The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce is sending weekly event updates to our friends and members. These updates will include Chamber, civic, and organizational news, events and entertainment.
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".
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Holyoke's Mayor Morse
takes second oath of office
3 new councilors
4 new school committee members
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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98 Lower Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
(413) 534-9009 * Fax: (413) 534-1025
Web: www.hrblock.com
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 Holyoke Receives Award for City Website
HOLYOKE - The City of Holyoke has been recognized as a recipient of the Massachusetts Municipal Association (MMA) Municipal Website Award. The City of Holyoke will be named a winner in MMA's Municipal Website Award, Category 2 (Population 15,000-49,999) for making the website an effective tool for citizens.
An award certificate will be presented at the MMA's President's Reception and Awards Ceremony as part of their 2014 Annual Meeting and Trade Show. The awards ceremony and reception will take place on Saturday, January 25, 2014 at 6:00 p.m. in the Constitution Ball room of the Boston Sheraton Hotel. Municipalities across the state were selected based on the website's accessibility, organization, functionality, convenience, and overall visual appearance.
"It's great to see the City of Holyoke's new website receive recognition alongside other municipalities across the state," said Mayor Alex Morse. "Our new website is representative of the forward-thinking and collaborative environment that exemplifies the City of Holyoke, and it was a goal of my administration to create a website that would improve efficiency, convenience, and effective communication between Holyoke and its residents. This award validates these efforts, and I thank everyone who played a part its development."
The new City of Holyoke website (www.holyoke.org) launched in February 2013, and was designed and developed by Ten Minute Media, founded by Holyoke native Brendan M. Ciecko. It is currently maintained by the office of the Mayor, under the supervision of web manager Eileen Pooler.
Grantees will pay for enforcement and decoy patrols which will help the department analyze and crack down on drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists who do not share the road appropriately, so no one puts themselves or others in harm's way.
The Holyoke Police Department, in partnership with EOPSS, recognizes that traffic crashes are preventable and is committed to using this grant to reduce the number of motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries involving pedestrians and bicyclists in Holyoke, because any death or injury on our roadways is one too many.
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Wistariahurst Museum showcasing Holyoke Mills
Past and Present
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Click on image for full story.
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Holyoke Medical Center Receives Funding From Holyoke HealthCare Center
Holyoke Medical Center is pleased to announce and thank Holyoke HealthCare Center for a recent donation in the amount of $4,810. The donation was made possible by the generosity of Holyoke HealthCare Center, a member of National HealthCare (NHC) and its philanthropic arm, The Foundation for Geriatric Education (TFGE).
The donation will help participants in a five-day "Boot Camp" for people recently diagnosed with congestive heart failure (CHF) that will be offered through the multi-agency "Cross Continuum Team" consisting of Holyoke Medical Center, Holyoke HealthCare Center, The Care Center, Holyoke Visiting Nurse, and Renaissance Manor. The funding will provide "Boot Camp" participants with large number bathroom scales to weigh themselves everyday.
"Monitoring weight is a very important part of the self-management process for patients with CHF", said Cherelyn Roberts, Holyoke Medical Center manager for the State Action on Avoidable Rehospitalizations Program. "Any change in weight could signal the need for medical attention so these scales are crucial and will help patients be a stronger partner in their care. The goal is to help people avoid unnecessary hospitalizations and stay at home where they want to be," said Roberts.
Holyoke HealthCare Center Administrator Thomas Accomando explained that the funding provide by TFGE was raised locally through events such as car washes, bake sales and tag sales held at Holyoke HealthCare Center along with personal donations.
"The teams here at Holyoke HealthCare Center and NHC are proud to assist in educational related projects for our community involving the care of our elders thus continuing the philosophy of our Founder Dr. Carl Adams," said Accomando.
Funding was also provided to Holyoke Medical Center for the purchase of a Resusci Anne QCPR Torso Mannequin with wireless skill recorder and carrier, a special training IV Arm for intravenous insertions into elderly patients with thinner skin and video equipment for recording educational sessions provided to Cross Continuum Team partners.
