BETE Fog Nozzle president appointed to GCC board of trustees

GREENFIELD — Lifelong Franklin County resident and BETE Fog Nozzle President Tom Fitch has been appointed to Greenfield Community College’s board of trustees.

Fitch was appointed to the board of trustees on Dec. 19 by former Gov. Charlie Baker. One of 11 trustees, Fitch replaced former trustee and chairperson Robbie Cohn.

Currently, Fitch is president of BETE Fog Nozzle, a Greenfield-based spray nozzle manufacturer whose products are distributed internationally in markets including food, beverage, petrochemical, chemical and pollution control. Fitch also has experience in leadership roles at Yankee Candle and Hardigg Industries, a division of Pelican Products.

“GCC is an asset to the community and is such a great institute of higher learning, far exceeding expectations,” Fitch said in a statement.

Fitch said he wants to continue GCC’s legacy of keeping the region educated and trained, and ultimately continuing to build Franklin County. These values are also reflected in Fitch’s workforce at BETE Fog Nozzle.

“Many of our employees have gone through GCC and have been able to be strong contributors to their families, supporting them, as well as helping our organization, and play a key role in their community,” Fitch said.

GCC President Michelle Schutt said in a statement that she is excited to have Fitch involved at GCC, especially as workforce development continues to become an important part of the college’s plans.

“Tom brings a wealth of knowledge and experience about what Franklin County businesses need,” Schutt said. “His guidance will help us continue to provide exceptional training and programs for learners and organizations alike.”

“We are very excited to have Tom Fitch as part of the Greenfield Community College board of trustees,” board Chair Hector Toledo said in a statement. “His experience and passion for the region will ensure that GCC continues to reach its fullest potential, especially among the workforce and business communities.”

Cameron’s Winery hosting celebration ahead of Valentine’s Day

NORTHFIELD — Ahead of Valentine’s Day, Cameron’s Winery and The Back Room Brewing Co. at 1046 Millers Falls Road will host harp music and harmonies from The Mother Pluckers on Sunday, Feb. 5, from noon to 4 p.m.

In addition to music, the event will include chocolates and confections from Erving Station, flowers from Adria Lowry Unique Floral Design of Northfield, Valentine’s Day cards and cards for other occasions by Barb King of Northfield, and special chocolate brews from The Back Room Brewing Co. Cameron’s Winery will also be celebrating the release of its rose wine.

Historic Deerfield welcomes new
director of historic preservation

DEERFIELD — Historic Deerfield has hired Annie Rubel as its new director of historic preservation. In this role, which she began on Jan. 3, she will lead the repair, restoration and research of the museum’s nationally significant historic buildings that date from circa 1730 to 1872.

Rubel holds a master’s degree in public history from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, with a concentration in historic preservation. According to Historic Deerfield, she also completed a master’s degree in the archaeology of buildings at the University of York, England.

Rubel most recently served as director of preservation and operations at Fair Lane, the home of Clara and Henry Ford, which is a National Historic Landmark in Dearborn, Michigan. The position involved planning and implementing a $27.5 million restoration of the 31,000-square-foot mansion. She was responsible for contracts, budgeting and timelines of contractors, consultants, tradespeople and artisans, as well as applying for grants and ensuring the preservation of other buildings on-site. The project met the highest degree of the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Restoration and won the Governor’s Award for Historic Preservation in 2020.

During her work at Fair Lane, Rubel also served as vice president of the Michigan Historic Preservation Network and was a member of the board for the MotorCities National Heritage Area from 2019 to 2021. She previously worked on a wide range of private and public projects across the U.S.

Eversource recognizes National Energy Assistance Day

In recognition of National Energy Assistance Day on Feb. 1, Eversource is urging customers to learn more about programs that help customers pay their energy bills.

“We want to make sure customers who need help are aware of the many programs they can take advantage of, especially now with historically high energy costs we’re seeing due to global events and demand,” Eversource Vice President of Customer Operations Jess Cain said in a statement. “Customers who’ve never needed help before may qualify for these programs.”

Options include:

■The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, provides help with winter heating costs for those who meet state income guidelines. Customers can apply online at mass.gov or through their local Community Action. Customers can find their local agency at masscap.org or by calling 211 or Eversource.

■The Massachusetts Good Neighbor Energy Fund helps residents who are experiencing a temporary crisis and do not qualify for state or federal assistance by providing a one-time payment of up to $500. Customers can apply at MAGoodNeighbor.org or at their local Salvation Army.

■Eversource’s New Start Program can help income-eligible electric and gas customers reduce or eliminate their outstanding balance in as little as 12 months when they make on-time monthly payments. Eversource makes up the difference by eliminating or forgiving a portion of the total balance enrolled in the program, reducing the amount owed each month.

■Payment plans are available to all Eversource customers, regardless of income, to pay their past-due balance over a period of time.

■Budget billing plans are also available and can help Eversource customers avoid seasonal spikes on their energy bill by paying a fixed amount each month based on their average annual usage.

■A discounted rate is available to customers who are receiving public assistance benefits and have a household income at or below 60% of the state median income. These customers may be eligible for a 42% discount on their electric bill or a 25% discount on their natural gas bill.

■Energy efficiency upgrades can help customers reduce their energy use. Customers may qualify for 100% off approved insulations and air sealing, as well as rebates. For more information, visit MassSave.com.

Customers can also call Eversource at 877-963-2632 to learn more about the assistance and payment programs, or to verify their financial hardship status. Details on energy efficiency solutions can be found at Eversource.com.

Eversource applauded for commitment to gender equality

For the fourth time, Eversource has been included in the annual Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index (GEI), which recognizes 484 companies from around the world that have demonstrated their commitment to advancing women’s equality in the workplace and promoting transparency in gender reporting.

“Being recognized in the 2023 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index is a rewarding confirmation of our journey in ensuring our commitment to diversity and inclusion as a core value at Eversource,” Executive Vice President of Human Resources and Information Technology Christine Carmody said in a statement. “It remains our continued focus to drive meaningful, positive change in our workplace and our communities by addressing racial and social justice and inequity.”

Bloomberg’s standardized reporting framework offers public companies the opportunity to disclose information on the ways they promote gender equality in areas such as representation in leadership roles, pay parity, sexual harassment policies and creating an inclusive workplace culture. The Gender-Equality Index uses this framework to track how companies promote gender equality in these areas, and reporting companies that score above a globally established threshold — based on the extent of disclosures and the achievement of best-in-class statistics and policies — are included in the index.

“Congratulations to the companies that are included in the 2023 GEI,” Peter Grauer, chair of Bloomberg, said in a statement. “We continue to see an increase in both interest and membership globally, reflecting a shared goal of transparency in gender-related metrics.”

For more information on the Gender-Equality Index, visit bloomberg.com/gei.

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