Month: July 2013

Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

That’s Cool!

Northwestern Mutual Springfield Group recently teamed with Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation, a national fund-raising movement to raise money for childhood cancer research, by setting up a lemonade stand in front of the company’s 1351 Main St. offices in downtown Springfield. During the height of the heat wave, the public was invited to enjoy an ice-cold lemonade and offer donations. From left, Diane Barnes, recruiting and selection professional with Northwestern Mutual, receives a cold lemonade from Stephanie Killian, event planner and marketing assistant, and Jill Monson, owner, both of Inspired Marketing.

Photo by Ed Cohen

Teacher Report

Kate Walsh, president of the Washington D.C.-based National Council of Teacher Quality, recently addressed Springfield Business Leaders for Education and others at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame regarding a first-ever national report on teacher preparation. The report, developed in partnership with U.S. News & World Report, evaluated more than 1,100 colleges and universities throughout the U.S. that educate and prepare elementary- and secondary-school teachers, including 35 within Massachusetts. A panel discussion followed the presentation. The panel included, from left, Tom O’Brien, human relations administrator for Springfield Public Schools; Walsh; Paul Hyry-Dermith, interim assistant superintendent, Holyoke Public Schools; and Henry Thomas, president of the Urban League of Springfield.

Closing the Deal

Cooley Dickinson’s recent Closing Day marked the official start of the Northampton-based hospital’s system-wide affiliation with Massachusetts General Hospital. Pictured, CDH president and CEO Craig Melin, left, and Mass General President Dr. Peter Slavin sign off on the affiliation closing memorandum using telemedicine technology. The technology, already in place at Cooley Dickinson for telestroke and teleneurology consultations with Mass General physicians, is one way the affiliation will bring expanded services to the people of the Pioneer Valley. Noted Slavin, “Mass General and Cooley Dickinson have had a successful working relationship the past four years with the collaboration between the Mass General Cancer Center and Cooley Dickinson Cancer Care Program. We welcome the opportunity to build on that and other clinical services.”

Bullying in the Workplace

Legislation Seeks to Protect Workers from Abuse, Harassment

By KATHRYN S. CROUSS, Esq.

Kathryn Crouss

A public hearing was held on June 25 before the Joint Committee on Labor and Workforce Development regarding HB 1766, proposed legislation titled “An Act Addressing Workplace Bullying, Mobbing, and Harassment, Without Regard to Protected Class Status.” Dubbed the ‘Healthy Workplace Bill,’ the bill seeks to provide protections for workers against workplace abuse and harassment.

Under the current state of the law in Massachusetts, workers who are members of a protected class have legal recourse for harassment and abuse suffered in the workplace. Existing statutes in Massachusetts establish remedies for employees who are subjected to a hostile work environment in the context of sexual harassment, or if the hostile behavior is motivated by race, color, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, or age.

However, Massachusetts does not presently offer general legal protection to employees against hostile treatment in the workplace otherwise. In an ‘at-will’ employment state such as Massachusetts, employers and employees are free to enter into or exit from a working relationship at any time, absent an express employment agreement. Under the at-will employment rule, continued employment is at the discretion of the employer, and employers are not prohibited from making arbitrary employment decisions, even decisions that may appear dishonest, distasteful, or rude.

Exceptions to the employment-at-will doctrine are narrow and limited. The law defers to the decisions of employers and intervenes on an employee’s behalf only for exceptionally strong public-policy reasons. Examples of such public policies are when an adverse employment decision is motivated by an employee serving on a jury, filing a workers’ compensation claim, or reporting criminal activity at work, whether the report is made internally or to public authorities.

According to the bill’s co-sponsors, Rep. Ellen Story of Amherst and Sen. Katherine Clark of Melrose, the Healthy Workplace Bill seeks to provide legal remedies for employees who have been harmed psychologically, physically, or economically by deliberate exposure to abusive work environments. The bill indicates that “at least a third of all employees will directly experience health-endangering workplace bullying, abuse, and harassment during their working lives, and this form of mistreatment is approximately four times more prevalent than sexual harassment alone.”

Additionally, the bill’s co-sponsors indicate that it incentivizes employers to prevent and respond to abusive mistreatment of employees by allowing employers to minimize liability. The bill states that “abusive work environments can have serious consequences for employers, including reduced employee productivity and morale, higher turnover and absenteeism rates, and increases in medical and workers’ compensation claims.”

Finally, the co-sponsors say the bill includes provisions that discourage weak or frivolous claims. The bill establishes affirmative defenses for employers when:

• The complaint is based on an adverse employment action reasonably made for poor performance or economic necessity;

• The complaint is based on a reasonable performance evaluation; or

• The complaint is based on an employer’s reasonable investigation about potentially illegal or unethical activity.

Clark recently indicated that “it is important to understand that this bill is not about everyday disagreements in the office, or someone having a bad day, or a boss providing directives, oversight, and feedback. Instead, it seeks to address a regular pattern of health-harming mistreatment at a work environment in the form of verbal abuse, offensive and threatening behavior, or malicious work interference.”

The bill is not without its detractors, however. Many believe workplace bullying is better addressed internally, such as by an employer’s human-resources department, as opposed to within the court system. Regulating workplace bullying, they say, might serve only to create a venue for disgruntled employees, opening the doors to frivolous lawsuits filed by employees in response to legitimate negative performance reviews. Such legislation could inhibit employers from making even constructive criticism of an employee’s performance for fear of a retaliatory lawsuit. Some fear the proposed legislation would allow an employee to avoid accountability.

Although this is the bill’s third submission, having been first introduced during the 2009-10 legislative session without success, there are indications that workplace anti-bullying legislation is gaining momentum. Since 2003, variations of the Healthy Workplace Bill have been introduced in 25 states, and 12 states (in addition to Massachusetts) are currently pushing for such legislation, according to David Yamada, a professor of labor and employment law at Suffolk University Law School, and one of the bill’s proponents.

It is too soon to determine the potential outcome regarding the bill. However, employers are advised to take caution. Language in the proposed bill indicates that an employer will be vicariously liable for violations of the statute committed by its employee. In other words, employers may be legally responsible for the actions of their supervising employees, if such employees are found to have engaged in abusive conduct or to have created an abusive work environment as defined by the statute.

Employers can defend against a lawsuit only if “the employer has exercised reasonable care to prevent and correct promptly any actionable behavior, and the complainant employee unreasonably failed to take advantage of appropriate preventive or corrective opportunities provided by the employer.”

Employers are advised to be vigilant about ensuring that managers treat employees with respect and dignity. Further, employers should ensure that they include anti-bullying language in their code of conduct policies, in order to preserve the availability of the affirmative defense. Employers are advised to contact an employment-law attorney about creating policies that will comply with the proposed legislation.

Kathryn S. Crouss, Esq. is a member of Bacon Wilson’s litigation department and handles all aspects of civil litigation, including employee- and management-side employment-law litigation, personal injury, and domestic-relations litigation; (413) 781-0560.

Stitches in Time

Holyoke Catholic Survives Through Its Close-knit Community

Theresa Kitchell’s quilt, which showcases previous homes for Holyoke Catholic High School, tells only part of the story of this resilient institution.

Theresa Kitchell says she’s been quilting for decades now.

And like other practitioners of this time-consuming pastime, she enjoys it because it provides relaxation, as well as the ability to tell a story through one’s artistic expression.

The piece hanging in her office at Holyoke Catholic High School, which she has served as principal for the past three years, certainly does that. It features images of many of the historic buildings that were part of Holyoke Catholic decades before that name was ever put over a door — and there have now been several doors that have had that honor.

The only landmark missing is the current mailing address, 134 Springfield St. in Chicopee, said Kitchell, noting that she created the piece before the move to that location in 2008. (The quilt was created to be a featured prize at a fundraising auction, was given by the high bidder to his mother, an alum, and was then gifted back the school after she passed away).

But the quilt showcases only physical structures, Kitchell went on, so it tells only part of a remarkable story. The far more important chapters involve the perseverance and vision required for this school to live on through several forced relocations (more on those later), and the dedication of an alumni base and a current generation of parents who value quality and tradition more than a modern gymnasium and state-of-the-art auditorium — although those may also become reality in the not-too-distant future.

“I think ‘resourceful’ is a great adjective for us because we’ve had to make do for so many years,” said Kitchell, referring first to a move to Granby and the former St. Hyacinth Seminary, and later a move to the current address. “We had to start from scratch, in everything, and the faculty has been incredibly willing to do whatever needed to be done, in whatever facility we found ourselves.”

Today, Holyoke Catholic, with annual tuition of $8,000, boasts an enrollment of roughly 300, with students from 30 area communities and several from China. That number has remained steady in recent years despite a deep economic recession and the latest of those aforementioned moves.

Kitchell and Liz Adzima, director of Advacement, attribute this consistency to recognition among parents that, while the school still lacks some amenities, it is synonymous with value and excellence.

These are exemplified in the price tag — well below what is charged at area private schools — but also in the award-winning STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) curriculum, multiple partnerships with neighboring Elms College, and strong performing-arts and internship programs, among other initiatives.

“Parents make that decision to send their children here because they know that the sacrifices to be made are well worth it for the quality of education their children will receive here,” said Adzima.

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest turns the spotlight on Holyoke Catholic, which has a rich, intriguing history and — because of that aforementioned resilience and vision — is adding new chapters to the story told by Kitchell’s quilt.

Quite a Yarn

Some of the institutions that came together to form what is now Holyoke Catholic High School can trace their histories back to the late 1800s, said Adizma, noting that Holyoke once had many small parish elementary schools and high schools.

These schools weren’t large enough to field their own sports teams, she went on, adding that, by the middle of the 20th century, several, including Holy Rosary, Sacred Heart, and St. Jerome’s, were bringing their athletes together to compete under the name ‘Holyoke Catholic.’ And as it became increasingly difficult for those smaller schools to exist on their own, discussions intensified about taking the concept of Holyoke Catholic beyond the playing field.

“Through that on-field unity, people started seeing that maybe it was time to come together,” said Adzima, adding that Holyoke Catholic High School was formed in 1963 on the campus of St. Jerome’s, located in the heart of the city’s downtown.

Eventually, however, those facilities became overcrowded and, worse, structurally unsafe — a determination made by Thomas Dupre, bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Springfield, in 2002.

The search for what all agreed would be temporary quarters eventually focused on the 500-acre St. Hyacinth College & Seminary in nearby Granby, said Kitchell, adding that, while the location was not ideal, especially for families in Holyoke, the school managed to maintain consistent enrollment numbers.

And while there was an initial push to raise funds to build a new Holyoke Catholic, fiscal constraints brought a focus on retrofitting an existing educational facility, Adzima went on, adding that sights were eventually set on a former elementary school on Springfield Street in Chicopee, between the Holy Name and Assumption parishes, and only a few hundred yards from Elms College.

The process of retrofitting the facility was completed in the summer of 2008, and the new Holyoke Catholic opened that fall, said Kitchell, adding that the move brings a number of advantages for the school, ranging from accessibility to the natural connection with the Elms.

“The parents have been most supportive; they wanted their children to go to Holyoke Catholic, and they made the move to Granby, which was really inconvenient, and then they made the move here,” Kitchell told BusinessWest. “The move to Chicopee was certainly the most feasible economically, and there were other real pluses; first, we’d be back in an urban setting, and second, we’d be in close proximity to the Elms.”

Elaborating, she and Adzima said the new location, just minutes off interstates 91 and 391, makes the school not only affordable, but also quite accessible, especially to major population centers such as Chicopee, Springfield, and Holyoke.

As for the Elms, that institution brings facilities and collaborative efforts that greatly enhance the value of a Holyoke Catholic education, she said.

Sewing Seeds

The partnership with the Elms only begins with Sr. Mary Reap, the college’s president, who serves on the Holyoke Catholic board of trustees.

It extends to the institution’s library — which extends full privileges to Holyoke Catholic students, who can now take in a number of exhibits and programs, such as last year’s Holocaust exhibit — and the Veritas Auditorium, which has become home to the high school’s performing-arts programs.

However, and ironically, due to construction at the Elms, those programs are utilizing facilities at the former MacDuffie School in downtown Springfield. (MacDuffie relocated two years ago to the former St. Hyacinth’s Seminary.)

The drive to Springfield is somewhat inconvenient, but such headaches are certainly nothing new for loyal parents and alums, said Adzima, adding that the performing-arts program has enjoyed great success.

She explained that students, including incoming freshmen, work throughout the summer to produce the popular annual fall performance; recent shows (there are three a year) have included Hello, Dolly!, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, and Godspell, and this year The Wizard of Oz is on the schedule.

While quality and high expectations are the foundation of the Holyoke Catholic curriculum, and, historically, the English department has been very strong, Kitchell is proud of recent recognition from the state for the science department, which recently earned the 2013 Secretary’s Award for Excellence in Energy and Environment Education.

The award is fitting, she added, since 10 faculty members and 10 students were involved last year in a ‘technology frontier experiment,’ during which teachers and students used iPads daily in all departments to deepen their knowledge of that form of technology in a school setting.

“The use of handheld devices, not just pen and paper, is coming; that’s their world, and we just have to figure it out,” said Kitchell. “Students and faculty have been learning, literally, from each other across the board.”

Another perk of the school’s proximity to the Elms is the college’s advanced-placement program, which allows qualified area high-school students to take up to three college credits each semester in their junior and senior years, graduating from high school with a possible 12 college credits. Offered at reduced-credit cost, the late-afternoon and evening courses are a convenient walk across the street for about 30 Holyoke Catholic students per year, said Kitchell.

In addition to that program, Holyoke Catholic requires every senior to undertake a 50-hour internship at an area business or nonprofit. To fulfill that requirement, they must write a paper about their experience and present to members of a faculty panel.

“This year, we had students in the operating room with a surgeon at Baystate Medical Center, in court with attorneys — one student actually dug into the research and helped solve a case — and they really get put to work,” said Adzima. “It lets them see what it’s like in the real world, and the more time and attention that they give to identifying the correct spot for them, the better experience they have.”

Common Threads

Looking ahead, Kitchell said the school is looking at ways to fill in some of the missing pieces from its bricks-and-mortar presence, including a performance-arts facility and a gymnasium.

Two parishes in that section of Chicopee have merged, she noted, and this development may create opportunities for expansion down the road if the fiscal health of the diocese permits.

In the meantime, the school will continue to carry on and make do, something it has become quite proficient at in recent years, displaying vast amounts of imagination and resilience, skills that are among the many it tries to impart to its diverse student population.

Thus, while Kitchell says there are no plans to add new segments to that quilt on her wall, there are certainly new chapters to be written in the history of a school that has found its place — in more ways than one.

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Editorial

Opinion

Lessons from Detroit — and Springfield

The numbers are exponentially greater — well, more than exponentially: $19 billion as opposed to several hundred million — but there are a great many similarities between what happened in Detroit earlier this month and what occurred in Springfield nearly a decade ago.

Putting it simply, both cities just bottomed out. Like the elderly woman in that famous TV commercial, they had fallen, and they couldn’t get up, at least not without extraordinary measures — a union-crunching control board in Springfield and a record-setting bankruptcy in the Motor City. And neither development came about overnight; they were both a long time in coming.

Indeed, there are many reasons why these great cities wound up in those somewhat similar situations. Start with mismanagement — Detroit built what amounted to a monorail to nowhere and made promises to unions it knew it couldn’t keep, and Springfield simply spent far more money than it had for way too long. But there was also white flight and the demise of the middle class in both communities, rampant crime, and serious declines in tax revenue as both residents and businesses moved elsewhere.

But maybe the biggest reason why both communities hit bottom with such loud thuds was that what had been entrepreneurial cities — perhaps two of the most entrepreneurial cities in the nation’s history — more or less stopped being entrepreneurial. And this is a lesson that must be learned by communities across the country.

Detroit started with carriages and engines for boats, and eventually, people like Henry Ford started putting engines in carriages, and the fortunes of that city dramatically changed. By the 1950s, nearly 2 million people were calling Detroit home (the population is now down to 700,000) and the city was among the most prosperous in the country.

Springfield started with the Armory, and the spirit of innovation soon spread throughout the city. Entrepreneurs started businesses that made everything from revolvers to toys; ice skates to trolley cars; monkey wrenches to parking meters.

Only a few of those items are still made here, because much of the manufacturing in the Northeast went to southern states or overseas. And the jobs that went with those companies simply haven’t been replaced.

Why? There are many reasons, but a big one is that this region, and Springfield in particular, has put too much emphasis on trying to bring businesses here rather than build businesses here.

It all comes back to being entrepreneurial, a character trait that Springfield, Detroit, and many other struggling cities have lost. And that’s the lesson other former manufacturing centers, including some of the Gateway cities in this region, must learn.

One source of inspiration could be Holyoke, a city that suffered from many of the same problems as Springfield and Detroit, although it has avoided full economic collapse.

There, the city is using the new Massachusetts Green High Performance Computing Center and an emerging cultural community to begin the process of filling millions of square feet of old mill space with small, often technology-related businesses, related service businesses, apartments, and condos. It will be a slow process, but the outlook is quite promising.

Springfield will have to do something similar, even if an $800 million casino emerges in the tornado-ravaged South End, as MGM hopes it will. That’s because a casino won’t change the city’s fortunes — it will only help change its fortunes.

As for Detroit … well, bankruptcy will offer the opportunity to start over. What the city does with that opportunity remains to be seen, but whatever happens will certainly take decades to emerge.

That’s OK, because it took decades for Detroit, Springfield, and other old industrial cities to complete their fall and hit bottom.

That’s what happens when entrepreneurial cities stop being entrepreneurial.

Opinion

Opinion

Gateway Cities Don’t Need Silver Bullet

By ALAN MALLACH and LAVEA BRACHMAN

They have been called shrinking cities and gateway cities. But by any label — our preferred term is ‘legacy cities’ — medium-sized metropolitan areas struggling with manufacturing decline and population loss are a never-ending project in many parts of the country, including Massachusetts.

Almost every year, some silver bullet — a sports arena, a casino, a conference center — promises salvation and rebirth for Brockton, Lawrence, New Bedford, Springfield, or Pittsfield. Avoiding the fate of Detroit, which just filed for bankruptcy, only adds to the pressure for a big solution.

The truth is, the silver-bullet syndrome can inhibit revitalization. A megaproject can become an important asset, but it is not a strategy for change in itself, unless it is integrated into larger schemes to make a meaningful contribution to the city’s future. A more incremental approach built on collaboration and partnerships holds more promise for rebuilding.

The way forward may look more like silver buckshot — with a focus on these key areas:

• Have faith in downtowns. The physical fabric of the central core, with density, a walkable urban texture, and proximity to major institutions and employers, is a powerful attraction for young single people and couples, and a strong basis for residential redevelopment. Set a friendly regulatory environment for infill redevelopment, reinvent public spaces, and encourage private market reuse of older buildings.

• Sustain viable neighborhoods. In these targeted areas, build partnerships with neighborhood associations and community-development corporations to implement multifaceted neighborhood strategies that draw demand, rebuild housing markets, and address destabilizing elements such as crime, foreclosure, and property abandonment.

• Don’t be afraid to demolish. Repurposing large inventories of vacant land strategically is a major springboard for change in heavily disinvested areas. Cities should explore large-scale reconfiguration of land uses, including the use of vacant land properties for public open space, urban agriculture, or stormwater management.

• Reinvent the economic base. Not every city can become the next biotech capital. But an honest assessment of local assets and regional competitive advantages can help build new export-oriented economies. Partner with local educational institutions and major employers to build an educational and workforce-development plan and a competitive regional labor market.

• Build new partnerships. In almost every city, universities and medical centers — ‘eds and meds’ — are bedrock institutions, part of a foundational network of public, nonprofit, and private collaboration. Similarly, state and federal governments must rethink their roles, becoming more nimble, more effective, and less biased toward suburban areas.

• Make sure all city residents benefit from change. Many cities are fractured, with large and growing economic and racial disparities. Engaging residents, and providing the educational and workforce-development systems they need to become competitive, can build a stronger city for everyone.

While legacy cities and their regions are already inextricably linked by social and economic realities, far more must be done to make these connections positive forces for regenerating both the city and the rest of the region. Public-policy changes at both state and national levels should be pursued to foster greater regional integration. Regionalized infrastructure, particularly transit, sewer, and water systems, should be encouraged to strengthen city and regional ties that foster economic growth.

All this may sound as if so many pieces need to fall in place. They do. Yet, an approach we call ‘strategic incrementalism’ can help keep the momentum going. Rather than devote significant time and resources to large-scale, comprehensive planning, legacy cities should focus on building partnerships, supporting multiple initiatives, and more organically internalizing a shared vision for the future.

America’s legacy cities were once the great economic engines of this country. The right mixture of new forms and directions, fueled by their powerful assets and historic can-do culture of achievement, can provide the springboard for a new era of prosperity.

Alan Mallach is a senior fellow at the Center for Community Progress. Lavea Brachman is executive director of the Greater Ohio Policy Center.

Language Lessons

Recent Cases Show Emerging Trends in Non-compete Agreements

John S. Gannon

It’s no secret that courts are skeptical of non-compete agreements. This is especially true when enforcement will restrain employees from earning a living.

In Massachusetts, the ‘material changes doctrine’ can provide a court with just the right ammunition to shoot down the enforceability of a non-compete agreement. Under that doctrine, a non-compete is unenforceable if the employer-employee relationship has changed significantly since the employee signed the agreement. Several recent cases illustrate how the doctrine works in practice.

Case #1: Rent-A-PC Inc. v. March (D. Mass. May 28, 2013)

Robert March began working for SmartSource as a senior account executive in June 2006. SmartSource provides short-term rentals of audio-visual, computer, and other equipment. March signed a non-compete agreement at the outset of his employment that restricted him from working for competitors of SmartSource for one year after his separation from employment.

March moved up in the company quickly. He advanced to branch sales manager in 2007. He was then promoted to regional sales manager in 2008. March was promoted again in 2010 to regional general manager and one more time in 2012 to regional sales manager. With each promotion, March’s job responsibilities and compensation changed. His final position at SmartSource was significantly different from his first in terms of scope, duties, and pay.

March was fired in October 2012 and joined a direct competitor a month later. SmartSource filed an action against March seeking to enforce the non-compete agreement. The court refused to enforce it, relying on the material changes doctrine. March had signed the non-compete when he started working for SmartSource as an account executive. He was then promoted all the way up to regional sales manager. Conceivably, he might not have been willing to sign a new agreement in connection with any one of his promotions. The court refused to enforce the agreement in this case because March’s duties and compensation had materially changed while he worked at SmartSource.

Case #2: Intepros Inc. v. Athy (Mass. Super. May 5, 2013)

In a similar case, Paul Athy was hired as a branch manager for Intepros, an IT staffing and services company, and signed a non-compete agreement at the outset of his employment. Athy climbed the company ladder all the way up to the chief operating officer position. Intepros did not ask Athy to sign a new agreement in connection with any of his promotions.

Athy left the company in 2012, saying he wanted to coach his son’s football team and possibly create his own company to assist recent college graduates in finding jobs. Athy was not true to his word, and instead he started an IT staffing business similar to Intepros, and brought on a major client whom he had solicited while working for his former employer. Intepros sued, claiming Athy had breached his non-compete agreement. Again, the court refused to enforce the agreement under the material changes doctrine. According to the court, Athy’s employment relationship had changed “dramatically” after he signed the original non-compete agreement because his pay and authority had increased substantially with each promotion.

Case # 3: A.R.S. Services Inc. v. Morse (Mass. Super. Apr. 5, 2013)

This case has similar facts to the two discussed above. Daniel Morse went to work for a competitor after leaving A.R.S. Services. When A.R.S. tried to enforce a non-compete agreement, Morse argued it was unenforceable because he had experienced a significant demotion while working for A.R.S. However, this case had an added wrinkle.

The noncompete stated that it was “valid notwithstanding any change in [Morse’s] duties, responsibilities, position or title with [ARS].” In other words, the agreement clearly said that it was enforceable even if Morse’s job duties changed. The court relied on this language in ruling that the non-compete was enforceable. This case demonstrates that suitable language in the non-compete may avoid the material-changes dilemma.

Bottom Line

The lesson from these cases is clear. Employers need to make sure employees sign new and updated non-compete agreements when there are major changes in their duties and responsibilities. If you need assistance revising or enforcing a non-compete agreement, contact experienced labor and employment counsel for assistance.

John Gannon is an attorney at the management-side labor and employment firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]; www.linkedin.com/in/johngannonesq.

You Finally Got Paid

Features Law Sections

But That’s Certainly Not the End of the Story

L. Alexandra Hogan

When your business finally receives payment of that long-overdue receivable, is that the end of the story? Not always, as recently learned by nearly 40 entities previously doing business with Northern Berkshire Healthcare Inc. or its affiliates.

Two years ago, Northern Berkshire Healthcare, a nonprofit healthcare corporation in Berkshire County, and its four affiliated entities (collectively Northern Berkshire) filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. On June 10, the trustee in Northern Berkshire’s bankruptcy instituted almost 40 lawsuits in the bankruptcy court against entities that did business with the company because, simply put, those entities got paid prior to the bankruptcy filing.

Section 547(b) of the Bankruptcy Code authorizes a Chapter 11 debtor or trustee to recover ‘preferential transfers.’ These are certain payments made to creditors of the bankrupt company 90 days prior to the bankruptcy filing or made one year prior thereto if to an insider (e.g. an officer, director or affiliated entity.) In order to make a successful claim, the debtor or trustee must prove that the payment was made to the creditor on old debt while the debtor was insolvent, during the specified time period, and that the creditor received more than it would have if the case been filed under Chapter 7 of the Bankruptcy Code, as opposed to Chapter 11.

The prospect of a creditor losing its long-awaited payment appears fundamentally unfair. The social policy behind this law is actually to treat the bankrupt company’s creditors equally. In other words, the law should not permit the company to preferentially choose to pay one creditor over another. Money recovered under this law will be fairly distributed to all creditors under the scheme provided by the Bankruptcy Code. And, as with any cause of action, there are defenses — the contemporaneous-exchange defense, the ordinary-course-of-business defense, and new-value defense, to name a few.

A transfer is not preferential if the creditor and soon-to-be bankrupt company intended and, in fact, made a substantially contemporaneous exchange of new goods or services for the payment in question. Cash on delivery and prepayment does not constitute a preferential transfer. In addition, if payment was made on a debt incurred in the ordinary course of business or the financial affairs of the parties, or according to ordinary business terms, the transaction is not preferential.

Some factors the court may consider in its analysis of this defense include the prior course of dealings between the parties and the amount, timing, and circumstances surrounding the payment. Under the new-value defense, the practical result is that the preference amount is reduced by the amount of new value provided by the creditor following the payment in question. For example, the soon-to-be bankrupt company makes a payment to the creditor of $5,000 on June 1 for goods delivered 30 days prior. Subsequently, on June 15, the creditor delivers another $2,000 worth of goods before the company files Chapter 11 on June 30. The preference amount would rightfully be reduced to $3,000.

This summary of the law is intended to provide a rudimentary understanding of the concepts at play. It goes without saying that any creditor faced with a preference lawsuit should immediately seek the advice of experienced counsel who understands the ins and outs of complex bankruptcy law.

L. Alexandra (Alex) Hogan is an associate with the Springfield-based form Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., and concentrates her practice primarily in business, litigation, and bankruptcy law; (413) 737-1131.

One Business to Win ‘Extreme Website Makeover’

Features

There was a time when companies could reach their full potential without an effective website, but those days are long gone.

Unfortunately, website design — done correctly, anyway — costs money, and it takes time and talent to build a marketing or sales strategy around a web presence. For many small but growing businesses in Greater Springfield, extra money and time aren’t easy to come by.

However, one fortunate business or nonprofit will get a major helping hand from the Greater Springfield Extreme Website Makeover, a promotion sponsored by BusinessWest and DIF Design.

“The idea came to me last year,” said Peter Ellis, president of DIF Design, a web-development company based in the City of Homes. “We do a good amount of pro-bono work and in-kind work, especially for nonprofits. I know, through networking connections in the area, that many companies do a good share of that. So I’m always thinking of new ideas — how can we pull together our creativity and make a bigger splash?”

The result is a contest that will grant one winner — both for-profit businesses and nonprofits are eligible — $25,000 worth of web-design and marketing services from DIF Design and four co-sponsors: the Creative Strategy Agency, Christine Parizo Communications, Hadley Printing, and viz-bang! The goal is to help a deserving enterprise raise its online presence and help usher it to the next level.

“The idea is similar to Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, in that we’re pulling together resources,” Ellis said, noting that the companies involved in the project will provide services ranging from copywriting and printing to videography and social-media strategy.

“It’s a collaboration of creative minds in the area,” he added. “So if you can’t afford a website or the services involved, all these people will get a whole project finalized for you; it’s not just designing a website.”

Any business or nonprofit may be nominated, as long as it’s located in the Greater Springfield region and has fewer than 15 employees. In addition, nominees must either have no website, or a site that has not been updated for at least two years.

The nomination form may be found at the contest website, springfieldmakeover.com. The deadine for submissions is Sept. 23.

All nominations will be judged by a panel of independent judges working in different creative and business fields, Ellis explained. “One might have a marketing background, or a website background, or a technological background, and so forth, and some will have business backgrounds. The goal is to announce the winner at the Western Mass. Business Expo in November.”

That event, scheduled for Nov. 6 at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield, is BusinessWest’s premier business-to-business event. The third annual event will feature more than 100 exhibitors, seminars on timely issues, breakfast and lunch programs, and a event-capping networking social.

Ellis noted that he’s pleased to help organize a contest that brings together talent from different fields to benefit a deserving business or nonprofit.

“Collectively, I know we can make a bigger impact,” he said. “The hope is to do this annually — not only to promote collaboration between local creative businesses, but to give back to the community by giving someone an opportunity they might not otherwise have.”

— Joseph Bednar

Setting the PACE

Elder Care Sections

Mercy Life Aims to Keep Seniors in Their Homes

Senior citizens with health needs have plenty of options, running the gamut from home care to assisted living to nursing-home care.

But what about individuals who are struggling at home alone, but feel they’re not quite ready for residential care?

For such people, PACE — Medicaid’s Program of All-inclusive Care for the Elderly — could fill the gap.

“PACE is a program that’s designed for folks who would normally be living in a nursing home long-term, and provides everything they need to keep them at home,” said Joseph Larkin, executive director of Mercy Life, the PACE program recently established by the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS).

