Cummington Supply 50th Anniversary

CUMMINGTON — Cummington Supply, a family-owned hardware store and lumber yard, will celebrate its 50th anniversary on Sunday, Aug. 11.

Peter and Frances Kipp bought Cummington Supply in 1974, growing the business over the years before retiring and passing it on to their son, Gus Perkins, in 2018. Perkins grew up around the store, working off and on there for years, as well as working for general contractors before taking on the business.

Located on Main Street in Cummington, the store often serves as a spot to stop and visit with neighbors, a destination for local homeschool groups to tour, and a place to get building and DIY project advice.

In addition to the 50th anniversary celebration, there will be a memorial for Frances (Franny) Kipp the morning of Aug. 11. Franny died on Feb. 23 in Puerto Rico after a short illness. Throughout her time at Cummington Supply, people relied on her knowledge of the trades and tradespeople in the Hilltowns. She was a well known figure in Cummington and surrounding areas and is deeply missed. The family welcomes friends and the community to attend the memorial from 10:30 a.m.-12 p.m. and stay for the 50th anniversary celebration from 1-4 p.m.

Both will take place at Pettingill Park/Pavilion, 14 Main St. in Cummington.

Trial joins NEPM as senior director of development

SPRINGFIELD — With more than 20 years of experience working in public service in western Massachusetts, Tracy Trial has joined New England Public Media as senior director of development. She brings a high level of expertise in major gifts, planned giving, and strategic development to NEPM.

Trial has served in fundraising and community relations roles for a number of organizations. She comes to NEPM from United Way of Pioneer Valley, where she was senior director of development. Before that, she served as director of community and donor relations at Goodwill Industries of Springfield & Hartford.

In addition to her extensive work in fundraising, her background also includes instructional and administrative positions in secondary and higher education through Holyoke Public Schools and Bay Path University, where she was director of experiential education.

A western Massachusetts native, Trial attended Smith College, where she received a bachelor’s degree in philosophy. She went on to UMass Amherst to earn a master’s degree in education. She now lives in Wilbraham with her family and is an avid gardener and baker.

Dress for Success lands grant for career center

SPRINGFIELD — Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts, the area’s only workforce development organization focused exclusively on the needs of women and gender non-conforming people, is expanding its programming to include a new women’s career center in downtown Springfield.

In May, the organization received a three-year, $133,000 grant from the Women’s Foundation of Boston to help fund this expansion.

The career center will be managed by Takisha Mims, a program graduate who will be promoted to the organization’s impact manager from her current position as administrative coordinator. In this new role, Mims will conduct a thorough listening tour, receiving feedback from program participants, other graduates, and local community members to inform the career center’s programming which she will help to design.

The organization currently offers workforce development that includes a suiting program; Foot in the Door, which is a workforce readiness program for those looking to enter or re-enter the workforce; the Margaret Fitzgerald Mentor Program; and a Professional Women’s Group offering graduates ongoing mutual support and professional networking opportunities.

The new career center will supplement its programming by offering workshops and drop-in assistance with resume writing, job search strategies, interview preparation, financial literacy, and computer skills.

PeoplesBank and Cornerstone Bank announce merger of holding companies

HOLYOKE — Following a unanimous vote from their boards, PeoplesBank and Cornerstone Bank have announced that they have entered into a definitive merger agreement to combine their holding companies in a merger transaction.

While the merger agreement between PeoplesBancorp, MHC and SSB Community Bancorp, MHC will unify holding companies, both banks will continue operating under separate names and brands for the foreseeable future.

After the completion of the merger, the new consolidated holding company for both banks will be named PeoplesBancorp, MHC and have approximately $6 billion in assets. Thomas Senecal will remain as CEO and chairman and Todd Tallman will become president of the combined mutual holding company. Brian Canina will be the chief operating officer of the holding company and will remain president of PeoplesBank.

Both institutions will benefit from the combined financial strength of two strong community banks coming together to create one of the largest mutual multi-bank holding companies in the Northeast. PeoplesBank, serving western Massachusetts and northern Connecticut, and Cornerstone Bank, serving central Massachusetts, will each continue their normal operations with no disruption to customers.

Wheeler VP of board at Hartford co-ed day school

HARTFORD — Nancy Wheeler of Northampton has been elected vice president of the board of trustees at the Watkinson School, a co-ed independent day school for grades 6-12 offering inventive teaching to Hartford and surrounding communities since 1881.

Wheeler is replacing Kathleen Kane-Francalangia of West Hartford, who has been elected president effective July 1. Kane-Francalangia succeeds Wendy Avery of West Hartford.

Wheeler is president of WheelerConnect, a consulting firm she founded in 2019 after more than 15 years as senior vice president and interim president and CEO of MetroHartford Alliance. Wheeler steps into the role of Vice President with decades of experience on Hartford-area boards, including chairing the Billings Forge Community Works (now Forge City Works) Board for five years; and serving on the Connecticut Women’s Hall of Fame Board of Directors for six years.