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Chamber of Commerce
Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Jessica Bettencourt
Chair
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Board Members
Angela Chviek
Kimberly Cobb
Rich Eichacker
Steve Gardiner
Rich Suitum
Erica Travinski
Michael Wales
Michael L. Wales Painting Co.
Jim Donahue
Honorary Board Member
Counsel
Padgett D. Berthiaume
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Welcome to CROSSROADS EVENTS!
How's your Fall going? Let's catch up tonight at Fun at Five at the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center. There is so much to experience this time of year and we are looking forward to another amazing celebration of the season at The 30th Annual Harvest Festival which takes place this weekend on the Sturbridge Town Common and the grounds of The Publick House. Be sure to check out a spooky crop of scarecrows, including the Chamber's own entry, and vote for your favorites! Winners are announced on Sunday at Harvest Festival. Check the Chamber's calendar for many cool events happening throughout our towns.
WANTED: Your Holiday Events on our calendar!
We rely on you to share with us and our community your news and events. Whether your business employs thousands or you are a one-person operation, Crossroads is your platform to share your latest news and happenings. Thank you for emailing us your press releases, links and photos for inclusion in
Crossroads!
Keep posting your events to our online events calendar! We love to share them!
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NETWORK WITH YOUR CHAMBER
Fun at Five!
TONIGHT! October 15
5:00-7:00pm
Southbridge Hotel and Conference Center
Fall Networking at Southbridge Hotel!
We will meet at the Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center in Shades Lounge and, depending on the weather, enjoy the outdoor Courtyard which features a fire pit and soft seating. Come and network with your fellow members! A variety of food selections from our menu will be served. Try a specialty drink or grab a cold craft brew from one of our 10 taps! Tours of the hotel including Focus Fitness, guest rooms and meeting space will be available.
You could win:
An Overnight Stay for Two including Breakfast at Southbridge Hotel
Or
A Six-Month Membership to Focus Fitness at Southbridge Hotel
Thanks to our host,
Southbridge Hotel & Conference Center!
Register for Fun at Five by email or phone.
508-347-2761
Cost is $12 for Members who register, $15 at the door, or $20 for non-Members.
Thank you to our
October Fun at Five Sponsor!
Jeff D. Helgerson Excavating, Inc.
Your Septic, Excavation and Waste Pumping Experts!
Helgerson's services include: Septic tank cleaning, septic system installations, septic repairs and maintenance, Title 5 work, excavating, storm water management, grease trap pumping, perc tests, high pressure jetting, lift station, non-hazardous waste water hauling, hydro excavating, catch basin, treatment plant services, foundation excavation, and grading.
79 Bay Path Road | Charlton, MA 01507
508-248-7242
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The 30th Annual Harvest Festival
October 19 & 20, 2019
The
30th Annual Harvest Festival on the Sturbridge Town Common and grounds of the Publick House Historic Inn is a family fun tradition. The event includes around 80 local crafters, artisans, live music, entertainment, specialty food vendors and farm fresh harvests.
The Publick House's Scarecrow Contest
is a perennial favorite. Check them out including the Chamber's entry!
Cast a vote for your favorites! The winners will be announced on October 20 at The Publick House.
FEATURING:
80 CRAFTERS!
A MINI FOOD TRUCK FESTIVAL!
LIVE MUSIC & ENTERTAINMENT!
ENTERTAINMENT SCHEDULE & FOOD TRUCKS ARE POSTED AT THE HARVEST FESTIVAL WEBPAGE!
FREE Parking. FREE Admission.
Festival hours are 10am to 5pm on Saturday and
11am to 4pm on Sunday. RAIN OR SHINE.
HARVEST FESTIVAL is presented by the Chamber of Central Mass South & The Publick House Historic Inn.
HARVEST FESTIVAL is sponsored by
STURBRIDGE TOURIST ASSOCIATION.
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Remember... MEMBER TO MEMBER!
We THANK YOU for KEEPING IT LOCAL...
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NEW MEMBER ORIENTATION
OCTOBER 23, 8:30AM TO 9:45AM
(Please arrive at 8:15 for a prompt 8:30 start)
CHAMBER OF CENTRAL MASS SOUTH
CONFERENCE ROOM
46 HALL ROAD, STURBRIDGE, MA
The Chamber offers these 75-minute sessions to assist new and current members, and people who may be considering joining the Chamber to maximize the benefits they receive from their membership. Veteran members are welcome to join in and get a refresher on all the benefits of being a Chamber Member. We are very pleased to invite you to participate the next session which will take place on the morning of Wednesday, October 23rd in the Conference Room at the Chamber Office in Sturbridge.
