Year: 2019

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) is once again offering a one-month, hands-on program for individuals who want to become FAA-licensed drone pilots.

“Flying Drones for Profit, Public Safety, and Commercial Applications” will run on four consecutive Tuesdays, Nov. 5 through Nov. 26, from 6 to 10 p.m. in HCC’s Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development on the HCC main campus, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke. The cost for the four-week, non-credit course is $315. Space is limited.

The course will prepare individuals to take the Federal Aviation Administration Remote Pilot in Charge exam, which they must pass to become licensed drone operators. Classes are taught by Steven Vigneault, an alumnus of the program and owner and operator of Expeditionary Drones, an aerial photography company in East Longmeadow. Vigneault worked at Barnes Air National Guard base on the Security Force and was previously an officer for the Springfield Police Department.

The course focuses on all content required to pass the FAA Remote Pilot test, including regulations, national airspace system rules, weather, aircraft loading, aircraft performance and flight operations. It is geared toward professionals in a wide range of industries, including engineering, construction, insurance, agriculture, emergency services, public safety, security, environmental management, transportation, and retail, as well as those involved in more artistic pursuits like movies, video, and photography.

WESTFIELD — The College of Graduate and Continuing Education (CGCE) at Westfield State University will host an information session for its master of education and master of arts in English programs on Monday, Oct. 21 at 6 p.m. in the lobby of the Horace Mann Center, 333 Western Ave., Westfield.

These graduate programs are designed to accommodate both working teachers seeking professional licensure and new educators seeking initial licensure. The master of education programs include early-childhood education, elementary education, biology, mathematics, history, moderate disabilities, and reading specialist. The non-licensure master of education has concentrations in history and vocational technical.

Westfield State also offers graduate English programs with initial or professional licensure, as well as a non-licensure track.

“Our master of arts in English program is designed for those students who want middle and secondary teaching licensure, initial and professional, and who want to pursue doctoral study or other professional goals. Most of our students work full-time, so we organize our courses and individually advise students to fit their schedules,” Program Director Glen Brewster said, adding that small courses and seminars are offered to allow for students to work closely with full-time faculty on research in relevant academic areas to prepare them for further graduate study.

Westfield State University offers afternoon and evening courses in the fall, spring, and summer sessions as well as full-time or part-time matriculation options to better accommodate the flexible scheduling needs of a variety of students.

Information-session attendees will have an opportunity to speak with Outreach Team members and faculty about the program and its application process. The $50 application fee will be waived for all information-session attendees. To RSVP, visit www.gobacknow.com. For more information, call (413) 572-8020 or e-mail [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — Jewish Family Service of Western Massachusetts (JFS) has been awarded a competitive two-year $250,000 Citizenship and Assimilation Grant from the Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). This grant will allow JFS to expand its current citizenship program to better serve prospective citizens’ assimilation into American civic life in Hampden County.

The fiscal-year 2019 grants, which run through September 2021, promote prospective citizens’ assimilation into American civic life by funding educational programs designed to increase their knowledge of English, U.S. history, and civics.

“Our country welcomes legal immigrants from all over the world who come to the United States, positively contribute to our society, and engage in American civic life,” said USCIS Acting Director Ken Cuccinelli. “Immigrants who assimilate, embrace our Constitution, understand our history, and abide by our laws add to the vitality and strength of this great nation. Through this grant program, USCIS continues to support efforts to prepare immigrants to become fully vested U.S. citizens.”

JFS is one of 41 organizations in 24 states to receive nearly $10 million in funding to support citizenship-preparation services. Now in its 11th year, the USCIS Citizenship and Assimilation Grant program has helped more than 245,000 lawful, permanent residents prepare for citizenship. A ‘permanent resident’ is a person authorized by the US government to live and work in the country on a permanent basis.

SPRINGFIELD — The third annual class of Healthcare Heroes will be honored at the Sheraton Springfield on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Healthcare Heroes, a recognition program involving the Western Mass. healthcare sector, was launched in 2017 by HCN and BusinessWest. The program was created to shed a bright light on the outstanding work being done across the broad spectrum of health and wellness services, and the institutions and people providing that care.

The Heroes for 2019 are:

• Lifetime Achievement (tie): Katherine Wilson, president and CEO, Behavioral Health Network Inc.; and Frank Robinson, vice president, Public Health, Baystate Health;

• Health/Wellness Administrator/Administration: Emily Uguccioni, executive director, Linda Manor Assisted Living;

• Collaboration in Health/Wellness: Carol Constant, convener, Dementia Friendly Western Massachusetts; and director of Community Engagement, Loomis Communities;

• Community Health: Amy Walker, certified nurse midwife, Cooley Dickinson Health Care;

• Emerging Leader: Tara Ferrante, program director of the Holyoke Outpatient Clinic, ServiceNet;

• Innovation in Health/Wellness: Cristina Huebner Torres, vice president, Research & Population Health, Caring Health Center Inc.; and

• Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider: Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield.

The class of 2019 was profiled in the Sept. 2 issue of BusinessWest and on businesswest.com. Tickets cost $90 or $900 for a table of 10. To reserve a spot, visit www.businesswest.com/healthcare-heroes-2 or e-mail [email protected].

Healthcare Heroes is sponsored by American International College and Baystate Health/Health New England (presenting sponsors), Behavioral Health Network, Comcast Business, and Development Associates (partner sponsors), and Bulkley Richardson, Design to Finish, Elms College, Keiter Builders, Loomis Communities, and Mercy Medical Center/Trinity Health (supporting sponsors).

SPRINGFIELD — Shiners Hospitals for Children – Springfield and iHeart Radio will host their annual Love to the Rescue Radiothon on Thursday and Friday, Oct. 17-18, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. Now it its eighth year, the Radiothon raises money to further the hospital’s mission of providing medical and therapeutic care to children and adolescents with orthopaedic, rheumatologic, cleft lip and palate, neuromuscular, urology, and chest-wall deformity conditions, regardless of a family’s ability to pay.

