HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce announced its annual meeting breakfast will take place on Wednesday, June 13 at the Wherehouse?

The chamber’s agenda includes recognition of new members — Hadley Farms Meeting House, Bath Fitter, Dan’s Power Plant, Combined Insurance, Custom Identity Apparel, and VenYOU Events — as well as welcoming WestMass Eldercare’s new executive director, Roseann Martoccia, and celebrating the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round’s 25th anniversary and Holyoke Medical Center’s 125th anniversary.

Additionally, new board members will be confirmed while outgoing board members will be bid farewell; accomplishments and initiatives from the past year, together with goals for this upcoming year, including news on the Chamber Gift Card, will be revealed; and information on SPARK startups, Have a Ball in Holyoke, Grow Holyoke, Leadership Holyoke, the Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series, and Women and the Art of Risk will be shared with breakfast guests.

The chamber will announce the 2018 Business Person of the Year and the Fifield Volunteer of the Year award recipients at the breakfast. The honorees will be honored at a dinner reception on Wednesday, Oct. 24. More details will follow at a later date.

Tickets to the breakfast are $25 for members and $30 for non-members, and may be purchased online at holyokechamber.com/events.

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) have joined forces to create the Loop — a new public transportation service linking downtown tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, and arts and culture destinations to provide a more robust travel experience for Springfield visitors.

Debuting Aug. 24 as part of MGM Springfield’s opening day, the Loop will connect Springfield’s most storied landmarks, including Union Station, the Springfield Armory, Springfield Museums, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and MGM Springfield.

The Loop schedule is designed with visitors in mind. In addition to stops at cultural highlights, the shuttle also will make stops at MassMutual Center, Holiday Inn Express, Sheraton, Hampton Inn, and La Quinta Inn & Suites. The Loop will run Wednesdays through Sundays from Union Station from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and complete a full circuit in 60 minutes during the day and 40 minutes in the evening. Traveling on the Loop will be free.

“The Loop is yet another sign that the city of Springfield is on the rise, and tourism is a vital component to its revitalization,” said Alex Dixon, general manager, MGM Springfield. “The Loop will be a welcome boost for tourist-oriented businesses. It will allow us to package the whole area as a consolidated travel destination rather than just individual attractions.”

Sandra Sheehan, administrator with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, noted that the Loop will be operated with a zero-emissions electric bus as part of PVTA’s goal of providing sustainable transportation.

As part of its host-community agreement, MGM Springfield will provide PVTA with financial support to operate and maintain the Loop. This includes maintenance and insurance of the vehicle, as well as the costs associated with the hiring, supervising, and compensating the driver.

“For the hospitality community, the Loop has always been a key component of the MGM Springfield project,” said Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The Loop introduces visitors to the many attractions that make Springfield special, provides access to MGM Springfield, and has the potential to increase visitor stays in the region.”

SPRINGFIELD — Tickets are still available for BusinessWest’s 12th annual 40 Under Forty Gala, a celebration of 40 young business and civic leaders in Western Mass.

The lavish cocktail party, to be held on Thursday, June 21, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, will feature butlered hors d’oeuvres, food stations, and entertainment — and, of course, the presentation of the class of 2018, profiled in the April 30 issue of BusinessWest and also available at businesswest.com. Also, the fourth Continued Excellence Award honoree will be announced.

Tickets cost $75 per person, and a few tables of 10 are still available. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

The 40 Under Forty sponsors include PeoplesBank (presenting sponsor), Northwestern Mutual (presenting sponsor), Isenberg School of Management, the MP Group, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, Health New England, renew.calm, Development Associates, and YPS of Greater Springfield (partner).

HADLEY — Happier Valley Comedy announced the opening of the first-ever improv theater in Western Mass., to be located at 1 Mill Valley Road in Hadley. The local improv company will provide regular shows, classes, and professional and personal development services. It will be the only improv theater in the state outside of the Boston region.

Happier Valley Comedy’s recent fundraising effort raised close to $27,000, making it possible to begin immediate construction of a 70-seat theater and classroom space in the new complex along Route 9 in Hadley.

