SPRINGFIELD — Moms in Power will present the Strength in Her Story Conference on Saturday, May 18 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Macedonia Church, 215 Tinkham Road, Springfield. The conference aims to be a beacon of hope and inspiration, dedicated to celebrating the resilience, strength, and courage of women navigating through life’s complexities. “This transformative event is a celebration of your evolution, your rise above trauma, and your journey of redefining who you are in the complexities of life,” said Arlyana Bowie, CEO of Moms in Power. “This event is for all women: the woman finding herse ..read more

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society has been awarded a grant in the amount of $124,000 from the John T. and Jane A. Wiederhold Foundation, a supporting organization of the Northwest Connecticut Community Foundation. The programmatic sustainability and capacity-building grant will fund three key initiatives during the next year at Dakin: spay-neuter surgery for the most vulnerable cats and kittens in the community, consulting support for the development of Dakin’s next three-year strategic plan, and equipment for the Pet Health Center that will build program capacity, including a new veterinary ..read more

SPRINGFIELD — Max Tavern at the Basketball Hall of Fame will host the seventh Max on Monday networking event on Monday, May 13 from 4 to 6 p.m., offering attendees the opportunity to connect with other professionals while enjoying complimentary hors d’oeuvres. A cash bar will be available for beverages. At each event, Max on Monday will feature a selection of local businesses. In May, the sponsored businesses will include PeoplesBank, Allied Flooring, Budget Cabinets, Greenstone Landscape, and LAKAY Building and Remodeling. Representatives from these businesses will be able to network with one ..read more

HOLYOKE — Environmental science students at Holyoke Community College (HCC) spent their last Friday class of the spring semester searching the wet woods behind campus for something no one wants to find. It’s called Batrachochytrium salamandrivorans, an emerging pathogen lethal to salamanders. But don’t even ask the instructor, Associate Professor Laurel Carpenter, how to pronounce that. “We just call it Bsal,” she said. The good news is the virulent Bsal fungus that has ravaged certain salamander species in Europe and Asia has not yet been found in North America. The hunt for it, though, is on ..read more

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Business Improvement District (BID) isn’t letting a little rain stop an evening of shopping, sipping, and supporting a good cause at its Sip & Shop event today, May 8, from 4 to 7 p.m. Hosted on the covered back patio of 1350 Main St. in downtown Springfield, this event is billed as “an unforgettable experience filled with fabulous finds, delectable treats, live music, and more.” In the spirit of celebrating women and motherhood, all ticket proceeds from the event will support Christina’s House, a local organization committed to providing shelter, support, and ..read more

HOLYOKE — On May 3, state Sen. John Velis joined community members at Hope for Holyoke’s eighth annual Hopey Awards. During this event, which recognized individuals, businesses, staff, peer leaders, and volunteers, Velis received Hope for Holyoke’s Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of his work to support those in recovery. “I am beyond honored to have received the lifetime achievement award from Hope for Holyoke, an incredible organization that does so much work every single day to help those in recovery in our community,” said Velis, who chairs the Joint Committee on Mental Health, Su ..read more

SPRINGFIELD — In honor of Tania Barber’s eight years of service on the board of directors of Health New England (HNE), the not-for-profit health plan is donating $5,000 to Caring Health Center. Barber recently retired from the HNE board and is currently the president and CEO of Caring Health Center, the only federally qualified community health center in Springfield. The grant will focus on Caring Health Center’s new Tania M. Barber Learning Institute, which offers training for professions in the healthcare industry. The model of the Learning Institute, developed by Barber, pays students, ofte ..read more

BOSTON — Berkshire Bank announced that its foundation made $401,190 in philanthropic investments during the first quarter of 2024. The grants covered a wide range of projects that foster upward economic mobility, support overall well-being, and enhance opportunities for individual success in the communities the bank serves. The investments also support the company’s BEST Community Comeback program. In all, the Berkshire Bank Foundation gave 107 local nonprofits grants to assist with critical projects in the areas of education, youth, food insecurity, housing, healthcare, substance-abuse preven ..read more

SPRINGFIELD — A Better Life Homecare will host a cocktail hour at Dewey’s Jazz Lounge in Springfield on Wednesday, June 5 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. This networking event serves multiple purposes. First, it’s an opportunity for the company to introduce its newest home-care programs, designed with the aim of enhancing quality of life for clients. Additionally, A Better Life has exciting news to share. Attendees will connect with fellow healthcare experts and community leaders in a relaxed and inviting atmosphere, discover more about A Better Life’s innovative homecare programs and how they can bene ..read more

BOSTON — The Healey-Driscoll administration announced more than $1.5 million in grant funding to protect and conserve drinking water resources in Massachusetts. The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs is awarding grants from the Drinking Water Supply Protection program to seven communities, which will enable them to acquire land to ensure the safety and quality of drinking water and protect public health. “It is fundamental that all of our residents have access to safe drinking water. Conserving this resource is vital,” Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper ..read more