Our goal is to keep our Chamber and Community members informed and engaged in local events. We invite you to discover the creative pulse that makes Holyoke such a great place to live and to visit.  We will also, on occasion, include information on regional events that might be of interest to our Chamber and Communtity members.

If you would like to include a company or civic event please do so by submitting it on the Chamber's website at holyokechamber.com and clicking on "Submit a Community Event".

Holyoke Police Holiday Crime Prevention Tips

Holyoke Police Chief James Neiswanger provides the following "Holiday Crime Prevention Tips" in the hopes of preventing many of these situations during the holiday season. Shoppers may be so busy that they fail to be aware of their surroundings. Careless or unaware shoppers are easy pickings for purse snatchers and street robbers.

Chief Neiswanger advises to scan your immediate area; don't assume that you are secure because there are people around you.

"Every good police officer is trained to read the environment. Likewise, you should ask yourself questions about your surroundings when you are out and about," The Chief says.

For example, when you are in a parking lot or garage, be alert to someone who appears to be standing around for no good reason. He or she might be waiting for someone - or that person could be an opportunist waiting to grab your shopping bags or your purse.

Shopping

• Always walk and park in well-lit areas. Park close to the entrance of the store or mall, if possible.
• Don't talk on a cell phone when walking through parking lots and streets. Your phone conversation is a distraction that makes you vulnerable to robbers. Keep your full attention on your surroundings. Also, your cell phone itself can be a tempting target to thieves.
• Don't electronically unlock your vehicle until you are within door opening distance. This helps stop a thief from getting into the car and waiting to strike when you least expect it.
• If you are ready to leave the mall and feel uneasy about entering the parking lot or garage by yourself, stay in the mall and ask for a security escort.
• Do not open your car door to anyone in a parking lot or garage. If you believe you are in danger, call 911 immediately.
• Outside of the mall, stick to well-lit, well-traveled streets, walkways and parking areas for both walking and parking.
• Don't flash large amounts of cash or offer tempting targets for theft such as expensive jewelry or clothing.
• Carry a purse or shoulder bag close to your body, not dangling by straps. Put a wallet in an inside pocket of your coat or front pants pocket.
• Don't fumble for car keys. Have them in your hand, ready to use when you reach the car.
• If you believe someone is following you, cross the street, switch directions, walk into a store or restaurant. If you are really scared, yell. Don't be embarrassed. Your safety is more important.

Saturday Nigh Jazz

Now in its ninth season, the tour includes the Irish vocal duo Pauline Scanlon and Eilis Kennedy, known as Lumiere, accompanied by guitarist Donogh Hennessy.

Produced by All-Ireland Fiddle Champion Oisín Mac Diarmada of the award-winning Irish group Téada, the tour features guest singer and accordionist Séamus Begley, the 2013 winner of the Gradam Ceoil TG4 award for Traditional Singer of the Year.

Also scheduled to perform are Gráinne Hambly who plays the Irish harp and concertina; Sean Gavin, who plays the flute, whistle and uilleann pipes; and dancer Samantha Harvey. The latter two are Americans.

GIRL SCOUT'S PAT HALLBERG NAMED OUTSTANDING WOMAN IN BUSINESS

 Pattie Hallberg, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Central

and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) has received

 the Outstanding Women In Business Award presented

 by the Worcester Business Journal, the Business

Newspaper for Central Massachusetts. In its fifth year,

the Worcester Business Journal's Outstanding

Women in Business Award recognizes the achievements

of a select group of remarkable women who are making

their mark on the business community and honors the

unique perspective women bring to the local business

landscape. Ms. Hallberg was honored November 15th

at the awards luncheon at Tuckerman Hall in Worcester and

featured in the WBJ's print edition and on-line October 28. http://www.wbjournal.com/article/20131028

 In making her remarks on stage, Ms. Hallberg said, "My business

is about girls- about their power and potential and how

they will define themselves as they mature into adult roles and responsibilities. A girl cannot be what a girl cannot see.

This recognition allows a girl to see clearly six women who

have attained a level of business success that allows them to

 be on this stage".Ms. Hallberg joined Girl Scouts of Central

and Western Massachusetts as CEO in 2008 to lead the

 merger of three councils into one organization with

20,000 members committed to developing girl's leadership

potential. Under her direction, GSCWM has emerged as a

 leader in central and western Massachusetts in advocacy

for girls and undergone an aggressive strategic planning

process that is sharpening the council's competitive focus

and championing girl leadership.Ms. Hallberg serves on

the steering committee for the Investing in Girls Alliance in Worcester, and is a founding member of the advisory

committee for the Leadership Institute for Political and

Public Impact with the Women's Fund. She is on the

Business Advisory Committee for the Kittredge Center

 at Holyoke Community College, the Board of Valley

Technology Outreach and served on the Regional

Advisory Board for UMass Memorial Hospital. She is

also a volunteer for the Springfield Read Aloud Program.