“We were absolutely blown away by the generosity and enthusiasm of our community, friends, and family,” says Pam Victor, founder and president of Happier Valley Comedy. “I am awash in gratitude. And let me add that hiring Scott Braidman two months ago was the smartest business decision I’ll ever make.”

Braidman was recently named general manager and artistic director of Happier Valley Comedy, and he is overseeing the theater build out and all operations of the new space. Braidman and Victor plan to open the theater by June 25 in time to hold their weekly summer classes. When the stage is complete later this fall, Happier Valley live shows will move to the new space. By the end of the year, the calendar will expand to include shows every Saturday night. The Happier FAMILY Comedy Show will remain at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

EASTHAMPTON — Taylor Real Estate announced it has hired a new employee who recently earned her real-estate license, and two other agents have also been licensed in the past year.

Hannah Winters came on board in April as a rental specialist, and she will lead the family-owned firm’s Rental Department. Winters and realtors Megan Conner and Sue Camp also earned the credentials that will allow them to represent a buyer or seller in a real-estate transaction.

Originally from Portland, Oregon, Winters moved to Western Mass. in 2015. She is working on an associate degree in business administration at Holyoke Community College and will attend UMass Amherst this fall, where she hopes to earn a bachelor’s degree in accounting. She has volunteered with AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps in the past and also has experience in hospitality management.

Conner, the daughter of Taylor Real Estate owner Chuck Conner, is an Easthampton native who grew up working in the business. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology with a specialty in developmental disabilities and human services from UMass Amherst. Conner has extensive experience in customer service, having worked at Taylor Real Estate as the administrative and advertising assistant for the past nine years. She previously served as a developmental specialist relief staff at Riverside Industries.

Camp has more than 20 years of customer-service experience. She holds an associate degree in biomedical engineering technology from Springfield Technical Community College and is a volunteer for Dakin Humane Society and the therapeutic Equestrian Center in Holyoke.

SPRINGFIELD — Paul Picknelly announced the latest edition to Springfield’s downtown, a full-service Starbucks on the corner of Main Street and Boland Way. Doors will open to all patrons on Wednesday, May 30 at 6 a.m.

Starbucks at Monarch Place will donate all proceeds from its first week of business to the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center to assist in the creation and installation of a new educational exhibit, bringing two exotic African cats to the city.

“We are so thankful to Paul Picknelly, a wonderful community partner who is truly committed to this city and the region,” said Sarah Tsitso, executive director of the Zoo in Forest Park & Education Center. “This collaboration demonstrates how growth begets growth. The successful opening of a new Starbucks at Monarch Place will help the zoo expand its collection, enhancing our conservation and education efforts. With the zoo approaching its 125th year, we could not be more grateful that this new Starbucks will help us grow and evolve.”

The opening of Starbucks represents the final phase of the newly renovated plaza at Monarch Place and follows the grand opening of a United Bank branch next door on the ground floor of Monarch Place. Starbucks now occupies the front corner of the plaza, facing Main Street, with 30-foot-tall ceilings, and featuring a commissioned piece of artwork by renowned artist Llew Majia, a 400-pound, 10-foot medallion that celebrates the diversity of Latin American coffee-growing countries. Patrons can also enjoy outdoor music and café seating on the plaza while overlooking the newly restored water wall.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College is running a three-week course for anyone interested in becoming a trained mediator or those just want to improve their conflict-resolution skills.

The 40-hour, five-session program will run on Fridays and Saturdays, June 8, 9, 15, 16, and 23, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. in HCC’s Kittredge Center for Business and Workforce Development, 303 Homestead Ave.

Debbie Lynangale, a mediator from the Mediation & Training Collaborative in Greenfield, will lead the class, which will cover different approaches to conflict and explore various communication tools mediators use to manage challenging situations.

“This course is the perfect place to start if you want to become a formal mediator or develop effective skills that can be used in professional and personal situations,” said Ken White, dean of Community Services at HCC.

