Page 82 - BusinessWest October 31, 2022

Social Media Summit
Oct. 27: Chikmedia invites the community to attend its virtual 2022 Social Media Summit, where it will provide an update on all things social-media related. Chikmedia, a boutique firm offering strategic market-
MiraVista Behavioral Health Center (Administra- tor); Dr. Philip Glynn, director of Medical Oncology, Mercy Medical Center (Provider); Dr. Paul Pirraglia, division chief, General Medicine and Community Health, Baystate Health (Collaboration); ServiceNet’s
emy Street. After the race, participants are invited to Rumbleseat Bar & Grille for an awards ceremony and after-party, which is included in the $35 race registra- tion fee. Prizes will be awarded for fastest runners
as well as best individual and group costumes. The Thriller 5K is presented by N. Riley Construction with other sponsorship support from Holyoke Medical Center, Polish National Credit Union, Valley Opportu- nity Council, PeoplesBank, First American Insurance Agency, Health New England, HUB Insurance Servic- es, Lumber Dogs, Ondrick Natural Earth, BK Hotels, and Beauty Batlles Lounge. Prizes and decorations are sponsored by Phil Beaulieu & Sons, Riley Home Realty, the Beauty Box, Roca, Slosek Insurance, Grise Funeral Home, East Commerce Solutions, Lids Live Well, Florence Bank, and Vibe Dance Studio.
Ironman 70.3 Triathlon
June 11: The IRONMAN Group, in partnership with the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, announced that the city of Springfield will host the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Western Mass. tri- athlon. General registration is available at www.iron- man.com/im703-western-massachusetts. The triathlon will consist of a 70.3-mile journey as athletes will take on a 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride, and 13.1-mile run. Athletes will start with a downriver swim in the Connecticut River. Once out of the water, athletes will transition to the bike at Riverfront Park in Springfield for the 56-mile ride around the region’s biking areas. Once back in Riverfront Park, the race will conclude with a run using the riverwalks and downtown streets of Springfield. The triathlon will offer qualifying slots to the 2023 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship in Finland on Aug. 26-27, 2023.
and sustainable solutions to pressing educational and social concerns. This fall, the studio announced four partnerships: with Pittsfield Public Schools and Berkshire Educational Resources on comprehensive professional development in arts integration, open to all K-12 teachers and specialists in Berkshire county; with Mount Holyoke College and its Professional
and Graduate Education Department on a graduate fellowship focused on producing research and pub- lications on arts and learning; with the town of Long- meadow, Bay Path University, and Deza Studios to produce a public art exhibit that illuminates commu- nity-wide perspectives around climate despair, resil- ience, and action as the town embarks on updating its master municipal plan with a focus on equity and climate change; and with the Treehouse Foundation, an intergenerational community in Easthampton designed to support families with children who have experienced foster care. The Arts Integration Studio is also developing ARTS CORPS, a work/study/pro- fessional training program for college students and emerging teaching artists interested in the intersec- tionality of arts, education, social justice, and com- munity well-being.
Mercedes-Benz of Springfield
Celebrates Five Years
CHICOPEE — Mercedes-Benz of Springfield is cel- ebrating five years since opening its doors on Oct. 16, 2017. Mercedes-Benz of Springfield’s early and sustained success continues to validate the brand’s decision to put a site in the Pioneer Valley, despite the 11-year hiatus in having a local Mercedes-Benz
Notebook
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ing planning and creative PR, is hosting this virtual event to support the future generation of market-
ing leaders. Participants will have the opportunity
to learn the latest trends, updates on Instagram and Facebook, and how to create an engaging reel to cap- ture their audience’s attention. They will walk away with information they’ll need to effectively manage social-media platforms and produce quality content. The event will take place from noon to 1:30 p.m. Par- ticipants will receive a Zoom link for where the event will be held. Tickets cost $75 for current Chikmedia clients and $125 for non-current clients. Visit www. chikmedia.us/chik-events.html to register.
