Agenda

Annual Age of Excellence Award Nominations

Through June 15: Do you know someone who is redefining what it means to be over 60? Building on the success of the inaugural awards in 2024, Glenmeadow announced the opening of nominations for the Age of Excellence Awards: Celebrating Success over 60. This event honors older adults in the local community who embody the vigor, purpose, and contributions that come with age and experience. Nominations are now open for individuals who have made a significant impact in their communities after age 60. Whether pursuing new professional endeavors, serving their communities, or showing extraordinary perseverance and excellence in other areas of life, these individuals deserve to be celebrated. Nominations may be submitted online at glenmeadow.org. Hard copies of the nomination form are available at the concierge desk at Glenmeadow, or a PDF may be downloaded from the event page and sent to Age of Excellence Awards, 24 Tabor Crossing, Longmeadow, MA 01106. A panel of community leaders will select the honorees, who will be recognized at the Age of Excellence Awards ceremony on Wednesday, Sept. 3 at Springfield Country Club. This inspiring event will bring together honorees, their families, friends, and supporters to recognize their achievements. Tickets are available for purchase at weblink.donorperfect.com/ageofexcellence.

U.S. Foreign Policy Discussion

April 29: The World Affairs Council will present Kavita Khory, Ruth Lawson professor of Politics and Carol Hoffmann Collins director of the McCulloch Center for Global Initiatives at Mount Holyoke College, who will address “Emerging Powers and US Foreign Policy: Implications for Global Governance” at an Instant Issues brown-bag discussion at noon in the ninth-floor gallery of 1350 Main St. in downtown Springfield. A longtime member and friend of the council, Khory teaches courses at Mount Holyoke on comparative and international politics, South Asia, and migration. She has written on topics covering South Asian politics, foreign policy, and diaspora politics. The cost is $5 for World Affairs Council members and $10 for non-members. High-school and undergraduate students can attend for free. To register online with a credit card, visit wacwestma.org, or call the World Affairs Council at (413) 733-0110.

Pioneer Valley Conference for Women

May 1: The fourth annual Pioneer Valley Conference for Women will be held in person from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Sheraton Springfield Monarch Place Hotel. Sponsors include Liberty Bank, Westfield Savings Bank, M&T Bank, and YMCA of Western Massachusetts. Xiomara Albán DeLobato will serve as emcee for the conference. As vice president and chief of staff for the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council, she works to facilitate growth and development of the region’s economy. She is also an active member of numerous boards, including Girls Inc. of the Valley, Veritas Prep Charter School in Springfield, and others. Keynote speakers are Krystal Say, co-founder of the Hyouman Experience and owner of SWEAT Power Yoga, and Dr. Jacqueline Johnson, who serves as chief Facilities Expansion and Sustainability officer at Caring Health Center and is also a faculty member at Bay Path University, teaching both undergraduate and graduate courses. In addition, attendees will have the opportunity to hear from 30 local experts on 10 panels throughout the morning and afternoon. Visit sheslocal.org/pioneer-valley-conference-for-women to see the different panel topics available, and for more information about the conference.

Eat, Drink, & Be Holyoke

May 1: The Holyoke Rotary Club announced that Eat, Drink, & Be Holyoke, its premier tasting fundraiser and silent auction, will take place at 5:30 p.m. at the Holyoke Council on Aging & Senior Center and will include live music performed by the Earls & Pearls. The event will feature food prepared by Amedeo’s, Fame, Pic’s Pub, Rusty’s Place, and Sumo. Beverage tastings will be provided by Quality Beverage and Wine Haus. Tasting samples will include craft beer, seltzers, canned cocktails, and wine. Tickets cost $50 and can be purchased by visiting edbh2025.eventbrite.com. Proceeds will go toward supporting Rotary projects, mostly within the Holyoke Rotary district of Holyoke, South Hadley, and Granby. Ongoing Holyoke Rotary projects include providing several annual scholarships, providing food for those in need through community collaborations, and fostering community engagement with free summer concerts, as well as funding international clean-water initiatives.