The details of this FREE program follow.
Please RSVP
if you are able to attend.
AGENDA
Welcome
Introductions
My Chamber Experience
Maximizing Your Membership
Networking Exercise
Central Mass South Networking & Referral Group
Affiliation with Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce
Discover Central Mass
Venly
SCORE
Coggno
Advocacy
Committees
Questions & Answers
Closing
Coffee & Light Refreshments will be available.
We sincerely hope you will join us as we present these tools, tips, and strategies to help you get the very most out of your Chamber Membership. Feel free to give us a ring if you have any questions.
If you are able to attend, please RSVP
to Paulette via phone at 508-347-2761 or email
[email protected]
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Reduce Your Risk of Business Fraud
Presented by Jacqueline Croft of Country Bank
Tuesday, October 29 at Noon
Chamber Conference Room
46 Hall Road, Sturbridge
FREE for CMS Chamber Members, $15 for non-Members.
Space is Limited! Please RSVP.
Call 508-347-2761 or email [email protected] to save your spot! Feel free to bring your lunch. Use our microwave to heat it up! Relax, learn and grow with us!
This presentation provides an overview of fraud related considerations of which every small business should be aware. Having the right fraud prevention and detection methods in place can help prevent or reduce financial and reputational loss.
Topics:
ABOUT THE PRESENTER: Jacqueline Croft, Fraud Analyst
Jacqui Croft has been in the field of banking for 10 years. As the Fraud Analyst at Country Bank, she is responsible for maintaining the Bank's Identity Theft Prevention Program. She monitors and investigates fraud across multiple product lines and educates customers and employees about fraud trends. She is a member of the International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IFACI) and has a Certificate in Fraud Prevention from the American Banker's Association.
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3rd Annual Membership Directory Photo Contest
We are seeking your best photos to showcase
our region in all 4 glorious seasons!
The Chamber of Central Mass South is calling on all photographers, amateur and professional, to submit images which represent the four seasons in our area.
The photos cannot contain any distinguishable advertising or business entities and they must be easily identifiable with one of the four seasons.
Submit one or all four seasons!
There will be one winning photo chosen for each season, selected by the Chamber's Promotions Committee. The 4 winning seasonal photos will be used on the cover of the 2020 Membership Directory and the runners up may be used in the 2020 Annual Report and other Chamber publications with a photo credit to the photographers where possible. All submitted photos become property of the Chamber of Central Mass South.
The photos must be high resolution (300 d.p.i. or greater)
and submitted digitally by email to Alix.
by December 15, 2019.
Thank you in advance for your best photographs of our towns!
Southbridge, Sturbridge, Charlton, Brimfield, The Brookfields,
Holland, Spencer, Wales, Warren, Northern CT
Chamber of Central Mass South
Questions? 508-347-2761
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Paid Family and Medical Leave
Massachusetts
Paid Family and Medical Leave program is here.
Withholding began on October 1.
The videos in the links below lay out quick facts about the program, responsibilities, and important dates to remember for both employers and employees.
The most up-to-date information about the program can be found at
mass.gov/pfml
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Harrington Announces Emergency Departments Now Staffed by Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Harrington HealthCare System has announced its Emergency Departments (ED) in Southbridge and Webster are now staffed by Associated Physicians of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians (APHMFP) of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC).
The collaboration brings seasoned physicians, nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) to Harrington's Emergency Care Centers to manage patient care and oversee clinical measures.
As part of the transition, all Emergency Department providers who were Harrington employees became APHMFP employees effective October 1. Nursing staff and Nurse Managers remain as Harrington HealthCare System employees. There were no staff reductions or layoffs to complete this partnership.
This past spring, Harrington had an opportunity to evaluate the staffing model in its Emergency Departments following a critical shortage of physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners.
"We had a decision to make: recruit, hire and train several Emergency Medicine providers -- which would have taken considerable time and resulted in an extensive period of interim coverage -- or consider a partnership with a high-quality organization to collaborate in a way that made sense long-term," said Ed Moore, President and CEO. "The partnership with APHMFP/BIDMC brings an even higher level of excellence, clinical standards and academics to our Emergency Departments and we are pleased to let our community know this decision supports our investment in their future by providing the best in emergency care."
The healthcare system expects a seamless transition between staffing models.
"We feel confident this will not disrupt patient care in any way," Moore said.
