New year. New ambitions. Your business social media presence doesn’t have to be overwhelming even if it does feel like a full time job at times. It can be streamlined with a bit of strategy. Learn how to batch your content use the seasons of your business to strategize your content for the year using Creator Studio on Face-book and Instagram. Join Robyn Lee Miller, founder of Morning-Bird Media for a 90-min strategy session to jumpstart you into 2022 on the right foot.

Are you a self-employed individual? Received a Form 1099-NEC? This class will review your Federal Form Schedule C income and expenses, record keeping, and accounting and show you how you can utilize Quickbooks to help you prepare your tax information.

Rosemarie Goyette is an Accountant with over 30 years of experience in bookkeeping, taxation, including personal, non-profit, corporate, and partnership. Rosemarie’s experience also includes business operations: stream-lining accounts and best practices. 

Rosemarie joins the Hilltown CDC Business team offering a variety of classes in the use of Quick-Books for your business or organization. So whether you are new to Quick-Books, or are a current user that wants to increase the functionality of your program, Rosemarie can guide you every step of the way.

Are you a self-employed individual? Received a Form 1099-NEC? This class will review your Federal Form Schedule C income and expenses, record keeping, and accounting and show you how you can utilize Quickbooks to help you prepare your tax information.

Rosemarie Goyette is an Accountant with over 30 years of experience in bookkeeping, taxation, including personal, non-profit, corporate, and partnership. Rosemarie’s experience also includes business operations: stream-lining accounts and best practices. 

Rosemarie joins the Hilltown CDC Business team offering a variety of classes in the use of Quick-Books for your business or organization. So whether you are new to Quick-Books, or are a current user that wants to increase the functionality of your program, Rosemarie can guide you every step of the way.

The Hilltown Business Directory is now online and it's a usefultool. Since it's launch last year it's averaging over 100 views per day and generating an average of 10-20 leads per day to area businesses listed on the site.

Renewals are coming up and a new printed business directory is due out next spring with full color ads. If you want to make the most of your listing , or if you still have-n't claimed your listing and have questions, join us for a question and answer style class. It's an easy way to get more business in the Hilltowns, so maximize your investment.

Taught by Paul Stallman, Owner, Alias Solutions

Paul is a graphic designer and website designer in the Pioneer Valley with over 20 years of experience helping clients around North America find solutions to their online marketing and design questions.

Paul owns Alias Solutions www.alias-solutions.com

Please join us for this virtual event and hear from staff at Hilltown CDC about all that has been accomplished this past year and how we navigated our way through the pandemic. Learn about our plans for 2022.

You will also have an opportunity to hear from and engage our local legislators on issues important to the Hilltowns.

Please join us via zoom on
Tuesday, November 9, 2021 6-8:30pm

Agendas and link to meeting will be sent out after you RSVP on the link below. Look forward to seeing you virtually.

This zoom meeting is limited to the first 100 people. 
Please RSVP to hold your spot.

RSVP NOW

Meet The Artists That Make The Hills Their Home!

CELEBRATE and share in the re-opening of Arts & Culture in the Hilltowns

SEE what our Hilltown Artists have been creating during the shutdown

VISIT outdoor & banquet room installations

DINE on delicious appetizers & cash bar

PREVIEW art destinations that will be featured in the 2021 Hilltown Open Studio Tour on October 2nd & 3rd!

Hilltown Arts Alliance
https://hilltownartsalliance.org/pop-up-art-opening/

The Fiddlehead Inn featuring the Rabbit Hole
https://thefiddleheadinn.com/

Mass Cultural Council
https://massculturalcouncil.org/

JLBA at the Retreat at Norwich Lake
Meeting starts at 6pm, but the FUN starts at 10am!
The Retreat at Norwich Lake has opened up the facilities to JLBA members and their families (and potential members) for the entire day.

Please email Michele Kenney at JacobsladderBA@gmail.com to let us know how many in your party and what time you are coming, along any food allergies/sensitivities, so the Retreat can know how much food to prepare. Need to join/ renew your JLBA membership? Click the Red add listing button at the upper right corner at JLBA.org

The Retreat will provide kayaks, canoes, fishing gear, our water trampoline, life jackets, and a lifeguard on duty. They also have hiking trails, fishing poles, horses, volleyball, gaga ball, ping pong, and corn hole available on site.

