SPRINGFIELD — For the ninth year, all Big Y supermarkets are working to help feed the hungry within their local communities through Care to Share Sack Hunger, a large, reusable grocery bag filled with staple non-perishable food items for local food banks.

Customers purchase a Sack Hunger bag of groceries for $10, and Big Y distributes the food to that region’s local food bank. In turn, the food banks distribute the filled sacks to area soup kitchens, food pantries, senior food programs, day-care centers, as well as many of its other member agencies.

All of the donated sacks are distributed within the supermarket’s marketing area, so every donation stays within the local community. Since its inception nine years ago, more than 133,000 bags of food have been donated to area needy via Big Y’s Care to Share Sack Hunger Program. This year’s campaign runs through Wednesday, Dec. 26.

As an additional option, customers may choose to purchase and donate a $10 ‘virtual bag’ at the register that will be used by the agencies to purchase turkeys or whatever is most needed. Online donations will also be accepted. Visit www.bigy.com/rs/giftcards for more information.

As an added bonus, any customer donations made on Saturday, Nov. 17 will be matched by Big Y.

“Our Sack Hunger program makes it easy for our customers to provide nutritious, non-perishable staple food to those less fortunate within our community,” said Donald D’Amour, chairman and CEO. “We all appreciate their efforts to make this a bigger program each year.”

All five food banks within Big Y’s marketing area are participating in Sack Hunger. These food banks, representing more than 2,100 member agencies throughout the region, include the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, the Greater Boston Food Bank, the Worcester County Food Bank, Foodshare of Greater Hartford, and the Connecticut Food Bank.

The sacks include the following non-perishable Big Y items: instant rice, corn flakes, creamy peanut butter, tuna, kidney beans, green beans, whole-kernel corn, quick oats, elbow macaroni, and sweet peas. Sacks are available at all 70 Big Y supermarkets and Fresh Acres. Last year, Big Y customers donated nearly 22,000 bags of food to those in need, and the company hopes to beat that figure this year.

EASTHAMPTON — The second annual TEDxEasthamptonWomen event will take place on Saturday, Dec. 1 at the Boylston Room East in Keystone Mill from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with a reception to follow at Mill 180 Park. 

The independently organized program, licensed by TED, will feature local speakers and TEDWomen videos under the theme of “Showing Up.”

Launched in 2009, TEDx is a program of locally organized events that bring the community together to share a TED-like experience. Some of the best talks from TEDx events have been featured on ted.com and garnered millions of views from audiences across the globe.

TEDWomen, in its ninth year, will take place in Palm Springs, Calif. The conference will be streamed to thousands around the globe at nearly 150 TEDWomen events in dozens of countries.

TEDxEasthamptonWomen has filled its seating limit of 100 attendees. The program will also be streamed live and accessible via the internet and at local viewing parties. Viewing-party information can be found at www.tedxeasthamptonwomen.com/livestream.

“The members this year felt the need to keep the event going for the community to foster learning to the people of Easthampton and the rest of the Pioneer Valley,” said Marketing Coordinator Laura Heisig. “The hope is for other women to hear these stories and feel empowered by them to make some change in their own communities. We’re all connected in some ways, but it also can affect the larger picture of things. I think that’s what’s so powerful about this event. It’s connecting us to this larger event.”

This year’s seven speakers are: 

• Jane Fleishman, a certified sexuality educator on a mission to promote the sexual well-being of older adults;

• Caitlin Kelley, a supervisor of the Mason Square Branch Library in Springfield;

• Brianna Mangano, a graduate student at the UConn School of Social Work who has more than six years of experience in mental health and social services;

• Christine Monska, a program officer at the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts as well as a continuing-education advisor at Bard Microcollege Holyoke;

• Elizabeth O’Gilvie, Bay Path College’s Ethics Speaker in 2017 and a member of the Massachusetts Farm to School advisory board;

• Cinzia Pica-Smith, an associate professor in both the Department of Human Services and Rehabilitation Studies and the Education Department at Assumption College in Worcester; and

• Rachel Walker, an assistant professor of Nursing at UMass Amherst, an associate director for the Center for Personalized Health Monitoring, and the first nurse ever to be named an Invention Ambassador by the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science.

TEDxEasthamptonWomen sponsors include Julia Mines, the Boylston Rooms, bankESB, Cider House Media, CJC Lighting & Production, Easthampton Media, Finck & Perras Insurance Agency LLC, Illuminaria, Mill 180 Park, Northeast Solar, and WBOA.

For more information about TEDxEasthamptonWomen, including how to plan or attend a viewing party, visit tedxeasthamptonwomen.com.

WESTFIELD — Environmental, health, and safety regulations are constantly changing, as are the new and creative ways of managing these regulatory challenges. Every fall, Tighe & Bond holds a series of free seminars that provide an overview of recent regulatory changes along with innovative methods for managing compliance.

The final seminar for this fall will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 27 from 8 a.m. to noon at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. Topics will include the use of drones for environmental assessments, the use of geographic information system tools, collecting and managing environmental projects, perfluorinated chemicals, state and federal environmental updates, and state and federal safety updates.

