News from our members
Join Mirick O’Connell’s Labor, Employment Benefits Team for this informative half-day seminar. We will discussing a variety of topics designed to assist HR professionals and business lenders as they attempt to successfully navigate challenging employment issues.
Do you feel like your business is stuck? Frustrated because you’ve tried so many things to grow your business and nothing seems to work?
On April 12th, challenge The Chamber’s “Profit Finder”, Brian Carmody, who says he can find $100,000 in new revenue and profit for your business in under 1 hour!
Only 9 appointment slots are available for business owners that day.
Sign up before your competition does for this potentially life-changing experience.
Boston – Berkshire Bank, a leading, socially responsible community bank with financial centers in New England and New York, is excited to announce it was recently recognized in Newsweek magazine’s list of America’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2023. The list features the top 700 most trustworthy companies across 23 industries.
The Newsweek list recognized companies for their dedication to building trust with all stakeholders. Results were based on a holistic approach to evaluating trust that considered customer trust, employee trust, and investor trust.
“Trust is the foundation of all banking relationships,” said Berkshire Bank CEO Nitin Mhatre. “This award reflects the passionate commitment of all Berkshire bankers working hard every day to earn the trust of our customers by treating them fairly and with respect, safeguarding and growing their hard-earned assets, being there for them in good times and bad, and prioritizing transparency and integrity at every stakeholder touchpoint. We are proud to be ranked as one of the most trustworthy companies and banks in the country for the second consecutive year.”
America’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2023 were identified in an independent survey based on a vast sample of approximately 25,000 U.S. residents who rated companies they know in terms of on all three touchpoints of trust. A total of 95,000 evaluations were submitted. This prestigious award is presented by Newsweek and Statista Inc., the world-leading statistics portal and industry ranking provider.
About Berkshire Bank
Berkshire Bank, founded in 1846, is becoming a high-performing, leading, socially responsible community bank. It empowers the financial potential of its stakeholders by making banking available where, when and how it’s needed through an uncompromising focus on exceptional customer service, digital banking, and positive community impact. Providing a wide range of financial solutions through its consumer banking, commercial banking and wealth management divisions, the bank has approximately $11.7 billion in assets and a community-based footprint of 100 financial centers in Massachusetts, New York, Vermont, Connecticut and Rhode Island. Headquartered in Boston, Berkshire Hills Bancorp (NYSE: BHLB) is the parent of Berkshire Bank. Named one of America’s Most Trusted Companies by Newsweek and America’s Best Midsize Employers by Forbes, Berkshire is also listed in the Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index and a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality. To learn more, visit www.berkshirebank.com or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
NewVue Communities is excited to welcome Dolores Thibault-Muñoz in the newly-created position of Deputy Director. Dolores started in the role on March 10th and will be overseeing NewVue’s housing services, community organizing, small business development, and fundraising and communications teams.
NewVue’s Executive Director, Marc Dohan said, “Dolores brings a combination of skills, leadership experience, and an understanding of the region’s economic development needs that will support NewVue’s mission, strengthen our programs and stretch our impact. She offers a breadth and depth of human service experience in a variety of work settings, and we are fortunate to have her join our team.”
Dolores moved to Fitchburg, MA in 2006, where she became the executive director of the Cleghorn Neighborhood Center. She then became interim executive director of Growing Places and House of Peace and Education Inc. Dolores has served on multiple boards of local organizations. She was also the first Latina elected City Councilor in the City of Fitchburg. Dolores graduated from DePaul University with a BA in Women’s and Gender Studies with a concentration in Public Policy and graduated with a JD from The Massachusetts School of Law. She most recently was a criminal defense attorney who represented indigent clients for the Committee for Public Counsel Services (CPCS), Massachusetts’ Public Defender Agency in Worcester County. She currently lives in Gardner, MA.
The Office of Fitchburg Mayor Stephen L. DiNatale, the Department of Public Works and the Health Department is inviting the community to participate in the City’s Annual 2023 Ward Clean-Up Days scheduled for Saturday, April 22nd, April 29th and May 6th.
Fitchburg’s City Ward Clean-Ups need the support of many helping hands from community clubs, civic groups, businesses and schools. Volunteers are need to help with litter pick up in our neighborhoods, along our roadways and in our many parks.
It is a wonderful volunteer opportunity for everyone to work together, take pride in our community and build a more vibrant City.
For more information, or to notify the City of a group that will be supporting the beautification efforts please contact the Mayor’s Office.
Barbara Mahoney, President and CEO of Leominster Credit Union presented Leominster Mayor Dea¬n J. Mazzarella with a check for $5,000 for the Mayor’s Energy Program.
“Leominster Credit Union is pleased to support our neighbors through Mayor Mazzarella’s Energy Program. There are many who are impacted by our current environment and rising costs, and their ability to pay for fuel is no different. Assisting those within the communities we serve is a major focus of LCU, and we continue to live by the credit union motto of People Helping People,” commented Barbara Mahoney, LCU President & CEO.
For more information on the Fuel Assistance Program stop by or contact the Mayor’s Office at 978-534-7500.
About Leominster Credit Union
Founded in 1954, Leominster Credit Union (LCU) is a member-owned, not-for-profit financial cooperative with a full range of deposit, lending and other financial services. Headquartered in Leominster, Massachusetts, LCU is proud to claim nearly 50,000 members and more than $700 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Clinton, Holden, North Leominster, Sterling and Worcester with ATM services at all branch locations. LCU also provides 24-hour banking via Mobile and Online services. Visit leominstercu.com or call 800-649-4646.
