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HOLYOKE — On Jan. 4 at 3 p.m., Allerton Kilborne will return to Holyoke to offer a special tour of his grandmother’s home and share his memories of living at Wistariahurst. When Kilborne enters the home on Cabot Street, it is like entering a time machine. Allerton lived at Wistariahurst with his grandmother, Katherine Skinner Kilborne, and a full staff, whom he remembers in detail and with great affection. So join him in a journey back in time as Wistariahurst comes alive with his memories. Acquiring its name from the flowering vine, the 26-room mansion features parquet floors, vaulted ceilings, elaborate woodwork, and two marble lions that have guarded the entrance since the late 19th century. The estate was kept in the Skinner family until 1959 when Katharine Skinner Kilborne and her three children gave Wistariahurst to the city of Holyoke for cultural and educational purposes. Registration for the event is suggested. Admission is $12 for the general public, and $10 members. For more information or to register visit wistariahurst.org or call the museum at (413) 322-5660.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield-based law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., today announced that attorney L. Alexandra Hogan has been appointed as the new vice-chair of the New England division of the International Women’s Insolvency and Restructuring Confederation (IWIRC). In 2012, Hogan was voted in to join the organization’s board of directors. The New England IWIRC is a networking organization pursuing the goal of creating a vibrant community of restructuring practitioners from every discipline. For more than two decades, IWIRC has been connecting women worldwide through a global membership of more than 1,200 attorneys, bankers, corporate-turnaround professionals, financial advisors and other restructuring practitioners. “IWIRC provides valuable networking opportunities and leadership roles on a global and local level,” said Hogan. “Whether members are just beginning their careers or they are looking to take their profession to the next level, IWIRC has a platform to help them get there. I am proud to serve on the board of an organization devoted to improving the professional opportunities for women in my field and I’m excited to take my own involvement with the organization to the next level as the vice-chair for the New England division.” Hogan concentrates her practice primarily in bankruptcy, litigation and business law. She graduated from Western New England University School of Law in 2008 with cum laude honors and from Bay Path University with summa cum laude honors in 1996. For the years 2011-2014, she has been selected by Super Lawyers as a Rising Star and a Top Woman Attorney. She also currently serves as vice chair of the Hampden County Bar Association’s Bankruptcy Division.
Hogan volunteers to the Financial Literacy Program for U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Massachusetts and the Boston Bar Association to aid high school students in personal finance and also provides pro bono services through the Law Consortium for Western Mass.

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELD — The Elite Baseball Development Program that helped develop Arizona Diamondback’s Nick Ahmed into the powerful shortstop he is today is coming to Palmer on Jan. 5. Conca Sport & Fitness, LLC (CSF) will be bringing its Conca Sports Performance division to AP Player Development in Palmer, located at 1 Chamber Road. Conca Sports Performance is the highly specialized athlete development division of Conca Sport & Fitness, LLC which offers sport-specific strength and conditioning. One such program, the Elite Baseball Development Program, has been offered at its West Springfield facility since 2009, training high school, collegiate and professional athletes. Athletes in Palmer and surrounding areas will have the same opportunity. With the dynamic collaboration between CSF and AP Player Development, athletes will now have the opportunity to train on and off the field, using AP’s outdoor and indoor resources. “Steve Conca has designed an Elite Baseball Development program that addresses the needs of players at all levels,” said Peter Fatse, owner and director of AP Player Development, LLC. “We’re pleased to have him bring Conca Sports Performance to our facility and provide the expert strength and conditioning for the talent we are developing.” The Elite Baseball Development Program includes individual assessments and program design, supervised strength and conditioning, and nutrition education. Pitchers and hitters are assessed using cutting-edge ZenoLinkTM 3D technology to create an accurate performance profile that serves as the basis for their training programs. These programs are tailored to the players’ specific needs, including strengths, deficiencies, and injury history. “What happens in the off-season is just as important, if not more so, than what happens during the season with regards to strength and conditioning,” said Steve Conca, MS, CSCS owner of Conca Sport and Fitness, LLC. “The proper program design can make all the difference on the field, and our Elite Baseball Development Program identifies the individual needs of the players to ensure they perform their best while reducing the chances of an overuse injury to the shoulder and or elbow.”

Daily News

Construction employment expanded in 224 metro areas, declined in 64 and was stagnant in 51 between November 2013 and November 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said contractors in many parts of the country were benefitting from growing demand, yet labor shortages threaten to undermine the sector’s recovery. “It is good news that construction employment is now rising in two-thirds of the nation’s metro areas,” said Ken Simonson, chief economist for the association. “But now that the unemployment rate for construction workers has fallen to a seven-year low, it has become a major challenge to find qualified workers in many fields.” Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown, Texas added the largest number of construction jobs in the past year (16,200 jobs, 9%), followed by Dallas-Plano-Irving, Texas (11,000 jobs, 10 %), Chicago-Joliet-Naperville, Ill. (9,100 jobs, 7%) and Seattle-Bellevue-Everett, Wash. (8,900 jobs, 12%). The largest percentage gains occurred in Pascagoula, Miss. (24%, 1,500 jobs), Fargo, N.D. (19%, 1,600 jobs), Crestview-Fort Walton Beach-Destin, Fla. (18, 700 jobs) and York-Hanover, Pa. (18%, 1,700 jobs). The largest job losses from November 2013 to November 2014 were in Bethesda-Rockville-Frederick, Md. (-3,600 jobs, -11%), followed by Phoenix-Mesa-Glendale, Ariz. (-3,000 jobs, -3%), Edison-New Brunswick N.J. (-2,700 jobs, -6%), Gary, Ind. (-2,500 jobs, -14%) and Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, Fla. (-2,500 jobs, -4%). The largest percentage decline for the past year was in Steubenville-Weirton, Ohio-W.Va. (-39%, -900 jobs), followed by Cheyenne, Wyo. (-17%, -600 jobs), Fond du Lac, Wis. (-15%, -400 jobs) and Gary, Ind. Association officials noted that most contractors report they are having a hard time finding qualified workers to fill key positions as demand rebounds. They cautioned that if labor conditions get even tighter, contractors will have to pass on new projects, and possibly delay existing ones, because of a lack of workers. Indeed, 25% of contractors reported over the summer they were already declining to bid on certain projects because of the lack of available workers. “It is time to start rebuilding the once robust career and technical education programs that used to exist in most school districts around the country,” said Stephen E. Sandherr, the association’s chief executive officer. “Without a solid network for preparing future workers, we are likely to spend much of 2015 talking about how the construction industry is failing to keep up with demand.”

