OCTOBER 6, 2012 | | Buy Tickets Now! |
Holiday Lighting FundraiserCelebrity Bartending
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Manhan Bridge Update
Informational meeting held September 4.
A meeting to provide updates on the plans for the replacement of the Route 10 bridge over the Manhan River was held Tuesday, September 14. The forum, arranged and attended by state Representative John Scibak, state Senator Michael Knapik and Mayor Michael Tautznik also included representatives from Mass. Dept. of Transportation, the City Engineering Dept., as well as, Northern Construction Service the project's contractor.
Initial work on the project, projected to begin by the end of September, will include intersection work with the addition of permanent signals at Route 10 and O'Neil Street and Route 10 and West Street. There will also be a temporary traffic signal at Ferry and Pleasant Streets to facilitate construction detours. There will also be the construction of a temporary pedestrian bridge over the river which will include rerouting of utilities.
Upon the completion of those steps, the bridge will be closed for demolition, site work and construction of the new span. Closure of the bridge, according to contract terms, is to be no longer than 180 days with monetary incentives for early completion, as well as penalties for delayed completion. Both Northern Construction and D.O.T. stated that closure is most likely to begin by the end of March 2013.
In a response to inquiries about reminding the public that the bridge, not the road is closed, the D.O.T. and contractor will be willing to add signs near the detours noting that businesses are open. Your Chamber leadership is also exploring
avenues it will take to also keep in the fore front that it will be business as usual for the Northampton Street and downtown enterprises and encourage patronage.
Meeting particpants all agreed that information is vitally important to all concerned. We are working with the contractor and City and State officials to develop a conduit of information whereby businesses and consumers will have a regular, systematic and accurate update as to the progress of the project.
Your Chamber is committed to working diligently on your behalf as we all go through this inconvenient, yet necessary, infrastrucure project!
Eric Snyder, Executive Director
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Member Spotlight: Wireless Zone of Easthampton
The Wireless Zone® of Easthampton opened in Nov. 2009. Founded by Russ Weldon in 1988 as the Car Phone Store in Connecticut, this company was renamed the Wireless Zone in 1999 and is an authorized dealer of Verizon products and services. Wireless Zone specializes in selling all Verizon products, including the latest cellular/wireless phones, GPS navigation, wireless accessories, Wireless Data Devices and pre-paid cellular services. There are currently 460+ stores in over 30 states that are locally owned and focused on giving excellent customer service. Clients can learn to use their new devices and pay Verizon bills at the store. View this video to meet Store Manager Scott Snyder and Caleb Kabaniec, Sales Associate, to find out more details about the services and products they provide. Wireless Zone of Easthampton is located at 422 Main Street, Easthampton (across from the Big Y in Southampton), tel. 413-203-5577, www.wirelesszone.com/easthamptonma.
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Member News:ECA+ Winds Up Bear Fest 2012
 Easthampton City Arts+ presents the Parade of the Bears for a final view of the 2012 Easthampton Bear Fest sculptures on Sept. 8, 5:30-7:00 p.m. during Art Walk Easthampton.
The community celebration will center around viewing of the 92 artist-created bear sculptures seen throughout the city. The sidewalk parade will begin with the Expandable Brass Band leading the group at 5:30 p.m. at the Old Town Hall, 43 Main Street. This will be the last chance for the public to see the 92 bear sculptures on view throughout the streets of Easthampton and in businesses throughout Easthampton, Westhampton, and Southampton.
A great evening of music featuring four-time Grammy-nominated singer Karrin Allyson is on tap for Friday evening, September 14 at 7 p.m. at White Brook Midle School. Allyson will be perfoming with the Amherst Jazz Orchestra and the the concert will also feature the Easthampton High School Band. Ms. Allyson has released a dozen albums on Concord Jazz and has been nominated three times for a Grammy in the Best Vocal Album category. The Chamber is co-sponsoring this event with the Easthampton Cultural Council and Bear Fest 2012. Tickets are $15 and are available at www.brownpapertickets.com/event/260789 .
