SOUTHAMPTON — Glendale Ridge Vineyard at 155 Glendale Road, Southampton, is again hosting Sunset & Vines, an annual fundraising event for the Northampton Survival Center, on Saturday, July 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This family-friendly benefit features music by Kate Lorenz and the Constellations, and local comedian Kelsey Flynn will serve as master of ceremonies. Food trucks will include the Bistro Bus, Local Burgy, Little Truc, and Chill Out.

Proceeds from ticket sales — $15 in advance at 2019sunsetandvines.brownpapertickets.com or $20 at the door — go directly toward purchasing food for clients who visit the Survival Center. Children 12 and under are free.

Attendees are invited to enjoy a mini-Tanglewood experience by bringing a blanket or chairs and a picnic if they choose. The rain date is Sunday, July 28 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Established in 1979 and celebrating its 40th anniversary this year, the Northampton Survival Center is dedicated to improving quality of life for low-income individuals and families throughout Hampshire County by providing a stable and reliable source of free, nutritious food all year long. With pantries in Northampton and Goshen, the center is open every weekday, each day distributing more than 3,000 pounds of food to between 90 and 100 of its neighbors in need. The center serves 4,100 clients over the course of the year, a third of whom are children.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall marks its 40th anniversary today, July 5. Since opening in 1979, Holyoke Mall has established itself as the largest shopping destination in Western Mass., currently offering more than 150 dining, entertainment, and retail destinations. 

Throughout the last 40 years, Pyramid Management Group has continued to adapt, evolve, and thrive in an ever-changing market. In 1995, the shopping center expanded, adding an additional 500,000 square feet, and welcomed big-box tenants such as Best Buy and Target. Traditionally located in free-standing or strip-mall locations, the addition of these anchor tenants began an industry-wide trend.

Over the years, Holyoke Mall has welcomed Massachusetts’ first Hobby Lobby, and the Xfinity Store, Toys R Us, and Christmas Tree Shops’ first in-mall locations. The center also continues to attract and expand its dining and entertainment options, most recently adding 110 Grill, Flight Fit N Fun, Round1 Bowling & Amusement, and Sumo Japanese Steakhouse.

“We are happy to grow and change with our shoppers. Forty years is a testament of our success and dedication to providing the highest quality and in-demand dining, entertainment, and retail venues,” said General Manager, Bill Rogalski. “We have more to come and are excited for our next 40 years.” 

Other stores celebrating 40 years at Holyoke Mall include American Eagle, Foot Locker, Gap, GNC, JCPenney, Kay Jewelers, Motherhood Maternity, and the Greek Place.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced a partnership with the Veteran Entrepreneurial Training and Resource Network (VETRN) to establish a pilot training program for military veterans who are small-business owners and their immediate family members.

The program will equip these entrepreneurs with the resources and networks necessary to grow their small businesses.  An award of $100,000 from President Trump’s salary from the second quarter of fiscal year 2018 will fund the program.

Starting in September, this 26-week program based in Portsmouth, N.H. will feature 13 weeks of Saturday-morning classroom sessions with 12 to 20 participants, as well as 13 weeks of peer-to-peer mentoring sessions. The course curriculum will include strategic planning, financial management, cash-flow forecasting, marketing the small business, sales methods, human resources, developing a growth plan, access to capital, legal issues, and government contracting.

“While programs exist that help veterans start their small business, there is a critical need for programs that assist existing business owners with growing their business,” said SBA acting Administrator Chris Pilkerton. “Adding VETRN to the SBA resource network will enable us to fill this gap and empower veterans with the training, mentorship, tools, and network they need to achieve their long-term goals.”

Applicants must be a current business owner with at least one year of operation and one employee (not including the owner), and annual revenues of $75,000 or more.  Also required is the passion, dedication, and commitment to grow the small business.

Veteran business owners interested in finding out more information or applying for the September 2019 program can visit vetrn.org to complete an application, or e-mail [email protected].

MARLBOROUGH — Ronald McLean, president and CEO of the Cooperative Credit Union Assoc. Inc. (CCUA), on behalf of Massachusetts credit unions, along with members of the Massachusetts Credit Unions Social Responsibility Committee, presented a check for $202,725 to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless at the third Annual Stephen D. Jones Credit Union Charity Golf Tournament in support of the “A Bed for Every Child” campaign. 

“The idea of so many children throughout Massachusetts not having their own bed is undreamed-of,” said McLean. “Massachusetts credit unions have banded together to ensure every child has a place to dream. We believe in the good work that the coalition accomplishes and are happy to do our part in helping children get a good night’s sleep to prepare them for a better future.”

Massachusetts credit unions have supported the coalition for more than two decades, surpassing more than $2 million in donations and providing blankets, toys, and books to help families in need. In 2018, Massachusetts credit unions raised $202,725 through efforts including the Stephen D. Jones Charity Golf Tournament and a variety of credit-union-driven initiatives. The need for “A Bed for Every Child” reaches all cities and towns in Massachusetts.

“A Bed for Every Child” began when a concerned inner-city public-school teacher reached out to the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless. At the time, the teacher was seeing an increase in the number of students who did not have a bed of their own. As a result, these students were coming to school tired and not ready to learn.

According to Robyn Frost, executive director of the Massachusetts Coalition for the Homeless, “there is no one face to a child receiving a bed, but they do have one thing in common, and that is, they are growing up in poverty in Massachusetts. The ability for ‘A Bed for Every Child’ to keep up with the demand continues to outpace the coalition’s capacity. We are extremely fortunate to have the Massachusetts credit unions as our partner.”

SPRINGFIELD — In the spring of 2017, BusinessWest and its sister publication, HCN, created a new and exciting recognition program called Healthcare Heroes.

It was launched with the theory that there are heroes working all across this region’s wide, deep, and all-important healthcare sector, and that there was no shortage of fascinating stories to tell and individuals and groups to honor. Two years later, that theory has been validated, and stories that needed to be told have been told.

But there are hundreds, perhaps thousands of heroes who stories we still need to tell. And that’s where you come in.

Nominations for the class of 2019 are due July 12, and we encourage you to get involved and help recognize someone you consider to be a hero in the community we call Western Mass. in one (or more) of these seven categories: Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider, Health/Wellness Administrator/Administration, Emerging Leader, Community Health, Innovation in Health/Wellness, Collaboration in Health/Wellness, and Lifetime Achievement.

