Westfield News Group Arts Beat 3/25/16

My Westfield News Group Arts Beat for 3/25/16. Having Our Say at Hartford Stage and John Novacek with the Springfield Symphony. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-120

Westfield News Review: Motown the Musical at The Bushnell

My Westfield News Group review of "Motown The Musical" at The Bushnell. Sizzling ! http://thewestfieldnews.com/126439-2

Westfield News Group Arts Beat 3/22/16

My Westfield News Group Arts Beat 3/22/16. "Anything Goes" sails into Goodspeed and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-119

Westfield News Review: Sex With Strangers at TheaterWorks

My Westfield News Group review of Sex With Strangers at Hartford's TheaterWorks. http://thewestfieldnews.com/review-sex-strangers-theaterworks

Media Release / Kurn Hattin / Savings Bank of Walpole NH

Savings Bank of Walpole Supports Kurn Hattin Homes’ Adopt-a-Cottage Program

Westminster, VT– Mark Bodin, Senior Vice President and CFO of The Savings Bank of Walpole in Walpole, New Hampshire recently presented a $1,000 check supporting Kurn Hattin Homes for Children’s Adopt-a-Cottage program to Kurn Hattin’s Executive Director Stephen Harrison.

According to Bodin, “The Savings Bank of Walpole (SBW) has supported Kurn Hattin Homes for many years. Like most business donors, we gladly wrote a check for the amount requested and supported whatever initiative or event Kurn Hattin pointed us to. The reason for our ongoing support is simple. Kurn Hattin is a vital community organization that does important work and lines up perfectly with our dual philanthropic priorities of youth and education. We believe that all of our children deserve the chance to excel in a healthy, safe and caring environment. Kurn Hattin does a great job in providing these essentials to a population that otherwise lack these things through no fault of their own. We are proud to be their neighbors.

In 2015, SBW supported the new Adopt-a-Cottage program. On the surface this appeared to be another worthwhile initiative by Kurn Hattin, which it clearly is. We are thrilled that the Adopt-a-Cottage program has proven to be much more and has provided a critical and mutually gratifying link between SBW and Kurn Hattin that has legs–it will endure.

The connection started with a fall barbeque hosted by Kurn Hattin for its cottage sponsors. This provided an opportunity to meet Kurn Hattin staff, spend time on the beautiful campus and most importantly, meet a few of “our guys”. SBW is the proud sponsor of the Parent Cottage, which houses up to 10 first-fourth grade boys. On a tour of the cottage, I was able to see the bright blue bedding and towels that were purchased with our supporting gift. It was also striking how clear it was that these boys viewed the Parent Cottage as home–a safe, structured and nurturing place. It was wonderful to see who we were supporting and what our gift meant to them.

Everyone in the branch had a connection to Kurn Hattin on some level. Some sang there, some played sports there, many watched their children play sports there and a few staff had friends that had attended Kurn Hattin. Everyone in our Walpole branch felt a connection to our neighbors at Kurn Hattin and I would bet that most businesses in the community would find the same to be true for them.”

Bodin added, “This is the beginning of a more significant, more connected relationship between the Savings Bank of Walpole and Kurn Hattin Homes. We have the utmost respect for everyone at Kurn Hattin and a deep appreciation for all that they do for our children. The Savings Bank of Walpole is proud to be an active supporter of the Adopt-a-Cottage program and encourages other area businesses to get involved and see all of the mutual benefits a deeper relationship with Kurn Hattin Homes can offer.” 

If you are interested in learning more about how you can support the Kurn Hattin children, please contact Kim Fine at kfine@kurnhattin.org or (802) 721-6914. 

Since 1894, Kurn Hattin Homes for Children has helped thousands of at-risk children and their families by offering a safe home and quality education in a nurturing environment. Its mission: Kurn Hattin Homes transforms the lives of children and their families forever. www.kurnhattin.org

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Westfield News Group Arts Beat 3/11/16

My Westfield News Group Arts Beat for 3/11/16. Pilobolus returns to Amherst. Connecticut Repertory Theatre's summer season and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-118

My March article for Succeeding in Small Business

http://www.succeedinginsmallbusiness.com/mixing-politics-with-your-small-business-can-pose-problems/#.VuF1SowrJaW

Some of the Media Coverage for The Big Broadcast

WGBY Connecting Point. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGZ6s5NBZ-U

The Republican.  http://www.masslive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2016/03/mount_holyoke_preps_for_the_bi.html#incart_river_home

Mark Gionfriddo and Brian Lapis on WWLP's Mass Appeal. http://wwlp.com/2016/03/01/the-big-broadcast-is-bigger-than-ever/

WWLP at the performance. http://wwlp.com/2016/03/06/the-big-broadcast-held-at-mount-holyoke-college/

PRIME Magazine. http://primeontheweb.com/travel/thebigbroadcast/

Westfield News Group Arts Beat. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-116

Media Release: Kurn Hattin Choral Invitational

Seven Choirs to Perform at Kurn Hattin Annual Choral Invitational  

Westminster, VT--March is Music in Our Schools Month, and for more than twenty years Kurn Hattin Homes has hosted an Annual Choral Invitational. Choral groups from local schools are invited each year to participate in the annual event to showcase their vocal skills. On March 16th at 7 p.m. in the Higbie Auditorium at the Kurn Hattin Mayo Memorial Center, seven choirs will come together in song.

The schools participating this year will be Leland and Gray Middle School and the Leland & Gray A Cappella Group, Director Ron Kelley; Bellows Falls Middle School, Director Luna Dunbar; St. Joseph School, Director Vicki Moore; Walpole Middle School, Director Anna Johnson; and the Kurn Hattin Elementary, Select, and Combined Choirs, Director Lisa Bianconi. Each school choir will perform a diverse selection of choral pieces, with an exciting and fun finale planned to delight the audience.  

Donations of cash and/or non-perishable food items for Our Place Food Shelf will be greatly appreciated. Thank you for supporting music in our schools. 

Established in 1894, Kurn Hattin Homes for Children in Westminster, Vermont is a charitable, year-round home and school for boys and girls, ages 6-15, who are affected by tragedy and social or economic hardship. Kurn Hattin Homes transforms the lives of children and their families forever.  For further information on Kurn Hattin:  www.kurnhattin.org

Westfield News Group Arts Beat 3/07/16

My Westfield News Group Arts Beat for 3/07/16. Motown and the 2016-17 Broadway at the Bushnell season and more. http://thewestfieldnews.com/arts-beat-117