CHAMBER NEWS - January, 2013


Annual Meeting  January 24th
Join us as we honor 2012 Annual Award Recipients
Elect New Board Members
Recognize Business Milestones
 
The Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce 2012 Annual Meeting & Elections
will take place Thursday evening, January 24, 2013 at 5:00 pm
at the Southampton Country Club.
 
Along with our Annual Elections, we will be presenting our 2012 Annual Chamber Awards.  As voted by the members we are proud to announce the following as the 2012 award recipients:

Business Person of the Year
Marlies Stoddard, Nash Gallery
 
 Business of the Year
Fleury Lumber Company
 
Community Service Person of the Year
Thomas Brown, Easthampton Savings Bank
 
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In This Issue
Member Spotlight
Article Headline
Upcoming Events
New Members
Eye on Policy
Member Events
Member Spotlight: Fitness Fusion Easthampton

Fitness Fusion logo

Fitness Fusion opened its doors in Easthampton on April 30, 2012. Located in the Paragon Arts and Industry Building, 150 Pleasant Street, the fitness club offers a wide variety of strength and fitness programs, and motivates its members to combine fitness and fun using monthly challenges, goals, competitions and rewards.

 

A few examples of the programs offered by Fitness Fusion are classes such as Zumba, P90X, TRX suspension training, boot camps, personal training, high school strength and conditioning, and youth sports training. Nutritional counseling is a part of most of Fitness Fusion's programs as well.

 

View this video to meet John Glynn, Fitness Fusion's owner and trainer, and to see their facility.

 

Go to Fitness Fusion's website at  www.fitnessfusioneasthampton.com to see a calendar of activities and events, shop for equipment or sign up for a free class. Fitness Fusion is on Facebook at www.facebook.com/fitnessfusioneasthampton. John Glynn can be contacted at 413-896-2676 or at [email protected].

 

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Member News: Pioneer Valley Ballet Starts New Season

On December 7-9, the Pioneer Valley Ballet began its 2012-2013 season with its 34th annual production of the Nutcracker, under PVB's artistic directors Thomas Vacanti and Maryanne Kodzis. Held at the Academy of Music Theatre in Northampton, this event included over 250 dancers from towns throughout western Massachusetts in six performances with an audience of more than 3,800.

 

Auditions for PVB's spring production, The Little Mermaid, will be held on January 5 at the company's Easthampton studio at 116 Pleasant Street in the Eastworks building. Children ages 4-12 are invited to attend. No dance experience is necessary and all children will be cast in the production, scheduled for April 6 and 7 at the Academy. Tickets for The Little Mermaid will go on sale in February.

 

Since 1972, PVB's training program has offered a full schedule of classes to children from preschool to high school and beyond. In conjunction with its performing season, PVB provides students a unique opportunity to experience the joys of movement and music through classical ballet.

 

For more information about the Pioneer Valley Ballet performances, classes and audition opportunities, visit their website at www.pioneervalleyballet.org or call 413-527-6363. Tickets to performances can be purchased online, at the studio or at the Academy of Music.

 

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Member News: Swing into Spring with the E.L.F. Ball
elf  

The tenth annual E.L.F. Ball will take place on March 2, 2013, from 6 p.m. to midnight at the Log Cabin Banquet and Meeting Hall, to benefit the Easthampton Learning Foundation. A black-tie optional event, the ball will feature dinner, dancing, and silent and live auctions.

 

The Easthampton Learning Foundation is a charitable organization that funds innovative, hands-on learning programs not funded by school budgets. The total cost of the ball is underwritten by its sponsors, so 100% of the funds collected go toward the endowment. Formed in 1999, E.L.F. is well on its way toward its goal of $1,000,000. Grant applications for 2013 programs are due by June 30.

There are several ways to help with the E.L.F. Ball: by becoming an event sponsor, by purchasing a ticket, or by donating or bidding on an auction item. E.L.F.'s president, Dick Perras of Finck and Perras Insurance Agency, said, "Come and join us for a fun evening and support education in our community."

 

The ball is one of E.L.F.'s two major annual fundraisers; the second fundraiser is the Madeline E. Perras Memorial Golf Tournament, to be held on June 1, 2013, at the Springfield Country Club. More Information about both events can be found at http://www.elfhelps.org/, and the Easthampton Learning Foundation can be reached at 413-529-3354 or  [email protected] .

 

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Area News:  Bridge Project Newsletter and Alert System 

On Dec. 11, the Chamber sent out its first monthly Manhan Bridge Construction Newsletter and text alert signup. The Chamber has been working with the MassDOT for several months to stay up to date on the upcoming Manhan Bridge construction project. Working with the MassDot, the Chamber will use the newsletter and text alerts to keep the entire local community updated as this main artery into and out of Easthampton is impacted. 

 

The bridge project is already underway with work commencing on several intersection upgrades. There will be permanent street lights placed on the corner of O'Neil and Northampton streets, as well as the corner of West and Northampton streets. A temporary light will also be installed at the Pleasant and Ferry Street intersection. Until these three lights are installed, the bridge will not be removed.  

 

Over the next few weeks and months the utility services will be working on the intersections. Western Mass Electric, Verizon, Charter and Columbia Gas have been working in the area of O'Neil Street and will continue working on Ferry and West Street intersections in preparations for the bridge closure sometime in the spring of 2013.   Finally, the Chamber has begun working with MassDot concerning signage for the businesses on Northampton Street.

 

The newsletter and text alert system are for use by anyone interested in keeping up to date on the bridge project. To sign up for the newsletter, text MANHAN to 22828. To sign up for the separate text alert system, text MANHAN to 96362.

 

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Upcoming Events
Annual Meeting
January 24
Click to Learn More and RSVP

NetworkingByNight
See You in February

Save The Date
March 8, 2013
St. Pat's Day Lunch
Southampton CC
Guest Speaker
Congressman Neal

March 20, 2013
Table Top Expo
Click to Learn More
 
New Members

 

Eye on Policy & Policy Makers
Member Events
 
10th Annual ELF Ball Click to Learn More
 

 

News
Do you have news to share or have an interest in the "Member Spotlight"? Contact us at the Chamber office 413.527.9414 to learn more.