Welcome to December's Crossroads Events!

In the final issue of CROSSROADS for 2023 we recap the recent Ribbon Cutting at The Center of Hope’s new day program and this week's Holiday Fun at Five. The year is not over yet… we would love to have you join us this very afternoon for a Ribbon Cutting at the new Honest Town Eats gastro pub in Southbridge. Swing by and join us as we cut the ribbon and wish the nice folks there well. All the details are below. We greatly appreciate your support during this eventful year, and we THANK YOU for SHOPPING LOCAL for the holidays… and every day! 

CROSSROADS is our Members' platform to share their latest news with over 1,000 fellow Chamber Members and subscribers in our community. Help us fill up our 2024 Events calendar with your big happenings and keep emailing us your press releases, links and photos for inclusion in CROSSROADS. NEXT ISSUE: JANUARY 3, 2024

CHAMBER OFFICE INFO

CLOSED ON CHRISTMAS WEEK to accommodate staff vacations.

RE-OPENING ON TUESDAY, JANUARY 2, 2024.

The office is OPEN Monday through Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

No appointment is necessary. Give us a ring at 508-347-2761 to be sure we are here.

CMS CHAMBER OFFICE, 1A RIVER ROAD, STURBRIDGE

You're Invited to a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony TODAY!

Honest Town Eats

13 Central Street, Southbridge, MA

www.HonestTownEats.com

508-909-6738

TODAY! Friday, December 15 at 3:00pm

All are invited to join in today, Friday, December 15th at 3:00pm as the Chamber cuts the official red ribbon to welcome our newest member business, Honest Town Eats, to Southbridge! Offering Gastro Pub style food made with a pinch of culture and a sprinkle of class, Honest Town Eats serves unique dishes created and prepared by Chef Michael Arrastia and a perfectly curated cocktail selection by Kaynen Marrero.

Sample some tasty appetizers! Enjoy a drink from the cash bar. You could win a gift certificate to Honest Town Eats just for attending! Meet the HTE team and wish them well!

Come see what all the buzz is about and discover the cozy vibes, good food, great beats and an inviting atmosphere that is so good you'll never want to leave!

For more, visit online at www.honesttowneats.com

Contact HTE by phone at 508-909-6738.

Follow and Like HTE: On Facebook and Instagram

All are welcome to attend. There is no cost and no need to RSVP.

Sponsorships Available

Get noticed! Sponsoring a Chamber event or program can give you exposure to the people that you want to do business with. Our affiliation with the Worcester Regional Chamber means exposure to 2,300 member businesses and an e-mail list of more than 10,000 professionals.

Programs for the Chamber's winter season are in the works. We will be seeking sponsors for upcoming Fun at Fives and other events. If your company would be interested in being a sponsor, or would like more information about sponsorship, please contact Alix at 508-347-2761 or email [email protected].

HOLIDAY FUN AT FIVE!

Holiday Fun at Five was certainly a party to remember! We welcomed well over 100 guests and enjoyed a Gingerbread-themed evening in a beautifully decorated Paige Hall at The Publick House. Our Stuffed Stocking Silent Auction raised over $500 which will be used to purchase gift cards for teenagers in need through a program of The Center of Hope. Thank you to all of you who contributed fantastic items to bid on, all the bidders and auction winners! Your kindness and generosity will surely make the holidays brighter for many local teens. Congratulations to The Center of Hope’s Cindy Howard for having the most hideous holiday sweater maybe ever and winning the Ugly Sweater Contest! Thank you to Emily Klamm of Old Sturbridge Village for sharing these photos from the event! We are also very grateful to The Publick House and its wonderful staff for being our gracious hosts, and to the great folks at Cornerstone Bank for being awesome and sponsoring Holiday Fun at Five!

Thank you to all who joined us! Your presence made the night that much sweeter!

Welcome, New CMS Chamber Members!

Join us as we welcome our newest Members to the Chamber of Central Mass South!