Event sponsors include presenting sponsor American International College, partnering sponsors Development Associates and Comcast Business, and supporting sponsor Elms College. To nominate a Healthcare Hero, click here.

SPRINGFIELD — Last Thursday, commissioners representing their respective Hampden and Hampshire county communities had the opportunity to decide who will take the helm of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission as current Executive Director Tim Brennan prepares to bring his more than four decades of service in that role to a close this summer.

Those present selected Kimberly Robinson, who since 2011 has been executive director of the Truckee Meadows Regional Planning Agency, which serves three counties anchored by Metro Reno, Nevada. Previous posts held by Robinson also include head planner for the city of Detroit and planning manager for the Washoe County Department of Community Development.

“I am thrilled and humbled to have been selected by the commission to lead the next chapter in its long history of improving Pioneer Valley residents’ quality of life,” said Robinson. “While Tim Brennan leaves big shoes to fill, I’m grateful that he also leaves the agency with a great reputation and on solid financial and operational footing. I cannot wait to roll up my sleeves and build on the partnerships the agency has cultivated with its 43 member communities to help them succeed, from basic government service delivery to big-picture regional visioning.”

Pending a successful contract negotiation, Robinson and Brennan will work together to identify a time over the next few months for the transition to occur.

“After an extraordinarily rewarding career working with the PVPC’s 43 member communities plus countless numbers of colleagues, partners, and friends, I am now looking forward to welcoming Kim Robinson as our agency’s new leader later this fall,” Brennan said. “Kim undeniably brings an impressive résumé of skills and experiences to this job but, more importantly, a level of personal commitment and energy that I’m confident will serve the Pioneer Valley region and its people extremely well as the Planning Commission continues to tackle the problems and opportunities that will define our region’s future.”

David Starr, the long-time publisher and then president of the Republican, died this week at age 96.

He will long be remembered for his many accomplishments and innovations in journalism — and in the revitalization of Springfield, the city he came to in the late ’70s, at a time when it was already in deep decline.

His passing helps serve as a poignant reminder of the power and importance of the press at a time when the industry is struggling and some worry about its very survival.

Indeed, Starr, while leading efforts to revitalize Springfield through the arts and culture, made the media, and specifically the Republican, a partner in those efforts.

Some criticized him for crossing over some imaginary line between reporting news and participating in the news, but Springfield, and this region as a whole, should be very glad he did cross it.

“Urban revitalization hinges on a true working partnership among elected officials (mayor, city councilors), private business people … and the media,” Starr wrote in a letter to S.I. Newhouse Sr., owner of the chain of newspapers to which the Republican belonged. “Newspapers have the power to nurture or destroy this kind of effort. If a paper can be persuaded to help, then the prospect of success is enormously brighter.

“Many editors are uncomfortable with the thought of participation,” he continued in the same letter. “They do not want to be — and they certainly should not be — mere promoters. But it’s my thesis that once an editor has examined the problem and decided that the proposed solution is a good one, then he does not lose his editorial prerogative by joining the effort.”

Starr wasn’t a promoter, but he certainly joined the effort. And not only did he join it — in many cases he led it; he was one of the founders of Springfield Business Friends of the Arts, and also the Community Foundation of Western Mass. and the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., and active with a number of organizations related to the arts.

He was a do-gooder, but he did a lot more than that. He inspired others to also join the effort, and by the time of his death, he could rightly be proud of the many ways in which Springfield has changed for the better.

FLORENCE — Florence Bank accepted three of the four potential awards for banking excellence in Western Mass. and took part in a panel discussion at the Bank Best Expo! at MGM Springfield on June 28.

As part of the 2019 Banking Choice Awards review by 278,359 independent consumers in a double-blind scientific study, Florence Bank came out on top in Western Mass. in almost every category.

At the expo, Monica Curhan, the bank’s senior vice president and Marketing director, accepted two first-place awards, for customer service and overall quality, and a second-place honor for excellence in technology and tools.

Curhan also sat on a panel of bankers whose institutions consistently rank at the top in independent consumer surveys to discuss best industry practices. She was joined by Stephen Lewis, president of Thomaston Savings Bank and chairman of the Connecticut Bankers Assoc.; Todd Tallman, president and treasurer of Cornerstone Bank in Massachusetts; and Mark Bodin, president of Savings Bank of Walpole in New Hampshire.

“Every decision we make is with the customer in mind, so it’s nice to know our efforts are resonating with our customers,” Curhan said.

The Banking Choice Awards recognize banks that receive the highest ratings from their own customers in four categories: customer service, technology, community contribution, and overall quality. 

The rankings are based upon the Banking Benchmarks, the industry’s gold standard of customer-experience measurement, conducted twice per year among hundreds of thousands of households and businesses to get unbiased opinions of the institutions with whom they bank. The Banking Choice Awards honored the top three institutions in each category from each region in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

In addition to presenting the awardees, the expo also gives attendees the opportunity to network with peers, discover solutions from leaders in the banking community, and learn about the latest products and services in the industry.

AMHERST — The development and fundraising consulting firm Financial Development Agency Inc. (FDA) announced that Sarah Tanner is re-joining FDA as a full partner and one of three principals. Ms. Tanner had worked for FDA for several years prior to becoming director of Development at Friends of the Homeless and Clinical and Support Options.

With more than 20 years of resource-development experience, Tanner has helped a broad range of nonprofits within and beyond Western Mass. to succeed in meeting their fundraising and communications goals and objectives.

“We are very excited to have Sarah back on board as a principal and partner,” said FDA’s Matt Blumenfeld. “Her wealth of experience, familiarity with FDA’s mission and practice, and passion for excellence will serve our nonprofit client base effectively and well, and we look forward to many fruitful years of working together.”

Tanner started her career at the Mile High United Way in Colorado, serving as a marketing manager for information and referral services. She continued in the United Way system, serving in leadership positions with United Ways of New York City, Hampshire County, and the Pioneer Valley. After her tenure as senior vice president of Strategic Communications and Resource Development at the United Way of Pioneer Valley, she worked as a senior program manager at FDA, where she ran several successful capital campaigns as well as providing a variety of consulting services to more than a dozen FDA clients.

In addition to her work in resource development, Tanner serves on the faculty of the graduate programs in nonprofit management and philanthropy at Bay Path University and serves as president of the Western Mass. chapter of Assoc. of Fundraising Professionals. At FDA, she will manage training and coaching programs, as well as executive-search and interim-development services.

