First-time homebuyer info session offered in Spanish

CHICOPEE — Greenfield Cooperative Bank is hosting a free information session, conducted in Spanish, to equip first-time homebuyers with the knowledge to navigate the process of purchasing their first home. The session will be held Tuesday, July 30, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at Elms College Alumnae Library, 291 Springfield St. in Chicopee.

Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the home buying process, from financing options to legal considerations, all presented in Spanish. Some key topics covered include:

The impact of credit on mortgages: Learn how your credit score influences your loan options and strategies to secure a favorable rate.

Greenfield Cooperative Bank’s First-Time Homebuyer Achieve and Attain Programs: Discover the benefits of the bank’s mortgage programs designed for first-time homebuyers.

The power of pre-approval: Understand how a pre-approval strengthens your offer and gives you an edge in a competitive market.

Beyond financing: Gain insights from guest speakers, including a real estate agent who will introduce you to home shopping strategies and a real estate attorney who will explain the purchase and sale contract and closing process.

Attendees should note that these sessions are for informational purposes only and do not offer certificates of completion. Space is limited. For more information, visit greenfieldcoopbank.com/events.

GCC grants emeritus status to four faculty members

GREENFIELD — The following four faculty and staff members were granted emeritus status during the June 18 Greenfield Community College board of directors meeting: Norman Beebe, Charlotte Gifford, Teresa Jones and Paul Lindale.

Norman Beebe

Beebe taught mathematics at GCC for more than 30 years, first as an adjunct and then through his role as co-coordinator of the Peer Tutoring Program. He was instrumental in many new initiatives during his tenure, including the developmental math sequence, a newer model of teaching basic math and study skills via Human Development (HUD) courses and the Math Studio learning space. As co-coordinator of the Peer Tutoring Program for 25 years, Beebe hired, trained and supervised nearly 300 math tutors, and the training materials he developed have become critical to maintaining the program’s ongoing College Reading and Learning Association certification status.

Beebe also served on multiple search committees, the Graduate Review Board and the Green Campus Committee. Additionally, he was an active member of the Massachusetts Community College Council leadership, where he became known for his ability to see the many sides of complex issues.

Charlotte Gifford

Gifford began teaching French and Spanish at GCC in 1987. During her tenure, Gifford built the World Languages Department to include French, Spanish, Latin and American Sign Language, as well as Spanish for specific professions (including health, law enforcement and education). To support and encourage GCC’s language students, Gifford also created the Credit for Prior Language Experience option, established annual travel scholarships for language students, and developed credentialing programs allowing French and Spanish students to demonstrate and document their proficiency.

Within the college, Gifford sat on numerous committees, served as interim dean of humanities and chaired the college’s accreditation process. Most recently, as secretary of the Assembly, she led the restructuring of GCC’s system of shared governance.

Additionally, Gifford founded and facilitated the Upper Valley Foreign Language Collaborative, which created alliances with area public and private schools.

Teresa Jones

Jones began her career at GCC in 1999 as an adjunct instructor teaching botany, ecology, horticulture, sustainable energy, natural history and environmental science, and she became a full-time faculty member in 2007. Her collaborations with colleagues at GCC, in the community and in her field fueled the development of GCC’s Renewable Energy/Energy Efficient (RE/EE) Program and GCC’s sustainable agriculture initiative.

Jones’ dedication to research brought large grants to the college. These included two from the National Science Foundation and one from the Massachusetts Workforce Commonwealth Trust Fund.

In her administrative roles — including chair of the Science Department, STEM Starter Academy director, and coordinator of RE/EE and sustainable agriculture — Jones demonstrated an inspiring style of leadership.

Paul Lindale

Lindale taught art at GCC for 24 years and served as the Art Department chair for half of that time. He arrived at GCC when digital media was becoming increasingly integrated into the visual arts. He embraced these tools and introduced video and computer arts courses that contemporized the Art Department.

He also played a major role in launching Art on Campus, which exhibits student and faculty artwork in public spaces on the GCC campus, and the annual art student exhibit each spring. He collaborated with Westfield State University to coordinate GCC student and faculty exhibitions, and participated in GCC faculty exhibits at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

As an artist, Lindale’s studio practice ranges from video to coded work that explores the changing environment, and his work has been exhibited around the world.