Page 47 - BusinessWest June 9, 2021

Free Music Fridays
June 4 to Sept. 3: Live music will returns to MGM Springfield with the new Free Music Fridays Concert Series. Every Friday, some of the area’s most popu- lar rock bands will perform on the Plaza at MGM Springfield starting at 7:30 p.m., weather permit- ting. Kicking off the 2021 series is FAT featuring Peter Newland. Additional local favorites such as Trailer Trash, Darik and the Funbags, and Michelle Brooks- Thompson, among others, are scheduled to perform throughout the summer. The Plaza Bar will reopen for Free Music Fridays, offering summer cocktails, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages, among other options. Guests also can enjoy MGM Springfield’s diverse food and beverage offerings before or after the concerts, with options including the Chandler Steakhouse, Tap Sports Bar, and Southend Market venues including Bill’s Diner, Jack’s Lobster Shack, Wicked Noodle, and Hearth Grill. For additional details on the Free Music Fridays Concert Series, including lineup updates, visit mgmspringfield.com.
Asnuntuck Foundation Golf Tournament
June 15: Asnuntuck Community College’s founda- tion and Aerospace Components Manufacturers will host a golf tournament fundraiser — the program’s 13th annual tournament and the first year the fun- draiser will be held at Tunxis Country Club in Farm- ington, Conn. Proceeds from the event will benefit to the Advanced Manufacturing Technology Center at Asnuntuck, which features leading-edge technology and has educated more than 9,000 students since
1998. Additional sponsors committed to the tourna- ment include Air Industries Group/Sterling Engi- neering, Aerospace Alloys Inc., Aeroswiss, Advance Welding, Pilot Precision Products, Kaman Precision Products, Willington Nameplate, Accu-Rite Tool and Manufacturing Co. Inc., and Jarvis Surgical Inc. Golf- ers will pay $150 for 18 holes of golf. The entry fee also includes a cart, goody bags, and two drink tick- ets. The day will also include a barbecue lunch and fountain drink, along with dinner and an ice cream sundae bar. Golfers will have a chance at door prizes, and awards will be presented to top golfers dur-
ing the dinner portion of the evening. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m. with tee-off at 1 p.m. Golfers will play with a ‘shamble,’ which is a modified scramble. This format has each golfer hit their tee shot, and the group picks the best one and plays their own ball from there. Visit birdease.com/amtgolf to register and learn about sponsorship opportunities. For more information, contact event coordinator Joshua Ware at [email protected] or (203) 228-2768.
‘Cook Your Way to Hormone Health’
June 17, 24: Bella Foodie LLC announced 2021 dates for its “Cook Your Way to Hormone Health” virtual cooking workshop with Renae Taply of Tap into Well- ness. This event will help women in the community learn how to optimize their hormone health through foods and balancing the plate. The workshop will be held 100% virtually, but attendees will still feel the excitement of an in-person event. During the event, participants will be guided through creating meals
community projects and events in South Hadley. Meanwhile, the Ledges Golf Club, owned by the
town and a financial drag for many years, is on its way to performing at par. At the beginning of the pandemic last year, golf courses across the state were mandated to stay closed for several weeks. Sullivan called the lost months a “kick in the shins” because, once it opened, the Ledges did brisk business all sea- son and came close to hitting a break-even point.
“This year, we made $200,000 in revenue in just March and April,” Sullivan said. “By the end of the fiscal year next June, we think the Ledges will break even.”
In addition to her duties as chamber president, Theroux’s full time job is executive director of Berk- shire Hills Music Academy (BHMA), a music-infused program that helps young adults with special needs to expand their social, vocational, and life skills. Before the pandemic, BHMA employed just over 100 people. Though it normally offers both residential and day programs, state mandates forced BHMA to quickly shift to remote classes for its day students. After furloughs and layoffs due to the new mandates, 64 staff remain.
“Our current state is a hybrid model where we have about 40% of our day students back on campus, with the rest joining us by remote,” Theroux said. “Once we can fully reopen, we’d like to staff up to where we were before the pandemic.”