This certified, interactive, practice-based training will increase participants’ ability to deal with conflict or help others work through conflict, and will teach simple steps for dealing with fights or disagreements. The course includes working with cultural differences, experiential skills practice, and mediation role-playing. The program qualifies attendees for social work CECs, CEUs, and Massachusetts or Vermont attorney CLEs, and includes a course manual and refreshments.

For more information or to register, contact HCC Community Services at (413) 552-2123 or hcc.edu/bce.

NEW YORK — Solidago Foundation CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román officially welcomed participants to the Women and Money Summit hosted by the Women’s Funding Network, the largest philanthropic network in the world devoted to women and girls. The summit was held at the SUNY Global Center in New York City on May 22. Barajas-Román serves as vice chair of the Women’s Funding Network.

The Women and Money Summit focused on women-of-color leadership and the role of women as engaged influencers on all issues relating to economic security. Barajas-Román joined Meghan Cummings, executive director of Women’s Fund of Greater Cincinnati Foundation, and Courtney Bryan, head of East Region Global Philanthropy at JP Morgan Chase & Co., in the afternoon for a panel discussing the importance of including both race and gender in grant-making strategies in order to achieve economic opportunity and security for all.

“Economic security is critical to women having equal power in our society,” Barajas-Román said. “The Solidago Foundation is guided by the belief that, for a community to thrive, women of color need to be able to drive their own development and growth. The Women and Money Summit provides the opportunity to have a dialogue about these important challenges.”

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates decreased in 24 labor market areas in the state during the month of April, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.

Compared to April 2017, the rates dropped in 20 labor market areas, remained unchanged in one area, and increased in three labor-market areas.

All 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded a seasonal job gain in April. The largest gains occurred in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Springfield, Barnstable, Worcester, Lowell-Billerica-Amesbury, and Framingham areas.

From April 2017 to April 2018, 12 of the 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead, Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford, and Worcester areas. The Pittsfield-area jobs level remained unchanged over the month.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for April was 3.3%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate in the month of April remained at 3.5% for the seventh consecutive month. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 6,100-job gain in April, and an over-the-year gain of 47,600 jobs.

The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor-market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates.

The estimates for labor force, unemployment rates, and jobs for Massachusetts are based on different statistical methodology specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond Inc., a regional leader in engineering and environmental consulting, appointed Becky Bozadjian as its director of Marketing & Communications. In this role, she will manage the firm’s marketing and communications group and contribute to growth strategies consistent with Tighe & Bond’s continued expansion in the marketplace.

Bozadjian, who is based in the firm’s Westwood office, has more than 25 years of experience as a senior management and marketing professional in the architecture, engineering, and construction industry. During this time, she has focused on building responsive marketing organizations, as well as developing and implementing strategic marketing plans for small, regional, and national professional-services firms. Her career has been defined by high-level leadership positions at several prominent engineering firms in the Boston area.

“Becky’s wealth of knowledge covers a full spectrum of marketing, including market research, strategic planning, business development, pursuit strategy, and marketing communications,” said David Pinsky, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “This will help us execute our marketing and client development process at the highest level, and we are thrilled that she has joined us.”

Bozadjian has been a member of the Society for Marketing Professionals and has presented on a variety of topics at the national and regional levels. In the Coaching for Leadership & Teamwork Program at Babson College, she coaches undergraduate students on leadership, communication, and teamwork skills. She earned her MBA at Babson College with a concentration in marketing, and her bachelor’s degree in economics from Connecticut College.

“Tighe & Bond is a very professional and strategic firm — plus, the people are terrific,” Bozadjian said. “I’m excited to be part of its collaborative leadership team, helping to continue growth and marketing success.”

SPRINGFIELD — Today, May 24, Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) will host more than 450 people to celebrate the achievements of 35 startups participating in the fourth VVM Startup Accelerator program. The awards event will gather community influencers, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, and business leaders at the MassMutual Center starting at 5 p.m. for an evening celebrating the local entrepreneurial renaissance in Western Mass.