Engravity Custom Engraving

www.engravityengraving.com

316 Main Street, Suite 1000, Sturbridge, MA

High Quality, Custom Engraved Promotional Products and Gift Items.

Engravity is an engraving shop with a focus on promotional products and gift items. At Engravity, we pour our passion and expertise into every engraving, ensuring exceptional craftsmanship, attention to detail, and outstanding customer service. We keep up to date on the latest in state-of-the-art laser engraving technology, with the goal of bringing you the highest quality item at a competitive price. Visit online for more.



Honest Town Eats

www.honesttowneats.com

13 Central Street, Southbridge, MA

Honest Town Eats was founded by Dan Attella, Jes Labrecque and Chef Michael Arrastia in 2022. Our restaurant offers not only delicious food but also a gathering place for the community to come together, share stories, and create new memories.

Come by the RIBBON CUTTING TODAY at 3:00!

Need stocking stuffers? Join us at the old ballgame this summer!

CLICK THE GRAPHIC TO PURCHASE TICKETS

Recap: Jim Howard Day Habilitation Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

The Chamber of Central Mass South was honored to be on hand and cut the official ribbon at The Center of Hope's new day program on the afternoon of Wednesday, December 6th. Located at 1 North Street, Suite 1B in Southbridge, The Jim Howard Day Habiliation Program hosted around 90 guests at the Ribbon Cutting. In the photo from the event are (l-r) CMS Chamber Executive Director Alix McNitt, Dudley Selectman John Marsi, Jim and Cindy Howard, and presenting the proclamation, State Senator Ryan Fattman. Thank you to all who came out to celebrate!

Should You Give a Pet as a Gift?

Second Chance Offers a Better Way to Welcome a Pet

into Your Family this Holiday Season

EAST BROOKFIELD, MA (December 4, 2023) – In the heartwarming videos circulating every holiday season, the joy of receiving a surprise puppy or kitten is undeniable. The excitement is infectious, and you might be tempted to create a similar moment for a loved one this year. Second Chance Animal Services suggests a thoughtful alternative: consider a shelter visit as the gift of a lifetime.

While those viral videos capture the immediate happiness, Second Chance founder and CEO Sheryl Blancato emphasizes the unseen aftermath of pets surrendered to shelters shortly after festivities. "The decision to bring a pet into your family is immensely gratifying, but it's also a substantial commitment. Extensive research and careful consideration of your family's lifestyle are critical. Owning a pet is a considerable responsibility, both when they're young and as they age. Adopting a pet is a pledge for life."

Blancato advocates against surprising someone entirely with a pet. "Of course, we hope all our pets will spend the holidays in their new homes, but we want them to find homes with committed, loving families ready to take on the responsibility of caring for their new, furry family member. Being surrendered back to a shelter takes a serious toll on animals. Witnessing them wait for their owner's return is truly heartbreaking."

To encourage responsible pet adoption, Second Chance recommends gifting a pet bed or bowls accompanied by a note expressing your intent to explore pet ownership responsibly. A handmade gift certificate for a local shelter visit, paired with an informative book on pet care, can be an excellent present for young children. This approach ensures that the decision to welcome a pet is well-informed and creates a memorable experience of the joy of going to the shelter together to choose the pet.

PHOTO: Chance, a seven-month-old feist mix, can be found at Second Chance’s Adoption Center in East Brookfield, waiting to meet families who are ready to make a life-long commitment by adopting a homeless pet.  

About Second Chance Animal Services:

Second Chance Animal Services is a nonprofit animal welfare organization founded in 1999. Second Chance began as an animal shelter and grew to help more pets in need. Today Second Chance operates Community Veterinary Hospitals in North Brookfield, Southbridge, Springfield, and Worcester providing access to the highest-quality veterinary care for all.  Subsidized rates are provided to underserved communities to ensure access to care for all pets in need. Last year Second Chance helped over 44,000 pets live better lives through full-service veterinary care, spay/neuter services, adoption services, community & educational outreach programs, training, and a pet food pantry. For more information, visit Second Chance’s website at www.secondchanceanimals.org.