Anyone interested in attending can sign up by clicking here. Call Jessica Frey at (413) 572-3299 with any questions or if you have trouble signing up.

CHICOPEE — Sunshine Village recently welcomed Christine Pollender as the new director of Human Resources. With the organization serving more than 500 individuals, Pollender will oversee employee relations, benefits administration, and procedural compliance for over 260 employees at nine sites across the Pioneer Valley. With an extensive background in human resources in retail and hospital settings, she brings subject-matter expertise to navigate the recent changes to state and federal laws for employers.

Pollender received both a bachelor’s degree in business and a master’s degree in business administration from Western New England University. She holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute and is a Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional. She is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, including the local chapter, the Human Resources Management Assoc. of Western New England, where she serves on its diversity and inclusion committee. 

Sunshine Village is a nonprofit organization with a main campus in Chicopee and additional sites in Chicopee, Springfield, Three Rivers, and Westfield. Since 1967, it has provided innovative day services for people with developmental disabilities, including those on the autism spectrum.

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, the business journal covering Western Mass., will honor its inaugural Women of Impact on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place. 

BusinessWest has consistently recognized the contributions of women within the business community and has now created the Women of Impact awards to honor women who have the authority and power to move the needle in their business, are respected for accomplishments within their industries, give back to the community, and are sought out as respected advisors and mentors within their field of influence. 

More than 80 nominations were submitted, and candidates were scored by an esteemed panel of three judges. There are eight winners in this first class. Honorees are profiled in the Nov. 12 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. This year’s honorees are:

The Women of Impact for 2018 are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director of Public Services, Springfield City Library;

• Kerry Dietz, principal, Dietz Architects;

• Denise Jordan, executive director, Springfield Housing Authority;

• Gina Kos, executive director, Sunshine Village;

• Carol Leary, president, Bay Path University;

• Colleen Loveless, president and CEO, Revitalize Community Development Corp.;

• Janis Santos, executive director, HCS Head Start; and

• Katie Allen Zobel, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

The Women of Impact Awards Luncheon on Dec. 6 will begin with registration and networking at 11 a.m., with the formal program to start at noon. Tickets are $65 per person, and tables of 10 are available. Tickets may be purchased online at businesswest.com/women-of-impact, or by calling (413) 781-8600. The Women of Impact program is sponsored by Bay Path University, Comcast Business, Country Bank, Granite State Development, and WWLP 22 News.

SPRINGFIELD — Kelly Bowman was elected to be the 2019 president of the Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley (RAPV), a nonprofit trade association with 1,800 members. A general membership meeting was held on Nov. 8 at the Delaney House in Holyoke for the purpose of electing the RAPV 2019 leadership team.

Bowman is the broker/owner of Trademark Real Estate, LLC which has offices in South Deerfield and Greenfield. She has been active in real estate since 1997. As a former co-owner of Upton Enterprises Inc., a custom home-building company, she brings practical building knowledge to transactions with clients. She has served on the RAPV board of directors for four consecutive years and was involved in several committees, including the grievance committee, professional standards committee, and professional development committee.

In addition to the president, the 2019 RAPV officers will include Susan Drumm as president-elect, Elias Acuna as treasurer, Russell Sabadosa as secretary, and Edward Alford as immediate past president. Directors will include Shawn Bowman, Julie Chartier-Warczeka, Peter Davies, Janise Fitzpatrick, Sara Gasparrini, Sharyn Jones, Cheryl Malandrinos, and Clinton Stone.

Leadership representation at the Massachusetts Assoc. of Realtors will include Dawn Henry as board of directors treasurer, and Brian Sears will serve a two-year term as director-at-large. State directors will be Alford, Bowman, Sabadosa, and Sears. Named substitutes are Drumm, Lou Mayo, and Vincent Walsh.

SPRINGFIELD — The Human Service Forum (HSF) will present a training on Tuesday, Dec. 4 titled “Effective Conflict Resolution Strategies: What Should I Try Now?” The event will take place from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at La Quinta Inn & Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield.

Dealing with conflicts between employees? Ineffective supervisory relationships? Teams not working well together? Workplace conflict can harm relationships, reduce productivity, increase costs, and decrease a team’s effectiveness. One study found that an average workplace conflict eats up to three hours a week.

This workshop, led by Debbie Lynangale of the Mediation & Training Collaborative, will explore the range of conflict-resolution tools available, including one-on-one communication strategies, conflict coaching, mediation, and larger group processes. Together, attendees will identify circumstances which may make one approach work better than others, steps to ensure better success with the chosen techniques, and ways to combine various strategies to deal with challenging workplace dynamics.

The cost is $115 for HSF members and $225 for non-members. Morning coffee and a buffet lunch is included in the program fee. To register, click here.