“The overall goal of PACE is to align the financial incentives of the PACE organization with the patient’s life goals — namely, to stay home and stay as independent as they possibly can be,” he explained, adding that the program relies on lower-cost preventive care to avoid higher-cost inpatient care. “The idea is to spend more money on preventive things and thereby avoid more expensive medication, hospital stays, and nursing-home placement.”

SPHS envisions Mercy Life — which will be housed, along with Mercy Home Care and Mercy Hospice, at the former Brightside for Children and Families campus in Holyoke — as a bustling facility, staffed by a host of medical professionals, where seniors can go to meet basic wellness needs. At the same time, PACE also provides in-home care when necessary.

Simply put, PACE programs serve individuals with long-term-care needs by providing access to the entire continuum of health services — preventive, primary, acute, long-term, and end-of-life care included. The model is centered around the concept that it’s better for the well-being of elders with chronic-care needs, and their families — to be served in the community whenever possible.

“PACE is a niche program,” Larkin said. “People who are doing well with home care or visiting nurses, or doing well with traditional adult day health programs, those aren’t necessarily good PACE enrollees.” On the other hand, people who find their needs aren’t fully met by such programs, yet don’t necessarily need to be in nursing-home care, are more likely to thrive in PACE.

Joe Larkin (right, with Chris McLaughlin) says Mercy Life will provide services both on site in Holyoke and in clients’ homes in an effort to keep them healthy and independent.

Christopher McLaughin, chief operating officer of the Mercy Continuing Care Network — which boasts a number of independent-living, assisted-living, and skilled-nursing facilities, as well as home-care, hospice, and adult day programs — says Mercy Life will fit well in that continuum when it opens later this year. “This gives seniors new options they have not previously had.”

Team Approach

Larkin noted that enrollment is open to anyone 55 or older who lives in the service area of a PACE organization, and who is also screened by Medicaid and determined to be eligible for nursing-home placement. An open house for Mercy Life coincided with a groundbreaking ceremony on June 17.

“People who enroll assign their Medicare and Medicaid benefits to PACE,” he said, “and the PACE organization provides everything they need, from hospitalizations to primary care to medications to help in the home — home modifications, pretty much anything the organization thinks makes sense to help people stay in their homes.”

Each client is typically served by an interdisciplinary team made up of a primary-care physician, the PACE center manager, a nurse, a social worker, a physical and/or occupational therapist, a home-care coordinator, a pharmacist, a dietitian, a transportation manager, a personal-care attendant, and other caregivers as appropriate.

If that sounds a lot like an accountable-care organization, it should, Larkin said, noting that PACE program fits well into the growing ACO movement in the healthcare industry, in which patient care is overseen by a similarly diverse group of providers.

The difference — and it’s a significant one — is who makes coverage decisions. While an ACO is still bound by payment limitations, PACE has none. In short, because the organization serves as both provider and insurer, the care team decides not only what services the patient needs, but which ones to pay for. There is no fee-for-service concept, as PACE takes on all the risk.

“That’s a huge difference from everything else; there’s not anything else I know of where that’s the case,” Larkin said, adding that PACE programs rely on a small-scale model of care, so enrollment is limited. “Once you get over 100, 120 patients, it’s harder. You need to know these people intimately to know what’s going to work for them. If you don’t, you underserve them, and they fail, or you overserve them, and PACE goes out of business. So it’s a real balancing act, and you have to know your patients well in order to strike that balance.”

But he emphasized that PACE does not scrimp on preventive services, which have been proven to save money over time. “Many times, the PACE organization pays for things that other insurance companies won’t pay for,” he noted, citing the example of a client whose dog’s flea dip was covered, because dealing with the health effects of fleas in the house would have been more expensive.

“The organization gets really creative in terms of what they do for people,” Larkin said. “They decide what is covered for each participant; there aren’t decision politics like you typically have with insurance. Decisions about what they pay for are made on a case-by-case, individual basis.”

To qualify, clients must dis-enroll from any managed-care programs and must meet Medicaid financial eligibility, or pay privately for that portion. They may also dis-enroll from PACE at any time, and PACE coordinates their insurance reinstatement.

Day and Night

During the day, Mercy Life will feature a host of wellness activities and morning and lunchtime meals, as well as offering treatments ranging from infusions to complex dressings, as well as routine medical appointments with doctors and nurses. “On average, people come to a PACE center 2.2 times per week — some every day, and some once a month,” Larkin said.

And sick people are welcome, he noted. “In adult day care, if you’re not feeling well, they tend to ask you to stay home. In PACE, if you’re not feeling well, that’s all the more reason to come in; they want to see you, to be able to help you.” In many cases, he added, “aides will go into the home, help people wash up, and bring them to the center.”

Indeed, “PACE also provides a lot of services in the home, as well as transportation,” Larkin said, adding that drivers often serve a critical role in observing and reporting clients’ unmet needs. And the level of services can change often; “there are no hard and fast rules, so it’s a negotiated process.”

PACE is not hospice care, he emphasized, but it’s a better fit for people who are focusing more on quality of life than for individuals who demand copious medical tests and workups for every physical symptom that arises. “It does tend to be people in the last four, five, six years of life who have made a decision to take this different approach. Having said that, there’s no limit to how long you can be with PACE.”

Clients are typically referred to PACE programs from a variety of sources, including healthcare providers, discharge materials, marketing materials, and word of mouth. “Some are people who have been calling their doctor with vague, non-specific complaints, and they’re lonely and scared,” Larkin said.

“Once people in a community get to know PACE, a lot of providers embrace it. It’s an opportunity to help those people providers know they’re not able to help anymore” in their current living situation, he added. “It’s an alternative to nursing-home placements for people who, if they just had a little more help, they could go on living in their own homes, where existing programs are not enough to fill that gap.”

Currently, Larkin said, there are 92 PACE organizations throughout the U.S., serving just over 200,000 people. “It actually started in the 1970s in San Francisco, where it was called On Lok,” he explained. “They did it as a charity, and then PACE regulations were developed, and by the ’90s, we started to see other PACE organizations. It’s really catch as catch can where you see PACE programs; there are six in Massachusetts, but none in Connecticut.”

McLaughlin said the Sisters of Providence — with its 140 years of local history — sees itself as a critical provider of senior care. Meanwhile, “our corporate parent, Catholic Health East, is the largest single provider of PACE programs in the country, so we had corporate support for this,” he added.

“When we think about this program, we think it complements other services we hold near and dear to us,” McLaughlin told BusinessWest, while also reflecting the Sisters’ philosophical emphasis on the dignity of the individual and the “spark of the divine” in each client.

“We feel this program does a really nice job providing services to people where they need it and respects their desire to live at home,” he said. “Basically, it allows them to live the fullest and most enriching type of life they can.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

A Social Connection

Elder Care Sections

Adult Day Health Spa Offers Elders, Caregivers a Healthy Option

Sheryl Fappiano says Golden Moments provides social and wellness services seniors need while giving their caregivers a measure of freedom.

When Shelley Parker and her husband, Jonathan Gottsche, took Parker’s elderly father into their home in Northampton last summer, it was a life-altering experience for all three.

A World War II Air Force veteran, the elder Parker had a two-year wait for placement in the Soldiers Home in Holyoke, a facility where all felt he would be comfortable for his remaining days, surrounded by other veterans. So the decision was made to make Parker’s and Gottsche’s home a bridge to that institution.

Richard Parker was 87 at the time and showing many symptoms of dementia, the same signs that other members of the family had shown in the past. Shelley already knew what to expect, which would be eventual 24/7 care for her father, and the loss of freedom for her and her retired husband.

“I’d always considered myself a planner, and I did plan; I prepared the healthcare proxy, the living will, the power of attorney,” said Parker. “But I didn’t plan for the time in which my father would be living.”

And that is the lesson that Parker and her husband learned in just a few short months by having her father with them.

“Planning ahead is really key,” Parker went on, “because we learned very quickly that there was only so much we could do to keep him busy every day that first four months.

“And with the winter coming, we said, ‘OK, this isn’t going to work for very long; ‘somebody’ isn’t going to make it for these two years,’” Parker continued with a laugh, referring to the buildup of stress and anger among husbands and wives that is common when taking on an elder parent full-time.

What changed the equation for the caregivers and the elder Parker is an option that is becoming increasingly popular due to the growing numbers of family members caring for elderly parents.

It’s called ‘adult day care,’ and BusinessWest spoke with one such company that is adding some new and effective wrinkles to that concept.

The venture is called Golden Moments Adult Day Health Spa, which offers structured programs featuring more attentive and customized services than the typical senior center for those who are frail or suffering from dementia, and some unique offerings as well, from massage to Reiki, that explain the word ‘spa’ in the company’s name.

In doing so, it has given new meaning to the elder Parker’s life, and new freedom to his his younger caregivers.

Golden Moments is the creation of Sheryl Fappiano, a licensed social worker and care-management-certified geriatric-care manager, whose mission is to see elders remain safe in their homes — or their adult children’s homes — for as long as possible. She puts her skills to work to fashion a unique environment where seniors can socialize and remain active, physically and mentally.

Her parent company, a geriatric-care management and consulting firm, Elder Care Access LLC, just celebrated 10 years in business, providing alternatives for working families with elders that need to be safe, and feel safe, wherever home may be.

Over the years, Fappiano saw a need to go a step further than consulting through Elder Care Access and provide a physical place that would allow elders with a range of physical, mental, and social needs to go to during the day, which would in turn give caregivers their own freedom. And she also knew that a social fix for an elder would also be more desirable than living alone or with family, which could become unsafe at any point, or incurring the exorbitant costs of home care or an elder facility.

For this issue and its focus on senior living, BusinessWest visited Golden Moments to learn more about this emerging concept in elder care, and how Fappiano and her staff are adding new dimensions in service to seniors.

Home Away From Home

During the time that Elder Care Access has grown and evolved, Fappiano, who has been in the geriatric-care industry for two decades, has witnessed a somewhat disturbing trend involving caregivers and the frustration and burnout experienced by that constituency.

“I started doing a lot of work with protective services with Highland Valley Elder Services [a Northampton-area agency on aging], and its department is just swamped with people [seniors] who are being abused, neglected, and sometimes financially exploited for one reason or another, and need oversight,” Fappiano told BusinessWest, adding that it was her job to go into such situations, provide support, offer solutions and resources for both the senior and the caregiver, and monitor the situation.

And it was while doing so that she determined that a cutting-edge form of adult day care could be an effective answer for those on both sides of this equation. So she went about making this latest entrepreneurial urge a reality.

Just over a year ago, she and her husband acquired space in the Florence Medical Center building and opened Golden Moments Adult Day Health Spa, a rather long name, chosen because it accurately conveys all that goes on there.

The facility now boasts more than 20 clients, who attend anywhere from three to nine hours, one to five days a week. The service, which ranges in cost from $45 to $85 per day, is paid for by the client or family, or may be covered by long-term-care insurance. In any case, the cost is significantly less than for other elder alternatives, such as assisted living or home care.

“Not only do both parties do better on every level, but the cost is less than half what it would be to live in an assisted-living or nursing home,” said Fappiano, noting that 24/7 care at home with an agency costs more than $500 dollars per day, even more than a nursing home, which runs about $300 a day, or $9,000 to $10,000 a month.

Parker began her research online for a solution to her father’s care needs, but found Golden Moments through word-of-mouth referrals first.

She and her husband visited several adult day-care facilities in the Pioneer Valley, but determined that Golden Moments offered the best overall fit for all those concerned, especially her father.

While the Florence Medical Center building itself is fairly sterile in appearance, with its concrete walls, Golden Moments projects a warm, inviting look and feel.

The main room, with its flickering fireplace, multiple plush couches, and numerous interactive games like bowling, beanbag toss, and board games, resembles a typical American living room. Meanwhile, the open back room has large sunny windows, and is a gathering place for lunches, card games, storytelling, and interactive word trivia that Fappiano and her six employees say helps clients with memory retention.

But aside from all the fun and games, there is the primary prescription for elder depression that is the key to the adult day-care concept.

“It’s totally the socialization — it helps with depression, anxiety … it’s huge,” said Fappiano, adding that this element to elder care is often missing in the traditional caregiver situation.

Elaborating, she said that when she consults in clients’ homes for her Elder Care Access company, she will often find caregivers leaving the elder client to eat alone in their dining room or kitchen, while the caregiver busies themselves with some other chore.

“I would tell them they have to sit, eat with them, talk with the elder client,” said Fappiano. “But it is hard being with the same person for hour after hour, and they do run out of things to say and do.”

This problem doesn’t generally exist at Golden Moments, she went on, because clients have many comtemporaries with whom to talk and interact, and there are different faces on most days.

As if on cue, another client arrived at Golden Moments, dropped off by an adult child who offered an obvious smile of relief.

“Top of the morning to you,” Fappiano cheerily said to her client, who genuinely broke out into a wide smile and returned the greeting in an Irish brogue. As the client, who is near 90, passed by slowly leaning on his cane, he joined his friends in the back room, much as a young boy would join his friends in school.

In fact, Fappiano said the first time a caregiver, which is usually the adult child, drops off an elder client, it’s like dropping off a child at their first day of kindergarten.

“We give everybody a free, three-hour trial, and in the beginning, when the caregiver drops them off, they have that look in their eye, and I tell them, ‘a quick exit is better; trust me when I say they’ll be OK. Give me your cell number, and I’ll call if I have to.’”

The feeling for the elder client can be similar to a small child in kindergarten as well, but they soon adjust to a new way of life. In fact, Fappiano has never had a potential client not return for weekly visits.

Vicky Applebee, office manager at Golden Moments, is not one of the direct-care staff members, but from her point of view, the atmosphere exudes family, for both clients and employees.

“Sometimes, when people first walk in the door, they are lost, unsure, even worried,” she said. “But after a few visits, I see this stress on their faces go away after getting into a new routine; that’s the biggest joy for me.”

Alternative Options

Fappiano said one of the keys to success at Golden Moments is knowing and fully understanding each client’s needs, capabilities, limits, and expectations, and then personalizing care to reflect all this data.

A comparatively low client-to-staff ratio (5 to 1 is generally the norm) enables the facility to tailor exercises and programs to suit each individual’s needs, rather than implement something approximating one size fits all. This is one operating philosophy that appealed to Parker as she sought a solution to her father’s needs, and one that differentiates the facility from others she visited.

“If they were taking a walk outside and one of the people could only walk a few feet, then that’s all everyone would walk that day,” she said, referring to one facility she toured. “I said, ‘no, that doesn’t work for me; if my father wants to walk a mile, he should be able to walk a mile.’”

Golden Moments has an LPN or RN on duty a few times a week to take vitals, work with stroke patients and other clients with specific needs, and administer medications, injections, and wound care as ordered by a primary-care physician.

In addition to regular activities involving socialization, such as memory word games, singing, special outings, and physical exercises, Fappiano is integrating more spiritual and “energy-related” alternative treatments that are more commonly found in the typical health spa.

Some alternative treatments and healing modalities include massage (also available for caregivers), Reiki, foot care by a holistic foot nurse, weekly pet therapy, sound and aromatherapy, and meditation.

But she’s finding some generational kickback.

“Those in their 90s, they don’t tolerate it so much; they just don’t understand the whole pampering thing,” Fappiano explained. “The younger ones … they get it, and we do meditation together.”

But Fappiano knows that a very open-minded group of aging Baby Boomers is headed her way, and Golden Moments is prepared to accept them when they’re ready.

The overall feeling in Golden Moments, she noted, is one of family from the minute a client or staff member walks into the room.

“Everyone is smiling around here … not sometimes, but every day,” said Applebee. “It’s a happy place, even with the struggles some might have at home, because caregivers get a much-needed break, and their loved ones are safe, staying active, and socializing.”

For Parker and her husband, the decision to bring her father into their home is, by all accounts, working, but basically because this unique adult day-care facility provides both client and caregiver what they need most — socialization and room to breathe, respectively.

“People [caregivers] say they have no time for themselves; they’re too busy,” she noted. “And I just see that, if they don’t figure out how to make things work, these situations could destroy relationships and families. My father is here, and this is allowing me to have my life, too.”

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

2013 Midyear Tax Planning

Columns Sections

Taking Steps Now Can Lessen Your Tax Burden for 2013

Jim Barrett

It may seem that you just filed or extended your 2012 tax return, but it isn’t too early to start planning for your 2013 return. There have been significant changes in tax law recently, so to avoid unpleasant and costly surprises, it makes more sense than ever to take a midyear look at your tax situation.

Even before the first dollar of income or deduction hits your return, be aware of the listed personal information, including Social Security numbers. Tax fraud through the use of identity theft tops the IRS 2013 list of tax scams. Tax returns and tax information should be safeguarded.

Shredding is the recommended means for disposing of unneeded records and returns. Keep in mind also that the IRS does not initiate contact with taxpayers by e-mail to request personal or financial information, so don’t be a victim of a phishing scam.

If you are on the move, notify the IRS of your change of address. For name changes because of marriage or divorce, for example, be sure to notify your local Social Security Administration office.

A number of new tax provisions referred to below apply at various thresholds, including certain levels of wages and self-employment income, adjusted gross income, and overall taxable income. Watch for the break points that might put you in a higher tax bracket or limit your deductions.

Tax planning to reduce income and/or consolidate deductions may avoid various limitations in the tax law. Contributing to qualified retirement plans, deferring income, investing for tax-exempt income, and grouping deductions into 2013 are just some of the midyear planning opportunities that could reduce your taxes. The new thresholds aren’t consistent through the various limitations, so it’s more important than ever to perform calculations to determine the best strategies.

Shifting income and future appreciation from investments to family members by means of gifting may be a tax-planning opportunity. For gift-tax purposes, the annual exclusion in 2013 has been increased from $13,000 to $14,000. Each year, this amount may be given to each of any number of recipients with no tax consequences.

In addition, the estate, gift, and generation-skipping transfer tax has been permanently set at a top rate of 40%, with a $5.25 million exemption for total lifetime gifts or for estates of decedents dying in 2013. However, when dependent children are still under 19, or under 24 while full-time students, the so-called ‘kiddie tax’ applies the parents’ tax rate to the children’s investment income in excess of $2,000 for 2013. That may reduce in the short term the income-tax benefit of shifting income.

Personal Income

First off, check your 2013 income-tax withholding or 2013 estimated tax payments, particularly if you receive self-employment income. An underpayment penalty will apply on April 15, 2014, if your 2013 withholding and estimated tax payments do not equal at least 90% of your 2013 total tax.

Other exceptions apply based on your prior-year tax. If your estimates equal or exceed 100% of your 2012 total tax (110% if your 2012 adjusted gross income exceeded $150,000), the penalty will not apply.

Be sure to report all of your income. The IRS is watching for unreported offshore bank accounts and brokerage accounts. There is nothing wrong with international investments, but all of the related income must be reported on Form 1040, and information about foreign accounts must be separately reported on Form TD F 90-22.1.

Starting in 2013, an additional 0.9% Medicare tax is being applied to wages and self-employment income for those whose earnings exceed certain thresholds:

• For single taxpayers, the tax applies to wages and self-employment income exceeding $200,000.

• For married taxpayers filing joint returns, the tax applies to wages and self-employment income on joint income exceeding $250,000.

Employers may not withhold this new tax if individual wages do not exceed the threshold. But if joint wages exceed the threshold, a tax underpayment may result if the new tax is not considered in estimated tax requirements.

Beginning in 2013, the top rate on dividend income and long-term capital gains has increased from 15% to 20% for taxable income in excess of $400,000 for single taxpayers and $450,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly.

In addition, the new 3.8% Medicare tax on net investment income will apply. Net investment income includes income from passive activities, so there may be an opportunity to take another look at your businesses and consider their classification, grouping elections, tax basis in these entities, etc., to help minimize this tax.

The application of the new 3.8% tax starts at adjusted gross income of $200,000 for single taxpayers and $250,000 for married taxpayers filing jointly. Consequently, for these higher-income individuals, a combined top tax of 23.8% on dividends and long-term capital gains can apply.

Reducing long-term capital-gain income by selling capital-loss investments to offset the capital gain is a tax-planning opportunity, resulting in a lower overall gain subject to tax. For taxpayers with taxable income (including capital gain and dividend income) of up to $72,500, the capital gain and dividend income is taxed at a 0% rate. In addition, the 15% rate applies at lower levels of taxable income. Therefore, planning techniques to shift income or deductions between years could affect the rate at which your capital gain and dividend income are taxed.

Other tax-planning opportunities to reduce the new 3.8% tax include:

• Investing in tax-free municipal bonds;

• Reducing investment income subject to tax with investment expenses and account-maintenance fees;

• Avoiding the tax with qualified plan contributions;

• Deferring the tax with installment sales and like-kind exchanges; and

• Grouping passive partnership profit-and-loss investments to minimize overall passive income subject to the tax.

Business Income

Several business provisions in the tax law are available only through 2013. For this reason, it may be prudent to plan to use them by the end of the year. They include:

• Section 179 expensing of up to $500,000 of new or used equipment when total fixed asset additions do not exceed $2 million for the year;

• Lesser expensing is available when fixed-asset additions exceed $2 million but are less than $2.5 million;

• No deduction is available when fixed asset additions equal or exceed $2.5 million;

• A 50% bonus depreciation on new equipment;

• A 15-year rather than a 39-year cost recovery on qualified leasehold improvements and restaurant and retail assets;

• Research and development credits; and

• The Work Opportunity Tax Credit.

Midyear and year-end planning may be especially important for Section 179 expensing, which is scheduled to drop from $500,000 in 2013 to $25,000 in 2014, and for bonus depreciation, which is scheduled to expire totally after year end.

Starting in 2013, taxpayers may deduct $5 per square foot of office space, up to 300 square feet, annually for as much as $1,500 in deductions in computing deductible expenses for a home office in lieu of actual expenses. While simplifying record keeping, a larger deduction might be computed on actual expenses. A home-office deduction generally is allowed only when a portion of a home is used as the principal place of business and exclusively for business — not just as a convenience for bringing work home.

Deductions from Gross Income

Certain deductions from gross income have been extended only through the end of the year, so it may be prudent to begin identifying opportunities to take advantage of those tax breaks. Among the provisions are:

• Deduction of up to $250 for K-12 teachers’ expenses; and

• Deduction of up to $4,000 of tuition and related expenses (limited at higher income levels).

Some of these deductions may not be available for taxpayers at various levels of higher income.

Retirement Savings

In a typical qualified retirement plan, a tax deduction is allowed when contributions are made to the plan, and future distributions are taxable. For a Roth IRA, no deduction is allowed for contributions, but distributions of original contributions and income are tax-free.

Last year, a qualified retirement plan could allow participants to contribute to a Roth account. Plans also could allow participants to convert pre-tax accounts to Roth accounts, but only for amounts participants had a right to withdraw, usually because they were at least 59 1/2.

Starting in 2013, any amount in a non-Roth account can be rolled over to a Roth account in the same employer plan, whether or not the participant is 59 1/2. The conversion is subject to regular income tax but not an early distribution penalty.

Personal Exemptions

Each taxpayer and dependent in a tax return is allowed a personal exemption of $3,900, which reduces taxable income and the related income tax. A limitation that was in the tax law several years ago has been resurrected in 2013. For single taxpayers with more than $250,000 of adjusted gross income and married taxpayers filing joint returns with adjusted gross income over $300,000, the amount of each personal exemption is reduced, causing an increase in total tax.

Personal exemptions are completely phased out at adjusted gross income of $372,501 for single taxpayers and $422,501 for married taxpayers filing joint returns. Tax planning that reduces taxable income may have the added benefit of preserving more of the personal exemptions.

Itemized Deductions

The total amount of itemized deductions — frequently consisting of state income taxes, real-estate taxes, mortgage interest expense, and charitable contributions — is reduced for single taxpayers with more than $250,000 in adjusted gross income and married taxpayers filing joint returns with adjusted gross income in excess of $300,000. A taxpayer may not lose more than 80% of itemized deductions.

State Taxes

Midyear and year-end tax projections are especially important for state taxes. Just like the IRS, states generally impose withholding and estimated-tax requirements, and they charge underpayment penalties if sufficient payments are not made during the year.

State taxes are deductible in computing federal income tax, but the timing of payments may be important. One tax-planning strategy is to prepay by Dec. 31, 2013 state-tax estimates (due in January 2014) and projected balances (due on April 15, 2014) to accelerate deductions into 2013.

However, this strategy is not beneficial for a year in which you are paying the alternative minimum tax, since the AMT doesn’t allow deductions for taxes, including state income taxes. If this sounds complicated, that’s because it is. A tax projection is the best way to approach this issue.

Charitable Contributions

A number of natural disasters have already occurred this year. Unfortunately, disasters bring out scam artists who impersonate charities to obtain money or private information under false pretenses. Be sure to verify charitable organizations before sending a check or providing a credit-card number.

Now is the time to document charitable contributions made so far this year. Receipts or canceled checks are required for donations of up to $250, and a separate acknowledgment letter from the charity is required for contributions of $250 or more. The acknowledgment letter must state whether any goods or services were provided to you by the charity.

Only your contribution in excess of the fair market value of anything you received is deductible. For example, if you buy a $250 ticket to a charity ball and a dinner valued by the charity at $75 is served, the excess payment of $175 is tax-deductible.

With an increase in the capital-gains tax from 15% to 20% this year for higher-income taxpayers, it may be advantageous to contribute appreciated stocks held longer than one year directly to a charity. In that case, the full, fair-market value of the contribution would be deductible, but the related capital gain is not subject to tax.

A transfer of IRA assets directly to a charity is also permitted through the end of the year. No charitable deduction is allowed because a deduction was permitted when the IRA originally was funded. However, the transfer is not a taxable distribution from the account, yet it fulfills the obligation of the required minimum distribution for taxpayers over age 70 1/2.

Tax Rates

The so-called Bush tax cuts have been extended permanently for most taxpayers, avoiding an increase in all tax brackets. But the top rate has increased from 35% to 39.6% for single taxpayers with more than $400,000 in taxable income and for married taxpayers filing a joint return with more than $450,000 in taxable income.

Coupled with the new 3.8% tax on net investment income and the expanded 0.9% Medicare tax, tax planning is an important midyear exercise, especially for higher-income taxpayers. However, midyear tax planning is important for all taxpayers who want to reduce their tax liability and avoid surprises at tax-return filing time.

Credits

The dependent care credit for children under 13 has been permanently extended. Eligible expenses of up to $3,000 for one child and up to $6,000 for two or more children are allowed.

The credit is reduced from 35% to 20% when adjusted gross income exceeds $43,000. A planning opportunity exists by first electing up to $5,000 in pre-tax dependent care during open enrollment in employee benefit plans this fall and then using the dependent-care credits for expenses above that amount.

The child-tax credit has been made permanent. The credit of up to $1,000 per child is available for dependent children under age 17. The credit is reduced and eventually eliminated when adjusted gross income exceeds $75,000 for single taxpayers or $110,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return. Tax planning to reduce adjusted gross income may provide a larger child-tax credit for the year.

The American Opportunity Tax Credit for college costs has been extended for five years through 2017. A credit of up to $2,500 may be claimed during the first four years of college. The credit phases out for adjusted gross income in excess of $80,000 for single taxpayers and $160,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return.

The $1,500 credit for new windows and doors has expired, but a credit of up to $500 for residential energy property is still available if prior years’ credits were not taken.

Credits in particular are valuable because they reduce taxes dollar-for-dollar, while deductions reduce the amount of income subject to tax.

Conclusion

To benefit from midyear tax planning, a projection of 2013 — and possibly 2014 — income and deductions and income taxes for the year can be performed now and then updated for a final year-end look. Taking some time to plan now can save real tax dollars in 2013 or, at the very least, push taxes to later years.

Contact your CPA to help you plan to take action now to reduce your 2013 tax burden.

James Barrett is managing partner of Meyers Brothers Kalicka in Holyoke; (413) 536-8510; [email protected]

Commercial Real Estate Listings

Commercial Real Estate Sections

Click here to download a PDF of the latest commercial real estate for sale, for lease

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.

Almeida, Eileen Mary

P.O. Box 712

Turners Falls, MA 01376

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Andino, Wendy Ivette

a/k/a Garcia, Wanda Ivette

325 Oakland St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Axt, Jr., Louis A.

Axt, Terry J.

48 Jackson St.

North Adams, MA 01247

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Belanger, Brandy A.

97 Maebeth St.

Springfield, MA 01119

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/17/13

Belanger, Jamie L.

a/k/a Buckland, Jamie L.

19 Bulat Dr.

Springfield, MA 01129

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Bennington Building Company

Bennington, Philip J.

Bennington, Margaret A.

1227 North Orange Road

Athol, MA 01331

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/25/13

Bezares, William

Rosario, Coralie

40 Church St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Bliss, George W.

Bliss, Laurie

84 North Main St., Apt. #1

Belchertown, MA 01007

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

Bliven, Shannon C.

a/k/a Carey, Shannon M.

35 Martin St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Cameron, Lucretia D.

1259 Plumtree Road

Springfield, MA 01119

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/25/13

Ciocca, Nicole M.

a/k/a McNally, Nicole M.

PO Box 473

Belchertown, MA 01007

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Collins, Michael A.

283 Wildermere St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/25/13

Cook, Caroline

a/k/a Garrity, Caroline

P.O. Box 247

Lenox Dale, MA 01242

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/26/13

Cotto, Regina

531 South Summer St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Dafler, Jason L.

P.O. Box 681

Ware, MA 01082

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Dallaire, Sylvain J.

18 Highland Village

Ware, MA 01082

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Desjardins, Nancy E.

32 Rochester St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/20/13

Fairfield, David E.

56 New Road

Pittsfield, MA 01201

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/21/13

Field, John R.

13 Murray St.

Adams, MA 01220

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/25/13

Figueroa, Mildred

257 River St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/21/13

Galbreath, Tiara S.

188 Jasper St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Gurley, Antoinette L.

30 Hight St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Hallums, Johnny R.

791 Armory St.

Springfield, MA 01107

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/26/13

Hernandez, Ramonita

994 Montgomery St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Holcomb, Judith May

12D Colonial Park

Brimfield, MA 01010

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/18/13

Hosking, Ana L.

367 St. James Ave.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

Ingram, Mary M.

16 Moore St., Apt. 1

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

Kratovil, Susan M.