On-air personalities Zito & Kera from MIX 93.1, along with Jim Polito from The Jim Polito Show on NewsRadio 560 WHYN, will be broadcasting live with inspiring interviews and testimonials from current and former patients, families, staff, Shriners, and friends. All are encouraged to tune in to Mix 93.1 or NewsRadio 560 WHYN, or listen on the iHeart Radio app.

Listeners can ‘send their love’ by pledging donations at (413) 314-6000 or (844) 350-9698, or by visiting www.lovetotherescueradiothon.org. Over the course of the Radiothon’s history, the event has raised over $1 million for the hospital.

“The Love to the Rescue Radiothon is our largest annual fundraiser, and we are very grateful to the teams and on-air personalities from iHeart Media who donate their time and talent to produce this event every year,” said Karen Motyka, director of Development at Shriners Hospitals for Children – Springfield. “We are also thankful for our patient families who bravely share their stories of the exceptional medical care received here at the hospital, as well as the impact it has had on their lives. Collectively, this all helps us to raise the much-needed funds in order to continue our mission.”

Donor support and community sponsors are essential to the success of the Radiothon as well. This year’s sponsors include Dunkin’ Donuts, Monson Savings, and Safari Golf Club.

SPRINGFIELD — The Professional Women’s Chamber (PWC) will present a forum featuring a panel of female leaders in Springfield, who will speak about their contributions to the renaissance of the city at a luncheon on Thursday, Oct. 17. The event will be held from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History and Archives, 21 Edwards St., Springfield.

The luncheon is being held in partnership with the Springfield Museums and will be moderated by its president, Kay Simpson. Panelists include Denise Jordan, executive director of the Springfield Housing Authority; Judy Matt, president of Spirit of Springfield; Tricia Canavan, president of United Personnel; and Vanessa Otero, chief operating officer at Partners for Community. Each of the panelists will tell will tell the story of where her leadership is taking the city, her contributions to the current renaissance, and her visions for the city.

The cost is $35 for PWC members and $40 for general admission. To register, e-mail [email protected] or visit springfieldregionalchamber.com.

GREENFIELD — On Sept. 27 and 28, an estimated 3,500 volunteers gathered at more than 125 locations along the Connecticut River and tributary streams in Massachusetts, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Vermont for the Connecticut River Conservancy’s (CRC) 23rd annual Source to Sea Cleanup.

Volunteers with work gloves and trash bags got dirty — and some got wet — in their effort to remove nearly 50 tons of trash from in and along the rivers. This massive effort for cleaner rivers included over 50 groups from the Massachusetts region of the four-state Connecticut River basin. Groups included local river and conservation groups; elementary, high-school, and college students; Girl and Boy Scouts; and many employee volunteer groups from local businesses.

Notably, CRC worked with Northeast Paving and the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department to remove 650 tires from a tire dump along the Deerfield River in Greenfield. The effort involved manually loading tires into machinery that hauled the tires from the ravine and trucking them to another location where they were hosed off by the Greenfield Fire Department and later removed for recycling by Bridgestone Tires4Ward.

Now, focus shifts to preventing trash in the first place.

“Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers’ hard work and dedication is inspiring and makes a real difference for our rivers,” says Andrew Fisk, CRC’s executive director. “But our work isn’t done until we put ourselves out of the river cleanup business.”

While the two-day cleanup event is over for this year, CRC continues its work on trash pollution year-round. Via social media, CRC is especially challenging two companies — Dunkin’ Donuts and Cumberland Farms — whose trash is regularly found during the Source to Sea Cleanup.

“We invite everyone to join us in telling them we expect better,” said Stacey Source to Sea Cleanup coordinator. “We want less single-use plastic and plastic foam, we want more reusable and compostable options, and we want items that are easier to recycle and keep out of landfills.

“We need our legislators, businesses, and manufacturers to see just how bad the problem is and hear from their constituents and customers that we aren’t going to put up with them ignoring this problem any longer,” she added. “We’ve been doing our part for 23 years by cleaning up our rivers. It’s time they finally do their part in helping solve our trash problem.”

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 rivers by using more environmentally friendly options, Fisk noted.

“We all have a responsibility to solve this problem — individuals, manufacturers, businesses, and government,” he said. “After cleaning up over 1,100 tons of trash over the course of 23 years, it’s clear that repeated cleaning is not the solution to our trash problem. We need to redesign our economy so there isn’t waste in the first place. 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.”

Final trash-cleanup totals are still being tallied. Volunteers turned out from faith communities, watershed groups, schools, community and youth organizations, and at least 35 businesses and employee service groups.

In addition to the tons of small litter picked up this year by volunteers, CRC’s Source to Sea Cleanup also tackles large trash-dump sites and removes large debris from the rivers. For example, 54 tires were removed from beneath the surface of the Connecticut River at the mouth of the Ashuelot River in New Hampshire, and large chunks of metal were pulled from the Ottauquechee River in Woodstock, Vt.

Eversource, the lead Source to Sea Cleanup sponsor, had three employee cleanup groups — one each in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Hampshire.

“At Eversource, we’re committed to caring for the environment and take great care to promote conservation while carefully managing natural and cultural resources,” said Rod Powell, the company’s president of Corporate Citizenship. “Working with the CRC at their Source to Sea Cleanup event is an opportunity for our employees to put this passion for the environment into action as we serve the neighborhoods where we work and live.”

SPRINGFIELD — Two magic shows on Sunday, Oct. 13 at the Armory at MGM Springfield will benefit the Treehouse Foundation, an Easthampton-based nonprofit that supports children who’ve experienced foster care.

“Straight Up Magic with Jason Bishop” is a family-friendly show performed by Jason Bishop, an illusionist who performs internationally, and who grew up in foster care. After a Treehouse board member read about his story in a Southwest Airlines magazine and contacted Bishop about performing a benefit for Treehouse, the magician was enthusiastic about agreeing.

“I’m an illusionist first and foremost, and I entertain people,” he said recently, “but if my story can inspire a young person in foster care to dream big and help Treehouse at the same time, that’s a win-win.”

About 10,000 children and youth are in foster care in Massachusetts, and a disproportionate 40% of those live in Western Mass. Treehouse helps support these kids and foster adoptive families through its intergenerational Treehouse Community and its HEROES Youth Leaders program, which serves 70 youth ages 14-24 from the Pioneer Valley.