SPRINGFIELD — Best Lawyers, in partnership with U.S. News and World Report, has included Bulkley Richardson in its 2019 “Best Law Firms” list, ranking the firm in the top tier for 10 practice areas, the most of any Springfield law firm. They include bankruptcy and creditor-debtor rights/insolvency and reorganization law, commercial litigation, corporate law, criminal defense: general practice, criminal defense: white-collar, litigation: labor and employment, medical-malpractice law: defendants, personal-injury litigation: defendants, tax law, and trusts and estates law

To be eligible for a ranking, a law firm must have at least one lawyer who is included in Best Lawyers. Bulkley Richardson has 13 of its lawyers included on the 2019 Best Lawyers list, the most from any Springfield law firm. Two of the firm’s partners, John Pucci and Liz Sillin, were also named 2019 Springfield Lawyer of the Year. The rankings are based on a rigorous evaluation process that includes the collection of client and lawyer evaluations and peer reviews from leading attorneys in their field.

SPRINGFIELD — Robinson Donovan, P.C. announced that Associate Jeffrey Adams recently received two prominent appointments. He became a fellow of the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. (MBA) Leadership Academy and accepted a position on the board of directors at Dakin Humane Society.

“We are excited for Jeff to be recognized with both of these leadership opportunities,” said Partner James Martin. “We have observed his leadership skills and fully expect that these new leadership opportunities will enhance his development as a leader and greatly benefit both organizations.”

The MBA Leadership Academy works to develop and nurture future leaders of the bar by teaching fellows how to be compassionate, open-minded, and thoughtful leaders.

At Dakin Humane Society, Adams will act as part of the governing body that is responsible for overseeing the organization’s activities. Dakin is a community-supported animal-welfare organization that provides shelter, medical care, spay-and-neuter services, and behavioral rehabilitation for more than 20,000 animals each year.

“Advocacy is one of the foundations of being a successful lawyer,” Adams said, “and I look forward to providing a voice for less-fortunate animals that don’t have one.”

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest, the business journal covering Western Mass., will honor its inaugural Women of Impact on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:45 p.m. at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place. 

BusinessWest has consistently recognized the contributions of women within the business community and has now created the Women of Impact awards to honor women who have the authority and power to move the needle in their business, are respected for accomplishments within their industries, give back to the community, and are sought out as respected advisors and mentors within their field of influence. 

More than 80 nominations were submitted, and candidates were scored by an esteemed panel of three judges. There are eight winners in this first class. Honorees are profiled in the Nov. 12 issue of BusinessWest and at businesswest.com. This year’s honorees are:

The Women of Impact for 2018 are:

• Jean Canosa Albano, assistant director of Public Services, Springfield City Library;

• Kerry Dietz, principal, Dietz Architects;

• Denise Jordan, executive director, Springfield Housing Authority;

• Gina Kos, executive director, Sunshine Village;

• Carol Leary, president, Bay Path University;

• Colleen Loveless, president and CEO, Revitalize Community Development Corp.;

• Janis Santos, executive director, HCS Head Start; and

• Katie Allen Zobel, president and CEO, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

The Women of Impact Awards Luncheon on Dec. 6 will begin with registration and networking at 11 a.m., with the formal program to start at noon. Tickets are $65 per person, and tables of 10 are available. Tickets may be purchased online at businesswest.com/women-of-impact, or by calling (413) 781-8600. The Women of Impact program is sponsored by Bay Path University, Comcast Business, Country Bank, Granite State Development, and WWLP 22 News.

SPRINGFIELD — Jessica Chapin, American International College’s (AIC) associate athletic director/compliance senior woman administrator/deputy Title IX coordinator, is one of 18 individuals recently inducted into the Section V Basketball Hall of Fame in New York. She played with Honeoye Falls-Lima Central School District.

Chapin was a member of the first-team All-State in 2005 with the Class A state champion Cougars. She finished second all-time in Section V girls’ basketball in three-point field goals, with 207.

“Being inducted into the Hall of Fame is an incredible honor,” Chapin said. “Basketball has taught me some of life’s most valuable lessons, and I am humbled that my accomplishments have been recognized.” 

In addition to her success playing for Honeoye Falls, Chapin graduated with a bachelor’s degree in psychology and health, science, and social policy from Brandeis University in 2010. While at Brandeis, Chapin was an All-American women’s basketball player. She earned her master’s degree in athletic administration from Springfield College in 2013.

Chapin joined the AIC athletic department in 2014 and works directly with all 22 NCAA varsity programs, as well as men’s and women’s rugby, to ensure that the college is in compliance with all NCAA, Northeast-10, and Atlantic Hockey rules, bylaws and regulations. In 2017, she was appointed to a four-year term with the NCAA Division II Management Council. As part of her commitment, she serves on two committees: the NCAA legislation committee and the Olympic sport committee.

NORTHAMPTON — Bob Pura, former president of Greenfield Community College (GCC) for more than 17 years, has joined the all-volunteer board of directors of the International Language Institute of Massachusetts (ILI) in Northampton.

“We are excited to welcome Bob Pura to ILI,” said board president Eric Wirth. “Bob’s extensive background, enthusiasm, and great sense of humor will go far to benefit the work ILI accomplishes day in and day out to ensure our students a great education and cultural experience.”

