Week Of
June 29, 2008

 HillTowns Online Business Directory, Activities, Events & News for the Berkshire HillTowns

 

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WHALLEY COMPUTER ASSOCIATES OF SOUTHWICK AND MILFORD, MA AWARDED STATE CONTRACT 

(Milford & Southwick, MA) -- Whalley Computer Associates (WCA), one of the leading independent computer hardware and software resellers and system integrators in Massachusetts, is proud to announce that they have been selected by the State of Massachusetts to supply products under the ITC36 state contract. The state anticipates that $18 million dollars of technology peripherals will be conducted through this contract. 
One of only two vendors selected, the contract allows WCA to provide IT supply and accessory products such as hard drives, memory, system boards and much more that will support the statewide contract for IT computer hardware and services for state organizations.  The resulting Contract will be the primary Statewide Contract used by Executive Agencies of the Commonwealth. 
Paul Whalley, Vice President of WCA, says “We are delighted to have won this contract. “We have been a prime vendor for Servers, Laptops and Desktops for state for many years under the ITC16 contract. The ITC36 contract will allow us to better serve these existing state contract customers. The State evaluated us based on our aggressive pricing and outstanding service record to municipalities and schools throughout the commonwealth.” “Our bid team that included Steve Cross, Mike Noftall, Brian Sowell, Adam Scolnick and Matt Annunziata did a fantastic job on our bid preparation. I also want to recognize former Representative Paul Caron, Senator Knapik State Representative Rosemary Sandlin and Thomas Petrolati, who were all instrumental in helping WCA secure this contract by expressing the importance of having a Western Massachusetts company selected to assure quick, local, high quality service to this part of the state.”
WCA has received other notable awards in the past including the IBM Chairman's Award for Customer Service, recognizing the company's outstanding customer service during the past five year period.  WCA was the only New England based company and one of six companies in North and South America to receive the prestigious industry award. WCA is the second largest Solution Provider in Massachusetts according to The Boston Business Journal and is ranked as the 267th largest computer reseller in North America according to VARBusiness Magazine This places WCA in the top one third of one percent of the more than 120,000 VARs throughout North America.
WCA is also an affiliate of Communication Solutions Partners (www.csp-net.com), a Massachusetts-based voice and data communications company. WCA is located at One Whalley Way, Southwick, MA, phone (413) 569-4200 and also at 195 West Street, Milford, MA, phone (508) 478-5174.  For more information, visit www.wca.com.  Whalley Computer Associates, the local touch with national reach.  

Local dealer pumps up with $1.99 a gallon gas deal

Southwick -  Truck and SUV car sales slowed down dramatically in 2008 on the heals of rising gas prices. That had Ken Scharmann, Vice President of Suburban Chevrolet of Southwick concerned. “Gas has had a dramatic effect on car sales”, said Scharmann. That’s when he decided to take action.
“Our marketing consultant advised us that by guaranteeing gas prices to our vehicle buyers, we would take a primary fear out of a vehicle purchase. So, we launched “Gas Freedom” by guaranteeing $1.99 gas for up to two years”.
For a limited time only, when you purchase any new or used vehicle on the Southwick’s dealer’s lot, the dealership will guarantee a $1.99 a gallon for gas for up to two years or twenty thousand miles of driving. The dealership will pay the difference in cash.
 The dealership has pegged the monthly fuel savings to a state MPG gas website and average monthly price of regular fuel. The dealership then calculates the pricing differential of the price against the highway MPG of the vehicle to be purchased.
Unlike the Dodge dealer promotion which is providing fuel assistance in lieu of factory rebates, Suburban Chevrolet is passing on all applicable factory rebates from General Motors. “We just did not think playing games with this promotion would resonate with buyers. Too many car promotions today are viewed as gimmicks and car buyers have lost confidence in sales promotions. Our buyers receive the factory rebates, the gas savings and our Ten Year, 250,000 mile engine and fuel system warranty”, added Scharmann.
Suburban Chevrolet is located at 661 College Highway, Route 10 and 202 in Southwick and at www.suburbanchevy.com.