Follow Second Chance on Facebook:  facebook.com/secondchanceanimals

Follow Second Chance on Instagram: @secondchanceas/

Follow Second Chance on Twitter:  @secondchanceas

Friendly House receives grants from FHLBank Boston and bankHometown

Friendly House Executive Director Trish Appert and bankHometown President and CEO Robert J. Morton.

OXFORD, MASSACHUSETTS, December 8, 2023 —FHLBank Boston recently recognized bankHometown for its commitment to affordable housing, awarding a $2,000 grant to Friendly House, Worcester, the nonprofit organization selected by bankHometown. bankHometown in turn matched the grant through its own charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, providing Friendly House with an additional $2,000, bringing total donations to $4,000.

Through the FHLBank Boston’s Grants for New England Partnerships (GNP) program, the bank partners with member banks, like bankHometown, to provide grants to nonprofit organizations that offer critical services to the communities. bankHometown was one of just 10 banks selected to request a grant based on the housing and community investment programs in which it participates.

According to bankHometown President and CEO Robert J. Morton, bankHometown selected Friendly House and matched the grant because of the nonprofit organization’s longstanding commitment to providing housing-related services to families in need.

“For more than a century, Friendly House has been focused on providing Worcester families with a wide variety of services, including transitional housing and emergency shelter,” said Morton. “We thank the FHLBank Boston for recognizing our commitment to affordable housing lending and for giving us the opportunity to provide Friendly House with necessary funding to help them continue improving the well-being of those they serve.”

“We are doubly honored by the FHLBB award and the generous match from bankHometown,” said Friendly House Executive Director Trish Appert. "We are thankful for our partnership with Rob Morton and bankHometown and value their support in helping us respond to the urgent need for housing solutions in Worcester and throughout the Commonwealth. Together, we are making a difference in the lives of children and families in Worcester."

About bankHometown

Founded in 1889, bankHometown is headquartered in Oxford, Massachusetts and has $1.3 billion in assets and 16 branches located throughout Central Massachusetts and northeast Connecticut. Through its sponsorship and charitable giving program, The Giving Tree, bankHometown and the Hometown Bank Community Foundation support non-profit organizations and causes throughout Worcester and Windham Counties. In 2022, The Giving Tree donated approximately $320,000 and over the last decade has donated more than $2.5 million. For more information, visit bankhometown.com.

About FHLBank Boston

The Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston is a cooperatively owned wholesale bank for housing finance in the six New England states. Its mission is to provide highly reliable wholesale funding and liquidity to its member financial institutions in New England. The Bank also develops and delivers competitively priced financial products, services, and expertise that support housing finance, community development, and economic growth, including programs targeted to lower-income households.

Year-End Matching Challenge

Together, we are protecting land, water, and wildlife for current and future generations.

This Giving Tuesday, Opacum Land Trust is excited to announce our Year-End Matching Challenge Fundraiser. This year:

• The first $15,000 donated will be matched!
• Donate today to DOUBLE YOUR IMPACT!

Through this incredible support, we have already been able to match $5,000 in donations, resulting in a total of $10,000 raised so far! However, we still have $10,000 in matching funds available, waiting to be utilized.

We are asking for your help to PROTECT, CONNECT, and STEWARD local land. We could not conserve land without your support, which helps us to cover our time, resources, and capacity to pursue ambitious projects and grants to support land conservation efforts in our local region.

Please give today and help us to continue this important work and expand our abilities to do even more to protect land, water, and wildlife for current and future generations.

Donate TODAY to DOUBLE YOUR DONATION!

Donations can be made via the button below or mail a check to:

Opacum Land Trust

P.O. Box 233

Sturbridge, MA 01566

Hometown Mortgage hires Valdés as Community Mortgage Loan Originator

EASTHAMPTON, MASSACHUSETTS, December 13, 2023 — Hometown Mortgage recently hired Francisco Valdés as community mortgage loan originator, based in bankHometown’s 1001 Millbury St., Worcester office.