When asked about his reasons for joining the board, Pura said, “I have had the great privilege to work where my values and passion match the mission. Since my retirement, I have more time to follow those ideals. Serving on the ILI board is such a match. I cannot overstate how much I respect ILI’s executive director, Caroline Gear, and the good work of ILI. What this school does matters in the every day lives of students — especially immigrants and refugees — and our communities in ways that speeches can only talk about.”

During his tenure at GCC, Pura oversaw creation of the college’s testing, wellness, advising, and veteran’s centers as well as the GCC Food Pantry and senior symposia. He worked with former U.S. Rep. John Olver and community leaders to develop sustainable-energy, creative-economy, healthcare, and manufacturing initiatives at GCC and oversaw extensive building renovations to the campus. He also worked with the leadership of the Opioid Task Force and the Franklin County Jail and Courthouse to elevate the role education plays in the lives of those in recovery. Under Pura’s leadership, the GCC Foundation raised $14 million and has awarded hundreds of scholarships over several years. The college’s endowment also rose to more than $5 million.

Pura has chaired the Massachusetts President’s Council and served on its executive committee. He sits on the Baystate Health board of trustees and was a commissioner on the New England Assoc. of Schools and Colleges Higher Education Commission.

WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. — The Connecticut Airport Authority (CAA) and Travelers Aid announced that Travelers Aid International has begun serving the passengers of Bradley International Airport as the operator of the guest-service volunteer program at the airport.

Travelers Aid now operates the Information Center in Terminal A on the lower level, which is the baggage-claim level. There are currently 45 volunteers, and Travelers Aid will be recruiting additional volunteers in order to better serve the airport’s passengers. The center’s current hours are from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week. Mary Kate Doherty, an experienced volunteer manager, has been retained by Travelers Aid to manage and expand the program.

“We are excited about this opportunity to serve Bradley’s travelers, and we will work with the airport to improve guest relations. We are grateful for this contract with the Connecticut Airport Authority,” Doherty said.

Kevin Dillon, executive director of the CAA, added that “we value our passengers, and we are always looking for ways to enhance their travel experience at Bradley International Airport. Travelers Aid brings a wealth of experience and expertise to Bradley Airport, and we look forward to bringing an even higher level of customer service to Bradley passengers together.”

Some of the changes that passengers may notice in the near future include expanded hours at the Information Center and an increased presence of volunteers at the center and other locations within the terminal.

Travelers Aid International currently operates similar guest-service volunteer programs at four other airports: New York JFK, Newark Liberty, Washington Dulles, and Washington Reagan. In addition, it operates the information booth at Washington Union Station. At these five locations, more than 750 Travelers Aid volunteers assisted more than 4.2 million passengers in 2017.

Bradley International Airport will be the 18th airport in the Travelers Aid Transportation Network, which also includes four North American railroad stations and a cruise terminal.

In the coming months, Travelers Aid will be reaching out to the residents of the region seeking additional volunteers. Doherty said Travelers Aid will be seeking anyone, both students and adults, interested in assisting a traveler with their questions.

“I have volunteered at Bradley since 2013, and I love helping people,” said a five-year volunteer from Granby. “I have traveled quite a bit over the years, and I know how valuable it is to have someone at an airport information desk where I can ask pertinent questions and learn about the local area.”

Anyone interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities should contact Doherty at (860) 500-8582 or [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin announced that eight attorneys from the firm were selected to the 2018 Massachusetts Super Lawyers List and three attorneys were selected to the 2018 Massachusetts Rising Stars List. 

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, 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 annual selections are made using a multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.

• Shareholder Michele Feinstein was recognized for the 12th year in the fields of estate planning and probate;

• Shareholder Gary Fentin was selected for the 13th year in the field of government finance;

• Shareholder Carol Cioe Klyman was recognized for the 14th year in the field of elder law;

• Managing Partner Timothy Mulhern was selected in the field of tax law for the 11th consecutive year;

• Shareholder Steven Schwartz was selected for the 13th time in the field of business and corporate law;

• Shareholder James Sheils was selected for the fourth consecutive year in the field of banking law;

• Shareholder Ann (Ami) Weber was selected for the 15th consecutive year in the field of elder law; and

• Shareholder Steven Weiss was selected in the field of business bankruptcy for the 12th consecutive year.

Additionally, three attorneys have been selected to the 2018 Massachusetts Rising Stars list. To be eligible for inclusion in Rising Stars, a candidate must be either 40 years old or younger or in practice for 10 years or less.

• Attorney Mark Esposito was recognized in the field of general litigation;

• Attorney Michael Fenton was selected for the fifth consecutive year in the fields of business and corporate law; and

• Shareholder David Webber was honored in the field of closely held business for the seventh consecutive year.

SPRINGFIELD — As ValleyBike Share started taking shape in several municipalities in the Pioneer Valley this year, veteran-owned and operated service contractor Corps Logistics was tasked with building and maintaining the 48 stations and more than 200 bikes.