VVM’s curated group of judges hail from notable venture-capital and angel funds locally and nationally, such as Golden Seeds, the Opportunity Hub, VentureWell, DreamFunded, Springfield Venture Fund, Reinventure Fund, Petros CT Fund, and River Valley Investors. These active investors, who are deeply entrenched in the startup ecosystem, will split $150,000 among the top 12 finalists as they see fit, with a maximum of $50,000 per startup.

LUDLOW — Gove Law Office announced it will open an office in Spencer, expanding its presence into Worcester County.  The four-attorney firm also has offices in Ludlow and Northampton.

Along with the opening of the Spencer office, Gove Law Office also welcomes attorney Brian Roode as an associate. Roode, who has been in practice since 2008, will be focused on real-estate transactions, family law and mediation, estate planning, and landlord-tenant matters.

“Brian is a valuable addition to our firm, and brings a decade of experience in family law and real-estate matters. We look forward to having him help our clients navigate the difficult situations they may face,” said Michael Gove, founding partner of Gove Law Office.

Roode earned his juris doctor from the Massachusetts School of Law in 2008 and owned his own solo practice until joining the Gove Law Office in 2018. He practices in Worcester, Hampden, and Hampshire counties.

SPRINGFIELD — After an extensive search, Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) hired Jose “Joe” Rivera as its new senior director of Public Safety/chief of police.

Rivera, who started May 7, brings a range of law-enforcement experience. For the past 24 years, he has worked in municipal and higher-education policing. Most recently, he served as chief of police at Holyoke Community College. He previously worked at STCC as the college’s assistant director of public safety/lieutenant.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve STCC again,” Rivera said. “In my role as chief of police, I expect to lead the STCC police with professionalism and commitment to service. Our goal will be to provide for a safe and secure environment for all at STCC.”

Rivera, who holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from Curry College in Milton, began his career with the Amherst Police Department. He moved on to other positions, including ones at the Massasoit Community College Police Department and UMass Dartmouth, where he was a sergeant and lieutenant, respectively.

“Chief Rivera’s rich experience has provided him with a strong understanding of police operations and command,” said STCC Vice President of Administration/CFO Joseph DaSilva. “Chief Rivera is committed to developing positive working relationships with college departments and local, state, and federal law-enforcement agencies, and continuing to enhance positive relationships with our surrounding community as well as with students, staff, and faculty.”

Rivera’s certifications and training include firearms instructor, sexual-assault investigation, emergency planning, interview and interrogation, and Clery Act compliance, which requires colleges and universities participating in federal financial-aid programs to maintain and disclose campus crime statistics and security information.

HOLYOKE — The Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts will present its 2018 Creative Awards on Thursday, May 24.

This year’s awards show will be held at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, where Mayor Alex Morse will kick off the festivities. All creative work and submissions will be on display, including print, photography, videos, and more.

The Ad Club will also announce its 2018 Student Scholarship Award winner. The annual merit-based, $1,000 scholarship is given to a deserving student from Western Mass. intent upon carving out a career in the advertising, communications, marketing, or graphic-arts industries.

Cocktails and hors d’oeuvres will be served at 6 p.m., and the awards ceremony starts at 7 p.m. Ticket prices are as follows: $40 for members, $60 for non-members, and $20 for students with college ID. To reserve tickets, click here.

HARTFORD, Conn. — United Bank announced it has entered into an agreement with Webster Bank, N.A. of Waterbury, Conn. to purchase six branches located in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.

United Bank will assume approximately $120 million of branch deposits in the transaction, which is expected to close in the fall of 2018, pending regulatory approval.

Under the terms of the agreement, the following six Webster Bank branches will be purchased by United Bank, and employees at those branches are expected to join the United Bank team: 50 Elm St., West Springfield; 1355 Boston Road, Springfield; 62 Center Square, East Longmeadow; 124B Boston Post Road, Waterford, Conn.; 654 Long Hill Road, Groton, Conn.; and 48 Franklin St., Westerly.

