Daily News

HOLYOKE — Marcus Printing announced it has acquired ILS Business Services of West Springfield, strengthening the capabilities of both companies. 

“The marriage of these two long-standing family businesses makes good sense,” said Susan Goldsmith, president of Marcus Printing. “The depth of printing experience we have at Marcus is unparalleled in our region, and we also offer mailing services. ILS offers nearly 40 years of direct-mail experience, and also sold printing services. Our services and expertise complement each other, allowing us to expand our capabilities across the board. It’s a perfect match.”

Both Marcus Printing and ILS Business Services are local Western Mass. companies built on the shared values of providing exceptional customer service at excellent prices, Goldsmith said. Marcus Printing was established in 1930 by Goldsmith’s grandparents, Phil and Sarah Marcus. ILS Business Services was founded by Bob and Irene Scalise in 1980, and their daughter, Amy Scalise, grew up around the business and officially joined the family business in 2014. Amy joins Marcus as the mailing manager, Bob will remain on board as a consultant, and the other ILS employees have joined the Marcus staff.

The operations of ILS will move in the near future to the 33,000-square-foot Marcus Printing plant at 750 Main St. in Holyoke.

“Printing and direct mailing often go hand in hand,” Goldsmith said. “By joining forces, we can offer our customers expanded services and recognized economies of scale with all services located under one roof.”

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Carlos Santiago, commissioner for the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education, will visit Holyoke Community College (HCC) today, Nov. 5, and lead a discussion with faculty and staff about equity in higher education.

Santiago’s talk will run from 2 to 3 p.m. in the PeoplesBank Conference Room in HCC’s Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.

“Enrollment, retention, and equity are critical to student success,” said HCC president Christina Royal. “We are very happy that Commissioner Santiago will be joining us to talk about these very important topics, which are critical components of HCC’s strategic plan.”

Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — The Massachusetts chapter of Pinups for Pitbulls, an international not-for-profit organization, announced an upcoming fundraising event to be held on Saturday, Dec. 7 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Abandoned Building Brewery in Easthampton.

The “Calendars, Cheers & Beer” party will feature an opportunity for guests to have their 2020 calendar autographed by calendar model and South Hadley native Bryn Nowell. The event will also feature a dogs-and-Santa photo shoot, provided by Julie Ann Blonaisz Photography, along with raffles and merchandise sales.

Pinups for Pitbulls — an organization that aims to do away with breed-specific legislation, among other goals — has published its annual fundraising calendar for the past 15 years. Featuring pinup-style hair, makeup, and clothing and a varying annual theme, calendar models include individuals and dog models who have been selected through an extensive application process. The 2020 calendar’s theme is “Fantastic Time Travel Adventures,” which includes iconic styles from the past and a glimpse into potential future styles.

The calendar release party is free to attend, and guests should be age 21 and older. There is a $10 suggested donation for dog photos with Santa.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Western Massachusetts and presenting sponsor MedExpress Urgent Care will host the annual GOTR 5K celebration on Saturday, Nov. 23 at 10:30 a.m. at Smith College.

The 5K event is open to the public. Event-day registration is available for $30. Approximately 1,600 runners are expected to participate.

The mission of Girls on the Run is to inspire girls to be healthy, joyful, and confident. Girls on the Run is a positive, physical-activity-based, youth-development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in grades 3 to 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.

The event begins on the Smith athletic fields and goes through the Smith College campus. The run will begin at 10:30 a.m., but festivities, including a group warmup and games, will begin at 10 a.m. Early arrival is strongly suggested.

Registration is available online at www.girlsontherunwesternma.org. The pre-registration cost is $25 for adults and $10 for children and includes a GOTR 5K event shirt. Registration will also be open the day of the event beginning at 9 a.m. For more information about the event, how to register, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.

Event supporters include Scout Curated Wears, Cooley Dickinson Medical Group – Women’s Health, Holyoke Gas and Electric, Marisa Labozzetta and Martin Wohl, Mill 180 Park, PeoplesBank, People’s United Bank, River Valley Counseling Center, RunReg, Smith College, and Synergy Physical Therapy.