Bank donates $10K to housing project

NORTHAMPTON — Greenfield Cooperative Bank has donated $10,000 to Habitat for Humanity’s Victoria Bismark Farm project. This initiative calls for the construction of three single-family homes on Burts Pit Road in Northampton, which will be built by hundreds of community volunteers alongside three future homebuyers with low income.

The Victoria Bismark Farm project aligns with GCB’s core values of community engagement and financial empowerment. By sponsoring this project, GCB hopes to make a lasting difference in the lives of local families while demonstrating its dedication to building a brighter future for western Massachusetts.

“The housing crisis is real and happening now. Habitat’s response can only succeed with the help of strong community partners,” said Megan McDonough, executive director of Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity.

NEPM’s Románreceives promotion

SPRINGFIELD — New England Public Media’s Elizabeth Román has been promoted into the role of managing editor, daily and digital news. Although her title did not dramatically change, her responsibilities have evolved and Román will now take the lead on delivering daily news programming on the radio, NEPM website and social media channels.

Roman is a lifelong Springfield resident and western Massachusetts native. She hopes to continue to expand the diversity of sources in news coverage and opportunities to create more Spanish-language news content. As the daughter of Puerto Rican parents who migrated to Massachusetts more than 40 years ago, Román has intended throughout her career as a journalist to provide accurate representation of communities of color in western Massachusetts.

Román is a graduate of Holyoke Community College and the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Prior to working at NEPM, she was a reporter at the Springfield Republican for almost two decades, edited El Pueblo Latino, co-founded Colectivo de Medios Latinos, and appeared as a panelist on NEPM’s “The Short List” and “Connecting Point”.

Román joined NEPM in 2022.

Girl Scoutshire new CEO

HOLYOKE/WORCESTER — Following an extensive search process, Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) has appointed Theresa Lynn as its new chief executive officer.

Lynn brings with her a wealth of experience in nonprofit leadership, having most recently served as senior vice president of the United Way of Central Massachusetts where she focused on fundraising, communications and some large grantmaking opportunities.

She’s was also the executive director for Back on My Feet, addressing homelessness and job insecurity in Boston, and as executive director for ReadBoston for an 14 years. She currently serves as a board member for the Worcester Education Collaborative and BioBuilder Education Foundation.

Lynn holds a Master in Public Administration from the Harvard Kennedy School, a Master in Business Administration from Boston University, and a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from the College of Holy Cross.

Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts serves girls in 186 communities.

bankESB Donates $50K to United Way

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB and its employees recently made donations of $50,000 to the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region.

Employees pledged nearly $23,000 of their own funds in the bank’s United Way workplace campaign. Combined with the bank’s dollar-for-dollar match and additional corporate contribution, the campaign total of $50,000 will be donated to the United Way of the Franklin & Hampshire Region. The campaign lets employees donate and direct funds, advocating for causes that are most important to them.

As a longtime contributor, the bank and its employees have donated over $690,000 to United Way organizations in western Massachusetts over the last 12 years. The United Way is a volunteer-driven organization that serves residents through its own programs and services as well as those of its partner agencies. The organization works to advance the common good by focusing on the building blocks for a good life — education, financial stability, health, and basic needs.

Brazilian BBQcoming toHolyoke Mall

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall is bringing Brazilian barbecue to Café Square this spring with its newest food court eatery, Terra Nossa Brazilian Barbecue.

Construction began this month on the 950-square-foot space, which will soon be home to the locally owned, Massachusetts-based franchise. The Holyoke location is the eatery’s fifth location and first west of Interstate 495.

Husband and wife duo, Joao and Karla Jardim, launched the fast casual Brazilian barbecue experience to American malls in 2021. “Terra Nossa,” meaning our land in Portuguese, encapsulates the restaurant’s mission of staying true to the “Brazilian way.” They strive to embody their homeland by showcasing the flavor of Brazilian cuisine.