Page 32 - BusinessWest May 12, 2025

AGENDA>> For more events, or to submit your upcoming events,
visit BusinessWest’s event calendar online: https://businesswest.com/eventcalendar
local experts and community voices. Visit commu-
nity.livinglocal413.org/event/413-womens-health-
connect to RSVP for the first event.
Walk to Cure Arthritis
June 1: The Arthritis Foundation announced that
the Western Massachusetts Walk to Cure Arthritis
will take place at Stanley Park in Westfield. Funds
raised through donations to the Walk to Cure
Arthritis will support the foundation’s ability to fund
scientific research and continue to provide services
and resources to the arthritis community. Walk to
Cure Arthritis celebrates the community of arthritis
patients of all ages, their caregivers, and everyone in
the movement to conquer the disease. Ashley Scott
is this year’s young adult walk honoree. She will be
celebrated for her perseverance in her battle with
arthritis and her strong support of the foundation’s
mission. In addition, the following people will be
honored: Grace Malave, juvenile idiopathic arthritis
youth honoree, and Bill Squires, rheumatoid arthri-
tis adult honoree. Residents can register and begin
fundraising for the Western Massachusetts Walk to
Cure Arthritis and learn more about the event by
visiting www.walktocurearthritis.org/westernma or
calling Hannah Hergenrather at (781) 312-9635.
40 Under Forty
June 19: BusinessWest will celebrate the 19th
annual 40 Under Forty Gala at the MassMutual
Center in Springfield. The class of 2025 is pro-
filed in the April 28 issue and at businesswest.
Coffee & Connections
May 16: The Chamber of Greater Easthampton will
hold its second Coffee & Connections of the year
from 8 to 9 a.m. at its WorkHub on Union co-work-
ing space at 33 Union St., Easthampton. Registration
is complimentary and open to all business, organi-
zational, and community leaders; however, registra-
tion is required due to limited registrations available.
For more information or to register, visit the cham-
ber’s events calendar at www.easthamptonchamber.
org or email [email protected].
Shred Days
May 17, 31: bankESB invites customers and mem-
bers of the community to two free Shred Days at
local offices. No appointment is necessary. Events
will be held from 9 to 11 a.m. (or until the truck
is full) on the following dates and at the follow-
ing locations: May 17 at the 770 Main St., Agawam
office (in partnership with the Parish Cupboard,
which will be collecting food donations), and May
31 at the 241 Northampton St., Easthampton office
(two trucks will be at this event). Local residents can
reduce their risk of identity theft by bringing old
mail, receipts, statements or bills, canceled checks,
pay stubs, medical records, or any other unwanted
paper documents containing personal or confi-
dential information and shredding them safely and
securely for free. A professional document-destruc-
tion company will be on site in the bank’s parking
lot and can accept up to two boxes of documents
per person.
413 Women’s Health Connect
May 21: Living Local 413 announced the launch
of 413 Women’s Health Connect, the first official
Completes >>Continued from page 26
program under its new Hot Topics initiative, an
innovative series designed to bring people together
around issues Western Mass. cares about. The event
will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Carriage House
at the Barney Estate in Springfield. The program’s
primary sponsor and featured speaker at the first
event is Robin Suave of Baystate Ob/Gyn Group Inc.
413 Women’s Health Connect is a multi-faceted
approach to improving women’s wellness and
strengthening community bonds. The program
features three in-person events per year across
Western Mass., an active online discussion board at
413online.com to continue conversations and share
resources, and a new podcast series, “413 Biz Buzz,”
exploring Hot Topics in greater depth and featuring
input we’d like to get from employers who might be
saying, ‘we have this program to try to recruit nurses,’
or maybe there’s a need in the early-education space,
the daycare centers, who are struggling to employ.
How can we build on the efforts that some of the
employers are having?” Burke went on.
She noted that many students who are a good fit
for a program like Western Mass Completes are
non-traditional students — typically older students
who are returning to their education.
“A significant percentage have children, so they’re
parenting, they’re sustaining a family, and they’re
doing all these other things while they get their
com. The presenting sponsor of this year’s 40
Under Forty is PeoplesBank. Partner sponsors
include Live Nation Premium, Mercedes-Benz of
Springfield, and the Isenberg School of Manage-
ment at UMass Amherst. Health New England is
the presenting sponsor of the Alumni Achievement
Award, the winner of which will be announced
at the gala. Tickets cost $125. If they are not sold
out, they may be purchased at businesswest.com/
eventcalendar/40-under-forty-event-gala.
Hooplandia 2025
June 20-22: Registration is now open for Hoop-
landia, the third annual 3-on-3 basketball tourney
and festival, at hooplandia.com. The event will take
place at Eastern States Exposition (ESE) and the Nai-
smith Basketball Hall of Fame. Games will be played
at the ESE complex, with special games held at
the Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2024, 75 basketball
courts allowed accommodation for more than 650
games played by approximately 2,100 participants
of all ages. Diverse divisions include young girls and
boys, women, men, high-school ages, college level,
OGs, veterans, and more. Fees range according to
age. Players in the Special Olympics and Unified
division can look forward to free registration, and
those in the Hoops & Heroes division, such as active
and retired first responders and military person-
nel, have access to discounted registration. Players
are invited to build teams of four, create their own
unique team name, design their uniforms, and reg-
ister at hooplandia.com.
education. These are folks who are trying hard to
improve the situation for their entire family. And the
fact that we could do that with a couple thousand dol-
lars — it feels so gratifying to know you’re helping a
family stabilize itself, benefiting not just the one indi-
vidual, but everyone else they’re supporting as well.”
Hurst agreed it has been satisfying to see the ini-
tial impact of the project, whatever strategies come of
it. “To know that you were able to change the finan-
cial trajectory of someone’s life, something we know
has generational impact, is really exciting.” BW
What’s Happening in Western Mass?
Search for events. Submit your events.
Visit BusinessWest’s Community Calendar:
32 << DEPARTMENTS >>
MAY 12, 2025
Business W est