Tanner received her master of public administration degree in the Graduate School of Public Affairs at the University of Colorado. She earned her bachelor’s degree from the School of Public Health at UMass Amherst. She is a graduate of the Human Service Forum’s Emerging Leaders Institute, as well as an inaugural graduate of the Leadership Pioneer Valley class of 2012. She was also named to BusinessWest’s inaugural 40 Under Forty class of 2007.

SPRINGFIELD — On June 20, the Horace Smith Fund held its 120th corporators’ meeting at the Carriage House of Storrowton Tavern in West Springfield. Present at the annual meeting were the corporators who unanimously voted to elect Thomas Senecal, president of PeoplesBank, as a new Corporator.

Senecal has more than 25 years of experience in the financial-services industry. In 2016, he was elected president and CEO of PeoplesBank, previously serving as the bank’s executive vice president and chief operating officer. He is a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst and is a certified public accountant. He also attended the Tuck Executive Program at Dartmouth College. In addition to his new appointment with the Horace Smith Fund, Senecal also serves as a corporator for Loomis Communities.

Following the annual meeting, the Horace Smith Fund awarded $411,000 in scholarships and fellowships to students who will be pursuing undergraduate and graduate degrees this fall.

SPRINGFIELD — Saying he is “bullish” on downtown Springfield, Gov. Charlie Baker was among a group of local and state officials who gathered to ceremonially break ground Monday on a $38 million restoration of the Paramount Theater and Massasoit House Hotel.

The project will transform the Paramount, which opened 90 years ago as a vaudeville theater, into a performing-arts center, while the adjoining Massasoit building will become an 85-room boutique hotel. The property was purchased in 2011 by the New England Farm Workers Council. The 85-room hotel is expected to be completed by December 2020, with the theater expected to finish a year after that.

Main Street Hospitality — whose properties include the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge, Hotel on North in Pittsfield, and the Porches Inn at MASS MoCA in North Adams — will manage the new Massasoit House Hotel. Main Street CEO Sarah Eustis has been looking to enter the Springfield market for a few years.

Project funding involves roughly $20 million from state and federal historic tax credits and a federal opportunity-zone tax credit. The project will also reap $3.8 million in HUD Section 108 loan funds through the city and the federal government, a $2 million state grant, and private funding.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University’s bachelor of arts (BA) in leadership and organizational studies (LOS) has been named among the top 20 online programs in the country, as ranked by thebestschools.org.

According to the site, bachelor-degree programs in leadership and organizational studies were ranked based on several categories, including academic excellence, strength of faculty scholarship, reputation, range of degree programs, and strength of online-instruction methodology. Bay Path’s program, offered by its American Women’s College, was acknowledged for its accelerated degree program and its distinct Women as Empowered Learners and Leaders program. 

“The women who complete the exclusively online LOS degree have developed advanced competencies in planning, organizing, and prioritizing work,” said Jacqueline Snyder, lead LOS faculty for the American Women’s College. “Graduates of the program have critically addressed leadership and organizational topics through a diverse set of lenses: their own, their peers, societal, academia, and industry. These experiences foster leaders who can work effectively with others in different situations. An LOS graduate brings to the workplace true grit to persevere, the intellect of multiple perspectives, and the ability to adapt to the different needs of an organization.”

The BA in leadership and organizational studies at the American Women’s College offers 100% online or a combination of online and on-campus courses, with six different start dates per year. The program is offered in an accelerated version, and has the flexibility to be taken full-time or part-time. It also includes access to mentoring, tutoring, library resources, academic resources, and career services.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union announced that Ann Manchino will be managing its new West Springfield branch, following Freedom’s recent merger with West Springfield Federal Credit Union (WSFCU).

“Asking Ann to remain on board to oversee our newly opened West Springfield branch was an easy decision,” said Glenn Welch, president and CEO. “From the beginning of the merger discussions with Ann and her board, I found her to be very knowledgeable about the credit union, her staff, and their members. With over three decades of experience in the banking industry, and with her previous role as manager, she brings direct knowledge, skills, and dedication to help integrate the former members of WSFCU, and to our expanded branch network.”

Manchino manages a staff of seven and previously worked for 18 years at WSFCU, serving as its manager for six years. She has a long history of local community involvement, having volunteered with Credit for Life, St. Patrick’s Committee of West Springfield, West Springfield Park and Recreation, and the American Red Cross.

HADLEY — As the UMass Donahue Institute’s newest business group, Connected Beginnings Training Institute (CBTI) further strengthens an already robust portfolio of early-childhood training and technical-assistance services across New England by focusing on the social and emotional health of children from birth to age 8.

Research suggests that positive, supportive, enriching, and nurturing relationships with adults and other children are critical to young children’s social and emotional well-being, mental health, evolving brain architecture, and capacity to learn. Connected Beginnings Training Institute builds the capacity of infant and early-childhood practitioners to engage in nurturing relationships with families and the very young children in their care.

“We recognize the especially critical period of growth in babies and very young children, as well as the unique demands that presents on families and the practitioners that seek to support them,” said CBTI Director Mary Watson Avery. “Our goal is to build the capacity in all the disciplines serving families with very young children, so that they feel ready to support the social and emotional needs of whomever walks in their door.”

Connected Beginnings Training Institute was launched in 2006 by the United Way of Massachusetts Bay/Merrimack Valley Inc. CBTI then partnered with Wheelock College from 2011 to 2018.

The professional-development activities offered by CBTI include training, coaching, assessment, consultation, and evaluation. Each offering is designed to provide practitioners, administrators, and policy makers with the most current and evidence-based research in a wide range of disciplines contributing to the field of infant and early-childhood mental health.

The UMass Donahue Institute has established itself as a national and regional leader in early-childhood training and technical assistance with the Head Start National Center on Program Management and Fiscal Operations and the New England Head Start Training & Technical Assistance business group.

“The addition of Connected Beginnings Training Institute further expands our ability to serve the early-childhood education and care community here in Massachusetts, across the New England region, and nationally,” said Eric Heller, the UMass Donahue Institute’s interim executive director. “We are thrilled to have CBTI’s expertise and reputation join that of our distinguished Head Start training and technical programs.”

SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union (FCU), a Springfield-based, full-service financial institution with 11 branches throughout Western Mass., announced it now offers an in-house FCU Investment Services division, growing and enhancing a service it previously outsourced.

