Plan for Progress: Business
The role of business in the 2015 Plan for Progress from the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission is examined by Rick Sullivan from the Economic Development Council, Susan Kasa of Boulevard Machine and Gear of Springfield, and Delcie Bean of Paragus Strategic IT in Hadley.
Heroin in Montague
State health officials say more than 1,000 people died as a result of opioid-related overdoses in Massachusetts last year — an increase of 33 percent from 2012 and part of an ongoing spike in deaths blamed on prescription drug and heroin abuse. Connecting Point Contributor Carolee McGrath visits the town of Montague and talks with Police Chief Charles “Chip” Dodge regarding the amount of used needles showing up on the streets. Dodge, who recently lost a close from to the heroin epidemic, used Facebook to ask the community to pick up the syringes and dispose of them when they’re able.
Tom Brady’s Suspension
Republican columnist and longtime sportswriter Ron Chimelis discusses the NFL decision to suspend Patriots Quarterback Tom Brady, fine the team, and take away two upcoming draft picks as punishment for using under-inflated footballs in last season’s AFC Championship game.
Making It Here: Mt. Tom Ice Cream
After working as an engineer for 10 years Tom Ingram decided to listen to the “entrepreneurial voices in his head” and start his own business and ice cream seemed like the logical choice. After all Tom’s father spent his life in ice cream working at Hood and Howard Johnsons, and he was a key contributor to the success of Tom’s new venture Mt Tom Ice Cream in Easthampton. Connecting Point Programming Intern TJ Hannigan and Producer Dave Fraser get the scoop in this week’s Making It Here Report.