Cover Story Law Sections
New D.A. Anthony Gulluni Makes His Case

COVER1214cAnthony Gulluni says he was in Boston recently for a meeting of the state’s district attorneys and district attorneys-elect — he’s in that latter category, having won the position in Hampden County in September.

And he noted that he was subjected to more than a few not-unexpected cracks about his age.

“Someone said I brought down the median age by 20 years, or something like that — there were quite a few jokes,” said Gulluni, who turned 34 in October, looks even younger, and is believed to be one of the youngest district attorneys — if not the youngest — in the state’s history.

While he takes the ribbing in stride, he makes it clear that he intends to have people talking about something other than his age — and soon.

Indeed, Gulluni, who will be sworn in early next month and has been hard at work on transition matters for several weeks now, has some ambitious plans for his office. Specifically, and repeatedly, he talked about fighting crime not only in the courtroom, where he intends to be much of the time, but outside it as well.

“We have a fundamental obligation to work with police departments and prosecute cases in the courtroom and keep people safe,” he explained. “But it’s a two-phase approach; there’s prevention, education, and addressing core issues such as mental health and substance abuse. But there’s also performing that fundamental function of the D.A.’s office — promoting public safety by prosecuting cases.”

Elaborating, he stressed that the D.A.’s mission to serve the public means working to assist not only the victims of crimes, but, when possible and when appropriate, those committing them as well.

“I see this as a position in which I’m serving the public; I’m serving the people of Hampden County and promoting public safety and ensuring criminal justice,” he explained. “There’s a great responsibility with that criminal-justice part, where serving people means serving the defendants that come into that courthouse.

“It’s very often overlooked that we have such impact on those people’s lives — and very often they’re repairable lives,” he went on. “All but a very, very small percentage of these defendants are people we’re not looking to save in some way or improve. And this goes into the job of being a district attorney and being a prosecutor, especially at those lower levels in Juvenile Court and District Court, where the focus should be, and often is, on rehabilitation.”

Gulluni told BusinessWest that he has a number of priorities for the months and years to come. They include everything from lobbying the state’s elected leaders for funding he said would be commensurate with the size of the county’s courts and their volume levels (more on that later) to creation of a new position, one dedicated to what amounts to public relations and telling the mostly unknown story of what the D.A.’s office does within, and for, the community.

And he will place heavy emphasis on stemming the tide of gun violence in the county and especially its two largest communities, Springfield and Holyoke.

“I’ve handled a lot of gun cases, and I think it’s the scourge of urban America,” he said. “Very literally, guns are necessary components in the street violence and many of our murders. An emphasis has been placed on prosecution of defendants with illegal guns, and this emphasis will continue. It’s a major problem, especially in Springfield, and there’s a trio that often travels together — guns, drugs, and gangs — and this is manifesting itself in the deaths of a lot of young people and the destruction of countless lives.”

For this issue and its focus on law, BusinessWest talked at length with Gulluni about his new position, the philosophy he brings to it, and his goals for his office and the diverse county it serves.

Law and Order

When asked why he joined the D.A.’s office and later chose to try and lead it, Gulluni started by talking about his father, Frank, and the legacy he left in public service.

“My father worked very hard for many, many years to help people, essentially, and was a public servant in the truest sense of the word,” he explained, noting that his father founded and then managed the Mass. Career Development Institute (MCDI) for roughly a quarter-century, until the late ’90s. “That record of service certainly influenced me. He helped thousands and thousands of people; I really learned a lot from that, and this passion for public service was ingrained upon me as a young person watching him help so many people.”

Anthony Gulluni

Anthony Gulluni says he intends to fight crime both in the courtroom and in the community.

That fondness for public service is reflected in his career path following graduation from Western New England University School of Law. After first serving as a law clerk in the Springfield Law Department and then as an assistant city solicitor, he joined then-District Attorney Bill Bennett’s team as an assistant D.A. in June 2009.

He said that both Bennett and his successor, Mark Mastroianni, served not only as mentors, but, like his father, as individuals who embodied the importance of public service.

“I had great mentors in that particular job,” he told BusinessWest. “But once I started in that office, I realized a love for the job because of the work, particularly the trial work, but moreso the public-service side of it and the impact that we as prosecutors have on individuals, particularly the individuals who come into the courthouse and those whose cases we prosecute, and those victims who are involved in the cases we prosecute.

“And because I live in the county and especially a place like Springfield, I also realize the impact that the office has collectively, and that we have individually as prosecutors, on the communities we serve in Hampden County,” he continued. “That was a source of great pride; I had opportunities to leave, and thought about it, but ultimately I stayed because I loved what I was doing.”

Soon after Mastroianni was appointed to a federal judgeship, Gulluni announced he would seek to succeed him as the region’s top prosecutor. He said his triumph over three opponents in the Democratic primary in September (there were no Republican candidates) was verification that he made the right career decision.

“If I lost, I think that would have shown that I was wrong in seeking the office at this time,” he said. “To win by a resounding margin in a four-person race really answered the question of whether I chose right, whether my sense was right, and whether my reasons were right.

“The way in which I ran my campaign was a manifestation of my reasons for running,” he went on. “And that was to show people that I care about the community. I’m a lifelong Forest Park resident, and I’ve been in the county my whole life, I was educated in this county, and I have a familial background in public service.”

As an assistant under Bennett and Mastroianni, Gulluni said he gained invaluable experience in the courtroom — which was another motivation for making that career transition — but also developed an appreciation for the many kinds of rewards that come from assisting the victims of crimes.

“Those are the cases I remember, the ones where someone was victimized and who was looking to me, the prosecutor, to bring some sense of satisfaction, maybe, or some sense of wholeness or repair for what happened to them,” he noted, adding that this category of crime includes everything from gun offenses to many OUI cases, to instances of breaking and entering. “That’s a solemn responsibility I always took very seriously. But in some cases, you let people down or you could never really satisfy them, which is understandable.