“Bringing investment services in house made sense for our members and our future growth,” said Glenn Welch, president and CEO. “We wanted to ensure we are meeting our members’ needs by helping them meet their financial goals. Each of our members has unique circumstances, and we want to provide personalized services that reflect this.”

As part of this expansion, Jack Vadnais was named director of FCU Investment Services, and Michael Johnson was hired as associate director.

“Jack has been a tremendous asset to Freedom Credit Union and will be equally valuable to our clients in his new role,” said Welch. “He brings over two decades of experience to the table and will skillfully lead FCU Investment Services into the future. Michael also offers a depth of knowledge, skills, and experience to help guide the division, as well as deep roots in Franklin County.”

As director, Vadnais will manage all aspects of the division and assist clients in achieving their financial goals. He has been working with members of Freedom for eight years as a financial advisor. A Navy veteran, he is a graduate of Bridgewater State College, a certified financial planner, and a licensed insurance agent.

“We are here to advise and educate our clients so they can make the most informed decisions concerning their investments,” said Vadnais. “I’m excited to be able to have a larger impact in helping our members set and reach their financial goals.”

In his role as associate director, Johnson will work mainly with Freedom’s clients in the Franklin County area, advising them about their investment portfolios and providing information about the credit union’s available financial services.

Prior to joining Freedom, Johnson served for nearly 15 years as vice president and financial advisor at Greenfield Cooperative Bank. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics from UMass Amherst and is a Paul Harris Fellow. A former long-time member of the Rotary Club of Franklin County, twice serving as its president, he also served as vice president of the Greenfield Community College Foundation.

“We want to help our clients see the big picture and to think long-term when it comes to their financial choices,” said Johnson. “We are available to work with all of our members who need help understanding their financial picture or developing or managing their portfolio.”

CHICOPEE — Every year, Yankee Home founder Ger Ronan takes out a full-page newspaper ad telling his personal immigrant story and thanking America for helping him become a successful business owner. This year, he is inviting staff and partners to toast the grand reopening of Yankee Home, at 36 Justin Dr., Chicopee, with a celebration on Tuesday, July 2.

“It’s not a traditional reopening since the business never closed,” Ronan said. “It’s more of a relaunch with new branding, imagery, and messaging. It’s the beginning of a new chapter in the storied history of this company.”

Ronan came to the U.S. from Ireland in 1982 with $80 in his pocket. He worked a series of jobs and worked his way up the ladder toward owning his own business. As he says in a recent TV spot, “I built Yankee Home from the ground up, but the story really starts on the roof.” In 2007, he was fleeced by a shady roofer who made off with a $2,500 deposit. This prompted him to start Yankee Home, a business devoted to honest practices with a 100% money-back guarantee.

For Tuesday’s event, Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos will be on hand for a ribbon-cutting ceremony and the unveiling of the new Yankee Home branding and imagery. Lunch will be catered by Theodore’s, followed by ice cream from Mr. Whippey. The ribbon cutting begins at noon, followed by lunch at 12:30 p.m.

HADLEY — Harbor Freight Tools will celebrate the grand opening of its new store in Hadley on Wednesday, July 10 at 8 a.m. The store, located at 303 Russell St., is the 15th Harbor Freight Tools store in Massachusetts.

“We’re excited to serve customers in the great city of Hadley,” said Steve Handscomb, store manager. “At Harbor Freight, we’re passionate about providing our customers with the tools they need to get the job done, and always at an affordable price. We look forward to welcoming auto technicians, contractors, woodworkers, homeowners, hobbyists — anyone who needs affordable tools.”

The 15,000-square-foot store will stock a full selection of tools and accessories in categories including automotive, air and power tools, storage, outdoor power equipment, generators, welding supplies, shop equipment, hand tools, and more. Harbor Freight’s hand tools come with a lifetime warranty.

The new Harbor Freight Tools store will be open seven days a week, from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

NORTHAMPTON — Karin Jeffers, president and CEO of behavioral-health agency Clinical & Support Options, announced the appointment of Geoffrey Oldmixon as the nonprofit’s associate vice president of Marketing & Development.

Previously, Oldmixon served as director of Marketing for public television station WGBY and director of Communications and Online Services for the Harold Grinspoon Foundation. He holds a master’s degree in interactive communications from Quinnipiac University, a bachelor’s degree in writing and public relations from Bridgewater State University, and a career certificate in grant writing from Fort Hays State University.

WESTFIELD — Wright-Pierce, an environmental/civil infrastructure engineering firm, has announced the opening of an office in Westfield.

“Opening the Westfield office is the next step in our strategic plan to better serve our expanding client base in Central and Western Massachusetts,” said Wright-Pierce President and CEO John Braccio. “We look forward to being an active community partner with municipalities throughout the region, helping to engineer environmentally sustainable and economically sound solutions to New England’s aging water, wastewater and civil infrastructure challenges.”

Thomas Hogan, regional group leader for Central and Western Massachusetts, will serve as office manager.

“Having spent my professional life serving clients in the Central and Western Massachusetts region, I have great appreciation for the quality of life here,” said Hogan. “Similarly, I was drawn to join Wright-Pierce in part because of the firm’s work culture and record of repeat clients; a record clearly earned by a high level of commitment to client satisfaction, as well as technical expertise.”

Prior to joining Wright-Pierce, Hogan served more than 20 years as an engineering consultant to Massachusetts municipal, institutional, industrial, commercial and energy sector clients.

Wright-Pierce is an award-winning, multi-discipline engineering firm that has been providing water, wastewater and civil infrastructure services since 1947. Employee-owned, Wright-Pierce’s more than 200 engineers and support professionals are strategically located in offices throughout New England and Florida.

HAMPDEN — Rediker Software announced that Robbin Vipond-Lauzon has been hired as the company’s new director of Finance.

She brings nearly 20 years of experience as a financial analyst and project manager with extensive experience in operations, process improvement, analysis, budgeting and forecasting. Before joining Rediker Software, Vipond-Lauzon was vice president of Finance at Healthy Living Market and Café.

In her new role, Vipond-Lauzon will be responsible for managing the company’s finances, tracking cash flow and financial planning, as well as analyzing the company’s financial strengths and weaknesses and proposing corrective actions.

Vipond-Lauzon holds a bachelor’s degree in Business & Accounting from Framingham State University and a Master’s in Finance from the Georgia State. She is also an actively licensed CPA with the state of Massachusetts.

