PALMER — In December, the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce relocated its office operations to a new rented space at Pathfinder Tech’s Four Corners building at 191 Sykes St. in Palmer.

The building is the former Country Bank Four Corners branch and is now home to many of Pathfinder Tech’s Adult Continuing Education programs, as well as weekly meetings by the chamber’s Quaboag Referral Group, which will sponsor an open house and member showcase on Wednesday, April 29 from 5 to 7 p.m., an event that will also feature music, food, and giveaways.

The public is invited to see the former bank building renovations that have taken place and interact with more than a dozen businesses and organizations that will be set up both indoors and outside, promoting their products and services. Those businesses include the Valley’s Classic Hits, Quaboag Referral Group, Behavioral Health Network, Bucha Bros, Cedarbrook Village at Ware, Christopher Heights of Belchertown, Gray Craig Farm, Hardwick Vineyard & Winery, Holiday Inn Express Ludlow, J. Stolar Insurance Agency, Pathfinder Tech, Ravage Designs, Roberts & Ludlow Printing, the Quaboag Valley CDC and BAC, Steaming Tender Restaurant, and more.

“We are proud to celebrate our new location and provide visitors with a fun setting to interact with the Quaboag Hills business community at this free event,” said James Przypek, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce. “By bringing our region’s diverse entrepreneurs and established industry leaders together, we’re creating a unique space for residents and fellow professionals to discover the incredible talent right here in our own backyard. We invite everyone to join us to experience firsthand the collaborative spirit that drives our local economy forward and to see why there’s never been a better time to be open for business in the Quaboag Hills.”

Guests are welcome to RSVP on the Chamber’s website, qhma.com, or stop in at their leisure during the open house.

PALMER — Online voting has opened for the 2026 Choice Awards on the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce website, qhma.com. Each year, the Quaboag Hills Chamber recognizes individuals and businesses that enrich the region. Members of the public are encouraged to cast their votes between now and March 15 for the finalists being celebrated this year.

“The annual Choice Awards continues to be one of the most beloved traditions we operate,” said James Przypek, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce. “Last year, we tallied more than 22,000 votes for the deserving people and businesses nominated.”

The 2026 Choice Award categories and finalists are:

• Community Hero of the Year finalists: Ann Davidson of Wales Community Food Pantry, Karen Jacobs Davis of Monson Together Community Cupboard, Brenda McCarthy of Bondsville Post Office, Amy Scribner of River East School to Career, and Chris Smith of Light Up Palmer.

• Educator of the Year finalists: Pam Ellis of Granite Valley School, Jacqueline Fernandez of North Brookfield Elementary School, Marcie Fusco of Wildwood Acres Farm & Forest School, Beky O’Brien of Old Mill Pond Elementary School, and Marion Reilly of Wales Elementary School.

• “We Keep You Running” HVAC Business of the Year finalists: C.W. Angell, Noonan Energy, Pioneer Valley Environmental, River-Air HVAC, and Squier & Co.

• “We Build It” Manufacturer of the Year finalists: Palmer Foundry, Palmer Paving, Quabbin Wire & Cable Co., Quirk Wire Co., and Sanderson MacLeod.

• “We Do Good” Non-Profit of the Year finalists: Behavioral Health Network, Hitchcock Free Academy, Palmer Historical & Cultural Center, Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp., and Workshop13.

• Chamber Champion of the Year finalists: Burkhart Pizzanelli, P.C., Hardwick Vineyard & Winery, Pathfinder Tech, SERVPRO Team Fall, and Superior Plus Energy.

• Chamber Legacy Award finalists: Bell & Hudson Insurance Agency, Country Bank, Monson Savings Bank, Moulton Insurance Agency, and North Brookfield Savings Bank.

The winners will be announced and all finalists will be honored at the QHMA Choice Awards dinner on Wednesday, May 6 at the Steaming Tender restaurant in Palmer. Tickets to the event are on sale now at qhma.com.

PALMER — The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, the area nonprofit that promotes business, development, and tourism in Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties, is seeking nominations for its 2026 Choice Awards in the categories of Community Hero and Educator of the Year.

Nominations can be submitted on the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce official website, qhma.com, through Feb. 13. Online voting for this year’s finalists will be open to the public and conducted from Feb. 15 through March 15, also at qhma.com.

Finalist voting will also include a number of chamber member-specific categories honoring local nonprofits, manufacturing, and service businesses. All finalists will be honored and the announced at the Choice Awards Dinner on Wednesday, May 6 at Steaming Tender Restaurant, located at the former historic Palmer Railroad Station site.