Tickets to the magic shows are available at www.treehousefoundation.net.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Technical Community College board of trustees recently welcomed two new members and a new chair, Mary Catherine “Marikate” Murren.

The new members are Jynai McDonald, who was appointed by Gov. Charlie Baker in June, and Yanira Aviles, who was elected by the student body in April.

Baker named Murren as chair of the board over the summer. She replaces Christopher Johnson, whose term recently expired. He had served as a trustee since 2006.

Marikate Murren

Murren has served as a trustee for more than two years. She is vice president of Human Resources for MGM Springfield and graduated from the University of Connecticut with a bachelor’s degree in economics and a master’s degree in sports management.

“I am honored to accept the responsibility as chair of Springfield Technical Community College’s board of trustees,” Murren said. “It will be a privilege to serve with my fellow trustees to continue the good work of the community college under President John Cook, the faculty and staff, and especially the students. Springfield Technical Community College is a valued partner in the city of Springfield for surrounding employers, and I am looking forward to being a part of their future success. As a new business in the area, the college was instrumental in our efforts to create thousands of jobs at MGM Springfield. It will be a pleasure to work with my fellow trustees to move the mission of the community college forward.”

Jynai McDonald

McDonald is the family child care coordinator for Service Employee International Union Local 509. In her role, she provides leadership training, professional development, and negotiation for more than 3,500 childcare providers throughout the Commonwealth.

Previously, she served as Western Mass. regional manager for Training Resources of America Inc. She also has worked at Hampden County Career Center and Northeast Center for Youth & Families, Tri-County School. McDonald was honored as a rising star in the regional business community when she was named to BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty in 2019. She earned a bachelor’s degree in digital marketing and social media management from Bay Path University.

“It is an honor to be appointed by Governor Baker and serve the Greater Springfield community by being a part of the governing body to the only technical community college in the Commonwealth,” McDonald said. “With my background in education and workforce development, offering accessible and high-quality public education will always be a top priority for me.”

Added Cook, “with the appointment of trustee Murren as chair, STCC will enjoy continuity during our upcoming institution accreditation, and her knowledge of regional workforce needs is particularly valuable.”

Yanira Aviles

Aviles, the student trustee, said she wants to use her position to help other students who have faced barriers. In her mid-30s, Aviles took courses at STCC to prepare for the HiSET, or high school equivalency test. After passing her HiSET exam in 2016, she enrolled in the liberal arts/general studies degree program at STCC.

“It’s an honor and a privilege to serve as student trustee at STCC,” Aviles said. “I’m the first one in my family to attend college, and there was a time I never thought that would happen. I understand what it’s like to come from a low-income background. I can relate to my classmates, and will do everything I can to help them transform their lives.”

BOSTON — Business confidence remained essentially flat in Massachusetts during September despite a darkening outlook among manufacturers.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 0.2 points to 58.9 last month after retreating in August. The Index has lost 3.7 points since September 2018 but remains within optimistic territory.

The September reading was weighed down by weakening sentiment among Bay State manufacturers. The Index’s manufacturing component dropped 2.4 points in September and 7.9 points for the year.

The results mirrored the national Institute for Supply Management’s manufacturing index, which fell to its lowest level since 2009 last month. A separate report by IHS Markit showed that the manufacturing sector suffered its worst quarter since 2009, though activity increased during September.

“Manufacturers are bearing the brunt of both actual and threatened tariffs against goods imported from China. Many Massachusetts companies have also become caught in retaliatory tariffs and are seeing significant weakening of their overseas business,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA).

The AIM Index, based on a survey of more than 100 Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The Index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. It has remained above 50 since October 2013.

The constituent indicators that make up the Index were mixed during September. The Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth fell 0.6 points to 63.3, while the U.S. Index rose to 56.5. The Massachusetts reading has decreased 1.2 points and the U.S. reading has fallen 7.1 points during the past 12 months.

The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, lost 0.5 points to 56.4, leaving it 4.4 points lower than a year ago. The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, increased 0.8 points to 61.3 — 3.0 points lower than its reading of September 2018. The Employment Index rose a point for the month but remained down 3.1 points for the year. Employers continue to struggle to find qualified workers in a full-employment state economy.

Non-manufacturers (61.9) were more confident than manufacturers (55.4). Large companies (60.2) were more optimistic than medium-sized companies (59.9) or small companies (55.4), reversing a trend established during the summer. Companies in Eastern Mass. (62.6) continued to be more optimistic than those in the west (53.8).

Michael Tyler, chief investment officer at Eastern Bank Wealth Management and a BEA member, said the gaps in confidence between manufacturing companies and other businesses, and between companies in different regions of the Commonwealth, appear to be growing.

“Manufacturing has been hit by the steady increase in tariffs imposed by the United States, China, and other nations since 2018,” he noted. “The World Trade Organization estimates that the flow of goods across borders will increase by just 1.2% this year, and manufacturing companies are feeling that downdraft.”

AIM President and CEO John Regan, also a BEA member, said a separate survey shows that two-thirds of AIM-member employers expect an economic contraction between now and the end of 2020. Companies are preparing for a possible slowdown by hiring fewer people, paying down debt, and limiting capital expenditures.

“A possible takeaway from the survey for state policymakers as they begin considering billions of dollars in new spending is this could be a difficult time ahead for the state economy,” Regan said. “Businesses are assuming a defensive posture, and significant tax increases — beyond the $1 billion for the new paid family and medical leave system — even for worthwhile causes, could harm the overall economy, most especially the manufacturing sector.”

AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce will hold its October After 5 today, Oct. 9, from 5 to 7 p.m. at UMassFive College Federal Credit Union, 200 Westgate Dr., Hadley.

The event — which is sponsored and hosted by the UMassFive Commercial Services Division and catered by Log Rolling Catering — will feature live music, food, a cash bar, door prizes, and networking, as well as visits from UMass Men’s Basketball Head Coach Matt McCall and UMass Women’s Basketball Assistant Coach Lynne-Ann Kokoski.

The cost is $10 for members and $15 for non-members. Click here to register.