“However I could help that person in the healing process was always of great satisfaction to me,” he went on. “Sometimes you do let people down — maybe they’re unsatisfied with the sentence, or the case could not go forward — and that’s an inevitable part of the system, but I always worked as hard as I could to make people happy and give them a sense of closure.”

Bullet Points

Looking ahead, while also surveying the county and assessing the issues confronting it, Gulluni expects his office and its staff of 160, including 65 lawyers, will be busy not only assisting victims and providing that sense of closure, but also working to limit and perhaps reduce their numbers.

And, as he stated earlier, a critical piece of this assignment is work to rehabilitate, or save, the defendants in such cases.

“My focus is going to be especially on people who are suffering from mental and substance-abuse issues,” he told BusinessWest. “We need to address those core issues and give these people a hand. Very often there’s some punishment that goes with that, and this goes with the territory, but we’re looking to help some of those people we can help and who have issues — with crime being an outgrowth of those core issues.

“And if we can address those core issues, we’re acting in that humanitarian way by trying to help those people,” he continued. “But we’re also being fiscally prudent as well, understanding that the initial investment in these people hopefully will prevent future expenditures in terms of prosecution, probation, and incarceration if things were to continue in that way.”

As an example, he cited the national, and regional, problem of opiate addiction. The numbers of those who become addicted to painkillers and potent drugs such as heroin are rising at alarming rates, and with this surge comes criminal activity on many levels as individuals struggle to feed their addiction.

“We have to fight this inside the courtroom and outside it,” said Gulluni. “It comes to us as a criminal-justice issue, but it’s really a health issue. These people dealing with mental-health and substance-abuse issues are coming to us with the outgrowth of their problem — the commission of a crime — but that underlying issue is a health issue. Whether we’re equipped to our not, we have to deal with this issue and make a difference through whatever means we have. It’s going to be my obligation to better prepare and treat those issues through cooperative arrangements with nonprofits and outside agencies, but also with the trial court and the probation department.”

To this end, a so-called Veterans Court is being established through a pilot program to deal with individuals suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other issues, he said, and, likewise, a drug court is being considered to identify and handle cases where there are no real victims of the crimes in question, other than those suffering from addiction, and such individuals do not have a significant criminal history.

Such facilities, similar to a mental-health court already in existence, would enable prosecutors to take such cases out of the mainstream criminal-justice system and deal with them in a specialized way, Gulluni went on, adding that a drug court has been discussed for some time now, and he intends to make it a priority of his administration.

There are other priorities, as well, and Gulluni and has transition team have been addressing them since the end of what the D.A.-elect called a “time to rehabilitate” and then a “thank-you tour” that followed the election.

One of the first matters to be considered is personnel, said Gulluni, adding that the process of assembling his team is ongoing and will continue for some time.

Meanwhile, another priority is forging relationships with elected officials, with the goal of communicating the need for more funding and, hopefully, seeing that need addressed.

“We’re going to work hard to bring in as much money as we can,” he noted. “For fiscal year 2013, we were the fifth of the 11 districts in the Commonwealth in terms of funding, and our Superior Court during that time period disposed of the most cases of any district. Our District Court is among the busiest in the state; the volume is there, but the funding is not commensurate with the work that we’re doing.”

While funding is indeed tight, he will strive to find room in his budget for a professional to work with the media to better tell the story of what the D.A.’s office does, how, and why.

“We haven’t had such a person in a long time, and we need one,” he explained. “It’s a positive thing for us and a positive thing for transparency, most importantly. We’re accessible — this is essentially the people’s office, and we’re prosecuting on behalf of the people of Hampden County, and I’m beholden to them, so being able to communicate readily with members of the press is very important.

“Whether you’re in business or in the public sector, you want to get your message out,” he went on. “You want to show people what you’re doing and show them that what you’re doing is positive and impactful. It’s not just putting a face on the office — it’s preventing crime.”

Beyond greater exposure, Gulluni wants the D.A.’s office to be more visible and more active in the community, especially when it comes to young people and keeping them from taking the wrong path.

“We need to get in front of young people and send a message that there are things they have to avoid, especially in the urban atmosphere,” he said. “If we can get to some kids before they fall into that trap of crime, street violence, gangs, guns, and drugs, we might be able to keep them from getting into trouble.”

Bottom Line

When asked if he thought he’d be in the D.A.’s office long enough to be on the other end of jokes about 30-something prosecutors, Gulluni laughed before explaining that he’s focused now on the weeks and months ahead, not a few decades down the road.

He said he expects to serve in this office for at least two four-year terms, and hinted that his stay might be considerably longer.

At the moment, his only commitment is to the people of Hampden County and his pledge to fight crime inside the courtroom and out.

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

Community Spotlight Features
In Enfield, Growth Efforts Focus on Thompsonville

Peter Bryanton

Peter Bryanton says Thompsonville was a thriving center in its heyday, but may be on its way back.

Enfield town officials have had a revitalization plan for the village of Thompsonville for more than two decades now. It was created in 1992 after the former Bigelow-Sanford Carpet Co. was transformed into a 470-unit apartment complex.

Community Development Division Director Peter Bryanton said that Thompsonville was a thriving center in its heyday, with stores, eateries, and businesses that benefitted from the people who lived in the neighborhood and worked in the Bigelow factory. But after the mill closed in 1971, the area began to languish, and many neighborhood businesses closed their doors.

However, when construction on Bigelow Commons began, small businesses began to open again. “Town officials thought Bigelow Commons was a new starting point and formed a committee to work toward revitalizing the village. The Thompsonville Revitalization Strategy Plan was created as a result of their effort, and although it was a good plan, it was never implemented due to a lack of funding and resources,” Bryanton told BusinessWest, adding that updates were made in 2010.

But over the past year, a great deal of progress has occurred, and what was once a dream is fast becoming a reality. In fact, the town held a recent breakfast for commercial real-estate investors, developers, consultants, and other interested parties, which was attended by more than 100 people. The goal was to let them know about projects and new initiatives that have drawn residents and tourists into Thompsonville, and why it is has become a desirable investment.