This isn't the first partnership between the two healthcare organizations. Since 2007, Harrington's Diagnostic Imaging Department has been staffed by HMFP/BIDMC radiologists, who read and interpret all adult scans, perform interventional radiology procedures on-site and provide 24/7 coverage for the department.
"One of the goals of Associated Physicians of Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians is to bring the best possible emergency care to the community and to provide an optimal working environment for emergency medicine specialists," said Richard Everard Wolfe, M.D., Chief of Emergency Medicine at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. "Our patient- and provider-centric approach ensures that we can retain high-quality providers, allowing us to help community hospitals recruit the best talent despite a relative shortage of emergency medicine specialists in Massachusetts. [Ed Moore and] Harrington HealthCare System's philosophy perfectly aligned with our strategy. Together, we have established a dynamic partnership to provide us with the resources needed to bring the emergency care of large academic centers to the community."
The Department of Emergency Medicine at Harvard Medical Faculty Physicians at BIDMC is staffed by over 150 board-certified, attending physicians, many of which are faculty at Harvard Medical School and are academically focused on both scientific and administrative/leadership and research.
The BIDMC Emergency Department is also home to the Harvard Medical School-affiliated Emergency Medicine Residency program, a highly-rated and competitive three-year residency program with a total of 39 residents (13 per year), who have been selected from over 1,000 annual applicants. Its faculty publishes extensively in the field of emergency medicine, leading to evidence-based medical practice, and manages multiple international fellowships in Disaster Medicine, Emergency Ultrasound, ED Leadership and Administration.
APHMFP Emergency Department focuses on the community and manages four affiliated hospital emergency care centers, including markets in Worcester and New Bedford, and cares for over 250,000 patient visits per year. The department has also developed uniform clinical practices, quality systems, and transfer protocols to ensure excellent patient care throughout the network.
Harrington's Southbridge and Webster Emergency Departments see an average of 42,000 patient visits per year.
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TLGV Awards $12,000 in Historic Preservation Grants
The Last Green Valley, Inc. (TLGV) recently awarded $12,000 in grants to four local organizations to preserve, protect, interpret, promote or market historic and cultural resources. Since TLGV began awarding historic and cultural grants in 2003, more than $1 million has been disseminated to local organizations. For many the funding is the necessary step toward completion of their projects.
"These four projects are important to preserving the rich history and culture of The Last Green National Heritage Corridor," said Lois Bruinooge, Executive Director of TLGV. "These projects all stand out because of the long-term benefits they will provide not only to the organizations leading the projects, but to the entire community."
TLGV awards grants based on a competitive application process. Every project is vetted and evaluated for its potential benefit to the region by a team of reviewers. Every successful grant must be matched 1:1.
The following grants were awarded:
Killingly Historical and Genealogical Society
in Killingly, CT was awarded $1,000 for its "Preserving the Past" project. The project will catalog and preserve historic photographs, postcards, maps and other items and make them more accessible to the public.
Norwich Historical Society
in Norwich, CT was awarded $4,000 for its project called "Restoration of the circa 1759 David Greenleaf House." The house is a historic property on the grounds of the Leffingwell House Museum and the funds will go directly toward restoration of the rear lower level of the home to create an accessible space to accommodate more visitors for events and programming. Renovation of the space will allow both the Leffingwell House Museum and the Norwich Historical Society to expand programming and events.
Thompson Together
in Thompson, CT was awarded $4,000 for its project called "Thompson Cemetery Restoration II." The grant will fund cleanup and repair work at six of the town's 24 cemeteries. The grant will help fund an ongoing effort of the committee to preserve and conserve the cemeteries, which had been neglected for many years. All the cemeteries play an important role in Thompson's history.
Town of Thompson, through its Trails Committee,
was awarded $3,000 for its project called "Traveling Through Thompson: Directional and Interpretive Signage to Protect & Promote Thompson's Historic and Cultural Resources." The Town will develop a consistent signage plan to promote and protect Thompson's resources and provide valuable information to visitors to enhance their experience. Many of the town's historic locations will receive signage.
The Last Green Valley is a National Heritage Corridor - the last stretch of dark night sky in the coastal sprawl between Boston and Washington, D.C. The Last Green Valley, Inc. works for you in the National Heritage Corridor. We help you to care for, enjoy and pass it on.
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North Brookfield Savings Bank Announces 55" TV Drawing Winner is
Farmer Matt
Drawing Winner Matt "Farmer Matt" Koziol shown with his 55" Samsung HD Smart TV alongside North Brookfield Savings Bank employees, from left to right, Supervisor Jessica Shimansky, Supervisor Jamie Hubacz, AVP/Marketing Manager Caitlin O'Connor, Branch Operations Manager Cheryl Orne, and
SVP/Retail Banking Patricia Ostrout.