Please be advised that a Live Virtual Public Informational Meeting (PIM) for the referenced project will be hosted on Thursday, April 13, 2023 at 7:00 PM at the following MassDOT website: https://www.mass.gov/orgs/highway-division/events
Gardner, MASS. – In 2019, Heywood Healthcare’s Regional Behavioral Health Collaborative led the way with the implementation of the initiative called “Handle With Care” which aims to mitigate the impact of childhood trauma. Handle With Care is a collaborative model that promotes school and community partnerships to ensure that children who are exposed to trauma in their home, school, or community receive appropriate interventions to help them achieve academically at their highest levels despite any traumatic circumstances they may have endured.
Handle with Care is a regional initiative that will enhance communication, collaboration and training with law enforcement, teachers and administrators, early childhood educators and providers, and health care providers to better respond to early childhood trauma in the North Central and North Quabbin regions. The Plymouth County DA’s office provided large-scale training on Handle with Care for our local region as the Gardner Police Department and Gardner Public Schools initiated the program in 2019. Handle with Care reinforces trauma-informed care practices for youth in our schools and as law enforcement as first responders encountering children at an event. The North Central / North Quabbin region has assisted in identifying approximately 480 children with the need for trauma informed care since 2019.
Handle With Care is activated when a law enforcement officer or first responder encounters a child during a call, the child’s name, age and three words, HANDLE WITH CARE, are forwarded to the school for passive support of that child. Trauma-informed protocol is then initiated in the classroom which supports the child(ren) struggling with trauma through observation and support; they are not aware of nor approach to discuss the incident with the child; but instead provide extra support and accommodation as needed.
The Handle with Care North Central / North Quabbin initiative has expanded from our current 6 school districts and 10 police departments to now include Heywood Healthcare Emergency Room Registration Departments in Athol and Gardner. A parent or caregiver of school age youth will be given a “Handle With Care” caregiver form upon registering their child(ren) in the emergency room, to self-refer their child(ren) to the school nurse, day care provider and/or primary care physician. Handle With Care provides the school with a simple notification when a child experiences a traumatic event in their life. Having to report to school the next day can be difficult. The self-referral from the Emergency Department is one small step towards supporting our region’s youth and resilience.
The Handle with Care collaborative consists of first responders, community-based organizations, school districts and District Attorneys of ices supporting youth in the Greater Gardner area. Partners include: Ashburnham-Westminster School District * Ashburnham Police Department * Athol Police Department * Athol-Royalston School District * Boys & Girls Club * CAPs Collaborative Schools* Clinical Support & Options *Fitchburg State University * Gardner Police Department * Gardner Public Schools * Heywood Healthcare * Mahar Regional School District * MOC Early Education * Mount Wachusett Community * Narragansett Regional School District * NorthWestern County District Attorney, David Sullivan’s Of ice * Parent Professional Advocacy League * Petersham Police Department * PhillipstoPolice Department * Royalston Police Department * Templeton Police Department * Orange Police Department * Westminster Police Department * Worcester County District Attorney Joseph Early’s Office
Join Melissa Glenny, Founder and President of Franklin Professional Associates, Inc. for their free quarterly Workforce Webinar coming up on March 30th at 1:00PM. Melissa Glenny, Founder and President of Franklin Professional Associates, Inc. will be peeling the onion to help you understand the various reasons we are experiencing a historical shortage of workers in the United States. You’ll gain insights to understand the problem we face, and take away actionable steps to help your business endure, adapt and thrive in the war for talent.
Pictured left to right: Martin F. Connors Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust; Stephen L. DiNatale, Mayor of Fitchburg.
Rollstone Bank & Trust has donated $5,000 to the Fitchburg Mayor’s Energy Fund. The fund will provide relief to Fitchburg citizens who may have difficulty in dealing with the ever-increasing cost of heating their homes.
“We are honored to support Mayor DiNatale and his continuous efforts to diminish the financial strain on our residents and keep them warm this winter,” said Martin F. Connors Jr., President & CEO of Rollstone Bank & Trust. “Rollstone Bank’s commitment to our communities dates back to 1846, and it is our mission to help our neighbors flourish. Providing such a basic necessity as heat will relieve the financial burden of local families, keeping them safe and healthy.”
The Major’s Energy Fund was established in early 2023, in the midst of rising inflation and energy costs. As the winter season was underway, Mayor DiNatale knew the importance of setting a financial safety net for those who would be struggling to pay their bills while trying to keep their homes warm.
“We are grateful for Rollstone’s generous support of the Mayor’s Energy Fund and the partnership that will significantly help our residents,” said Stephen L. DiNatale, Mayor of Fitchburg. “They have always stepped up to help with our community endeavors, and we’re fortunate to have them in our City.”
At Rollstone Bank & Trust, we deliver personalized service that goes above & beyond. Our dedication to providing our customers with superior bank and wealth management solutions, along with the support they need to prosper at work and at home, has enabled us to build one of the most trusted banks in the region. With branches located throughout central Massachusetts, customers have peace of mind knowing we are FDIC & DIF insured, and never far from home. Rollstone Bank & Trust – it’s where you matter most.