Art Deviation Gallery moves
GREENFIELD — Art Deviation Gallery & Store has moved from 365 Main St. to inside Whitney Hill Antiques, one-third of a mile away.
Collaborators JJ White and Lee Matthew started selling items out of the 50-square-foot space they rent on Feb. 1 and closed the former location later that month.
“A thousand dollars a month in rent was a little hard to come anywhere near breaking even,” White said. “We did more in sales in the first month [here] than we did in three months at the gallery.”
The space, rented for $200 a month, offers an eclectic mix of antiques and artwork, with far more stuff kept in storage.
“[There was] not a lot of foot traffic [at 365 Main St.], really. It’s really hard,” Matthew said. “Whereas this place is so wonderful with the foot traffic it really gives people a destination and just so much inventory.”
White said he became interested in a new space when he saw signs at 122 Main St. offering just that.
“I have done a lot of business with Whitney Hill Antiques, both to inform my art and also to inform my home,” he said.
“We were looking for options,” Matthew added.
Art Deviation Gallery & Store opened at its former location nearly a year ago.
Greenfield Cooperative Bank highlights strong growth and community impact at annual meeting
GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) held its 121st Annual Meeting on June 16, where bank leadership shared financial results, celebrated employee achievements and highlighted the bank’s continued commitment to serving communities throughout Franklin, Hampshire and Hampden counties. During the meeting, Anthony Worden, president and CEO; Jacqueline Charron, executive vice president and chief business banking officer; and Jeremy Payson, executive vice president, chief financial officer and treasurer, reflected on the bank’s impact and performance over the past year, emphasizing GCB’s cooperative banking philosophy and community-focused approach.
“At Greenfield Cooperative Bank, we believe banking should be cooperative,” said Worden. “Our success is built on the trust of our customers, the dedication of our employees, and our commitment to strengthening the communities we serve. We remain focused on helping our customers achieve their financial goals while making a meaningful difference here in western Massachusetts.”
The bank continued to expand its lending activities, including supporting 13 families through the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston Down Payment Assistance Program. Investments in technology and customer convenience included enhancements to digital banking services, new payment solutions and the completion of the Northfield branch renovation project.
Over the past year, GCB employees volunteered with more than 100 organizations while providing financial support to more than 250 nonprofit and community organizations throughout the region. The bank also launched its Co-op ROOTS employee volunteer program, creating additional opportunities for staff to give bank through hands-on service and community outreach initiatives.
Those reelected include directors incumbents: Catherine G. Coleman, JoAnne J. Finck, Nancy A. Fournier and Peter J. Whalen. The bank would like to thank Douglas P. Clarke, John W. Kuhn and Peter W. MacConnell, Esq. for their committed years of service as corporators of Greenfield Bancorp, MHC. The full Annual Report can be found at greenfieldcoopbank.com/learn/about-our-bank.
Eversource training helps protect wildlife in its rights-of-way
SPRINGFIELD — Eversource recently hosted its annual Turtle-Palooza! Wildlife protection training program to strengthen workers’ expertise in identifying and protecting turtles that call the company’s rights-of-way home.
With the support of wildlife experts and a specially trained turtle-sniffing dog, workers spent the day in Agawam practicing how to spot and safely relocate the turtles away from areas where vegetation management work is taking place.
“Delivering safe, reliable electric service goes hand in hand with being a responsible steward of the land we manage throughout our service territory,” said Eversource Manager of Licensing and Permitting Matthew Waldrip. “Our rights-of-way provide important habitat for a variety of wildlife species, including protected turtles. By training our crews to identify and carefully relocate these animals before work begins, we can help preserve these valuable ecosystems while continuing to maintain the electric infrastructure our customers depend on.”
Dozens of Eversource employees and contractors participated in the hands-on training to learn how to track protected species like the Eastern Box turtles that inhabit the low-lying areas beneath the company’s electric transmission lines. The team located 15 turtles in the right-of-way.
“Proper vegetation management along utility rights-of-way can play an important role in creating and sustaining habitat for some of the Commonwealth’s rare species, including the Eastern box turtle,” said Jesse Leddick, assistant director of MassWildlife’s Natural Heritage and Endangered Species Program.
Eversource conducts vegetation management throughout the year to help ensure the safe and reliable delivery of electricity. These low-growth corridors also provide important habitat for a wide range of reptiles, amphibians and other wildlife, making programs like Turtle-Palooza an important part of the company’s environmental stewardship efforts.
Learn more about the energy company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and wildlife protection. Customers can also explore the company’s free Herptiles Guide, to learn about the many reptiles and amphibians that call Eversource rights-of-way home.
Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts welcomes new board members
SPRINGFIELD — Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts (JAWM) has appointed two new members to its Board of Directors whose backgrounds in education, economic mobility, talent development and community leadership closely reflect the organization’s mission of preparing young people for future success.
Through their work supporting workforce pathways, educational access and professional development, both leaders bring perspectives that will help strengthen JAWM’s efforts to equip students with the skills, confidence and connections needed to thrive in school, careers and life.
Joining the board are Jennifer McNeill, Ed.D., senior program officer for education and economic mobility, Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts; and Allison Kline, MBS, MS, executive director of talent acquisition, Northwestern Mutual, and CEO, Restoration Chaos.
“Our board plays a critical role in helping Junior Achievement connect students with meaningful opportunities and real-world skills,” said JAWM President Amie Miarecki. “Jennifer and Allison each bring valuable experience and perspectives that align strongly with our mission and the evolving needs of young people throughout western Massachusetts.”
Visit jawm.org to learn more about Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts and its Board of Directors.
Mike Dunphy named president of SmallCorp
GREENFIELD – Mike M. Dunphy of Easthampton has been named president of Greenfield-based custom fabrication and manufacturing company SmallCorp (The Small Corporation). Dunphy will succeed President Hoyt Wood, who plans to retire in 2027. Hoyt will take on the role of chairman of the Board. Prior to Dunphy’s promotion to president, he held the position of director of sales and marketing for 16 years, where he led the sales team and special museum projects. Dunphy holds a Bachelor of Science in Management from Boston College.