Students from American International College, dressed in period (late ‘20s) outfits and standing in front of a 1930 Cadillac V-16 Sport Phaeton loaned by owner George Holman for the event, served as greeters for the gala.

Gov. Charlie Baker addresses those gathered in the restored grand concourse.

Cutting the ceremonial cake are, from left: William Hornbuckle, president of MGM Resorts International, one of the gala’s sponsors, Baker; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who spearheaded efforts to renovate the station; Roger Crandall, chairman, president, and CEO of MassMutual, another of the gala’s sponsors; Maura McCaffrey, president and CEO of Health New England, another gala sponsor; and William Pepin, president and general manager of WWLP-22 News, another gala sponsor.

Neal makes his remarks, thanking a number of individuals and groups that made the restoration of the station possible.

Springfield College recently partnered with the Canyon Ranch Institute to implement and evaluate a public-health project called Healthy Table. The goal of the program is to improve healthy eating, cooking, and shopping habits for individuals and families living in the vicinity of Springfield College. As part of the program, participants are able to speak with experts regarding nutrition, learn how to cook nutritional meals, and shop for healthy meals on a budget. Participants must be overweight, or at risk for or diagnosed with type 1 or type 2 diabetes, or have high blood pressure or high cholesterol. Each class is co-taught by a chef and a registered dietitian. At left, top: Springfield College Assistant Professor of Nutritional Sciences Donna Chapman and Catering Director Nick Testa lead participants through a healthy meal option in the kitchen at Cheney Hall. Bottom: Chapman leads the group through a trip to Big Y to talk about shopping for healthy food options.

Bradley International Airport recently launched service between Hartford and Edinburgh, Scotland on Norwegian Air, Bradley’s second non-stop, trans-Atlantic addition in the past year. The airport welcomed the arrival of the aircraft with a traditional water-cannon salute and celebrated the inaugural flight with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Passengers headed to Edinburgh were treated to a Scottish-themed sendoff at the gate, which included cupcakes, giveaways, and entertainment. Norwegian will operate year-round, three times a week, with a twice-weekly schedule during the winter season. The outbound flight leaves Bradley at 9:35 p.m., with an arrival of 9:30 a.m. in Edinburgh. The inbound flight departs Edinburgh at 5:15 p.m. and arrives at Bradley at 7:55 p.m. Charles Gray, board chairman for the Connecticut Airport Authority, noted that “this new international route highlights Bradley Airport’s continued growth and is a reflection of Bradley’s growing popularity among European carriers.”

Link to Libraries recently celebrated two local business partnerships. At top, Douglas Theobald (center) and Christopher Walker (left) from Moriarty & Primack, P.C. visited Bowe Elementary School in Chicopee, where they are sponsoring the school students and library as part of the Link to Libraries Business Book Link program for three years. The purpose of the program and sponsorship is to enhance the school library and to give new books to children in the school for them to build home libraries. Below, attorney Stephen Krevalin recently sponsored a field trip to the Basketball Hall of Fame for a grade 4 reading class from Walsh Elementary School in Springfield. They were treated to lunch, a scavenger hunt, new books, T-shirts, and a story hour as part of the sponsored trip, which is part of the Link to Libraries and Basketball Hall of Fame program offered to area schools and nonprofit organizations.

The Rotary Club of Springfield gave away $6,000 in service grants at its 102nd anniversary at the Fort Restaurant in Springfield on May 11. The Springfield Rescue Mission, Stone Soul Inc., New England Public Radio (NEPR), the Gray House, Springfield Museums, and Dakin Humane Society each received $1,000.
In addition, the Club presented Paul Harris Fellowship Awards to Peter Lappin, former director of the Western Mass. Office of Economic Development, and Springfield Rotarian Jack Toner.
Pictured from left: Sarah Gogal, project coordinator for the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum at the Springfield Museums; Alicia Garcia, chairperson for the Rotary Club of Springfield Service Fund; Stacey Price, director of Development and Marketing at Dakin Humane Society; Lamont Clemons, vice president of the Rotary Club of Springfield; Laurie Rosner, president of the Rotary Club of Springfield; Greg Clark, stewardship officer for the Springfield Rescue Mission; Karon Tyler, board president at Stone Soul Inc.; Carlos McBride, director of the NEPR Media Lab; and Kathleen Lingenburg, board president of the Gray House.

As part of a multi-year capital improvement project, Thornes Marketplace has spent roughly $500,000 to make the eclectic and historically relevant downtown shopping center more accessible to people with physical disabilities. “We’re nearing the finish line,” said Thornes owner and property manager Richard Madowitz. “We were interested in updating and modernizing and, where feasible, making the building compliant to the extent physically possible. We’re very pleased with the improvements and the increased opportunities it will afford members of the public.” Renovations include the remodeling of several bathrooms, which are now fully handicapped-accessible; the addition of oak handrails along the walls of the grand staircases; and, in partnership with Herrell’s Ice Cream, the replacement of a staircase with a ramp, making the ice-cream parlor accessible from within Thornes for the first time in its nearly 40-year history. Pictured at top: Herrell’s President Judy Herrell stands on the new ramp. At bottom: Madowitz; Thornes Marketing Manager Jody Doele, and Thornes Facilities Manager Jon McGee sit on the stairs beneath the newly installed supplementary handrail.

I Found Light Against All Odds, a television program hosted and co-produced by Stefan Davis, provides high-risk youth and families with tools and opportunities to break the cycle of poverty, desperation, and dependence that dominates their lives, enabling them to become contributing members of the community. Pictured at a recent meet and greet in Wilbraham for I Found Light Against All Odds are, from left, Lisa Leary; John Doleva, president and CEO, Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame; Lauri Doleva; Kim Sanborn, board member, I Found Light Against All Odds; Davis; Lori Berg, and Scott Berg, president and CEO, YMCA of Greater Springfield.

Last week, the board of directors of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) hosted a press conference and leadership luncheon panel to kick off a year-long slate of events celebrating the organization’s 10th anniversary. “I was nothing before YPS,” said Jeremy Casey, past president. “Being a part of this organization has made me better personally and professionally. It’s the best thing I have ever done for my career.” Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno issued a proclamation declaring Jan. 18, 2017 Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield Day in the city, praising members’ commitment to cultivate a more engaged young workforce and adding, “you have truly been outstanding ambassadors for the city of Springfield.” Afterward, BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien led a panel discussion with Casey, current YPS President Peter Ellis, and past presidents Jeff Fialky and Pam Thornton. “It’s amazing to me to see the progression, the continuation of the ideas you guys had, that are still happening,” Ellis told the past presidents and current YPS members gathered in the room.” Added Thornton, “YPS is only as good as the people serving. It’s always been a working board, a working organization. Everyone brings their own perspectives, different opinions about how to grow it, and sometimes we didn’t get along, but we’re so excited to see it’s still strong and still growing.”

Last month, Tech Foundry graduated its third class, during which area employers announced the hiring of IT students, turning them from interns to employees. With close to 100 volunteers, partners, business leaders, friends, and family in attendance, Jonathan Edwards (pictured), Tech Foundry’s director of Strategic Partnerships, feted the accomplishments of the Tech Foundry students, noting that “the class we’ve had this time around is truly remarkable. Now it’s time to build on that momentum.” Meanwhile, Tech Foundry founder and board chair Delcie Bean challenged the graduating students to “live up to the expectations that everyone in the room has for you by helping the Springfield economy grow and thrive. Other guest speakers included Carol Leary, president of Bay Path University, and Andrew Anderlonis, president of Rediker Software, whose company has hired three Tech Foundry graduates.