“We told people what we’ve done and where we are headed, and we also created a book for them that shows every piece of property available in Enfield,” said Courtney Hendricson, assistant town manager of Development Services, adding that the impetus behind the recent initiatives was the announcement that a commuter rail line linking New Haven, Hartford, and Springfield will begin operating in 2016.

“Our plan revolves around building a new, multi-modal transit center that will include commuter rail and bus service; we know that many people want to live near these stations,” she said. “Rail service will make it easy to get to different places without owning a car, and surveys show that people in their 20s and 30s overwhelmingly want a walkable lifestyle. There is generally a 30% increase in property values within a half-mile of a transit station.”

Bryanton agreed. “Revitalization is finally happening; five years ago it was just an idea, but now it’s a reality. Once Enfield has commuter rail service, it will become a destination for people looking for a lifestyle based around public transit — we just need to get the transit center built,” he said, adding that it will be located in the former Westfield Casket Hardware building on 33 North River St.

He added that the four-story structure, which sits on the Connecticut River, is owned by Enfield Community Development Corp. and is in good shape.

“The ground floor will be used as the entranceway to get upstairs to the second floor, where the rail platform will be located. The third and fourth floors will be turned into loft apartments,” Bryanton said, adding that a portion of space on the first and second floors will also be designated for mixed use, which will allow people to shop, eat, and do business at the station.

However, land is needed to build a parking lot and a bus turnaround, and the town has been negotiating with Northeast Utilities about a plot adjacent to the building that was once home to a power plant. It is contaminated, so the negotiations are focused on who will pay for the cleanup, which will likely be a joint effort financed with brownfield grant money and funds from NU.

“In addition to the parking lot and bus turnaround, we also plan to build a new riverfront park on the property,” Bryanton said.

Town officials are lobbying the state and federal government to get funding to build the transit platform. “State officials told us they will build it after the rail service begins, but that means it would not stop in Enfield when it starts up, which is key to our development focus,” Hendricson said.

However, work is progressing, and Connecticut recently launched the Hartford Line. The commuter rail service will use Amtrak’s New Haven–Springfield Line and supplement existing intercity rail services between the two cities. The project is a joint venture between Connecticut and Massachusetts, with support from the federal government.

Once the line is operational and the transit platform has been built, Enfield officials say, they plan to focus their efforts on promoting public transportation, which will help spur private investment in the village.

Multi-faceted Approach

Hendricson said the town’s economic-development efforts rest on five pillars.

The first is an initiative called Riverfront Recapture, which involves capitalizing on access to the Connecticut River. “It’s our greatest natural resource and borders many of our neighborhoods as well as downtown Thompsonville, so we feel it has a lot of potential,” she explained, adding that the town plans to build a hiking and bicycling trail along the river, extending from Fresh Water Pond to the business corridor and down to the river. It is currently in the design stage.

The second and most important pillar is the revitalization plan for Thompsonville. “But we don’t want to ignore our other neighborhoods, which include Hazardville,” Hendricson said, noting that lessons learned from a successful streetscape plan implanted there, as well as from projects completed in other areas of town, will be employed in Thompsonville’s revival.

She also stressed that town officials feel it is important to celebrate the businesses that stayed open after the Bigelow carpet factory closed and have done well.

The fourth pillar is to continue to attract new businesses and retain the 3,000 companies that make Enfield their home. “They include many Fortune 100 companies,” said Hendricson. “We share the headquarters for MassMutual and are home to the headquarters for the North American and South American branches of Lego. The Hallmark Distribution Center and Advanced Auto Distribution Centers for the entire East Coast are also in Enfield, and we have many small, mom-and-pop businesses and home-based operations.”

Finally, town officials also plan to take advantage of the traffic that the MGM casino in Springfield will generate. “We believe Enfield could serve as a secondary destination because we have so many retail businesses and restaurants,” Hendricson said, discussing how the commuter rail platform in Thompsonville will play into the equation.

The revitalization of that village is being done in stages. The infrastructure around Fresh Water Pond, located in the center of the neighborhood, has been upgraded with new lighting, benches, planters, and trash receptacles. “We are also working to improve a walking path around the lake,” Hendricson said. “It is an ongoing effort.”

Engaging the interest of businesses and residents is another element in the plan. “It’s critical to make sure the neighborhood meets their needs,” she went on.

Hendricson noted that Thompsonville contains many multi-family homes, and although officials hope new residences will be built, they want to retain the character that was established when the carpet mill was thriving. “We’re not looking to change the proportion of multi-family housing. But we are looking to increase the number of housing options, so people can choose to live in a loft apartment, a multi-family residence, or a single-family home,” she told BusinessWest.

Town officials have staged new events over the past year to attract people to the center. The signature event was a Community and Farmer’s Market, staged from June through October on Wednesdays from 4 to 8 p.m. in front of Fresh Water Pond. There were 30 to 40 vendors each week, including artisans, farmers, food trucks and community groups, said Hendricson, adding that the market was a great success and went far beyond expectations.

Festivals were also held for families on Earth Day and Halloween, which generated positive feedback, while a presentation for business owners allowed officials to share their vision for the future. “We gave awards to businesses who have been in Thompsonville for years; we wanted to recognize and thank them. We plan to do this annually,” Hendricson said.

In addition, land was set aside to create a community garden. “There were 50 plots, and we asked people to pay $25 to become a member. They received soil and seeds, and they shared equipment. The town provided water, porta-potties, and security cameras, and a master gardener from the University of Connecticut gave a weekly seminar,” Hendricson said. “The garden was run by volunteers, and people are already asking if we are going to do it again next summer. We’ve been really working to engage the community.”

Another initiative, which focused on the use of alternative transportation, proved highly successful. Called the Magic Carpet Shuttle, it’s a bus service that takes people through the town with a number of dropoff spots. It connects to the Hartford Express (run by the Connecticut Department of Transportation) in the Macy’s parking lot.

“We started the shuttle to prove that residents will use other modes of transportation, but it has taken off beyond our expectations,” said Hendricson. “We expanded the route and the hours because 100 to 150 people ride on it every day.”

The success of these programs is being used to show investors that the outlook for Thompsonville is bright. “We’ve been meeting with developers in Greater Hartford and Springfield who are looking for opportunities,” she went on.