AMHERST — A UMass Amherst biostatistician will receive up to $3 million in funding over the next five years from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to operate a UMass-based CDC Influenza Forecasting Center of Excellence, one of two in the nation.

Nicholas Reich, associate professor in the School of Public Health and Health Sciences, whose flu-forecasting collaborative has produced some of the world’s most accurate models in recent years, leads a team that will work closely with the CDC, identifying new methods and data sources to sharpen the accuracy and improve communication of seasonal and pandemic flu forecasts.

“We know there are a lot of groups that have done trailblazing work in this field, so it’s really a great honor to be selected,” Reich said. A research group from Carnegie Mellon University, led by Roni Rosenfeld, was chosen as the other CDC Influenza Forecasting Center of Excellence. Rosenfeld’s group has collaborated closely with the Reich Lab at UMass Amherst as part of the FluSight Network, a multi-disciplinary consortium of flu-forecasting teams.

Improving the precision of infectious disease forecasting is life-saving work. These new predictive tools could more effectively target the public-health response to a potential flu outbreak, helping to determine the timing for flu-vaccine campaigns, potential school closures, and travel restrictions, as well as the allocation of medical supplies and antiviral medications. They could also help hospitals make the most efficient staffing decisions.

Reich is aiming to communicate more accessible and user-friendly information to the public, perhaps via a smartphone app. “We want to convey the forecasts in ways that people can understand, as it relates to their everyday lives,” he said. “If we can communicate the data effectively, we might change behavior.”

An app could help people gauge their risk based on their location and their individual characteristics. “Maybe they’ll tell grandma not to go to the shopping mall in the next two weeks, or maybe your kid with asthma won’t visit the children’s museum in Holyoke, where so many kids go to play in the winter,” Reich said. “Those are the things I can foresee, where you’re making everyday choices with this information.”

The UMass Amherst Center of Excellence includes collaborators Evan Ray, assistant professor of Mathematics and Statistics at Mount Holyoke College, who completed postdoctoral research at the Reich Lab; Caitlin Rivers, senior associate at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security; Anna Thorner, an infectious-disease specialist and the leader of the biosurveillance research team at UpToDate, an online clinical decision support resource; and BioFire and Quidel, two industry companies that run diagnostic tests for respiratory viruses. The companies serve as data providers for the UMass Center of Excellence, sharing anonymized test results from across the nation.

In recent years, flu forecasters have been spreading a wide net for their models, using Google search trends, HealthTweets, and other non-traditional sources of information. “There is quite a bit of data floating around — Internet data and anonymized, cloud-based clinical test records — that aren’t part of the public-health data record,” Reich said. “These data help us understand what’s happening right now and make more accurate projections.”

Reich’s group uses ensemble methodology, incorporating 21 models in an open platform that shares data and coding to maximize forecasting capabilities. “Pooling the strength of many models together, collaboratively with multiple teams, results in a more consistent and more accurate forecast,” he explained.

Dawn Creighton

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College recently welcomed Dawn Creighton as the college’s new chief Workforce Development officer. She will officially join GCC on Oct. 21, and her office will be located at the Downtown Center, 270 Main St., Greenfield.

A 2005 GCC alumna, Creighton began her career as an employment specialist at MassLive before becoming regional director for the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) — the state’s largest employers’ resource group — in 2009. During her tenure at AIM, she served thousands of employer members, uniting them around issues ranging from healthcare and employment law to sustainability, budgeting, and hiring.

“Nothing gives me greater pleasure than bringing people together and finding a solution, whether a CEO who can’t find staff to take on a new supply chain or a bank looking for tellers,” she said. “I take great pride in bringing people together.”

As the former board president of Dress for Success, Creighton also built Foot in the Door, a workforce-readiness program dedicated to helping women develop critical skills for entering and re-entering the workforce.

“We are especially proud of Dawn’s professional achievements and are delighted that she wants to serve her alma mater and community this way,” said GCC President Yves Salomon-Fernandez. “She rose to the top in the search process. There is much anticipation for her to lead us to new heights.”

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) will host its annual Transfer Fair on Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Hundreds of area community-college students are expected to meet with representatives from more than 50 four-year New England colleges and universities to discuss opportunities for continuing their educations during what is always one of the largest transfer fairs in the region.

The fair will be held in the PeoplesBank Conference Room on the third floor of the HCC Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development.

At the same time, in recognition of Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15 to Oct. 15), the college will be holding a Latinx celebration, with food, cultural exhibits, vejigante mask making, music, and art in the courtyard right outside the Transfer Fair.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College is set to host the 110th Gymnastics Exhibition Show on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 25-26, at 7 p.m. in Blake Arena. The show is one of the longest-standing traditions at Springfield College and in Western Mass. The theme for this year’s show will tie into Halloween and be titled “Haunted Homeshow.”

Close to 100 participants will take part in the show, including All-American and champion gymnasts from the Springfield College men’s and women’s gymnastics teams and student dancers. Individuals will perform a full range of gymnastic feats and dramatic special events.

Along with the many gymnastic and dance numbers, the dramatic finale of the show will continue to honor the Springfield College tradition with the tableaux — living statuaries by gymnasts in metallic body paint.

New to the show this year, attendees are encouraged to donate clothing and toiletries items that will benefit Catie’s Closet, a local nonprofit organization dedicated to helping kids go to school and stay in school. Items will be donated at no charge to more than 80 schools throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Items that can be donated include new and gently used clothing items and new, full-sized toiletries for youth-age and teenage boys and girls. Urgent would include youth clothing such as jeans, sweats, sweatshirts, and T-shirts in sizes 5 to 10. In addition, teen clothing such as basketball shorts, jeans, T-shirts, and sweats in sizes small to XX-large are also strongly encouraged.

For ticket information, visit springfield.edu/gymshow. Ticket pricing is $12 for adults, $8 for individuals 65 and older, and $6 for individuals 17 and under. A limited number of tickets will be available at Blake Arena on the dates of the shows.

CLEVELAND — For the third year, KeyBank was recognized by the National Organization on Disability (NOD) as a Leading Disability Employer.