SPRINGFIELD — The National Association of Watch and Clock Collectors (NAWCC) is staging its national convention in Western Mass – 39 years after its last New England convention.

The convention, which started Thursday, takes place at the Eastern States Exposition, and runs through Sunday.

“The convention is unique to New England because the first clock and watches were produced in New England in the 1700s,” said Alicia Szenda, GSCVB director of Sales.  “This convention is all about clocks, watches, the tools used in making and repairing them, sun dials, barometers and ephemera. Members of the group share a common interest in collecting, buying, selling, trading, repairing, restoring, and studying the science of time.”

The NAWCC Convention features products for purchase along with raffles, lectures, and contests. The group was brought to Western Mass by the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. The economic impact is estimated at $2,543,423 which includes hotel rooms, meals and other costs associated with the convention.

SPRINGFIELD — Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Chris Cignoli, director of the Springfield Department of Public Works (DPW) and Mercy Medical Center President Mark Fulco hosted an announcement Tuesday to celebrate newly operational traffic signalization at the Carew Street entrance to Mercy Medical Center.

The new intersection features a new traffic signal, turning lanes in both directions on Carew Street, as well as turning lanes off of the Mercy campus from Cass Street.

“This is another good example of my administration’s continued efforts to do public/private collaboration initiatives to enhance quality of public health and safety in our neighborhoods,” said Sarno. “This traffic light has been sorely needed for many years to give peace of mind to all the patrons of Mercy Hospital and our Carew Street neighborhood area. I am so thankful to Mercy Medical Center President Mark Fulco’s leadership and partnership, along with our city’s team of DPW Director Chris Cignoli and CAFO TJ Plante to finally, after all these years, get this done.”

The $650,000 redesign is the result of a collaboration between the city and Mercy Medical Center and was announced April of last year. The City contributed $550,000 and Mercy provided $100,000 for construction and installation. 

“Mercy Medical Center’s commitment to providing a safe environment for our patients, their families and our colleagues extends beyond the walls of our facilities,” said Fulco. “This new traffic signal is an important upgrade that safely and efficiently manages vehicle, bicycle and pedestrian traffic at this busy intersection. We are grateful to the city of Springfield and Mayor Sarno for the partnership that made this improvement possible.”

Said Cignoli, “this project was a great collaboration between the city and Mercy. The installation of a new traffic signal will significantly improve the safety of vehicles and pedestrians utilizing all of the services on Mercy’s campus, as well as slow traffic on Carew Street.”

Vanasse Hangen Brustlin Inc. of Springfield designed the intersection and Morais Concrete Service performed site work.

SPRINGFIELD — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts’ Trustees of the Order of William Pynchon have announced their selection of three local residents as recipients of this year’s Pynchon medal. Slated to receive medals at an Oct. 10 event are:

• Charles R. Casartello, Jr., an attorney at the Springfield-based firm of Pellegrini, Seeley, Ryan and Blakesley, and a long-time advocate for the Open Pantry Community Service and Griffin’s Friends, nominated by Ronald Berger, M.D.;
• Robert Charland, a man committed to providing working bicycles and other services to children in need, nominated by Marsha Montori; and
• Heriberto Flores, founding member of Partners for Community and advocate for the underserved, nominated by Ed Cohen.

“Recognizing those who have made an outstanding impact to our communities has been in the Ad Club charter for more than 100 years,” said Scott Whitney, chairman of the Pynchon Trustees. “Every one of this year’s Pynchon recipients fulfills that criteria in a superlative way.”

This year’s recipients were chosen from a pool of nominations for the award received earlier this year by the Advertising Club. All nominees are researched by the trustees, who then deliberate before selecting final recipients. All Pynchon medalists are chosen by unanimous decision of the Pynchon trustees, who are the current, and five past presidents of the Advertising Club. Pynchon Trustees for 2019 are Barbara Perry, Jillian Gould, Teresa Utt, David Cecchi, Scott Whitney, and current Advertising Club president Brenda McGiverin.

More than 200 citizens have been inducted into the Order of William Pynchon since its founding in 1915.

In his role as an attorney, Cassartelo, has provided countless hours of pro bono services to those who couldn’t otherwise afford legal help. Counted among this number are four cases in which he represented first responders and families who suffered the loss of a loved one in the 9/11 tragedy.

After years of involvement with Springfield’s Bright Nights Road Race, Casartello developed a new fundraising event for Open Pantry Community Services — the Stuffing the Pantry Thanksgiving Day Road Race. Through his leadership, the event has raised more than $200,000 and approximately 15,000 pounds of food over its first seven years, becoming the single largest fundraiser for Open Pantry.

In 1994, Jim and Michelle Kelleher founded Griffin’s Friends in memory of their son. This organization is dedicated to bringing moments of joy to courageous children facing cancer and to raise funds for the Griffin’s Friends Children’s Cancer Fund at Baystate Health Foundation. Casartello was an early supporter of Griffin’s Friends and continues to be a connector for volunteers.

Charland’s life has been distinctly marked by tragedy — but it is in no way a stretch to say that he has, time and time again, turned trauma into superlative goodness.

Take, for example, the horrific revelation that his then 9-year-old daughter had been the victim of rape at the hands of her mother’s boyfriend. Charland won full custody, but also threw his efforts into giving his daughter a life of fun and purpose — and charting himself on the same course. In addition to the several jobs he held to make ends meet, Bob became leader of his daughter’s Girl Scout troop and began coaching girls’ softball. Eventually, his daughter grew up and moved on to other activities, giving Charland something he wasn’t accustomed to: free time. He filled the void by providing what he called “deaf automotive” instruction for students attending the Willie Ross School for the Deaf.

Shortly thereafter, Charland suffered trauma of his own. During his time as a bouncer in one of his many jobs, he was assaulted with a baseball bat and sustained a brain injury that led to a cerebral cyst, giving him the cognition of a man decades his senior. His first thought was to put his affairs in order and contact Death with Dignity to avoid becoming a burden to others. But when a Springfield school counselor called him to ask whether he could refurbish some old bikes for underprivileged children, his mindset changed. Yes, he could refurbish bikes, and he also had some old ones he could work on and give to kids. Answering that request was the first step on a journey that he calls, simply, “the bike thing”—a venture that has grown into a prolific nonprofit called Pedal Thru Youth, giving more than 1,200 underprivileged children a bike of their own.

