Company Notebook

Rick’s Auto Body Supports Link to Libraries
SPRINGFIELD — Rick’s Auto Body in Springfield recently became the latest Link to Libraries Business Book Link sponsor, with its support and contribution of more than 300 new books each year to the Baystate Academy Charter School on Franklin Street in Springfield. “Rick’s Auto Body has stepped up to offer much-needed resources and support to this school,” said Susan Landry, director of Business Book Link. “We’re honored by their support and advocacy to the Link to Libraries program. These students will be supplied with books of all genres for their school library and for their own home library throughout the next three years.” Since its inception in 2008, Link to Libraries has donated more than 225,000 new books to Western Mass. schools, nonprofits, and individuals. For more information on Link to Libraries and its childhood-literacy programs, contact (413) 224-1031 or visit www.linktolibraries.org.

ESB Gives $10,000 to Center for Health Education at HCC
EASTHAMPTON — Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of Easthampton Savings Bank, announced that the bank has made a $10,000 contribution to the Holyoke Community College Foundation for the Center for Health Education. When it opens, the facility will be equipped with sophisticated patient simulators, ranging from maternity and newborn to pediatric and geriatric, in support of nursing education. “The center will significantly expand the college’s nursing and radiologic technology programs, further allowing us to better serve the community,” said Erica Broman, vice president of institutional development and executive director of the Holyoke Community College Foundation. “It will also support the educational needs of the region through partnerships with other community colleges, local agencies, medical facilities, and K-12 schools in the region.” Added Sosik, “building healthy communities starts with education and reliable resources. An investment in this facility is an investment in our communities’ future.” Holyoke Community College will also use the classrooms in the center for outreach programs that will provide free and low-cost health-education programs for residents of Holyoke, Easthampton, and surrounding communities.

HealthSouth Opens Facility at Ludlow Mills
LUDLOW — HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital of Western Mass. recently celebrated its grand opening at Ludlow Mills. The $28.5 million facility consists of 53 beds and offers all private rooms. It provides rehabilitative care to patients who are recovering from stroke and other neurological disorders, brain and spinal cord injuries, amputation, and orthopedic, cardiac, and pulmonary conditions. At 74,500 square feet, HealthSouth used more than 100,000 recycled bricks and planed wooden beams from old mill buildings. The facility is part of the Ludlow Mills redevelopment project being undertaken by the Westmass Area Redevelopment Corp. The new HealthSouth is a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Silver-certified hospital, signifying that it meets and exceeds established green-building criteria.