Historic Deerfield appoints Isabella Galdone as assistant curator

DEERFIELD — Historic Deerfield has announced the appointment of Isabella Galdone as assistant curator. She brings academic training and museum experience that will support the museum’s exhibitions, collections and interpretive initiatives.

Galdone is a Ph.D. candidate in the history of art at Yale University. She specializes in 19th-century material culture, with strengths in object-based research and teaching, women’s history, Atlantic World studies, and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Her dissertation examines “Pre-Raphaelite Women Artists and the Intersection of Painting, Needlework, and Amateur Science.”

Galdone brings both academic and hands-on museum experience to her role. She served as Head Teaching Fellow for the course “Decorative Arts in a Global Context” at Yale and was an Archives Fellow at the Yale Center for British Art. She held internships at the Saint-Gaudens National Historical Park in Cornish, New Hampshire; the Château d’Acquigny in Normandy; and the American Precision Museum in Windsor, Vermont. She received a master’s degree from the University of York and an undergraduate degree from Smith College.

“We are so pleased to welcome Isabella to the museum,” said Curatorial Department Director Amanda Lange. “She brings deep expertise in 19th-century material culture and the history of craft, which will be invaluable as we plan an upcoming installation of 18th- and 19th-century woodworking tools.”

To learn more about Historic Deerfield, visit historic-deerfield.org.

Greenfield Cooperative Bank announces promotions

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank has announced the promotions of seven employees.

Michael Buckmaster is being promoted to executive vice president, commercial lending. Buckmaster has been with the bank since 2020 leading the commercial lending team and has more than 30 years of experience in banking.

Sean Sormanti is being promoted to executive vice president, human resources. Sormanti has been with the bank since 2019 leading our Human Resources department and has more than 15 years of experience in human resources and benefits administration.

Shelly Malo is being promoted to vice president, mortgage originator. Malo rejoined the bank in 2024, as senior mortgage originator, after previously working at Greenfield Co-op for eight years in the early 2000s.

Matthew Donovan is being promoted to assistant vice president, commercial lender. Donovan joined the bank in 2023 as a senior credit analyst with several years of credit experience working for America Honda Finance. He was promoted to commercial lending officer last year.

Kristen Canedy is being promoted to branch manager officer. Canedy joined the bank in 2020 and quickly rose the ranks to become the branch manager of the Northfield Branch in 2024.

Harlin Glovacki is being promoted to branch manager officer. Glovacki joined the bank in 2022 and advanced quickly to become the branch manager of the Shelburne Falls Branch in 2024. He provides assistance to the treasury management team that share the Shelburne Falls Branch and will be completing the New England School of Financial Studies program this year.

Marina Connor is being promoted to assistant branch manager and lead training officer. Connor started with the bank as a teller in 2017 and has risen to assistant manager while also acting as the bank’s lead trainer over the past several years. She has developed, maintained and lead the training program for the entire retail division over that time.

“These promotions represent more than just new titles, they reflect the commitment to our community that our employees at GCB embody. We’re proud to recognize their hard work and dedication to our ‘customer first’ mindset,” said Tony Worden, CEO and president of Greenfield Co-op. “When we invest in our people we’re investing in the continued human experience that sets us apart. We are proud to have such a talented and committed team.”

Explore Western Mass names 2026 Howdy Award winners

SPRINGFIELD — The Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau, promoting the region as Explore Western Mass, honored 10 individuals — from a pool of more than 1,400 nominations — from the hospitality industry on Monday, April 27, during the 29th Annual Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence. The gala dinner, held at the MassMutual Center attracted more than 400 hospitality industry professionals.

The awards, produced by Explore Western Mass, recognize frontline employees in the hospitality industry who go above and beyond in the performance of their duties and provide outstanding service to their guests and customers. Each Howdy award winner received a decorative glass Hospitality Excellence Award, a framed certificate of achievement, a Howdy Winner lapel pin, a custom Yankee Candle gift basket and a gift bag filled with gift certificates and other items from the region’s top tourism establishments.

Among the category winners, Judy Linarez Gearing of the Hilton Garden Inn in Springfield took home the award for Accommodations, while Bill Vezina was honored in the Attractions category for his work with Bright Nights at Forest Park. Delima Fournier of The Log Cabin in Holyoke was recognized for excellence in banquets and meetings, and Terry Blythe-Welden of the Fairfield Inn Springfield Enfield received the award for beverage service.

The food industry saw two top honors, with Donald Elton of the Gristmill Café in Southwick winning for casual food and Libby Mercier of The Student Prince in Springfield recognized for tableside Food service. In public service, Denise Koczocik of Mass Appeal and WWLP TV-22 was named the winner, while Janet Graves of Yankee Candle Village in South Deerfield took the top spot for retail. Rounding out the evening, Rick Malmborg of the Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative in East Longmeadow was honored for his contributions to the transportation sector.

The ceremony highlighted Bradley International Airport, which received the Spotlight Award, and Emily Banerjee of BuildEmUp Fitness in Springfield, who was named the People’s Choice Winner.

“We’re proud and happy to present the Howdy Awards to honor just some of the most important people in the hospitality industry, the frontline workers,” said Explore Western Mass President Mary Kay Wydra. “They are usually the first person a visitor encounters, and if they’re especially nice and go above and beyond, that visitor is likely to return to that — and other — tourism locations.”

Freedom Credit Union invites community to help provide beds for local children

SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union is once again inviting the community to support A Bed for Every Child by making cash donations at any of its branches throughout May. Donations will help provide beds to children in Massachusetts who do not have a bed of their own.

Through this Month of Giving campaign, Freedom is supporting an effort that helps children rest easier and wake up ready to learn, grow and thrive. A Bed for Every Child partners with schools, healthcare providers and community organizations to identify children in need and engage volunteers through its Build a Bed Project.

“Every child deserves a safe, comfortable place to sleep,” said Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch. “We’re proud to support A Bed for Every Child and invite our members and the community to join us in helping make a meaningful difference for children and families.”

Freedom Credit Union’s support of A Bed for Every Child is part of its ongoing Month of Giving campaign, which raises donations for charitable organizations serving local communities. Funds collected through May 30 will support this effort and help provide beds for children who need them.