As ski areas across the state prepare to kick off the important Christmas Holiday Week, Governor Charles D. Baker has just announced a proclamation declaring January 5, 2018 as Massachusetts Learn to Ski or Snowboard Day.

This marks the first time that such an official proclamation has been made recognizing the state’s 12 alpine ski areas.  January is also National Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month across the United States which is also strongly supported by the Massachusetts Ski Areas.  The Official Proclamation reads:

• Whereas The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has 12 alpine ski areas spread throughout the state offering a variety of terrain for all ability levels, and
• Whereas Massachusetts Ski Areas offer skiing and snowboarding for all ages with excellent instructional programs and rental equipment, and
• Whereas skiing and snowboarding provide healthy, family-oriented, outdoor, life-long physical activities, and
• Whereas Massachusetts ski areas generate more than 1.5 million skier visits annually and are a major contributor to the state’s tourism economy during the winter, and
• Whereas introducing new kids and adults to learn to ski or snowboard through the ski areas’ numerous instructional programs is important to inspire families to learn the sport and engage in new experiences together to share adventures that will last a lifetime; and
• Whereas this year, we celebrate more than 75 years of skiing in the Commonwealth from small hills near Boston to the mountains in the Berkshires, our ski area partners throughout the state who help us promote these recreational resources of our Commonwealth, and
• Whereas We invite every Massachusetts resident, whether a kid or kid at heart, to learn to ski or snowboard and share your adventures @MassLearntoSkiDay, @MassLearntoSnowboardDay, #skiMA to inspire others to experience our incredibly diverse ski areas and to continue a rich legacy of this New England wintertime sport for recreation “close to home” for the benefit and well-being of the people of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts; and

Now, Therefore, I, Charles D. Baker, Governor of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby proclaim January 5, 2018 to be MASSACHUSETTS LEARN TO SKI OR SNOWBOARD DAY  and urge all the citizens of the Commonwealth to take cognizance of this event and participate fittingly in its observance.

The Massachusetts Ski Areas Association and Massachusetts Office of Travel & Tourism have also teamed up for a unique digital advertising campaign launching January 5^th on TripAdvisor promoting learning to ski or snowboard at one of the state’s 12 ski areas. The theme of the campaign is to remind travelers that Massachusetts ski areas are an ideal place to learn to ski or snowboard.  Ski areas throughout Massachusetts offer learn to ski packages which included beginner lessons, rental equipment and beginner lift tickets.

For a complete list of Massachusetts ski areas visit https://www.massvacation.com/skima/.   For more information on National Learn to Ski & Snowboard Month visit www.skiandsnowboardmonth.org/.

Let’s Fix This – Environmental, Health and Safety (EHS) Roundtable Friday, January 12, 2018, 8:00-9:30 am: Does your facility have an environmental, health and safety (EHS) challenge you would like to review and discuss with your colleagues? Do you have an EHS success story you can share with the group? This month the group will present and discuss their EHS challenges and successes. This is a great opportunity to partner and learn from your local peers. Meeting to be held at the Devens Eco-Efficiency Center, 33 Andrews Parkway, Devens. RSVP to Tracy Pierce: tracypierce@ecostardevens.com, members free, nonmembers $30.00.

Michael Hewitt, President and CEO of bankHometown, the 2017 Neighbors helping Neighbors Campaign has resulted in total donations of $25,000.

This is the 14th year that bankHometown has challenged local residents and businesses to help support local food pantries. It’s a way for the bank and its customers to make a real difference in the lives of local residents.

Customers of the bank and community members are invited to be a “Hometown Hero” for a $1 donation or a “Hometown Superhero” for a $5 donation. In addition to the in-branch fund drive, bankHometown also sends a letter to business customers inviting their contributions. bankHometown then matches all of the donations dollar for dollar and splits the funds among food pantries that serve the areas surrounding each of its thirteen offices in Massachusetts and Connecticut.

This year’s Neighbors Helping Neighbors donations benefit the Oxford Ecumenical Food Shelf at the Oxford Community Center; Food Share, a Southbridge-based program that serves residents of Sturbridge, Charlton and Southbridge; the St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry at Sacred Heart Church in Webster; the Athol Salvation Army Food Pantry; CARE Food Pantry in Clinton, the Auburn Youth and Family Services, Inc. Food Pantry and Ginny’s Helping Hand in Leominster. The Connecticut pantries being served this year are Daily Bread in Putnam; Friends of Assisi in Killingly and Thompson Ecumenical Empowerment Group (TEEG) in Thompson.

At the check presentation each organization shared a bit about their particular program and how they are striving to feed the hungry in their communities. John Kneeland of the Ecumenical Food Shelf in Oxford stated that they “are able to leverage each $1.00 raised to buy the equivalent of about $4.00 worth of food”.

Each representative also shared how the generous donations raised collectively from our customers, employees, and the bank, would positively impact their programs and why it means so much that the local communities stepped forward to help.  Karen Osbrey of The Daily Bread located in Putnam, CT shared that “IHSP continues to respond to the ever-changing economic challenges in northeast Connecticut, but we can’t accomplish this alone.  That is why we are so grateful for our many community partners, like bankHometown.” Collectively, the recipients provide meals to thousands of individuals and families each month.

Lt. Michael Buzzard of the Athol Salvation Army shared “in addition to the donation received today, I am also so appreciative of the support that bankHometown employees provide throughout the year whether it is spending time on committee work, fundraisers or other support of our programs”.

Michael D. Hewitt, President and CEO of bankHometown added that branch employee involvement in the community “is yet another example of Neighbors Helping Neighbors.”

To date, more than $142,500.00 has been distributed through this program.

Leominster Credit Union donated a variety of winter coats, gloves and hats to the Shalom Neighborhood Center to be distributed to residents of Puerto Rico and USVI. The request to participate in the “We got you covered” winter drive was to assist those who have been displaced and relocated due to being severely impacted by hurricane Maria.

Left to right:  Danielle Rivera, LCU; Karina Wallace, SNC; Barbara Mahoney SVP, LCU

About Shalom Neighborhood Center:  The Shalom Neighborhood Center (SNC) opened in 2010 and functions as the social action branch of the Christian Community Church or Iglesia Cristiana de la Comunidad. The center is a nonprofit organization focused on helping and advocating for the immigrant and refugee populations in Worcester, MA.

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 $600 million in assets. LCU has seven branch locations in Leominster, Worcester, Clinton, Holden, Sterling and North Leominster 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.

Leominster Credit Union announces that Kristen DiMeco has joined the Credit Union as Branch Manager.  She will be responsible for managing the member service team and for the daily branch operations at the Clinton office.   DiMeco has worked in the financial services industry for over 14 years. Her experience includes staff development, consumer lending, loan origination and relationship management.

DiMeco is an active member of the Worcester Chamber of Commerce.  She is currently pursuing a degree in Business Administration at Nichols College and has received Branch Manager Certification from the Massachusetts Bankers Association. DiMeco and her family reside in Clinton.