Due to the close proximity of three branches in the Springfield market as a result of this transaction, United Bank will take the following actions at the time of the closing of the agreement, pending regulatory approval:

• United’s branch at 95 Elm St., West Springfield will close. All banking activity in that branch will consolidate into the Webster branch across the street at 50 Elm St. Also, customers will continue to have access to the separate drive-up branch at 52 Van Deene Ave., West Springfield.

• United’s branch at 459 Main St. in Indian Orchard will close. All banking activity in that branch will consolidate into the Webster branch at 1355 Boston Road, which is only one mile away from the Indian Orchard branch.

• United Bank’s branch at 94 Shaker Road in East Longmeadow will close. All banking activity in that branch will consolidate into the Webster branch at nearby 62 Center Square.

United Bank emphasizes that customers from the six branches included in this transaction do not need to do anything at this time. United will mail a package of information to the homes and/or businesses of all Webster customers from these branches in advance of the account and branch conversions, which are expected to occur in the fall of 2018.

NORTHAMPTON — American Benefits Group (ABG), a provider of solutions in the health-benefits industry, has been recognized by healthcare-benefits payments giant Alegeus as the 2018 APEX Award winner for Operational Efficiency and Excellence. The award was presented at the Alegeus National Conference on May 16 in Orlando, Fla.

ABG currently serves more than 1,300 employer plans in all markets, including several Fortune 1000 clients. The company has grown revenues by more than 300% since 2012. ABG was also previously recognized by Alegeus as the National Customer Service Champion in 2015.

“Needless to say, this recognition is a real honor, and one that is only possible because of the incredible dedication and brilliant execution on the part of our ABG management leaders and the entire operations team,” said ABG CEO and founder Robert Cummings. “The reason we are where we are today is because ABG is one of the best-executing third-party benefits service providers in America.”

In conjunction with the award, Alegeus has made a $1,000 donation to the local charity or nonprofit of ABG’s choice. American Benefits selected local nonprofit Safe Passage, an organization that serves victims of domestic abuse.

“They are just making a major move into a brand-new facility, so the contribution is well-timed,” Cummings said. “We feel Safe Passage is an organization that is doing life-changing and life-saving work.”

STOCKBRIDGE — Robert Mickey joined the Main Street Hospitality team as senior director of Regional Operations and general manager of the Red Lion Inn.

Mickey brings 20 years of hospitality experience to Main Street Hospitality, including extensive operational and management expertise. His tenure at Old Edwards Hospitality Group in Highlands, N.C. was preceded by work at other prominent properties throughout the Southeast, including the Greenbrier in White Sulphur Springs, W.V. as vice president of Guest Relations. He also served as director of Room Operations at the Sea Island Co. in St. Simons Island, Ga.

In his new role at Main Street Hospitality, Mickey will focus on leading operations at the Red Lion Inn and provide oversight and support to Main Street Hospitality’s Berkshires properties, including Porches Inn at MASS MoCA in North Adams, Hotel on North in Pittsfield, and Briarcliff in Great Barrington.

“We’re so delighted to welcome Robert to our growing team of management executives, and for this role it was important to us to tap someone well-versed in historic properties,” said Sarah Eustis, CEO of Main Street Hospitality Group. “Robert’s experience working with iconic destination hotels … makes him an ideal fit to manage the continued evolution of our Berkshires properties.”

SPRINGFIELD — Girls on the Run of Western MA will host a 5K celebration on Sunday, June 3, starting at 10:30 a.m. at Springfield College.

Girls on the Run is a positive, physical-activity-based, youth-development program that uses running games and dynamic discussions to teach life skills to girls in third through 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 the end-of-season 5K event.

Participation in the 5K event is open to the public. The program boasts 740 girls and 190 volunteer coaches this season, and the 5K is expected to draw more than 2,000 participants. Last season’s 5K event brought together more than 1,300 individuals, including program participants, their families and friends, and community members.

The registration cost is $20 for adults and $10 for children and includes an event shirt. The run will begin on the Springfield College track and will include two loops around the campus.