Looking ahead to the fall, she wasn’t sure what to expect for new enrollments, but was pleasantly sur- prised to see strong numbers for BHMA’s incoming class.
“Once their loved one is vaccinated, many families are all in on our program, and that’s a huge positive for us,” Theroux said. “Three months ago, I would not have been as confident about what next year would look like.”
utilizing phase-specific foods that naturally support hormone balance. The event will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. on both dates. Tickets to the event cost $45 upon registration. After registration, participants will receive an ingredient list for the cook-along portion with Ashley Tresoline, owner of Bella Foodie. During the two-part workshop, participants will learn how food can affect the hormones; learn seasonal recipes for every phase of one’s hormone life; and engage in a talk about hormone health and wellness. The ses-
Agenda
sions will include Q&A time, a cook-along portion and demonstration, and handouts on hormones, recipes, and meal guidance. To register, visit www. eventbrite.com/e/cook-your-way-to-hormone-health- tickets-154772991183.
AIC President’s Cup Golf Outing
June 18: American International College (AIC) will host its 13th annual President’s Cup Golf Outing at Wintonbury Hills Golf Club in Bloomfield, Conn. Proceeds from registrations and sponsorships directly benefit AIC scholarship programs, which are essential in the college’s support of students and future alumni. Since the President’s Cup Golf Outing began in 2007, the tournament has raised more than $500,000
toward scholarships
Back to School
Agenda
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South Hadley
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it provides a glimpse at
the future of development.
“At Woodlawn, you have a multi-use site with dif-
ferent types of businesses and living options all in one central location,” she said, while predicting that the entire area surrounding Woodlawn will see a revi- talization over the next several years. As one example, Northampton Cooperative Bank and PeoplesBank have recently opened branches in or near the Wood- lawn Plaza.
Sullivan also pointed with pride to the new senior center on Dayton Street, which is scheduled to open June 30.
“We were able to successfully build the senior cen- ter during the pandemic, and the costs were below the estimated bids,” he said. “Even with increases
in some of the materials, we will still come in nearly $700,000 under the original estimate.”
Six years ago, Mohawk Paper opened a plant in South Hadley to great fanfare and optimism for a long relationship with the community. Last year, in pursuit of more favorable taxes and incentives, the company closed its operations in South Hadley and moved to Ohio.
As tough as it was to see Mohawk pack up and leave, Sullivan noted that E Ink, the company located across Gaylord Street from the former Mohawk plant, has good news moving forward. “E Ink is planning to double in size because they have a new product line coming out.”
E Ink makes the agent used in tablets like the Amazon Kindle, which allows an electronic page to read like a physical book. In addition to tablets, E Ink screens are used in a variety of applications ranging from signage at MBTA stations and international air- ports to retail price signs.
On top of contributing as a successful company, Sullivan noted that E Ink is a strong supporter of
After more than a year of remote learning, Mount Holyoke College students have begun to return to campus. While remote learning is still available, many have indicated they plan to return to campus in the fall.
“The presence of Mount Holyoke students back on campus will provide a real boost to South Hadley feel- ing normal again,” Theroux said.
Sullivan is on the move, too. After a long career
of public service, he has announced he will retire in June. Looking back, he points to a number of projects he’s helped shepherd to success. One area of par- ticular pride is the progress South Hadley has made in hiring a more diverse workforce. As an example, he mentioned Police Chief Jennifer Gundersen, who recently joined South Hadley’s force after several years in Amherst.
Sullivan in only one of South Hadley’s leaders who are moving on. Planning Director Richard Harris is also retiring, and the superintendent of schools left in December to pursue another professional path.
While grateful for their service to the town, Ther- oux sees this as a time for South Hadley to bring new faces into leadership roles.
“As we emerge from the pandemic, I’m optimis- tic about the future and a new era of leadership for our town,” she said, adding that she looks forward to people once again enjoying all that South Hadley has to offer. u
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