Corps Logistics provides a military-grade approach to bike-share system implementation and operations. It works to find talented veterans that care about their community and the mission at hand. Many of its veteran employees come home with physical and emotional limitations, and Corps Logistics offers them the opportunity to continue the utilization of their talents and skills to better the lives of the community around them.

“Corps Logistics is proud to have a team comprised of qualified veterans, people who have gained unparalleled experience while serving the United States of America,” CEO Jim Duffney said. “The veteran employees do not simply apply their military experience to provide exceptional service, but they do this with a level of conviction and efficiency that can only be mastered through military training. I deeply love all my veteran brothers and sisters that make this team so strong.”

Launched this past June, the ValleyBike Share system offers electric-assist bicycles to users. The service is available 24/7 and is ideal for errands, commuting, or recreation.

FLORENCE — Florence Bank President and CEO John Heaps Jr. announced the bank has hired three well-known and banking professionals with long-term industry experience in the Springfield area. They will be charged with helping to grow the bank’s Hampden County presence as it expands in that region.

Michael Moriarty will serve as senior vice president/commercial team leader, Joseph Kulig will serve as vice president/commercial loan officer, and Candace Pereira will be assistant vice president/commercial portfolio manager.

“We are very excited about bringing in these three professionals who truly are renowned in the region’s commercial lending world. The trio will focus on further developing commercial relationships in Hampden County and Northern Connecticut,” Heaps said. “This is a big move for us and solidifies our strategic direction. Florence Bank is committed to expanding in Hampden County, and we are thrilled to have these banking leaders from the region join our commercial team to shepherd new growth. They will make Florence Bank even stronger.”

Florence Bank will open a branch on Allen Street in Springfield this fall; last year, it opened the Hampden County Banking Center in West Springfield, its first branch in the county.

Moriarty, Kulig, and Pereira previously worked at Farmington Bank, a $3 billion commercial bank whose assets were recently purchased by Peoples United Bank. At Farmington, Moriarty was senior vice president and regional commercial team leader, Kulig was a relationship manager, and Pereira was assistant vice president. All three previously worked with United Bank.

ENFIELD, Conn. — Asnuntuck Community College announced new degree options for students looking to enter a career in the healthcare field. The college has received approval to award associate degrees in massage therapy and registered medical assisting. In addition to the new degrees, the college is also offering certificate programs for certified phlebotomy technician, health career pathway, health information management technician, and certified administrative medical office skills.

The college continues to offer career certification and licensure programs in areas where the Bureau of Labor Statistics has projected growth, including basic skin esthetics, advanced skin esthetics, certified pharmacy technician, certified EKG technician, certified sterile processing technician, CNA/certified patient care technician, dental assistant (X-ray and infection-control certified), emergency medical technician, medical coding and billing (CPC-certified professional coder and CIC-certified inpatient coder), nail technician, ophthalmic assistant, personal trainer (national certification), and veterinary assistant. The college will also be offering a certificate in cosmetology in the near future.

Asnuntuck’s Massage Therapy Clinic is now open to the public. The sessions are available for $25 for one hour or $50 for a two-hour session. Gift certificates are available. Reservations are required. Call (860) 253-3081 to schedule an appointment. The Spa at Asnuntuck is also open. Treatments include back facials, waxing, body treatments, customized facials, makeup application, manicures, and pedicures. Call (860) 253-3083 to make an appointment.

Asnuntuck will host an open house on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

EAST LONGMEADOW — EMA Dental will accept donations now through December for new, unwrapped children’s toys for ages 1 to 18, and also new or gently used clothing.

There are hundreds of kids in foster care in the Springfield area alone, along with families that cannot afford gifts. To help meet these needs, EMA will accept donations at both its locations at 16 Gerrard Ave., East Longmeadow, and 64 Gothic St., Northampton. As a thank you, EMA will offer coupons for this year’s Festival of Trees.

HOLYOKE — Leah Martin Photography announced that a grand-opening celebration at its Holyoke studio, sponsored in part by Lisa Scheff Designs, will take place Thursday, Nov. 15 from 5 to 8 p.m. at 4 Open Square Way, Studio 213.

The celebration will include a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 5:30 p.m. and will continue with studio tours; a chance to meet the artists; pop-up surprises, including a pop-up boutique from Sara Anderson of the Humble Fox in Somers, Conn.; refreshments catered by Chez Josef; and giveaways.

“We’re looking forward to welcoming past clients and members of the community to the studio as a way to kick off the newest chapter of Leah Martin Photography,” said Leah Zaskey, owner of Leah Martin Photography. 

The studio was designed by the WBENC-certified Lisa Scheff Designs’ interior design team and built by LAKAY Building and Remodeling Inc., owned by Jason Pecoy. Lisa Scheff Designs focused on using Zaskey’s brand colors in a fresh and innovative way to create a warm and welcoming studio for her clients. 

“First impressions are important in a small business office, and we wanted Leah’s clients first impressions to be ‘wow,’” said design firm owner Lisa Scheff, who will be available during the open house to talk about the design and inspiration.