With fall bringing cool, crisp weather and the season of the harvest, finding out he was the winner North Brookfield Savings Bank's drawing contest brightened up Matt Koziol's week. As part of a special limited time drawing contest, customers of North Brookfield Savings Bank could enter for their chance to win a 55" Samsung Ultra HD Smart TV.
With an abundance of ticket entries received, Matt Koziol was the lucky winner. The West Brookfield local, lovingly known by many as "Farmer Matt", manages 400 acres of farmland in the Brookfield's and surrounding communities. Much of the land he farms has been certified organic since 2015 and he sells grass-fed beef as well as certified and conventional hay. Farmer Matt also offers custom haymaking for many of the local farms.
When Farmer Matt was contacted about the exciting news, he was on his tractor and working his farmland. Initially, he couldn't believe what he was hearing. The following Monday, he happily visited North Brookfield Savings Bank to pick up his prize and do his banking.
"I am very happy to be part of the North Brookfield Savings Bank family," said Matt "Farmer Matt" Koziol. "When I visit, everybody knows me, and my dogs, Rolly and Klaus, by our first names. They always treat us very well and provide us with great customer service."
To learn more about Farmer Matt and the great products and services he offers, visit farmermattwb.com/
To learn more about North Brookfield Savings Bank's community outreach and all of the convenient banking products and services offered, visit www.NorthBrookfieldSavingsBank.com.
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Southbridge Garden Club Hosts Annual Open Meeting
The Southbridge Garden Club will hold their Annual open meeting Friday, October 25, 2019 at 7:30 pm in the Fuller Conference Center at Old Sturbridge Village, 1 Old Sturbridge Village Rd, Sturbridge. The evening will include original floral arrangements with commentary by floral designer Tony Todesco, an opportunity to win one of six arrangments made Tony and light refreshments.
Join us as we welcome Floral Designer Tony Todesco, founder and owner of Stow Florist/One Main Street Studio, of Stow, Massachusetts. With over 35 years of floral business and design in the Metro West Boston area, Tony's colorful style and expertise, make him a sought after designer, lecturer, and commentator. Because of his creative use of plant material in his designs and technical knowledge, he not only interprets design trends, but helps creates them.
He is a regular guest designer, lecturer and instructor for Civic, Design Groups, and Garden Clubs on state, national and international levels. Among his many accomplishments are set design and staging for numerous flowers shows, including The Massachusetts Horticultural Societies Annual, New England Flower Show. His large scale designs make regular appearances at the MFA Boston. He is proud to be a National Garden Clubs, Master Flower Show Judge, and has served on the National Garden Club Flower Show Committee as New Design Development chair (2001-2009). He developed and introduced five new design types. These designs are included in the NGC, Handbook for Flower Shows, and also seen in the Designing by Types publication. Tony is now Design Consultant for NGC, Flower Show Schools Committee.
The Southbridge Garden Club, a 501 c3 non-profit organization and an affiliate of The Garden Club Federation of Massachusetts. We have had a presence in the community since 1953. Members meet monthly at The Arts Center in Southbridge. The mission of the club is to share an interest in horticulture and expand our knowledge of gardening for our mutual benefit and that of our local communities. The club has an open membership which includes members from Southbridge and surrounding towns. An active club, members host garden-related lectures and demonstrations, and enjoy tours of area parks and gardens. We maintain the gardens at the Arts Center and are always on the lookout for new horticultural outreach opportunities in the community. Information for those interested in membership will be available at the Event.
All proceeds will benefit The Southbridge Garden Club's open programming and the OSV Horticultural program. Tickets - Members Free / Guests $10.00
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Harrington Cancer Center Opens Office in Webster
Dr. Jeffrey Gordon is scheduling consultations and follow-up appointments at 336 Thompson Road, Webster.
The Cancer Center at Harrington is now offering patient appointments at 336 Thompson Road in Webster.
Patients can book consultations and follow-up appointments with Jeffrey Gordon, MD, board-certified oncologist and hematologist, at the Webster location.
Dr. Gordon, a Woodstock, CT native, has been with the Cancer Center at Harrington since 2018. He received his medical degree at the University of Massachusetts Medical School, where he also completed a resident and fellowship.
Celebrating 10 years of offering advanced cancer care services to Southern Worcester County, Harrington HealthCare System wanted to expand its hematology and oncology services to accommodate those patients who live in the Webster/Dudley area, as well as residents of northeastern Connecticut, including Thompson, Putnam and Woodstock.