The run will begin at 10:30 a.m., but the festivities, including a group warmup and talk by Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper, will begin at 10 a.m. Early arrival is suggested. To register, or more information about the event and volunteer opportunities, visit www.girlsontherunwesternma.org. Registration will also be available the day of the event beginning at 8:30 a.m.

SPRINGFIELD — The venerable Colony Club in Tower Square shut its doors on Monday after more than a century.

Joseph Collins, a Springfield attorney the club has retained to handle its closing, told the Republican that the club, which was down to 215 members from 300 in 2015, had been struggling financially for some time, and its leaders were concerned it would not be able to pay its bills come summer, a traditionally slow time for the social club.

The Colony Club was founded in 1915. First located in a home on Maple Street, the club moved to Baystate West, now Tower Square, when that structure opened in the early 1970s.

FLORENCE — Florence Bank hired Nikki Gleason to serve as vice president and branch manager of the bank’s new Springfield location, slated to open this year.

Gleason studied accounting at Springfield Technical Community College and completed the program at the New England School of Financial Studies at Babson College. She is a board member for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity as well as a fundraising committee member Revitalize Community Development Corp. of Springfield.

She will work in the bank’s second Hampden County branch, at 1444 Allen St. in Springfield.

“We are thrilled to announce the addition of Nikki Gleason to our Florence Bank family,” President and CEO John Heaps Jr. said “She has garnered an impressive background in banking, and we feel very lucky to have her on board to help serve our customers in Springfield. I know we will be seeing outstanding results from her in the years to come.”

SPRINGFIELD — The Hampden County Bar Assoc., in conjunction with WGGB Channel 40, is holding a Lawyer on the Line event today, May 21, from 5 to 6:30 p.m.

Volunteers will provide legal advice on a variety of topics raised by callers during the evening news broadcast. Individuals needing advice should call (413) 846-0240 to speak to a volunteer.

EASTHAMPTON — Smith Brothers Insurance, with local offices in Easthampton and West Springfield, was recently appointed to the Hanover Insurance Group’s President’s Club, an elite group of independent insurance agencies from across the country.

The agency was formally recognized for its inclusion in the company’s President’s Club during a national business conference in Marana, Ariz. Accepting the honor was Jared Carillo, director of Foundation Accounts at Smith Brothers, an independently operated, top-100 broker in the U.S. with offices in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Agencies named to the President’s Club are recognized for delivering outstanding value to their customers through insurance expertise and responsive service. Smith Brothers was one of only 140 independent agencies recognized with this distinction across the county. The Hanover partners with 2,100 independent agents nationwide.

“Smith Brothers Insurance goes above and beyond to serve its customers, truly understanding their needs and offering valued counsel and high-quality insurance expertise,” said Richard Lavey, president, Hanover Agency Markets. “We appreciate Smith Brothers’ commitment to its customers, and we are proud to partner with its outstanding team.”

“We’re honored to be recognized with this award,” Carillo said. “This is a reflection of the importance we place on providing our customers with distinct insurance solutions and specialized insurance expertise.”

SPRINGFIELD — WGBY’s The Opioid Crisis: A Community Dialogue, which aired live on May 11, 2017, has been nominated for a regional Emmy Award.

When then-interim General Manager Lynn Page helped conceive of the special, award nominations were the furthest thing from her mind. Instead, she was focused on fostering a healing and idea-generating moment within the Western New England community around the growing concern of opioid addiction and misuse.

“We wanted the station to get involved,” Page recalled. “The opioid crisis continues to devastate our communities, and we knew we had the unique ability to bring a range of stakeholders together for a fruitful discussion about the serious health issues surrounding painkillers and narcotics. Local public television serves as a conduit for information and conversation.”

Her team’s work has since been recognized by the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) Boston/New England Chapter, which nominated The Opioid Crisis: A Community Dialogue for a regional 2018 Emmy Award in the category of Health/Science Program or Special. Executive Producer Tony Dunne and Carrie Saldo, the program’s host and producer, were both named in the nomination.