NORTHAMPTON — With many Massachusetts employment laws going into effect this year, now is a good time for employers to look at their employee handbooks to see if any revisions may be necessary.

Daniel Carr, an attorney with Royal, P.C., will conduct a seminar on employee handbooks on Thursday, Dec. 6 from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at 270 Pleasant St., Northampton. He will discuss what should be included, as well as some of the newer laws and amendments that have been implemented recently in Massachusetts, including the new Pregnant Workers Fairness Act, which took effect on April 1; amendments to the Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, which came into effect on July 1; and the ‘grand bargain’ bill, which was signed into law in August.

Because the law is continually changing in numerous ways, it is advisable that employers set aside a time, at least once per year, to review and update their handbook. 

The cost to attend is $30 per person. Registration is limited, so call Heather Loges, practice manager, at (413) 586-2288 to register or if you have any questions.

LONGMEADOW — Bay Path University announced that Cheryl Sheils has been named program director for its new doctor of nursing practice (DNP) degree program. 

Sheils comes to the university from Elms College, where she taught in the Nursing program for nearly 30 years at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. She was a founding member and nurse manager for 20 years at Pioneer Valley Free Health Service in East Longmeadow. She has also been project director for an HRSA Health Workforce Diversity Grant and has travelled to Jamaica with nursing students on medical missions for the past several years. She has presented at numerous conferences, and her articles have been published in industry journals and other publications.

“I am excited about welcoming nursing graduates of Bay Path’s RN to BSN program back to the university to pursue the doctor of nursing practice, as well as graduates from other colleges and universities who seek top-quality online education,” Sheils said. 

The DNP program, set to begin in spring 2019, will be offered 100% online, ensuring flexibility for nurses who wish to obtain the skills to become advanced nurse practitioners with a specialization in family practice (FNP).

“Bay Path’s doctor of nursing practice program is one of only five fully online programs of its kind in the country,” Sheils said. “The online format allows working RNs to further their professional development and careers without having to leave their living and workplace environments. Bay Path University has been a leader in providing online education in several fields and provides first-rate support for online learners.”

The DNP prepares students with the critical skills needed to translate evidence-based care into practice, improve systems of care, and measure outcomes of patients and communities. The program was designed for graduates to become strong, effective nurse leaders who will transform today’s healthcare system and advance the profession of nursing.

HOLYOKE — Margaret’s Pantry, a program of Providence Ministries, is a full-service food pantry that provides food to residents of the Greater Holyoke area. Currently there is not enough food to last through the end of the month.

“In my 12 years here, I’ve never seen the shelves so empty,” said Program Manager Brenda Lamagdeleine. “While we never would turn anyone away, the amount we are able to give is less and less.”

Serving an average of 1,100 individuals a month requires 80,000 pounds of food. Unfortunately, the supplies right now are a fraction of that. In the past, food donations made over the summer months provided enough food to last through November. However, this year, those summer donations did not come in at an amount to meet the current need.  

In addition to donations of food, Providence Ministries is seeking donations of warm clothes, especially winter coats, hats, and gloves.

“We need the public’s help. Margaret’s Pantry might not have enough food to make it through the end of the month, and the closets at St. Jude’s Clothing Center need to be filled with winter wear to keep our neighbors warm,” said Executive Director Shannon Rudder. “The ever-increasing demand, combined with dwindling supplies, have left our shelves bare. We are asking for donations of gently used warm clothing, and non-perishable food, in any amount.”

Donations can be dropped off at the following Holyoke locations: Margaret’s Pantry, 56 Cabot St., Holyoke City Hall, 536 Dwight St.; Holyoke Police Department, 138 Appleton St.; and any fire station throughout the city. Anyone who would like to host a food or clothing drive at their place of business is asked to call Rory Casey at (413) 536-9109 to make arrangements.

Another way to give is by attending Providence Ministries’ Retro Game Night at the Log Cabin on Friday, Nov. 16 at 6 p.m. This fun-filled event features a game-show showdown between teams like city of Holyoke versus Holyoke School Committee, Marcotte Ford versus Gary Rome Hyundai, Holyoke Police versus Holyoke Fire, and more. Tickets include retro food stations put together by the chefs at the Log Cabin, and a chance to win prizes. Proceeds will directly benefit the programs of Providence Ministries, including Margaret’s Pantry and St. Jude’s Clothing Center.

For more information about how to make a donation, or Retro Game Night, visit www.provministries.org.

SPRINGFIELD — CBS Xerox, an integrated provider of office-productivity systems, organized a donation drive to benefit Good to Go, a new initiative of MHA to supply every individual who arrives for emergency respite care with basic personal-care items, such as soap, shampoo, a toothbrush, toothpaste, undergarments, and socks.

“People who arrive for emergency respite are intellectually or developmentally disabled, challenged by mental-health problems, new in their recovery from addiction, or chronically homeless,” said Kimberley Lee, vice president of Resource Development and Branding. “I have seen the condition in which so many of these folks arrive at MHA. They need assistance, and quickly. By collecting and donating personal care items for Good to Go, the generous folks at CBS Xerox are helping to support our participants who are truly in need of a soft landing.”

