Food business skills workshops offered

NORTHAMPTON — Healthy Hampshire and CISA will offer a series of skills workshops next month on starting, growing and managing a food business.

Sessions are open to anyone and free to attend.

“Essential Skills for Starting, Growing, & Managing a Food Business Training Series” is designed to support people who are new or inexperienced at working with food businesses and food access programs

People who live or work in Hampshire County and self-identify as BIPOC or low-income, or who need interpretation into English, are eligible to receive $30 to $60 per workshop, interpretation and/or translation, and up to five hours of free one-on-one coaching on any topic.

The series will be divided into three sessions with the following topics:

■Growing Produce in the Pioneer Valley: June 13, 3:30-5 p.m.

■Attracting Customers to Your Farm Stand or Market Booth: June 20, 5-6:30 p.m.

■Choosing a Food Business Model: June 27, 6-7:30 p.m.

To register and for more information: www.buylocalfood.org/essential-skills-workshops, email Caitlin at cmarquis@collaborative.org, or call 413 588-5562.

Southampton videographer earns certification

SOUTHAMPTON — Craig Fear of Southampton has earned the nationally recognized Certified Legal Video Specialist (CLVS) certification, according to the National Court Reporters Association.

The award acknowledges a high level of skill and understanding of knowledge related to all facets of videotaping, court proceedings and judicial procedures,

Video specialists are in high demand in court proceedings nationwide. A CLVS is an expert in understanding how to set up and capture the necessary information needed by parties to a case in a video format.

Fear is an association member and has worked as a legal videographer for one year with New England Video Depositions.

“Becoming a CLVS has given me a valuable skill in a high-demand field,” Fear said. “I’ve actually found it more valuable than my four-year college degree.”

The association, the country’s leading organization representing stenographic court reporters, captioners, and legal videographers, says there is an increasing demand for these workers.

For more information, contact pr@ncra.org.

Florence Bank awards $150K in community grants

NORTHAMPTON — In its 21st year, Florence Bank’s Customers’ Choice Community Grants Program awarded $150,000 to 46 area nonprofits in honor of the bank’s 150th anniversary.

At the May 16 ceremony, bank President and CEO Matt Garrity said he had raised the award total from $125,000 in keeping with the anniversary.

Recognition for the nonprofits comes from Florence Bank customers who vote for their preferences.

Garrity handed checks to 46 nonprofit leaders from across the region, presenting 13 with $5,000 gifts, along with $500 surprise awards to 10 organizations that fell just short of the required 50-vote count.

Nonprofit leaders expressed gratitude during the festivities held at Look Park.

“This grant will do us a world of good,” said Kevin McKinney, president of the Northampton Football League, which received an award for the first time in the amount of $2,545.

The community grants program was founded in 2002. Voting by bank customers takes place all year long, online and at bank branches. Over the past 21 years, Florence Bank has donated a total of $1.5 million to 165 organizations.

The complete list of grant recipients can be found online at florencebank.com/winners-list.

bankESB promotes Breeding to digital marketing officer

EASTHAMPTON — bankESB recently promoted Brenna Breeding to digital marketing officer.

Breeding, of West Springfield, joined bankESB in 2020 as digital marketing manager. In her new role, Breeding will be responsible for digital marketing content strategy and development, corporate website management, and will serve as the relationship manager for third party vendors. She earned a bachelor’s degree in sport management from the University of Delaware, and recently earned a marketing certificate from American Bankers Association’s Bank Marketing School.

Eversource lowers rates for summer

SPRINGFIELD — As the price of energy continues to trend downward, Eversource has filed significantly reduced electric supply rates with the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities (DPU) that would go into effect July 1.

This comes after energy prices hit historic highs in New England last year due to natural gas supply constraints related to the continued war in Ukraine and global demand. If approved by the DPU, the new rate for residential customers who receive their energy supply from Eversource would change from 21.99 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) to 14.85 cents per kWh, compared to 15.4 cents per kWh last summer, for customers in western Massachusetts.

In addition to the Basic Service Rate decrease, there are other slight adjustments on the delivery side of the bill to support grid modernization and energy efficiency also expected to take effect on July 1. All told, if each adjustment is approved by the DPU, customers using an average of 600 kWh per month will see an overall decrease of approximately $42, or 18% on their total bill.

Eversource warns customers they should expect continued market volatility and higher supply costs this winter.

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