94 Kensington St.

Feeding Hills, MA 01030

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/17/13

Kreuser, Belinda A.

38 Rich St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/25/13

LeBlanc, Tracey Turner

10 Crescent St.

Millers Falls, MA 01349

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

McElligott, Sean Patrick

McElligott, Amy Leigh

PO Box 336

Goshen, MA 01032

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/21/13

McMillan, Albert P.

842 East St.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/21/13

Miranda, Maritza

336 Springfield Road

Belchertown, MA 01007

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Moore, Pamela Jean

a/k/a Gouvan, Pamela Jean

a/k/a Tetrault, Pamela Jean

16 Stanley Place

Agawam, MA 01001

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/20/13

Nascimento, Gisele C.

a/k/a Afonso, Gisele C.

44 Burns Ave.

Springfield, MA 01119

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

O’Connell, Audrey N.

c/o Jewish Family Service

15 Lenox St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Pena, Luis E.

Pena, Deborah I.

61 Ashley St., 1st Fl.

Springfield, MA 01105

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Perez, Felix

P.O. Box 6352

Holyoke, MA 01041

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

Quinton, Jr., Thomas J.

58 Langlois Ave.

Williamstown, MA 01267

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/25/13

Ruiz, Angel M.

a/k/a Ruiz Perez, Angel M.

Rosado, Maria A.

a/k/a Ruiz, Maria A.

38 Fox Woods Dr.

Springfield, MA 01129

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/26/13

Salazar, Max

Salazar, Mercedes

130 Malden St., Apt. 2

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Sanders, Richard H.

Sanders, Evelyn

11 Calvin St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/17/13

Santiago, Javier C.

39 Wait St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Scyocurka, Michael F.

Scyocurka, Carolyn

212 Clearwater Circle

Ludlow, MA 01056

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/17/13

Serna, Hernan

Serna, Ana D.

84 Sylvan St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/19/13

Smith, Shelly-Ann

163 Bristol St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/26/13

Smith, Thomas W.

Granger, Lisa

16 Coolidge Ave.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/25/13

Sousa, Carrie E.

97 Ohio Ave.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Strom, Kristian Wayne

670b Haydenville Road

Leeds, MA 01053

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

Tetreault, Joseph C.

650 Beaulieu St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/17/13

Thompson, Jacqueline Regina

326 A Main St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/24/13

Thompson, Robin L.

74 Village Park Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/28/13

Walker, Christopher P.

Walker, Parthena

51 Garden St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/26/13

Williams, Barbara J.

1192 Bay St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Chapter: 13

Filing Date: 06/21/13

Zucco, Kathryn E.

39 D Meadow St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Chapter: 7

Filing Date: 06/27/13

Doing Business as Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of and July 2013.

AGAWAM

Air Tatts

68 North Alhambra Circle

Ronald Roux

Blue Reis Pizza Restaurant

365 Walnut St.

Kamran Muradov

New England Stucco

15 Silver Lake Dr.

Eugene Ivanchenko

CHICOPEE

Birch Pond Farm

1709 Center St.

Marcy Reed

Brothers Home Improvement

22 Artisan St.

Steven Blanchett

Ehhas For Trade

660 Broadway St.

Esam Wahhas

Forbes Testing Labs

563 Center St.

Stephen Niec

Honeyland Farms

206 Newbury St.

Aftab A. Abari

Mr. Home

74 Cislak Dr.

Bill Sweeney

Soft Touch Autowash

1469 Granby Road

Joseph Larivee

GREENFIELD

Alliance ATM

13 Cedar St.

John Michelson

Kali B’s Wings & Things

76 French King Highway

Laurie Ellis

HOLYOKE

Dairy Market

1552 Dwight St.

Sagheer Nawaz

DJC Engineering

14 Ross Road

Daniel Cavanaugh

Nutricion Vibrante

343 High St.

Shawn Duncan

PALMER

Antique Junction

1294 South Main St.

Robin Lamothe

Beads of a Lifetime

1087 South Main St.

Chase Pelletier

Blue Bird Inc.

2004 Main St.

Malik Saghir

Kim’s Hair Care

2066 Main St.

Kimberly King

Paramount Pizza 3

1620 North Main St.

Ali Balak

S & S Food Mart

1520 North Main St.

Syed W. Hashmi

Tailgate Tavern

102 Central St.

Tim Burke

SOUTHWICK

Fair Shake

36 South Loomis St.

Matthew Frailey

Spotlight Graphics

9 Whalley Way

Diane Demarco

Valley Remodeling

79 Sam West Road

John Rock Jr.

SPRINGFIELD

Coamo Restaurant

2550 Main St.

Anibal Colon

Com-Wealth, LLC

36 Garland St.

Raymond L. Berry

Deranged Mindz Entertainment

1139 Sumner Ave.

Hector Emilio

Ecott Systems

177 Winton St.

Oliver F. Wallace

FT Pleasant Convenience

102 Fort Pleasant Ave.

Akif A. Khan

Grab Distributor

30 Cortland St.

Richard Lopez

Grit and Guts

146 Powell Ave.

Darby McLaughlin

The Creative Strategy Age

1350 Main St.

Alfonso Santaniello

WESTFIELD

Kings Cleaner

282 Southampton Road

Nham S. Yi

Paul’s Barber Shop

263 Elm St.

James L. Ahearn

Sean & Mari Photography

71 Steiger Dr.

Sean M. Fitzgerald

SI Map

71 Steiger Dr.

Sean M. Fitzgerald

Sweet Reveal

1 Overlook Dr.

Carla Kone

Two Rivers Burrito Company

36 Elm St.

Joseph Wynn

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Applied Software Technology

59 Interstate Dr.

Edward R. Garibian

ARS Restoration Specialists

480 St. James Ave.

Richard Piltch

Auntie Cathie’s Kitchen

217 Elm St.

Catherine A. Albrecht

Good Hands Construction

43 Belle Ave.

Viktor Krashov

RC Cleaning Services

261 Circle Dr.

Christine Corey

Willy Wheels

811 Memorial Ave.

William Bayton

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

Springfield Voters OK MGM Proposal

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield voters went to the polls on July 16 and endorsed an $800 million casino proposal by MGM Resorts International. Voters supported the MGM plan by a vote of 13,973 to 10,260, with roughly 25% of registered voters turning out. MGM now moves to the next phase of the competition for the lone Western Mass. casino license — review by the Mass. Gaming Commission. The commission’s votes on licenses for three regions — Western Mass., Eastern Mass., and the southeastern part of the state — are expected in early 2014. MGM plans to build in the tornado-damaged South End neighborhood — more specifically, a multi-block area between State and Union streets, Main Street, and East Columbus Avenue.

West Springfield Voters to Consider Casino Question on Sept. 10

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The West Springfield Town Council voted unanimously to set Sept. 10 as the date for a referendum on Hard Rock Hotel & Casino New England’s proposal to build an $800 million casino project near the Big E. Many of the 60 onlookers at the vote wore T-shirts reading “Westside Support Hard Rock, Yes.” One council member was absent. Hard Rock would like to construct a destination resort casino project on 38 acres on the Eastern States Exposition campus off Memorial Avenue. Plans include a 12-story hotel, a Hard Rock Café, and a parking deck. Hard Rock has also taken out options to buy property along Circuit Avenue to use for additional parking. West Springfield voters must approve the project for it to move ahead. The Massachusetts Gaming Commission may authorize up to three casinos in the state, with one slated for Western Mass. In another recent vote, Springfield voters approved the project proposed by MGM Resorts International to build a casino in the city’s South End.

PVPC ‘State of the People’ Report Receives Award

SPRINGFIELD — The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission has been selected as the recipient of the 2013 Medium Metro General Achievement Award by the National Association of Regional Councils (NARC). PVPC received the award in June at NARC’s 47th annual conference and exhibition in Philadelphia. The award recognizes the 10-year update of the “State of the People of the Pioneer Valley” report, which provides simple and familiar images to help evaluate eight categories of health and well-being indicators for the people who live in the region: children and youth; the elderly population; education; health and safety; economic security; housing; civic, arts, and recreation; and the environment. Each indicator is evaluated with a letter grade, and maps are provided to examine equity by comparing communities throughout the region. A unique function of this report is that it evaluates every topic area as well as each individual indicator with a letter grade (A-F), making it easier to quickly get a sense of the trends described by the data. Grades incorporate trends for the region over time, the Pioneer Valley’s comparison to rates statewide, and two measures of equity between the communities within the region. The report is the product of a vibrant working partnership among eight of the major foundations, hospitals, and planning organizations in the Pioneer Valley, including the Beveridge Family Foundation Inc., the Community Foundation of Western Mass., Cooley Dickinson Hospital, the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, Partners for a Healthier Community Inc., the United Way of Hampshire County, and the United Way of Pioneer Valley. “This expansive collaboration is the result of many regional partners coming together with the goal of having available good, accessible, and easy-to-comprehend data about the trends in our region,” said PVPC Executive Director Timothy Brennan. “The hope is that this data will help drive strategic decision making for funding, planning, and service organizations, and that having a shared understanding of the state of our people will give us a shared sense of goals for our region.” The National Assoc. of Regional Councils (NARC) serves as a national voice for regionalism by advocating for regional cooperation as the most effective way to address a variety of community planning and development opportunities and issues. In service to this mission, the NARC General Achievement Awards recognize excellence in programs and services of regional councils and metropolitan planning organizations across the U.S., thereby contributing to better and more efficient government. In past years, PVPC has submitted successful NARC annual award nominations for Valley Vision 2, the regional land-use plan for the Pioneer Valley region (in 2008); for the Plan for Progress, the region’s economic-development plan (in 2005); and on behalf of the Mass. Assoc. of Regional Councils, of which PVPC is a member (in 2004). The 2013 “State of the People” report is available at www.pvpc.org/stateofthepeople.

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

Baystate Recognized by U.S. News & World Report

SPRINGFIELD — Baystate Medical Center has been named a “top hospital” — the third-best hospital in Massachusetts — in U.S. News & World Report’s 24th annual “Best Hospitals” ranking, recognizing hospitals that excel in treating patients who need an especially high level of care. U.S. News & World Report ranks up to 50 hospitals in each of 16 medical specialties. Only 147 out of nearly 5,000 U.S. hospitals earned national ranking in one or more of the specialties. Baystate Medical Center’s ranking, up from fifth-best hospital in last year’s Best Hospitals report, is a testament to the hard work and dedication of all Baystate employees in making quality and patient safety second to none, noted Dr. Evan Benjamin, senior vice president, Healthcare Quality, Baystate Health. “What our high ranking means for patients is that Baystate Medical Center is recognized nationally as one of the safest hospitals in the country in terms of outcomes and avoiding serious medical errors. This latest honor is just one of many national awards and recognitions Baystate Medical Center has received over the past years for its high quality of care. Providing world-class healthcare close to home in Western Mass. not only represents the fulfillment of our mission, it also helps to keep our Pioneer Valley community strong in terms of our overall health, economy, and quality of life.” Baystate Medical Center was ranked nationally in diabetes and endocrinology (29th), ear, nose, and throat (26th), and pulmonology (42nd). The hospital also was recognized as “high-performing” in cancer, cardiology and heart surgery, gastroenterology and GI surgery, geriatrics, gynecology, nephrology, neurology and neurosurgery, orthopedics, and urology. “The mission of Best Hospitals is to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face a particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age,” said Avery Comarow, U.S. News Health Rankings editor. “Patient survival and safety data, the adequacy of nurse-staffing levels, and other objective data largely determined the rankings in most specialties.” The research organization RTI International in Research Triangle Park, N.C., conducted the physician survey and produced the Best Hospital methodology and national rankings under contract with U.S. News. The magazine separately published the “Best Children’s Hospitals 2013-2014” rankings last month, where Baystate Children’s Hospital was ranked 34th in pediatric diabetes and endocrinology.

Falcons Earn AHL Team Business Services Award

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Falcons earned an American Hockey League Team Business Services Award recently. The team was honored as the Eastern Conference franchise with the most revenue growth in group ticket sales from the previous season. The awards recognize outstanding achievements in a variety of categories. The Falcons also won two team-achievement awards at the league’s marketing meetings in Cleveland; it was recognized for exceeding a 20% growth in group ticket sales revenue and 10% growth in per-game, full-season equivalents. “We are extremely proud of the work our front and ticket sales staff accomplished off the ice this season,” said Chris Thompson, vice president of Business Development for the Falcons. “Customer service will continue to be a high priority within the organization. The upcoming 20th anniversary season is sure to be an exciting time as we focus on increasing in-game entertainment for our fans.”

HMC, Language Access Network to Partner in Communication Project

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center has recently implemented the video interpreting services of the Language Access Network (LAN). The new partnership will address patients with limited English proficiency and the deaf and hard-of-hearing populations. LAN currently provides services in more than 300 medical facilities nationwide with around-the-clock access to the highest-quality trained interpreters available via its centralized video language centers. “Our mission from day one at Holyoke Medical Center has been to serve the health needs of the community in a high-quality and efficient manner,” said Rafael Mojica, manager of Community Outreach Services at Holyoke Medical Center. “The partnership with LAN will provide unique insights to improve overall patient satisfaction for the LEP and deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and help them receive the high standard of care to which they are entitled.” MARTTI (My Accessible Real Time Trusted Interpreter) is LAN’s exclusive platform for providing immediate access to high-quality interpretation resources with one-button simplicity and full mobility throughout the hospital. A revolutionary mobile device, MARTTI provides an easy-to-use, on-demand, qualified medical interpreter service using LAN’s dedicated, HIPAA-compliant, high-speed broadband network. “Patients benefit from the MARTTI device by receiving high-quality care without impediments due to language barriers,” said Andrew Panos, chief operating officer of LAN. “By providing patients with real-time video and audio interpretation capabilities in more than 200 languages, our health-provider facilities are able to improve operations, enhance financial performance, and build trusted patient encounters through clear communication.”

Court Dockets

Court Dockets Departments

The following is a compilation of recent lawsuits involving area businesses and organizations. These are strictly allegations that have yet to be proven in a court of law. Readers are advised to contact the parties listed, or the court, for more information concerning the individual claims.

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Arnold & Eddie’s Foods Inc. d/b/a Arnold’s Meats v. Moriarty’s Pub and Grill Inc. and Michael Moriarty

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $4,633.23

Filed: 6/2/13

Universal Am-Can LTD v. Diecutting Tool Services Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract relating to transportation services rendered: $2,475

Filed: 6/2/13

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Kathryn Bridges and Gregory Kingsbury v. Cheryl Ingersoll d/b/a Yankee Realty

Allegation: Defendants damaged, destroyed, and lost personal possessions while charged with the duty of moving the plaintiff’s possessions: $44,000

Filed: 4/15/13

Terry J. Johnson and Yvonne Johnson v. PanAm Railways Inc., Joseph Yukl, James Rae, and Charles Steinmeyer

Allegation: Breach of contract, wrongful termination, and fraud: $220,000

Filed: 5/10/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Edna Richards v. Michael J. Craig, M.D., Mercy Medical Center, and Mercy Inpatient Medical Associates

Allegation: Negligent administration of morphine despite documented morphine allergy, causing permanent injury: $136,551.56

Filed: 6/5/13

McLaughlin Paper Co. Inc. v. Durga, LLC d/b/a CoCo Key-Fitchburg, Courtyard by Marriot-Fitchburg, Holiday Inn-Fitchburg, Midas Hospitalty, LLC, and Great Wolf Resorts

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $29,808.75

Filed: 6/12/13

Northern Land Clearing Inc. v. NASDI, LLC

Allegation: Non-payment of rental equipment: $35,126

Filed: 5/28/13

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Stiller Distributors Inc. v. Earth First Flooring Inc.

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $1,390.94

Filed: 5/21/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Arthur J. Stevens Fine Furniture v. Krent/Paffett/Carney Inc. and John Carney d/b/a Experience Design

Allegation: Breach of settlement agreement: $21,019.15

Filed: 5/22/13

National Union Fire Insurance Co. of Pittsburgh, PA v. Foley Transport Inc.

Allegation: Breach of contract and failure to pay: $15,442.76

Filed: 5/22/13

Sanford and Hawley Inc. v. James D. Hall d/b/a Jim’s Renovation & Repair Services

Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $6,829.50

Filed: 5/21/13

United Rentals Inc. v. Jeta, LLC and Steven A. DeLisle

Allegation: Non-payment for materials, equipment, and services: $11,754.90

Filed: 5/21/13

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of July 2013.

AGAWAM

Robert Fagin

700 Silver St.

$174,000 — Install new roofing system

GREENFIELD

Greenfield Corporate Center, LLC

101 Munson St.

$138,000 — Install new roofing system

Donna Pfeffer

223 Main St.

$7,500 — Strip and install new roofing system

Larry Pfeffer

207-209 Main St.

$7,500 — Install new roofing system

Rosenberg Properties, LLC

311 Wells St.

$98,000 — Install new roofing system

Town of Greenfield

125 Federal St.

$14,300 — Construct and install new fire escape stairs

LUDLOW

Town of Ludlow

500 Chapin St.

$4,800 — Commercial alterations

PALMER

AMC Building Construction, LLC

4063 Main St.

$14,000 — New roof, siding, windows, and insulation

Palmer Foundry

22 Mt. Dumplin Road

$14,000 — New roof

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College

50 College St.

$44,000 — Remodel of Reese Hall

SOUTHWICK

Tennessee Gas

248 Feeding Hills Road

$38,000 — Install noise barrier

SPRINGFIELD

FB Development, LLC

1537 Main St.

$372,000 — Renovation to third floor

WEST SPRINGFIELD

KK Reality

632 Westfield St.

$10,000 — New roof

Mitch Salamon

52 B Wayside Dr.

$118,500 — Renovate 20,694 square feet into adult daycare

Quality Inn

1150 Riverdale St.

$102,450 – Interior renovations

A New Chapter

LTL Program Brings Businesses and Schools into Partnerships

Stephanie Fitzgerald, left, had her picture taken after a read-aloud assignment at the Washington School, which is being sponsored by Fitzgerald Attorneys at law.

Stephanie Fitzgerald called it a “pleasant surprise,” and then an “unexpected benefit.”

She was talking about the relationship, or partnership, that has blossomed since Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law, with which she is a partner, signed on last spring to sponsor the Washington Street School in Springfield as part of an ambitious program launched roughly a year ago by the nonprofit group Link to Libraries (LTL).

Sponsorship entails a donation of $1,200 per year for three years, with that money used to help provide the school in question with roughly 300 new books each year. But beyond the monetary donation, companies are also asked to become engaged with the school in some way, with the most common methods being donations of time and imagination for read-aloud work in the classroom.

However, in this case, the engagement process has gone well beyond reading, said Fitzgerald, who summed up what’s happened in four short months by saying simply, “that’s our school — that’s how everyone here feels. We’re not just donating books.”

Elaborating, she said that the firm and individual staff members have done everything from bringing in school supplies and snacks for students to fulfilling a request that landed at the top of a recently compiled wish list — some picnic tables that would enable outdoor activities at the century-old school in the city’s Forest Park neighborhood.

There are now more than 30 area companies using the phrase ‘this is our school,’ or words to that effect (one area bank can say ‘these are our schools’), said Susan Jaye-Kaplan, co-founder of Link to Libraries with partner Janet Crimmins, who noted that, in every case, the experience has been heightened because it involves much more than writing a check.

“Banks are providing lessons in financial literacy, a technology company [Paragus Stratetic IT] is teaching kids about computers, and professionals are talking about their careers,” she said. “People are tutoring, mentoring, providing kids with mittens and gloves and fruits and veggies … this goes well beyond books, but that’s where it all starts.”

Many of these relationships are in the developmental stages, including the one involving Holyoke Community College and the Morgan School, in the Flats section of the city.

Erica Broman, HCC’s vice president of Institutional Development, said the college signed on as a sponsor in late spring, but a number of reading assignments have been undertaken, including a few involving HCC President Bill Messner.

Looking ahead, she said the college will explore ways to deepen the relationship in the fall, with, among other things, field trips to the campus that will provide an introduction to higher education aimed at inspiring students to make that a life goal.

Among the many businesses sponsoring schools is the Springfield Falcons AHL hockey team, represented here by Sarah Pompea, second adult from left, the team’s coordinator of Marketing & Promotions, and player Cam Atkinson.

Kaplan said LTL’s goal is to have at least 50 companies in sponsorship agreements by the end of this year. That’s ambitious, but doable, she noted, adding quickly that, while response to the program has been tremendous, there are still dozens of area schools — including more than 20 in Springfield alone — that need sponsors.

“There is still a great deal of need out there,” she said, adding that these links between businesses and schools do much more than fill bookshelves. “It’s important for businesses to get involved with these schools and nonprofits because there are rewards for all those involved.”

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest talked with many of those taking part in LTL’s Business Book Link program to get a good read on the latest chapter in an ongoing and quite inspiring effort to connect children with books and create excitement for reading.

The Latest Word

Kaplan told BusinessWest that the book-link program was a natural extension of LTL’s efforts to stock area school and nonprofit libraries and get area students started on their own collections.

Since the organization was launched in May 2008, it has relied on grant funding and donations from area businesses and foundations, gifts that have helped enable it to donate more than 165,000 new books and 3,000 used volumes to area schools and nonprofits.

The concept of business sponsorships was embraced to enhance fund-raising efforts, and it has certainly done that, said Jaye-Kaplan, but there were many other goals as well, especially a desire to directly involve businesses with area schools, thus making them an integral part of the solution to a region-wide challenge — properly stocking school library shelves and generating enthusiasm for reading.

Dr. Susan Landry, a physician who has put her medical practice aside at least temporarily, accepted Kaplan’s invitation to serve as project director for the program. She described her assignment as linking businesses to schools, and said that, with this endeavor, there hasn’t been a high degree of difficulty.

“This program has taken on a life of its own — the response has been tremendous,” she said, adding that, once the pitch is made — usually following a lead provided by Kaplan or Crimmins — businesses quickly understand that participation amounts to a win-win proposition. “And from new business partners we’ll get names of other businesses that might be interested … it has really snowballed.

“The schools benefit, and of course the students directly benefit, but the businesses do as well,” she went on. “The check is nice — it helps buy the books — but what we were really hoping for, and what we’ve seen, is that the business feels like a part of the school.”

In many cases, businesses are sponsoring schools in the communities where they’re based. Monson Savings Bank, for example, has taken on a school in that community, as well as another in Ware, the location of its latest branch. Holyoke-based Meyers Brothers Kalicka, meanwhile, is sponsoring that city’s Sullivan School, Dave’s Pet and Soda City has embraced the James Clark School not far from the company’s headquarters in Agawam, and Springfield College is sponsoring the nearby Kensington School. Some businesses have chosen to sponsor area nonprofits, as is the case with FieldEddy Insurance, which has partnered with the YMCA of Greater Springfield.

Fitzgerald Attorneys at Law is based in East Longmeadow, said Stephanie Fitzgerald, but the Washington School is just over the line in Springfield, and is an institution in far greater need than the schools in East Longmeadow.

The extent of those needs became apparent as lawyers and employees of the firm became engaged with the school, she continued, adding that, for many, the experiences were eye-opening and inspiring.

“Everyone is involved — from Frank Fitzgerald [her father in law], whose name is on the wall, to the assistant office manager,” she explained. “Everyone loves to read, the kids are so much fun, and the questions they ask … it’s just been a great partnership for everyone.”

Fitzgerald said the firm signed on in March, well into the school year, but has been “making up for lost time” with twice-weekly reading assignments, on average (a pace needed to include every student in the school), and other initiatives, such as talking with students about careers in law and the hard work it will take to make one reality.

Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings Bank, said his original career ambition was to be a schoolteacher, so he is partial to endeavors involving education, as is the bank. And when Kaplan and then Landry made pitches for a sponsorship, the institution, which had made a few monetary donations to LTL in recent years, was quick to embrace the concept — in two communities.

Monson, as home to the bank’s headquarters, was a natural fit, he explained, and the experience there inspired the decision to also take part in Ware.

“We saw this as a great opportunity for us to do something really positive in that community,” he explained, “and for us to get involved in a very meaningful way.”

Epilogue

Looking back over the past year, Kaplan said the response from the business community has been inspiring, if not exactly surprising.

“We’ve always had strong support from area businesses, and we knew that this wasn’t going to be a hard sell,” she explained, adding quickly that the program has enabled LTL to broaden its reach, while also giving area companies license to say ‘this is our school.’

And each time that happens, it adds another chapter to what has been one of this best region’s best success stories.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

The Loss Column

Some Practical Tips for Protecting Your Business from Fraud

Dawn McDonald

It’s difficult to read a newspaper or watch a televison news report these days without seeing reports of consumer fraud and warnings about how to prevent it.

But oftentimes, businesses are the victims of fraud. Indeed, the instances of fraud against businesses have increased both in the number of occurrences and in the amount of money being lost.

The types of fraud vary from accounting scams perpetrated internally by employees to fraudulent returns from customers and data theft by outsiders. Businesses have less protection than consumers, and in some cases can be held liable for business fraud schemes or third-party data breaches.

To understand and prevent the many types of fraud to which your business may be vulnerable, you should first understand the different sources of these crimes. Most professionals agree that the sources of business fraud, ranked in the order of cost and frequency, are:

• Officers and employees. Small businesses tend to be more informal in nature, with fewer employees, which can result in a higher level of trust and a relaxed sense of oversight.

• Customers and clients. Customers can be notorious for trying to commit fraud against businesses by writing bad checks, using stolen credit cards, returning items not purchased, or filing fraudulent injury or liability claims.

• Vendors and contractors. Businesses can be the target of overcharging, overbilling, kickbacks, or failure to perform contracted work or services by unscrupulous contractors.

• Third-party attacks. A growing number of fraud attacks are being perpetrated by electronic means, including hacking, phishing (acquiring user names, passwords, or credit-card information), and identity theft.

Because fraud against your business can seriously impact the bottom line, it is important to set up and follow procedures to verify adherence to anti-fraud policies. Effective internal controls that create a system of checks and balances are some of the best fraud deterrents.

One of the most important steps a business can take is to create a system of awareness throughout the organization that makes it clear that the organization is watching for fraud and that, if caught, those involved will be prosecuted.

Methods for detecting and deterring fraud in your business include:

• Surprise internal and external audits. Many organizations have an internal audit department, but small businesses cannot always afford that luxury and need to work with their accountant to provide this level of control.

• Dividing responsibilities of accounting functions. Do not allow the person generating a purchase order to approve payment. Separate the function of check signing from the person who reconciles the bank statement.

• Employee tips and reporting. Develop an anonymous way for employees to report suspected fraud and work practices that could lead to fraud. Businesses that institute anonymous employee reporting detect fraud earlier and significantly limit financial losses.

Implementing a fraud-prevention plan requires time and commitment, but to minimize and manage risk, businesses are better off if they build in deterrents, establish good controls, and provide consistent oversight.

Dawn McDonald is a partner with Cooley, Shrair P.C., focusing her practice on assisting clients in the areas of commercial litigation, domestic-relations law, and labor and employment law; (413)735-8045; [email protected]

Awash in Innovation

Cover Story

Resilience Drives Belmont Laundry for More Than a Century

When Gaetano “Tommy” D’Amato was about 14, his mother became ill, and around that time, she began using Belmont Laundry to do the family’s heavy washing.

The centenarian, who celebrated his 100th birthday on May 8, remembers a horse and buggy — or horse and sled, depending on the weather — that came to pick up the family’s sheets from their home on the corner of Oakland and Orange streets in Springfield. “There weren’t any phones back then, but they told us they would be back every third day,” he said, adding that they couldn’t afford to have the laundry dried, so it was delivered wet, and his sister hung it on the clothesline. Over the years, D’Amato met many people who worked for the company, including one who retired after 47 years.

April McCarthy, who runs the Belmont Laundry Wilbraham Road store, shows off a 1912 wringer washing machine used when her great-grandfather ran the business.

The laundry was founded in 1907 by Harry Samble, who emigrated to the U.S. with his family from Scotland. It has withstood the test of time, an achievement that has taken Herculean resolve due to deaths, a devastating fire, and dramatic changes in the industry and economy.

The tragedies began when Harry died unexpectedly. At the time, his son Robert was 14, and his wife, Corrine, was forced to run the business. History repeated itself a generation later, when Robert, who had taken over the business, died at age 43 and his wife, Dorothy, had to run the laundry. Ironically, their son, Robert Jr., was also 14.

Today, 89-year-old Dorothy still spends Friday mornings at the business on 333 Belmont Ave., which is run by her son Robert (Rob) Jr. and his children, Matthew, Derek, and April McCarthy. The company has expanded and has two branches: Belmont Laundry and Custom Dry Cleaners, which has four storefronts — two in Springfield, one in Longmeadow, and one in West Springfield — as well as the Belmont Linen and Uniform Rental service, which comprises the majority of the business.

“There is a lot to this, and you have to be good at many things to survive, grow, and remain strong, because there is always something that needs attention and improvement,” Rob said. “But we have not only kept up with things, we’ve been pioneers in the latest advances.

Robert Samble, left, with his son Matthew, says the 106-year-old business has persevered through tragedy and calamity by keeping a constant focus on innovation.

“At one point, we were the only ones in the world using radio frequency identification chips with bar codes in our garments and entrance mats. We were also the first in the Northeast to put in spot cooling for our employees,” he told BusinessWest, noting that his sons spent an entire summer installing thousands of electronic chips in the mats used by area businesses.

“Every new idea that comes out gets evaluated, and if it’s feasible, we jump on it,” Rob continued, adding that Belmont is a green company and has recycled 23.5 million gallons of water over the past five years, recovered thousands of BTUs of energy, recycled thousands of hangers and garments each year, and uses environmentally friendly detergents and chemicals.

In the Beginning

Harry’s business began as a home-based operation. “The laundry was picked up on bicycles, washed in a tub in a barn behind the house, and brought back to people while it was still wet,” Rob said.

As the customer base grew, Harry graduated to a horse and wagon, then an electric truck, and, later, a gas-powered vehicle.

His wife Corrine ran the business after his early death, until the couple’s oldest son, Harry Jr., took over. He was joined by his younger brother Robert (Bob) when he returned from serving as a fighter pilot with the Army Air Corps during World War II. “By the early ’60s, my father had become president,” Rob recalled, explaining that his dad took the helm when Harry Jr. retired.

