Chamber
Celebrates 50 Years!
Thank you to our
Charter Members
Banas & Fickert Insurance Agency
Big E's Supermarket
Boulanger Plumbing & Heating
Cernak Fuel Corporation
Daily Hampshire Gazette
DeGrandpre Jewelers
Easthampton Feed
Easthampton Savings Bank
Finck & Perras Insurance Agency
Landry Furniture Company
O'Brien Funeral Home
The October Company
Stevens Urethane
Strong Bus Corporation
Western Mass Electric Company
WHMP Radio
The Williston Northampton School
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Providing a Local Voice
Your Board of Directors continues to implement our new strategic plan. One portion is for the Chamber to become "a knowledgeable and formidable presence at meetings on issues relating to commerce." In that light, the Chamber was present and provided its support for Easthampton Savings Bank's successful request for a zone change to allow drive-up windows and ATM's in the Highway Business zone.
In recent months we have also begun to give monthly updates to the Easthampton City Council, have attended monthly meetings of Easthampton's E.D.I.C., have Board members as participants on the E.D.I.C.'s Local Works! sub-committee and are part of the Planning Board's Highway Business Zone review committee.
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Charter Members Honored at Annual Dinner
Over 100 members and guests attended the Chamber's Annual Meeting on January 27 at The Delaney House in Holyoke which kicked off the Chamber's 50th Anniversary year and included tributes to the Chamber's 17 Charter members (see list at left). Before the dinner, a video which contained historical photos of the Charter members was shown and display tables were full of memorabilia and products provided by those members for all to enjoy.
 
Following the annual election of Directors and Officers, the Anniversary program opened with Past President Chuck Conner of The Taylor Agency Real Estate giving his personal reflections of the Chamber's first 50 years. After opening remarks by State Senator Michael Knapik, State Representative John Scibak and Mayor Michael Tautznik congratulating the Chamber for its 50 years, the Charter members attending were then asked to come forward to receive special citations. The State citations are in recognition of the Charter members' 50 years of membership and dedication and support of the business community from the State Senate and State House of Representatives. Mayor Tautznik presented a certificate of recognition to each from the City of Easthampton and a symbolic key "with the hope that it will unlock the door to continued success and prosperity." Chamber President Susan Lapointe of TurningLeaf Design also presented each with a special commemorative plaque honoring and thanking them for their 50 years of membership.
Our thanks go out to all our Charter members for their many years of support with our hopes for a bright future for all.
Eric Snyder, Executive Director
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Member Spotlight: Business Person of the Year
Melissa Pike of Autumn Properties
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The Chamber was honored to present the 2010 Business Person of the Year award to Melissa Pike, co-owner of Autumn Properties of Easthampton with her broth ers Thomas and David Boyle. The Chamber gives this award to one person each year who demonstrates excellence in community service and is a respected business leader.
Melissa's position in the marketing and leasing field has given her the ability to contribute a good deal to community service over the years. She has held a number of leadership positions, including:
- Chamber board member since 2004, Vice President, and President
- Derrill's Race committee member
- Co-chair of the annual Perfect Match Auction for the Clarke Schools for Hearing and Speech
- Steering Committee member for the Clarke Schools
- Easthampton Housing Partnership Committee member
- St. Patrick's Day parade committee member
Melissa has also been actively involved in a number of local commerce and planning committees.
"Because of my involvement in these committees, we have successfully expanded Autumn Properties and A-Z Storage locations. We want to thank the wonderful residents and business owner clients of Autumn Properties and A-Z. Because of them, we have been able to weather the economic storm of recent years," Melissa said. "Serving on the Chamber board has been a very rewarding experience, both professionally and personally, with respect to building relationships."
Autumn Properties, a Chamber member business since 1976, has been a family-operated company since the 1960's, when Richard Boyle of Southampton started Dick Boyle Rentals.
Would you like your business to be featured in a future Member Spotlight? Contact the Chamber office and we will put you on the list.
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Member News: Nicky D's Helps Easthampton Police Cruisers Shine
Kudo's to Nicky D's, who donated their services to repaint all seven Easthampton Police cruisers in December. It was a team effort with the officers themselves, who suggested the new look to their chief, then volunteered their time to remove old decals and to bring the cars to Marlboro, where new decals were applied after the paint job.
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Photo by Carol Lollis
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"We've given back to our community for the past 28 years, and hope to inspire other businesses to do the same," said Betty Duprey, co-owner of Nicky D's with her husband Nicky Duprey.
Police Chief Bruce McMahon told the Daily Hampshire Gazette that the new black and white designs look "really sharp" and will be a boost for police morale.
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Member News: New Southampton CC Clubhouse Ready for Business
Golf season will b e here soon, and the newly built Southampton Country Club
clubhouse is ready for its first full year of operation. Co-owners Jim and Tom Strycharz opened the facility in May 2010. The structure features a new 19th hole and kitchen, and a banquet room with a capacity of up to 200. Also constructed is a 2nd floor porch overlooking the 9th green with a beautiful view of the golf course and surrounding countryside.
Mark Tansey (owner of Partners Restaurant in Feeding Hills) is the banquet chef and has already hosted a wide range of events, including birthday parties, showers, and weddings. Jim Strycharz said, "The building is complete but we still have some outdoor cosmetic work remaining, including building a number of planters and relocating the driveway entrance. We hope that the 2011 season will be busy one, and indications are that it will, as we have already booked a number of new tournaments and banquet room events."
The golf course has been owned by the Strycharz family since 1951. It has been known for its excellent playing conditions for many years and now has the clubhouse to match it.
For bookings and other information, call the club at 413-527-9815.
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Area News - Artist's Reception & Exhibit
Riverside Arts will have an exhibit in the offices of Senator Stanley Rosenberg at the State House in Boston, from January 14 - March 16, with a reception February 8th. Riverside Arts provides people with disabilities an in-depth, perhaps first time, opportunity to explore their creative potential, make art, and exhibit their work in the community.To learn more about the Riverside Arts Program go to http://rsi.org/index.php?page=programs_arts
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