The final event for Easthampton Bear Fest 2012 will be a gala and Bear auction on Sept. 20 from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting House in Holyoke. Tickets are $65.00; sponsorships plus ticket are $100; and both can be purchased online or at the ECA+ office.
ECA+ Coordinator Burns Maxey said, "We are excited to have such a positive response from the community and beyond. We hope everyone comes out to celebrate the bears and support such a great cause!"
The Easthampton Bear Fest is a public art project in which life-size fiberglass bears are creatively transformed by locally and nationally known artists and are displayed throughout the greater Easthampton area. The project is organized by a committee of dedicated volunteers spearheaded by Easthampton City Arts+. The bears have already brought thousands of visitors to the streets of Easthampton and business to greater Easthampton merchants. The 2009 Bear Fest was a tremendous success, raising over $60,000 for local arts programs, artists and organizations and earning ECA an MCC Gold Star award.
 For more information about Bear Fest 2012 events, visit Easthamptonbearfest.com or contact Burns at ECA+ at 413-527-8278.
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Area News: Chamber Supports Two Key Easthampton Projects
 On Aug. 22, the Easthampton city planning department held a public meeting to obtain input concerning its application for funding through the MassWorks Infrastructure program for two key projects in downtown Easthampton. The state program funds municipal projects that promote economic development or housing, as well as transportation improvements in small, rural communities.
The Chamber feels that both of these projects will create significant improvements to Easthampton's business districts and submitted letters of support to City Planner Jessica Allan.
Pleasant Street Mills Infrastructure Improvements Project. This project, estimated at $3.6 million, will strengthen the connection between Pleasant Street and the Lower Mill Pond Park by revitalizing underutilized lands between the mills and the Manhan Rail Trail. The proposed improvements will help alleviate safety concerns, increase fire truck access, provide lighting for bikers and walkers along the rail trail, and improve storm water management. Parking infrastructure improvements will provide much-needed public parking along Lower Mill Pond Park and for future tenants in the mills. The new infrastructure should result in new economic growth and new residential units in the five mill buildings along Pleasant Street. The mill owners would pay for permitting, design costs and any other preliminary steps for the project, with the understanding that the city will find the funding to complete it.
Nashawannuck Pond Promenade Project.The Promenade project, estimated at $600,000, will provide a focal point for the pond and will link two of the city's key business districts, Union and Cottage Streets. The project's new boardwalk, pond dock access, sidewalk, lighting, and crosswalk improvements will provide improved access for visitors to Nashawannuck Pond, increase pedestrian traffic to local shops, and spur an increased interest in new retail development in those districts, resulting in enhanced economic benefit. The project will also provide a link to a new 50-unit housing project at the Dye Works mill building.
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Member/Area News: Making Moves They are open for business! Congratulations to Chamber member Easthampton Savings Bank on the August opening of their newly constructed Loan and Banking Center at 241 Northampton Street, Easthampton, tel. 413-527-4111. Chamber member Massage for Better Health has moved to a new location at 384 Main Street, Easthampton, owner Betsy Molitoris, LMT, tel. 413-210-0226, email: betsy.here@hotmail.com. The Chamber would also like to welcome the following new businesses that have recently opened their doors. When you go there, tell them the Chamber sent you! - Coco owners Unmi Abkin and Roger Taylor have reopened their 95 Main St. restaurant after purchasing the Cellar Bar (below the restaurant) and the liquor license to go with it.
- Custom Cycle Bike Shop, 90 Cottage St, Easthampton, owner Tom Bacis, tel. 413-527-1009
- Family Dollar Store, Union Plaza, Easthampton, tel. 413-527-7470
- Granby Furniture, 92 Cottage St., Easthampton, owner Ron Smigiel, tel. 413-527-0560
- The Lobby @ Popcorn Noir (restaurant), 32 Cottage Street, Easthampton, owners Kristen Davis and Tom Doherty, tel. 413-529-4647
If your business is "making moves" in the greater Easthampton area, let us know and we'll post your info in future issues.
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