The town is also in the process of changing the zoning in the village, Bryanton added. It is mostly residential, but will soon have more areas designated for mixed-use development.

Moving Forward

Town officials believe their vision for Thompsonville will be realized over the next few years.

“We’ve done our homework and are making it into a desirable destination by bringing back its economic vitality,” Hendricson said. “There is so much potential, and I can easily picture it becoming a walkable, safe, attractive downtown for tourists and residents. I have no doubt it will happen.”

Bryanton agreed. “It’s been a long process to get where we are today, but we are finally on the doorstep,” he said. “We have a vision, and we know that, once the transit center is in place, people will come here.”

Enfield at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1683 in Massachusetts; annexed to Connecticut in 1749
Population: 44,654 (2010)
Area: 34.2 square miles
County: Hartford
Residential Tax Rate: $29.13 (plus fire district tax)

Commercial Tax Rate: $29.13 (plus fire district tax)
Median Household Income: $69,356
<strong>Family Household Income: $80,997
Type of government: Town Council; Town Manager
Largest Employers: MassMutual; Hallmark Cards Distribution Center; the Lego Group

* Latest information available

Briefcase Departments

UMass President Robert Caret to Step Down
AMHERST — University of Massachusetts president Robert Caret has announced he will leave his job after four years to become the next chancellor of the University of Maryland system. Caret, who became president of the five-campus UMass system in July 2011, begins his new position in July. Before coming to Massachusetts, he had spent much of his career at Towson University, near Baltimore, where he worked as a faculty member, dean, executive vice president, president, and provost. “I could not say no to an offer to return to my home state, where I will be closer to my family,” Caret wrote in a statement. He will succeed chancellor William “Brit” Kirwan, who has led the 12-institution Maryland system for the past 12 years. In a statement, Kirwan praised his successor, saying, “I’ve known Bob Caret for several years. He has had significant positive impact on each institution he has led. The University System of Maryland and the state will benefit greatly from his leadership in the years ahead.” Caret, who will be formally introduced to the University of Maryland community at a news conference Friday, will earn $600,000 a year, and his contract will run for five years. At UMass, he was paid about $500,000 a year. He will be taking over a much larger system, with 162,000 students and an operating budget of $4.9 billion. UMass has half as many students and a budget of $2.9 billion.

MassBenchmarks Report Optimistic About Area’s Economic Prospects
HADLEY — The state’s workforce and job seekers have reason for optimism, according to the economists behind MassBenchmarks, a study of the state’s economy prepared by the UMass Donahue Institute. “State gross product growth has kept pace with strong national growth for the past two quarters,” according to the report. “State job growth has been steady, with software, information technology, and staffing-services sectors doing well. The Commonwealth’s labor force has grown consistently since June, as workers who were previously discouraged re-enter the labor market. And strikingly, Massachusetts has the fastest-growing population not only in New England, but in all of the Northeastern U.S. This is in large part due to international immigration and a lower level of domestic net outmigration than has been experienced in recent recoveries.” The state also appears to be benefiting from a national economic expansion that is gaining traction. The national jobs report for October was strong, with more than 300,000 jobs added, an increase in the average workweek, modestly rising wages, and upward revisions in job growth for August and September. Falling oil and gas prices are putting more money in the pockets of consumers and lowering business costs. Still, challenges remain, the report notes. “Electricity prices in Massachusetts are expected to rise steeply this winter largely as a result of the New England region’s ongoing difficulties in accessing a sufficient supply of natural gas to power its electricity generators. Rising electricity prices can be expected to partially offset the beneficial effects of the drop in oil prices and will create significant financial challenges for energy-intensive industrial users. Federal-government expenditures, long an important funding source for a variety of private-sector contractors and nonprofit research institutions (universities and hospitals), will continue to be squeezed. And, absent action on the part of the incoming governor and Legislature, state infrastructure spending will be significantly constrained in coming years now that state voters have determined that the gas tax will not be indexed to inflation.” In addition, housing production, especially single-family units, remains well below pre-Great Recession levels. “Despite these challenges,” the report goes on, “the Massachusetts economy continues to experience solid economic growth, particularly in the Greater Boston region, and the prospects for continued growth remain strong. After a weak first quarter of the year, the Massachusetts economy has rebounded strongly. While there continue to be serious concerns about the geographically and financially imbalanced nature of this recovery, the MassBenchmarks editorial board is as optimistic as it has been in some time and expects the state’s economic expansion to continue for the foreseeable future.”

Valley Gives Day Brings In More than $2.67 Million
SPRINGFIELD — Western Mass.-based nonprofits sent out the call, and their supporters gave — and gave and gave. In 24 hours, 14,189 donors made 28,824 gifts for a grand total of $2,676,595 at the third annual Valley Gives Day. In addition, a prize pool of $225,000 was distributed among several nonprofits. Organizations in three budget categories competed for bonus grants presented to the top three slots for ‘most unique donors.’ First prize was $5,000, second was $4,000, and third was $3,000. In keeping with a In addition, nonprofits in 12th place in each category were awarded a $1,200 bonus grant. In the category of large nonprofits, the winners were New England Public Radio (839 unique donors), Dakin Humane Society (739 donors), and the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts (696 donors). Among medium-sized nonprofits, the winners were New Spirit Inc. (641 donors), Whole Children (632 donors), and Pioneer Valley Symphony (384 donors). Among small nonprofits, the winners were Friends of the Hilltown Cooperative Charter School Inc. (437 donors), Grow Food Northampton (342 donors), and the Jackson Street School PTO Inc. (299 donors). Other awards were given in the category of money raised by first-time participants, with first place going to the Jackson Street School PTO Inc. with $24,356. Also, hourly beginning at 9 a.m., a randomly selected donation to a participating nonprofit had a $1,000 golden ticket added to the total. Throughout the day, there were five bonus power hours (10 a.m., noon, 4 p.m., 6 p.m., and 9 p.m.) when a total of $22,000 golden tickets were added to randomly selected donations. The full list of nonprofits and their totals raised is available at www.valleygivesday.org. 