“We are honored to accept this award from the NOD, a leader in inclusion for people with disabilities,” said Kim Manigault, chief Diversity and Inclusion officer. “Inclusion is intentional. This award reflects the work across many lines of business and partnerships that provide supportive experiences for people with disabilities who engage with and work for KeyBank.”

LONGMEADOW — Allison Gearing-Kalill, vice president for Development and Planned Giving at Bay Path University, announced that an anonymous donor has made a transformational gift of $5 million through planned giving.

The bequest is the largest individual contribution to Bay Path in its history, and honors the donor’s unwavering commitment to the education and advancement of women. Under the terms of the bequest, a fund will be established to support scholarships, endowed faculty chairs, science and technology equipment, and development programs.

“I speak on behalf of the entire Bay Path community that we are grateful for this generous bequest given in support of our mission,” said President Carol Leary. “Our benefactor has a strong belief in higher education and is an inspiration for all. Over the years, this person has also contributed to our annual One America trip for students, underwritten Labster — the online virtual laboratory program integrated within the science curriculum at the American Women’s College — and has supported many other initiatives. Our patron has been a champion for women.”

A passionate advocate for women’s education, the donor believes strongly that education is the key to creating opportunities and providing career pathways for women at all ages and stages of their lives, and is particularly supportive of the American Women’s College, the first all-women online bachelor’s degree program in the country, Leary added.

AGAWAM — The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced its annual Employment Law & Human Resource Practice Conference will be held on Thursday, Nov. 7 the Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place.

Ben Eubanks, principal analyst at Lighthouse Research & Advisory and the author of Artificial Intelligence for HR: Use AI to Build a Successful Workforce will be the keynote speaker. In his session, “Artificial Intelligence for HR,” he will cover how artificial intelligence (AI) works at a basic level and how it is infiltrating people’s daily lives at work and home. This session will cover key ways AI can support HR functions, the diversity and inclusion argument for AI at work, and the five human skills of the future that AI alone can’t replace.

Several sessions are scheduled throughout the day, including presentations from the Massachusetts Department of Paid Family Medical Leave, the Department of Labor, and Springfield law firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser. In addition to compliance-based training, there are sessions on the agenda to help employers invest in best practices for growing their businesses through video as a means of employee engagement and skill-development plans for their workforce. A complete agenda with the full roster of presenters and topics is available at www.eane.org/elhr.

The cost for the program is $360 per person with discounts for three or more. Register at www.eane.org/elhr or (877) 662-6444. The program will offer 5.75 credits from the HR Certification Institute and SHRM. Sponsoring the program are the HR Certification Institute and Johnson & Hill Staffing Services.

PALMER — Azaya Inc. named Patrick Fortunato its Business Development manager. In this role, he will lead the sales of IT managed-services support, digital and VoIP business telephone systems, and future security surveillance technologies to serve businesses, the government sector, as well as educational institutions within the state of Massachusetts.

Fortunato has more than 20 years of executive management leadership experience, while developing strategic business units in financial services and digital-imaging solutions, for mid-size to large enterprise companies and organizations.

He served as national Sales manager for Sharp USA and vice president of Sales while working at Konica Minolta, with U.S. national responsibilities and oversight.

Fortunato most recently served as managing director for Global Financial NetworX, LLC with the task of increasing customer acquisition for the company’s lending, insurance, annuities, and investment portfolios.

PITTSFIELD — Following a $1.1 million restoration, Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) will celebrate the opening of the Thaddeus Clapp House at 74 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield, on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 5 to 7 p.m. This celebration follows a record-breaking summer theater season, with ticket sales up 25% and an additional 5,000 patrons recorded over the 2018 season.

In 2013, BTG bought the Thaddeus Clapp House to serve as actor housing, and now, BTG celebrates the realization of that goal and more. Major funding for the restoration of the Thaddeus Clapp House has been provided by the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, a program of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, administered through a collaborative arrangement between Mass Development and the Massachusetts Cultural Council. BTG acknowledges Allegrone Construction, which served as general contractor for the restoration project, and the continued support of the city of Pittsfield. Additionally, it thanks Wayfair and the Annie Selke Cos. for their sponsorships of furniture and interior décor. Many other project partners who helped make the restoration possible will be acknowledged at the event.

Fundraising is almost complete, but opportunities to contribute are still available, such as naming opportunities for one of the Clapp House’s nine suites.

Like The Colonial Theatre, which has become a community resource for events of all kind, the Clapp House will also be available to rent. The Clapp House offers spaces for small to mid-sized events, such as business meetings, receptions, celebrations, conferences, and special events. Rates for the events vary, as each event experience is customized and tailored to fit individual needs. Rooms will also be available to rent, and, for those looking to fully experience everything the Clapp House has to offer, the entire house can be rented. Additionally, BTG will be offering a dinner/show package that features a buffet-style menu at the Clapp House prior to select performances of A Christmas Carol.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) and its social-equity vending partner, Cannabis Community Care and Research Network (C3RN), have scheduled the first of what both organizations expect to be an ongoing series of educational and networking events designed to spur investment, economic growth, and job creation in the nascent cannabis industry in Western Mass.

“The Emerging Cannabis Industry in Western Mass.” will be held on Monday, Oct. 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. in the PeoplesBank Conference Room on the third floor of the HCC Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development, 303 Homestead Ave., Holyoke. The event will include data sharing and a panel discussion featuring key figures in the region’s cannabis industry.

The event is free and open to all and will be of particular interest to anyone who is or wants to get involved in the cannabis industry in Western Mass.

“The legalization of cannabis is often discussed in the context of social equity and justice,” said Jeff Hayden, HCC’s vice president of Business and Community Services. “This panel will discuss this new-to-Massachusetts industry as a way to stimulate private investment, promote job creation, and increase tax-revenue growth for municipalities and the Commonwealth. This is truly a promising economic and workforce-development opportunity for the Pioneer Valley.”

Panelists will include Mark Zatryka, CEO of INSA; Meg Sanders, CEO of Canna Provisions; Marcos Marrero, director of Planning and Economic Development for the city of Holyoke; and Tessa Murphy-Romboletti, executive director of SPARK EforAll Holyoke. The discussion will be moderated by Kate Phillips, director of Education for C3RN.

