Making news in business
Energy guides help Valley farmers save
AMHERST — Local farmers looking to cut energy costs can consult a series of guidebooks from the Massachusetts Farm Energy Program.
The five guidebooks provide farmers with practical information regarding energy-conscious and cost-effective upgrades. The manuals cover dairy farms, greenhouses, maple sugaring operations, orchards and vegetable farms.
The program has worked with more than 400 farmers since 2008, and assisted in leveraging more than $4.5 million for farm energy project implementation (about 60 percent of total project costs), resulting in over 137 projects completed on 86 farms.
For more information visit berkshirepioneerrcd.org.
New doughnut shop opens in Amherst
AMHERST — A gourmet doughnut shop featuring a variety of exotic flavors has opened in downtown at the Carriage Shops. The Glazed Doughnut Shop at 233 North Pleasant St., run by Keren and Nicholas Rhodes, will feature cake-style doughnuts with flavors such as toasted sesame, peanut butter and jelly and Butterfinger.
The Rhodes are Amherst natives who also run The Mini Donut Factory at the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.
In addition to doughnuts, the shop is expected to have gluten-free muffins and cupcakes, though Rhodes said she is still working on perfecting the gluten-free line of products.
Jewelry store holds ribbon-cutting
HADLEY — Kingdom Master Jewelers, a store specializing in jewelry, watches and purchases of gold, silver and diamonds, will be formally welcomed to the business community by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce.
The ceremonial ribbon cutting for the store that opened in September will be held Wednesday at noon at its 31 Campus Plaza Road location.
The jewelry includes a line by Cydonia & Co., Swiss made watches and custom jewelry created for customers.
Networking
event planned
SPRINGFIELD — An event Thursday in Springfield seeks to connect nonprofit and government agencies with potential board and committee members.
The event will take place from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Basketball Hall of Fame. It is cosponsored by the United Way of Pioneer Valley and OnBoard Inc.
The event is free and open to the public. Individuals and organizations who plan on attending the event are asked to notify the regional United Way group at the organization’s. website Organizations that would like to meet potential board members can register at the website and must pay a $50 fee.
Wilson joins
Capella University
DEERFIELD — Former South Deerfield resident Donna M. Wilson has joined the graduate faculty in educational leadership and management at Capella University in Minneapolis.
Wilson directs the doctoral dissertation research of mid- and executive-level secondary and post-secondary career educators from across the nation.
Her research concentrates on organizational behavior and structures, leadership in post-secondary institutions and enhanced training and development for career educators.
Wilson completed her doctorate in 2008 at the University of Massachusetts under the guidance of Joseph Berger. She is a past employee of Pearson Education in Hadley, working in foreign language assessment and educational administration testing.
Minoff recognized
in law publication
NORTHAMPTON — Springfield attorney Keith A. Minoff, a Northampton resident, is named in The Best Lawyers in America 2013 for his work in commercial litigation and corporate law. Selection is based on a peer-reviewed survey.
Norskey joins
Hatfield business
HATFIELD — Eleni Norskey of Northampton has joined Sports Travel and Tours as a sales associate and assistant in business development.
Norskey received her undergraduate degree from Mount Holyoke College in 2010 and her master’s degree from Smith College in 2011.
Petersen joins area planning group
SPRINGFIELD — Christina M. Petersen of Northampton recently joined the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission as a land use planner.
Petersen holds a master’s degree in forestry from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
For the last six years she worked for a forest investment company, GMO Renewable Resources, where she was involved in the management of their extensive domestic forest ownership, including the development of commercial wind installations, the permitting of a large wetland mitigation bank, and the sale of conservation easements.
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