Leadership Pioneer Valley Launches Leadership 2.0
SPRINGFIELD — Leadership Pioneer Valley (LPV) is offering offering a new series of bite-sized training sessions beginning in January to enhance leadership skills and understanding of the region. The sessions are open to LPV alumni and other emerging and established leaders. LPV recognizes that leadership is a lifelong process, and the Leadership 2.0 series features six two- to three-hour training sessions on a variety of topics with the goal of deepening leadership skills, creating new and diverse connections, and making an impact on the region. The sessions are open to LPV alumni who want to continue their learning or others who are unable to be part of LPV’s 10-month program. The intent is to diversify Leadership Pioneer Valley’s offerings and create new opportunities. Workshop topics include “Effective Communications,” “Becoming a Superhero Board Member,” and a field experience to explore the Agawam area. The series sponsors include Sisters of Providence Health System/Mercy Hospital, Appleton Corp., the Beveridge Family Foundation, and the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts.

Springfield Chamber Opposes Recommended Tax Rates in City
SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Chamber of Commerce, an affiliate of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield, announced that it has reviewed the city of Springfield’s proposal for property taxes for fiscal year 2015 and has issued a position paper opposing the rates recommended. “The Springfield Chamber, on behalf of its more than 500 members, has consistently advocated for a reduction in the heavy tax burden that has been shifted from the residential community onto the backs of the business community,” said chamber President Jeffrey Ciuffreda. “While the recommended tax rates being proposed by Mayor [Domenic] Sarno reduces both classes of rates, his proposal actually increases the burden again onto the business community, and that is something the chamber cannot accept.” The chamber has a stated, long-term goal of reducing the heavy burden of taxes that has been shifted onto the business community, especially over the past 10 years, to a level that is more reasonable and one that has been used in past years, it said in its position paper. “In 2004, the business classification of properties paid 12.93% more in property taxes than its percentage of overall value. The chamber refers to this increased business-tax burden as the ‘gap.’ Businesses made up 26.86% of all property values in Springfield, yet paid 39.79% of all the property taxes, and used less municipal services. The gap provides for the business community to pay additional taxes so that the residential tax rate can remain lower. Since 2004, the chamber has consistently advocated for a reduction in the gap. Despite these efforts, that gap has seen a steady increase, to its current level of 15.37%.” Ciuffreda said that, while the chamber firmly believes that reducing this burden will spur economic growth, it recognizes the current economic fragility of the city and, for fiscal year 2015, is simply recommending a freeze in the extra level of taxes borne by the business sector. The chamber recommends that the difference between what the business community pays and the percent of value it comprises overall remain at the current level of 15.37%. Under the chamber’s recommendation, all classes of property taxes would be reduced (to $19.68 for residents and $38.72 for businesses), but, more importantly, the gap between the business tax rate and the residential tax rate would remain level. Under the mayor’s proposal, the tax rates would be reduced, but the business sector would pay an even higher rate of taxes, increasing the gap to 15.57%, again shifting more of an already burdensome tax level onto the business community, the chamber argues.

Red Cross Seeks Nominations for Hometown Heroes
SPRINGFIELD — Each year, the American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts hosts the Hometown Heroes Breakfast to honor local individuals and groups that have shown courage, kindness, and unselfish character when a friend, family member, or stranger faced a life-threatening situation, or who have had an extraordinary impact on his or her community. Next year’s breakfast will take place on Thursday, March 19 from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. Members of the community are invited to nominate local heroes for consideration by sharing their story. Honorees will be selected by a committee of individuals from the community, including former Hometown Heroes. Submissions for nominations are welcome from throughout Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. Nomination forms and criteria are available on the chapter website at www.redcross.org/news/event/ma/springfield. Nominations must be submitted online or postmarked no later than Dec. 31. This year’s event is being sponsored by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Channel 22 News, the MassMutual Center, and OMG Inc. Additional sponsorship opportunities are still available for this event. Hometown Heroes is the chapter’s largest annual fund-raising event and supports the ability to provide the resources necessary to serve its communities. The American Red Cross of Western Massachusetts serves Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties, assisting families affected by disaster, helping military families relay emergency communications to their deployed loved ones, and providing life-saving training programs. For further information, contact Gina Czerwinski at (413) 233-1035 or [email protected].

State Issues $12.2M to Reduce Healthcare Costs
LOWELL — Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian awarded more than $12.2 million in the latest round of grants to help train healthcare providers to improve patient service and reduce healthcare costs. The funding goes to 53 organizations across the state as part of the Patrick administration’s effort to encourage economic growth by supporting innovation in the Commonwealth’s healthcare industry. “These grants will help ensure healthcare providers succeed in implementing new models of service delivery and adapt to new payment structures,” said Kaprielian. “By providing resources to develop new and innovative training and education programs, Massachusetts will continue to solidify its place as a leader in healthcare modernization and advances.” In 2012, Gov. Deval Patrick signed a law making Massachusetts the first state in the country to enact healthcare quality-improvement and cost-containment legislation. The act allocated $20 million to prepare the healthcare industry for the new demands and innovations called for in the legislation. Patrick announced the first round of grants in March, allowing businesses to assess their workforce and determine what skills and training they will need to change operations and deliver more efficient healthcare. For many of this week’s grantees, the training activity ahead builds on that planning work. All the grantees have identified a set of operational changes that are driving their need for increased workforce skills. The training activity will support new models for coordinating care across professions, institutions, and settings; focus on patient-centered care, stronger patient engagement, and health education to promote health and wellness; and spur the integration of primary care and behavioral health. In Western Mass., grants were awarded to Berkshire Health System ($249,286), Community Health Programs ($148,349), Baystate Medical Center ($249,682), Gandara Center ($250,000); Springfield Technical Community College ($156,338); and Carson Center for Human Services ($249,996).

Park with Ease Program Continues in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — As the temperatures continue to drop, the Springfield Business Improvement District (SBID) plans to continue its Park with Ease valet program through the winter. “We are thrilled the community has responded so positively to our valet program,” said Chris Russell, executive director of SBID. “After many conversations with stakeholders downtown, including building owners, business owners, and community members, we kept hearing the same comment about parking issues, so we have addressed the concern.” Two valet stations are set up each Thursday, Friday, and Saturday along Main Street; simply look for the signs and valet kiosk. The first is at Court Square across from the MassMutual Center, and the other at the corner of Worthington and Main streets. Car acceptance runs from 5 to 9 p.m., with retrieval continuing until midnight. The SBID is underwriting the service, lowering the customer’s cost to just $5. For more information, visit www.springfielddowntown.com/parkwithease.