Competition had always been stiff, as there were more than 20 laundries in Springfield, but many of the owners were friends, and Bob’s cronies included Russ Dale of Dale Brothers Laundry on Union Street and Bill Hamilton of Royce Superior Laundry.

When Maytag began running coin-operated laundromats in low-income neighborhoods in 1958, they all signed on to the program. “They thought they would get rich,” Rob said. “But the laundromats were left open 24/7 without any supervision, which proved to be a bad idea.”

He remembers accompanying his father in the middle of the night when windows were shattered or money was stolen from coin boxes. It wasn’t long before Maytag’s experiment failed, and when the company switched gears and began selling washing machines to the public, many local laundries went under. The D’Amato family was one of millions who purchased a washer, which meant they could do their own laundry.

“The last nail in the coffin came when polyester was introduced, as it didn’t need ironing,” Rob said. “By the early ’70s, there were only two commercial laundries left in Springfield.”

As a child, he wanted to follow in his father’s footsteps. But during his teens, his interests shifted, and after graduating from high school, Rob attended Springfield Technical Community College for six months, worked as an auto mechanic, then moved to Arkansas, where he revived and ran a catfish farm.

In time, he returned to Springfield and was working as a refractory mason when his mother told him she was tired of running the struggling laundry. The year was 1974, the economy was floundering, and she said he either had to take over or the business would be sold. So Rob entered the family enterprise at a time when other laundries were closing their doors.

“I had held things together for eight years,” Dorothy said. “My youngest son was only 8 when my husband died. He was killed on Saturday, and I went to work the following Tuesday. It was a crazy time. I had had nothing to do with the business when my husband was alive, but my dad gave me advice, and everyone there was friendly and worked very hard.”

She also received help from her mother-in-law, who was in a nursing home. She was still very interested in the business and wanted to see an itemized expense sheet every week. “She had been treasurer at one time and signed all the checks,” Dorothy recalled. “I signed them too, once I took over, but the place was much smaller then. It was homey, and a lot of ladies worked there. I knew everyone by name.”

When clothes came into the laundry, they went to a ‘marker,’ who put a number on every garment. Each family was assigned their own number, which ensured they got their laundry back. “We used to wash wool blankets and hang them over a big board suspended from the ceiling, because they couldn’t go into the dryer. It was so different back then. Everything was done by hand. Now we use pulleys, lifts, and belts,” Dorothy said.

Although it was all she could do to keep the laundry operational, her husband had purchased new machines and rebuilt the structure before he died.

Rob said the company’s expansion began when his grandfather sought and received a variance to put an addition onto his building, which was in a residential zone. His father purchased adjacent properties as they became available, but by the time Rob became vice president, some of them had been sold to meet expenses.

New Ventures

The business took a new spin when Dorothy sent Rob to the National Institute of Dry Cleaning in Joliet, Ill. He returned with new ideas, but the manager immediately shot them down.

However, a short time later, the man had a stroke, and the trustees at Security National Bank named Rob vice president. “I was only 21 at the time,” he said.

His first coup was landing a contract after union workers walked off the job at the Worcester State School. “One day, the school showed up with a 53-foot trailer filled with sheets,” he said, adding that the Worcester operation also did the laundry for the Belchertown and Northampton state hospitals.

Belmont also served as a backup for Baystate Medical Center’s laundry and “they always had work for us,” Rob said. “The revenue we made from those accounts allowed us to grow into the textile-rental business.”

That venture was in line with the training he had received at the Institute of Dry Cleaning, because it did the laundry for a nearby prison. Rob’s work as an auto mechanic also came into play as he purchased old equipment and rebuilt it to keep up with the expanding business, which soon grew more competitive.

Large, national firms began vying for hospital accounts, and as a result, Belmont lost its contracts. But the company was already branching out into new territory, and in 1980 Rob hired two salesmen for the textile business. One didn’t last, but Ernest Gagnon, who stayed with the company for 20 years, helped make Belmont Laundry a recognized name in the uniform- and linen-rental industry.

The family laundry storefront also remained open, and in 1977, when Dale Brothers Laundry closed, Rob purchased its routes and customer list. “It was a good decision because we had done family laundry for so long, we were on automatic pilot, so although it was a dying industry, we were able to keep up with it,” he said. However, the business was threatened as one-hour cleaners were coming into vogue and Rob’s competitors were going bankrupt.

The next blow came in 1981 when Belmont Laundry was devastated by a fire. “We lost our offices and the store, but were so efficient, we delivered laundry and dry cleaning the next day,” Rob said.

He set up a temporary office and “scrimped and saved” until he had enough cash to build again, which was possible because he served as general contractor. “I only had enough money for a down payment and went back into debt. But I was able to rebuild with help from friends in the trades, who guided me,” he told BusinessWest.

In 1988, Rob purchased the Shea/Flair Dry Cleaning chain. “It made us the market leader in dry cleaning. We took over three plants with stores, which brought up us to seven locations. Then, in 1989, the economy tanked, and although we continued to invest in the stores and plants, it was a futile effort,” he said.

Today, four of those stores are still open, including one on Wilbraham Road in Springfield, which is run by Rob’s daughter, April McCarthy. The Main Street store is being used as a storage facility, and the former Flair location at the ‘X’ in Springfield, as well as another store, were sold.

“But our rental business continued to grow — we specialize in uniforms, sheets, and patient gowns,” Rob said, adding that the company’s accounts include restaurants and auto dealerships.

Rob’s sons began working at Belmont when they were about 10, and Matthew, now vice president, recalls straightening out hangers, then manning the counter when he was in high school. Derek, who is the dry-cleaning division manager, said he and Matt painted the roof of the building when he was 12.

They have followed the family tradition of implementing change. “I pushed for green cleaning, and by 2009, we were totally green; it was the right thing to do,” Derek said, adding that the company needed new machines, and he felt it was ready to handle more business.

“We put in a new shirt department and revamped it twice within five years,” he said. “Technology is changing so quickly, and I wanted to have the highest level of quality for our customers. The market has slowed, but we’ve held our own. We have tried different styles of marketing and spent time learning how to implement new ideas. I spend about 55 hours a week here and look forward to coming to work every day.”

April began working in the Longmeadow store when she was 14. “I had a lot of responsibility,” she said, adding that she closed the store at the end of the day.

When she went to Westfield State University, she worked in the West Springfield store, and although she earned degrees in elementary education and psychology, “I could never leave. I’ve been here almost 22 years, and it’s a great business. We depend on each other and have customers who have been coming to us since I started working as a teen. This is such a part of my life.”

Forging Forward

Matt and Rob plan to visit a laundry in Davenport, Iowa in August to evaluate the operation and see what they can learn from it. “We have to work to stay ahead of things. There are a lot of different angles to the business,” Matt said.

Rob agrees. “I’ve made mistakes, but it was diversity that put us on the map in the rental business, and it’s diversity that allowed us to stay in the retail business. We have a good product and take care of our employees. They are very good to us, and if it wasn’t for them, we wouldn’t be here today. They take care of our customers, who can rely on a consistent product.”

Which is exactly what D’Amato experienced when the centenarian called them a month ago for the first time in about 25 years. “They still do a good job,” he said.

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners Departments

CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org

(413) 594-2101

• August 1: Part 3 of a five-seminar series: “Conquering the Challenge of Employment Law Compliance for Small Businesses: What You Need to Know and How to Stay in Compliance,” from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at the PeoplesBank Conference Room, 330 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke. Presenter will be Layla Taylor, Esq. This program will focus on:

• Identifying worker-classification issues (independent contractor versus employee);

• Wage-and-hour basics (minimum wage, overtime, exemptions, and child-labor laws);

• Immigration (I-9 compliance);

• Discrimination laws (federal and state, reasonable accommodation issues);

• Benefits (leave laws and health insurance);

• Communicating with employees without creating a contract; and

• How to stay in compliance (free resources and when to contact a professional).

• August 22: Part 4 of a five-seminar series: ‘Marketing Strategies that Lead to Growth,’ from 8 to 10:30 a.m. at PeoplesBank Conference Room, 330 Whitney Ave. in Holyoke. Presenter will be Mary McCarthy. Concerned about delivering your profit? Unsure how to reach your target audience? Overwhelmed with all the media options available? Smaller businesses often lack the time to execute their marketing tasks, and are challenged with budgetary constraints. This workshop is designed for businesses seeking cost-efficient and effective marketing strategies that lead to growth and seamless communication with their customers. Attendees will learn:

• Branding strategies that will effectively convey your marketing messages;

• How to distinguish your marketing plan from your competition;

• Effective ways to reach your target audience and foster loyal relationships;

• How to connect with today’s tech-savvy customers through social media; and

• Networking essentials that will help you get more business.

HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com

(413) 534-3376

• Sept. 18: Save the date! Chamber Annual Clambake, 5-7:30 p.m. Plan now to make the clambake your employee picnic or employee-appreciation event. Watch for more details.

MASSACHUSETTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 525-2506

• Nov. 12: Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon, 9 a.m., at the DoubleTree, Westborough. For more information on ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities, call the chamber office at (413) 525-2506 or e-mail [email protected]

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

413-426-3880

• August 19: West of the River Chamber of Commerce 10th Annual Golf Tournament, Springfield Country Club, West Springfield. Cost: $125 per golfer. Presenting Sponsor: Hard Rock Hotel and Casino of New England. For more information on registration and sponsorship opportunities, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• Sept. 4: Wicked Wednesday, hosted By E.B’s, 5-7 p.m. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events hosted by various businesses and restaurants. These events bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. Cost: free for chamber members, $10 for non-members (event is open to the public; you must pay at the door if you’re a non-member). For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or e-mail [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• Sept. 11: September WestNet, 5-7 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Come and meet chamber members and bring your business cards for a great networking opportunity. Cost: $10 cash for chamber members, $15 cash for non-members. Walk-ins are welcome. Call the chamber at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail Pam Bussell at [email protected]. Your first WestNet is always free.

People on the Move

Departments People on the Move

The Harold Grinspoon Foundation announced the following:

Kate Conn

• Kate Conn has joined the foundation in a newly-created position as Chief Executive Officer. Together with its founder, Harold Grinspoon, Conn will work to further the Foundation’s philanthropic mission to enhance Jewish and community life in North America, Israel, and beyond, and develop innovative strategies as the organization celebrates 20 years of philanthropy. Conn most recently served as founding Executive Director and President of the Aldo Leopold Nature Center Inc., an educational and entrepreneurial nonprofit in Madison, Wisc. Conn grew the organization into one of the region’s leading institutions as she established regional and statewide cooperative networks and strong national partnerships with community, government, and industry leaders. She is credited with the creation of a groundbreaking interactive museum and learning center and award-winning programs. Conn has served in leadership capacities at the University of Chicago, Northwestern University, and several cultural organizations, philanthropic endeavors, and policy institutions. In addition to her nonprofit and community work, Conn was a special consultant for an American Girl book series and an author for the Wisconsin Historical Press Badger Biography series. Since its inception in 1993, the foundation has given more than $120 million in philanthropic support of Jewish programs. HGF initiatives include PJ Library, Sifriyat Pijama (PJ Library’s sister program in Israel), JCamp180, Voices & Visions, and Life & Legacy; and

Arlene Schiff

• Arlene Schiff will lead the foundation’s new Life & Legacy Program, a legacy partnership effort that incentivizes Jewish agencies, synagogues, and day schools to secure legacy gifts and steward donors. With widespread recognition that a large transfer of generational wealth is taking place — about $41 trillion by 2020, according to a 1999 Boston Foundation study — the Life & Legacy program aims to assist Jewish organizations with proactively securing endowments through legacy gifts. Schiff will lead the program after a successful tenure as executive director of the Jewish Federation of the Berkshires, where she worked since 2001. At the federation, she increased the donor base and fund-raising substantially and directed many community initiatives. Nationally, she has been active in Jewish community service with the Jewish Federations of North America. Locally, she has served on the Berkshire Housing Development Corp., the Berkshire Immigrant Center Advisory Board, the Lenox School Committee, and others. The Life & Legacy is a partnership program that invites up to seven communities a year to apply to partner with HGF. The foundation commits funds to the selected program for two years. If fund-raising goals are met, the partner receives a matching grant from HGF that covers 50% of the partner agency’s annual budget, up to $150,000, for each year. In this first year, the partners are the Foundation for the Charlotte Jewish Community, the Jewish Foundation of Memphis, the Greater Miami Jewish Federation, the Jewish Foundation of Greater New Haven, the Orange County Jewish Community Foundation, the Oregon Jewish Community Foundation, and the Jewish Community Foundation of Greater Mercer.

•••••

Three new board members were recently inducted for three-year terms to the Gray House, a Springfield nonprofit that helps neighbors facing hardships to meet immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment. They are:

Richard Marcil

• Richard Marcil, owner of Golden Ear Studios and the Minister of Music for the Wachogue Congregational Church. He also conducts the annual Holiday Grand Chorus as part of a benefit to raise money for cancer research;

Susan Mastroianni

• Susan Mastroianni, Partner and Director of Media Services at FitzGerald & Mastroianni Advertising in Springfield. She is also a member of the Rotary Club of Springfield and previously served on its Board of Directors; and

Gregory Schmidt

• Gregory Schmidt, an Attorney with Springfield-based Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy P.C. He also currently serves on the Board of Directors of the Children’s Museum at Holyoke Inc. and the Advisory Board of the Scibelli Enterprise Center at Springfield Technical Community College.

•••••

Rosemary Nevins

Royal LLP, the woman-owned, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm, announced that Attorney Rosemary Nevins has been selected as one of Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly’s “Top Women of Law.” The program celebrates outstanding achievements by exceptional women. Each year Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly honors women who have made great professional strides and demonstrated outstanding accomplishments in the legal community. Nevins will be honored at an event in Boston in October.

•••••

Kate Campiti

Human Resources Unlimited, a Springfield-area nonprofit corporation that helps more than 1,300 people per year with physical and mental disabilities, recently named Kate Campiti to the Board of Directors. Campiti is the Associate Publisher of BusinessWest and the Healthcare News and has extensive experience in management, leadership, and sales. She is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in Communications with a minor in Political Science. Prior to her current position, she served as a Sales Executive with OneStar Communications. Campiti joins Timm Marini, Chairman; Patrick Leary, Vice Chairman; Michael Moriarty, Treasurer; Charlene Smolkowicz, Secretary-Clerk; and board members William Marsh, Thomas Bienkowski, Ed Wytrych, Francis Fitzgerald, Curtis Edgin, Amy Royal, Chester Wojcik, and Alfonso Santaniello.

•••••

Christina Tuohey

Christina Tuohey was recently appointed Director of Annual Giving and Alumni relations at Springfield Technical Community College by the STCC Board of Trustees. A graduate of Georgia State University, Tuohey brings several years of experience working in a variety of development and annual-giving positions. She has served as the Annual Giving Associate and Corporate, Foundations, and Government Relations Associate for the Museum of Science in Boston; Membership Development Specialist and Volunteer Development Specialist for the Girl Scouts of Central/Western Massachusetts in East Longmeadow; and most recently as the Fundraising Coordinator for the Muscular Dystrophy Assoc. located in Glastonbury, Conn.

•••••

Westfield-based Tighe & Bond recently announced professional milestones reached by four employees:

Page Czepiga

• Page Czepiga, a Land Use Planner in the Westfield office and member of the American Planning Assoc., recently became a Certified Land Use Planner after passing the American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) exam. The AICP designation is the most highly regarded certification in the field of land-use planning, and the designation requires an intensive certification-maintenance and continuing-education program to keep certification valid. Czepiga provides planning and permitting support for a wide variety of the firm’s projects, and she regularly performs environmental and zoning analyses for renewable-energy feasibility and land-use/redevelopment studies. Her experience includes brownfields redevelopment, wetlands, and environmental-resource permitting, and she is currently active in the preliminary planning and permitting of the $800 million Hard Rock International hotel and casino complex proposed in West Springfield. Czepiga earned her BS in Community and International Development from the University of Vermont;

• Elizabette Botelho, an Engineer, recently passed her PE exam to become a licensed engineer. Botelho currently provides engineering services for solid-waste landfill projects and has completed hydrologic and hydraulic analysis to assess the flood hazard of more than 40 high hazard dams in Massachusetts. She works out of the firm’s Westfield office and has been employed at Tighe & Bond since 2006, when she graduated from Northeastern University with a BS in Civil Engineering;

• Engineer Cynthia Castello also passed her PE exam. She has worked on water and wastewater projects, and has provided construction services in Connecticut and design and construction services in West Springfield. She has five years of industry experience, has worked out of the firm’s Middletown office since 2011, and received her BA in Physics from Colgate University and her MS in Environmental Engineering from UMass Amherst; and

• Christina Jones, an engineer at the Westfield office, also passed her PE exam. She has worked on water-system modeling projects for the cities of Chicopee and Portsmouth, N.H., as well as water-system design projects for Amherst and Connecticut’s Metropolitan District Commission and the South Central Connecticut Regional Water Authority. She is a member of Engineers Without Borders and is on the New England Water Works Assoc. program committee and the New England Water Environment Assoc. student activities committee. Jones began her career at Tighe & Bond in 2009 after receiving her MS in Environmental Engineering from UMass Amherst.

•••••

Maureen Buxton

Richard Collins, President and CEO of United Bank, announced that Maureen Buxton is the 2013 winner of the President’s Award, the highest honor bestowed by the institution. The annual award is presented to an employee who exemplifies professional excellence through teamwork, integrity, a positive attitude, and a strong commitment to United Bank. Buxton, the Personal Banker for United’s Chicopee branch, was instrumental in the training and transition of New England Bank employees in Connecticut following that bank’s merger with United last fall. Earlier in her United career, Buxton received the bank’s quarterly Service Excellence Award in recognition of her exceptional job performance. Buxton joined United Bank in 1998 as a Customer Service Representative at the Holyoke branch and was promoted to become the Personal Banker for United Bank’s first Chicopee branch when it opened in 2009.

•••••

Corey Lomas

Palmer-based Vartanian Custom Cabinets announced the addition of Corey Lomas as the company’s newest Sales Representative. Lomas holds a BA in Visual Arts with a concentration in Painting and Drawing from SUNY New Paltz. He has previous work experience in sales, which, combined with his education in the visual arts, provides an excellent foundation for his new post selling fine kitchen design and custom cabinetry. Lomas is a past winner of the Monson Council of Arts Rising Artist Award, and has exhibited his portfolio of drawings and paintings at the Wilbraham Public Library.

Community Profile: Hadley

Community Profile Features

Hadley Honors Rural Past as Businesses Take Root

When Jonathan Carr and his wife Nicole Blum moved to the U.S., they spent time looking for a good place to farm. The couple had been growing gourmet vegetables in Ireland and selling them to restaurants, but wanted to establish themselves in a better climate, because it rained frequently there.

In 2002, they bought 38 acres of land with a large apple orchard in Hadley after relatives and friends in the Boston area steered them to Western Mass.

Last year, they opened Carr’s Ciderhouse and produced about 3,000 bottles of sparkling cider and dessert-style wine on their property. The business is growing, and Carr said they are happy to be situated on River Road.

“There is a network of farms that runs up and down the river for miles, and Hadley is a great place to raise a family and own a business because of the accommodating spirit within the town government,” said Carr, adding that the couple appreciates their central location, the vibrant local economy, and the beauty of the area, along with the fact that they can go hiking or canoeing on the Connecticut River without leaving town.

Town Administrator David Nixon says Hadley has the largest amount of preserved land in the Commonwealth.

David Nixon said the ciderhouse is one of dozens of home-based businesses in Hadley, which include self-employed consultants, architects, web-based firms, and about two dozen landscapers with employees. The town administrator said Hadley is also home to historic family farms that have been operating for generations, as well as a healthy mix of retail establishments, located mostly on the seven-mile section of Route 9 that runs through the town.

The balanced mix of open land, agricultural enterprise, and retail business has been carefully orchestrated by town officials.

“It’s the reason for our success,” Nixon said. “We provide a high quality of life with lots and lots of open space that contains forests, grasslands, and farmlands. But we also have a strong commercial district that allows us to keep taxes low and provide the products and employment people need, coupled with small, family-owned businesses, particularly in agriculture.”

In addition, Nixon said, the town offers a central location, an affordable single tax rate, and space for new and existing businesses to grow. “We’re ideally situated between Northampton and Amherst, so we have the synergy of what these communities offer. We also live in a 30-campus community,” he told BusinessWest, explaining that one-quarter of the UMass Amherst campus is in Hadley and the other campuses are within an hour’s drive of the town, which sits off the Interstate 91 corridor, with the Massachusetts Turnpike a short distance away.

“Northampton Airport is just across the river, and we’re a 45 minute drive from Bradley International Airport,” Nixon continued, adding that, when the rerouting of the Amtrak Vermonter commuter train is complete, it will include a stop in nearby Northampton.

Fertile Imagination

Hadley is one of the oldest towns in Hampshire County, and thus it has lots of history, said Nixon, noting that it was incorporated in 1661 and was an agricultural center for hundreds of years.

Today, the town is still home to three operating dairy farms, a number of tobacco farms, and an untold number of farms that grow produce, ranging from corn to asparagus, strawberries to squash. “We have lots of little farm stands, and there are a number of small agricultural businesses developing here,” Nixon said. They include Sister’s Bistro, a restaurant and specialty food store that opened about a year ago, a vineyard under development, and Valley Malt, which opened about three years ago and has been very successful.

Although the farms have stood the test of time, town officials have been proactive in taking steps to insure the bucolic atmosphere is preserved and will remain that way. “We don’t want our population to grow too quickly,” Nixon said. “We lead the Commonwealth in preserved open space. We have about 3,000 acres of it, which doesn’t include the state parks or the land along the Connecticut River.”

He noted that these measures ensure that the high quality of life in Hadley will continue. “It gives us the ability to provide residents with the services they want at an affordable price and helps keep the town recession-proof. We may not see the highs that other places have experienced, but we also don’t see the lows.”

The town’s finances are also sound. “We have a strong financial base with an AA bond rating from Standard and Poor and are always looking to improve things,” Nixon said.

To that end, town officials recently asked the state Department of Revenue to conduct a commissioned study of its financial-management practices.

“We’re not content to sit on our laurels, and are always looking for ways to improve public services and reduce our costs,” he explained.

Commercial Growth

Although Hadley has plenty of open space, the town also contains a healthy mix of businesses. They include the Hampton Inn, which is adding a conference center with seating for 300 people that is expected to open this summer.

Building Commissioner Tim Neyhart said the inn was recently granted a liquor license, and the new center will have a kitchen for catering and provide the town with much-needed facilities for meetings, conventions, and events. “We didn’t have a place where people could hold large weddings,” he said, explaining that, although many couples use the Marriott Hotel, its capacity is limited to 125 people.

“There are already weddings booked in the new conference center, and the large space will also allow the U.S. Fish and Wildlife office to hold conventions there,” he told BusinessWest, adding that its District 5 office is in Hadley. “They use the Marriott for meetings all the time, but the space there is limited.”

There are also three solar projects in the works in Hadley. Neyhart said two are being reviewed by the planning board, while the third involves a pilot program with NexAmp Hadley Solar LLC, which has obtained permits to built a 2.9-megawatt facility on Mill Valley Road.

The solar company and the Hampshire Council of Governments have partnered to form an agreement that is still being reviewed. It would provide Hadley with a discount rate on electricity in lieu of taxes from NexAmp over a 20-year period. If it is passed, Nixon said, it could result in a 21% reduction in the cost of municipal electricity in Hadley, or about $600,000 over two decades.

He explained that the energy NexAmp will generate will be fed into a network that will earn the company credits from Western Massachusetts Electric Co. The credits would then be sold to the Hampshire Council of Governments, which would apply them to the town’s electric bill.

The town is also looking to widen Route 9, although that project is still in the feasibility stage. “We’re also taking concrete steps to improve our water and sewer systems. They will be upgraded over the next 10 years,” Nixon said.

And although there is available space for new business to be established along Route 9, many existing businesses have reinvented themselves to keep up with the times. Nixon cites the former Mountain Farms Mall as an example. “It was in pretty bad shape about 20 years ago, with vacant storefronts and a blacktop that was in terrible condition.”

But the former traditional mall has been transformed into a large strip mall, which is home to Whole Foods, Barnes & Noble, and other thriving businesses. “It has become a very, very vibrant shopping area,” he said.

Hadley also caters to many startup companies, which get help from the UMass Amherst Family Business Center on Venture Way. “They are able to thrive because we have an educated workforce, the infrastructure capacity for new businesses, and the zoning to develop it,” Nixon said.

Balanced Equation

Although the town welcomes business growth, the provisions its leaders have taken to ensure that the landscape remains unsullied is part of its character.

“The goal has always been about maintaining balance,” Nixon reiterated. “Hadley is blessed with a strong and vibrant commercial center, but also has wonderful residential villages and the bike path, which is 300 yards off of Route 9, that illustrates the balance of life here. One side has a view of open land, while the other is home to restaurants, auto-service stations, and stores.”

That combination is a proven recipe for success, making the town a place that honors its agrarian past while keeping pace with the future.

A Logical Extension

AIC Will Add Degree in Public Health to Its Roster of Options

Cesarina Thompson says AIC’s new program in Public Health is a strategic response to changes in the nation’s healthcare system, which stress prevention, not treatment.

Cesarina Thompson says the recently created program in Public Health at American International College in Springfield represents a coordinated response to ongoing trends in this region and across the country — specifically, a strong movement toward preventing disease rather than simply treating it.

“Healthcare is changing, and with the passage of the Affordable Care Act, it is projected that we’re going to be focusing more on disease prevention and keeping people healthy and out of the doctor’s office and the hospital,” said Thompson, dean of the college’s School of Health Sciences, noting that AIC’s decision to launch the program this fall is also a response to an anticipated surge in need for professionals in public health and what’s known as ‘health education.’

Indeed, projections show that demand for health educators in Massachusetts will grow by roughly 50% between 2010 and 2020, said Thompson, who pointed to a number of recent job postings to show what the job market looks like now — and what it will look more like in the future.

Fallon Community Health Plan, for example, recently advertised for an ‘employer group wellness specialist’ to “implement innovative educational strategies for general health and wellness, health promotion, and prevention for employees,” she noted, adding that Premier Health & Fitness Resources, with facilities in Springfield and Hartford, posted for a ‘health screening technician’ and ‘health educators,’ and Emerson Hospital in Concord advertised for a ‘manager of health and wellness programs.’

“We’re seeing more of these kinds of jobs, those focusing on wellness and community health,” she told BusinessWest. “And we’re going to see considerably more of them in the future. This is the direction that healthcare is taking, and there will be considerable demand for professionals who can work in this field.”

Recognizing a Need

Meeting that demand is the primary motivation behind the establishment of the bachelor’s degree program in Public Health, which will be launched this fall, said Thompson, adding that discussions about adding such an offering began soon after she came to AIC late last year from a position as associate dean of the School of Health and Human Services at Southern Connecticut State University.

She told BusinessWest that administrators at AIC have long sought to expand the School of Health Sciences, and a program in Public Health eventually emerged as the most logical and potential-laden option for doing so.

Careful due diligence revealed a need for such an offering in Western Mass., and specifically the Greater Springfield area, because, for starters, there is only one other undergraduate program in Public Health in this area (at UMass Amherst). But another motivating factor is Hampden County’s undesirable status as the least-healthy county in the state, as measured by the University of Wisconsin Population Health Institute and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

“We’re at the bottom of everything in terms of mortality and morbidity, and health factors such as smoking, obesity, and quality of life,” said Thompson, a former nurse, referring to the latest data, from 2012. “These numbers were definitely part of our rationale for creating this program, and it seemed like a great fit for us as an urban institution in the heart of Springfield.

“What we’d like to do with this program is certainly reach out and serve the diverse community of students that we always serve,” she continued, “but also give back to the community, because I believe it will benefit this region to have more people educated as public-health professionals.”

Thompson said the initiative builds on AIC’s other offerings in its School of Health Sciences — Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy — and uniquely positions these four programs under one roof.

“Although healthcare professions such as nursing, OT, and PT address health promotion and prevention concerns, given our current healthcare system, these professionals typically care for patients at the time of an illness or injury,” she explained. “Public health practice, on the other hand, focuses primarily on helping people to maintain and improve their health.

“What is unique about our new Public Health program is that it will be housed within the School of Health Sciences; students and faculty will have an opportunity to work and learn together, maximizing the expertise that each brings to healthcare, and collaborating to educate well-prepared professionals for our new healthcare system.”

Upon graduation from the program, which will include such courses as Global Health, Epidemiology in Public Health, and Community Health Promotion — as well as a required internship in the public-health arena — students will have amassed the skills needed for a number of well-paying positions, said Thompson, but also the option of gaining a master’s degree in Public Health, with the nearest such program located at UMass Amherst.

Employment opportunities for graduates of the bachelor’s program would come in a number of settings, including nonprofits, community health centers, municipal health departments, and many others.

“In public health, people work within towns and within states,” she explained, listing the state Department of Public Health as one potential landing spot. “If there’s an outbreak of some sort of health problem, these are the people out there providing information on what to do.”

Thompson said the college is projecting that enrollment in the program will likely be between 10 and 15 students this fall — it was not approved by the Board of Trustees until March, too late for the most recent recruiting cycle — but the numbers are expected to swell to 50 within a few years.

And she expects interest from a number of constituencies — from high-school graduates to individuals looking to change careers to those already in the healthcare sector (or working their way there) who may see public health as an attractive option to clinical-care fields such as nursing.

“This is one of the fastest-growing careers in the healthcare field,” said Thompson. “And we expect that there will be a great deal of interest in this program.”

— George O’Brien

Trials and Tribulations

New WNE Law Dean Says Schools Must Adjust to a Changed Climate

Eric Gouvin says the consensus among those in legal academia is that the nation’s law schools have been “making too many lawyers for too long.”

Eric Gouvin was asked to comment on the challenges moving forward for all law schools, but especially the one at Western New England University (WNE), which he now serves as dean.

But to do so properly, he said he first needed to discuss the recent past and touch on some trends and statistics that define a changed landscape, one that came about due to many factors that he summed up by saying, “we’ve been making too many lawyers for too long.”

The ‘we’ in this case is the nation’s 201 American Bar Assoc.-accredited law schools, said Gouvin, who took the helm at WNE Law on July 1 following a short search in which he was the only real candidate (more on that later). He said these institutions readily accepted large numbers of students until quite recently, and considered such an action a responsible reply to then-long-standing laws of supply and demand when it came to the legal profession.

