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Welcome to March's Crossroads News! We are pleased to share with you the latest news from the Chamber and our Members.
Have news to share with our readers? Email us your press releases, links and photos for inclusion in the next issue of Crossroads! Please keep posting your events to the Chamber's online events calendar.
Find us on Facebook for the latest posts from our Members and friends!
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FUN AT FIVE!
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
5:00-7:00pm
Admiral T.J. O'Brien's
407 Main Street, Sturbridge
508-347-2838
www.admiraltjobriens.com
Network with your Chamber at March's FUN at FIVE!
Join us at Admiral T.J. O'Brien's and enjoy delicious food, cool door prizes and a cash bar, while you mingle with a fun crowd!
Don't forget to wear green as we will be celebrating St. Patrick's Day!
If you have the luck of the Irish, you could win a
Bose SoundLink® Bluetooth Mobile Speaker II
courtesy of our sponsor: Hometown Bank.
Thank you to our March Fun at Five sponsor: 
Hometown Bank
331 Main Street, Sturbridge
508-347-3312
www.hometowncoop.com
Please RSVP by noon on March 12.
Cost is $10 for Members who pre-register, $15 at the door, and $20 for non-Members. We hope will join us!
Please RSVP to 508-347-2761 or email
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Women's Leadership Forum:
There's No Age Limit on Success!
March 21, 2013 6:30-8:30pm
Publick House Historic Inn
On the Common, Sturbridge
Join us as we present a panel discussion led by 104.5 WXLO on-air personality Jen Carter.
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The panel, comprised of successful women in their 30's, 40's, 50's and 60's, will answer questions directed by the MC as well as allow for questions and answers from the audience. Hear from our panelists about how they overcome challenges, balance life and work, and not only succeed but thrive.
Our distinguished panel includes author, coach, motivational speaker, and past president of Northeast Leadership Enterprise and the New England Chapter of the National Speakers Association Margo Chevers, State Representative Anne Gobi, Amy Peterson, Director of Marketing for the DCU Center in Worcester, and author, trainer, coach and founder of Live a Flourishing Life™, Rita Schiano.
All are welcome to join us. The Women's Leadership Forum is being offered at the cost of $20 per person or at a special rate of $30 for mother/daughter pairs. High school and college students are highly encouraged to attend.
Pastries, petit fours, coffee, tea and a cash bar will be offered. Contact the Chamber to reserve seats for this dynamic and informative evening.
COST: $20 per person, Mother and Daughter SPECIAL PRICE: $30
Registration Deadline: March 15
RSVP by phone: 508-347-2761 or email: info@cmschamber.org
Sponsored by:
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NEXT MEETING
The next meeting of Community Business Associates, the Chamber's official networking and referral program takes place March 8, 2013 at Oliver Wight Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village.
Member Presenters:
Meetings run from 7:15-8:30 a.m. and are an opportunity for networking as well as discussing common business solutions and challenges. Business and professional guests are welcome to the meeting at the Oliver Wight Tavern at Old Sturbridge Village.
For more information, visit www.communitybusinessassociates.org.
email info@communitybusinessassociates.org
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Restaurant Week
Returns to the Townships...
April 23-28
Celebrate a grand season of dining out as great local restaurants will offer 3-course menus for a fixed price of
$12.13 for Lunch and $20.13 for Dinner!
Stay tuned for more info coming soon!
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CMS Chamber Seminar
Spring Into Action:
A Landscapers Guide
March 28, 8:00 to 9:00am
Bay Path College
1 Picker Road, Sturbridge
Spring is right around the corner and our landscaping professionals want to share their knowledge with you. Join us and learn how to keep your lawn and plants healthy and vibrant. Our presenters will cover:
1. Spring Overviews- Dos & don'ts
2. Plant & Shrub care- Spring preparation and maintenance
3. Turf Management- Prepping your lawn for the season
Presenters:
Mark Lavigne, Mike Shatz and Corey Bledsoe
Presenters' Credentials:
Mark Lavigne is owner of Ground Effect, a leading landscape design and construction company that has been in business for over 30 years. He's a graduate of Stockbridge School of Agriculture. Mike Shatz is a graduate of Clark University's Horticulture Program and is a Massachusetts Certified Landscape Professional (MCLP) who has been in the landscape business for over 10 years. Corey Bledsoe has been in the turf management field for 7 years. He worked as a golf course superintendent and will now head up the Turf Management for High Maintenance. He is a graduate of Stockbridge School of Agriculture.
FREE for Chamber Members. ($10 for non-Members)
Space is limited!