As a nationally-accredited facility by the Commission on Cancer of the American College of Surgeons, The Cancer Center at Harrington takes a multidisciplinary approach to treating cancer as a complex group of diseases by incorporating patient navigators, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center radiologists, surgeons and social support services to patients and their families.
The 336 Thompson Road building in Webster also houses South County Pediatrics and Auburn Podiatry. Patients will continue to receive therapy and complex treatment at the Cancer Center's main location at 55 Sayles Street in Southbridge.
Call (508) 764-2400 for more information or schedule an appointment.
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Norcom Mortgage is on the hunt for licensed and experienced Loan Officers.
Do you have 2+ years of MORTGAGE EXPERIENCE?
Do you have a solid knowledge of FHA, CONVENTIONAL & VA LOANS?
*WE ARE NOW OFFERING REVERSE MORTGAGE LENDING*
INTERESTED?
CONTACT KRISTEN WALTHER
774.241.0770
LEARN MORE BY VISITING US AT
Please share this information with your friends and colleagues
who may have an interest!
Thank you!
This is not an offer to make a loan or to make a loan or any particular terms. All loan applicants must qualify under underwriting requirements and satisfy all contingencies of loan approval. Rates and terms subject to change without notice. NMLS ID #71655 (www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
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'Tis The Season
Book Your Holiday Party With Us!
Comfort Inn & Suites Sturbridge
83 Hall Road, Sturbridge
Looking for a cost efficient, private space for your company/group holiday party?
Look no further and rent out our cozy lounge, with a capacity of 55 people,
for a private party.
Bar Packages Bring in your Own Food Room Discounts
Call our Sales Director for more information and bookings at 508.347.3306.
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Local Community Garden Awarded $6K Grant
The Community Food Collaborative was recently awarded a $6,000 grant from The Last Green Valley (TLGV) National Heritage Corridor. Funds for this grant come from TLGV's new Community Enrichment Grant Program. Projects that qualify must demonstrate tangible results and lasting benefits to the community as well as advance the visions and strategies of Vision 2020, the management plan for TLGV National Heritage Corridor.
"We are very excited to receive this grant," said Joe Coan, the garden's president. "As specified in our application, funds from the grant will be dispersed on a reimbursement basis and matched 1:1 by cash or in-kind contributions. We plan to use the funds to expand the irrigation system we installed to half of the garden this season. We also want to replace the existing plastic fence with a new metal fence that can withstand the critters chewing through it which we experienced repeatedly this year."
Awarded at the end of September, the Community Food Collaborative garden has one year to complete the projects specified in the grant and to submit documentation for review and approval.
The Community Food Collaborative garden is a volunteer-driven project of the Rotary Community Corps of Sturbridge and Southbridge. All the organic vegetables raised in the garden are donated to the Saint John Paul II Food Pantry in Southbridge. Over 3,000 pounds were donated so far this year and a few vegetables are still growing. The garden is located behind the Sturbridge Town Hall near the lower parking lot. Visit the progress of the CFC garden on their Facebook page at www.facebook.com/CFCGardens/ or on their website at cfcgarden.org.
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NBSB's Annual Fall Food Drive Continues Through October
North Brookfield Savings Bank's Fall Food Drive fundraiser, held during the entire month of October, helps provide much needed food items to local neighbors and families in need. The Bank's goal is to collect at least 3,500 items total, but the Bank will be contributing monetarily and is issuing a challenge to the community.
For every item collected through the community, North Brookfield Savings Bank will contribute $1, for a total of up to $3,000, to help fund the pantries' operations.
Community members are encouraged to drop off non-perishable food items, paper goods and toiletries, or any monetary donations at any of NBSB's convenient branches anytime from October 1st through the 31st with the proceeds going directly to local food pantries.
Drop off locations:
- North Brookfield Branch: 9 Gilbert Street
- East Brookfield: 100 West Main Street, Route 9
- West Brookfield Branch: 128 West Main Street, Route 9
- Ware Branch & Business Center: 40 Main Street, Route 9
- Belchertown Branch: 4 Daniel Shays Highway, Routes 9 & 202
- Palmer Branch: 1051 Thorndike Street
- Three Rivers Branch: 2060 Main Street
To learn more about North Brookfield Savings Bank's community giving efforts and all of the convenient banking products and services offered, visit
www.NorthBrookfieldSavingsBank.com
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"I cannot endure to waste anything so precious
as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house."
-Nathaniel Hawthorne
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