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HOLYOKE MEDICAL CENTER TO TAKE PART IN NEXT PHASE OF MASS HIway HEALTH INFORMATION EXCHANGE
Members of the media are invited to Holyoke Medical Center to join Governor Deval Patrick in witnessing the next level of functionality of the Massachusetts Health Information Highway, the "Commonwealth Interconnected." The event, via Skype, will connect four separate healthcare providers from across the state and take place on Wednesday, January 8, 2014 at 10:45 a.m. in the Auxiliary Conference Center at Holyoke Medical Center. Governor Patrick will witness the event live at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital in Boston.
The scenario will present a patient in the Emergency Department at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital who is combative and non-compliant with no prior medical history at Beth Israel. Taking what was previously a fragmented healthcare delivery system, this demonstration will show how the Mass HIway can instantly obtain a patient's previous medical information from multiple sources across the state. The end result will display a coordinated, unified approach to care with a superior level of patient safety, without the need for duplication of previously administered testing.
Governor Patrick will also be presenting citations to all participants. The mission of The Mass HIway is to deploy a secure electronic health information exchange that is accessible to all healthcare systems statewide regardless of affiliation, location, or differences in technology; and serve as a tool for the Commonwealth's healthcare community to improve coordination, quality, patient satisfaction, and public health reporting while containing costs. The Mass HIway is operated by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Executive Office of Health and Human Services and is overseen by a Health Information Technology Council and informed by consumer, provider, legal and policy, and technology advisory groups. The Massachusetts eHealth Institute (MeHI) at MassTech runs the Mass HIWay Last Mile Program that helps providers connect to the Mass HIWay.Please join us.
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Holyoke Police Department
138 Appleton Street
(413) 322-6900 phone
(413) 322-6949 fax
Holyoke Police Department Awarded Grant
to Enhance Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety
Holyoke, MA- Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and Police Chief James Neiswanger are pleased to announce that to help make sharing the road in Holyoke a safer place for pedestrians and bicyclists, the Holyoke Police Department was recently awarded a $5,000 grant by the Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS) Highway Safety Division from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The funding comes from $249,439 specifically provided to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety in the Commonwealth. Holyoke is one of 65 police departments to receive part of this funding.
From 2006 to 2011, 1544 pedestrians were injured in crashes and of those, 375 sustained fatal injuries, according to the Massachusetts Traffic Records Analysis Center (MassTRAC). During that same time frame, 586 bicyclists were injured in crashes with 45 resulting in death.
"Bicyclists and pedestrians are particularly vulnerable to the motoring public because they may not be immediately visible to drivers and unlike those in vehicles, nothing protects them from impact," said Lt. Jim Albert. "All users need to learn to share the road safely and be mindful of one another and the law. We'll use the grant for education, enforcement and outreach we believe will help protect our pedestrians and cyclists from injuries and fatalities."
Grantees will pay for enforcement and decoy patrols which will help the department analyze and crack down on drivers, pedestrians, and cyclists who do not share the road appropriately, so no one puts themselves or others in harm's way.
The Holyoke Police Department, in partnership with EOPSS, recognizes that traffic crashes are preventable and is committed to using this grant to reduce the number of motor vehicle-related fatalities and injuries involving pedestrians and bicyclists in Holyoke, because any death or injury on our roadways is one too many.
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Five finalists chosen for Annual Colleen Pageant
 photo taken by Manon L. Mirabelli
After a pool of 18 Colleen contestants, Holyoke has widdled it down to the Final Five:
(left to right) Elizabeth A. Hurley, 20, of Holyoke; Sheila S. Fallon, 20, of Holyoke; Sarah LaRochelle, 17, of South Hadley; Abigail J. Scanlon, 21, of South Hadley; and Meghan R. Kennedy, 18, of South Hadley.
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Local Events and Spectaculars
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Amateur Boxing Tournament held at the Log Cabin  Last year was the return of The Western New England Golden Gloves tournament, where the tournament returned to Holyoke last year after an eight-year absence. Playing to capacity crowds, the event led Golden Gloves officials to return the event to the city where it had been held from 1958 to 2005.
This year's sub-regionals will be staged on four Thursday nights, an increase from the three-night schedule of 2013. Ring announcer and organizer Mike Burke said the opening night could feature as many as 12 bouts.
