Finance + Legal Services

Assisting Area Businesses, Strengthening Our Communities

Springfield nonprofit community development financial institution Common Capital creates economic opportunities in Western Massachusetts Article by Sara Anderson You want to start a business, but you’re not “bankable”—meaning you can’t get the capital you need from traditional lenders like banks, who typically have lower interest rates and less risk than other options. That’s where Springfield nonprofit Common Capital can lend a hand—and much-needed funds. Founded in 1990, the organization has...

October 2023

Food + Beverage

Friendsgiving Made Fun and Easy

How to host a Thanksgiving gathering of friends, even at the last minute! Article by Angela Grout Friendsgiving has become increasingly popular over the past decade. With family around the country, work schedules that don’t accommodate traveling, the high cost of air travel, and a pandemic that forced everyone to stay home, the tradition of celebrating Friendsgiving is here to stay!   Your Guest List Friendsgiving’s guests can include nearby friends, acquaintances, co-workers, and neighbors...

October 2023

Home + Design

Helping Hands, and Hearts Too

A longstanding West Springfield organization assists homeowners in need Article by Kellie Wagner | Photography by Amanda Waterfield For most, finding the time to volunteer is not always easy. But volunteers working with West Springfield-based nonprofit West Side Helping Hands seem to have a camaraderie that keeps them going, project after project.   “The regular volunteers we get each year are a lot of fun,” says Richard Peck, who serves as the organization’s clerk and secretary. “From the...

October 2023

Wellness

Making a Difference for Veterans

One Call Away Foundation Changes Lives, One Call at a Time Article by Bobbi-Jo Girroir | Photography by Laurie Hines As the new publisher of West Springfield Lifestyle , my purpose is to help someone in our community with every issue. November honors Veterans Day, and I pray that this article provides a resource for a veteran or military member, or someone seeking a resource to help their loved one.    I knew as a child that my father had served in the Army in Vietnam, but he never...

October 2023