‘Difference Makers' awards gala in Holyoke celebrates impactful leaders
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – BusinessWest magazine hosted its 17th annual Difference Makers awards gala Wednesday evening in Holyoke.
Since 2009, the event—part of the Difference Makers program—puts a spotlight on individuals and organizations who have made a positive impact on the Pioneer Valley.
Whether it's through initiatives that improve quality of life, success in business, public service, and education, or even inspiring others to get involved. Eight people were awarded, including John Doleva, president and CEO of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame.
'Get involved with something that you feel passionate about—that warms your heart and gets you excited every day,' Doleva says. 'You got to have that sliver of time to get involved in things that impact you and make you feel better about your community and what you are doing in it.'
WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on WWLP.com.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Mass. officials support local farms during National Dairy Month
SHEFFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – Members of the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources (MDAR) celebrated National Dairy Month by recognizing several dairy farms in western Mass. MDAR Commissioner Ashley Randle was joined by state and local officials last week in visiting three multi-generational businesses in Berkshire and Hampshire County. These farms have contributed to the state's economy and local food systems for decades. Easthampton aims to enhance transparency with new public records management 'As a western Massachusetts native who grew up on a multi-generational dairy farm, I have a deep appreciation and understanding of how hard our dairy farmers work to supply us with the best tasting products that are made with pride, so we are proud to continue supporting the industry through the many resources our agency offers,' Randle said. 'Through preserving land to offering technical assistance and upgrading infrastructure, we'll continue to invest in the viability and sustainability of this critical sector so that all of us can continue to enjoy a rich assortment of delicious dairy products made by family farms across the state.' Officials visited Pine Island Farm and Maple Shade Farm, both located in Sheffield, as well as Luther Belden Farm in Hatfield. Pine Island Farm spans over 1,500 acres and houses approximately 1,600 Holstein cattle, milking the largest number of animals in Massachusetts. It is a third-generation farm owned by Holly and Louis Aragi and was recently acquired through MDAR's Agricultural Preservation Restriction (APR) program to protect the land permanently. Maple Shade Farm is also protected through the APR program, managed by father and son Morgen and Ian Allen. It was first founded in 2003 with a handful of cows and has since grown to nearly 350 cattle, implementing energy efficiency upgrades. Since 1661, Luther Belden Farm has stayed within the same family across 13 generations. Darryl and Lucinda Williams have added modern upgrades to this over 350-year-old farm, including a robotic milking system and an anaerobic methane digester that produces renewable energy from cow manure and food waste. Massachusetts is currently home to 95 dairy farms that are mostly based in the western region, contributing over $61 million to the local economy and helping to preserve over 113,000 acres of open space. This National Dairy Month, officials are recognizing family-owned businesses that protect natural resources and reduce energy use throughout the state. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
SunRise Sweets in Chicopee holds grand opening
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held for the grand opening of a new ice cream shop in Chicopee Center. In a news release sent to 22News from the Chicopee Mayor's Office, the owner of SunRise Sweets opened the shop last Thursday with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, with Mayor John Vieau and other elected officials in attendance. Here's where you can pick your own strawberries in Massachusetts In a Facebook post, the owner said, 'This little dream has grown from a kitchenette into something real and public. Yesterday, we opened our doors and shared what we've been creating for the last few months with all of you. Every milkshake, every bowl, every sticker, every detail was made with intention, joy, and so, so much love. Thank you to everyone who believed in this. Our childhood favorite (ice cream) has blossomed into so much more.' The shop serves milkshakes, sorbet bowls, and sundaes. According to their website, the most popular items are the acai bowl, mini banana split, strawberry cheesecake shake, and caramel cookie butter shake. SunRise Sweets is located at 28 Center Street in Chicopee and is open Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 12:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. The owner says that their space is not your typical ice cream shop, and that they thrive on making customers feel joy through handwritten affirmations, and spreading encouragement and hope. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Yahoo
Recent survey shows the fear Americans have over inflation decreased last month
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) – The fear Americans have over inflation decreased last month, according to a recent survey. This being prompted by the president's decision to back off on his tariff proposals. Mass. clean cement company hopes to win back $87M federal award With tariff threats easing and reports of trade negotiations heating up, this survey by the Fed shows people are starting to worry less about inflation. In the New York Federal Reserve's Survey of Consumer Expectations, inflation expectations declined in May. This comes after surging higher in March and April over concerns about tariffs. Right now, inflation stands at 2.3%. 'It's good, because the economy is struggling as it already is. So it's good for us to see those numbers dwindle,' said Angel Amaro of Springfield. The improving expectations come as the tariff policy has changed. Initial tariffs were set at 10 percent on all US imports, and dozens of nations faced reciprocal duties. President Donald Trump later backed off on the tariffs, opting for a 90-day negotiation period that ends in July. While inflation is coming down, AIC economics professor John Rogers explains it's still above the Fed's 2% annual target rate. 'It's sort of that last mile is difficult to get to, but it's it's going in the right direction,' said Rogers. The survey showed that expectations dipped across most price groups, but saw food prices rising to 5.5 percent over the next year. Rogers says the survey also showed people are optimistic about the job market. 'They feel that the number of people who feel that their jobs are at under threat or at stake is going down. So that's good news. So that gives people confidence if they're confident, they go out and spend money, it's consumer spending that keeps the economy humming along,' added Rogers. And Rogers noted that the Bond market is another area for people to question, asking themselves whether the US can service all of its debt. He says it's up to $37 trillion, and it's growing at almost $2 trillion every year. The survey also shows increased gas prices easing to just 2.7 percent. Medical care, college education, and rent increases were also lower every month. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