The cards begin at 7. Fans are encouraged to arrive between 6 and 6:30 to ensure favorable seating. Tickets are $20 per person, regardless of age. Bouts will be held in the novice and open divisions.
The Log Cabin will also host Golden Gloves programs Jan. 16, Jan. 30 and Feb. 6. A hiatus will mean no program Jan. 23, when a separate national boxing program could attract some of the fighters in the open division.
To spice things up a bit this year, there is an increase in Connecticut fighters. Winners will advance to the New England Regionals in Lowell, which will serve as the last step to the national tournament.
Local competitors will represent the Holyoke Boys Club, Whitley's Boxing of Holyoke, the University of Massachusetts, Westover Air Reserve Base and at least three teams from Springfield.
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Holyokes Winter Carnival approaching, seeking participants
Providing Holyokers and surrounding neighbors with family and community fun!
Holyoke's Winter Carnival kicks off on Febraury 7th and runs until the 15th.
To learn more about the events, or to volunteer:
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Pixies to perform surprise show Monday at the Calvin Theatre
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 Tickets: $30
Ticket Information:
Northampton Box Office: 586-8686
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Dinosaur Train comes to Springfield!
When: Friday, 6:30 p.m.
Where: Symphony Hall, Springfield
Cost: $25 and $20
For more info: Call (413) 788-7033 or online at city stage |
Gladys Lebrón Martínez
to speak at Martin Luther King, Jr. event
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read the article on Gladys
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Wistariahurst Museum
February Events 2014
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January/ February Art Exhibition:Echoes of Industry
The Death and Rebirth of Holyoke's Mills Eric Broudy's photography offers a quiet memorial to a bygone industrial era, yet at the same time presents a proper introduction to its successors.Broudy also captures on video an illustration preserved and renovated for a new generation of creativity and commerce. On view through February 26.
Admission to gallery $3
Saturday, February 1 at 7:30 p.m.
Dark Dining Room House Concert Series Features Winterpills with Opener Luray Dark Dining Room brings the warmth and coziness of your living room to the stage at Wistariahurst. Performing at the opening show, Winterpills bring their melancholic male-female harmonies to the museum for a night of folk and chamber pop. Opening the show is Washington, DC-based Luray, creating banjo-inspired indie folk with warm vocals and lush instrumentation. While no dinner is served, there will be light refreshments provided by Tony Jones Catering and a cash bar.
Doors open at 7 pm for all shows.
Reservations are suggested.
Tickets $18/ Members $15.
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Holyoke Cultural Council, a local agency which is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency
Friday, February 7 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm: I Love Wine!
A Night to Benefit Wistariahurst Museum Join us for an elegant and festive evening at our most popular wine event!Guests will enjoy a sampling of various wines from different regions. Light refreshments will be served, courtesy of Log Rolling-Catering Division of The Log Cabin and Delaney House. All proceeds benefit Wistariahurst Museum.
The event is sponsored by
Liquors 44
Historic Holyoke at Wistariahurst.
Reservations necessary and tickets can be purchased online at www.wistariahurst.org or by calling the Museum at 413-322-5660. Advance tickets are $25 each/$40 couple; Tickets at the door are $30 each/$50 couple
Sunday, February 9 at 1:00 p.m.-
Victorian Valentine Workshop
Participate in a fun and creative program that will inspire the artist in everyone! Channel your inner artist and create your own beautiful, unique card for special friends, family and sweethearts. Reservations for the workshop are suggested.
$7 per person / $5 members
Monday, February 24 at 6:00 p.m. - Historical Lecture Series: Made in the Happy Valley - Life of a Mill Hand with Sara Campbell
Using genealogical records and primary resources genealogist Sara Campbell will prepare a sketch of an Irish immigrant family in Civil War-era Holyoke.
$7 general / $5 members
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24th Annual Springfield Bridal Expo
Whether you're giving your wedding that fairy tale feeling or going for simple elegance, you'll find everything you need to plan your affair. Over 150 companies, representing the best names in the wedding industry will be present under one roof, offering a wide variety of styles and prices to suit every taste and budget.
 Location: Better Living Center, Big "E"Cost: $10.00Register online to receive a $1.00 off admission coupon.
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