Moderated by then Berkshire Eagle reporter Saldo (now host of WGBY’s weekday public-affairs series Connecting Point), The Opioid Crisis: A Community Dialogue was developed in partnership with the Center for Human Development (CHD) and featured a panel of Western New England locals, including Dr. Robert Roose of Providence Behavioral Health Hospital; Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni; Chantal Silloway, Adolescent Recovery Program director at Goodwin House; Danyel Zerella, a mother in addiction recovery; Jennifer Kimball, manager of the Public Health Program at the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission; and Liz Whynott of Tapestry Health’s needle-exchange program.

With a town-hall-style discussion, the program was broadcast live from the WGBY studio in Springfield. Panelists fielded questions and comments from in-person audience members as well as Twitter and Facebook users.

“Anything can happen with live television,” Dunne said. “We were fielding social-media comments, managing audience questions, balancing panelist time. It was a lot to juggle. But we knew were doing this for the benefit of our community, covering a topic — opioid addiction — that continues to plague our region and places all across the country.”

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 3.5% in April, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) preliminary job estimates indicate Massachusetts added 6,100 jobs in April.

Over the month, the private sector added 5,900 jobs, as gains occurred in education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; other services; financial activities; and trade, transportation, and utilities. Government also added jobs over the month. From April 2017 to April 2018, BLS estimates Massachusetts has added 47,600 jobs.

The April unemployment rate was four-tenths of a percentage point lower than the national rate of 3.9% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Massachusetts has now experienced a 3.5% unemployment rate for seven consecutive months. Over the year, jobs are up 47,600, with professional, business, and scientific services adding 19,200 jobs — signs of continuing growth and strength in the economy,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rosalin Acosta said.

The labor force increased by 20,900 from 3,683,700 in March, as 19,700 more residents were employed and 1,300 more residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate decreased four-tenths of a percentage point from 3.9% in April 2017.

The state’s labor-force participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — is up over the month four-tenths of a percentage point at 66.0%. Compared to April 2017, the labor-force participation rate is up four-tenths of a percentage point.

The largest private sector percentage job gains over the year were in construction; professional, scientific, and business services; leisure and hospitality; and other services.

HOLYOKE — The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone in Massachusetts is sponsoring a nationwide essay contest focusing on innovative ways to prevent drunk driving. The three essay winners will receive $5,000 worth of scholarship prizes for education-related expenses.

The essay contest is open to undergraduate college students and law-school students enrolled at accredited schools in the U.S. Essays must be between 500 and 1,000 words on the following topic: “How can we prevent drunk driving and promote safe driving among young motorists?”

The winning essay will be awarded $2,500, second prize is $1,500, and third prize is $1,000. Only one essay can be submitted per student. Essays must be original content.

Each submission must include an essay as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx format); school transcript or proof of enrollment; applicant’s name, address, and phone number; school name and address; a two- to three-sentence bio; and a waiver form with a parent or guardian’s signature for applicants under 18.

The application deadline is Aug. 15. Winners will be announced on Sept. 14. Applicants can view the rules of the contest and apply online at www.marksalomone.com/scholarship.

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) named Myrta Colon Groeneveld of Longmeadow, a professor of Mathematics at Manchester Community College in Connecticut, as Distinguished Alumna 2018. She will be honored at STCC’s 51st commencement ceremony on Thursday, May 31 at 6:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center.

“Myrta offers a wonderful story of persistence for community-college students everywhere,” said STCC President John Cook. “In turn, with Professor Groeneveld now offering her talents as a community-college educator, STCC could not be more proud to recognize her as our Distinguished Alumna for 2018.”

Groeneveld praised the faculty and staff at STCC for helping her pursue her dreams, noting that “STCC gave me a way to succeed here. It was not the courses or the language instructions, it was the supportive faculty and staff.”