But those laws were changing through the first decade of this century, he went on, with a profound adjustment coming after the economy turned south in dramatic fashion just over five years ago. Over the past 10 years, and especially the past five, increasing numbers of law-school graduates have encountered difficulty finding work in their chosen profession, and this development has led to swift and profound changes in the numbers of people applying to law schools — and the numbers accepted — as would-be candidates increasingly question the return on investment in a juris doctor degree.

At WNE, for example, the school was accepting roughly 150 individuals into its day (full-time) program each year until recently, said Gouvin, noting that the number for this fall will be around 90, 40% fewer than that previous benchmark. This decline (reflective of what’s happening nationally) brings fiscal challenges for the school, prompts a host of questions about what could — or will — happen next, and even invites speculation about for how long there will still be 201 ABA-accredited law schools.

How all this came about is the subject of a compelling, if somewhat controversial, book called Failing Law Schools, authored by Brian Tamanaha, a law professor, former law-school dean, and legal theorist who admits he did some of the things he now criticizes. In a nutshell, Tamanaha contends that, in the wake of the Great Recession and its significant impact on graduates and, subsequently, law school applications, there is now solid evidence to support what many had believed for some time — that law schools, many of them desperate for high rankings in U.S. News & World Report, were luring applicants to their campuses with false promises of employment and high salaries, leaving them in considerable debt and, overall, creating “a systemic mismatch between graduates and jobs.”

Gouvin has read the book, as most in legal academia have, and doesn’t necessarily disagree with some of its main arguments — or its broad assessment of what law schools must do now.

In the current climate, he said, law schools in general, and his in particular, must do something about that mismatch by focusing on making fewer lawyers (until the market dictates otherwise), and lawyers better prepared to succeed in the marketplace.

“Law schools, in general, have not done a great job of preparing their graduates to enter the profession,” he explained. “They learn a lot of law, and that’s handy, because lawyers should know the law. But there’s so much more to being a lawyer than knowing the law.

“We want to have a graduating class that’s matched more closely to the realistic prospects for employment,” he went on, “but also a class that is graduating with the tools necessary to practice law.”

Meanwhile, in response to the fiscal challenges presented by declining enrollment, the school will implement strategies to hone or create what Gouvin called “degrees that people who won’t practice law might find useful.”

Elaborating, he said that WNE already has in place some master of law degrees (LLMs), including a popular offering in estate planning and elder law, and another in closely held businesses. These are designed for practicing lawyers looking to gain expertise in those areas, he said, adding that the school is looking to build on these offerings with new master of jurisprudence degrees. Now in the planning stages, they would be designed for professionals in non-law areas who could benefit from knowing some law.

For this issue and its focus on law, BusinessWest talked at length with the new dean at WNE Law about his strategic plan for the future and how to position the school for success in what are clearly changing times.

Making His Case

In 2001, the last time Western New England went about conducting a search for a law-school dean, Gouvin, who joined the institution’s faculty in 1991, chaired the committee that eventually chose Arthur Gaudio, then with the University of Wyoming School of Law.

This time, Gouvin made a committee unnecessary.

Retracing the events of the past several months, he said that, by late this past winter, he was being recruited by several law schools searching for deans. He eventually became a semi-finalist for the post at the University of New Mexico and one of three candidates invited for a final interview at Northern Kentucky University. He came away from that session thinking he had cinched a new professional mailing address.

“I thought it went so well that they were going to offer me the job on the way to the airport,” he recalled with a laugh.

That didn’t happen, and while NKU was still mulling its options, faculty members at WNE, wary of losing Gouvin, were talking to Gaudio about accelerating his announced intentions to join them in the classroom.

This set in motion a chain of events — including interviews and a formal presentation to administrators at WNE — that had Gouvin canceling further out-of-town interviews and eventually moving his many books, including Failing Law Schools and several biographies of Henry Ford, and an impressive collection of 1975 Boston Red Sox memorabilia, down the hall instead of halfway across the country.

As he talked with BusinessWest while still in the process of moving into his new office, he said there are a number of items on his to-do list. The first is introducing, or re-introducing, himself to the law school’s many constituencies — students, faculty, alums, and community partners — in his new capacity, which he likened to being the CEO of a company.

“Anything that someone who runs an organization is responsible for — from personnel to finance to keeping the lights on and the doors open — that’s all on my desk,” he explained. “I’m responsible for making all the pieces come together — alumni functions, career services, admissions, compliance, the academic piece, and all the other moving parts.

“When you’re sitting in the dean’s seat, you have a different perspective on how everything is or should be, as opposed to when you’re looking at it from a faculty member’s point of view,” he continued. “You begin to see the bigger picture and how it all has to fit together.”

There are several other matters at hand, he said, including annual discussions about classes and potential additions, and the honing of programs, such as the university’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which he led prior to becoming dean.

But the most pressing matter, obviously, is crafting a comprehensive response to the dramatically altered landscape he described, an assignment facing the leaders of virtually every law school in the country, he said, stressing, again, that this is a nationwide phenomenon.

The severity of the situation is driven home by statistics showing that, in 2004, there were 100,000 applications to those 201 law schools, and during this most recent admissions cycle, the number was roughly half that — 54,000, with only speculation about when and even if that figure will start trending upward.

The reasons for this precipitous decline are many, and they come back to ROI, say industry analysts, noting that, in recent years, college students and those in many professions have become increasingly skeptical about whether a law degree is a ticket to success (a dramatic change in outlook from 40 or even 20 years ago), especially when many graduates are towing huge amounts of debt as they leave the commencement stage.

The situation resulted mostly from what observers have called ‘overproduction,’ or too much supply, of lawyers. And this became a vicious cycle at many schools. Desperate for high rankings in U.S. News & World Report, which were determined in large part by per-pupil spending, Tamanaha charges, many law schools greatly increased tuition and continued to accept large numbers of students, putting graduates heavier into debt and injecting them into a job market they couldn’t crack.

Thus, changing current perceptions about a JD is among the many challenges facing law schools, said Gouvin, adding that this can come about only with direct evidence that the employment landscape is changing, and for WNE, this means enabling more graduates to thrive in the job market.

Giving Testimony

In this altered environment, law schools must change and adapt, and for many this will be a tall order, said Gouvin, who believes WNE is better positioned to handle that assignment than many others, primarily because it has already started the process, and has historically been at or ahead of the curve when it comes to preparing graduates for the workplace.

Part of the equation is simply limiting enrollment, he noted.

“Finding jobs for 90 people is a lot easier than finding jobs for 150,” he explained, adding that, if he’s right in this thinking, both the graduating students and the law school will benefit. “Law schools are going to be judged by how well they’re placing their students, and that’s why we have to make sure we’re doing as much as we can to support our students.”

Eventually, the job market will improve and demand for a law degree will increase, he went on, citing factors that include everything from the rising U.S. population, which will likely create the need for more legal services and professionals who can provide them, to the simple fact that many of those who joined the profession when it was exploding in the early and mid-’70s, will soon be retiring.

In the meantime, though, law schools must contend with the present challenge of making graduates better able to put their law degree to effective use.

“I want to make us even more focused on what we’ve always done,” Gouvin told BusinessWest, “and that’s prepare students to enter the practice of law, mostly at small to medium-sized firms in small to medium-sized cities in the Northeast.

“I think we can do better at making students practice-ready — a lot of law schools don’t even try,” he continued. “And they’re only now starting to come around to it.”

One key to making graduates more prepared for the workplace is experiential learning opportunities, which WNE provides in a number of ways, said Gouvin, adding that more than 75% of graduates take advantage of these opportunities, and he wants to push that number higher.

Programs include internships, externships, and clinics, he said, adding that the school has the strategic advantage of being the only law school in Western Mass. that gives its students solid opportunities to work with area judges at all levels of the judicial system, from district to federal.

Meanwhile, there are several clinics, or programs that give students the opportunity to work with area residents and businesses under the guidance of legal professionals and professors. The current roster includes clinics in small business, housing, real estate, international human rights, and other areas.

“We do take seriously the idea that students ought to know what lawyers do and why they do it,” he said, “and we’re going to make even more changes to enforce that message.”

While working to improve the job prospects of students, WNE Law and its new dean must also devise strategies for coping with the sharp reduction in tuition revenue that comes when incoming classes are 40% smaller than they were only five years ago.

“That’s a real challenge — tuition is a huge driver,” said Gouvin, noting that, after scholarships and other forms of direct aid are subtracted, most students are paying roughly $25,000 to attend the school.

Cutbacks to faculty have been minimal because of a few recent retirements, he said, but long-term, the school needs to replace at least some of the lost revenue, and one strategy is to create more and better programs that will attract those who don’t intend to practice law but can benefit from some of the skills imparted on those who do.

Those aforementioned master of jurisprudence degrees are another emerging trend, he noted, adding that several law schools, such as the one at Drake University in Iowa, have added such programs, and more are exploring similar options.

WNE is in the early developmental stages of such programs, said Gouvin, who was reluctant to offer details but did say they represent opportunities for the law school to broaden its student base.

“There are a number of professionals in non-law areas, such as insurance, financial planning, and accounting, who need to know quite a bit of law, but they’re not going to practice law,” he noted. “We’re exploring options to provide something of value to these individuals.”

Final Arguments

Looking ahead, Gouvin said the questions hanging over every law school in the country concerns when the situation regarding supply and demand will improve, and to what degree.

“Demand was artificially depressed during the downturn — this was a period of unprecedented economic disaster. As the economy improves, I think we’re going to find what we always find when the economy improves — that we’re going to need more attorneys.”

Until that time comes, though, law schools must be diligent, creative, and ever more focused on helping graduates succeed.

And the new dean at WNE believes the school is certainly up for that challenge.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

Delay of Game

What the Changes in Obamacare Implementation Mean to Employers

Rosemary J. Nevins

Not surprisingly, given the number of transitional and safe harbors included in the interpretive regulations related to the Affordable Care Act, a.k.a. ‘Obamacare,’ the most recent change is that involving the implementation of the ‘play-or-pay’ provisions applicable to large employers, which were to have taken effect Jan. 1, 2014.

The change provides for a one-year delay in the implementation of the employer-shared responsibility (ESR) provisions of the law.

Why the Delay?

According to White House business liaison Valerie Jarrett, “business owners expressed concerns about the complexity of the law’s reporting requirements,” and “businesses needed more time to get things right.” Apparently, the administration took heed of the many and varied concerns expressed by employers subject to the play-or-pay provisions and will use the one-year delay period to revamp and simplify the reporting process, and will convene employers, insurers, and experts to propose a smarter system, which, hopefully, will result in a more streamlined, workable system for large employers.

What Portions of the ACA Were Delayed?

• The ESR provisions. Under these provisions, large employers (those with 50 or more full-time employees, including full-time-equivalent employees) who choose not to offer health-insurance coverage to their full-time employees, or offer coverage that fails to provide a minimum level of coverage and/or is not ‘affordable,’ are subject to an ESR tax if even one of those employees qualifies for and purchases coverage on the state or federal exchange.

— Former deadline: this ESR provision was to be effective Jan. 1, 2014.

— New deadline: the ESR effective date is apparently Jan. 1, 2015.

• The reporting requirements. The ACA includes reporting requirements for insurers, self-insuring employers, and other entities of parties that provide health coverage. It also requires certain information from employers regarding health-insurance coverage offered to its employees.

— Former deadline: reporting was scheduled to begin in 2015 for coverage provided on on or after Jan. 1, 2014.

— New deadline: reporting is now apparently scheduled to begin in 2016 for coverage provided on or after Jan. 1, 2015.

What should employers take away from this reprieve? They will benefit from both the time extension and the potential revamping and simplifying of the originally imposed requirements under the employer-shared provisions of the law. The additional time will provide large employers the opportunity to:

• Get their written plan documentation and safe-harbor measurement rules in order;

• Organize and comply with employee-notice requirements;

• Develop operational implementation policies and procedures;

• Develop administrative procedures that will allow for seamless reporting processes;

• Consider the pros and cons of using existing health-coverage plans, get new ones, or determine whether it is more cost-effective to simply pay the regulatory tax (play or pay); and

• Decide if the company will hire an outside ACA-implementation specialist, designate the responsibility to an existing employee, or hire a full-time employee to be the ACA implementation point person.

Large employers should keep in mind that the delay in implementing the play-or-pay mandate also applies to the collection of otherwise applicable fines.

What Should Employers Do?

Since the revamping and simplification of the provisions will hopefully be less complicated than the existing ones, it would be wise for large employers to pay particular attention to notifications and information regarding the new changes as soon as they become effective.

Rosemary J. Nevins, Esq. specializes exclusively in management-side labor and employment law at Royal LLP, a woman-owned, SOMWBA-certified, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm; (413) 586-2288; [email protected].

Two-way Street

Colleges Increasingly Rely on Social Media to Interact with Students and Alumni

If colleges aren’t active in social media, Janet Garcia says, they’re not on prospective students’ radar.

In the age of smartphones and social media, Janet Garcia says, people are constantly on the lookout for information. College students are no different; in fact, they might embody that cultural shift more than anyone.

“This generation of students is on the Internet constantly,” said Garcia, director of Marketing at Westfield State University. “If you’re not on the Internet, you’re not on their radar screen.”

No worry of that at WSU, however, which uses Twitter as an information-sharing resource, LinkedIn as an alumni networking tool, and Facebook for — well, just about everything else.

“These social-media tools, are tremendously valuable to me from a marketing perspective because we’re able to engage with audiences while letting people know what’s going on and what’s coming up more efficiently,” said Garcia. “For us, it’s a great value that adds to the scope of our marketing.”

But while traditional marketing, advertising, or recruitment efforts have historically been one-way conduits, social media is, by definition, a back-and-forth effort, she noted. And that has turned the way colleges communicate with their various constituencies upside down.

“One of the best things about social media is that it facilitates a dialogue among groups that wouldn’t easily be in conversation with each other — current students, prospective students, alumnae, parents, friends of the college,” said Laurie Fenlason, vice president for Public Affairs at Smith College. “That lends authenticity and immediacy, which helps students considering Smith get a full and vivid picture of what life will be like in college and after college.”

She, like Garcia, emphasized the concept of engagement in describing her institution’s active use of Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube, as well as its lesser presence on Tumblr, Pinterest, and Foursquare.

Nancy Farrell says the Elms is active on many social-media channels, but the common denominator is engagement.

“At Smith, we have an active social-media program that engages all of our key constituencies,” Fenlason said, including alumni, current and prospective students, parents, faculty, and staff among those groups. “Our goals are not only to maximize our followers, but to create engagement and dialogue.”

For example, “a Tweet or Facebook post about a Smith graduate’s achievements can go a long way toward making the case for Smith to a prospective student and her family; they can see an actual, vivid example of the value of the education we provide,” she explained. “And videos or Instagram images give prospective students a sense of what it feels like to be on our campus — what it feels like to be a Smithie — even if they’re half a world away.”

Nancy Farrell, director of the Office of Institutional Marketing at Elms College, also used that word engagement in noting why her school is active on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram. “Each one serves a unique function in our messaging, but the one commonality they have is engagement, which is the whole concept behind social media.

“The really important thing to understand is the behavior of this generation of students,” she added. “They want things immediately. You have to instantly respond and stay connected to them — to operate where they are, and work in their environment.”

For this issue’s focus on education, BusinessWest logs on to the world of social media, and how colleges have increasingly come to rely on it to inform, stay in touch, and, yes, engage.

Click Like

Take, for example, WSU’s comprehensive strategy for Facebook.

“We use it in a lot of different ways,” Garcia said. “Our admissions staff has their own Facebook presence and use that for their own purposes, for prospective students, to keep them apprised of what’s going on, let them know deadlines, open houses, things like that.

“We also create pages for each incoming class. For example, the 2017 page was just created this year. We invite prospective students to join the page and communicate with them,” she went on, noting that the college helps with planning and tries to increase their comfort level. “Then they use that page for four years here to communicate with their classmates, share information, talk about classes, sometimes try to sell books, and talk about events they’re going to and try to get their friends to go. It’s a real communication tool.”

It’s one that continues after graduation, only as an alumni page, she added. Meanwhile, the athletic department manages a page to keep students and the public up to date on games and athletes, while individual academic departments set up pages based around those students’ interests.

And, of course, “the university has a general Facebook page to keep the public engaged,” Garcia explained. “We provide information about events and keep people engaged with what’s happening on campus — everything from infrastructure changes to a faculty member getting a grant, that kind of thing … anytime we’re in the news. We really have quite a Facebook presence.”

The Elms also encourages a vibrant Facebook culture, said Karolina Kilfeather, web manager. She said today’s college-age generation doesn’t respond to traditional messaging like their predecessors did, but are looking for something more sincere — and, again, communication that runs in both directions.

“So we’re careful about not policing what students say, even if it’s something negative,” she told BusinessWest. “We do keep our eye out for inappropriate things, like bullying or being wantonly aggressive. But beyond that, we do the best we can to respond to complaints or negativity, but never try to shut anyone off. We don’t discourage students from being honest, and because of that, they stay engaged with us.”

In short, she said, colleges need to realize there’s been a seismic shift in the way young people communicate. “It has become much more of a dialogue. The hardest thing to learn is coming down from the mountain. The audience wants a two-way channel now.”

It’s gratifying, Garcia said, when that audience spans generations. “It’s interesting because we’ll have alumni go to a class page to talk to current students about when they were here, things they did, how much things have changed. That cross-generational communication happens on Facebook a lot.”

Press Play

Kilfeather said the Elms has certainly recognized the shift, using social media to make sure people know what’s happening on campus. “It’s been very instrumental getting crisis information out, if we have potential snow days … students look for information on Facebook and Twitter. We’ve learned we get a quick response to questions on social channels.”

Meanwhile, she said, Twitter has been a positive place to engage prospects, while YouTube is useful to showcase some of the campus programs with short videos, including footage of a cafeteria flash mob and a music video created by the field hockey team.

“These were student-driven, their idea, they came up with it, and for the most part, they produced it,” said Doug Scanlon, publications manager at the Elms. “It was organic.”

Social-media moments like that are useful in projecting a different side of campus life than someone might encounter in an official college publication, Kilfeather said.

“We have a reputation for a serious image, and this is an opportunity to use a lot more humor and candor and a more conversational tone. People have responded positively to that; students look for content after events, they want to see more videos, they want to see more photos. It has changed the tenor of the relationship between colleges and students.”

And they’re not waiting until they get back to their rooms, but living in virtual connectivity 24/7, Scanlon said. “These students all have smartphones, and they’re always checking in. It’s something that’s a part of their lives now.”

Managed correctly, Kilfeather said, social media can definitely pay dividends for a college, and that includes making sure the college’s website is not only accessible from various social-media sites, but optimized for smartphones and tablets. “Facebook and Twitter are very proactive about making sure they are successful on mobile devices. No longer does somebody have to be at the computer to interact with your message.”

As a result, “our percentage of mobile traffic to the website has more than doubled every year for the past five years,” she noted. “We know we have to be available that way, to make it easy to access and share that way. Mobile devices are certainly not going away.”

Neither, most marketing professionals seem to agree, is social media, and the constant challenge is learning how to use it and what platforms to adopt.

“It’s not about putting information out the way a lot of companies do when they get on the social-media bandwagon; they think of it as just another way of pushing, pushing, the way we use traditional marketing channels. This is very different,” Farrell said.

“As technology advances and different forms of social media come out,” she added, “we have to be very cognizant whether it’s the right move for us. Just because it’s there doesn’t mean we have to use it. That’s probably our biggest challenge moving forward: to carefully choose channels that work for us as an institution.”

That’s a challenge worth undertaking at Smith, Fenlason said, because colleges that don’t take social media seriously will find themselves at a competitive disadvantage.

“It’s vital to meet prospective students where they are, on the channels and devices they value,” she said, “with content that is truly social — visual, immediate, engaging, and real.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.

GREENFIELD

Mark Pereira Electric Inc., 123 Hope St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Mark Pereira, same. Electrician.

LENOX

Hook & Loom Rug Company, 12 Beecher Lane, Lenox, MA 01240. Whitney Selke, same. Rug manufacturing.

Mazcots Sports Bar & Grill, Inc. 490 Pittsfield Road, Lenox, MA 01240. Anthony Mazzeo, 57 Winesap Road, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Sports bar.

LONGMEADOW

Gul Alam, P.C., 90 Brookside Dr., Longmeadow, MA 0110690. Aroosa Alam, MD., same. General medical practice.

HOLYOKE

Iglesia De Dios Con Nosotros Cri Stiana Unidad Inc., 16 Spring St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Jose Manuel Estrada, 20 Hampden St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Church.

NORTH ADAMS

Loomis Inc., 41 Highland Ave., North Adams, MA 01247. Lisa Ann Loomis, same. Community-based residential facility for people with developmental disabilities.

NORTHAMPTON

LogicTrail Inc., 214 State St., Northampton, MA 01060. Alexander Simon, same. Strategic marketing and development of customer relations programs.

PITTSFIELD

Feronia Forests Fund, LTD, 4 Second St., Pittsfield MA, 01201. Giovanna Cugnasca, 254 East 68th St., New York, NY 10065. Charitable and educational purposes.

KDMA06 Inc., 27E. Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Dan Talmi, 27E. Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Touring ballet.

MBA Hospitality Inc., 150 West Housatonic St., Pittsfield, MA 01201.

Bharatkumar Patel, same. Hotel.

SOUTH HADLEY

Iglesia Del Cristo Vivo, 16 Main St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Daniel Rivera, 63 Agnes St., Springfield, MA 01107. Church.

SOUTHAMPTON

Mending of the Spirit, 12 Old County Road, Southampton, MA 01073. Sunia Hood, same. Outreach to families and individuals helping to find meaning and purpose with a deeper relationship with God.

Mia’s Pizza Inc., 73 Moose Brook Road, Southampton, MA 01073. Shaun Dallas Sutherland. Pizzaria.

SPRINGFIELD

Freedom of Life Society Inc., 19 Wentworth St., Springfield, MA 01104. Richard Yyson Moutrie, 609 Aspen Glen Dr., Hamden, CT, 06518.

Giving Council Inc., 15 Watling St., Springfield, MA 01104. Marvin Council Jr., same. Community-based programs that promote financial and moral responsibility, community development, community revitalization, physical fitness, fundraising for community and charitable purposes, home ownership, and personal growth. To promote cooperation between charitable and non-profit organizations which serve the community and provide a structure for volunteers to serve.

Hot Mama’s Acquisition Corp., 134 Avocado St., Springfield, MA 01104. Matthew Morse, same. Food manufacturing and distribution.

WESTFIELD

Friends of Pine Hill Cemetery Inc., 140 West Silver St., Westfield, MA 01085. Dale Mae Dickson, 140 West Silver St., Westfield, MA 01085.

Age-old Concerns

Elder Care Sections

A chart of area home care/skilled nursing services

Click here to download the PDF

Matter of Degrees

A chart of area colleges and universities

Click here to download the PDF

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

The following real estate transactions (latest available) were compiled by Banker & Tradesman and are published as they were received. Only transactions exceeding $115,000 are listed. Buyer and seller fields contain only the first name listed on the deed.

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

1734 Baptist Corner Road

Ashfield, MA 01330

Amount: $385,000

Buyer: Carl Bravmann TR

Seller: Stewart F. Walker

Date: 06/28/13

243 Main St.

Ashfield, MA 01330

Amount: $143,800

Buyer: Thomas J. Miner

Seller: Stockwell, Laura V., (Estate)

Date: 06/24/13

863 Spruce Corner Road

Ashfield, MA 01330

Amount: $145,000

Buyer: Daniel K. Ziegler

Seller: Theodore Bruland IRT

Date: 06/28/13

CONWAY

65 South Hill Road

Conway, MA 01341

Amount: $374,000

Buyer: Michael H. Merritt

Seller: David F. Guild

Date: 06/28/13

DEERFIELD

23 Beaver Dr.

Deerfield, MA 01373

Amount: $265,000

Buyer: Marit F. Harney

Seller: Jacqueline Urban

Date: 06/28/13

4 Braeburn Road

Deerfield, MA 01373

Amount: $124,250

Buyer: Kara R. Jurkoski

Seller: FNMA

Date: 06/17/13

9 Conway St.

Deerfield, MA 01373

Amount: $170,000

Buyer: Laura A. Kuzdeba

Seller: Sharyn A. Paciorek

Date: 06/14/13

45 King Philip Ave.

Deerfield, MA 01373

Amount: $338,000

Buyer: Burnley R. Jaklevic

Seller: Daniel Dewey

Date: 06/17/13

16 Lee Road

Deerfield, MA 01373

Amount: $365,000

Buyer: Cassy A. Cohoon

Seller: Richard W. Burke

Date: 06/21/13

138 North Hillside Road

Deerfield, MA 01373

Amount: $135,000

Buyer: Francis G. Sobieski

Seller: Julia A. Griswold

Date: 06/24/13

19 Stage Road

Deerfield, MA 01373

Amount: $219,500

Buyer: James W. Laughner

Seller: Daniel J. Fuqua

Date: 06/14/13

GILL

386 Main Road

Gill, MA 01354

Amount: $200,000

Buyer: Michael A. Travisano

Seller: Joseph T. Rafferty

Date: 06/21/13

GREENFIELD

441 Adams Road

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $147,000

Buyer: Shane M. Powell

Seller: Carpenter, Dorothy I., (Estate)

Date: 06/14/13

219 Barton Road

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $225,000

Buyer: Whitney Russell

Seller: Stephen A. Garanin

Date: 06/26/13

184 Chapman St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $162,700

Buyer: Heidi Garfinkel

Seller: Michael J. Winn

Date: 06/21/13

17 Chestnut Hill

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $260,750

Buyer: Jesse R. Duquette

Seller: Norman A. Welch

Date: 06/27/13

68 Crescent St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $265,000

Buyer: Michael S. Penn-Strah

Seller: John H. Reese & Joni Denn TR

Date: 06/26/13

70 Fort Square

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $149,900

Buyer: Jennifer A. Mielinski

Seller: Sharon L. Mendyk

Date: 06/14/13

34 Grove St.

Greenfield, MA 01376

Amount: $140,000

Buyer: Louis W. Peck

Seller: Wayne P. Chapln

Date: 06/28/13

31 West St.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $139,000

Buyer: Robert C. Catlin

Seller: Charles Chandler

Date: 06/28/13

44 Wildwood Ave.

Greenfield, MA 01301

Amount: $182,050

Buyer: Mark A. Shulenburg

Date: 06/21/13

LEYDEN

37 Alexander Road

Leyden, MA 01337

Amount: $650,000

Buyer: James Schoolenberg

Seller: Greenfield Savings Bank

Date: 06/28/13

MONTAGUE

24 Avenue C

Montague, MA 01376

Amount: $151,000

Buyer: James R. Clapp

Seller: Lisa M. Sakowicz

Date: 06/28/13

8 Avenue C

Montague, MA 01376

Amount: $167,000

Buyer: Janet L. Rendall

Seller: Gail M. Findlay

Date: 06/28/13

67 Crocker Ave.

Montague, MA 01376

Amount: $170,000

Buyer: Charles E. Dodge

Seller: Juraszek, Stanley M., (Estate)

Date: 06/28/13

87 East Taylor Hill Road

Montague, MA 01351

Amount: $255,000

Buyer: Jennifer R. Atlee

Seller: Norma L. Jablonski

Date: 06/27/13

25 H St.

Montague, MA 01376

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Jaime A. Young

Seller: Richard A. Young

Date: 06/14/13

44 Oakman St.

Montague, MA 01376

Amount: $145,900

Buyer: Megan Dery

Seller: Mary L. Blumberg

Date: 06/28/13

48 Taylor Hill Road

Montague, MA 01351

Amount: $206,300

Buyer: Charles Y. Edwards

Seller: Clarkson S. Edwards

Date: 06/13/13

30 Union St.

Montague, MA 01351

Amount: $197,900

Buyer: Holly E. Anderson

Seller: James C. Lawlor

Date: 06/26/13

NEW SALEM

64 North Spec Pond Road

New Salem, MA 01355

Amount: $134,500

Buyer: Rene Arsenault

Seller: Joseph S. Bellantoni

Date: 06/27/13

NORTHFIELD

416 Millers Falls Road

Northfield, MA 01360

Amount: $277,000

Buyer: Bradley K. Woodward

Seller: Lynn M. Bassett

Date: 06/13/13

15 North Lane

Northfield, MA 01360

Amount: $225,000

Buyer: Joseph W. Bedard

Seller: Jane L. Abbott

Date: 06/14/13

750 Pine Meadow Road

Northfield, MA 01360

Amount: $152,000

Buyer: Kyle F. Pelis

Seller: Joseph E. Burt

Date: 06/28/13

804 Pine Meadow Road

Northfield, MA 01360

Amount: $225,000

Buyer: Sean J. Conlon

Seller: MW&MW Realty LLC

Date: 06/19/13

ORANGE

13 Howe St.

Orange, MA 01364

Amount: $117,318

Buyer: FNMA

Seller: William K. Whitmore

Date: 06/21/13

138 Main St.

Orange, MA 01364

Amount: $220,000

Buyer: Kevin M. McCann

Seller: Stephan E. Thompson

Date: 06/20/13

11 Memorial Dr.

Orange, MA 01364

Amount: $140,450

Buyer: Scott W. Green

Seller: Linda S. Whitesone

Date: 06/21/13

SUNDERLAND

121 N. Main St.

Sunderland, MA 01375

Amount: $655,000

Buyer: North Main 121 RT

Seller: Michael R. Skibiski

Date: 06/27/13

WARWICK

77 Hastings Heights Road

Warwick, MA 01378

Amount: $153,500

Buyer: Shawn M. Gonynor

Seller: Decoste, Stanley J., (Estate)