“The annual Choice Awards is one of the most distinguished programs the chamber conducts. It is an honor each year to celebrate a new class of extraordinary individuals who make our region so special,” said James Przypek, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce. “Last year, we received more than 22,000 finalist votes, which is a testament to how deeply our communities appreciate those who make a difference in our lives every day.”

Community Hero of the Year is an individual (citizen, resident, veteran, or first responder) who has gone above and beyond via a single outstanding act within the last 12 months, or a series of contributions over an extended period for the betterment of their community. The individual must reside or have performed their act or work within the Quaboag Hills’ 15 member communities.

Educator of the Year is an individual who has positively impacted the school (public, regional, private, or independent) and the students for which they work. The individual must reside, or the school for which they work must be located, within the Quaboag Hills’ 15 member communities.

PALMER — The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce, the nonprofit organization that promotes business and development within surrounding communities of Hampden, Hampshire, and Worcester counties, announced its Handbag & Hand Tool Bingo Night fundraiser will take place on Friday, March 21 at 6:30 p.m. at AMVETS Post 74 in Three Rivers. Doors open at 6 p.m.

The chamber will produce 10 bingo rounds, each with a grand prize featuring one of seven designer handbags or one of three premium tools up for grabs.

“The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce is thrilled to provide a fun filled and inclusive night out for all, while highlighting local businesses who sponsor the grand prizes,” said James Przypek, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce. “The chamber was poised to launch its first bingo event in 2020 until COVID related gathering restrictions caused the chamber to postpone its plans, which has given us a chance to regroup and put together an even bigger and better event than originally planned.”

Tickets can be purchased on qhma.com. The registration fee is $40 per person and includes 10 bingo cards, a bingo dauber, snack platters, a bonus raffle ticket, and a cash bar.

Proceeds from the event will benefit the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce and its ongoing mission to assist its more than 200 member businesses succeed and grow with programs and initiatives throughout the year.

PALMER — The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce is seeking nominations for its 2025 Choice Awards. Award categories include Community Hero of the Year, Educator of the Year, Food/Drink Establishment of the Year, and Retail Establishment of the Year. The chamber will also be recognizing a member Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year at an event on May 1 at Teresa’s Restaurant in Ware, honoring this year’s recipients.

“We are thrilled for the return of the chamber’s annual Choice Awards event, and to specifically shine a spotlight on the difference-making individuals and businesses that help make our communities so special,” said James Przypek, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce.

Nominations can be submitted at qhma.com through Jan. 31, and online voting for this year’s winners will be conducted from Feb. 1 through March 16.

Community Hero of the Year is an individual (citizen, resident, veteran, or first responder) who has gone above and beyond with a single outstanding act within the last 12 months, or a series of contributions over an extended period, for the betterment of their community. The individual must reside or have performed their act or work within the Quaboag Hills’ 15 member communities.

Educator of the Year is an individual who has positively impacted the school (public, regional, private, or independent) and the students where they work. The individual must reside, or the school for which they work must be located, within the Quaboag Hills’ 15 member communities.

Food/Drink Establishment of the Year is an outstanding local food and drink establishment such as a restaurant, winery, brewery, cidery, or any other food and/or drink venue where products can be consumed on site.

Retail Establishment of the Year is an outstanding store or business physically located within, or whose online operations are based, within the Quaboag Hills’ 15 member communities, and which provides customers with goods or services.

PALMER — The Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce announced the election of its officers and directors following the chamber’s annual meeting conducted earlier this month.

“The chamber is blessed to have a diverse group of business leaders who bring their wealth of experience, knowledge, and dedication to our region,” said James Przypek, CEO of the Quaboag Hills Chamber of Commerce. “Each of them has demonstrated their commitment in assisting our member businesses with the tools and resources they need to grow, and to promote the Quaboag Hills region to visitors and residents alike.”

The chamber elected Renee Niedziela, co-owner of J. Stolar Insurance Agency, as president of the chamber. Niedziela first joined the chamber’s board of directors in 2016, and since 2018, she has served on several committees and as both treasurer and assistant treasurer.

David Loos was elected as the chamber’s 1st vice president, while Edward Fisher Jr. has been tapped as 2nd vice president. Loos joined the chamber’s board in 2023 following a successful law-enforcement career and has since been named an associate partner with Keller Williams Realty Pioneer Valley. Fisher is the owner of Fisher Tech Solutions, a digital marketing agency that specializes in custom web development and search-engine and pay-per-click optimization.

New appointments to the chamber’s board of directors include Kaitlin Young of Hardwick Vineyard & Winery; Michael Moore, owner of Silver Bell Farm in Monson; Rebecca Maurer, owner of Quabbin Valley Eye Care in Palmer; and Michael Harris, owner of multiple businesses and development properties in both Ware and Palmer.