Credit union raises $2.7K for food bank

SPRINGFIELD — Throughout July and August, Freedom Credit Union raised more than $2,700 through its annual food drive for the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts. In addition to cash donations, Freedom Credit Union also collected non-perishable food items.

“Thanks to the generosity of our members and staff, we were able to make a substantial donation of both money and non-perishable food for the food bank,” Freedom Credit Union President Glenn Welch said in a statement. “Every donation makes a difference, and we are proud to help erase food insecurity in our community.”

Since 1982, the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts has helped provide much-needed food to residents of Hampden, Hampshire, Franklin and Berkshire counties. It sources its products from donations, which it distributes to food pantries, meal sites and shelters throughout the region.

“We’re grateful for the ongoing support of Freedom Credit Union,” Food Bank of Western Massachusetts Executive Director Andrew Morehouse said in a statement. “With a food assistance network of 172 local food pantries in all four counties of western Massachusetts, we will certainly put these dollars and food donations to good use.”

Freedom Credit Union has branches across western Massachusetts, including in Greenfield and Turners Falls.

Nov. 7: Veteran’s Month Job Fair

GREENFIELD — The MassHire Franklin Hampshire Career Center is organizing a Veteran’s Month Job Fair on Tuesday, Nov. 7, from 9:30 to 11:30 a.m.

The job fair will be held in the cafeteria at the Greenfield Corporate Center, 101 Munson St. Attendees are advised to use the north entrance.

Priority entry for veterans begins at 9:30 a.m. The general public will be admitted starting at 10 a.m.

Chris Demars with the Upper Pioneer Valley Veterans’ Services District will be in attendance to answer questions about federal and state benefits that are available to veterans. Additionally, attending employers include Altium Packaging, Baystate Franklin Medical Center, Behavioral Health Network, Big Y, Community Action Pioneer Valley, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, the Franklin Regional Transit Authority, Pelican Products, Stop & Shop, Valley Medical Group, Worthington Assembly and more.

For more information, visit masshirefhcareers.org or call 413-774-4361.

Bank participating in anti-phishing campaign

GREENFIELD — For the fourth year in a row, Greenfield Cooperative Bank has joined the American Bankers Association and banks across the nation to promote an industry-wide campaign educating consumers about the threat of phishing scams.

The Federal Trade Commission estimates that consumers lost $8.8 billion to phishing and other fraud in 2022, an increase of more than 65% compared to 2021. To combat phishing, the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign uses attention-grabbing humor and other engaging content to empower consumers to identify bogus bank communications asking for sensitive information like their passwords and Social Security numbers.

“We are proud to join the ABA #BanksNeverAskThat campaign to educate our customers and the community about how to protect themselves from phishing scams,” Greenfield Cooperative Bank President and CEO Tony Worden said in a statement. “Phishing is a serious threat that can compromise your personal and financial information, and we want to help you avoid falling victim to it.”

Worden added, “That’s why we never ask you to provide sensitive information like your account number, PIN, password or Social Security number in an email, text or phone call. If you receive a suspicious message that claims to be from Greenfield Co-op, do not click on any links, open any attachments or reply with any information. Instead, contact us directly using the phone number on the back of your card or on our website.”

“By impersonating a bank, a scammer can steal thousands of dollars with just one text message, phone call or email,” Paul Benda, senior vice president, operational risk and cybersecurity at American Bankers Association, said in a statement. “With the strong support of participating banks like Greenfield Cooperative Bank, the #BanksNeverAskThat campaign seeks to turn the tables by arming consumers with the information they need to outsmart the scammers and protect their money.”

Throughout October, which is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Greenfield Cooperative Bank is sharing consumer tips on social media and highlighting the campaign with posters and employee T-shirts. The bank also reached out to councils on aging with tips on how to spot scams.

For more information about phishing scams and how to stop fraudsters, visit BanksNeverAskThat.com.

GCC appoints VP of academic affairs

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Community College President Michelle Schutt has appointed April Parsons as the college’s next vice president of academic affairs.

Parsons brings more than a decade of leading academic teams, as well as more than 20 years of experience in teaching in classrooms, including in high schools, community colleges and universities.

“Dr. Parsons clearly understands the unique challenges facing GCC as we work toward diversifying our enrollment streams while meeting the needs of our region,” Schutt said in a statement. “April has the knowledge and passion for the essential work of a community college, including credited courses, workforce programs and community education.”

“I am honored to have been chosen by President Schutt and the GCC community to become the new vice president of academic affairs,” Parsons said in a statement. “GCC’s vision to create ‘a more equitable, just, vibrant and resilient world through education’ resonates with me as an educational leader, and I am excited to be part of a college so deeply rooted in service to our local community here in Franklin and Hampshire counties.”

Parsons holds a doctorate in comparative literature with a certificate in women’s and gender studies, as well as a master’s degree in language education (TESOL). Most recently, Parsons taught English at Northwestern Connecticut Community College and served as chair of the Department of Arts and Humanities.

FirstLight acquires Canadian energy supplier

BURLINGTON — FirstLight Power, which has facilities in Northfield and Montague, has finalized an agreement to acquire Hydromega Services Inc., including ownership interest in five hydropower generating stations in Québec and five additional hydropower generating stations in northeastern Ontario.

In addition, FirstLight will add Hydromega’s clean energy development pipeline that includes more than 2 gigawatts of wind, solar, storage and hydroelectric projects, doubling FirstLight’s development pipeline to approximately 4 gigawatts in the United States and Canada. The transaction is subject to customary closing conditions.

Following the recent integration of H2O Power, the addition of Hydromega’s operating assets will give FirstLight a combined operating capacity of more than 200 megawatts in Québec and Ontario.

“The strategic acquisition of the Hydromega platform continues an exciting and transformational period for FirstLight,” Alicia Barton, president and CEO of FirstLight, said in a statement. “By adding Hydromega’s development capabilities and operational assets to FirstLight’s existing diversified renewables and energy storage portfolio, we will position ourselves for even greater growth in the years ahead as we pursue our mission to accelerate the decarbonization of the electric grid by building, operating and integrating renewable energy and storage to meet the world’s growing clean energy needs.”

Hydromega has been originating, developing, implementing and operating clean electricity production facilities in Québec for more than 36 years and for 20 years in Ontario. In 1987, the company was the first independent power producer to operate hydroelectric facilities in Québec and was one of the first wind developers in the province.

“As an early leader in Canada’s renewable energy sector, we are proud to join forces with FirstLight to accelerate the development of our diversified clean energy portfolio to fight climate change and increase access to renewable power in our current target markets, Québec, Ontario and beyond,” Stéphane Boyer, CEO of Hydromega, said in a statement, adding that “joining forces with them makes sense on many levels.”

Real estate sales licensing course starts Nov. 1

SPRINGFIELD — Beginning Nov. 1, the Realtor Association of Pioneer Valley will sponsor a 40-hour, 14-class, sales licensing course to help individuals prepare for the Massachusetts real estate salesperson license exam. The course will end on Dec. 6.

Tuition is $425 and includes the book and materials. The course curriculum includes property rights, ownership, condos, land use, contracts, deeds, financing, mortgages, real estate brokerage, appraisal, fair housing, consumer protection and Massachusetts License Law.

The association also has an affiliated partnership with the CE Shop to offer discounts on online exam prep materials.

Classes meet on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 6 to 9 p.m. at the association’s office, located at 221 Industry Ave. in Springfield.

For an application, visit rapv.com or contact Laura Herring at 413-785-1328 or laura@rapv.com.