Date: 06/21/13

525 Old Winchester Road

Warwick, MA 01378

Amount: $134,000

Buyer: Michael Cloukey

Seller: US Bank

Date: 06/17/13

WENDELL

281 Jennison Road

Wendell, MA 01379

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Wayne Rodrigues

Seller: Peter A. Redington

Date: 06/27/13

21 Plain Road

Wendell, MA 01379

Amount: $170,000

Buyer: Patrick R. Taylor

Seller: Todd D. Muller

Date: 06/26/13

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

335 Adams St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $245,000

Buyer: Donna M. Ferraiolo

Seller: Dennis M. Roberts

Date: 06/27/13

15 Allison Lane

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $293,000

Buyer: Richard J. Zina

Seller: Lance B. Dillard

Date: 06/21/13

105 Autumn St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Ryan J. Wood

Seller: Thomas W. Foley

Date: 06/21/13

47 Barbara Lane

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $284,900

Buyer: Amy L. Bishop

Seller: Shannon L. Page

Date: 06/25/13

60 Campbell Dr.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $179,000

Buyer: Anthony T. Depalo

Seller: Cori A. Verteramo

Date: 06/17/13

55 Forest Ridge Lane

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $317,500

Buyer: Carol R. Lapolice

Seller: Jaclyn Pendergast

Date: 06/28/13

29 Highland Ave.

Agawam, MA 01001

Buyer: David M. Hadley

Seller: John J. Crean

Date: 06/21/13

50 Kanawha Ave.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $120,000

Buyer: Gregory Ruge

Seller: FNMA

Date: 06/26/13

69 Line St.

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $265,000

Buyer: Peter Privedenyuk

Seller: Pavel Kuzmenko

Date: 06/28/13

1084 Main St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $208,000

Buyer: Ryan A. Lottermoser

Seller: Karen Marceau

Date: 06/19/13

46 Main St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $145,000

Buyer: Edward R. Dearborn

Seller: Michael Torcia

Date: 06/17/13

32 Maple Meadows Lane

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $370,000

Buyer: Jeffrey Kowarsky

Seller: FNMA

Date: 06/26/13

16 Morgan St.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $158,000

Buyer: Joseph A. Bshara

Seller: Kelly Wilson

Date: 06/27/13

326 N. West St.

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $177,000

Buyer: Robert P. Ollari

Seller: Vincent L. Palange

Date: 06/18/13

23 Pembroke Lane

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $369,900

Buyer: Van Q. Nguyen

Seller: Alicemae V. Bell

Date: 06/19/13

76 Red Fox Dr.

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $220,000

Buyer: Kristy Ritson

Seller: Christina L. Trolio

Date: 06/27/13

40 Redwood Dr.

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $215,000

Buyer: Emmi Chaban

Seller: Beryl A. Robinson

Date: 06/28/13

71 Ridgeview Dr.

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $260,000

Buyer: Jennifer D. Dillard

Seller: Donald J. Pisano

Date: 06/27/13

353 River Road

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $166,500

Buyer: Seth T. Dihlmann

Seller: Robert Bouley

Date: 06/21/13

38 Roberta Circle

Agawam, MA 01001

Amount: $126,000

Buyer: Kent M. Burgess

Seller: Kent M. Burgess

Date: 06/27/13

521 S. West St.

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $210,000

Buyer: David J. Limero

Seller: Noreen A. Robinson

Date: 06/28/13

712 S. West St.

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $267,412

Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank NA

Seller: Tammy L. Martin

Date: 06/24/13

64 Spear Farm Road

Agawam, MA 01030

Amount: $485,000

Buyer: Stephen S. Page

Seller: Christopher R. Wargo

Date: 06/27/13

BLANDFORD

11 Kaolin Road

Blandford, MA 01008

Amount: $178,700

Buyer: William T. Ragusa

Seller: Douglas G. Jaeger

Date: 06/21/13

CHICOPEE

89 6th Ave.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $165,000

Buyer: Karen E. Archambault

Seller: Doris E. Piquette

Date: 06/25/13

159 Beauregard Terrace

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $169,024

Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank

Seller: Luz M. Cotto

Date: 06/21/13

257 Broadway St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $120,000

Buyer: Cabot Realty LLC

Seller: Thomas G. Langlois

Date: 06/17/13

135 Catherine St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $229,000

Buyer: Ronald R. Belair

Seller: Bonnie Derosia

Date: 06/28/13

33 Chapel St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $181,000

Buyer: Abbas M. Hamdan

Seller: Jeremy V. Kenneson

Date: 06/17/13

109 Chateaugay St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $155,000

Buyer: Jomi V. Reis

Seller: 14 Jardine Street TR

Date: 06/27/13

134 College St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $166,000

Buyer: Jeannette M. Sterniak

Seller: Richard V. Obuchowski

Date: 06/26/13

55 Cortland St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $154,000

Buyer: Michelle A. Williams

Seller: Stephen J. Ritson

Date: 06/27/13

15 Dawn St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $175,000

Buyer: Felix L. Padilla

Seller: Edward T. Winchester

Date: 06/21/13

213 Dayton St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $155,000

Buyer: Bill M. Krasinkiewicz

Seller: Robert Morgan

Date: 06/20/13

271 Fletcher Circle

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $179,900

Buyer: Michael M. Rivera

Seller: Shannon L. Page

Date: 06/27/13

10 Lavalle Ave.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $275,000

Buyer: Lauren G. Creanza

Seller: Waycon Inc.

Date: 06/28/13

164 Lukasik St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $116,000

Buyer: DGL Properties LLC

Seller: Henry C. Lemanski

Date: 06/20/13

31 Macek Dr.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $182,000

Buyer: Janet M. Simard

Seller: Dolores R. Arcott

Date: 06/28/13

15 Marion St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $124,250

Buyer: Stacy A. Aleixo

Seller: Walter H. Pirog

Date: 06/21/13

17 Marion St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $124,250

Buyer: Stacy A. Aleixo

Seller: Walter H. Pirog

Date: 06/21/13

37 Moreau Dr.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $201,500

Buyer: Vicki Garrity

Seller: Mary T. Barrepski

Date: 06/20/13

63 Schley St.

Chicopee, MA 01020

Amount: $235,000

Buyer: Jeffery J. Corder

Seller: Lora B. Reyes

Date: 06/19/13

1 Springfield St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Ames 2 Wing LP

Seller: Ames Privilege Assocs. LP

Date: 06/26/13

62 Stedman St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $115,000

Buyer: Andrew N. Morrisette

Seller: Raymond F. Martel

Date: 06/20/13

29 Warregan St.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $154,650

Buyer: Preston L. Micks

Seller: Maria J. Martins

Date: 06/28/13

17 Whitin Ave.

Chicopee, MA 01013

Amount: $154,000

Buyer: Susanne D. Gagnon

Seller: RCS Props LLC

Date: 06/21/13

EAST LONGMEADOW

25 Anne St.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $185,000

Buyer: Melinda A. Mitton

Seller: Michael Nolan

Date: 06/25/13

4 Auburn St.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $176,000

Buyer: Karen Masi

Seller: John Carney

Date: 06/28/13

17 Betterley Lane

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $413,000

Buyer: Christy L. Gilbert

Seller: Bretta Construction LLC

Date: 06/28/13

47 Deerfoot Dr.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $290,000

Buyer: Edward W. Moran

Seller: Jay C. Seyler

Date: 06/27/13

108 Gerrard Ave.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $195,000

Buyer: Dianne C. Lozier

Seller: Stacy L. Passmore

Date: 06/19/13

46 Highlandview Ave.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $185,000

Buyer: John R. Frazier

Seller: Warren, Francis B., (Estate)

Date: 06/28/13

31 James St.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $320,000

Buyer: Christopher M. Fenton

Seller: Mark D. Thomas

Date: 06/25/13

16 Meadowbrook Road

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $200,000

Buyer: Mark A. Bilton

Seller: Johnson, Frances M., (Estate)

Date: 06/21/13

24 Old Pasture Dr.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $455,000

Buyer: Arne O. Arnesen

Seller: David S. Placzek

Date: 06/21/13

200 Porter Road

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $265,250

Buyer: Anne M. Nolan

Seller: Matthew Campbell

Date: 06/25/13

16 Ramonas Way

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $355,500

Buyer: Daniel Loftus

Seller: Longo, Theresa M., (Estate)

Date: 06/28/13

27 S. Brook Road

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $424,500

Buyer: Dylan E. Bond

Seller: Anne M. Dunn

Date: 06/24/13

45 Somers Road

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $232,000

Buyer: Apryl Thomas

Seller: Brian J. Stromwall

Date: 06/26/13

147 Tanglewood Dr.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $337,000

Buyer: Anne M. Dunn

Seller: Penelope Johnson

Date: 06/24/13

90 Waterman Ave.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $320,000

Buyer: Thevenin C. Beauzile

Seller: Peter M. Maruca

Date: 06/25/13

41 White Ave.

East Longmeadow, MA 01028

Amount: $194,900

Buyer: Derick T. Levesque

Seller: Trey M. Cushman

Date: 06/21/13

GRANVILLE

157 Hartland Hollow Road

Granville, MA 01034

Amount: $325,000

Buyer: Richard C. Hasko

Seller: Reine P. McCormick

Date: 06/28/13

HAMPDEN

41 Allen Crest St.

Hampden, MA 01036

Amount: $225,000

Buyer: Anthony M. Giacomoni

Seller: Flora M. Chechile

Date: 06/28/13

332 Bennett Road

Hampden, MA 01036

Amount: $380,000

Buyer: Christopher R. Faust

Seller: Jarrett Thomas

Date: 06/28/13

Chapin Road

Hampden, MA 01036

Amount: $150,000

Buyer: Annette L. Pafumi

Seller: Dorothea K. Radzicki

Date: 06/28/13

21 Colonial Village

Hampden, MA 01036

Amount: $258,000

Buyer: Krystyna S. Sullivan

Seller: Paul Vella

Date: 06/28/13

334 South Road

Hampden, MA 01036

Amount: $215,000

Buyer: Allison B. Thomas

Seller: Andrew G. Clines

Date: 06/28/13

75 Steepleview Dr.

Amount: $657,500

Buyer: Elia R. Sardella

Seller: Donald J. Collins

Date: 06/21/13

HOLLAND

9 Vinton Road

Holland, MA 01521

Amount: $145,000

Buyer: Sean G. Lewis

Seller: Michael McGeary

Date: 06/27/13

HOLYOKE

19 Anderson Ave.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $165,669

Buyer: Beneficial Mass. Inc.

Seller: Daniel J. Corliss

Date: 06/26/13

30 Breton Lane

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $220,000

Buyer: Josue M. Salgado

Seller: Lisa R. Meidlinger

Date: 06/17/13

86 Brook St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $170,000

Buyer: Austin Monett

Seller: Kenneth L. Fitzgibbon

Date: 06/17/13

34 Carol Lane

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $265,000

Buyer: Nicole D. Fountain

Seller: David A. Kalicka

Date: 06/28/13

65 Eastern Promenade St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Andrew S. Lafrennie

Seller: Brian A. Fournier

Date: 06/18/13

4 Lexington Ave.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $270,000

Buyer: Mary B. Annarella

Seller: Kevin A. Burke

Date: 06/21/13

28 Longwood Ave.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $135,000

Buyer: Shane M. Ezyk

Seller: MHFA

191 Lower Westfield Road

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $308,000

Buyer: Douglas A. Clark

Seller: Ronald Canon

Date: 06/20/13

2 Lynn Ann Dr.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Roberta Krause

Seller: Louise T. McCleary

Date: 06/21/13

9 Meadowview Road

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $188,000

Buyer: John A. Finn

Seller: Clement A. Messier

Date: 06/28/13

131 Norwood Terrace

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $199,900

Buyer: Michael T. Dodge

Seller: James M. Moynihan

Date: 06/27/13

24 Old Ferry Road

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $310,000

Buyer: Anthony J. Valentino

Seller: Candice Demers

Date: 06/26/13

12 Princeton St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $345,000

Buyer: Jaimie A. Fallon

Seller: Jeffrey Falcon

Date: 06/17/13

24 Quinn Dr.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $125,000

Buyer: Bridgette O. Sullivan

Seller: Michael J. Quinn

Date: 06/26/13

369 South St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $120,000

Buyer: 369 South St. Holdings LLC

Seller: Joseph G. Dafonseca

Date: 06/18/13

7 Thorpe Ave.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $367,500

Buyer: Hilltop Garden Apt. LLC

Seller: Jazab LLC

Date: 06/28/13

30 Vadnais St.

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $237,000

Buyer: Jennifer L. Cooper

Seller: Marie E. Fallon

Date: 06/17/13

25 Vassar Circle

Holyoke, MA 01040

Amount: $187,500

Buyer: Patricia M. Dupont

Seller: Richard M. Pafik

Date: 06/28/13

LONGMEADOW

296 Ardsley Road

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Amount: $925,000

Buyer: Eric S. Shapiro

Seller: Todd M. Adelson

Date: 06/28/13

322 Blueberry Hill Road

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Amount: $337,000

Buyer: Ausher M. Kofsky

Seller: Brian C. Edgerly

Date: 06/26/13

28 Farmington Ave.

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Amount: $388,000

Buyer: Mary C. Carpenter

Seller: Scott Paquette

Date: 06/13/13

299 Frank Smith Road

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Amount: $286,000

Buyer: Peter C. Axtmann

Seller: Kathleen B. Crowley

Date: 06/20/13

16 Glenbrook Lane

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Amount: $495,000

Buyer: George E. Markoulakis

Seller: Patrick A. Barnett

Date: 06/28/13

679 Laurel St.

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Amount: $339,000

Buyer: Jonathan Han

Seller: Kenneth R. Holt

Date: 06/26/13

45 White Oaks Dr.

Longmeadow, MA 01106

Amount: $425,000

Buyer: Annika E. Piper

Seller: Shelly H. Stream

Date: 06/28/13

LUDLOW

73 Gaudreau Ave.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Buyer: Nicholas S. Assarian

Seller: Caleb E. Bresnahan

Date: 06/21/13

58 Georgetown Road

Ludlow, MA 01056

Amount: $190,000

Buyer: Heidi Morace

Seller: Elizabeth J. McGrath

Date: 06/27/13

76 Grimard St.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Amount: $155,000

Buyer: Matthew T. Forest

Seller: Kevin A. Hill

Date: 06/28/13

89 Grimard St.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Amount: $164,000

Buyer: Nicholas J. Gagne

Seller: Claire Duffy

Date: 06/28/13

45 Irla Dr.

Ludlow, MA 01056

Amount: $278,500

Buyer: Marnie J. Bovee

Seller: Melissa Miller

Date: 06/27/13

MONSON

113 Bogan Road

Monson, MA 01057

Amount: $230,000

Buyer: Paul Sullivan

Seller: Montgomery, Valerie W., (Estate)

Date: 06/25/13

22 Crest Road

Monson, MA 01057

Amount: $210,000

Buyer: Noreen A. Robinson

Seller: Curt M. Szado

Date: 06/28/13

3 Highland Ave.

Monson, MA 01057

Amount: $120,000

Buyer: John S. Fiester

Seller: Coolong, Robert J., (Estate)

Date: 06/27/13

118 Wales Road

Monson, MA 01057

Amount: $235,000

Buyer: Michelle L. Strum

Seller: Yvon J. Laliberte

Date: 06/20/13

144 Woodhill Road

Monson, MA 01057

Amount: $330,000

Buyer: Stephen Gallant

Seller: Kenneth P. Atkins

Date: 06/18/13

PALMER

77 Flynt St.

Palmer, MA 01069

Amount: $210,732

Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank

Seller: Jill M. Brochu-Conselino

Date: 06/28/13

1070 Pine St.

Palmer, MA 01069

Amount: $164,000

Buyer: Pamela T. Johnson

Seller: Karin E. Patenaude

Date: 06/26/13

2062 Pleasant St.

Palmer, MA 01080

Amount: $205,000

Buyer: Kevin P. Burdick

Seller: John J. Larose

Date: 06/27/13

37 Saint John St.

Palmer, MA 01069

Amount: $152,000

Buyer: Samantha J. Jacobs

Seller: FNMA

Date: 06/28/13

RUSSELL

71 Pine Hill Road

Russell, MA 01071

Amount: $175,400

Buyer: Danielle M. Lafond

Seller: Wayne Rodrigues

Date: 06/27/13

SPRINGFIELD

120 Abbott St.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $130,000

Buyer: Twaila L. Meadows

Seller: Kenneth MacDonald

Date: 06/24/13

864 Alden St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $115,000

Buyer: FHLM

Seller: Denice Ranson

Date: 06/19/13

696 Allen St.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $139,900

Buyer: Jose Rivera

Seller: Catherine Buendo

Date: 06/28/13

122 Atwater Terrace

Springfield, MA 01107

Amount: $168,250

Buyer: Maura E. McDonald

Seller: Radner, Stella T., (Estate)

Date: 06/28/13

98 Bacon Road

Springfield, MA 01119

Amount: $159,000

Buyer: Brian Fox

Seller: Matthew Fuller

Date: 06/28/13

511 Belmont Ave.

Springfield, MA 01108

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Truong Nguyen

Seller: SCS Realty Corp.

Date: 06/26/13

115 Birchland Ave.

Springfield, MA 01119

Amount: $200,401

Buyer: PHH Mortgage Corp.

Seller: Daniel Soule

Date: 06/24/13

630 Bradley Road

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $115,250

Buyer: JB Squared LLC

Seller: Earl M. Dwyer

Date: 06/20/13

14 Bulat Dr.

Springfield, MA 01129

Amount: $160,500

Buyer: Mona M. Bradley

Seller: Jean E. Baclawski

Date: 06/27/13

27 Carroll St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Amount: $132,000

Buyer: Aaron Vo

Seller: Anthony L. Santaniello

Date: 06/28/13

30 Catalina Dr.

Springfield, MA 01128

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Earl F. Hunt

Seller: Michael K. Glickman

Date: 06/25/13

223 Central St.

Springfield, MA 01105

Amount: $145,000

Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC

Seller: Marisel Olmeda

Date: 06/27/13

89 Cliftwood St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Amount: $280,000

Buyer: Scott Morrissette

Seller: DB Properties LLC

Date: 06/21/13

305 Denver St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $146,000

Buyer: Nilda M. Colon

Seller: Regina B. Tillery-Jenkins

Date: 06/20/13

83 Derryfield Ave.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $165,000

Buyer: Kathryn A. Ellis

Seller: William Raleigh

Date: 06/25/13

12 Duffy Lane

Springfield, MA 01119

Amount: $135,000

Buyer: Erica T. Belder

Seller: Patricia A. Range

Date: 06/28/13

246 Dutchess St.

Springfield, MA 01129

Amount: $175,067

Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank

Seller: Jessica L. Vincent

Date: 06/28/13

265 Dwight St.

Springfield, MA 01105

Amount: $198,223

Buyer: BSC Realty Inc.

Seller: 265-271 Dwight Street Inc.

Date: 06/21/13

86 East St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Amount: $123,000

Buyer: Efrain P. Matias

Seller: Marie E. Bond

Date: 06/28/13

19 Eddy St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Amount: $158,875

Buyer: Egidio M. Robinson

Seller: Eddie A. Torres

Date: 06/17/13

168 Ellsworth Ave.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $152,500

Buyer: Sean Ross

Seller: Benjamin S. Hemingway

Date: 06/21/13

11 Forbes Circle

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $185,000

Buyer: Ali Reza Vahadji

Seller: Brian L. Weigel

Date: 06/19/13

170 Jeffrey Road

Springfield, MA 01119

Amount: $125,000

Buyer: Enyoe Invst. Props. Inc.

Seller: US Bank NA

Date: 06/28/13

24 Jenness St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Amount: $116,000

Buyer: Jacob A. Saleh

Seller: Karen Rossini

Date: 06/28/13

38 Lester St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Amount: $159,900

Buyer: Donicia S. Hall

Seller: Sergey Savonin

Date: 06/27/13

26 Lockwood Ave.

Springfield, MA 01151

Amount: $150,000

Buyer: Edward R. Jalowski

Seller: Vincent D. Martins

Date: 06/17/13

56 Lois St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $125,000

Buyer: Deanna J. Silva

Seller: Sergey Savonin

Date: 06/24/13

87 Loretta St.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $184,486

Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank

Seller: Jeffrey M. Goff

Date: 06/20/13

5 Mark St.

Springfield, MA 01129

Amount: $142,500

Buyer: Rodney L. Rodriguez

Seller: Krystyna S. Sullivan

Date: 06/28/13

27 Margerie St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $150,000

Buyer: FNMA

Seller: Josefina Fernandez

Date: 06/13/13

54 Melville St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Amount: $125,000

Buyer: Maribel Sanchez

Seller: Denise Silva

Date: 06/28/13

87 Newton Road

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Mark T. Quinn

Seller: Patricia E. Johnson

Date: 06/26/13

113 Pennsylvania Ave.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $147,000

Buyer: Jeffrey J. Bienevenue

Seller: Donna K. Carlson

Date: 06/28/13

50 Princeton St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $128,000

Buyer: Jihad N. Islam

Seller: Michael L. Wiersma

Date: 06/24/13

177 Ramblewood Dr.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $172,000

Buyer: Anthony C. Racco

Seller: Alexander D. Verbun

Date: 06/28/13

40 Ruthven St.

Springfield, MA 01128

Amount: $127,000

Buyer: Scott J. Silkey

Seller: Kasey A. Peters

Date: 06/27/13

22 South Tallyho Dr.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $213,000

Buyer: Anne M. Lesueur

Seller: Jose O. Ramos

Date: 06/24/13

139 Saint James Circle

Springfield, MA 01104

Amount: $124,900

Buyer: Stacee L. Crane

Seller: Deborah A. Burrill

Date: 06/28/13

10 Sara Lynn Dr.

Springfield, MA 01129

Amount: $150,000

Buyer: Milta I. Sostre

Seller: Joseph E. Lemanski

Date: 06/27/13

26 Spencer St.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $124,000

Buyer: Kristen H. Corbett

Seller: Ynosensio Banuelos

Date: 06/26/13

20 Standish St.

Springfield, MA 01108

Amount: $190,000

Buyer: Yulaina M. Valle

Seller: Hole In 1 Investments LLC

Date: 06/27/13

851 State St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $200,000

Buyer: Mason Square Apartments LP

Seller: MHFA

Date: 06/26/13

963 Sumner Ave.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $118,575

Buyer: US Bank

Seller: Daniel Ayala

Date: 06/13/13

88 Tyler St.

Springfield, MA 01109

Amount: $137,371

Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank NA

Seller: Annmarie Martinez

Date: 06/20/13

115 Venture Dr.

Springfield, MA 01119

Amount: $218,900

Buyer: Cambel M. Berk

Seller: Scott D. Hathaway

Date: 06/28/13

147 Whittum Ave.

Springfield, MA 01118

Amount: $217,500

Buyer: Robert J. Bousquet

Seller: Dominic Arillotta

Date: 06/26/13

102 Woodmont St.

Springfield, MA 01104

Amount: $116,000

Buyer: Eliana Febus

Seller: Nancy A. Fonger

Date: 06/18/13

1134 Worcester St.

Springfield, MA 01151

Amount: $144,013

Buyer: Wells Fargo Financial

Seller: Larry F. Mathisen

Date: 06/19/13

SOUTHWICK

6 Chapman St.

Southwick, MA 01077

Amount: $140,000

Buyer: Joseph M. Doyle

Seller: Ralph T. Liptak

Date: 06/28/13

23 Congamond Road

Southwick, MA 01077

Amount: $129,349

Buyer: FNMA

Seller: Ryan Steinberg

Date: 06/20/13

16 Fenton Dr.

Southwick, MA 01077

Amount: $380,000

Buyer: Alicia M. Shelvay

Seller: B&E Aircraft Component

Date: 06/28/13

30 Lakeview St.

Southwick, MA 01077

Amount: $233,000

Buyer: Debra A. Croteau

Seller: Neighborhood Ent. LLC

Date: 06/28/13

52 Pineywood Road

Southwick, MA 01077

Amount: $139,000

Buyer: Chelsea B. Goforth

Seller: Doreen D. Maloney

Date: 06/26/13

6 Tree Top Lane

Southwick, MA 01077

Amount: $275,750

Buyer: Ross A. Gazzaniga

Seller: Theresa Marciel-Carr

Date: 06/25/13

WEST SPRINGFIELD

116 Almon Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $169,500

Buyer: Uladzimir Loban

Seller: Michael A. Farella

Date: 06/28/13

229 Bear Hole Road

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $320,000

Buyer: Sarah M. Fontana

Seller: Antonietta Santaniello

Date: 06/20/13

24 Birnie Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $212,000

Buyer: Marilyn C. Castillo

Seller: John D. Lynham

Date: 06/28/13

621 Birnie Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $184,000

Buyer: Todd N. Bajor

Seller: Orr, Carol A., (Estate)

Date: 06/21/13

48 Bonair Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $232,000

Buyer: Joshua Gage

Seller: Mark S. Edwards

Date: 06/28/13

71 Bridle Path Road

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $263,000

Buyer: Robert J. Miles

Seller: Keith G. Buoniconti

Date: 06/25/13

52 Chestnut St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $175,000

Buyer: Patrick M. Connors

Seller: Timothy McGovern

Date: 06/21/13

349 Circle Dr.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $188,000

Buyer: Jessica L. Brodeur

Seller: Christy L. Gilbert

Date: 06/28/13

139 City View Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $162,000

Buyer: Fred U. Sisson

Seller: Claire C. Lefebvre

Date: 06/21/13

363 Dewey St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $259,000

Buyer: William M. Hartt

Seller: Vincent R. Rizzo

Date: 06/28/13

481 Dewey St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $201,000

Buyer: Bryan M. Ghedi

Seller: Buddy L. Denison

Date: 06/27/13

1346 Elm St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $355,000

Buyer: Peter A. Samberg

Seller: 1346 Elm Street Properties LLC

Date: 06/20/13

187 Elm St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $240,000

Buyer: Gennaro Moccia

Seller: Stephen C. Lang

Date: 06/19/13

570 Elm St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $151,500

Buyer: Dawn M. Spiegler

Seller: Brad A. Whitaker

Date: 06/28/13

22 Havenhurst Road

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $282,000

Buyer: David M. Craven

Seller: Baatz, Jane B., (Estate)

Date: 06/21/13

7 High Meadow Dr.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $262,000

Buyer: Mark A. Tokarz

Seller: Amarinder Dhillon-Yadav

Date: 06/28/13

21 Hill St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $162,000

Buyer: Samir A. Almoula

Seller: Rosemary F. Galary

Date: 06/24/13

96 Kelly Dr.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $315,000

Buyer: John F. Boisjolie

Seller: Kevin J. Smith

Date: 06/28/13

1312 Memorial Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $160,000

Buyer: 1312 Memorial Avenue LLC

Seller: Kozar Realty LLC

Date: 06/27/13

23 Nelson St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $180,600

Buyer: Matthew Flagg

Seller: Lori Laughran

Date: 06/26/13

1211 Piper Road

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $218,000

Buyer: Jordan L. Marshall

Seller: Robert L. TR IRA

Date: 06/20/13

200 Poplar Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $279,000

Buyer: Diane M. Leitao

Seller: Bruce L. Gendron

Date: 06/21/13

51 Rogers Ave.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $205,000

Buyer: Adam R. Bryant

Seller: Richard A. Guzzo

Date: 06/24/13

40 Smyrna St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $175,000

Buyer: Courtney L. Santaniello

Seller: Sarah M. Fontana

Date: 06/20/13

261 Union St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Bliny Crepes Tea House

Seller: John Huang

Date: 06/28/13

16 Wistaria St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $129,900

Buyer: Aaron J. Fontana

Seller: US Bank NA

Date: 06/21/13

2019 Westfield St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $296,549

Buyer: FNMA

Seller: Christopher C. Olko

Date: 06/13/13

6 Woodmont St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $123,300

Buyer: Brian D. Hurt

Seller: Michael Forrest

Date: 06/19/13

95 Woodmont St.

West Springfield, MA 01089

Amount: $154,013

Buyer: FNMA

Seller: Crystal M. Minniear

Date: 06/24/13

WESTFIELD

20 Big Wood Dr.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $348,000

Buyer: Jason W. Adams

Seller: David B. Smith

Date: 06/21/13

44 Camelot Lane

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $602,500

Buyer: Ryan C. Moltenbrey

Seller: John R. Gaudrault

Date: 06/27/13

13 Dubois St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $160,000

Buyer: Andrew L. Carmel

Seller: Glenn P. Wisniowski

Date: 06/28/13

119 Eastwood Dr.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $282,500

Buyer: Keith G. Buoniconti

Seller: John M. Sinopoli

Date: 06/25/13

451 Falley Dr.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $450,000

Buyer: Yaroslav Burkovskiy

Seller: Eoin B. Stafford

Date: 06/28/13

13 Florence St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $188,500

Buyer: Molly C. St.Peter

Seller: Kimberly A. Bailot

Date: 06/28/13

17 Hickory Ave.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $167,000

Buyer: Vera P. Gavrilyuk

Seller: Jean C. Lynch

Date: 06/27/13

29 Joseph Ave.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $176,000

Buyer: Kristen E. Browning

Seller: Kimberly A. Juden

Date: 06/28/13

19 Linden Ave.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $141,000

Buyer: Bethany L. Fisher

Seller: Sturmer, Jane M., (Estate)

Date: 06/27/13

359 Montgomery Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $190,000

Buyer: Nicholas S. Orluk

Seller: Jo Ann M. Orluk

Date: 06/26/13

49 Montgomery St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $182,550

Buyer: Justin Alward

Seller: Normand P. Leblanc

Date: 06/28/13

71 Paper Mill Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $185,000

Buyer: Edwin Iserman

Seller: Jeffrey W. Porter

Date: 06/20/13

44 Pequot Point Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $195,000

Buyer: Carine Laverdiere

Seller: Bruce D. Martin

Date: 06/28/13

83 Pineridge Dr.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $370,000

Buyer: Shahab Rastegar

Seller: John A. Lehman

Date: 06/26/13

61 Pontoosic Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $169,000

Buyer: Dianna M. Bolton

Seller: Ross E. Rogers

Date: 06/25/13

162 Reservoir Ave.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $170,000

Buyer: David E. Gardner

Seller: TC Dev. LLC

Date: 06/26/13

188 Reservoir Ave.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $187,500

Buyer: Deborah Bruce

Seller: Kevin E. Dunbar

Date: 06/28/13

63 Robinson Dr.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $194,000

Buyer: Kelly Diaz

Seller: Kenneth J. Lebel

Date: 06/28/13

302 Russell Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $195,000

Buyer: Joseph A. Craven

Seller: Anne L. Treny

Date: 06/21/13

11 Sabrina Brooke Lane

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $324,000

Buyer: Joe Reyes

Seller: Tracy L. Hautanen-Kriel

Date: 06/19/13

9 Sherman St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $129,000

Buyer: Judith A. Lennon

Seller: Gary Drinkwater

Date: 06/28/13

7 Springdale St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $130,100

Buyer: Laura V. Iderstine

Seller: Sharon L. Burt

Date: 06/21/13

16 Violet Circle

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $382,100

Buyer: Heather E. Schnopp

Seller: Scarfo Construction Inc.