Healthcare Heroes
Oct. 27: BusinessWest and the Healthcare News will honor eight individuals and groups as Healthcare Heroes for 2022 at a celebration dinner at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. The Healthcare Heroes class of 2022, profiled in the Sept. 19 issue of BusinessWest, and the categories they rep- resent are: Helen Caulton-Harris, director of Health and Human Services, city of Springfield (Lifetime Achievement); Mark Paglia, chief operating officer,
New Valley Bank & Trust Opens West Springfield Branch
SPRINGFIELD — New Valley Bank & Trust cut the rib- bon on its newest full-service branch at 333 Elm St., West Springfield, on Oct. 7. Joining the bank’s board chair, Frank Fitzgerald, was West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt, state Sen. John Velis, and state Rep. Michael Finn. “Our customers and prospects have been asking us to open a branch on the west side of the Connecticut River for some time,” New Valley
ment of Emergency Medicine, Baystate Noble Hospi- tal (Emerging Leader); and the Elaine Marieb Center for Nursing and Engineering Innovation (Innovation). The Healthcare Heroes program is being sponsored by presenting sponsors Elms College and Baystate Health/Health New England, and partner sponsors Trinity Health Of New England/Mercy Medical Cen- ter, American International College, and MiraVista Behavioral Health Center. Tickets cost $85 each, and tables of 10 or 12 are available. Visit businesswest.com/ healthcare-heroes/healthcare-heroes-tickets to reserve a spot.
Chicopee Thriller 5K
Oct. 29: The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Com- merce will host its second annual costume-themed Thriller 5K at 11 a.m. A portion of the event’s pro- ceeds benefit Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry. The race starts and ends at Grise Funeral Home, located at 280 Springfield St. Registration opens at 10 a.m., and the race starts at 11 a.m. The 5K running route takes runners to Front Street, through Szot Park, then back to Grise via Abbey Memorial Drive and Fairview Street. A two-mile walking route will turn up Acad-
for these first-time homebuyers. This program is designed to help those who need it most by offering 100% financing for single-family homes or condo- miniums and 95% financing for two-family proper- ties, with no down payment. In addition, the bank will cover 100% of the private mortgage insurance (PMI) that traditionally adds to the monthly payment, saving the borrower hundreds of dollars each month. This feature also gives the borrower more purchas- ing power by not having to pay the cost of mortgage insurance. Certain restrictions and locations apply for
Agenda
Enrichment Center & Strive Clinic and its partners at Springfield College and UMass Amherst (Collaboration); the Addiction Consult Service at Holyoke Medical Center (Community Health); Dr. Sundeep Shukla, chief, Depart-
Company Notebook
this program. “Buying your first home can be very stressful, and not having the ability to save for a down payment prohibits many from purchasing a home, even when they can afford the monthly payment. Country Bank’s
President Jeff Sullivan said. “We have recognized the need to increase the convenience of doing business with the bank, and we are proud to be able to offer our services in West Springfield. I spent 11 years of my career working on Elm Street, and many mem- bers of the New Valley team have had similar past experiences. We are thrilled to be back in the neigh- borhood with friendly, familiar faces. As a gesture
of good will, the bank recently donated to the West Springfield Boys and Girls Club, the first of many new community partnerships to come.”
Country Bank Pledges $10 Million to Support Affordable Housing
WARE — Country Bank has introduced a new afford- able-housing program featuring no down payment for first-time homebuyers. The first-of-its-kind pro- gram will assist low- to moderate-income families
in purchasing a home. Country Bank has pledged $10 million to the program to help make a difference
mortgage experts can assist those interested in learn- ing more about the program or who may be ready to purchase a home. The no-down-payment, first-time homebuyer program is available until the $10 mil- lion commitment has been allocated. To learn more, visit www.countrybank.com/mortgages or a bank-
ing center, or call the Customer Care Center at (800) 322-8233.
Arts Integration Studio Opens
HOLYOKE — Priscilla Kane Hellweg announced the launch of a new consulting firm, the Arts Integra- tion Studio. Hellweg, who retired in December 2021 after 40 years as the executive/artistic director of Enchanted Circle Theater in Holyoke, said the Arts Integration Studio is a creative makerspace designed to address critical needs in education, community health, and the environment. The studio incorporates creativity, the arts, and cultural engagement, and col- laborates with others to promote positive outcomes
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