National River Month!

Event: Great River Exhibit
Place: Pilgrim Candle Marketplace, 16/ 36 Union Avenue, Westfield, MA 01085
Date: Ongoing Hours: 6 AM to 5 PM Monday - Saturday. 12PM to 5PM Sundays. (Before 10 AM, please enter through cafe entrance at rear of 16 Union building.)
Contact: Jackie Koller 413-562-1295

June is National River Month! Be sure to stop by the Great River Exhibit in the new rear entrance Exhibit Hall at Pilgrim Candle Marketplace and learn about the past, present and future of the Westfield River. Exhibits show scenes from the great floods of Western MA history, and maps can direct history buffs to Chesterfield Gorge, the Stone Arches, and other places areas where glimpses of the river's rich past can still be seen. FIVE FEET AND RISING - THE FLOOD OF '55, a video documentary culled from over 40 interviews and 200 private photographs (Westfield Watershed Association) is available for $9.95. Nature enthusiasts can find out all about the nationally designated "Wild and Scenic" Westfield River and discover the canoeing, hiking, fishing, picnicking, bird-watching and educational opportunities that abound along its banks. The Exhibit also includes a fascinating look at the Great River Bridge Construction Project, currently in progress. Kick off your next "staycation" at Pilgrim Candle Marketplace, and then spend the rest of it enjoying the Wild and Scenic Westfield, a national treasure right here in your own backyard!

USDA ANNOUNCES DEADLINE FOR 2005 – 2007 LCP AND LIP SIGN-UP

(Hadley MA), June 4, 2008 – Ted Smiarowski Jr., Executive Director for USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Hampden/Hampshire County today announced that livestock producers have until July 18, 2008, to enroll in the 2005 – 2007 Livestock Compensation Program (LCP) and Livestock Indemnity Program (LIP).  Signup began on Sept. 10, 2007, for the two programs that provide aid to livestock producers who suffered eligible livestock or livestock feed losses between Jan. 1, 2005, and Dec. 30, 2007, because of a natural disaster.     "The deadline to enroll in the 2005 - 2007 Livestock Compensation Program and Livestock Indemnity Program is rapidly approaching," said Ted Smiarowski Jr.. "I encourage all eligible producers to enroll soon because sign-up ends on July 18, 2008.”
The LIP provides payments to eligible livestock owners and contract growers who incurred the death of livestock because of a natural disaster. The LCP provides payments to eligible livestock owners who suffered feed losses or increased feed costs because of a natural disaster.
 More information about LCP and LIP is available online at: http://disaster.fsa.usda.gov.  For more information on FSA programs, visit your local USDA Service Center or the agency's Web site, http://www.fsa.usda.gov.  The Hampshire/Hampden FSA Office 195 Russell Street Hadley MA 01035  (413) 585-1000 ext. 2.

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Local Advertising Agency Wins Gold Addy Award

Goff Media, Inc is pleased to announce that they are the recipient of a Gold Addy Award. The award was presented to the agency for their radio advertising campaign entitled “Lie Detector”.
A Gold Addy is the highest level of achievement in the advertising industry. The “Addys” are the advertising industries equivalent of the Grammy awards.
Advertising and creative companies enter  works ranging from print design, television advertisements to radio advertisements and websites. The entries are reviewed by a panel of judges and winning entries are awarded either a Bronze, Silver or Gold award.
Goff Media created the “Lie Detector” campaign in 2007 for their client, Providence Auto Body.  The campaign has been credited with significantly increasing Providence Auto Body’s sales during a national slump in the repair industry.
Goff Media is a locally owned company, with offices in Northampton and Deerfield, Massachusetts. The company employ’s nine fulltime and freelance professionals with expertise in product research, strategic planning, brand development, media placement, voice production, video production, web design, internet software design, direct marketing and graphic design.
The company services accounts across New England and also owns and operates several e-commerce websites.