Date: 06/28/13

43 Waterford Dr.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $360,000

Buyer: Jocelyn Harrelson

Seller: Karen M. Regan

Date: 06/28/13

152 Whitaker Road

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $335,000

Buyer: Kevin M. Daley

Seller: Michael Werman

Date: 06/28/13

89 White St.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $137,000

Buyer: US Bank

Seller: Thomas Otero

Date: 06/25/13

55 Zephyr Dr.

Westfield, MA 01085

Amount: $195,000

Buyer: Deborah A. Fiorentino

Seller: Roberta M. Keane

Date: 06/28/13

WILBRAHAM

10 Bittersweet Lane

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $391,250

Buyer: Brian J. Stromwall

Seller: Judith A. Knapp

Date: 06/28/13

5 Burleigh Road

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $289,900

Buyer: Scott D. Hathaway

Seller: Kenneth W. Blanchard

Date: 06/28/13

123 Cherry Dr.

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $294,900

Buyer: Theresa C. Fall

Seller: 2301 Boston Road LLC

Date: 06/25/13

934 Glendale Road

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $213,500

Buyer: Benjamin S. Hemingway

Seller: Linda J. Cloutier

Date: 06/24/13

1 Pearl Dr.

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $262,500

Buyer: Margaret Labrode

Seller: Gregory P. Donovan

Date: 06/25/13

29 Stony Hill Road

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $163,000

Buyer: Michael J. Pluta

Seller: Thomas A. Pluta

Date: 06/18/13

5 Sunset Rock Road

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $142,405

Buyer: Matthew Thouin

Seller: Bank Of America FSB

Date: 06/27/13

24 Tinkham Glen

Wilbraham, MA 01095

Amount: $260,000

Buyer: Nicole M. Fusco

Seller: James Kaveney

Date: 06/28/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

78 Aubinwood Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $405,000

Buyer: Luiz A. Amaral

Seller: Jan E. Servaes

Date: 06/21/13

615 Bay Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $500,000

Buyer: Town Of Amherst

Seller: Thomas Ricci

Date: 06/18/13

133 Chestnut St.

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $265,000

Buyer: Anita A. Fabos

Seller: Hugh S. Clark

Date: 06/27/13

66 Flat Hills Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $285,000

Buyer: Heath R. Hatch

Seller: William J. Gerace

Date: 06/13/13

81 Harlow Dr.

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $224,000

Buyer: Jasmine O. Kerrissey

Seller: Lung Nan Lin

Date: 06/21/13

21 Harris St.

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $295,000

Buyer: Edie Meidav

Seller: Lillian B. Silver

Date: 06/14/13

325 Leverett Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $667,500

Buyer: Kimball A. Prentiss

Seller: Marnie S. Dacko

Date: 06/28/13

9 Newell Court

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $307,000

Buyer: Noah B. Kuhn

Seller: Bette Abrams-Esche

Date: 06/20/13

10 Overlook Dr.

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $410,000

Buyer: Peter J. Everett

Seller: Robert M. Dimock

Date: 06/25/13

46 Pomeroy Lane

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $295,000

Buyer: Narayan Sampath

Seller: Ethan J. Nedeau

Date: 06/24/13

156 Pomeroy Lane

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $257,800

Buyer: Matthew D. Dobson

Seller: Andrew F. Thibault

Date: 06/14/13

42 Ridgecrest Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $416,000

Buyer: Michael E. Williamson

Seller: Virginia Kenney

Date: 06/14/13

327 Shays St.

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $699,000

Buyer: Emily Marsters

Seller: Burt W. Ewart

Date: 06/18/13

297 Shutesbury Road

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $456,000

Buyer: Bradley R. Brummett

Seller: Charles L. Nunn

Date: 06/26/13

39 Trillium Way

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $570,000

Buyer: David A. James

Seller: John S. Katzenbach

Date: 06/21/13

27 Van Meter Dr.

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $307,720

Buyer: Michael P. Hafferman

Seller: Robert C. Kleindienst

Date: 06/28/13

3 Willow Lane

Amherst, MA 01002

Amount: $220,000

Buyer: Ryan Harb

Seller: Ryan Harb

Date: 06/20/13

BELCHERTOWN

50 Aldrich St.

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $212,500

Buyer: Paula C. Teixeira

Seller: Deborah M. Levheim

Date: 06/28/13

117 Clark St.

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $225,000

Buyer: Christopher H. Newman

Seller: James F. Bush

Date: 06/18/13

23 Doe Hollow

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $251,345

Buyer: FNMA

Seller: James M. Sorrell

Date: 06/21/13

172 Federal St.

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $200,000

Buyer: Jonathan D. Marshall

Seller: Steven D. Lepage

Date: 06/28/13

148 Gold St.

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $145,000

Buyer: Roy A. Balthzard

Seller: Roy A. Balthzard

Date: 06/17/13

6 Gulf Road

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $192,000

Buyer: Robert V. Gallant

Seller: George W. Huber

Date: 06/28/13

9 Hemlock Hollow

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $288,000

Buyer: Daniel Mejia-Martinez

Seller: James E. Tisdell

Date: 06/25/13

49 Henry Dr.

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $265,000

Buyer: Richard J. Maldanis

Seller: Wesley Greene

Date: 06/25/13

3 Martin Circle

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $265,000

Buyer: Zachariah J. Johnson

Seller: Gerard H. Biron

Date: 06/28/13

160 Old Enfield Road

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $401,000

Buyer: Darrell Probst

Seller: Kathleen L. Scott RET

Date: 06/17/13

29 Pendleton Road

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $325,000

Buyer: Steven J. Crowe

Seller: Gregory K. Johnson

Date: 06/28/13

17 Westview Dr.

Belchertown, MA 01007

Amount: $300,000

Buyer: Carolyn M. Tirreno

Seller: Marlaina H. Cataldi

Date: 06/14/13

CUMMINGTON

523 Stage Road

Cummington, MA 01026

Amount: $345,000

Buyer: James O. Wettereau

Seller: Anthony W. Coviello

Date: 06/18/13

EASTHAMPTON

19 Button Road

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $125,000

Buyer: Bonnie G. Bleecher

Seller: EH Homeownership LLC

Date: 06/28/13

12 Fairfield Ave.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $136,000

Buyer: Audra Y. McGee

Seller: Anne D. Bialek

Date: 06/18/13

3 Fox Run

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $412,400

Buyer: Justin M. Daly

Seller: David A. Hardy Construction LLC

Date: 06/24/13

45 Franklin St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $170,491

Buyer: Strong Ave. LLC

Seller: Thomas S. Stuart

Date: 06/14/13

7 Gaugh St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $140,000

Buyer: Michael S. Demarey

Seller: Michael J. Demarey

Date: 06/28/13

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $225,000

Buyer: Sean K. Porth

Seller: Fortier, Michael T., (Estate)

Date: 06/28/13

6 McKinley Ave.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $269,500

Buyer: Elizabeth Lyford

Seller: Stan Samuelson

Date: 06/28/13

27 Northampton St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $164,000

Buyer: Wen P. Zheng

Seller: Ken Hou Lin

Date: 06/28/13

120 Park St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Jennifer R. Lavalley

Seller: Edmund F. Wanat

Date: 06/28/13

18 Park St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $310,000

Buyer: Park Street NT

Seller: Peter M. Crisafulli

Date: 06/17/13

183 Park St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $240,000

Buyer: Eric D. Fiedler

Seller: David P. Spring

Date: 06/28/13

5 Peloquin Dr.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $235,000

Buyer: Michael A. Morrow

Seller: Joseph P. Pouliot

Date: 06/28/13

165 Pleasant St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $225,000

Buyer: George S. Hotz

Seller: Brian J. Campedelli

Date: 06/14/13

9 River Valley Way

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $315,000

Buyer: Carey Morgan

Seller: EH Homeownership LLC

Date: 06/24/13

86 Torrey St.

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $177,000

Buyer: Elodie L. Sammarco

Seller: William H. Chicoine

Date: 06/21/13

25 Westview Terrace

Easthampton, MA 01027

Amount: $270,000

Buyer: Samuel A. Masinter

Seller: Kay Brooke-Willbanks

Date: 06/26/13

GOSHEN

39 South Main St.

Goshen, MA 01032

Amount: $170,000

Buyer: Roger Perrault

Seller: Judith W. Wilson

Date: 06/28/13

GRANBY

153 Batchelor St.

Granby, MA 01033

Amount: $164,560

Buyer: FNMA

Seller: Stephen T. Howes

Date: 06/13/13

163 Kendall St.

Granby, MA 01033

Amount: $242,500

Buyer: Brion V. Over

Seller: Peter B. Blain

Date: 06/28/13

14 Pinebrook Circle

Granby, MA 01033

Amount: $136,000

Buyer: Brian W. Parent

Seller: Knap, Tadeusz, (Estate)

Date: 06/28/13

121 Taylor St.

Granby, MA 01033

Amount: $278,500

Buyer: George H. Regmund

Seller: Gino E. Lucchesi

Date: 06/14/13

HADLEY

168 Bay Road

Hadley, MA 01035

Amount: $285,000

Buyer: Marlaina H. Cataldi

Seller: Deborah M. Mokrezecki

Date: 06/14/13

7 Maplewood Terrace

Hadley, MA 01035

Amount: $299,000

Buyer: Christine E. Eustis

Seller: Hsu Tung Ku

Date: 06/21/13

337 Russell St.

Hadley, MA 01035

Amount: $575,000

Buyer: Florence Savings Bank

Seller: McDonalad Real Estate Co.

Date: 06/26/13

13 Shattuck Road

Hadley, MA 01035

Amount: $447,500

Buyer: Gary A. Vaughan

Seller: Sharon E. Beaulieu

Date: 06/25/13

5 West St.

Hadley, MA 01035

Amount: $535,000

Buyer: Thomas Brennan

Seller: John A. Holbrook

Date: 06/14/13

HATFIELD

43 Depot Road

Hatfield, MA 01038

Amount: $192,000

Buyer: Ross P. Beck

Seller: Alexander L. Goldstein

Date: 06/28/13

8 Gore Ave.

Hatfield, MA 01038

Amount: $410,000

Buyer: Lisa V. Berkman

Seller: Jeffrey C. Morrison

Date: 06/27/13

HUNTINGTON

30 Allen Coit Road

Huntington, MA 01050

Amount: $260,000

Buyer: Chad D. Cortis

Seller: Whitney, Lewis A., (Estate)

Date: 06/17/13

NORTHAMPTON

11 Arlington St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Buyer: Nira H. Elkins

Seller: Glenn Alper

Date: 06/14/13

137 Baker Hill Road

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $440,000

Buyer: Christopher T. Dole

Seller: Frederick H. Leonard RET

Date: 06/17/13

9 Berkshire Terrace

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $278,000

Buyer: Ann C. Sirignano

Seller: Larysa C. Bachinsky

Date: 06/13/13

1244 Burts Pit Road

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $324,900

Buyer: Paul S. Bourgeois

Seller: Steven T. Hoffman

Date: 06/27/13

10 Claire Ave.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $217,000

Buyer: Adriana M. Brown

Seller: Barbara Pepin

Date: 06/14/13

150 Drury Lane

Northampton, MA 01027

Amount: $300,255

Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank

Seller: Stephanie K. Douglass

Date: 06/24/13

58 Fern St.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $224,500

Buyer: Erik Valdes

Seller: Christopher R. Amato

Date: 06/20/13

76 Forest Glen Dr.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $219,900

Buyer: Jean M. Martin

Seller: Lawrence A. Schoen

Date: 06/20/13

15 Franklin St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $207,500

Buyer: Benjamin R. Hersey

Seller: Tamara J. Bourgeoius

Date: 06/28/13

38 Franklin St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $675,000

Buyer: Elizabeth A. Roberts

Date: 06/17/13

38 High St.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $366,750

Buyer: Michael V. Sola

Seller: Theresa R. Brodeur

Date: 06/14/13

28 Lilly St.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $343,500

Buyer: Jessica L. Brady

Seller: Marilee A. Demaras

Date: 06/28/13

15 Mary Jane Lane

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $199,900

Buyer: Christopher M. Hunt

Seller: Jeanne E. Kumor

Date: 06/25/13

21 Mountain St.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $242,000

Buyer: Stewart F. Walker

Seller: Ronald S. Adams

Date: 06/28/13

589 North Farms Road

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $367,000

Buyer: Dorian L. Gregory

Seller: Lauren Corbett

Date: 06/17/13

113 Nonotuck St.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $261,500

Buyer: Alexander N. Papouchis

Seller: Mark Lane-Davies

Date: 06/26/13

27 Orchard St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $300,000

Buyer: Lauren M. Bonn

Seller: Rania Spade

Date: 06/27/13

85 Prospect St.

Northampton, MA 01063

Amount: $545,000

Buyer: Rachel Simmons

Seller: Rae Anne C. Butera

Date: 06/28/13

47 Revell Ave.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $300,000

Buyer: Christopher W. Lucas

Seller: Helene J. Ruskoeski

Date: 06/28/13

266 Rocky Hill Road

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $225,500

Buyer: Lesley Schneider

Seller: Mary A. Tourjee

Date: 06/13/13

402 South St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $200,000

Buyer: W&N Summer LLC

Seller: Patrick C. Pucino

Date: 06/28/13

234 State St.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $385,000

Buyer: Debra Orgera

Seller: Black Sheep Dev. LLC

Date: 06/20/13

8 Washington Ave.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $700,000

Buyer: Denise Orenstein

Seller: Eric G. Arcese

Date: 06/14/13

60 Washington Ave.

Northampton, MA 01060

Amount: $370,000

Buyer: David J. Whitehill

Seller: Anne R. Mannarino

Date: 06/27/13

63 Willow St.

Northampton, MA 01062

Amount: $342,000

Buyer: James K. Sweeney

Seller: Gail M. Thomas

Date: 06/27/13

SOUTH HADLEY

45 Applewood Lane

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $355,000

Buyer: Christopher M. Laflamme

Seller: Michelle L. Fitzell

Date: 06/14/13

24 Bolton St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $134,000

Buyer: Anthony G. Schiappa

Seller: Jennifer A. Champagne

Date: 06/28/13

60 Fairview St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $190,000

Buyer: Hoa N. Thai

Seller: Mary R. Newman

Date: 06/14/13

69 Granby Road

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $170,000

Buyer: David Murphy

Seller: Donald Brown

Date: 06/27/13

59 High St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $210,000

Buyer: Deborah A. Noyes

Seller: Robert E. Archambault

Date: 06/25/13

276 Morgan St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Joseph F. Long

Seller: Kathleen M. Kerwin

Date: 06/13/13

135 Mosier St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Sara L. Colglazier

Seller: Deborah A. Silvia

Date: 06/27/13

52 Mountain View St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $249,900

Buyer: Kevin M. Litalien

Seller: Anne L. Zawacki

Date: 06/17/13

16 Normandy Road

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Lauren I. Cochrane

Seller: Robert E. Baur

Date: 06/27/13

3 Paul St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $300,000

Buyer: Edward W. O’Grady

Seller: Vision Inv. Props. LLC

Date: 06/17/13

99 Richview Ave.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $157,900

Buyer: Ezekiel W. Kimball

Seller: Chad A. Lopes

Date: 06/25/13

5 Spring Meadows

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $365,000

Buyer: Paul R. Gallgher

Seller: James E. Sunderland

Date: 06/26/13

16 Sycamore Knolls

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $295,000

Buyer: Sandra M. Annis

Seller: Satyananda J. Gabriel

Date: 06/14/13

9 Tampa St.

South Hadley, MA 01075

Amount: $180,000

Buyer: Stacy A. Italiano

Seller: Anthony J. Fernandes

Date: 06/27/13

SOUTHAMPTON

54 Coleman Road

Southampton, MA 01073

Amount: $250,000

Buyer: Peter M. Crisafulli

Seller: Joseph A. Brzys

Date: 06/18/13

85 High St.

Southampton, MA 01073

Amount: $308,000

Buyer: Andrew J. Bogacz

Seller: David Garstka Builders LLC

Date: 06/27/13

16 Jonathan Judd Circle

Southampton, MA 01073

Amount: $289,000

Buyer: Vincent Servaes

Seller: Gary C. Rehbein

Date: 06/25/13

4 Madison Ave.

Southampton, MA 01073

Amount: $259,900

Buyer: Normand P. Leblanc

Seller: Jeffrey L. Phaneuf

Date: 06/28/13

21 Middle Road

Southampton, MA 01073

Amount: $440,000

Buyer: Amy W. Burke

Seller: Cheryl L. Novak

Date: 06/21/13

123 Strong Road

Southampton, MA 01073

Amount: $276,500

Buyer: David L. Neal

Seller: FNMA

Date: 06/14/13

WARE

91 Church St.

Ware, MA 01082

Amount: $163,000

Buyer: Troy M. Poquette

Seller: GFA FCU

Date: 06/28/13

80 Old Belchertown Road

Ware, MA 01082

Amount: $150,000

Buyer: Michael Ferrell

Seller: Michael S. Sakowicz

Date: 06/28/13

WESTHAMPTON

86 Reservoir Road

Westhampton, MA 01027

Amount: $307,000

Buyer: Raymond E. Martin

Seller: Ralph B. Hancewicz

Date: 06/14/13

WILLIAMSBURG

27 Williams St.

Williamsburg, MA 01096

Amount: $196,000

Buyer: Tara M. Harlow

Seller: Eric A. Gougeon

Date: 06/14/13

WORTHINGTON

64 Harvey Road

Worthington, MA 01098

Amount: $193,000

Buyer: Andrew V. Iglesias

Seller: Catherine L. Servaes

Date: 06/25/13

PictureThis

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103
or to [email protected]

Camp Hard Rock
Representatives of Hard Rock New England, a local subsidiary of Hard Rock International, the global company vying to build a destination casino resort on the grounds of the Big E in West Springfield, recently announced plans for a first-ever two-day summer music camp. The event, in partnership with the Fender Music Foundation, is limited to the first 150 participants, ages 9 to 16, with intermediate to advanced musical interest. The camp will take place on Aug. 14 and 15 at West Springfield High School. Pictured amid guitars and drum sets are Annie Balliro, senior director of brand philanthropy, and Tim Maland, president of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino New England. Maland explained that the two days will offer music classes, workshops, jam sessions, and a special open-to-the-public performance on Aug. 15 at 6 p.m., directed by Dan Lavery, a two-time Grammy nominee and a past performer with the bands Tonic and The Fray. Proceeds from the $20 tuition will support music-education initiatives in West Springfield and Western Mass.

Big Relief
In response to the massive destruction from recent tornadoes in parts of Oklahoma, Big Y World Class Markets hosted a special in-store customer and employee donation program in all Massachusetts and Connecticut stores. Including additional support from Big Y, a total of $40,000 was raised, which will be utilized by American Red Cross chapters in both Massachusetts and Connecticut in support of ongoing relief efforts in those devastated Midwest communities. Pictured at the formal check presentation on June 26 are, from left, Rick Lee, director of the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter; Donald D’Amour, CEO of Big Y Foods; and Mark Brinkerhoff, director of Community Support for the American Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter.

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

Holyoke Medical Center Taps New Jersey’s Hatiras as New President, CEO
HOLYOKE — The board of directors of Valley Health Systems and Holyoke Medical Center have announced that Spiros Hatiras will become the next president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center and its affiliates. Hatiras will succeed Hank Porten, who is stepping down after nearly 28 years in that role. “We are absolutely delighted to bring such an accomplished and passionate leader to our hospital and community,” said Priscilla Mandrachia, chairwoman of the board of directors of Valley Health Systems, the parent company of Holyoke Medical Center and its affiliates. “The search committee, after an exhaustive process, was particularly impressed with Mr. Hatiras’ understanding of our culture and love of community healthcare. He has expertise in reform initiatives and a deep commitment to physicians, staff, and quality services. Valley Health Systems and Holyoke Medical Center have been fortunate to have had the leadership of our present CEO, Hank Porten, for 28 years. We expect Mr. Hatiras to build on Mr. Porten’s accomplishments and lead our healthcare system successfully into the future.” Hatiras previously served as president and CEO of Hoboken University Medical Center in New Jersey, a 333-bed facility with nearly 500 physicians and nurses offering a full range of medical services. During his tenure there, Hatiras cut operating losses in half over two consecutive fiscal years without reducing staff, and oversaw the implementation of electronic medical records. “We all know healthcare is going through some very complicated changes, and Mr. Hatiras has demonstrated the knowledge and ability to meet these challenges head on,” said Peter Connor, chairman of the board of directors at Holyoke Medical Center. “He is a proven leader who understands our mission as a community hospital and will help guide us through the complexities of healthcare reform while maintaining a focus on quality care and patient satisfaction.” Currently serving as chief operating officer of NIT Health in New York, specializing in the implementation of electronic medical records for hospitals and health care systems, Hatiras has had a distinguished healthcare career in New Jersey. In addition to his work at Hoboken University Medical Center amid a complicated transition to private ownership, he has also served as vice president of post-acute, ancillary, and support services for Bon Secours Health System and corporate director of rehabilitation services for Franciscan Health System of New Jersey. “I am extremely excited to join Valley Health Systems and Holyoke Medical Center,” Hatiras said. “It’s the best fit for both of us. I’m returning to do what I love the best, working in a community hospital and helping it succeed. And the hospital’s commitment to community health is exactly what healthcare reform should be embracing. I look forward to working with the entire organization to build upon the solid foundation that Hank has left for us. The hospital is positioned well for the future. I’m ready to go.” Hatiras is certified in healthcare management by the American College of Healthcare Executives. He has a master’s degree in health care management from New York University and a bachelor’s degree in physical therapy from the Athens Institute of Technology in Athens, Greece. He currently lives with his wife, Gwen, and two children, Ava and Zach, in New Jersey. “My wife and I are very excited about moving our family to Massachusetts,” Hatiras said. “It’s the perfect location for us.” He will assume leadership of Holyoke Medical Center in early September, at which time he will also move to the area. Hatiras’ wife and children will relocate after his daughter Ava’s graduation from high school next year. Holyoke Medical Center is a 198-bed facility with 1,200 employees, including more than 260 physicians and consulting staff.

Obama Administration Delays Healthcare Law’s Insurance Mandate
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Earlier this month, President Obama’s administration announced a one-year delay in his healthcare law’s mandate that larger employers provide coverage for their workers or pay penalties. The decision postpones the effective date beyond next year’s midterm elections into 2015. Employer groups welcomed the news of the concession, while Republicans made it clear that they would not cease to make the law a key campaign issue for the third straight election cycle. While the postponement does not affect other central provisions of the law, including those establishing health-insurance marketplaces in the states, known as exchanges, it throws into disarray the administration’s effort to put those provisions into effect by Jan. 1. Under the law, most Americans will be required to have insurance in January 2014, or they will be subject to tax penalties. The administration’s announcement did not address delaying that requirement or those penalties. Administration officials sought to put the action in a positive light. “We have heard concerns about the complexity of the requirements and the need for more time to implement them effectively,” Mark Mazur, assistant Treasury secretary, wrote on his department’s website. “We recognize that the vast majority of businesses that will need to do this reporting already provide health insurance to their workers, and we want to make sure it is easy for others to do so.” The Affordable Care Act, signed into law in 2010, originally required employers with more than 50 full-time workers to offer them affordable health insurance starting in 2014 or face fines. Some companies with payrolls just above that threshold said they would cut jobs or switch some full-time workers to part-time employment so that they could avoid providing coverage. Under the provisions to set up state-based marketplaces for coverage for uninsured Americans, subsidies are supposed to be available for lower- and middle-income people who qualify and are not insured through their employers. By delaying the mandate for businesses and its reporting requirements, the government may be unable to confirm before 2015 whether employers are offering insurance to their employees, making it difficult for the exchanges to know who is entitled to subsidies to help pay for policies. Enrollment in the exchanges is to begin Oct. 1, with insurance coverage taking effect Jan. 1. “We are on target to open the health-insurance marketplace on Oct. 1, where small businesses and ordinary Americans will be able to go to one place to learn about their coverage options and make side-by-side comparisons of each plan’s price and benefits before they make their decision,” Valerie Jarrett, Obama’s senior adviser and liaison to the business community, wrote on the White House website.

Economic Growth Remains Sluggish in Massachusetts
BOSTON — Even as the Massachusetts economy shows some genuine signs of strength, contractionary federal government fiscal policy is slowing economic growth in Massachusetts, according to a recent report by regional economists for MassBenchmarks. In the coming months, assuming these policies stay in place, a further retarding of economic growth can be expected. At the same time, the state’s labor market continues to be under considerable stress and faces profound challenges that are not fully reflected in the state’s headline unemployment rate. The strengthening of the state housing market is the most prominent sign of strength in the state economy. Residential house prices, sales, and building permits are all on the rise. As a result, employment in the construction sector is increasing, but it remains well below its pre-recession levels. The unemployment rate, despite a recent uptick, remains one percentage point below the national level. Strong state sales-tax collections reflect the willingness of households to spend, especially for new automobiles. But these signs of life are being undermined by federal tax and budget policies that have been implemented since the first of the year. On the tax side, income-tax rates were increased for upper-income households on Jan. 1. In addition, the temporary payroll tax cut, which had been implemented during the recession, was not extended. This has a more widespread impact, with a disproportionate burden being placed on low-income households. Had these tax increases been offset by increased federal investment, their impact would have been modest, but instead the federal government elected to adopt significant spending cuts. Federal budget sequestration, implemented in March, has an obvious impact on the state’s research-intensive enterprises and government contractors. But its impact also extends to Head Start and other educational programs, career centers, job-training services, and Community Development Block Grant funds, all of which have experienced significant cuts in recent months. The impact of these federal policies can be seen in the state’s recent economic performance. According to the MassBenchmarks Current Economic Index, growth in state gross domestic product slowed to a 1% annualized rate of growth in April and May. Employment growth in the state has virtually stalled, and state withholding tax growth reflects this. And growing international competition and the economic challenges facing the state’s major trading partners, including Canada, the European Union, and Asia, appear to be taking their toll on the Commonwealth’s export activity, which declined by 11.1% between April 2012 and April 2013. While labor conditions in Massachusetts appear to be better than those nationally, there are signs of considerable stress in the state labor market. Underemployment (those working part-time but wanting full-time work) has risen during the first five months of the year, and hidden unemployment (those who are out of work, have not looked for a job in the last four weeks, and would take a job if offered) is also on the rise. The plight of younger and less skilled workers is of particular concern, the report notes, as the extent of their disconnection from the labor market is troublingly high, and the longer it lasts, the more difficult it will be to remedy. For these workers, the improvement in headline unemployment is of little consolation, as their prospects for employment are being limited by a recovery that is being undermined by counterproductive federal policy choices.

Construction Industry Adds 13,000 Jobs in June
WASHINGTON, D.C. — In June, the nation’s construction industry unemployment rate fell to 9.8% for the first time since September 2007 with the addition of 13,000 jobs, according the July 5 report by the Department of Labor. Since June 2012, the industry has added 190,000 jobs, a 3.4% increase. Every major category of construction experienced gains in employment for the month. Non-residential building construction employment increased by 700 jobs for the month and has added 16,400 jobs, or 2.5%, during the last 12 months. Residential building construction employment inched up by 100 jobs in June and is up by 13,100 jobs, or 2.3%, compared to the same time last year. Non-residential specialty trade contractors gained 2,100 jobs for the month and have added 47,100 jobs, or 2.3%, during the last 12 months. Residential specialty trade contractors have added 5,100 jobs since May and gained 77,100 jobs, or 5.2%, since June 2012. Heavy and civil-engineering construction employment increased by 5,600 jobs last month, and the sector has added 36,300 jobs, or 4.2%, from one year ago. Across all industries, the nation added 195,000 jobs as the private sector expanded by 202,000 jobs and the public sector shrunk by 7,000 jobs. However, the nation’s unemployment rate was unchanged from the previous month at 7.6% and remains lower than the 8.2% registered in June 2012. “Today’s employment report is positive news for the nation’s construction industry,” said Associated Builders and Contractors Chief Economist Anirban Basu. “While the economy continues to face a number of headwinds, including most recently in the form of higher interest rates, the wealth effect associated with rising equity markets and home prices dominates the recovery. The result has been steady expansion in consumer spending, which is associated with expanding job creation in closely aligned sectors of the economy. For construction contractors, the implication is that the volume of work associated with lodging and shopping-center construction will continue to march higher.” Basu noted that one-third of the construction jobs added last month were added by specialty trade contractors. “There was also evidence of more people falling into part-time work, and the broadest measure of unemployment, which includes discouraged workers and people working part-time for economic reasons, rose to 14.3% in June. Despite this increase, the construction industry’s diminishing unemployment rate shows that societal income tied to wages and salaries continues to expand slowly, which suggests the economy will only grow at a moderate pace. That should be enough to help drive nonresidential construction spending higher, but progress will remain gradual.”

Horace Smith Fund Awards $276,000 to Area Students
SPRINGFIELD — On June 13, The Horace Smith Fund staged its 114th corporators’ meeting and scholarship awards ceremony at Elms College. Samalid Hogan, chair of the board of trustees, announced 24 scholarship and three fellowship recipients this year. “Providing that students maintain at least a B average in college, each scholarship provides a total of $10,000 over four years, and each fellowship provides $12,000 over three years,” she told the audience comprised of the students, parents, trustees, and corporators. “Therefore, The Horace Smith Fund is happy to be able to grant a total award of $276,000 to area students this year.” The Horace Smith Fund was established in 1899 by a successful and generous philanthropist named Horace Smith, according to James Broderick, chair of the scholarship committee. “He and Daniel Wesson were the founders of Smith & Wesson, located in Springfield. Mr. Smith’s will provided that the residual of his estate, after several bequests to relatives and institutions, was to be used for public purposes at the discretion of his executors. They decided that it should be used to help deserving students finance their education.” The scholarships and fellowships are named for Walter F. Barr, a West Springfield businessman, whose widow left the bulk of the family estate to the Horace Smith Fund in 1950. Recipients must be residents of Hampden County. The keynote speaker at the awards ceremony, attorney Michael Gove, was a past recipient of the Walter S. Barr Scholarship and Fellowship.