In August, HCC and C3RN announced a cannabis workforce-training initiative that will begin this winter with a cannabis culinary assistant program at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, with other training programs to follow in spring 2020.

“The growing cannabis industry in Massachusetts provides a great opportunity to engage the industry, innovators, and academics in high-quality workforce and entrepreneurial training locally,” said Marion McNabb, C3RN’s CEO. “C3RN and HCC are excited to be social-equity training partners and vendors to drive innovation in education for the cannabis and hemp industries in Massachusetts.”

LUDLOW — LUSO Federal Credit Union will join credit unions around the world in celebrating International Credit Union (ICU) Day, an annual event to commemorate the credit-union movement’s impact and achievements, on Thursday, Oct. 17.

This year marks the 71st anniversary of ICU Day. To celebrate the credit union difference, LUSO invites the community to stop into its branch locations in Ludlow and Wilbraham from Oct. 15 through Oct. 19 for light refreshments.

Credit unions are not-for profit financial cooperatives that provide a viable alternative to for-profit financial institutions for millions of members in 117 countries worldwide. More than 89,000 credit unions exist globally, providing myriad financial services for their members. LUSO Federal Credit Union serves more than 8,000 members in Hampden County with branches in Ludlow and Wilbraham.

“As your local, community credit union, LUSO is committed to making a lasting difference in the towns we serve,” said Jennifer Calheno, president and CEO. “Our employees are actively involved in our in-school banking program as well as our Junior Achievement program, which fosters work readiness, financial literacy, and entrepreneurship skills, supporting over 2,000 students each year. We also sponsor and participate in local events such as the Relay for Life, Pink W.A.Y., local 5Ks, local library programs, community-wide reading programs, toy drives, and so much more.”

Since 1948, International Credit Union Day has been celebrated annual on the third Thursday of October. Each year, the event affords the opportunity to remember credit unions’ history and promote awareness of and support for the credit-union and financial-cooperative difference.

WALTHAM — For the ninth consecutive year, the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE) has ranked Massachusetts number one in its 2019 State Energy Efficiency Scorecard. The 13th edition of the ACEEE’s scorecard benchmarks state progress on efficiency policies and programs that save energy while benefiting the environment and promoting growth.

Energy-efficiency programs and services in Massachusetts are provided by Mass Save Sponsors, which include Berkshire Gas, Blackstone Gas Co., Cape Light Compact, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Eversource, Liberty Utilities, National Grid, and Unitil.

“Energy efficiency is a proven economic driver that also combats harmful greenhouse-gas emissions and saves customers money at home, in their business, and in the community,” said Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner. “Massachusetts is a national leader and early adopter of energy efficiency, which supports the Commonwealth’s comprehensive energy and climate plans. We applaud the state’s residents and businesses, the administration, and the natural-gas and electric utilities and energy-efficiency service providers that play an important role as program administrators in achieving the number-one ranking.”

ACEEE uses data vetted by state energy officials to rank states in a variety of energy-efficiency categories, including utility and public benefits programs and policies.

The Mass Save sponsors manage energy-efficiency programs and services for customers across the state, which include energy-saving solutions, technical assistance and training, and rebates and incentives for homeowners and renters, businesses of all sizes, nonprofits, schools, municipalities, and educational programs.

HOLYOKE — Beginning Sunday, Oct. 6, the Children’s Museum at Holyoke will hold Sensory Sundays, a program designed for families with children affected by sensory challenges such as sensory processing disorder (SPD) and autism.

Designed in partnership with Learn in Motion, this program aims to allow families who typically avoid crowded or stimulating environments to be able to enjoy the museum. An official SPD or autism diagnosis is not required to participate in the program.

For sensory seekers, Learn in Motion’s Chris and Hope Gibaldi will be on hand to guide children through a specially crafted, body-regulating sensory obstacle course on the museum’s second floor.

For the sensory-sensitive, a portion of the downstairs area of the museum will feature light shades and decreased sounds for a more relaxed atmosphere and less stimulating experience.

“With Sensory Sundays, we’re looking to give kids with sensory challenges an opportunity to play and explore in their own unique way,” said Lauren Boyce, Operations manager. “Ultimately, we’d like this to be a community resource for all families to enjoy the museum and a safe environment for kids to be themselves and explore.”

Beginning Oct. 6, Sensory Sundays will be held on the first Sunday of every month, with the exception of December, when it will be held the third Sunday (Dec. 15). The program will run from 10 to 11:30 a.m., with regular museum hours resuming at noon.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University has been awarded a $2.25 million Title III grant from the U.S. Department of Education through its Strengthening Institutions Program (SIP). The grant is designed to help higher-education institutions expand their capacity to serve at-risk students by providing funds to improve and strengthen the institutions’ academic quality, institutional management, and fiscal stability.

According to Bay Path officials, the grant will help guide students along their academic pathway leading to the career they envision, align and deliver services holistically to support their success, and integrate new and existing systems and technologies to streamline communications and information sharing to better serve and support students.

“We are honored to receive this grant,” Bay Path President Carol Leary said. “This funding will allow us to enhance our student-centric, high-touch support, including mentoring and career guidance, and provide us with increased capabilities to use predictive analytics and data to provide timely interventions for the challenges students encounter along their academic journeys.”

Funds awarded through the five-year grant will address three major areas:

• Guided pathways. Students will participate in an enhanced process that will integrate academic coursework with intentional career-focused guidance, high-impact practices, and adaptive learning through the latest software to adjust to their specific needs and learning styles;

• Reframed support. Students will receive a continuum of support to guide them through advising, goal setting, career exploration, and internships; and

• Integrated technology. A robust integration of systems along with a new customer-relations management system will streamline and facilitate communications, faculty and student interaction, and administrative and support services through a virtual one-stop center.

Among project outcomes, the “Learning for the 21st Century: Reshaping the Student Experience” initiative is designed to increase persistence, retention, and graduation rates, as well as expand the university’s capacity to educate women as 21st-century learners who graduate well-prepared with the right experience for career success.