RSVP by phone (508) 347-2761
or email
pjh@cmschamber.org
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Welcome New Chamber Members!
The Chamber is pleased to welcome our newest Members!
Fitness Coaching, Private and Semi-private, In-home or On-site, Corporate Fitness, Fitness and Nutrition Education 21 Coolidge Avenue, Southbridge, MA 413-262-5749  Full Service Landscape Maintenance. Party and Event Staging. 115C West Main Street, East Brookfield, MA 508-612-7865 Retail Store. Founded in 1946. 117 West Main Street, Spencer, MA 508-885-2708
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Woman In Business, Inc. March 13 Luncheon
Highlighting Local Women of Historical Significance
Woman In Business, Inc. is celebrating Women's History Month by highlighting women who played a significant part in the area's history. Our guest speakers for this month will represent the three neighboring towns of Charlton, Southbridge, & Sturbridge.
Cindy Cooper from the Charlton Historical Society, Becky Plimpton, Director Joshua Hyde Public Library, and Suzanne Adams from the Southbridge Gateway Players will each be presenting interesting facts on a woman who had an impact in their town's local history.
This meeting will be held at TJ O'Brien's, 407 Main Street, Sturbridge, MA from noon to 1:30 pm with networking beginning at 11:45 am. All our meetings are open to the public - cost is $14 for members and $16 non-members. Space is limited so please call (508) 764-1657 to reserve a seat, or email us at info@wibsturbridge.org.
Woman in Business, Inc. provides a network for working women through sharing their knowledge and experiences. The group meets on the second Wednesday of every month. You can find more information on future meetings and speakers by visiting their website at www.wibsturbridge.org.
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NEW MEMBER PROFILE
Aucoin Fitness: NSCA-Certified Personal Trainer
 Meet Greg Aucoin, fitness expert and owner / master trainer at Aucoin Fitness. Aucoin Fitness provides NSCA-Certified Personal Training, fitness and nutrition consulting, and educational seminars in-home or on-site, for individuals, groups, and businesses. Greg eats, sleeps, breathes and dreams exercise and nutrition, and feels extremely fortunate to be able to put his passion and talents to great use helping others. With nearly 9 years of field experience and always ongoing research, Greg has an excellent knowledge base of what works and what doesn't, for any age or fitness level. So, when you team up with Aucoin Fitness, say hello to forward progress, and goodbye to going in circles with your exercise and eating habits.
Greg is a graduate of Westfield State University and has been a Certified Personal Trainer through the highly regarded National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA-CPT) since 2004. At WSU, he gained invaluable knowledge and experience as an All-New England track and field sprinter, hours spent in the fitness center and athletic training room daily, and through a wide variety of Movement Science courses ranging from Strength Training and Conditioning to Concepts of Nutrition.
Aucoin Fitness offers a comprehensive training style that has been finely formulated,
tweaked, and tuned over the years, but certain themes resonate loudest:
- Striving for balance in strength and flexibility in opposing muscle groups to promote great posture, improve daily function and performance, and reduce pain and risk of injury.
- Workouts are crafted to be extremely effective, efficient, fun, and safe. They're effective and fun because Greg challenges and engages clients with a carefully selected variety of exercises for each muscle group, and timely progressions.
- Efficiency comes from well thought-out groupings of exercises that flow from one to the next, with purpose. Your heart rate will be in appropriate zones for precise amounts of time, and exercise order allows for high-quality workouts, without unnecessary downtime.
- Safety is rooted in Greg's attention to details, along with proper exercise form and technique. Bad habits are corrected early, to maximize injury prevention. Injury-free = faster results and bigger smiles!
Aucoin Fitness will help you change the shape of your body, the way you feel about yourself, and educate you on how to make your positive lifestyle changes permanent!
Visit Aucoin Fitness online and give Greg a call today at 413-262-5749 to schedule a consultation!
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 SCU Hires New Commercial Lender
Southbridge Credit Union recently hired David M. Barszcz as their new Commercial Lender. In his new position, Barszcz will assume responsibility for managing the credit union's full range of commercial lending services.
Barszcz was most recently employed with North Brookfield Savings Bank, headquartered in North Brookfield, MA. In his role as Vice President of Commercial Lending, he was responsible for the bank's commercial lending services. Prior to his position at North Brookfield Savings Bank, David was the Vice President of Commercial Lending at Berkshire Bank, in Springfield, MA for several years. Jeff Davenport, President and CEO of Southbridge Credit Union stated, "David's years of experience in lending and servicing small businesses in the Central MA area, professionalism, and strong community involvement will bring strength to our SCU lending team. His experience and knowledge will allow us to truly focus on the financial needs of small businesses of all sizes in the communities we serve."