Community Profile: Westfield

Community Profile Features

Westfield Takes Flight with New Jobs, Development

When BusinessWest sat down this month with Westfield Mayor Daniel Knapik and Kate Phelon, executive director of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, it was just one more connection in what has become a strong bond between the city and its chamber.
Take the monthly Mayor’s Coffee Hour the chamber launched to forge a stronger relationship between the city’s leaders and its business community.
“That gives businesses and residents first-hand access to city officials,” Phelon said. “We’re very proud that we have that kind of access to the mayor; not many cities can say they do that on a regular basis.”
The mayor agrees. “We really have opened the door to businesses,” said Knapik, noting that some companies had never before approached the city about their issues.
“Manufacturing companies have different needs than small operators,” Phelon said. “It’s good that we can have this open-door policy and bring these issues in and have dialogue.”

Mayor Daniel Knapik, left, and Jeff Daley say Westfield’s investments in its infrastructure have already begun to spur more development.

Both of them agreed, however, that much of the dialogue in Westfield has been positive lately, from job-creation success stories — from Armbrook Village bringing in 100 jobs with a new assisted-living community to the expansion of Gulfstream, which will add 100 jobs while retaining 130 more — to the dramatic reconstruction of the Whip City’s downtown that has improved traffic flow and generated buzz and business there.
“The best testimony is from folks who haven’t been in Westfield in a while,” Knapik said, “when they come into the downtown and say, ‘wow, what happened?’ And there’s more coming.”

Ready for Takeoff
They might say the same about Barnes Airport on the city’s north side, which has leveraged millions of dollars in public and private investment in the service of infrastructure upgrades and development projects.
“We’ve had multiple funding sources, at the federal, state, and city levels, to get $14 million for a new runway,” said Jeff Daley, the city’s advancement officer. “The current runway is 28 years old, which is eight years past its life expectancy. They’ll be ripping out the entire 9,500 feet of runway and rebuilding it. A large portion of the north and south end of the runway will be concrete, and the middle section will be a specialized tar pavement that will allow the F16s and other planes not to rip it up.”
The 104th Fighter Wing of the Air National Guard has been relocated to Westover Air Reserve Base and Otis Air Force Base during the project, which is expected to be completed by Thanksgiving. Daley said the new runway will attract more commercial use of the airport. Meanwhile, Rectrix Aviation, which bought out Airflyte, is working to increase its investment at Barnes to bring a wider range of services to its clients.
Meanwhile, Daley said, “we obtained a grant from the state to redesign and rebuild Airport Industrial Park Road. It was a $2 million grant, and we’re returning $800,000 back to the state; we managed to do it with $1.2 million. We made it safer with a full redesign; the hairpin turn there was dangerous. We paved it, and we’ll have some new signage to alert people to come to the industrial park.”
That’s where the city is developing 80 acres — perhaps 12 to 15 subdivided lots — for light-manufacturing and aviation-supported businesses. “We’ve had serious conversations with four or five companies looking there, waiting for the road to be finished,” Daley said.
“Add to that Gulfstream’s expansion, and we think Barnes is in a position of growth, with the most action we’ve seen there in years,” Knapik said, noting that the airport is on the cusp of generating more revenue than the city is investing in it. “We’re close to breaking even now, and some of the other situations coming to light will add more revenue to the city. It took a long time to bring it to break-even status.”
Speaking of breaking even, the mayor said, one of the best stories in the city recently is the turnaround of Noble Hospital. After seven years running a deficit, it was able to turn a profit last year.
“It’s great what they’ve been able to do, to modernize the hospital and open up space that had been shuttered and really find niche services for our community, from gastroenterology to expanding the breast-cancer unit,” he continued. “When I came into office, it was pretty dire over there, but it’s been astounding. They’ve been able to invest in their physical plant and turn a profit, which is great news. They seem to be in position for a pretty strong future now.”

Bridges to Progress
So does the downtown area, following a $14.5 million reconstruction of Main and Broad streets and the Park Square Green, and the four-year Great River Bridge project that paired the renovation of that span, over the Westfield River, with the construction of a second bridge next to it.
Those successes will be followed by a significant commercial development at Elm and Arnold streets, featuring a 130,000-square-foot mixed-use facility, a 2,000-square-foot transportation center, and a five-story parking garage. Daley pegged completion of the project — which has been discussed in some form or other for decades — for 2015 or 2016.
“There have been lots of iterations to it,” he said, noting that the city would like the mixed-use facility to include retail, restaurants, and office space. As for the parking garage, “we’re fortunate to have parking problems, and we’re developing up to 500 new spaces to make it a more attractive prospect to come downtown and shop and have dinner.”
The mayor is excited by the prospects. “We’ve said for years that, if the city took care of its property and infrastructure, which we’ve been doing, the rest will follow,” Knapik said of the proposal, and the hope that it will continue a downtown revitalization that has already seen a number of new businesses open on that stretch of Routes 10 and 202.
Those include eateries and a copy center, businesses that will cater to a growing number of college students living downtown following the conversion of the Lansdowne building on Thomas Street into a 216-bed dormitory for Westfield State University. In addition, the former WSU training school building on Washington Street is being redeveloped into privately owned market-rate housing, which would add more student life to Westfield’s downtown.
“We’ve already seen the opening of many new downtown businesses that cater to the young folks living downtown,” Knapik said, including three restaurants with outdoor seating.
“With the City Council allowing outside seating, that’s a first for Westfield,” Phelon said. “I don’t think we’ve ever had that before. Now people will see people sitting and eating outside,” creating more energy downtown.
The city is also moving forward with plans for the riverfront area on the south side of town, which may include a mix of uses. “We’re reviewing four concepts now, and we’ll unveil those to the public over the next two months or so,” said Knapik, who would like to see that project connect with the Columbia Greenway Rail Trail. “These are all things that have been kicked around the city for 20 years or so, and they’re all starting to click now, so we’re happy about that.”

Challenges Remain
Knapik said the city’s unemployment rate, hovering between 6.5% and 6.8%, “isn’t bad, but we need it to be better to really knock us out of the economic slowdown we’re in. But we feel like, with the diverse base we have — including military, healthcare, precision machining, and warehousing — we’re seeing excellent growth in some areas.”
Daley noted that, since 2010, the city has attracted more than $120 million in private investment and has another $72 million in the pipeline. “Currently, 7,000 jobs have been retained by those efforts, and 800 new jobs over three years. There’s a pretty good story to tell there. We’re working very hard to keep retention up … and to make Westfield a place where people want to grow and stay.”
Phelon said the city is working to cultivate its creative economy in an organized way, as nearby communities such as Northampton, Easthampton, and Holyoke have done. “We’re in the infant stages of this. We applied for a grant to take inventory of the creative economy in the city. That can drive economic development, and the chamber is happy to be a part of that.”
The idea, Knapik said, is to bring different “puzzle pieces” that make up the city’s economy out of their individual silos and into an organized effort to promote Westfield’s vitality.
The mayor also touted the city’s efforts to keep property taxes lower than in some surrounding cities and towns. “We want to be that business-friendly community.”
It has tried to do so at a time when state aid to cities is low — in Westfield’s case, down about 30% since before the recession. Yet, plenty of investment continues, giving the mayor plenty to talk about at those coffee hours.
“It’s good,” he said of that communication. “A lot of times, policy is made in an echo chamber. This way, we ensure that both sides are heard. We hear them, and they hear us.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Work in Progress

Cover Story

Summer Jobs Initiative Provides Much More Than Paychecks

Rupert Daniel grew up in the projects in the Boston suburb of Roxbury.
Family life wasn’t working out very well, he recalled, adding that he used the ample amounts of free time he had to get into trouble. He eventually wound up in the first in a series of group homes, where he learned a lesson that would change his life — although he certainly didn’t know it at the time.
“In the group home, you got a weekly allowance of 50 cents, but if you did extra chores like helping to clean the house or the bathrooms, you got $5 a week. I said, ‘OK … if you work, you get money’ — I put that together,” he said, adding that this realization would later help compel him to become a participant in one of this region’s first summer jobs programs in the early ’70s.
And through the process of applying for and then getting work at Forest Park, Emerson Wright Park, and other locations, he learned everything from how to present himself at job interviews to why it’s important to show up every day, on time.
And he learned some other things as well.
“When you’re working like that, you’re around all kinds of people,” he explained. “On the streets, you have your peers, but when you came into the summer jobs program, you had college students, and people involved who were successful. And you ask, ‘what makes them successful?’

Rupert Daniel, now a Springfield Police lieutenant, said getting a summer job was in many ways a life-changing experience.

“I came to realize that a lot of it was hard work and education, and as I started getting older, I said, ‘I have a choice — do I want to hang out with these knuckleheads that are still getting into trouble, or do I want to be like these guys?’” he continued, adding that he chose the latter. And he’s been given every job he’s applied for in a career that has included work in corrections, the military (two tours of duty in Iraq and two more in Afghanistan), and 27 years with the Springfield Police Department, which he currently serves as a lieutenant, spending countless hours trying to keep young people from landing in the kind of trouble that he did.
Scripting more stories like Daniel’s is not the official mission of the summer jobs initiative administered by the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County (REB), but it might as well be, said Bill Ward, the organization’s long-time executive director, who said that the jobs program is designed to introduce young people to the world of work and assist them with making some of those important decisions that Daniel made about life and his career.
“This is our future workforce, and if these kids don’t develop solid work habits early on, then when it’s time for them to go to work, they just don’t really have it,” said Ward, using that tiny word to represent the sum of what it takes to thrive in what most would call the ‘real world.’
And with that, he summoned the phrase ‘attachment to the workforce’ to describe the program’s essence — and what it provides to conscientious participants.
“From a big-picture perspective, we’re giving young people an opportunity to learn good work habits,” he explained. “We tell kids that the soft skills are the hard skills — and before long, they know what we’re talking about.”
Brianna Davis certainly knows. Now roughly three weeks into a job with the REB through the summer jobs initiative, she told BusinessWest that she handles filing, copying, reception-desk work, and other duties, for which she is paid $10 an hour. Perhaps more important than the paycheck, though (that’s perhaps), she said she’s getting her first experience working in an office and with other people.
“This is a lot quieter than what I’m used to,” she said with a laugh, adding that her most recent gainful employment has been waitressing. “It’s a lot more focused work — sitting down and completing one task at a time or multi-tasking and getting things done — and I’m learning every day.”
For this issue, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at the REB’s summer jobs program and the many reasons why those who support it describe it as an investment in its participants — and in the region’s future.

In the Right Mold
Joe Peters says he virtually grew up in the company his father started in Chicopee, Universal Plastics, which he now serves as CEO. And one thing he’s always remembered has been the importance his father placed on summer jobs for young people.
“Every summer, he made it a point to make sure that we were definitely employed,” he said, referring to himself and his siblings, “and that even some of our friends were employed.
“His philosophy was that there were always these things that needed to get done and never got done during the year, and summer was a great time to do them,” he went on. “And to have young people doing those things was important to him; it gave those kids something to do, it gave them some spending money, it taught them how to work with others — it was great experience.”
And Peters has continued that tradition, putting his six children (and some of their friends) to work during the summer, while also, and especially in recent years, becoming a strong supporter of the REB’s initiative.

Mark Miller, president of U.S. Tsubaki Automotive LLC, with Tom Portenstein, who is now spending his second summer working at the Chicopee plant.

When asked why he became involved, Peters referenced a recent report authored by Andrew Sum, director of the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University, whom he’s heard speak a number of times on the subject of the importance of employment opportunities for young people. He said Sum’s message has always been consistent — and strong.
“The statistics show that a kid who’s employed during the summer … his chances for success going into life are so much better, because that job becomes a foundation for what work is all about,” said Peters. “They learn how you deal with an employer, how you save a little money … the things you need to learn.”
Ward said the Sum study — subtitled “The Case for Increased Youth Workforce Development” — verifies the importance of creating job opportunities for young people, and especially those who are at risk, while offering some chilling statistics about how the numbers of such opportunities are going down when they need to go up. Among the main findings:
• “The labor market for teens in Massachusetts and the nation remains extraordinarily depressed,” Sum writes. “Last year [2012], only 27% of the teens ages 16-19 in our state were employed during an average month. This is the lowest teen employment rate in our state’s history over the past 45 years. Twice as many teens worked in 1999 as in 2012 (54% vs. 27%).
• “Despite job growth in our state and the nation over the past few years, teen employment has continued to decline,” he went on. “From 2010 to 2012, approximately 56,000 more working-age residents became employed in our state, while teen employment fell by 15,000. Across the nation, total employment increased by 5.05 million between the fourth quarter of 2009 and the first two months of 2013, while teen employment fell by 12,000 over the same time period.
• “While all demographic and schooling groups of teens have experienced steep drops in their employment rates over the past decade,” he went on, “the youngest teens, males, blacks and Hispanics, and high-school students, especially low-income students, have fared much worse.”
These statistics are verified by the fact that, for every individual who gets a job through the REB’s initiative, there are probably two others who are on the outside looking in, said Ward, adding that, when young people don’t have employment opportunities, they and the region as a whole both suffer. Young men and women don’t get a chance to learn some of the lessons Rupert Daniel did, and the region is impacted long-term when it comes to the quality of the workforce that will be in place years and decades down the road.
Realizing this, state officials, and especially Gov. Deval Patrick, have been aggressive in support of programs to employ young people, he went on, adding that the Commonwealth’s YouthWorks initiative pumps $10 million annually into creating summer employment opportunities, and the $1 million awarded to the REB will fund roughly half of the 1,000 jobs it hopes to create this summer.
Overall, public support will finance nearly two-thirds of the jobs created this summer, he went on, while breaking down the program’s many components.
Close to 500 jobs will eventually be funded by the YouthWorks program, he said, and offered through vendors that include the New England Farm Workers Council (NEFWC) in Springfield, CareerWorks in Holyoke, the Valley Opportunity Council in Chicopee, and Westfield public schools. Meanwhile, another 130 jobs will be funded by the federal Workforce Investment Act and created through a host of vendors, including the NEFWC, the New North Citizens Council in Springfield, the Greater Springfield YMCA, Pathfinder Regional Vocational Technical High School, and Holyoke public schools.
Another 100 jobs will be funded by other public initiatives, said Ward, while 35 will be generated through corporate-sponsored programs that involve the MassMutual IT Academy, Baystate Health, U.S. Tsubaki, and other companies, and another 285 will be created at other private-sector worksites through vendors CareerPoint and FutureWorks. (Companies can fund a position through a donation of $1,000 to the REB.)
The summer program targets youths from low-income families — there are income restrictions that must be met — and individuals who don’t have the skills and/or connections that are traditionally needed to secure employment, said Ward, adding that more than half the participants are African-American, and another 40% are Hispanic.

The Job at Hand
Tom Portenstein is back for his second summer of work at U.S. Tsubaki’s Automotive Division in Chicopee, where he handles a variety of office functions, including data entry and work with human-resources administrators.
A recent graduate of Sacred Heart University in Connecticut, where he majored in marketing and sport management, he said he wants to eventually work in sports, but for the moment is keeping his options open. He said his involvement in the summer jobs program has provided learning experiences on many levels.
“I’ve never worked in an office setting before, and this [opportunity] has shown what you have to do,” he said. “You have to be there every day, five days a week, ready to work; you have to be accountable.”
Over the years, U.S. Tsubaki has provided a number of similar opportunities — in its plants and at other locations — through monetary donations to the REB, said Mark Miller, president of U.S. Tsubaki Automotive LLC and a member of the agency’s board of directors. And like others, he describes that support as an investment in the region and its future workforce.
“The Springfield area is hurting from an economic-development standpoint,” he told BusinessWest, “and whatever we can do to bolster these kids, whether they stay in this region or go somewhere else, is worth doing. We can help keep them off the streets and help them to learn some work habits and discipline — things that will serve them well later on in life.
“If you talk to some of the kids who have been in the program for a couple of years, in some cases it’s been very effective in turning their lives around,” he went on. “For the ones who get the opportunity and then take full advantage it, it makes a difference to them.”
For Brianna Davis, the opportunity to work for the REB represents a chance to earn more than she would waitressing (she’s done that at a local 99 restaurant, and therefore knows that summer opportunities — and hours — are limited) and also gain what she considers more valuable experience as she continues pursuit of a career in journalism at UMass Amherst after recently graduating from Holyoke Community College.
“Through this experience, I’m learning how to work independently, but also in the group context,” she explained, noting, again, that this is a new dynamic for her. “I’m putting my communication skills to work, as well as my group and individual working skills, and I’m gaining confidence in my ability.”
Looking back more than 30 years, Daniel said he took away many of the same things from his experiences, and these are some of the points he drives home when he talks to young people about the importance of staying out of the trouble that often found him in his youth. The general message he leaves is that, to avoid trouble, youths need to stay busy, and this is a need he works to address in many ways, from a boxing program he coordinates to efforts to convince kids to seek out summer employment opportunities, such as those offered through the REB, and then do what’s required to get and keep a job.
“One of the things I like about being a police officer is that you can influence people positively — you can get in there and fix things, or try to fix things,” he explained, noting that he puts his work to encourage people to secure summer jobs in that category.
“I see a lot of kids with the same issues I had when I was a kid, and I’ll flash back and think about what helped me out, and summer work was at the top of that list,” he went on, adding that a few of his boxing charges are now in the REB or trying to get in, and he’s determined to see that they make the most of those opportunities. “I know what it did for me, and I’m going to stay on them and make sure they go to work, and hopefully things will work out for them.”
And while the young people involved in the summer jobs initiative obviously benefit, said Peters, the region and its business community do as well, and in ways that reinforce the notion that support of the jobs program is an investment that will pay dividends.
“It’s good for our future, because we’re going to need employees five years from now, 10 years from now, and 20 years from now,” he told BusinessWest. “And if we don’t get them on the right track, we’re the ones that are going to pay a price down the road.”

Check, Please
Summing up the summer jobs initiative, Ward said there are a number of immediate benefits from the public and private funding of these employment opportunities.
“There’s a huge economic impact — young people now have disposable income, and they use it to buy things for school and for home; that money goes right into the economy.”
But the more significant rewards will come years down the road, he went on, when the region’s employers, and society in general, will benefit from having thousands of young people gain work-readiness skills as well as a greater understanding of what it takes to succeed in the workplace — and in life.
That’s a lesson Rupert Daniel learned while on his first summer job back in the ’70s, and something he’s committed his time and energy to helping others learn ever since. He discovered as a child that work puts money in your pocket — but it also does so much more.
And that’s why he, Ward, Peters, and others say the investments in summer jobs must continue.

George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]

People On the Move

Departments People on the Move

Eric Gouvin

University President Anthony Caprio recently announced the appointment of Eric Gouvin as the Dean of the Western New England University School of Law, effective July 1. Caprio praised Gouvin for having excelled as a faculty member and administrator at the law school since 1991. “Dean Gouvin brings a wealth of experience to the position — not only in the classroom, but also in the Springfield-area community, having worked in partnership with area entrepreneurs and small businesses as director of the University’s Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship,” he said. The appointment from within helps assure a smooth transition from the leadership of Arthur Gaudio, who returned to the faculty after 12 years of service as Dean of the School of Law, said Caprio. Over the past two decades, Gouvin has served as Associate Dean for External Affairs and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs. Most recently, he served as Professor of Law and Director of the Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, which serves as a catalyst for small-business development in the region, drawing on resources from across the university to provide assistance to entrepreneurs. Gouvin’s scholarly writings cover a range of financial topics, including entrepreneurial policy, corporate law, banking, and international issues. He has taught internationally at the Universite Paris La Defense, Vytautas Magnus University in Lithuania, and the Southwest University of Political Science and Law in Chongquing, China as a Fulbright Specialist. As the practice of law is changing, Gouvin said his mission as Dean is to put even more focus on the students. “Western New England University School of Law has always had a student focus, and I want to redouble that. I want us to be always reminding ourselves that what we’re offering, what we’re teaching, and how we’re teaching it is geared toward the students, and geared toward the students becoming not just scholars but legal professionals.” Gouvin earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University, a master’s degree from Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, and J.D. and LL.M. degrees from the Boston University School of Law.
•••••

Monica Curhan

Monica Curhan has been named Senior Vice President and Marketing Director for Florence Savings Bank (FSB). Curhan joined FSB in June, having worked previously at Citizens-Union Savings Bank in Fall River. She attended Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in English, and holds the Certified Financial Marketing Professional designation from the Institute of Certified Bankers, a nonprofit organization sponsored by the American Bankers Assoc. in Washington, D.C. She is also a member of the New England Financial Marketing Assoc. and the Harland North East Users Group.

•••••

Jeffrey Vocatura

United Fresh Foundation’s Center for Leadership Excellence recently chose Jeffrey Vocatura, Big Y World Class Market Produce and Floral Sales Manager in Stratford, Conn., as one of five top grand prize winners for its 2013 awards. Vocatura accepted the honor in San Diego, among 25 outstanding produce managers representing 21 different supermarket chains, commissaries, and independent retail stores within the U.S. and Canada. Vocatura, who has almost 16 years of supermarket experience, the past nine with Springfield-based Big Y, was the only United Fresh Retail Produce Manager Award winner from New England. In addition to several chain-wide sales and merchandising awards, he was also chosen to attend Driscolls University’s whole berry operation in California.
•••••
The Environmental Business Council of New England (EBC) recently elected Francis Hoey, senior vice president at Tighe & Bond, to the organization’s Board of Directors. Hoey leads Tighe & Bond’s efforts in the renewable-energy, real-estate-development, education, and healthcare markets. Already active in EBC, he is a member of the EBC Renewable Energy Committee Leadership Team, as well as a member of the EBC Connecticut Chapter Leadership Team. Hoey holds professional registrations in both civil and structural engineering, and has more than 20 years experience in the industry. The EBC is a nonprofit organization that was established in 1990, the first in the U.S., by environmental and energy-company executives who began meeting on a regular basis to exchange ideas and share experiences.
•••••

Kirk Smith

Kirk Smith, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield, has joined the Board of Directors for Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV). Formed in 2010 to build a network of emerging and existing leaders to address the challenges and opportunities of the entire Pioneer Valley, the LPV program is designed to raise awareness of the needs and challenges that affect the region, and enhance individual leadership skills. Smith took on his leadership role at the YMCA of Greater Springfield in 2011, and since then, he has committed himself to providing greater opportunities for youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility for youth, teens, families, and seniors throughout the Greater Springfield region. Smith also serves on the Board of Directors for the Springfield Chamber of Commerce and the Executive Committee for the Alliance of YMCAs of Massachusetts, and serves as head coach for the YMCA of Greater Springfield Buckeyes, a U16 AAU basketball team.

Court Dockets

Court Dockets Departments

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT
Trustees of the Yorktown Condominium Trust v. US Bank National Assoc. Trustee RASC 2007 EMX1
Allegation: Claim to enforce a condominium lien for non-payment of common charges and for order of foreclosure of lien for non-payment: $5,000
Filed: 6/11/13

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Edwin C. Gray and Daniel Gray v. Feed Commodities International Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and breach of implied warranty pertaining to the sale of bird feed resulting in damaged game birds and eggs, lost profits, and physical and emotional harm: $532,511.55
Filed: 5/31/13

Lane Construction Corp. v. Northern Land Clearing Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of materials and services rendered and breach of contract: $59,573.90
Filed: 5/24/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Donna Berry v. NiSource/Columbia Gas of MA
Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+
Filed: 5/17/13

Joan and Robert Blakeslee v. Main Street America Assurance Co.
Allegation: Insurer has failed to pay for losses under insurance policy: $106,000
Filed: 5/29/13

The Dollfus Mieg Co. Inc. v. The JannLynn Corp.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $27,746.67
Filed: 5/17/13

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Specialized Bicycle Components Inc. v. Competitive Edge Ski & Bike Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $14,014.43
Filed: 5/6/13

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
City Electric Supply Co. v. Steven Soby, d/b/a Soby Electric
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $17,645.98
Filed: 4/17/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Adelphia Graphic Systems Inc. v. W.S. Sign Design Corp.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $9,939.56
Filed: 5/8/13

Maria Tirado v. SJA Real Estate Investing, LLC
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing injury: $5,774.32
Filed: 6/10/13

Nurses on Demand, LLC v. The Northeast Health Group Inc. d/b/a Chapin Center, Governors Center, Willimansett Center East, and Willimansett Center West
Allegation: Failure to pay for nursing services provided by plaintiff: $24,419.13
Filed: 6/3/13

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Martin Topor Oil Co. Inc. d/b/a Central Oil v. W & I Construction Inc.
Allegation: Suit on an unsatisfied judgment: $13,660.03
Filed: 6/5/13

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

Curry Printing Moves to Union Street
WEST SPRINGFIELD — After 37 years in the same location at 191 Elm St., Curry Printing has moved to 91 Union St. in West Springfield. Curry’s new location is larger and will offer better parking for its customers. Curry has continued to stay on top of the ever-changing world of digital printing. It offers full-color, on-demand printing of brochures, envelopes, posters, carbonless forms, booklets, manuals, and other time-sensitive projects. The shop also prints large-format display items such as banners, posters, and outdoor signs. An overhead door at the new location will enable indoor installation of vehicle graphics. Curry can still be reached at (413) 785-1363. The website is www.curry-printing.com.

AIC to Offer Program in Public Health
SPRINGFIELD — In an effort to address continuing and emerging health challenges, American International College has established a new undergraduate major in Public Health. Cesarina Thompson, dean of the AIC School of Health Sciences, said the program, which begins in the fall, builds on the school’s other successful health programs of Nursing, Physical Therapy, and Occupational Therapy. “The new Public Health major will prepare graduates to work in a variety of settings and engage in a wide range of health promotion, health protection, and disease-prevention activities,” said Thompson. “Even though the U.S. spends far more on medical care than any other nation, we rank well below many of its global counterparts and competitors on a number of health outcomes, including overall life expectancy and the incidence of preventable diseases and injuries.” At the completion of the program, Thompson said, it is expected that graduates will have the necessary knowledge of methods to assess population-wide health concerns and understanding related to the U.S. and other selected healthcare and healthcare-delivery systems. Students will also learn structures for and approaches to developing health policies and health-policy analysis. Other areas of study will include population health perspectives and the needs of vulnerable populations, social and behavioral theories applicable to health behavior and how these theories may be applied to address a variety of public health issues, and principles of epidemiology necessary to understand health and illness.

HVAC Supplier SpacePak Introduces AirCell
WESTFIELD — Leading HVAC systems supplier SpacePak recently announced the introduction of AirCell, a new hydronic product for commercial and residential applications. AirCell is a modular, compact, high-efficiency air handler that uses 30% less energy than traditional fan-based HVAC systems, the company said. SpacePak’s hydronic technology, the most efficient way to transfer energy for both heating and cooling, offers an environmentally friendly system that reduces the amount of CFCs used. Additionally, micro-zone design creates multiple precise, self-controlled areas to reduce energy and fuel usage. The systems were designed by Mestek Inc., a family of manufacturers of HVAC equipment and automated manufacturing machinery based in Westfield. John Baldasaro, director of Sales for the Residential Comfort Group at Mestek, explained that the SpacePak and AirCell systems offer an alternative to traditional systems that carry chemical refrigerants into the home. “Hydronic systems are more environmentally friendly because water is a better conductor of energy than air, and AirCell allows for refrigerants to remain outside of the building, cooling or heating the water that ultimately travels through the system,” he said, noting that AirCell uses variable-speed fans and an integrated control system that automatically slows fan speeds during off-peak times, reducing overall energy usage.

Mercy Again Recognized as Top 100 Value Hospital
SPRINGFIELD — For the fourth consecutive year, Mercy Medical Center has been recognized as a Top 100 Community Value hospital by Cleverley + Associates, a leading healthcare financial consulting firm. Mercy’s designation is noted in the independent organization’s recent publication State of the Hospital Industry – 2013 Edition. “Mercy Medical Center’s longstanding reputation for delivering high-quality care at a reasonable cost has once again been independently confirmed with the presentation of both the Community Value 100 and Community Value Five Star Awards,” said Daniel Moen, president and CEO for the Sisters of Providence Health System. “We are proud to be identified among the nation’s highest-scoring facilities in measures of quality of care and costs for the fourth year in a row. With an increasing focus on healthcare value and value-based purchasing of healthcare services driven by healthcare reform, providers are challenged to maximize their productivity and efficiency without sacrificing quality. These awards are further validation that Mercy Medical Center successfully meets those challenges.” The State of the Hospital Industry reports selected measures of hospital financial performance and discusses the critical factors that lie behind them.

Big Y Donates $40,000 to Red Cross Oklahoma Tornado Disaster Relief
SPRINGFIELD — In response to tornadoes that touched down recently and caused massive destruction throughout parts of Oklahoma, Big Y World Class Markets responded by hosting a donation program in all Massachusetts and Connecticut stores. Big Y World Class Markets collected donations from customer and employees for the American Red Cross disaster relief. Funds were raised through a special in-store customer/employee donation program. The community and employee donations, along with additional support from Big Y, resulted in a donation of $40,000, which will be utilized by both Massachusetts and Connecticut American Red Cross chapters in support of the ongoing relief efforts in the devastated communities and for the many people affected by the natural disaster. A formal check presentation to the Massachusetts American Red Cross was held on June 26. Donald D’Amour, CEO of Big Y Foods, presented the contribution to Rick Lee, Pioneer Valley Chapter director, and Mark Brinkerhoff, Pioneer Valley director of Community Support. “Time and time again, Big Y, its employees, and customers have shown incredible compassion and generosity toward people in need,” said Lee. “This customer donation program is one of many that Big Y has run for the Red Cross in recent years, and we are more than grateful for their continued support.”

Easthampton Savings to Build New Office in Belchertown
EASTHAMPTON — William Hogan Jr., president of Easthampton Savings Bank, recently announced the bank’s plans to build a new office in Belchertown. The bank purchased a piece of property and will be constructing a 2,500-square-foot, full-service office, with a drive-up ATM and safe-deposit boxes. It will be located less than a mile from the bank’s current location at 175 State St. The bank has leased space in Belchertown for almost 10 years. The decision to build was based on Easthampton Savings Bank’s long-term commitment to the town of Belchertown. The bank plans to have the new office open by the end of 2013.

Doing Business as Certificates