According to Patrick Roberts, nonprofit specialist and GEM representative for CBS Xerox, his company had been working with MHA as a business partner for about a year when the opportunity to do more presented itself.

“We handle their printers and copiers and developed a way to manage that part of their business,” Roberts explained. “In coming up with the solution, we met a lot of their staff, and every time we had an interaction with someone at MHA, it was so positive. They invited us to their annual meeting, and I heard this incredible story from a client who at one time felt suicidal, but through counseling and the efforts of MHA, this person now feels like they are worth something. Now this person is doing so well. What a story. The experience cemented our desire to do more for MHA, and organizing a Good to Go drive was a good place to start.”

The 25 staff members at the CBS Xerox office in West Springfield were joined by 100 staff at the company’s headquarters in Wethersfield, Conn., to collect donations. A truck with donations from Wethersfield drove to West Springfield to pick up donations collected there, then delivered it all to MHA in Springfield.

AMHERST — A recent pilot study by kinesiologists at UMass Amherst found that pedaling while conducting work tasks improved insulin responses to a test meal. Investigators led by Dr. Stuart Chipkin found that insulin levels following the meal were lower when sedentary workers used a pedal desk compared to a standard desk. In addition, work skills were not decreased in the pedaling condition.

Chipkin and colleagues concluded that pedal desks “could have the potential to achieve public and occupational health goals in sedentary work environments.” They pointed out that physical inactivity and sedentary work environments have been linked to higher rates of obesity, diabetes, and heart disease through insulin resistance and other mechanisms. Results appear in the October issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.

Chipkin, an endocrinologist who studies the impact of physical activity and medications on insulin sensitivity and skeletal muscle metabolism at UMass Amherst’s School of Public Health and Health Sciences, explained that, instead of approaching the problem by trying to squeeze intermittent activity into a largely sedentary work routine, “we chose to consider integrating physical activity into the workday.”

He and colleagues felt that the alternatives now available for office workers — standing desks and treadmill desks — are not feasible to use for whole shifts and may even pose some barriers, such as standing too long. By contrast, a pedal desk can be used in a seated position at the user’s own pace for as little or as much time as the worker chooses. 

Though there are currently no commercial pedal desks on the market, Chipkin and colleagues were able to use a prototype Pennington Pedal Desk co-invented by UMass Amherst kinesiology researcher Catrine Tudor-Locke, a co-author who did not determine study design or have any contact with participants or study data.

For this work, the researchers recruited 12 overweight or obese full-time sedentary office workers — six men and six women — and tested them in two conditions, pedaling at self-selected light-intensity pace for two hours, and working while seated for two hours at a conventional desk. In both conditions, participants performed computer-based tasks and were tested on mouse proficiency, typing speed and accuracy, reading comprehension, and concentration/attention.

The participants also provided blood samples after eating a light meal for analysis of metabolic responses of glucose, insulin, and free fatty acids, a link between obesity, insulin resistance, and type 2 diabetes.

Chipkin and colleagues reported that pedal-desk use required significantly less insulin to maintain glucose concentrations compared with using the standard desk. “It took much less insulin to keep their blood sugars the same,” he noted. “This means that the body doesn’t work so hard to maintain blood glucose and fatty-acid levels with use of the pedal desk compared to a standard desk. From the metabolic point of view, the pedal desk seems to be helpful, and from the work point of view, work tasks were not impaired.”

He added that, “while there were no changes in blood glucose or free fatty acids, none would be expected in a group of subjects without diabetes.” In future studies, Chipkin plans to explore the impact of the pedal desk on people with diabetes. 

This work was supported by a grant from the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health to UMass Lowell, which in turn awarded study funds to the UMass Amherst research team. Chipkin said he and colleagues would next like to conduct a larger, longer-term study, perhaps in a real-world setting where half the office staff use a pedal desk and half use a conventional desk.

NORTHAMPTON — Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Western MA will host its 5K celebration on Sunday, Nov. 18 at 10:30 a.m. at Smith College.

Girls on the Run is a positive, physical-activity-based youth-development program that uses fun running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in third to eighth grade. During the 10-week program, girls participate in lessons that foster confidence, build peer connections, and encourage community service while they prepare for an end-of-season celebratory 5K event.

Participation in the 5K event on Nov. 18 is open to the public. About 500 girls and 150 volunteer coaches are participating in the program this season, and more than 1,200 participants are expected at the 5K. Pre-registration cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children, and includes a GOTR 5K event shirt. The event will begin on the athletic fields off Tennis Court Drive, and will go through the campus.

Registration is open at www.girlsontherunwesternma.org. Registration will also be available the day of the event beginning at 9 a.m., for a cost of $30. The run will begin at 10:30 a.m., but festivities including a group warm-up and games will begin at 10 a.m. Early arrival is suggested. For more information about the event, how to register, and volunteer opportunities, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org.

