Association awards $5K grant to Empty Arms Bereavement Support

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank’s nomination of Empty Arms Bereavement Support, an organization offering support to families experiencing pregnancy or infant loss, has resulted in a $5,000 grant from the Massachusetts Bankers Association’s Community Service Grant Program.

“Empty Arms’ dedication to supporting families during some of life’s most difficult moments resonates deeply with our commitment to community service,” Tony Worden, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, said in a statement. “We’re honored to nominate them and are pleased they have received this well-deserved grant.”

This year, the Massachusetts Bankers Association Charitable Foundation awarded 41 grants, totaling $152,500, to worthy nonprofits across the state.

Eversource named to Newsweek list of Most Responsible Companies

For the fifth consecutive year, Eversource has been named to the list of America’s Most Responsible Companies, released annually by Newsweek in partnership with global research and data firm Statista.

Eversource, which is among the top-scoring utility companies on Newsweek’s 2024 list, was also named a “5 Year Champion” for being recognized among the nation’s most responsible companies every year since the Newsweek list was introduced.

“Operating in an ethically, socially and environmentally responsible manner is a choice we embrace across all areas of our company,” Eversource Chair, President and CEO Joe Nolan said in a statement. “With a constant focus to advance environmental and social justice, it’s rewarding to be recognized as a positive force in the way our employees work every day to provide our customers with the cost-conscious service they need today while also laying the foundation for new technologies and innovations for an even better future ahead.”

In the 2024 Newsweek list, Eversource ranked fifth in the nation among 59 companies in the Energy & Utilities category, and 154th overall on the top-600 list among the leading 2,000 public companies by revenue with headquarters in the U.S. The company earned the highest environmental score in the utility industry.

The list determines the most responsible companies based on their corporate social sustainability performance and reputation. Eversource and the other recognized companies are featured in the Dec. 15 issue of the news magazine.

Garden Cinemas screening ‘The Gold Rush’ as next silent film

GREENFIELD — Classic silent film comedy returns to the big screen with “The Gold Rush” (1925), a classic comedy starring Charlie Chaplin, on Monday, Jan. 1, at 6:30 p.m. at the Garden Cinemas.

The screening will feature live accompaniment by Jeff Rapsis, a New Hampshire-based composer who specializes in creating music for silent films. Admission is $10.50 for adults and $8.50 for children, seniors and students.

“The Gold Rush” finds Chaplin’s iconic “Little Tramp” character journeying to the frozen wastelands of the Yukon. There as a prospector, the Tramp’s search for gold turns into a pursuit of romance, but with laughs along the way.

Rapsis, who uses original themes to improvise silent film scores, said the best silent film comedies often used visual humor to create laughter out of simple situations. Because of this, audiences continue to respond to them in the 21st century.

“These comedies were created to be shown on the big screen as a communal experience,” Rapsis said. “With an audience and live music, they still come to life as their creators intended them to. So this screening is a great chance to experience films that first caused people to fall in love with the movies.”

Upcoming titles in the Garden Cinemas’ silent film series include:

■Monday, Feb. 5, at 6:30 p.m. — “Flesh and the Devil” (1926).

■Monday, March 4, at 6:30 p.m. — “The Passion of Joan of Arc” (1928).

■Monday, April 1, at 6:30 p.m. — “Safety Last” (1923).