Feast in the East

April 29: The ERC5 announced that Feast in the East 2025 will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Starting Gate at Great Horse, 128 Wilbraham Road, Hampden. This event will bring together more than 40 local vendors, including restaurateurs, confectioners, breweries, and wineries, creating an atmosphere for networking and community engagement. Attendees can indulge in diverse culinary experiences while enjoying the view overlooking the Pioneer Valley. PeoplesBank is the premier sponsor for this event, and Square One is the spotlighted nonprofit organization for this year’s Feast in the East. In an effort to be more impactful and mindful, event organizers have also welcomed back Rachel’s Table, which will ensure that food not served during the event will be collected and distributed to local organizations and shelters. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, visit www.erc5.com.

Elms College Experiential Learning Showcase

May 2: Elms College students will showcase their real-world experiences gained through internships, research, service work, and travel opportunities at the annual Experiential Learning Showcase from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. This program is open to all, with no need to register. At Elms College, 95% of students participate in internships, research, and service opportunities through the Dolores Donlin Noonan ’39 Experiential Learning Program. Students have explored opportunities with many local organizations, including Way Finders, Polish Discovery Center, Holyoke Soldiers Home, Springfield Thunderbirds, Hampden County’s Sheriff’s Office, Care Center, and the office of state Rep. Shirley Arriaga.

Link to Libraries Gala

May 8: Link to Libraries announce its biennial gala, an evening that celebrates the organization’s transformative impact in the community while raising vital funds to ensure children have access to the books and programming they deserve. This year’s gala, taking place at the Basketball Hall of Fame, will feature a Swifty-themed evening inspired by Taylor Swift’s celebrated Eras Tour. Guests will enjoy an elegant night filled with cocktails, dinner, an auction, and the opportunity to connect with others passionate about the power of reading to transform lives. All proceeds from the gala go directly to Link to Libraries, a nonprofit committed to fostering literacy by providing books and programming for children in underserved communities. Tickets cost $90 per person, or $250 for VIP tickets that include a pre-gala VIP cocktail reception. Tickets are available at www.linktolibraries.org.

‘The Journey’

May 10: Graduate Women in Business, in collaboration with the UMass Fine Arts Center, will present “The Journey,” a charity gala at the UMass Campus Center Auditorium that celebrates the talent, transitions, and triumphs of women. The evening will be filled with music, dance, an auction benefiting Girls Inc. of the Valley and the Care Center in Holyoke, and thought-provoking panel discussions with influential women who have made significant impacts in their fields, as well as a motivating, empowering keynote address. Sponsorship opportunities are available. For details, contact Melisha Williams at [email protected] or [email protected].

Coffee & Connections

May 16: The Chamber of Greater Easthampton will hold its second Coffee & Connections of the year from 8 to 9 a.m. at its WorkHub on Union co-working space at 33 Union St., Easthampton. Registration is complimentary and open to all business, organizational, and community leaders; however, registration is required due to limited registrations available. For more information or to register, visit the chamber’s events calendar at www.easthamptonchamber.org or email [email protected].

Shred Days

May 17, 31: bankESB invites customers and members of the community to two free Shred Days at local offices. No appointment is necessary. Events will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. (or until the truck is full) on the following dates and at the following locations: May 17 at the 770 Main St., Agawam office (in partnership with the Parish Cupboard, which will be collecting food donations), and May 31 at the 241 Northampton St., Easthampton office (two trucks will be at this event). Local residents can reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old mail, receipts, statements or bills, canceled checks, pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted paper documents containing personal or confidential information and shredding them safely and securely for free. A professional document-destruction company will be on site in the bank’s parking lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents per person.

Hooplandia 2025

June 20-22: Registration is now open for Hooplandia, the third annual 3-on-3 basketball tourney and festival, at hooplandia.com. The event will take place at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. Games will be played at the ESE complex, with special games held at the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2024, 75 basketball courts allowed accommodation for more than 650 games played by approximately 2,100 participants of all ages. Diverse divisions include young girls and boys, women, men, high-school ages, college level, OGs, veterans, and more. Fees range according to age. Players in the Special Olympics and Unified division can look forward to free registration, and those in the Hoops & Heroes division, such as active and retired first responders and military personnel, have access to discounted registration. Players are invited to build teams of four, create their own unique team name, design their uniforms, and register at hooplandia.com.