Recently, Charland has included modified toy cars, or powerwheels, in his repertoire. These child-size vehicles allow young people with disabilities to become mobile and ease their fear as they drive themselves from hospital rooms to treatment.

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno said of Charland in an interview with BusinessWest, “His attitude is so positive—it’s not about himself, it’s about making a better opportunity for these kids and showing that people do care. He’s a one-man wrecking crew.”

Despite the substantial time and financial commitment Charland has invested in Pedal Thru Youth (a year ago he estimated he had spent more than $10,000 on bikes), he has created another venture delivering what he calls “safety bags” for the homeless and others in need. The Springfield Police Department has dubbed the project “Operation Basic Necessities.” Each bag contains items such as gloves, scarves, hats, toothbrushes and toothpaste, protein shakes, granola bars, and more. He began with the State Police, who gave them to those in need, and has since outfitted each Springfield police cruiser with two gender-specific bags, which he replaces for free as they’re needed. He has also donated bags through the Connecticut State Police Department, and the Hampden County Sheriff’s department, where he serves as a Sheriff’s deputy.

In 1971, Flores launched the New England Farm Worker’s Council (NEFWC), a human-service agency dedicated to improving the quality of life for migrant and seasonal farm workers doing the work that he knew so well. Over time, the organization provided education and skills training to thousands of low-income people living throughout Western and North-central Mass., Central Connecticut, Rhode Island, southern New Hampshire, and Puerto Rico. In particular, the Farm Worker’s Council is a champion for the Hispanic communities in these regions.

Flores’ early years were marked by poverty and the struggle for basic daily needs that plague too many Americans. His cumulative response to that experience was Partners for Community, a network of five non-profit social service agencies throughout New England, of which the Farm Worker’s Council is one. Together, these agencies provide employment, family assistance, adult education, youth development, and other services to populations with special needs.

The presentation of the Pynchon Medal and celebration will take place on Oct. 10 at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Event details and ticket information can be found on the club’s website: adclubwm.org or by calling 413-342-0533.

HOLYOKE — Architect John Aubin announced plans for the build-out of a company headquarters at his flagship mixed-use development, Open Square. Aubin is creating a new, custom-designed and custom-built work space in his historic zero-net-energy development in Holyoke. The modern office environment will provide approximately 6,000 square feet of work and meeting space for 25 employees.

Current tenant and national healthcare IT consultancy VertitechIT is expanding its presence at Open Square. The new space will also house employees of two sister companies — akiro Consulting, a firm that facilitates medical practice transactions and acquisitions, and BaytechIT, an IT services provider to physician practices, clinics, and non-profit healthcare companies. BaytechIT is a joint venture between VertitechIT and Baystate Health.

The new space will allow collaboration between the three companies while giving each their own autonomy, said Greg Pellerin, VertitechIT chief operating officer. “When you start a company, you’d take a closet to work in, but when you have the ability to make a space, it becomes part of the definition of your company,” he noted. “Our space is part of our company’s culture. What John built for us partially defines us and we love it.”

Aubin’s design for the new companies embraces the former paper mill’s 17-foot ceilings, large windows, maple floors, and solid brick walls while adding modern design and work-space functionality to the open historic environment. “To a person, when folks come in here, they are astounded by our office space,” said Pellerin. “It’s unique and functional for a technology company but fits the aesthetic of everything else around it within the building.”

This will be Open Square’s largest custom build-out in its 19-year history. “I’m interested in melding the old and the new, creating spaces where creative companies can thrive because the work environment supports their mission,” said Aubin. “As an architect, this is the kind of space I love to build. As a developer, these are the types of projects we’re glad to be attracting, companies that are great for our local economy and leverage the true assets of post-industrial cities: our incredible spaces, central location, great prices and diverse community.

“People want to hang out in unique places,” he went on. “Open Square is a poster child for this different approach to growing in post-industrial American cities — a balanced market-based approach.”

A prominent business owner from Holyoke and the chancellor of UMass Amherst, are among 13 business leaders to join the board of directors of Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM).

Pia Sareen Kumar, co-owner and chief strategy officer of Universal Plastics Group, and Kumble Subbaswami, chancellor at UMass Amherst, were elected to the board of the statewide business association at AIM’s annual meeting in May. AIM represents the interests of more than 3,500 employers on public policy issues affecting the Massachusetts economy.

Tricia Canavan, president of United Personnel in Springfield and an incumbent director at AIM, was elected to the organization’s Executive Committee. Canavan is a 2018 winner of the AIM Next Century award for contributions to economic opportunity and serves as a member of AIM’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee.

“AIM has always maintained a strong group of directors from Western Massachusetts and Pia Kumar, Kumble Subbaswami and Tricia Canavan certainly add to that strength,” said John Regan, newly named president and CEO of the association.

“AIM members this year elected the most talented and diverse group of new directors in the 104-year history of the organization,” he went on. “We look forward to their insight and direction as the business community prepares for a simultaneously exciting and challenging period.”

Kumar leads a family of five plastics manufacturing businesses located in the Northeast and Midwest, including Universal Plastics in Holyoke. The companies specialize in a range of processes including injection molding, gas assist molding, heavy gauge thermoforming, blow molding and structural foam molding. The current companies have expertise in large, complex and highly aesthetic parts with manufacturing volumes of 50-50,000 parts per year.

Kumar started her career as an investment banker at JPMorgan Chase and was a global director of strategic partnerships at American Express. She holds an MBA from University of Chicago’s Booth School of Business and a bachelor’s degree from Northwestern University.

Subbaswamy became the 30th leader of UMass Amherst July 1, 2012. He has emerged as a popular and well-regarded chancellor for his pursuit of academic excellence, promotion of research and outreach, and initiatives aimed at addressing campus climate, diversity, and culture.

He holds a bachelor’s degree in science from Bangalore University, a master’s in physics from Delhi University, and a PhD in physics from Indiana University. He was elected a fellow of the American Physical Society in 1989.

Canavan is a respected business leader throughout Western Mass.

She leads a second-generation family company that connects more than 700 people each day to good jobs throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut. Headquartered in downtown Springfield, the company operates additional offices in Northampton, Pittsfield and Chelmsford, along with Hartford and New Haven, Conn.

