At a recent industry gathering in Kansas City, Missouri, Valley Home Improvement of Northampton was honored with a Big 50 Award from Remodeling Magazine.
Each year since 1986, the Remodeling Big 50 inducts 50 owners of remodeling companies that have set exceptionally high standards for professionalism and integrity through exemplary business practices, craftsmanship, and impact in their community.
“This award is a testament to our staff’s ongoing commitment to deliver a product and service we all are proud of,” said Steven Silverman, president of Valley Home Improvement.
EASTHAMPTON — Taxland has opened a new location at 31 Union St.
Tina M. Chandler, president of Taxland, has been involved in individual and business income taxation over 25 years and a resident of Easthampton since 2015.
Chandler received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Western New England University in Springfield. In 2005, she successfully completed the Enrolled Agents exam — a comprehensive exam testing income tax knowledge in the areas of individual, corporate and pension taxation.
Chandler has also been employed since 1998 with Viscito Financial Services, in Springfield, where she is a licensed investment sales assistant.
FLORENCE — Florence Bank has promoted Michael J. Lynch of South Hadley to the position of senior vice-president/senior commercial loan officer.
Lynch, who joined the team at Florence Bank in 2004, will also now serve on the bank’s executive committee and continue in his role leading the commercial loan team. Prior to his promotion, he was first vice-president/senior commercial loan officer.
Before joining Florence Bank, he held a similar position with another area lending institution. Lynch holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Westfield State University. In December, he received a graduate leadership certificate from Western New England University.
Lynch is a trustee at the Holyoke YMCA, a member of the Easthampton Kiwanis Club and also a member of the Make-A-Wish Golf committee.
SPRINGFIELD — Amherst resident A. Rima Dael has joined Springfield Technical Community College as executive director of institutional advancement and foundation.
She will begin working with STCC President Dr. John B. Cook and staff on Jan. 30.
Dael will be responsible for the planning and managing of activities of the Office of Institutional Advancement, the STCC Foundation and the college’s alumni base. She will provide leadership in developing and implementing a comprehensive fundraising program.
Dael brings a strong background in philanthropy and nonprofit management with more than 20 years working in education and the nonprofit sector.
A graduate of Mount Holyoke College and the New School University, she is joining STCC after having worked as the executive director of Country Dance & Song Society, a national arts service organization based in Easthampton. Dael also teaches at Bay Path University in Longmeadow, where she was a founding faculty member of the Nonprofit Management and Philanthropy program.
Originally from the Philippines, Dael spent her childhood in several Southeast Asian countries, but considers the Pioneer Valley her home. She lives in Amherst with her husband and daughter.
SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Foods has opened the Pharmacy and Wellness Center at its Northampton location on Sundays. The store is located at 136 N. King St.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has awarded a $33,000 rural business development grant to the Center for EcoTechnology (CET), a Northampton nonprofit that partners with the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources’ Massachusetts Farm Energy Program for funding and technical assistance.
The grant will be used to provide timely information, funding request assistance, and technical assistance to rural farms that wish to improve their energy efficiency and reduce operating costs.
The state Farm Energy Program, started in 2007, has served over 500 farms with a variety of day-to-day technical and financial assistance with an ultimate goal to implement energy conservation, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.
1st-time homebuyer workshop on tap
FLORENCE — Sponsored by Valley Community Development Corporation and Florence Bank, a first-time homebuyer workshop will be held on Thursdays, Feb. 9, 16, and 23, and March 2, from 6 to 9 p.m., at Florence Bank, 85 Main St.
Please use the Keyes Street entrance. Register online or contact Fern Selesnick, fs@valleycdc.com, 586-5855 ext.160.
BOSTON — The Mass Energy Consumers Alliance announced that Burke Chevrolet of Northampton has joined its group purchasing program for electric vehicles.
Through Feb. 28, Burke Chevrolet and 15 other car dealers in Massachusetts and Rhode Island are offering Mass Energy-negotiated discounts on electric vehicles that are thousands less than the manufacturer’s suggested retail price. In addition to a federal tax credit of up to $7,500 and a state rebate of up to $2,500, Burke Chevrolet is offering a discount of over $2000 on the Chevy Volt, which received Consumer Report’s top safety rating for compact cars and was the second highest selling plug-in vehicle in the US last year.
The Drive Green program is also offering sharply discounted leases.