collegiate accident and health insurance, which insures more than 26,000 students on approximately 100 campuses across the U.S. Wellfleet will maintain NGL’s Utica office, employing more than 30 insurance professionals.

“We are pleased that we have entered into this agreement with Wellfleet, one of the nation’s leading providers of health- and accident-insurance products to the higher-education market,” said Knut Olson, NGL’s president and CEO. “This transition provides our customers the ability to renew their business with a highly respected insurer who will deliver quality service. This transaction allows NGL to focus on our other lines of business.”

He added that “Wellfleet’s specialization in student and special-risk coverage for more than 25 years, and respected reputation in the market, gives NGL’s talented employees, loyal clients, and growing member base the best possible solution for operational continuity.”

Wellfleet President and CEO, Andrew DiGiorgio noted Wellfleet’s longtime business relationship with NGL and Commercial Travelers, and reiterated Wellfleet’s commitment to a smooth transition for NGL’s clients and members.

“Our priorities are to honor the commitments NGL extended to its customers, and to deliver quality service and customer-centric solutions to clients, members, and distribution partners,” DiGiorgio said.

Completion of the transaction is subject to various conditions, including the receipt of required regulatory approval, and is expected to close in the third quarter of 2019.

GREENFIELD — The Connecticut River Conservancy (CRC) is hosting its 23rd annual Source to Sea Cleanup on Sept. 27-28. This year, CRC is asking cleanup participants and all who enjoy the rivers to join it in demanding an end to trashed rivers. CRC is challenging two companies via social media — Dunkin’ Donuts and Cumberland Farms — whose trash is regularly found during the Source to Sea Cleanup. Learn how to get involved at www.ctriver.org/takeaction.

“After cleaning up tons of trash year after year for 22 years, it’s clear that repeated cleaning is not the solution to our trash problem,” CRC Executive Director Andrew Fisk said. “We need to redesign our economy so there isn’t waste in the first place. It’s time businesses step up to voluntarily do the right thing by offering more sustainable, reusable, recyclable, and compostable options.”

CRC encourages all individuals to always properly dispose of and recycle waste rather than contributing to litter in the rivers. Still, businesses and corporations play a big role in deciding what products end up in consumers’ hands and eventually make their way into the waste stream. CRC argues it’s time that corporations take responsibility for their role in trashing the rivers.

“We invite everyone to join us in telling them we expect better,” said Stacey Lennard, cleanup coordinator. CRC points out that, given how much Dunkin’ Donuts and Cumberland Farms trash is found during the Source to Sea Cleanup, these companies have a unique opportunity to make a huge difference for the rivers by using more environmentally friendly options.

Consumers have been trained by businesses to rely on unnecessary disposable and single-use plastics, Fisk noted. Meanwhile, businesses and manufacturers are profiting by making these products out of cheap, petroleum-based plastic that is harmful and doesn’t easily break down. Producers and manufacturers then pass the responsibility and disposal costs for the products they make to the consumers, which leads to litter and polluted rivers.

According to the CRC, the best way businesses and corporations can cut down on their products becoming litter in the rivers is to offer more reusable options, like coffee mugs and drink cups. Dunkin’ already offers a robust line of reusable mug options, but don’t promote or incentivize them, Fisk said, whereas Cumberland Farms offers few reusable options. Additionally, bio-plastics are emerging as a promising alternative to plastic made from fossil fuels. There are plenty of eco-friendly cups and dishware items on the market that businesses should be using, he went on. These new plastics are compostable, break down in the marine environment as food, are made from waste, and are made with less energy and environmental impact than traditional petroleum plastics.

“We all have a responsibility to solve this problem,” Fisk said. “We are responsible as consumers to make good choices in how we purchase and dispose of products. Manufacturers, businesses, and government are also responsible  and it’s time they do their part. By working together, we can make a real difference for our rivers. These ideas are going to take time, decades even. And we’ll keep at it as long as it takes. But our rivers need change now.”

WESTFIELD — The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce will welcome Katie Holahan, vice president of Government Affairs for Associated Industries of Massachusetts, as keynote speaker at its quarterly business breakfast on Friday, Sept. 20 from 7 to 9 a.m. at the 104th Fighter Wing Air National Guard Base, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield.

Holahan will talk about paid family and medical leave, potential debate in the Legislature on transportation, K-12 funding, healthcare cost containment, and general tax reform. There will also be time for questions and answers. She would like to hear what the attendees are most concerned about, what are the city’s strengths, and what opportunities they have before them.

The Chief Greeter will be Chris Thompson, co-owner of the Westfield Starfires. Immediately following the breakfast, guests can take a tour of the 104th Air National Guard Base. Tickets for the breakfast are $28 for members and $43 for general admission. For more information or registration, call (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected].

The platinum event sponsor is Baystate Noble Hospital; the gold sponsor is Westfield Gas & Electric and Whip City Fiber; the silver sponsor is A Plus HVAC Inc.; the bronze sponsors are BHN – the Carson Center, Governor’s Center, and the Arbors; the registration-table sponsor is CHH Engraving Inc.; the coffee-bar sponsor is the Westfield Starfires; and the small-business sponsor is the Republican.

WILBRAHAM — On Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m., the Scantic Valley YMCA will host guest speaker Kirk Jonah, founder of the Jack Jonah Foundation, which is dedicated to the memory of Kirk’s son, who accidentally overdosed in 2016. The Jack Jonah Foundation works to educate the community and help individuals and families impacted by drugs so tragedies such as Jack’s passing will never happen again.

Pre-registration is not necessary. For more information, contact the Scantic Valley YMCA at (413) 596-2749 or visit www.springfieldy.org.