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County Bar Foundation and the Dante Club will hold a chili cookoff fundraising event on Sunday, Nov. 18 from noon to 3 p.m. at the Dante Club, 1198 Memorial Ave., West Springfield.

All proceeds from this event will benefit the Hampden County Bar Foundation and the Dante Club Scholarships Inc. The Hampden County Bar Foundation funds the Colonel Archer B. Battista Veterans Scholarship, the John F. Moriarty Scholarship, the Hampden County Legal Clinic, and the Children’s Law Project. The cost to register chili for the cookoff is $25, and registration is open to all. For more information and to register, visit www.hcbar.org.

ENFIELD, Conn. — Dr. James Lombella, president of Asnuntuck and Tunxis community colleges, hosted the November episode of Changing Lives, a program that runs on PATV 15 on Thursdays at 8 p.m. and Fridays at 11 a.m.

His guests were Jennifer Brown, director of Workforce Development and Non-credit Programs, and Tim St. James, interim dean of Student Services and Campus Facilities. The show featured information on recent growth at Asnuntuck, including the new Advanced Manufacturing Technology building, additional space and renovations for the high-school College Connections program, the college’s new façade, the addition of solar panels, and an expanded parking lot. Lombella also shared updates about workforce-development programs, including the soon-to-be-unveiled Cosmetology program.

Asnuntuck will host an Open House on Tuesday, Nov. 13 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Registration for the spring semester opened on Oct. 29.

CHICOPEE — The board of trustees at Elms College have appointed a number of notable figures to be new members of the board.

“These new trustees bring a wide range of perspectives and experience to the board and will help Elms College find greater success as we move into the future,” said Cynthia Lyons, board chair.

The new trustees are Beth Anderson, founder and CEO of Phoenix Charter Academy Network; Pascale Desir, chief legal officer of Way Finders; Dr. Jose Fernandez, co-owner of Sunrise Behavioral Health Clinic; Mark Fulco, president of Mercy Medical Center; Steven Gobel, first vice president of Morgan Stanley; Fawwaz Habbal, executive dean for Education and Research and senior lecturer at the Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University; and Richard Sullivan Jr., president and CEO of the Western Massachusetts Economic Development Council.

“I am really pleased with the new board members’ diversity of backgrounds, level of experience and accomplishments, and commitment to Elms College,” said Harry Dumay, president of the college. “I look forward to working with them to advance the mission and vision of the institution at this exciting moment in our history.”

BOSTON — Business confidence in Massachusetts declined to its lowest level in 17 months during October as the uncertainties that roiled global financial markets seeped into employer outlooks.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index lost 1.6 points to 61.0 last month, the fourth decline in the last five months. The reading remains well within optimistic territory, but the BCI now sits 1.7 points lower than its level of a year ago and at its lowest point since May 2017.

Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design, said the October decline is noteworthy because of large declines in employer confidence in their own operations, and among manufacturers.

“Fears about slowing growth, trade wars, and rising interest rates buffeted financial markets this month, and some of those same fears, combined with an increasingly acrimonious midterm election, affected employers as well,” Torto said. “The good news is that the fundamentals of the economy remain strong. MassBenchmarks reports that the Massachusetts economy grew at a 3.3% annual rate during the third quarter, and the national economy added 250,000 jobs last month.”

The AIM Index, based on a survey of 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 overall Business Confidence Index were almost all lower during October. The one exception was the Massachusetts Index assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth, which rose 0.2 points to 64.7. Confidence in the state economy has declined 0.4 points since October 2017.

The U.S. Index lost 2.0 points to 61.6, leaving it 0.9 points lower than a year ago. The Company Index, measuring employer assessments of their own operations, dropped 2.0 points to 59.6, down 2.4 points year-to-year. The Employment Index lost 0.3 points during October, while the Sales Index tumbled 3.1 points to 57.4.

The Current Index, which assesses overall business conditions at the time of the survey, fell 1.0 point last month to 63.3 and 0.3 points for the year. The Future Index, measuring expectations for six months out, lost 2.1 points for the month and 3.2 points for the year.

Non-manufacturers (61.7) were slightly more optimistic than manufacturing companies (60.3). Companies in the eastern part of Massachusetts (61.7) were more bullish than those in Western Mass. (60.3). Medium-sized companies (62.1) registered higher confidence readings than either large companies (59.5) or small companies (60.6), an unusual result since large companies typically show the most optimism on the Index.

Katherine Kiel, professor of Economics at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester and a member of the BEA, suggested that large companies may be particularly concerned about the ratcheting up of trade tensions between the U.S., China, and other trading partners. “Employers responding to the survey are expressing fears about the potential effects of rising tariffs both on the price of raw materials and their ability to expand overseas markets.”

AIM President and CEO Richard Lord, also a BEA member, agreed that international trade friction and uncertainty about the duration and scope of new tariffs are clouding employer views of an otherwise solid economy. “Concerns about trade and tariffs are likely to influence employer decisions as we move toward the end of 2018 and into the New Year. Hopefully, the results of the midterm elections will shed some light on the direction of trade policy moving forward.”