Barszcz holds a graduate degree from the University of New Hampshire's School of Finance.
About Southbridge Credit Union
The State-chartered Southbridge Credit Union, incorporated in 1938, is a community credit union (you may become a member, any time) with both Federal and private deposit insurance. We operate under the supervision of the Massachusetts Banking Commissioner. Participating institutions in the credit union movement, as it is often termed, pay competitive rates of interest on savings and loan products. SCU has branches in Southbridge, Sturbridge, Fiskdale and Auburn. For more information about Southbridge Credit Union, visit our website at www.sbgecu.org.
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Country Cruisers Walk Like Champions
Country Bank is pleased to announce their Presenting Sponsorship of the Baystate Mary Lane Hospital Walk of Champions which is scheduled for Sunday, May 5, 2013, at The Quabbin Reservoir Goodnough Dike. In addition to their donation of $5,000, the bank will have a team of more than 25 staff volunteers who will be attending to support the local hospital.
"This will be the eighth anniversary of this very special event and we are so proud to have been a part of it since its inception in 2006", said Deb Gagnon, Corporate Outreach Officer. "As a member of the Steering Committee I see first-hand the work that goes into planning such an event, and it is so fulfilling to see the community come out to support Baystate Mary Lane Hospital."
The Walk of Champions has raised over $377,000 during the past seven years with all funds staying local benefiting the Integrated Cancer Services at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital. If you would like to join The Country Cruisers with a team of your own visit www.baystatehealth.org/woc for more information.
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Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Internship Challenge Places 1,000th Intern and Launches New Round
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center is pleased to announce the launch of the next round of their Internship Challenge program, along with an important milestone, the placement of the 1,000th intern through the program!
This year-round workforce development program focuses on enhancing the talent pipeline for Massachusetts life sciences companies by providing students and recent college graduates with hands-on work experience through paid internship opportunities at life sciences companies across the state. This fifth round of the program will run from May 1, 2013, through April 30, 2014.
Host companies must commit to providing a dedicated mentor and meaningful internship opportunity that relates to the academic focus of the students. Companies with 100 or fewer employees in Massachusetts and not more than 250 globally are eligible to receive reimbursement for intern stipends up to $7,200. Larger companies are welcome to recruit students from the program, but will not be eligible for reimbursement.
Interns must be Massachusetts residents or attend a Massachusetts academic institution and be completing at least their sophomore year prior to the start of the internship. Students enrolled in a two-year/community college/certificate program, students pursuing a Master's Degree, and recent graduates that completed their degree/certificate within the past year are also eligible.
If you are interested in either hosting an intern or becoming one through the Internship Challenge, please visit the program page at www.masslifesciences.com/grants/challenge.html. If you have any questions after reviewing the information posted, please contact internship@masslifesciences.com.
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Price Chopper Golub's Foundation Donates
$10,000 to Harrington Campaign
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Pictured, from left to right, are Ed Moore, President and CEO of Harrington HealthCare System; Thomas Sullivan, General Manager of Price Chopper's Webster store; Pamela Zouranjian Connor, Site Administrator of Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard; and Sean Mitchell, Director of Development for Harrington.
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The Price Chopper Golub's Foundation has generously donated $10,000 to Harrington HealthCare System's fundraising campaign to rebuild the Emergency Department in Webster.
The donation brings the amount raised for the Strengthening Our Future campaign from local residents, businesses and foundations to $1,009,337. Thanks to a $4 million matching grant from an anonymous donor, the sum raised totals more than $2.18 million.
The money raised will help support the Strengthening Our Future Capital Campaign -- an $8.8 million fund-raising campaign to modernize and renovate the Emergency Department at the Webster campus.
Harrington HealthCare at Hubbard's Emergency Department is the focal point of healthcare in Webster, Dudley, Oxford, Douglas, Thompson and surrounding communities in South Central Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut. The Emergency Department in Webster sees more than 12,000 patient visits a year, but has not had a substantial overhaul since it was constructed in 1955.
If you are interested in supporting the Strengthening Our Future Campaign, please view the opportunities to give online at www.harringtonhospital.org/give.
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Sandbox Pitch Contest
Here is a great opportunity for anyone with a Creative Economy business idea, please share with your networks...
Join the Merrimack Valley Sandbox on March 28th for the Sandbox Creative Economy Pitch Contest - your chance to pitch your creative business idea:
- Do you have an arts/crafts, design, food, or fashion idea?