Daily News

BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the 2015 class of its 40 Under Forty program. Launched in 2007, the initiative identifies 40 rising stars in Western Mass., individuals excelling in business, non-profit management, and service to the community. The process begins with nominations, which will later be sent to a team of five judges for scoring. Nominations should be thorough, and essentially answer the question ‘why is this individual worthy of a 40 Under Forty plaque?’ The winners (those with the highest total scores from those five judges) will be announced in BusinessWest’s April 20 edition, and they will feted at the annual gala on June 18 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Nomination forms can be found in the next few issues of BusinessWest and also online HERE.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Boys & Girls Club’s 14th annual Festival of Trees had a record-breaking year, drawing more than 13,000 visitors and raising more than $116,000 to support the Club’s mission. Featuring 141 trees in 2014, the hallmark holiday event for families and children raises much-needed funds for after-school and summer programs that serve 1,500 inner city youth each year. The 2014 Festival of Trees officially kicked off on Nov. 28, and closed its doors for the season on Dec. 14. After the final viewing, volunteers made 141 phone calls to the lucky winners of the fully decorated trees that were raffled off as part of the event. All of the trees were donated by businesses, organizations, families, and individuals. The majority of the festival’s visitors participated in the raffle hoping to win one of the trees, valued between $200 and $2,000. The Springfield Boys & Girls Club provides youth development programs for more than 1,500 children each year in the areas of recreation, educational enrichment, technology training, career development, substance abuse prevention, health and fitness, and leadership. All of the proceeds from the Festival of Trees directly fund the club’s operations. For more information, visit www.sbgc.org or call (413) 785-5266. The names of all sponsors, and tree winners, can also be found on the website.

Company Notebook Departments

Easthampton Savings Bank to Acquire Citizens National Bank
EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Savings Bank, the wholly-owned subsidiary of ESB Bancorp Inc., announced that ESB Bancorp has signed a definitive merger agreement with Citizens National Bancorp Inc., under which ESB Bancorp will acquire Citizens National Bancorp in a transaction valued at approximately $51.3 million. Citizens National Bancorp is the holding company for the Citizens National Bank, a $333 million bank located in Putnam, Conn. Following completion of the merger of ESB Bancorp and Citizens National Bancorp, the Citizens National Bank will merge with and into Easthampton Savings Bank. The transaction will expand Easthampton Savings Bank’s market presence into the Northeast Conn. and Central Mass. markets. Following completion of the transaction, ESB Bancorp will have consolidated assets of more than $1.3 billion and a branch network of 15 full-service offices. The transaction is expected to be accretive to ESB Bancorp’s earnings in the first year of combined operations. Easthampton Savings Bank will continue to be well-capitalized under applicable regulatory requirements following completion of the transaction. Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of Easthampton Savings Bank, stated, “we are very pleased to announce our acquisition of Citizens National Bank and to welcome the Citizens employees and customers into the ESB family. We are very familiar with Citizen’s market area, and we are excited to grow through an expansion into the Northeast Connecticut and Central Massachusetts markets. Given Citizens’ excellent reputation and franchise value in their market area, we expect to operate Citizens’ five branches under the Citizens trade name after the transaction is completed. That structure will allow us to remain acutely attentive to our existing customers and communities in the Pioneer Valley, while allowing us to expand and further develop Citizens’ market share.” Added David Conrad, president and CEO of the Citizens National Bank, “we believe this truly excellent opportunity to join ESB, a top-performing mutual bank, will serve our customers, employees, and communities very well.” The merger is subject to certain conditions, including the approval of the holders of at least a majority of the shares of Citizens National Bancorp and receipt of customary regulatory approvals. The merger is expected to be completed early in the third quarter of 2015.

Elms College Garners $27,000 Grant to Expand Mobile Healthcare
CHICOPEE — The Elms College School of Nursing’s caRe vaN has received a one-year, $27,000 grant from the Raskob Foundation of Wilmington, Del. to expand its mobile healthcare project, which offers free nursing services to the homeless and underserved of Chicopee. The caRe vaN is a mobile clinic run by Br. Michael Duffy, assistant clinical professor, coordinator of the Accelerated Second Degree in Nursing Program, and conventual Franciscan friar. He and nursing students provide free healthcare services, including blood-pressure checks and monitoring, blood-sugar checks, foot care, episodic first aid, minor wound care, and patient education. Since 2013, the van has set up shop on Sundays in the former CVS parking lot of the Exchange Street plaza and on Tuesdays at Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry. With this grant, “we’ll be able to expand mobile healthcare to the homeless. It also provides ongoing maintenance of our 1988 vintage van, which has a leaky roof and leaky window seals,” Duffy said. “We could bring on board a psychiatric nurse practitioner a couple hours a week. We also could bring on a driver, which could let us expand to a third day a week on the street.” He also plans to use grant funds for monthly visits from a podiatrist and a barber, and even for monthly laundry vouchers for the van’s clients — all of which are services greatly needed by local homeless people. “Everyone who gets their blood pressure and blood sugar checked would get $5 toward laundry,” he said. Without the grant, expanded services would have had to wait, Duffy said. “We wouldn’t be able to contemplate having a psychiatric RN on board. We’d have to be begging elsewhere for funding to fix our particularly leaky windshield — the rubber is shot.” The caRe vaN helps Elms students prepare for their future nursing careers, he added. “Long-range, healthcare is somewhat headed out of the typical hospital-based model we saw years ago. It’s much more clinic-based and accessible.” Students with experience in this kind of setting will be more marketable upon graduation, too. “It’s real hands-on work,” he said. “They’re working with folks in the community where they are. And it makes them think on their feet. The homeless are with us for a short period; it’s a transient culture, so they’re there for five to 10 minutes. How much can we get done? Can we encourage them to stay longer than just blood pressure and blood sugar?” Working in the van also helps students live the Elms College mission of empowering students to effect positive changes in the community and in the world, Duffy said, adding it “teaches them creative ways to respond to the demands of their chosen profession — nursing — and allows them advocate for people in need. They go hand in hand, no doubt about it.”