You can arrive as early as 10:00am and stay as late as you would like after the meal / meeting.
Lunch will be served (sandwiches, chips, and fruit) at 12:00pm f
Dinner will be served at 5:00pm, in preparation for the meeting at 6:00pm.

Items that you may want to bring:
Beach attire if you would like to get into the lake, sunscreen, water shoes, etc.
Hiking attire and gear if you would like to explore our trails.
Closed toe shoes if you would like to partake in horseback rides.
Additional fishing supplies to meet personalized preferences.
Additional water / land games of individual's interest.

As you arrive:
Please adhere to the 5-10mph speed limit as you approach the site from the main Searle road.
Enter the main gate and parking is directly to the right (in front of the two parked RV’s.)
Enter the main lodge up the stone stairs. Right inside the front doors there will be a table set up with a sign in sheet.

Directions:
The Retreat is at 128 Norwich Lake in Huntington. Turn off of Route 66 in Huntington onto Searle Rd. When you get to the fork (about 1.7 miles) Turn right onto Rocky Point Rd. Follow signs to The Retreat, in approximately 7/10ths of a mile.

Join Robyn Lee Miller, owner of MorningBird Media, for a crash course in Instagram marketing for your business. This course will review the Instagram interface and navigating through the apps features. We will discuss best practices for your profile including how to utilize the bio and profile photo. The class will have exclusive use of a private Facebook group to continue exploring techniques together once the workshop concludes and continued access to social media help via MorningBird Media.

Register online for this Virtual class at www.shaec.org

Join Robyn Lee Miller, owner of MorningBird Media, to learn the how to best utilize Facebook for marketing your business. The class will have exclusive use of a private Facebook group to continue exploring techniques together once the workshop concludes and continued access to social media help via MorningBird Media.

Sign up for this free class for Western Mass Hilltown Business owners: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

Sponsored by the Hilltown CDC, with funds from the Mass Growth Capital Corporation.

Join Robyn Lee Miller, owner of MorningBird Media, for a workshop on Organically Growing Your Following on Facebook. We will review common practices used to grow quality followers that you can immediately begin implementing in your own social media strategies. The class will have exclusive use of a private Facebook group to continue exploring techniques together once the workshop concludes and continued access to social media help via MorningBird Media.

Sign up for this free class for Western Mass Hilltown Business owners: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

 Sponsored by the Hilltown CDC, with funds from the Mass Growth Capital Corporation. 

Working on a proposal, report, or another document in collaboration with others? Using the Google Doc platform allows all participants to participate, edit, refine, and view all edits in real-time. Share documents, allow others to edit or just view. You decide. Great for both students and adults working from home. Best of all, it’s free!

Google sheets is a free web-based spreadsheet program that allows you to create, update, modify and share your data with others.

Register: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

Need cash for your non-profit, municipality, farm, or other organization? Learn the basics on how to research and identify potential foundations and government funders that accept grant proposals to fund your project or program, as well as how to prepare and submit a grant to a potential funder.

Presenter Dave Christopolis is the Executive Director of Hilltown CDC located in Chesterfield, MA, and has successfully written millions of dollars worth of grants for a variety of nonprofit organizations throughout the region.

Sign up for this free class for Western Mass Hilltown Business owners: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

 Sponsored by the Hilltown CDC, with funds from the Mass Growth Capital Corporation. 

with Paul Stallman of Alias Solutions
March 10th, 6-8:00pm

We've all heard the acronym and wondered "what do I need to do to make sure our site has good SEO?" Or you've gotten relentless calls and emails about optimizing your SEO for only a small monthly charge of $500 or $1000. Well tune in and learn the tricks to get better search engine rankings that will take a little time, but cost you very little. The basis is all common sense, but...we all forget them when working on our websites. We will also show you some tools that make figuring out what to concentrate on when attracting people thru search.
Taught by Paul Stallman, Web-Guru at Alias Solutions. Www.alias-solutions.com Solutions for Website Design, Graphic Design, Printing, Marketing, and Signage 413-364-6147

Sign up for this free class for Western Mass Hilltown Business owners: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

 Sponsored by the Hilltown CDC, with funds from the Mass Growth Capital Corporation. 