Canavan serves as on the boards of the Economic Development Council of Western Mass., the Springfield Public Forum, the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, Springfield Business Leaders for Education, and the Massachusetts Workforce Development Board.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College will host deep ocean explorer and environmentalist Fabien Cousteau and explorer and filmmaker Céline Cousteau for an evening entitled, One Ocean, One People: The Cousteau Legacy and a Call for Environmental Action, on Oct. 24 at 7:30 p.m.

Fabien and Céline are the grandchildren of legendary explorer Jacque-Yves Cousteau.

This year marks the sixth year of the college’s endowed Arts and Humanities Speaker Series, made possible through the generosity of Carlton (’63) and Lucille Sedgeley. This event is free and open to the public.

Both Fabien and Céline will highlight their commitment to fulfilling their family’s legacy of protecting and preserving the planet’s extensive and endangered marine inhabitants and habitats.

Fabien stresses the need for bold and innovative thinking to progress conservation efforts worldwide. He encourages individuals to follow their own curiosity in developing cutting-edge solutions that can address regional and global environmental challenges.

Through powerful storytelling, Céline uses her voyages around the world to offer a thoughtful perspective on the connection of the environment to populations around the world and how this knowledge is vital to the future of each of us on the planet.

Céline has extended her family legacy by co-founding The Céline Cousteau Film Fellowship, a non-profit program whose mission is to empower young aspiring filmmakers and activists to inspire change through filmmaking.

HOLYOKE – College students of Hispanic heritage from Holyoke will benefit from new scholarships established at both Westfield State University and Holyoke Community College, thanks to $100,000 gifts to each institution from Victor and Mariellen Quillard of West Springfield.

Victor Quillard, a retired president of Hampden Bank, and his wife, Mariellen, are both Holyoke natives and their gifts aim to support Hispanic residents from Holyoke who are pursuing their college degrees. The $100,000 donations were given to the Westfield State Foundation and the Holyoke Community College Foundation, the nonprofit fundraising corporations of each institution.

The gifts will establish two new endowed scholarships in the Quillards’ name.

“Our community is fortunate to benefit from the Quillards’ life-changing support,” said Amanda Sbriscia, HCC vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Founation. “Vic and Mariellen have been dear friends of HCC through the years, and this scholarship is evidence of their belief in the potential of today’s and future generations of students. As a Hispanic Serving Institution, HCC is particularly grateful for the Quillards’ leadership in helping us graduate more students from underserved populations and in creating a path for students to continue their education beyond HCC.”

The Victor E. and Mariellen Quillard Scholarship at HCC gives preference to Holyoke residents of Hispanic heritage who have completed a minimum of 12 credits and maintain a minimum GPA of 2.75. The Victor and Mariellen Quillard Scholarship at WSU gives preference to Holyoke residents of Hispanic heritage who transfer from HCC to Westfield State and have a minimum GPA of 2.75.

“We greatly appreciate the Quillards’ generosity and their commitment to Holyoke and the Hispanic and Latino communities,” said Erica Broman, vice president for Institutional Advancement at Westfield State University and executive director of the Westfield State Foundation. “The Quillard Scholarship will have a transformative impact for these transfer students from HCC who attend Westfield State for many years to come.”

Said Westfield State University president Ramon S. Torrecilha, “these significant monies will support the university’s goals to offer an accessible and affordable education while supporting its commitment to a diverse and welcoming community.”

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College is currently registering young people for its ‘College for Kids’ program.

The summer program exposes participants between the ages of 11 and 17 to learning opportunities available in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields. Some of the available programs focus on arts and sports.

The “Summer of STEM” will give young people the chance to learn about architecture, lasers, fidget spinners, and more.

Here are the College for Kids at STCC programs on tap through August:

• Rock-It Science, July 22-26,(ages 11-14, $279): This program features innovative, hands-on science. Activities include using a giant catapult to predict and project objects’ path through the air, designing and building rockets, seeing and hearing “sound waves” while playing musical instruments, building and racing solar cars, and observing rainbows in the sky to explore the nature of light. Activities are coordinated with the Springfield Science Museum.
• Forensics, July 29-Aug. 2,(ages 11-14, $279): Forensic science is the study of crime scenes and criminal identities. This course will provide students with hands-on experience in forensic science and investigative skills. 
• The Play’s the Thing, July 29-Aug. 2(ages 11-14, $279): A week of theater immersion that includes theater games, improvisation, and an adaptive short play performed at the end of the week for family and friends. This week of theater builds social skills, confidence, and self-esteem. 
• Basketball, July 29-Aug. 2(ages 11-14, $169)
• Keyboarding, July 29-Aug. 2(ages 11-14, $199): Students build necessary keyboarding skills through the use of interactive games and a keyboarding software program. The lessons are fun and help to build a strong typing foundation. 

For more information and to sign up online, visit stcc.edu/explore/summer-programs. For questions, contact Lidya Rivera-Early, director of Community Engagement, at (413) 755-4787 or email [email protected].

BOSTON — Massachusetts municipal utilities are leading the way in integrating carbon-free technologies into their power portfolios, contributing significantly to achievement of the Commonwealth’s energy goals, according to speakers at a State House event sponsored by the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC), the joint action agency for Massachusetts municipal utilities.

Approximately 14% of electric consumers in the state are served by municipal light plants (MLPs), a valuable part of the electric utility industry that deliver low-cost, reliable electric service to consumers. MLPs are non-profit and owned by the people they serve. Locally appointed or elected boards of commissioners maintain decision-making authority for each light department.

MMWEC Chief Executive Officer Ronald C. DeCurzio outlined the clean energy projects included in the MLP portfolios, dating back to the 1984 construction of a 40-kilowatt wind project built by the Princeton municipal utility.

“Municipal utilities have been at the forefront of the carbon-free energy movement for some time,” DeCurzio said. “MLPs have recognized trends and implemented emerging technologies in an efficient, economic manner in the best interest of their customers.”

In just a few weeks, a new municipal utility wind project will commence commercial operation. Phase Two of the Berkshire Wind Power Project in Hancock, MA will add 4.6 megawatts (MW) to the existing 15-MW wind farm. The project, the second largest wind farm in Massachusetts, is owned by a cooperative consisting of 16 municipal utilities and MMWEC.

