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PVFA teaches the art of fencing to people of all ages. Paul Sise has been teaching for about twelve years and has owned and operated PVFA since 2003. He became a member of the Chamber in 2003 as well.  

Paul has the distinction of being a certified Fencing Master and one of the youngest of 76 masters in the U.S. He offers coaching clinics throughout New England, has authored books and essays on fencing, and in March of 2011 he was named to the U.S. Fencing Coaches Association's Certification and Accreditation Board. Paul also coaches at the Eagle Hill School in Hardwick.

Paul recently moved the academy to its new location at 94 Cottage Street, Easthampton, and anticipates the renovation of the new space to be completed several weeks from now. "It is a larger, nicer facility than before--it's three times the size of the old space, with more bathrooms, a nicer area for parents, and allows for larger classes. Eventually, we should be able to have simultaneous classes in the same space." The facility will be also handicapped accessible, and would allow them to teach wheelchair fencing.

PVFA has three other certified fencing coaches: R.J. Ferullo, Dr. Ken Mondschein (their historical fencing specialist) and Kelly Fitzroy, as well as assistant instructor Mariam Ibrahim.PVFA's students, who range from recreational fencers to national medalists, come from a wide area: Southwick, Amherst, Northampton, Longmeadow, and northern Conn.When the renovation is done and class enrollment opens up again, Paul would like to get more local students, especially from the Easthampton area. "We have reasonable rates--I haven't raised them in eight years--and we've gotten many students into college."

Paul is happy to be able to locate his business in the city of Easthampton. "My family has lived here for five generations, and it's nice to be able to work in the same town I've grown up in." Paul's purchase of the new facility represents his commitment to his students as well as to Easthampton.

He values his personal relationship with the Chamber staff. "I feel that I can always walk into the Chamber office and ask Eric a question or just get a pep talk. Even if he's not able to answer the question, it's helpful to talk things out with him. Both Denise and Eric have been helpful to me."

Paul can be reached at (413) 204-6387. For information about PVFA classes, coaches, fees, FAQs on fencing, videos and testimonials, visit their website  www.pioneerfencing.com and their Facebook page.

 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. 

Member News: ArtHampton: Easthampton Studio Tour Day

The second annual "ArtHampton: Easthampton Studio Tour Day" will be held on October 1, 2011 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Many Greater Easthampton artists, performers, and craftspeople will be participating in this open studio presentation by having sales, exhibitions, performances and demonstrations throughout the city. ECA+ will produce a full-color map listing all participants and their locations that will be distributed to area arts venues, studios, and other prominent business locations.

More than 45 artists will be participating this year, from glass artists to performers and painters, in the Paragon Arts and Industry Building, Eastworks, One Cottage Street, the Old Town Hall and other sites throughout the downtown area.

Some of the artists include: Lynn Latimer, Angela Zammarelli, Joshua Vrysen, and Ugone and Thomas in One Cottage Street; Marlene Rye and Catherine Gibbs in the Paragon Arts and Industry Building; City Joinery (a new furniture maker in the area) and Caroline Batson in Eastworks; Anselblue Design Studio, Adell Donaghue, and Ron Parent in and around the Old Town Hall; and Boss and Brown in their studios on Water Street, plus many more! Some of these artists are new to the event while others are eager to participate again because of the success of last year's attendance and response.

ECA+'s goal is to enhance the economic and cultural vitality of the community through educating residents and businesses about the importance of supporting and buying art produced in Easthampton, Westhampton, and Southampton. New ECA+ Coordinator Burns Maxey said, "ArtHampton is an invitation for visitors to view and learn about the processes and works of Easthampton and area artists' work. What this event will institute is three-fold: artists will build a clientele and profit from purchases, visitors will come to learn about Easthampton artists' processes and undoubtedly recognize the diverse array of creativity, and thirdly, area businesses will benefit from the inflow of visitors to the city." Also, participating restaurants will be offering specials to ArtHampton visitors, adding an incentive for visitors to support local businesses.

This event is funded by the Massachusetts Cultural Council and sponsored by The Valley Advocate. More information can be found at  easthamptoncityarts.com, on  Facebook or by calling Burns at 413-527-8278.

Member News: A Show of Force: Western Mass Business Expo Slated for Oct. 18

Kate Campiti, associate publisher of BusinessWest magazine, said a name change was inevitable. "When you make this many changes to an event like the annual trade show, when you change the look, the feel, the experience in the many ways that we are," she said, "you need a new name to let people know." 

And so, the former Market Show, staged for more than two decades by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, is now the Western Mass Business Expo. "And that's a name that really says it all," said Campiti, noting that BusinessWest, the region's leading business publication, is producing this year's event for the first time. 

Kate said the show, slated for Oct. 18 at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, is truly a regional show, involving businesses across Western Mass. It will also be new and different in many other ways, from two dozen seminars and panel discussions on the show floor, to a sophisticated networking event called Mine Your Business that will be co-located with the expo, to an elaborate end-of-day networking social featuring fine food and a cash bar. 

"Considering all that this show offers, we're asking business owners and managers, 'why would you be anywhere else on Oct.18?'" said Campiti. "This will be the place to be." 

For more information on the Expo, Mine Your Business, the seminars, or any other aspect of the Expo, or to reserve your booth, call (413) 781-8600 or visit www.WMBExpo.com or www.businesswest.com .  

by George O'Brien, BusinessWest 

Area News: Easthampton vs. Ludlow to Save Energy 

The City is in a friendly competition with the town of Ludlow to see which community's residents can save the most money on electricity. Both communities are in the Western Mass. Saves Challenge, run by WMECO to help customers reduce their energy consumption. Amherst and Sunderland are also participating.

Residential WMECO customers can sign up for free online to receive personalized suggestions on reducing energy use and to track their savings. Users accumulate "Recyclebank Points" that can be redeemed at stores. If a town in the challenge shows a 3% reduction in residential energy use, it will receive a free one-kilowatt solar energy panel.

Back in April, the Mayor and Easthampton City Council adopted a resolution and accepted this challenge from the town of Ludlow: whichever community saves the most energy from April 22 to Oct. 1 wins 12 pints of ice cream from either Randall's Creamery in Ludlow or Mount Tom's Homemade Ice Cream in Easthampton.

WMECO hired the marketing firm SmartPower to promote the Western Mass. Saves Challenge. The Easthampton-Ludlow competition was SmartPower's idea, to promote outreach of the program in a way that appeals to people.

Apart from the competition, the city continues its own movement toward being green. Easthampton is completing the installation of LED lights on most of its main streets; they last 10 to 15 years longer than the old bulbs, and Mayor Tautznik estimates that they will save the city $36,700 per year.

Easthampton residents (sorry, no businesses) can take advantage of the WMECO program by signing up at: www.westernmasssaves.com.