Groeneveld first came to STCC after she moved from Puerto Rico to Springfield. She wanted to get medical care for her son, who has Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, a condition causing severe seizures. To better communicate with doctors, she began taking ESL courses at the college. She continued and earned an associate degree in early childhood education in 1999.  She began working as an advocate for families of children with disabilities and began her service on the Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services citizen advisory board.

After working as a lead teacher for Head Start, she returned to school and earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics at Westfield State University. She went on to the University of Connecticut to complete a master’s degree in mathematics.  While at Uconn, she began teaching math classes at Westfield State, Manchester Community College (MCC), and STCC. She taught developmental courses at STCC and MCC in Spanish.

Groeneveld began working full-time at MCC in fall 2008.  She redesigned the developmental math program at MCC and helped obtain a grant to rewrite the developmental math curriculum and construct and implement a dedicated computer lab for instruction and testing.

Because of improvement in student success, Groeneveld was chosen to be a National Academic Transformation Scholar to mentor and train college and university faculty across the country.  She developed the curriculum and continues to train instructors for programs such as Summer Training and Retention Services, Reaching Education Achievement for College Transition (now called Smart Start), and the ALEKS self-study program for underprepared students.

She was named coordinator of Developmental Math at MCC, a position she still holds, and also served as Math Department chairman. She quickly attained full professorship and was awarded the MCC College Employee Leadership Award in 2014 and 2016 for her dedication to students. On April 5, MCC awarded Groeneveld the Jonathan M. Daube Award for her commitment to providing access to students with disabilities.

GRANBY — OTELCO hired David Chaplin as an outside plant field technician to work out of its Granby office.

In this position, Chaplin is responsible for all aspects of OTELCO network maintenance and customer service in Granby, including both the central office and the outside plant. He also serves as special projects contributor and emergency coverage backup in the Shoreham, Vt. market.

“Dave brings experience and expertise to OTELCO that will benefit the OSP team and other work groups as well. He has quickly become a valuable asset,” said OTELCO Director Wade Moffett.

Chaplin comes to OTELCO with 31 years of service as a technician at Verizon Communications. Most recently, he worked as an engineering project manager at UC Synergetic.

“I am excited to bring my years of telecommunications experience and passion for service excellence to the customers of OTELCO,” Chaplin said. “They deserve our very best, and I’m glad to be part of the team making that happen every day.”
OTELCO Inc. provides wireline telecommunications services in Alabama, Maine, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, Vermont, and West Virginia. The company’s services include local and long-distance telephone, digital high-speed data lines, transport services, network access, cable television, and other related services.

SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield announced it will restart renovation work on the Springfield Innovation Center in mid-June, the Republican reported.

MassDevelopment, the state’s finance and development agency, sent DevelopSpringfield a commitment letter this week regarding project financing, according to Nicholas Fyntrilakis, chairman of the DevelopSpringfield board of directors, who hopes the local agency can close on $1.8 million in loans by the end of May.

Fyntrilakis pegged the new project budget as just more than $7 million, an increase from the original $5.5 million budget.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College (HCC) is offering a free, four-week, intensive training course for experienced kitchen workers who want to quickly advance their culinary skills.

The grant-funded course, “Line Cook Training,” will run Monday through Friday, June 4 to June 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the new HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute in downtown Holyoke. The classes will be taught by Warren Leigh, HCC Culinary Arts professor and professional chef. Class topics include moist and dry cooking methods; soups, stocks, and sauces; knife skills; culinary math; and ServSafe and TIPS certifications.

“This training is for experienced cooks, food preparers, and food-service workers who want to refresh or strengthen their culinary skills to meet the growing demands of today’s industry,” said Kermit Dunkelberg, HCC assistant vice president of Adult Basic Education and Workforce Development. “It will prepare participants to work in a fast-paced, high-volume restaurant environment and be competitive for job openings at top employers in the region, such as MGM, which is now hiring for the August opening of its new resort casino in Springfield.”

Applicants for the course must have at least two years of experience in the culinary industry. For more information or to register, call Ann Rocchi, job placement assistant, at (413) 552-2753 or Milissa Daniels, career development counselor, at (413) 552-2042.