Agenda

Halloween Mall-O-Ween

Oct. 30: Families and children of all ages are invited to Holyoke Mall’s annual Halloween Mall-O-Ween trick-or-treating event from 4 to 6 p.m. Participating mall retailers will be handing out candy throughout the center, making it an ideal destination for little ghouls and goblins to safely enjoy trick-or-treating. Attendees can also participate in a Social Media Costume Contest. Simply snap a photo while trick-or-treating at the mall, post it on Facebook and/or Instagram, follow and tag the mall @HolyokeMall, and use the hashtag #HolyokeMallHalloween2025. Contestants must be at least 18 years old. Winners will be announced on Nov. 3 and awarded prizes.

yWrite Conference

Nov. 1: The yWrite Podcast will host the 2025 yWrite Conference from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Agawam Senior Center, 954 Main St., Agawam. The theme of this year’s conference is “yWrite Your Story Your Way!” Open to beginner as well as experienced writers, this in-person, all-day conference will offer guidance on a variety of topics, from memoir writing to legacy letters. Workshops include “The Jazz of Contrapuntal Poetry,” “Finding Character Voices from Your Life,” “Getting an Audience & Building Buzz,” “Writing Nonfiction,” and “Successful Query Letters.” Lunch with the keynote speaker, veteran Western Mass. journalist G. Michael Dobbs, is included in the registration fee of $79. Register at www.y-write.com or at www.eventbrite.com. Save $10 with promo code WMASS413.

Friendsgiving Fundraiser

Nov. 3: The Iron Horse Music Hall will turn up the volume on community with the Friendship Band Friendsgiving Fundraiser, a music-fueled party with a purpose. Two local favorites, the Friendship Band and Soul Magnets, will take the stage to raise support for the performing arts at Whole Children and Milestones, programs of ServiceNet, where people with disabilities take center stage. The Friendship Band unites musicians with and without disabilities in a shared celebration of music’s power to connect. Over the past 10 years, it has built a loyal following with its mix of originals and covers, memorable collaborations with Yo La Tengo, and standout sets at Transformance at Look Park. Joining them is Valley funk powerhouse Soul Magnets. With a horn-heavy, nine-piece lineup and a setlist that slides from funk classics to neo-soul originals, the band has fired up crowds from the Green River Festival to the Drake and Millpond Live. Doors open at 6 p.m., and the show begins at 7 p.m. Tickets start at $30, including fees. Both seated and standing options are available (first come, first served). Accessible seating is available at (413) 200-0425 or [email protected]. Visit ironhorse.org to purchase tickets.

Next Gen Summit

Nov. 5: Six-Point Strategy announced the launch of its first Next Gen Summit, a one-day retreat designed for emerging leaders in family businesses. The event will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Venture Way in Hadley. The summit is built around the unique challenges of succession and generational leadership. Next generation leaders have the difficult task of navigating the ‘in-between’ space, shaping the future of their companies while still carrying the weight of family legacy. Participants will gain tools, frameworks, and connections to help them lead with confidence and authenticity. The event will be facilitated by three leaders with deep expertise in family business, leadership, and strategy: Meghan Lynch, CEO of Six-Point Strategy; Ira Bryck, founder and longtime director of the UMass Amherst Family Business Center; and Joshua Hornick, director of the Hornick School for Coaching. Summit highlights include “Leadership Styles” (balancing authenticity with authority), “The Power of Being Different” (why differentiation matters more than excellence), “Family-ness in Business” (using family culture as a superpower), and “Peer Learning” (shared conversations on succession and influence). The program is designed to be intimate and highly interactive, ensuring every participant has a voice. Space is limited, and early bird registration is open through Oct. 3 at a discounted rate of $395. Standard tickets are $495. For more information or to register, visit sixpointstrategy.com/nextgensummit.

The Clutter Doctor Inc. 25th Anniversary Event

Nov. 5: Carleen Eve Fischer Hoffman, founder of the Clutter Doctor Inc., a company that offers hands-on organizing services, announced a 25th anniversary celebration for the business, to be held from 4 to 7 p.m. at Next Level Cowork, 11 Herbert P. Almgren Dr., Agawam. The event will include light fare, refreshments, and 25th anniversary award presentations. RSVP to [email protected]. Hoffman is known for bringing humor, heart, and deep expertise to the often overwhelming topic of clutter. She has helped hundreds of clients go from chaos to calm by helping them clear physical and emotional space. Her childhood passion for organizing led to the creation of the Clutter Doctor Inc., an East Longmeadow-based business that has given her the opportunity to help clients get motivated to tackle clutter, understand the emotional side of ‘stuff,’ and learn how organization supports mental well-being. The Clutter Doctor was one of the first businesses of its kind in Western Mass.

Food Fest West

Nov. 13: The West of the River Chamber of Commerce announced the return of Food Fest West, a community culinary celebration, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at Crestview Country Club in Agawam. This event showcases the region’s eateries, offering guests the opportunity to sample a wide variety of delicious dishes and vote for their favorite restaurant of the night. From savory bites to sweet treats, attendees will experience the best of Western Mass. cuisine, all under one roof. In addition to food, guests will enjoy a fun-filled evening featuring a silent auction, raffles, photo booth, and cash bar. It’s an ideal way to connect with friends, colleagues, and community members while supporting local businesses and restaurants. Tickets are available through the West of the River Chamber of Commerce. For tickets, restaurant participation, or sponsorship opportunities, visit www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

Women of Impact

Dec. 9: BusinessWest will celebrate its eighth annual Women of Impact cohort at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow. Tickets cost $95 per person, and tables of 10 are available. To purchase tickets, visit www.businesswest.com/eventcalendar/womenof-impact-2025. The class of 2025, featured in this issue and at businesswest.com, includes Tara Brewster, vice president of Business Development and Director of Philanthropy at Greenfield Savings Bank; Tracy Friedenberg, executive director of Bacon Wilson, P.C.; Chelsea Kline, executive director of Cancer Connection; Ayanna Crawford, president of AC Consulting and Media Services; Rania Kfuri, vice president for Philanthropy, Sales, and Marketing at Glenmeadow; Angelina Ramirez, CEO of Stavros Center for Independent Living; Amanda Sanderson, executive director of Resilience Center of Franklin County; and Sarah Rose Stack, lecturer of Public Relations at UMass Amherst. The presenting sponsors are Country Bank and TommyCar Auto Group, and the partner sponsor is Bacon Wilson, P.C.