Bank participating in two holiday toy drives

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank is participating in two holiday toy drives to benefit local children in need.

Bank branches in Franklin County are once again partnering with the Salvation Army’s holiday gift campaign. Community members can stop by their local branch to select a child’s toy from the wish list. Donated toys must be returned to the branch by Dec. 13.

Bank branches in Hampshire County are collaborating with Bomba Radio and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to collect toys for the Toys for Tots program. From Dec. 2 to Dec. 13, community members can drop off new, unwrapped toys at any Hampshire County branch.

“We are thrilled to support these wonderful organizations and make a positive impact on the lives of children in our community,” Tony Worden, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, said in a statement. “By working together, we can ensure that every child experiences the joy of the holiday season.”

GCC Foundation welcomes new board members

GREENFIELD — Two new members have joined the Greenfield Community College Foundation’s board of directors.

Greenfield native Andrew “AJ” Bresciano is first vice president, commercial loan officer at Greenfield Savings Bank. Now a Turners Falls resident, Bresciano is an alumnus of GCC, which he said was pivotal to his path in life. After GCC, he attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s Isenberg School of Management and obtained a bachelor’s degree in finance in 2004. He has served on the boards or committees of several local nonprofits, including Franklin County’s YMCA and the Franklin County Community Development Corporation.

“As an alum of GCC and a lifelong resident of Franklin County, I value the quality education that GCC provides to our fellow community members,” Bresciano said in a statement, “and am fortunate to see firsthand how that education makes our community stronger.”

Lake Pleasant resident Charles Jacques is a tax accountant at CBIZ with more than three years of experience in public accounting. He completed his graduate degree in accounting at UMass Amherst and is in the process of pursuing his CPA. His industry focus is supporting the nonprofit field, stemming from his passion for supporting organizations that are changing lives and improving their communities.

“Education is so important and I admire the continual efforts of the GCC Foundation to create opportunities for students to realize their career goals,” Jacques said in a statement. “I’m thrilled to work and grow with a diverse and talented team, and to also carry on the work of Kathy Sisson, the board’s former treasurer, who has been a mentor for me as I transitioned into the accounting profession.”

Free hula lessons, series of holiday films coming to Garden Cinemas

GREENFIELD — Dawn’s School of Dance will offer free hula lessons to moviegoers at the Garden Cinemas from 1:30 to 4:30 p.m. on Saturday, Nov. 30, which is Small Business Saturday. This event coincides with the opening weekend of Disney’s “Moana 2.”

Also happening on Small Business Saturday at the theater is the fourth annual $5 poster sale. Anyone who purchases gift cards in the amount of $100 or more will receive a free large popcorn.

Additionally, Liberty Tax Service will kick off a free holiday movie series with “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” on Nov. 30, at 11 a.m. The first 10 families will get a free “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” coloring and activity book. The Liberty Tax Service series of free holiday movies will continue with “Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” on Dec. 7, “The Year Without a Santa Clause” on Dec. 14, “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on Dec. 21, “Rudolph’s Shiny New Year” on Dec. 28 and “Frosty the Snowman” on Jan. 4.

Two attorneys join Bacon Wilson

SPRINGFIELD — Having been sworn in to the Massachusetts Bar on Nov. 19, former law clerk Alexandre Pereira and former real estate intern Sara Cafaro have joined the Bacon Wilson law firm, which represents clients throughout western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut.

Pereira, a Ludlow native, joined Bacon Wilson as a law clerk in June 2023, gaining experience across multiple legal disciplines and discovering a passion for elder law and estate planning. During his time at Bacon Wilson, Pereira earned his Juris Doctor degree with a concentration in transactional law from Western New England University in May 2024. He also holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the same university, achieved in 2021.

Before joining Bacon Wilson, Pereira was a legal assistant at Marta Law Offices in Ludlow, where he developed expertise in estate planning and real estate. Pereira will continue serving his community as Bacon Wilson’s newest associate attorney in the Elder Law and Estate Planning Department.

Cafaro began her journey at Bacon Wilson as an intern in the summer of 2022, working in the Corporate and Commercial Real Estate Department at the Springfield office. She later transitioned to the Westfield office in the winter of 2022, continuing her practicum internship through 2024. Cafaro earned her Juris Doctor degree from Western New England University in May 2024. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in business from the same university, completed through the accelerated 3+3 program. This program allowed Cafaro to begin her law school coursework during her senior undergraduate year, enabling her to graduate with her bachelor’s degree a year early in May 2022.

During her academic career, Cafaro was recognized with several prestigious awards, including the Edward F. McBride Award and the CALI Award for Excellence in Evidence Law. A native of East Longmeadow, Cafaro will serve as Bacon Wilson’s newest associate attorney in the Commercial and Residential Real Estate Department.

Care Central VNA & Hospice leader joins Healthcare Advisory Board

GREENFIELD — Zebra Technologies Corporation has announced Holly A. Chaffee, president and CEO of Care Central VNA & Hospice Inc., as the newest member of its Healthcare Advisory Board and Industry Education Committee.

Zebra Technologies Corporation, headquartered in Lincolnshire, Illinois, is an American mobile computing company specializing in technology in the manufacturing, retail, health care, transportation and logistics industries that can be used to sense, analyze and act in real time. Zebra Technologies Corporation has more than 128 offices across 55 countries and collaborates with more than 10,000 partners across 180 countries.

Chaffee brings more than 35 years of leadership across a wide spectrum of health care settings, including hospitals, home health, hospice, public health and technology-driven innovations.

She has led three organizations as CEO and spearheaded initiatives such as AI-driven documentation systems and advanced health care models.