Florence Savings Bank recently donated $50,000 to the Easthampton Community Center through its Easthampton Branch Charitable Foundation, Inc. The check was presented by three original members of the foundation: Nancy J. LaBombard, Virginia L. Smith and Anita Sedlak. SUBMITTED PHOTO

SPRINGFIELD — Tiffany Appleton has been named president of the board of directors at Dakin Humane Society in Springfield. Appleton joined the board in 2017 and served as its secretary from 2020–2022.

She is currently the associate director employer relations at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, a position she has held for two years. Prior to that, Appleton was a director, accounting and finance division at Johnson & Hill Staffing Services in West Springfield from 2016-2020.

Appleton earned both a Master of Education, Science Education, and a Bachelor of Science, Chemistry at the University of Massachusetts Lowell. She previously served as a board member at the Family Business Center of Pioneer Valley from 2018-2020, and is a resident of Amherst.

In a typical year, Dakin Humane Society shelters, treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals and has performed over 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it New England’s largest spay/neuter provider.

FLORENCE — Florence Bank announced recently that longtime employee Jean Monska has been promoted to lead the Easthampton branch as branch manager. She replaces Anita Sedlak, who retired on July 1.

Monska, of Florence, has worked for Florence Bank since 2002. Before the promotion to branch manager, she served as assistant branch manager in the Hadley location for 14 years. In March 2020, she was promoted to senior assistant branch manager before transferring to the Easthampton branch in the same role.

She holds an associate degree in business administration from Holyoke Community College and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern New Hampshire University. She is also a graduate of the New England School of Financial Studies.

In 2005, Monska was named to the Florence Bank President’s Club. The honor recognizes superior performance, customer service and overall contribution to Florence Bank.

Sedlak became assistant vice president and assistant branch manager in 1999. She was promoted to vice president branch manager in 2021 and is retiring after 22 years of service.

NORTHAMPTON — The city’s latest recreational marijuana dispensary, Honey, opened last week in the former home of Sierra Grille at 41 Strong Ave.

Honey is owned and operated by Volkan Polatol and Kevin Perrier. In opening Honey Northampton, Polatol and Perrier have teamed up with Honey Brands, originally founded in California, which produces full spectrum, distilled cannabis oil in vape cartridges. The Northampton location marks one of a few select places within Massachusetts where consumers can purchase Honey vapes.

Perrier said the dispensary also sells Honey hash oils from its own facility at Wemelco Industries in Easthampton. In addition to the vapes, the dispensary also carries a large selection of brands from across the state.

FLORENCE — Florence Bank has donated $50,000 to the Easthampton Community Center through its Florence Savings Easthampton Branch Charitable Foundation, Inc.

The foundation was formed in 1999, following the merger of the former Easthampton Cooperative Bank into Florence Bank, the first and only acquisition for Florence Bank. That investment brought Florence Bank into Easthampton for the first time. Before the merger, Easthampton Cooperative Bank operated the branch near the city rotary, which Florence Bank assumed and continues to run today.

The check for $50,000 was presented by three original members of the foundation: Nancy J. LaBombard, Virginia L. Smith and Anita Sedlak.

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Community College will offer a free, one-month, intensive line-cook training course at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute beginning July 18.

The course runs Monday through Thursday, July 18 through Aug. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute, 164 Race St.

The program is designed for those already in the restaurant industry who want to upgrade their skills as well as unemployed or underemployed individuals interested in starting a new career.

The program is being taught both online and in person at the HCC MGM Culinary Arts Institute. Participants will learn all the essential competencies they need to become successful line cooks: knife skills; how to prepare stocks, soups, sauces, desserts, poultry, fish and meat; culinary math and measurements; moist/dry heat cooking methods; as well as workplace soft skills, such as building a resume and searching for jobs.

Offered as part of HCC’s Business & Workforce Development division, the line cook course is free to qualifying applicants.

For more information, please contact Laura Smith, HCC job placement assistant and career development counselor, at lsmith@hcc.edu, 413-552-2833, or fill out the inquiry form at hcc.edu/job-ready

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