Understand the difference between operating as a sole proprietorship or dba and forming a business entity, what your business entity options are, and how you can get it done. Topics include:

Protecting your personal assets with a corporation
The difference between an LLC and an S Corp
How to incorporate in Massachusetts
When you need a lawyer and when you can do it yourself

Call 413-354-1055 or email Southernhilltownsaec@gmail.com to preregister, giving the date and location of the class you would like to attend, or register online at www. SHAEC.org. Register here.

Dorine will be hosting a free "Ask the Tax Pro" zoom class on Wednesday, February 24th, at 6pm. Dorine is an accountant, bookkeeper, and tax preparer with over 25 years experience in the field, and is currently a self employed tax advisor.

Sign up for this free class for Western Mass Hilltown Business owners: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

Email your questions for Dorine to MicheleK@hilltowncdc.org

Sponsored by the Hilltown CDC, with grant funding from the Mass Growth Capital Corporation.

Monday, December 14, 2020

6:00 – 7:00 PM (Zoom Class)

PayPal helps over 17 million businesses with payment and credit solutions.  PayPal is a safe and secure way to get or receive payments electronically and is used by over 17 million businesses for their payment and credit solutions.  In this class, you will learn how easy it is to set up PayPal Checkout in minutes by copying prebuilt code and pasting it next to the products or services you want to sell on your website. It’s a great option for selling without adding shopping cart functionality.  PayPal checkout is used to sell a single product or service at a fixed price.

Register at: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

Thursday, December 10, 2020

6:00 – 7:30 PM (Zoom Class)

With over 100 million buyers, eBay is one of the world’s largest online marketplaces. With so many buyers, eBay gives you the opportunity to find more buyers to pay you more for your items.  The biggest barrier to your first listing is often fear. This class will help you get over those fears and start selling.

Register at: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

Wednesday, December 9, 2020

6:00 – 8:00 PM (Zoom Class)

What are the different types of legal ownership for small businesses, and what are the advantages of each? Learn allowable business tax deductions, methods of recordkeeping and documentation, along with the responsibilities of hiring employees (including your family members). Learn about tax shelters and tax audits. Question and answer session at the end. 

Register at: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

Monday, December 7, 2020

6:00 – 7:30 PM (Zoom Class)

We’ve all heard the acronym and wondered “what do I need to do to make sure our site has good SEO?” Or you’ve gotten relentless calls and emails about optimizing your SEO for only a small monthly charge of $500 or $1000. Well tune in and learn the tricks to get better search engine rankings that will take a little time, but cost you very little. The basis is all common sense, but……. We all forget them when working on our websites. We will also show you some tools that make figuring out what to concentrate on when attracting people thru search. Taught by Paul Stallman, Web-Guru at Alias Solutions.

This is a virtual class.

Register at: https://shaec.org/registration-form/

Thursday, December 3rd 6-7:30 pm

Are you unsure what to keep track of for your small business?  This class will explain inventory, income and expenses, cost of goods sold, bad debts, and how to figure total profit or loss for tax purposes.  This course is geared towards small businesses who do not use QuickBooks but would like to develop an Excel spreadsheet for accounting purposes.  Bring your questions.

Dorine is a longtime accountant and tax preparer for both personal and business tax returns, and had a long career setting up and teaching accounting systems to professionals.

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here

Clean Transportation for Rural Communities

Online Event

The Transportation and Climate Initiative is a multi-state compact to reduce carbon emissions and invest in better, cleaner, more equitable transportation. What does this mean for rural communities and transportation in Massachusetts? What are the benefits, and who decides how the program is run?

Find out more at this important online event on Tuesday, November 10th at 7:00 PM. Please register today!

Who should attend? This program is for anyone who cares about clean transportation in rural Massachusetts communities, including residents, businesses, community leaders, transportation and environmental advocates, community organizations, and local elected officials.

Thank you to these sponsoring organizations! To co-sponsor, email info@t4ma.org.