 Connecticut River Valley Car Club To Sponsor Tours of Berkshires 

From August 4 -7, 2008 there will be an AACA National Car Tour based at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Pittsfield, MA.  At this event there will be a long tour for 125 antique cars to travel.  The Route will go from Pittsfield, down Route 2 through Shelburne Falls/Buckland, Ashfield, Plainfield to Route 9 and back to Pittsfield.  There will also be short tours through the Berkshires.  This is a major event and we'll be looking for people to advertise their business in our tour booklet. 
We will collect flyers and pamphlets if business would like to contribute them to our tour packets that will be handed out to those who have registered to participate.  We can take a maximum of 125 antique cars and people participating must be members of the AACA (Antique Auto Club of America).  This is a wonderful way to showcase our beautiful part of the country. 
People on the tours will be stopping in the towns along the way to shop and eat.  The event takes place from August 4th – 7th in 2008, but many people will come early and stay later since they will be coming from all around the U.S. 
Berkshire Bank in Pittsfield is a major sponsor to this event. For more information contact Lori Baronas at 413-665-3190.

Theatre Camp Still Has Openings Available

The Westfield Theatre Group Summer Theatre Camp, now in its 15th year, still has openings available in all sessions. The camp has three sessions with the first session beginning Monday, July 7 and ending on Friday, July 18 with a performance on Saturday, July 19. The second session begins Monday, July 24 and ends on Friday, August 1 with a performance on Saturday, August 2. The third session begins Monday, August 4 and ends Friday, August 15 with a performance on Saturday, August 16. Theatre Camp has 2 divisions: a morning session for Campers aged 8-12 and an afternoon session for Campers aged 13-19.
Campers learn the basics of acting on stage, learning basic stage movement, character development, auditioning basics and improvisations. Acting in and working on plays has proven to increase a young person’s self-confidence, self-expression and gives the camper a positive experience in public speaking. Campers with reading problems and speech problems also benefit from the experience. The campers will perform a workshop production that is open to the public to practice what they have learned at the end of each session.
Larry Andersen, M.Ed., a teacher for more than twenty years, has been the Camp’s director for all fifteen years. He is a drama coach, an award winning designer and director of Beyond Therapy and director of Westfield Theatre Group’s acclaimed productions of “Godspell,” “Sound of Music” and “Barefoot in the Park.” Mr. Andersen has assisted in casting movies filmed in the local area. Former campers have appeared in the Disney movie “Cider House Rules” as well as other movies and one former camper appeared on Broadway in “Cats”. Tristan Andersen, a 2007 graduate of Westfield State College, is the co-director of the camp, having acted as Assistant Director for the previous 4 years.
The camp sessions are held at the Westfield Woman’s Club building at 28 Court Street in Westfield. Registration is $150, with discounts are available for families and groups. Tuition assistance is also available. Registration forms can be obtained by calling 413-568-8149 or 413-214-1926 or by emailing WTGTheatreCamp@aol.com. For more information regarding Westfield Theatre Group go to our website at www.WestfieldTheatreGroup.com or about the camp www.myspace.com/WTGTheatreCamp.

Western Massachusetts Republicans Hold Special Meeting

The Western Massachusetts Republican will hold a special meeting for the election of its Chairman, Wednesday, June 25, 7:00 p.m. at the West Springfield City Hall, 26 Central Street.  There will also be an election for the Hampshire/Franklin County Vice Chair "Man" position.  Both positions are vacant and the nomination process is currently open. The pool of prospective nominees will be formally considered, accepted and closed at the meeting.  The election will be effective immediately upon an affirmative vote from the membership.  If your membership is not current for Calendar Year 2008, you may pay dues anytime now, or at the door in order to take part in the election.  Only registered Republicans with a current address in the region, who are paid members, will be allowed to vote. For more information, contact Mike Franco, Meeting Chairman, at 1-413-246-4438, or via e-mail at mikefranco@verizon.net.