Hometown Mortgage is a division of bankESB, a Hometown Financial Group company that also includes bankHometown and Abington Bank. In this newly created role at Hometown Mortgage, Valdés will be a trusted financial advisor to qualifying low- and moderate-income communities and will guide prospective home buyers through the process of reviewing credit, assets, and income information to provide mortgage financing options that match their financial capacity. In this role, his services are available to communities throughout Massachusetts, with a primary focus on the Worcester area. Valdés is proficient in Spanish, English and Portuguese.

Valdés, of Worcester, has 10 years of banking and mortgage experience. Most recently, Valdés was the senior mortgage loan officer at Guaranteed Rate. Prior to that, he was a mortgage loan originator at Webster Five Cents Savings Bank, and before that, a credit analyst at Wells Fargo Dealer Services.

Valdés has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Becker College and completed coursework at the Xinnix Mortgage Academy. He currently serves on the board of the Worcester Affordable Housing Trust Fund; is a committee member of the Corridor 9/495 Regional Chamber of Commerce; and is an ambassador of the Worcester Regional Chamber of Commerce.

About Hometown Mortgage

At Hometown Mortgage, we help potential borrowers unlock the right home financing solution for their unique needs. As a division of bankHometown, a Hometown Financial Group company that also includes bankESB and Abington Bank, we leverage our combined strength coupled with shared services and technology to work with homebuyers across Massachusetts, Connecticut, and neighboring states to make homebuying simple and stress-free. At the same time, our commitment to community banking and local roots mean we can focus on the unique needs of those who live and work in the communities we serve.

Second Chance Issues Urgent Appeal for Support 

Nonprofit Shatters Records and Expects Unprecedented Demand to Continue

EAST BROOKFIELD, MA (December 13, 2023) - Second Chance Animal Services is shattering all previous records in their mission to help pets live better lives. The nonprofit expects that by year’s end, they will have helped over 48,000 animals passing last year’s record of 44,000. While this may seem a reason for celebration, the increasing need for help is deeply concerning for the nonprofit. Second Chance is committed to meet the great demand for programs and services for animals as economic pressures contribute to stagnant donation levels.

CEO Sheryl Blancato said, "With less than a month remaining in the year, we know that we have broken old records, helping more pets than ever before. This is wonderful news, but we are bracing ourselves for a tremendous challenge in the new year. The economy has truly taken a toll on pets in 2023 and has erased so much progress for shelters across the country. We expect this trend to continue in 2024."

Blancato highlighted the financial pressures faced by pet owners who are struggling to care for their pets. “At our four veterinary hospitals, more pet owners are relying on subsidized rates than ever before. Meanwhile, across the country, shelters are reaching capacity. Second Chance is taking in as many pets from other shelters as possible to save countless lives, but our space is being limited due to an increase in surrenders from local pet owners."

The economy has also taken a toll on donors who still want to help but may have less means to do so. Nonprofits throughout the US are reporting that donations are flat or declining. Second Chance remains steadfast in its commitment to pets in need and they are calling upon animal lovers to join them in the fight against pet suffering. Supporters are urged to make a donation online at www.secondchanceanimals.org/give-love or by mail to Second Chance, PO Box 136, East Brookfield, MA 01515.

Blancato emphasized, "The need is great. Your contribution, big or small, will directly impact our ability to provide vital care, prevent unnecessary suffering, and keep families together."

PHOTOS: (l) Seven-year-old Sapphire, who came to Second Chance when her owner passed away, is one of the many cats waiting for a home. (r) Eight-year-old Houston, who has been at the shelter for longer than most pets because he needs a home without other animals, is waiting to meet his new best friend.  

Dexter Factory Outlet | 44 River Street | Southbridge, MA 01550 | 800-343-6042

CLICK THE GRAPHIC TO VISIT TABLE 3'S GIFT CARD WEBPAGE

The #1 Hispanic Newspaper in MA

The latest digital issue of Vocero Hispano is available on their website.