This is the second Title III SIP award made to the university. In 2012, Bay Path received a grant for $2 million for the “Learners and Leaders” project.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will apply $500,000 in state funding to enhance programs in health science and electrical engineering technology and better prepare students who are planning careers in these growing industries.

Called the Skills Capital Grant, the funding allows STCC to acquire the newest technologies to educate students and expand career education opportunities. STCC will use the grant to boost the two programs by acquiring:

• New medical patient-simulation training equipment, which allows a larger number of students to enroll in the health science program; and

• Robotic arms for the electrical engineering technology program, which will provide hands-on experience on equipment students will encounter in advanced manufacturing facilities.

STCC President John Cook said the investment in the programs will help fill a regional demand for trained workers in the fields of healthcare and electrical engineering technology.

“With nearly 100 degree and certificate programs, STCC has developed numerous career pathways for students to ensure they have the relevant skills, knowledge, and experience to succeed,” Cook said. “We are thrilled to have received funding for health science and electrical engineering technology to help bridge the skills gap. We are grateful to the Baker-Polito administration for their support. This funding will allow us to expand opportunities to more students.”

Christopher Scott, dean of the School of Health & Patient Simulation, said the grant will be used for equipment that directly helps students prepare for careers in the healthcare field.

“Last year, we launched a new health science degree that exposes students to a variety of healthcare careers in an immersive and rich learning environment,” Scott said. “A key component of the program is the use of patient simulators, which allow us to recreate a clinical environment. Students immerse themselves in the experience. They learn in a safe, controlled environment without running the risk of harming a patient. We are excited to be able to add new training equipment.”

Rick Jagodowski, chair of the electrical engineering technology program at STCC, said the grant will allow his department to provide students experience and training with robots commonly found in the fields of advanced and automated manufacturing.

“Our program provides graduates with the skills necessary to become technicians in the high-demand fields of automation, robotics, mechatronic and electro-mechanical systems design, installation, programming, and repair,” Jagodowski said. “In addition to the new robots, our department will use some of the funds to acquire trainers to augment our PLC [programmable logic controls] and fluid power lab equipment.”

The Baker-Polito administration announced that STCC, other colleges, high schools, and educational institutions in Massachusetts had received a total of $12 million in Skills Capital Grants.

According to the administration, the goal of the grants, which range from $50,000 to $500,000, is to help high schools, colleges, and other workforce-training organizations invest in the most up-to-date equipment to give their students an advantage when they continue in their chosen field or area of study. These grants cover a broad array of fields, from construction and engineering to healthcare and hospitality.

“It is encouraging to see schools that are awarded Skills Capital Grants put the funds toward career pathways to give Massachusetts students experience and expertise in industries that are expanding in the Commonwealth,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “These beneficial programs will give thousands of students a head start on prosperous careers, and we look forward to seeing their progress.”

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center (HMC) will host its annual gala on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the Log Cabin. All proceeds will benefit Valley Health Systems, which includes Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke Medical Group, Holyoke VNA Hospice Life Care, and River Valley Counseling Center.

The annual gala will feature a complimentary cocktail reception; a seven-course chef’s dinner, each with its own wine pairing; a silent auction to support Valley Health Systems; award presentations; and dancing to music performed by the O-Tones.

Holyoke Medical Center has selected Dr. M. Saleem Bajwa to be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his dedication and hard work on behalf of Holyoke Medical Center and the local community for more than 40 years.

“My motto is to provide state-of-the-art care close at home,” says Bajwa said. “HMC has been a wonderful place, and very supportive in helping me to provide the best possible medical care to Valley residents.”

Also being recognized are select members of the Valley Health Systems staff who exemplify exceptional care in the categories of Best Physician, Best Caregiver, Best Supporting Employee, and Best Leader. This year’s finalists are:

• Best Physician Finalists: Dr. Tedd Ackerman, Psychiatry; Dr. John Mazzucco, General Surgery; Dr. Lorenver Po, Internal Medicine.

• Best Caregiver Finalists: Kirsten Lindgren, Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Therapy; Cornelius Maddox, Nursing (Intermediate Care Unit); Maria Quinn, Center for Behavioral Health.

• Best Supporting Employee Finalists: Terry Hoague, Environmental Services; Angelo Martinez, Plant Operations; Jennifer Zelasko, Food Services.

• Best Leader Finalists: Kathryn Girardin, Speech & Hearing; Hasaan Khawaja, Centers of Rehabilitation Excellence; Sheila Laroche, Revenue Cycle.

“We are proud to have the ability to offer our community an opportunity to support Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems through this fun event, while also providing them a chance to celebrate some of our most talented team members who tirelessly care for our family, friends, and neighbors every day,” said Spiros Hatiras, president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and Valley Health Systems.

Tickets for this black-tie-optional gala are $125 per person and can be purchased through the Holyoke Medical Center website at www.holyokehealth.com/gala19 or by calling the Development Office at (413) 534-2579.

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — Seven people were killed and seven more injured after a World War II-era B-17 bomber crashed into an airport de-icing facility while trying to land at Connecticut’s Bradley International Airport Wednesday morning.

Thirteen people — 10 passengers and three crew members — were on board when the vintage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress crashed at the end of a runway. Another person on the ground was injured when the plane slid off the runway and slammed into the building.

The aircraft is civilian-registered and belonged to the Collings Foundation, according to the airport’s Twitter account. A Wings of Freedom Tour, featuring the B-17 and other aircraft, was scheduled to take place from Monday to Thursday at the airport, the foundation said on its website.

The foundation is a 40-year-old educational nonprofit that organizes and supports living-history events and the preservation and exhibition of historical artifacts that help Americans learn more about their heritage, according to its website.

SPRINGFIELD — Revitalize Community Development Corp. and its JoinedForces initiative announced they were awarded a $730,000 grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development to continue their mission to support military veteran families.

“We are one of 10 nonprofits nationwide [to receive] this particular grant that we were awarded,” said Colleen Loveless, president and CEO of Revitalize CDC.

This statewide grant will be used to modify and rehabilitate the homes of more than 51 military veterans, and she said there are already well over 100 applications, with virtually no community outreach done yet.

