Daily News

BOSTON — Holyoke Community College (HCC) President Christina Royal is among the Massachusetts women featured in a photo exhibition and story project in the State House unveiled last month by Senate President Karen Spilka.

The photo exhibition on display in the Senate president’s office suite celebrates the often-unsung stories of women of color throughout Massachusetts’ history. “HERstory: Volume II” is the second installment of photos in the president’s suite to acknowledge the accomplishments of women with connections to Massachusetts.

“Every day I go to work in the State House, I am surrounded by paintings and photos of prominent men from Massachusetts’ history,” said Spilka, the third woman elected president of the Massachusetts State Senate. “The stories of the many, many incredible women who have contributed to this great Commonwealth — and our great nation — have too often been lost to history. It is therefore my great honor and privilege to help to tell their stories, and to make the faces that we see in the State House more representative of the rich diversity that make our state great.”

The exhibition features the photos of 91 women, ranging from 17th-century tribal leader Weetamoo and black landowner Zipporah Potter Atkins to living pioneers Justice Fernande Duffly, the first Asian-American to serve on the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court; Oscar-winning costume designer Ruth Carter; and poet Amanda Gordon.

In 2017, Royal became HCC’s fourth president and the first woman to hold the position.

“I want to thank Senate President Spilka for creating the HERstory initiative,” Royal said. “This is a time for us to recognize that the lived experiences of women in the Commonwealth matter, and that we are a diverse group of women of different races, ethnicities, social classes, abilities, educational levels, gender expressions, and sexual orientations. I am proud to share my story as a multi-racial, queer woman so that girls and young women can see representation of themselves in society, and grow up believing in their limitless potential.”

Since the State House is currently closed to the public, a website containing photos and short biographies of each of the honorees can be found at malegislature.gov/statehouse/herstory.

Daily News

BOSTON — On Feb. 26, Michael Weekes of Longmeadow was celebrated as a 2021 Black Excellence on the Hill honoree at a virtual ceremony hosted by the Massachusetts Black & Latino Legislative Caucus (MBLLC) in celebration of Black History Month. Weekes, who serves as president and CEO of the Providers’ Council, was nominated by state Sen. Eric Lesser as a black leader, trailblazer, and changemaker who contributes to his local community.

When he appeared on Lesser’s Lunchtime Livestream in late May, Weekes spoke about how human service and direct care provide a safety net for communities and also shared stories of challenges that workers face to provide adequate care, especially during the pandemic.

“I extend my warmest congratulations to my friend, Michael, on this well-deserved award,” Lesser said. “Michael’s care and leadership for the community over the years has been consistent and unwavering, advocating for some of the most vulnerable children in the Commonwealth in his many years with the Department of Children and Families, and now his continued work as a voice for human-service and direct-care workers. I am grateful to the MBLLC for hosting this virtual event and for highlighting black leaders and trailblazers across the Commonwealth.”

As president and CEO, Weekes is responsible for the overall management of the Providers’ Council and its related foundation, the Human Services Providers Charitable Foundation Inc. His continued work with the Providers Council allows him to promote the wider community of families and individuals impacted by human services that support and improve the quality of life for so many across the Commonwealth.

“On behalf of the women and men providing human services in over 185,000 jobs in the state, I accept this award as a testament to their essential value,” Weekes said. “I am humbled as a recipient of this award from the Massachusetts Black and Latino Legislative Caucus and very appreciative of Sen. Eric Lesser, who is a champion of human services here and throughout the state, for recognizing the role the Providers’ Council plays in building stronger communities.”

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — The Deck at Union Station has opened 10 outdoor heated dining igloos. These state-of-the-art facilities comfortably have a seating capacity of four to six people. All COVID-19 guidelines from the CDC are stringently followed by all restaurant staff on the premises, and all units are thoroughly sanitized prior to and following every dining reservation.

Since assuming the position of general manager in 2013, co-owner Jeremiah Micka and his team have transformed the Union Station banquet and dining complex in Northampton into a popular hospitality destination, featuring the Roosevelt Room, the Tunnel Bar, the Platform Sports Bar, Union Station Northampton Catering, and the Deck outdoor restaurant and bar.

Like many other seasonal outdoor dining venues, the Deck is typically open during the spring, summer, and fall months. But following a massive exterior expansion to the Deck early last year and record-breaking attendance throughout the 2020 season, Micka wanted to do something special for his patrons.

“We continually strive to offer our customers the best outdoor dining experience in New England, and they’ve proven their loyalty,” he said. “It was a lot of work last year, but even with these challenging times, we had the best season at the Deck in the venue’s history. So I wanted to give our patrons something back. We officially opened the igloos last weekend and were sold out for dining reservations. Due to this success, I plan on continuing this tradition for many years to come.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University will host high-school students and their parents in a virtual open house that will be streamed live on Saturday, March 6 from 10:00 a.m. to noon. The event is free, but advance reservation is required by visiting visit.wne.edu or calling the Admissions Office at (413) 782-1312.

Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions Michelle Goodfellow will lead guests on a live, virtual tour of the campus; introduce them to the university’s new President, Robert Johnson; and show them what life is like as a Golden Bear. Along the way, prospective students and their families will interact with current students, learn about how the university has been able to safety welcome our students back to campus, win prizes, and learn about academic opportunities within the colleges of Arts and Sciences, Business, and Engineering. Also featured will be the new 4U University Advising Program and options for academic support, admissions and financial aid, living on campus and commuting, student activities, athletics, and more.

“I am so excited to have a chance to meet our prospective students at this event,” Goodfellow said. “Even though we are not able to have large numbers of students on campus, I am confident that those that attend virtually will get a true sense of the Golden Bear spirit that exists on our campus.”

To wrap up the event, Goodfellow will host a live panel, where guests will be able to ask questions directly to current Western New England students.