Florence Bank presents President’s Award to three employees

FLORENCE — Florence Bank announced that it recently presented the 2023 President’s Award to three staff members for exceptional service.

Established in 1995, the President’s Award recognizes outstanding performance, customer service and overall contribution to Florence Bank. Those named are nominated by their colleagues at the bank.

This year’s award recognizes Calli Paulin, of Southampton, a teller at the bank since 2021; Aaron Bonneau, of Amherst, an IT administrator who’s worked at the bank since 2019; and David Lipson, of Ludlow, a marketing research analyst who came on board in 2018.

Paulin attended Bay Path University in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree in cybersecurity.

Bonneau holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

Lipson holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in business management from Western New England University.

Attorney to lead estate planning courses at HCC

HOLYOKE — Attorney Karen G. Jackson of Jackson Law in Holyoke will lead three estate planning workshops at Holyoke Community College, once per month in September, October and November.

An elder law and estate planning attorney, Jackson will present these sessions:

■Core Estate Planning, on Thursday, Sept. 21, from 6 to 7 p.m. Jackson recommends that everyone should have what she calls “a core estate plan,” with a will, power of attorney and health care proxy. She will explain the value of each document.

■ De-Mystifying Trusts, on Thursday, Oct. 19, from 6 to 7 p.m. Jackson will explain what a trust is, review the different types of trusts and outline who needs a trust and in what situations.

■ Saving Your Home from the Nursing Home Bill, on Thursday, Nov. 30, from 6 to 7 p.m. Jackson will explain the use of an irrevocable income-only trust to save one’s home when nursing care becomes problematic. She will explain MassHealth rules and provide tips and traps to avoid.

Each class is $39. To register, call 413-552-2320.

Attorneys make Best Lawyers list

SPRINGFIELD — Two attorneys from Hampshire County who work at the law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin. P.C., have been listed in 2024 edition of The Best Lawyers in America.

Carol Cioe Klyman, a resident of Westhampton, was named a “Lawyer of the Year” in the fields of elder law and trusts and estates. She concentrates her practice in the areas of elder law, estate planning, special needs trust planning, estate settlement, guardianships, trust and estates litigation and MassHealth appeals.

Mark J. Esposito, a resident of Northampton, was named Best Lawyers: Ones to Watch in America in the fields of commercial litigation and litigation-labor and employment. He concentrates his practice in these areas as well as trusts and estates and probate litigation and administrative law. He has counseled various public sector labor unions and employees in collective bargaining, arbitration and litigation, and represents clients in state and federal courts as well as before administrative agencies.

HCC Thrive Center benefits from Hyundai Hope

HOLYOKE — The Thrive Student Resource Center at Holyoke Community College recently received a $5,000 donation from Hyundai Hope, a corporate social responsibility initiative of Hyundai Motor North America.

Representatives from Hyundai Motor America delivered a ceremonial check during a child seat safety event hosted by Gary Rome Hyundai in Holyoke. Rome is a member of the HCC Foundation Board of Directors and a financial supporter of HCC and its initiatives, including the Thrive Center, which houses HCC’s food pantry.

Hyundai Hope also donated $10,000 to the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

The Thrive Center and Food Pantry at HCC provide necessities to students experiencing food insecurity, housing insecurity, and other financial needs. Thrive supplies, at no charge, food staples, toiletries and other items, such as baby food, diapers, and baby wipes.

On hand to accept the donation on behalf of the Thrive Center were Amanda Sbriscia, HCC vice president of Institutional Advancement and executive director of the HCC Foundation, which manages a fund for the benefit of Thrive, and Julie Phillips, HCC’s director of Development.

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