The funds will be used to remedy safety hazards in the home; install energy-efficient features such as insulation, heating system repairs, and Energy Star appliances; and make age-in-place modifications, including the installation of grab bars and ramps.

The announcement took place at the home of Lonnie Chappell, a U.S. Marine veteran who served in Vietnam, and his wife, Mary. Revitalize CDC first visited the Chappell home in 2017 to perform yard work, but is now back to do more in-depth work on the house.

U.S Rep. Richard Neal attended the event and expressed his desire to continue the program, long after the three years it is funded for currently.

“We always participate in the celebration of Veterans Day and Memorial Day, but we can’t miss the point that this is the real opportunity to honor those obligations,” he said. “We’ve got men and women here that acknowledged and honored the call, and as they age, it is our responsibility to make sure they are cared for with the same determination that they served us in their youth.”

Other elected officials and representatives, such as Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno and Nyanna Lorraine Slaughter, staff assistant for U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, were in attendance to support the boost of the program.

Revitalize CDC has completed more than 800 homes and 42 nonprofit facilities, improved neighborhood parks, and created community gardens with the help of 10,000 volunteers investing $35 million into Western Mass.

“We’re hoping the program will continue after three years because there’s such a need and demand in our community and throughout the state,” Loveless said.

SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) will host a forum on the European Union (EU) featuring Stavros Lambrinidis, European Union ambassador to the U.S., and U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, on Thursday, Oct. 3, beginning at 1:30 p.m. in AIC’s Griswold Theatre.

The forum, which will focus on the history of the EU as well as the organization’s role in international trade, comes less than a month before Britain’s scheduled departure — or Brexit — from the union on Oct. 31.

Lambrinidis, a native of Greece and graduate of Amherst College and Yale Law School, became the EU’s ambassador to the U.S. in March 2019, after serving seven years as its special representative for Human Rights. He also previously held the post of Greece’s Foreign Affairs minister.

This will be Lambrinidis’s first official visit to the U.S. in his position as European Union ambassador. Further, this forum at AIC marks the official beginning of his U.S. tour.

Neal is a 1972 graduate of AIC who was elected to the House of Representatives in 1988. Prior to representing Massachusetts’s First District on Capitol Hill, Neal served as the mayor of Springfield from 1984 to 1988.

Admission is free and open to the public, and questions from the audience will be encouraged.

NORTHAMPTON — Amy Royal, owner of Royal, P.C., has been selected as a Super Lawyer for 2019. Providing legal representation in Massachusetts for a variety of different issues, Royal was also selected to Super Lawyers in 2014, 2015, and 2016.

Super Lawyers is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The selection process includes independent research, peer nominations, and peer evaluations.

Royal represents employers with employment and labor issues. Additional legal issues represented include employment litigation: defense, cannabis law, and alternative dispute resolution.

CHICOPEE — In honor of National Disability Awareness Month in October, Gina Kos, executive director of Sunshine Village, invites the community to attend several events in partnership with local organizations throughout the month. In the spirit of inclusivity and acceptance of differences, these events will bring awareness and celebrate the unique abilities and creativity of the people served by Sunshine Village.

To kick off the month, Sunshine Village will host “Collections: An Art Reception Featuring Artists With Distinct Abilities” on Thursday, Oct. 17 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at Chicopee Public Library, 449 Front St., Chicopee. Artists will be available to discuss their artwork, and light refreshments will be available. In addition, art will be on display in the community room of the library throughout the month of October.

On Tuesday, Oct. 22 from 10:30 a.m. to noon, Sunshine Village will team up with Ohana School of Performing Arts for a showcase dance performance at the Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee, 580 Meadow St., Chicopee. Through a partial grant from Health New England, Sunshine Village brings Ohana instructors into its programs to share the joy and wellness benefits of dance. Light refreshments will be available.

Sunshine Village provides innovative day services for people with developmental disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum. The organization serves nearly 600 individuals with 280 employees at sites in Agawam, Chicopee, Springfield, and Three Rivers.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — In celebration of its 30th anniversary, Lexington Group will host an Aeron chair hockey tournament on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at its showroom located at 380 Union St., West Springfield.

For this first-of-its-kind event in New England, Lexington Group has invited players, and their administrative staff, from elite area hockey teams — American International College and UMass Amherst — to battle it out in a friendly competition on the ‘ice.’ The winning team from the first round will play against members of the Springfield Thunderbirds. The tournament will be incorporated into an After 5 networking event, with about 300 business and community professionals expected to attend. West Springfield Mayor William Reichelt will serve as referee of the tournament. Pat Kelley of Lazer 99.3 will emcee and provide entertainment. Complimentary refreshments will be provided by Log Rolling.

The event will help raise funds and awareness for the Foundation for TJO Animals. Founded in 2007, the Foundation for TJO Animals is dedicated to raising much-needed funds to help the local, homeless animals at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, which serves the cities of Springfield, Holyoke, and Chicopee. With a focus on providing financial assistance and grants for veterinary care, the foundation has had a direct impact on saving the lives of animals at the shelter.

“We hope you will join us as a spectator or as a sponsor to ensure that we raise much-needed funds for Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center,” said Mark Proshan, president of Lexington Group.

Admission to the event is complimentary, but registration is required and can be made at lexington-aeronhockey.eventbrite.com. Donations to the Foundation for TJO Animals are appreciated and can be made in advance directly through the foundation’s website, www.tjofoundation.org, or may be made at the event.

The event is currently sponsored by MP CPAs, St. Germaine Investments, Sitterly Movers, and Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel (cup sponsors); bankESB, Behavioral Health Network, Complete Payroll Solutions, Dietz & Co. Architects, Fire Service Group, HUB International New England, Massachusetts Fire Technologies, Mercier Carpet, Morgan Stanley Wealth Management, and New England Promotional Marketing (chair sponsors); AIS, Baystate Ob/Gyn, Contract Sources, Excel Dryer, Lexington Group, KI, Paragus IT, People’s United Bank, the Republican, and Westfield Bank (rink sponsors); Go Graphix and Herman Miller (goods sponsors), and BusinessWest, ERC5, and West of the River Chamber of Commerce (event partners).