The Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice program has announced it is now a Level 5 Partner with We Honor Veterans, a program of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization in collaboration with the Department of Veterans Affairs. Level 5 is the highest level that can be achieved. Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice is one of only five hospice agencies in Massachusetts and the second in Western Massachusetts to earn the Level 5 Partner distinction.
As a level 5 Partner, Cooley Dickinson VNA and Hospice provides specialized care to veterans who are facing a serious illness. Specialized care includes a veteran-to-veteran volunteer program, training on conflict-specific medical and mental health concerns, and knowledge to assist veterans in navigating VA benefits. Employees, clinicians and volunteers have received education on topics ranging from PTSD at end-of-life and LGBTQ veterans’ needs to homelessness and hospice care. In 2023, the team hosted several community programs across Western Massachusetts that focused on hospice and the care of veterans at end of life.
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Monson Savings Bank representatives recently visited with Jen Finnigan, Wilbraham Senior Center activities/volunteer coordinator, and Dee Mitchell, Friends of Wilbraham Seniors corresponding secretary, at the Wilbraham Senior Center for a tour of the new location.
Monson Savings Bank was a Platinum Level donor to the Friends of the Wilbraham Seniors’ Capital Campaign. The bank contributed $25,000 to the construction of Wilbraham’s new Senior Center. The donation specifically supported the creation of the Fitness Room.
The new Wilbraham Senior Center is located at 250 Springfield St. behind the town offices.
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At its annual Farmer Appreciation Party held at Smith College in Northampton, the Local Farmer Awards program honored the farmers of the four counties of Western Massachusetts while featuring food grown or produced by local farmers. In addition to partners HGCF, Big Y and the Massachusetts Society for Promoting Agriculture, generous sponsors of these Awards for capital improvements include: Charles and Elizabeth D’Amour, Ann and Steve Davis, Audrey and Chick Taylor, Barbara Deslauriers, PeoplesBank, Andrews, DeNucci Group at Merrill Lynch, Eastern States Exposition, Farm Credit East, HP Hood, Baystate Health, Country Bank, Three County Fair, Franklin First Federal Credit Union and bankESB.
In front of a crowd of 130 guests including farmers, funders, and friends of the Local Farmer Awards, eight farmers shared “90-Second Farm Project Success Stories” during the program portion of the event. These stories briefly explained the impact of the capital projects implemented with the help of a Local Farmer Award.
The farmers who shared the benefit of the grants they received were:
Julia Coffey, Mycoterra Farm, Aquifer Irrigation System; Laurie Cuevas, Thomas Farm, Goat Scratching Brush; David Drugan, Buzz Off Bee Co., Honey Extraction Equipment; William Ellison, Ellison Farms Beef LLC, Fencing to Convert Hayland to Pasture; Luke Longstreth Mountainside Maple, Energy Efficient Vacuum Pump; Carl Salsedo, Salsedo Family Farm, Irrigation for High Tunnels; Robert Schrader, Chestnut Mountain Tree Farm, Pesticide Applicator; Suna Turgay, Flowerwork Farm, Climate Smart Low Tunnels
As a continuation of its support for local farmers, HGCF purchased products from farmer attendees. During the party, a group of volunteers assembled “Harvest Swap” bags for guests.
In April of 2024, 100 farmers received awards totaling $231,000 to help with farm improvements. Most farmers began their projects in the spring. In January 2025, the application for the 11th year of the Local Farmer Awards will open.
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The Springfield Regional Chamber, in partnership with Western New England University, announces the opening of applications for the 2025 Springfield Leadership Institute. This year’s program begins Feb. 20.
Led by faculty from WNEU’s College of Business, the updated curriculum features sessions on topics such as artificial intelligence, digital media strategies, and business analytics.
The program’s interactive structure includes weekly sessions led by experts across various disciplines, culminating in a capstone project where participants apply their learning to real-world organizational challenges. Graduates will be honored at a celebratory event following the completion of the sessions.
Attendees who complete the Leadership Institute will also receive a free graduate course offered through the College of Business at Western New England University.
Spanning 12 weeks, the program will be held on Thursdays from 1 to 4 p.m. at the TD Bank Conference Center, located at 1441 Main St. in Springfield. Interested candidates must submit their applications by Feb. 6 with a tuition fee of $995 per participant.
To learn more, visit https://springfieldregionalchamber.com/.
