Big Y Supports Schools Across Region
SPRINGFIELD — For nearly 2,000 schools across Massachusetts and Connecticut, Big Y World Class Markets has donated $275,482 during the past year in equipment through its Education Express program. Schools have received 25,000 pencils, 1,000 playground balls, 208 electric pencil sharpeners, 175 kindermats, 154 stopwatches, 94 books, 60 DVD/VCRs, 59 digital cameras, 40 classroom projectors, 14 printers, six computers, and six televisions. Top-earning schools in Massachusetts to date include high schools in Ludlow, Westfield, and Shelburne Falls. Since its inception in 1993, Big Y has awarded more than $11.5 million worth of free teaching materials and classroom equipment to area schools.
MassMutual Assists Students on SAT Prep Course
SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Mutual Life Insurance Co. (MassMutual) is teaming up with the College Board to offer city high-school students free access to the SAT Online Course, a program designed to boost SAT scores. At no cost, eleventh-grade students in Springfield can use the course, an online tool that students across the nation use to help prepare for the SATs and to ultimately achieve higher test scores. The program is being offered to city students attending public, private, parochial, and charter high schools. The SAT Preparation Program is part of MassMutual’s broader strategy to expand educational opportunities for local students.
Poll: The Ranch
Ranks in Top 50
SOUTHWICK — The Ranch Golf Club has been ranked 43rd nationally in the public-golf-course category of GolfWorld magazine’s Top 50 issue in September. The Ranch was one of only two courses in New England to make the list. GolfWorld’s Top 50 is an annual poll that ranks the best public, private, and resort golf courses in America. The poll uses 11 criteria to rank the courses, including course design, condition, practice facilities, customer service, and overall value.
Banks Recognized for Donations
WARE — Three banks were recently recognized by the Quaboag Valley Community Development Corp. (QVCDC) for their charitable contributions to the community. Country Savings Bank, FamilyFirst Bank, and North Brookfield Savings Bank all received certificates of appreciation for their generous donations during the recent annual meeting of the QVCDC. Funds provided by the three banks totaled more than $130,000 and enabled future outreach projects that directly benefit surrounding communities. Also, donations enabled maintenance and repairs of the QVCDC building, according to CDC Executive Director Susan Rutherford.
Berkshire Chamber Partners With BuyMass.org
PITTSFIELD — The Berkshire Chamber of Commerce has become a supporting partner in the new statewide online business-to-business directory, BuyMass.org. The partnership will provide members of the Berkshire Chamber discounted access to listings on BuyMass.org, a searchable online marketplace for products and services provided by thousands of companies throughout the state. Sponsored by Massachusetts: It’s All Here, BuyMass.org is designed to support the economic-development mission of the chamber by providing Berkshire County employers with visibility among potential customers throughout Massachusetts and beyond. The 1,100-member Berkshire chamber is the first chamber of commerce to partner with the month-old BuyMass.org. The directory currently contains more than 8,000 listings. Companies manage their own listings and select categories that best describe their products or services.
University of Hartford Builds Partnership with Incubator Facility
EAST HARTFORD, Conn. — The University of Hartford has become a collaborator in the business incubator at the Connecticut Center for Advanced Technology Inc. (CCAT), a move aimed at growing the relationship between the entrepreneurs who work with CCAT and the faculty, students, and resources of the university. The university will have an office at CCAT’s Pitkin Street headquarters to serve as a gateway for businesses, students, and faculty to find mutually beneficial opportunities to work together, particularly through CCAT’s newly established Entrepreneur Center. Several other collaborative efforts between CCAT and the University of Hartford are also envisioned over a broad spectrum of university capabilities, including technical evaluations, business case development, and visual communications. This collaboration will leverage other joint efforts already underway, including those with the university’s College of Engineering, Technology, and Architecture.
Public Asked to Choose Best of Boston Road
SPRINGFIELD — The Boston Road Business Assoc. (BRBA) is asking for the public’s support in choosing the winners of this year’s Best of Boston Road competition. The contest acknowledges the businesses along Boston Road for their hard work and outstanding customer and community services. BRBA has asked each member business to place ballots in their place of business so that customers, employees, friends, and family members can vote for the Best of Boston Road in categories including auto dealership, auto/gas service, recreational/fitness, health/dental service, professional service, general service, food and beverage service, restaurant, retail store, and banks/credit unions. Winners will also be chosen for the Boston Road Business of the Year, and the Best New Business of the Year.
Westfield Chamber Recognizes Businesses
WESTFIELD — During its Nov. 12 annual meeting, the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce will recognize two businesses with its Large Business of the Year and Small Business of the Year awards. Al Kasper, president and COO of Savage Industries, will accept the Large Business of the Year award, while the Sardinha family will accept the Small Business of the Year award for its Dunkin Donuts shops.