View the Latest Issue in Digital Online - Free to Members

Reach the Hispanic Market directly with the #1 Statewide Hispanic Newspaper in Massachusetts. Email [email protected] to get started.

Christmas by Candlelight at Old Sturbridge Village

December 15, 16, 17, 22, 23, 27, 28, 29, and 30, 2023

Times: 2:00 - 8:00 pm

Come experience the history of Christmas traditions at Old Sturbridge Village. Relish old traditions and create new ones as you watch demonstrations of classic Christmas projects, stroll through the decorated Village and Christmas Tree Trail, listen to stories and live music, sample sweet treats, ride the horse-drawn carryall, and more. We hope your family will join ours, as we celebrate a very special time of year. 

Visit the webpage for more information and tickets! www.osv.org/event/christmas-by-candlelight/

Christmas Dinner Buffet at The Publick House

Monday, December 25, 2023

Seatings from 11 AM – 5:30 PM

Adults $60 Children $25 (4-12)

(tax & gratuity NOT INCLUDED)

Maximum seating time allotted per each reservation

Reservations Required, Credit Card Required to Hold

72 Hour Cancellation Policy

For Reservations, please call 774-304-1524

VIEW THE MENU: https://publickhouse.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/Christmas-Day-Dinner-Buffet-2023.pdf

All 2023 Fireplace Feast dates have already sold out, but we still have tickets remaining for 2024, so don't delay! They make excellent birthday presents, Christmas gifts, or excuses to spend time with your loved ones.

Join us for a special dining event as the Innkeepers at the Salem Cross Inn announce their series of 1700's style feasts, prepared on the open hearth of a great fieldstone fireplace. Relax by the fire as dinner is prepared for you in colonial style. Stir the chowder as it bubbles in our cast iron cauldron over a crackling fire. See your prime rib, roasted 'to a turn,' as the only known authentic Roasting Jack still operating in America rotates slowly over a crackling fire of wild cherry logs. Beware the brimming bowl of freshly whipped cream - the perfect complement to New England's best apple pie. While your dinner is cooking to perfection, enjoy a horse drawn wagon or sleigh ride through the valley on the Inn's pristine 600 acres. Shake off the chill with warm mulled wine or cider upon your return. Browse our extensive collection of colonial and federal period American antiques. The Fireplace Feast makes a thoughtful and unique gift for special friends or deserving associates. VIEW THE FIREPLACE FEAST BROCHURE HERE.

The Fireplace Feast is just one of our many dining events that provides an authentic colonial experience. At Salem Cross Inn, we capture the history and culture of 1700's America. Salem Cross Inn's dining events, excellent cuisine, and atmosphere have been featured on Food Network's "The Best Of," WCVB TV5 Boston's "Chronicle" and chosen as the "Hidden Jewel" by Boston's Phantom Gourmet and WGBY. SEE MORE DETAILS AND GET YOUR TICKETS HERE!

SALEM CROSS INN GIFT CERTIFICATES MAKE WONDERFUL GIFTS!

Did the holidays sneak up on you again this year? Fear not! Salem Cross Inn gift certificates make it easy for you to give the gift of an unforgettable, quintessential farm-to-table experience this holiday season! With our vast range of dining events that are fun for friends and family alike, there's bound to be something for everyone!

VISIT THIS LINK TO PURCHASE ONLINE OR CALL 508-867-2345

HOURS OF OPERATION

Please note we are closed Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, & New Year's Day

On New Year's Eve, we are open from 4 - 8pm. Call for reservations.

Thursday, Friday, & Saturday: 4pm - 8pm | Sunday: 12pm - 5pm

Call 508-867-2345 for reservations.

Visit the Facebook page for the latest updates.

www.salemcrossinn.com

Did we miss your best post? Send us a Facebook message if you've got BIG NEWS you would like us to share on social media! Click here to visit our Facebook Events page!