Magic Wings to hold ribbon-cutting ceremony
SOUTH DEERFIELD — The new owners of Magic Wings Butterfly Conservatory in South Deerfield will recognize the next chapter of their business with a grand reopening celebration on Saturday, June 13 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 281 Greenfield Road in South Deerfield.
The event will feature family activities, including face painting, fairy hair, henna, an origami butterfly workshop, farm animals in the outdoor gardens and a bracelet bar. Many of the activities are free. Local vendors will be on site with handcrafted items for purchase. Guests will receive $2 off admission all day. Cousins Maine Lobster and Sweetera & Co food trucks will be onsite serving food and desserts.
After being on the market for 12 years, longtime owners Kathy Fiore and George Miller III sold Magic Wings to siblings Victoria Tubbs and Vytautas Sukys in January.
“We’re excited to celebrate this new chapter for Magic Wings and share it with the community that has supported the conservatory for so many years,” Victoria Tubbs, one of the new owners, said in a statement. “We look forward to welcoming guests, creating memorable experiences, inspiring wonder, and providing a place where visitors can relax and enjoy the beauty of this special place.”
On June 17 at 4:30 p.m., the Franklin/Amherst Area Chamber will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the business. Following the ceremony, Magic Wings will offer a special animal encounters and an opportunity to explore the conservatory.
After exploring the conservatory, guests are invited to continue the evening with refreshments, a cash bar and relaxed After Hours event. This event is free to attend for Franklin County and Amherst Area Chamber members and their families. Register at bit.ly/4uDYhT2.
MassHire to highlight job openings at Balancing Staff Parners
GREENFIELD — On Monday, June 15, from 10 a.m. to noon, representatives from MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center will be at the Greenfield Public Library highlighting job opportunities currently available at Balancing Staff Partners.
Balance Staffing Partners is an industry leader in staffing organizations throughout New England and remotely since 2006. Their areas of expertise range from manufacturing associates to office professionals and skilled trades. For those questions, email bizteam@masshirefhcareers.org or call 413-774-4361.
UMass prof honored by global food science association
The Institute of Food Technologists (IFT), a global food science association, has awarded the Distinguished Lipid and Flavor Science Award in honor of Stephen S. Chang to David Julian McClements, Ph.D., distinguished professor at the University of Massachusetts.
Winning an IFT Achievement Award is considered one of the highest honors a food science community member can receive.
McClements specializes in food biopolymers and colloids with an emphasis on using structural design principles to improve the quality, safety, shelf-life, sustainability, and healthiness of foods. His current recent research focusses on food nanotechnology, delivery systems, designing healthier processed foods, and creating next generation plant-based foods.
McClements is the author of 11 books, has published more than 1,700 article in scientific journals and secured over $25 million in external funding.
New CFO at Florence Bank
FLORENCE — Eric Padelford of Dalton has been named senior vice president/chief financial officer at Florence Bank. Padelford will succeed Senior Vice President/Treasurer Sarah Darling, who will be retiring in June after 40 years of service to the bank.
Prior to joining Florence Bank, Padelford was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, where he oversaw all operational, financial and technological functions for the organization.
Padelford holds a Bachelor of Science degree in information technology from the State University of New York (SUNY) Empire State College and a Master of Science degree in data science from Eastern University in Pennsylvania.
Dakin Humane Society names associate director of marketing
SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society has named Samantha Novak the associate director of marketing, according to Director of Development and Marketing Molly Biechele.
“Sam brings an exceptional combination of strategic marketing expertise, relationship-building skills and passion for mission-driven work to Dakin Humane Society,” said Biechele. “We are thrilled to welcome her to the Dakin team.”
Prior to joining Dakin, Novak was a senior marketing automation manager for Blackbaud, where she developed targeted nurture engagement programs for fundraising, grantmaking and data intelligence product audiences, shaped marketing strategy and executed campaigns.
She also served as a marketing specialist for Performance Food Group of Springfield, where she led negotiations with broker/vendor representatives and managed the end-to-end fulfillment process and implemented campaigns.
Novak has a certificate of Nonprofit Board Education for Corporate Employees and is a Root Cause Analysis Practitioner. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Bay Path College. For more information, visit dakinhumane.org.
Training opportunity available for locals
GREENFIELD — MassHire Franklin Hampshire and LifePath are currently recruiting for their Rural Healthcare Workforce Training Program. This paid training program is open to residents of Franklin and Hampshire counties, as well as the North Quabbin region. The training period last six weeks and is full time. Following the completion of the training there are both part-time and full-time positions available.
There are two upcoming information sessions for those interested in learning more. The sessions will be held at the MassHire Franklin Hampshire office, located at 101 Munson St., suite 210 in Greenfield, on Tuesday, June 16 at 10 a.m. and Thursday, June 18 at 2 p.m. Training will begin on Monday, Aug. 3, also at the the MassHire Franklin Hampshire office. The training will be facilitated in collaboration with Baystate Franklin Medical Center and the Community Health Center of Franklin County. For more information, call 413-774-4361.
Franklin County Community Development Corporation hosts virtual workshop on linguistic bias
GREENFIELD — The Franklin County Community Development Corporation offers a monthly virtual workshop called Linguistic Bias: What’s the Harm? There, participants can learn how some common words and expressions in use today have origins in slavery and racism. These sessions focus on identifying and discussing commonly used words and phrases that perpetuate social inequity. By understanding the resonance and eliminating these phrases, the organization hopes to foster environments where everyone feels welcome.
The bimonthly workshop takes place on the third Wednesday of the month at 2 p.m. To sign up, visit bit.ly/3PbhWKK. The next session is on June 17.