By the end of 2019, MMWEC member utilities will have 67.8 MW of wind generation, 48 MW of solar and 26.2 MW of energy storage – nearly 15% of the 2020 target of 200 MW of storage in place in Massachusetts. Three of MMWEC’s members utilized a total of $1.64 million in grants through the Advancing Commonwealth Energy Storage (ACES) initiative, a coordinated effort between the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and the state Department of Energy Resources, to fund their energy storage projects. A fourth municipal utility took advantage of declining energy storage costs to install an energy storage system without the help of state grants or federal tax incentives, a first amongst municipal utilities in Massachusetts.

WESTFIELD — On July 14, Stanley Park welcomes ‘Off The Record’ as part of its Sunday Night Concert Series.

The group, well known throughout the region, plays hits from the ’60s and ’70s featuring classic rock & roll.

This performance begins at 6 p.m. at the Beveridge Pavilion and it is free of charge. Chairs will be provided and a food service will be available.

For further information on the Westfield Bank Sunday Night Concert Series please go to www.stanleypark.org or call the park office at (413) 568-9312.

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Regional Chamber is seeking nominations for its annual Super 60 awards program, presented by Health New England.

Marking its 30th year, the awards program recognizes the success of the fastest-growing and privately-owned businesses in the region that continue to make significant contributions to the strength of the regional economy. Each year, the program identifies the top-performing companies in revenue growth and total revenue.

Last year, total-revenue winners combined for more than $750 million in revenues, with 25% of these winners exceeding revenues of $40 million. All winners in the revenue-growth category had growth in excess of 13% while one-quarter of the top 30 companies experienced growth in excess of 75%. 

To be considered, companies must be independently and privately owned, be based in Hampden or Hampshire county or be a member of the Springfield Regional Chamber, produce revenues of at least $1 million in the past fiscal year, and be in business for at least three full years. Companies are selected based on their percentage of revenue growth over a full three-year period or total revenues for the latest fiscal year. 

Companies may be nominated by financial institutions, attorneys, accountants or be self-nominated and must submit a nomination form and provide net operating revenue figures for the last three full fiscal years, signed and verified by an independent auditor. All financial information must be reported under generally accepted accounting principles and will be held and considered confidential and not released without prior approval.

Nomination forms are available by contacting Grace Szydziak at [email protected] or (413) 755-1310.  Nominations must be submitted no later than August 2.

The Super 60 awards will be presented at the annual luncheon and recognition program on Oct. 25, from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam.

AMHERST — Nefertiti Walker, a faculty member in the Isenberg School of Management who also serves as its associate dean for an inclusive organization, has been named interim associate chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion at the University of Massachusetts Amherst by Chancellor Kumble R. Subbaswamy.

Walker will begin her new role effective July 1. She succeeds Enobong “Anna” Branch, who recently became the vice chancellor for Diversity, Inclusion, and Community Engagement at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. A national search to select a permanent appointment will commence soon.

Walker has served in her current position at Isenberg since January, after holding the position of director of diversity and inclusion at Isenberg from 2017 to 2018. She joined the UMass Amherst community in 2011. 

“I am very much looking forward to working with Chancellor Subbaswamy and serving UMass Amherst in this role,” Walker said. “The collective work that we have done in Isenberg in the areas of diversity and inclusion at the student, staff, faculty, alumni and community levels has prepared me for this role. I have admired the work of Associate Chancellor and Professor Anna Branch and her incredibly productive team. As such, I enthusiastically look forward to joining them, as we continue the always evolving mission of building a diverse culture of equity and inclusion, rooted in dignity and respect.”

Said Subbaswamy, “I am pleased that Nefertiti Walker has agreed to accept this important role. As we move forward as a community, her leadership experience will be invaluable as we continue the vital work of building an inclusive and diverse campus where all our community members can thrive.”

Serving as a member of Isenberg’s senior leadership, Walker focused on developing a culture of inclusion through a new diversity and inclusion curriculum, a school-wide inclusion committee, student organizations focused on diversity, and the development of an Inclusive Leadership Summit, all of which were done “in collaboration with students, faculty, and staff,” said Walker.

MONSON — Monson Savings Bank recently distributed more than $20,000 in scholarships to high school seniors who graduated this year from Monson, Ware, and Wilbraham/Hampden High Schools and a home-schooled student.

“As a community bank, we are committed to helping local families save, prepare, and pay for higher education,” said Steve Lowell, president and CEO of Monson Savings Bank. All of the students were invited to the bank’s corporate headquarters for a celebration, where Lowell spoke to them about their exciting future and congratulated each one on their hard work and accomplishments.

The scholarships were presented to students — selected by their school and the bank — who have demonstrated academic success and have an interest in pursuing a higher education. They are:

Minnechaug: Edward Wurszt, Hunter Acconcio, and Timothy Connors;

Monson High School: Derek Joyce, Liam Metcalfe, Taylor Mitchell, and Hannah Somers;

Ware High School: Shelby Tweedie, Kayla Smith, and Travis Orszulak

Home Schooled: David Krutov

LONGMEADOW — On June 17, JGS Lifecare, a leading healthcare system serving seniors and their families, recently hosted its 39^th Annual Frankel-Kinsler Classic Day of Tournaments at Twin Hills Country Club in Longmeadow, raising more than $97,000 for the care of the community’s elders.   

“This popular annual community fundraising event has been renamed to reflect that it is more than simply a golf tournament, with participants competing in tennis, bridge, canasta and mahjong outnumbering our golfers,” said Susan Halpern, vice president of development and communication, at JGS Lifecare. “Our intent is to create a fun day of tournament play across multiple activities, to attract a wide range of people interested in a day of camaraderie and competition to help raise funds to support our mission of caring.  The event is also our way of continuing to honoring the memory of Michael J. Frankel, former chairman of the JGS Lifecare Board of Directors, and the families of Raymond and Herman Kinsler, longtime leaders and supporters, for their exemplary commitment to those served by JGS Lifecare.

“Great effort is put into creating a celebratory atmosphere, including a lively cocktail reception featuring the live music of The Blood Brothers Band, a band that Michael Frankel helped form and was their drummer,” she went on. “After the awards dinner the band plays outdoors into the evening, providing attendees with a full day of fun and entertainment.”

The tournament was made possible through the generous presenting sponsorship of the following companies and/or supporters: Harry Grodsky and Co., Inc.; ProCare LTC Pharmacy; Steve and Georgianne Roberts; SEI Investments Company; TD Bank; Berkshire Bank; Century Investment;  Epstein Financial Services; Albert & Judith Goldberg Family Foundation; Kaste Industrial Machine Sales, Inc.; Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; and NEFCO.