- Possible examples include the next food truck or cool fashion accessory
- Or a trendy craft product
Submit your creative ideas to this Sandbox Pitch Contest. You don't have to be from Lowell to participate, participants can be from anywhere. Deadline to apply: March 14th.
This is an opportunity to share your idea for:
- Thousands of Dollars in cash prizes
- Feedback from Experts and Industry Pros
- Networking opportunities with Investors
Apply at this link.
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North Brookfield Savings Bank Congratulates Buddy Hood, Winner of January Hat Contest!
NBSB Palmer Branch Manager Dave Golden (left) and Supervisor Kathy Higgens presented Buddy Hood of Brimfield with a $100 gift card to the Salem Cross Inn restaurant in West Brookfield, as part of North Brookfield Savings Bank's "Where It's At Hat Contest."
Hood was spotted wearing his NBSB hat at Diamond Junction Bowling Lanes in Palmer, MA by NBSB Belchertown Assistant Branch Manager Warren Izyk.
Representatives of the bank will continue to be out in the community looking for residents wearing NBSB baseballs hats. Those spotted in their hats will be entered into a monthly drawing for a $100 gift card to a local establishment and will receive a Dunkin' Donuts gift card on the spot.
Visit NorthBrookfieldSavingsBank.com for more information.
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Earth Month and River Cleanup Funds
Available from The Last Green Valley
The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) is once again looking for people who care about this beautiful place we call home. TLGV will provide funds to nonprofit organizations and municipal, regional, state or federal agencies that sponsor a 2013 Earth Month or River Cleanup in the region. Last year, more than 1,000 volunteers removed about 12 tons of trash from our rivers, parks, and roadways!
TLGV will reimburse organizations up to $500 for expenses like publicity, cleanup supplies such as trash bags and work gloves, and food for volunteers. TLGV will also help publicize the event and work with each organization to recruit more volunteers.
Interested organizations should submit a letter to TLGV, on their organization's letterhead, at least six weeks before the proposed event. The letter should: include basic details about the cleanup - what, when, where, and who - plus contact information, including an email address; explain what you hope to accomplish; provide a budget detailing how you will use TLGV funds; let TLGV know who will be picking up and disposing of the trash (TLGV can't cover that cost); describe how youth - the future stewards of The Last Green Valley - will be involved in the cleanup; and include a plan for publicizing not just the event, but the results. Nonprofit organizations should also submit a copy of their 501(c) designation letter from the IRS.
TLGV reserves the right to approve or deny funds based upon the likelihood of project success and the availability of funds. Decisions will be made within two weeks of project submission. Funded organizations will be asked to sign a short agreement and then get to work! Results will be compiled on the TLGV "Trash Tracker" form, because together, we can show impressive results throughout The Last Green Valley. For more information, contact Lois Bruinooge at (860) 774-3300 or lois@tlgv.org
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Volunteers from Norwich clean up the Greeneville Dam fishing area in 2012.
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The Last Green Valley is a National Heritage Corridor - the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C. A dynamic nonprofit organization, TLGV is a steward of that special place, working to celebrate our heritage, conserve our natural resources and respect our working lands.
Check out the new promotional video from The Last Green Valley on youtube!
It's Where You Live!
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Native American Weekend at
Old Sturbridge Village March 2-3
Nipmuck flute maker and musician Hawk Henries
Algonkian storytelling and winter fashions with Indian Doctress Molly Geet
Native American food and craft demonstrations
Some of New England's most noted authorities on Native American folkways, food, music, and crafts will gather at Old Sturbridge Village March 2-3 for the museum's first annual Native American Weekend. Noted Nipmuck flute maker Hawk Henries will demonstrate flute-making and play music on a variety of traditional hand-made eastern woodlands flutes. "Indian Doctress" Molly Geet will present Algonkian Indian stories and Wooden Snowshoes and Fur Mittens: Algonkian Winter Fashions. She will also share the facts and folklore behind native plants. Jeff and Judy Kalin of Primitive Technologies will make Native American tools and demonstrate primitive cooking techniques over an open fire. Hands-on crafts and games with a Native American theme will be offered all weekend. Details: 800-SEE-1830; www.osv.org.
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Important Dates to Save!
March 8: CBA Meeting
March 13: Fun at Five at T.J. O'Brien's with Hometown Bank
March 21: Women's Leadership Forum
March 28: Chamber Seminar: Spring Into Action: A Landscapers Guide
April 11: Legislative Luncheon with Canadian Consul General Pat Binns
April 23-28: RESTAURANT WEEK RETURNS TO THE TOWNSHIPS
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VISIT US ONLINE FOR LOCAL EVENTS AND MORE!
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www.cmschamber.org
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