• Acadia Center

• Berkshire Regional Planning Commission

• Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission

• Environmental League of Massachusetts

• Franklin Regional Council of Governments

• Hilltown Community Development Corporation

• League of Women Voters of Massachusetts

• Massachusetts Public Health Association

• The Nature Conservancy

• Pioneer Valley Planning Commission

• The Train Campaign

• Transportation for Massachusetts

Wednesdays, October 21, 28, & November 4th, 6-7:30 pm

Whether it’s photos for eBay, Etsy, or a website, you need to put your items in the best light. Learn from Professional Photographer Lyle Congdon, who will walk you through this mini-series that covers basic photography skills you need to create eye-catching product photos.  Learn what tools/props you can use around your house, and learn pro tips and tricks to turn up the “wow” factor. The last class will be a group critique to help improve your artistic eye! All levels welcome. Series of three 1 hour-long classes, with 30 minute Q&A session following.

Find Lyle on Facebook and

Instagram: www.lyleleighphotography.com

Capturing the Moments That Light Up Your Life

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here

Wednesdays, October 21, 28, & November 4th, 6-7:30 pm

Whether it’s photos for eBay, Etsy, or a website, you need to put your items in the best light. Learn from Professional Photographer Lyle Congdon, who will walk you through this mini-series that covers basic photography skills you need to create eye-catching product photos.  Learn what tools/props you can use around your house, and learn pro tips and tricks to turn up the “wow” factor. The last class will be a group critique to help improve your artistic eye! All levels welcome. Series of three 1 hour-long classes, with 30 minute Q&A session following.

Find Lyle on Facebook and

Instagram: www.lyleleighphotography.com

Capturing the Moments That Light Up Your Life

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here

Thursday, October 22nd, 6-7:30 pm

It can be difficult to interpret Excel workbooks that contain a lot of data. Once you’ve entered information into your worksheet, you may want to format your data as a table. Just like regular formatting, tables can improve the look and feel of your workbook, and they’ll also help organize your content and make your data easier to use. Excel includes several tools and predefined table styles, allowing you to create tables quickly and easily.  Charts allow you to illustrate your workbook data graphically, which makes it easy to visualize comparisons and trends.

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here

Thursday, October 22nd, 10:30 am-12 pm

Google sheets is a free web-based spreadsheet program which allows you to create, update, modify, and share your data with others.

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here

Whether it’s photos for eBay, Etsy, or a website, you need to put your items in the best light. Learn from Professional Photographer Lyle Congdon, who will walk you through this mini-series that covers basic photography skills you need to create eye-catching product photos.  Learn what tools/props you can use around your house, and learn pro tips and tricks to turn up the “wow” factor. The last class will be a group critique to help improve your artistic eye! All levels welcome. Series of three 1 hour-long classes, with 30 minute Q&A session following.

Find Lyle on Facebook and

Instagram: www.lyleleighphotography.com

Capturing the Moments That Light Up Your Life

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here

Tuesday, October 20th, 6-7:00 pm

• What is bankruptcy? An explanation of the four most common types of bankruptcy chapters

• What are some non-bankruptcy options? Discussion of “credit counseling/debt management programs,” debt negotiation, consolidation, potential consequences of non-action

• Common bankruptcy myths. (will I lose my home, car, business, etc.?)

• Life after bankruptcy – rebuilding is not so hard

Eric formed the Law Office of Attorney Eric Kornblum in  2000 and concentrates his practice on the representation of consumer debtors in bankruptcy. Eric looks not only to eliminate or reduce a clients’ debt but focuses on strategies that allow his clients to be in a better financial situation after the completion of their bankruptcy.

Eric offers his free book “Stress Ends Here:  Financial Freedom through Bankruptcy” through his website:  www.debtfreema.com

Eric can be reached at  eric@debtfreema.com

or by calling 413-568-3900

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here

Monday, October 19th, 10 am-noon

Ask the Lawyer:  Open discussion with local attorney Emily Smith-Lee.  Bring your questions about business law, employment law, estate planning, landlord-tenant issues, or consumer law.

Register online at www. SHAECorg. Register here