Berkshire Bank Earns Community Impact Award
ALBANY, N.Y. — Berkshire Bank was recently honored by the Stakeholders Foundation in Albany, N.Y. with the 2014 Capital Region Community Impact Award. The foundation’s annual awards honor exemplary companies for their philanthropic and volunteer work in the Capital Region. Berkshire Bank received the Corporate Volunteer of the Year award recognizing its X-TEAM employee-volunteer program. The awards were presented in a ceremony at Proctors Theatre in Schenectady, N.Y. on Nov. 12. The Corporate Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Berkshire for its exemplary volunteer strategy that effectively integrated volunteerism into the company’s business culture, had a sizeable impact on the community, and served as an inspiration to others. Nearly 100% of bank employees in the Capital Region have participated in one of Berkshire’s company-supported projects over the last two years. With projects including fund-raising efforts for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Light the Night Walk, building homes with Habitat for Humanity, and work with the Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York, Capital Region employees completed more than two dozen volunteer service projects in 2014, impacting thousands of lives and dozens of communities. Berkshire Bank’s X-TEAM provides all employees with paid time off to volunteer at company-supported projects. Bank employees help identify, select, plan, and execute all of the company’s volunteer work. This approach allows the bank to engage staff and choose volunteer opportunities that are important to local stakeholders. The program is also another way for Berkshire to give back to the community in addition to financial contributions of more than $2 million annually through its charitable foundations and corporate support.

WSU Names Presidential Search Committee
WESTFIELD — The Westfield State University board of trustees formally approved a motion at its Dec. 15 meeting naming campus and community leaders to serve as members of WSU’s presidential search advisory committee. The committee will be led by trustees Steven Marcus and Terrell Hill, who were appointed to serve as the chair and vice-chair, respectively, at the April board meeting. “The professionals selected for the presidential search committee offer a diversity of backgrounds, opinions, and experiences that will be essential when developing criteria, evaluating credentials, and identifying candidates for the university’s next president,” Marcus said. Committee members include Katheryn Bradford, director, Alumni Relations (APA); Junior Delgado, director, Career Services (APA); Evelyn Dina, SGA member, student representative; Joshua Frank, student trustee; Margot Hennessy, chair, Ethnic and Gender Studies, MSCA chapter president; Terrell Hill, trustee; Robin Jensen, chair, Foundation Board; Ron’na Lytle, administrative assistant, Ethnic and Gender Studies (AFSCME); Steven Marcus, trustee; Luis Perez, trustee; Carlton Pickron, vice president, Student Affairs (NUP); Henry Thomas, BHE representative; and Edward Welsh, associate professor, Mathematics (MSCA). The Presidential Search Committee members are responsible for selecting the university’s 20th president. The committee’s first task will be the selection of an executive search firm to assist in the process. A request for proposals (RFP) was posted nationally this fall, and four firms have responded. Marcus plans to convene the search committee in early January to review the four proposals and to select a finalist for presentation to the board at its next meeting on Feb. 5. As the search gets underway, a website will be established to to serve as the official resource for information and updates on the process.

G.M. Morisi Insurance Relocates to Longmeadow
LONGMEADOW — The G.W. Morisi Insurance Agency has moved to a new address after being in Springfield for 65 years. The current address is 175 Dwight Road, Suite 309, in Longmeadow. G.W. Morisi Insurance Agency is a full-service insurance agency that has been family-run for more than 65 years. It is a third-generation family business with extensive experience in a full range of personal lines and business insurance.
 
Q Smokin’ Good Food Opens in Springfield
SPRINGFIELD — It’s been said there’s no place like home for the holidays, which was a challenge for Craig and Chris Spagnoli, co-owners of the new Q Smokin’ Good Food in Springfield. Craig and his son, Chris, recently opened the restaurant, with a menu influenced by Chris’ wife, Sarah Anne, who is originally from South Carolina. Together, they saw an opportunity to fuse southern-style barbecue with local flavor in their restaurant on State Street. “Mason Square and the surrounding community is a really vibrant, diverse area,” said Chris Spagnoli. “There are college students and professors, businesses, public schools, and a well-established community, so we want to see the local flavor start to reflect that diversity.” The menu includes authentic, southern-style barbecue made daily from old family recipes that are complimented by local, artisan craft beers, not to mention fan favorites for the kids, including the ‘little piggy’ pulled-pork sandwich and macaroni and cheese. “The holiday season is a great time to get together and enjoy a family meal,” said Sarah Anne Spagnoli. “At Q Smokin’ Good Food, we have great gifts ready just in time for the holidays. From gift certificates to catering for your holiday events, we can do it all.” Gift cards are 20% off during the holidays. Q Smokin’ Good Food is available as take-out and delivery as well as dine-in. The restaurant regularly features vintage Indian Motorcycles, as it is located directly across the street from the Indian Motorcycle Apartments that were previously the old Indian Motorcycle factory.

Departments People on the Move

David Greenblatt

David Greenblatt

Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C., one of the area’s largest independent accounting firms, announced that David Greenblatt, CPA, has been appointed manager, joining the firm’s healthcare practice. Greenblatt has 15 years of experience in public accounting with a specialty in healthcare, which will augment the firm’s current healthcare team that provides assurance, compliance, tax, and advisory services to Connecticut- and Massachusetts-based physicians, specialists, dentists, and related entities. Most recently, he was a manager at a regional accounting firm in Boston. Greenblatt received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Bryant University. He is a member of the Medical Group Management Assoc. and the Healthcare Financial Management Assoc.
•••••
United Personnel announced that Dave Malloy has been named client services manager. Malloy will plan, direct, and implement business development, account retention, community relations, and marketing activities for United Personnel’s Hampden County and Northern Conn. territory. He will also assist with recruiting and placement activities within the organization. Malloy has built his operations experience in production of electronic components serving customers such as American Power Conversion. He also has coordinated retail manufacturing and distribution for various clients, including Walmart. Most recently, Malloy leveraged these operational experiences to provide business development in healthcare services. He holds master’s degrees in communication and business administration from Bay Path University. 
•••••
The Williams Inn has announced several appointments to its leadership team:
Greta Kipp, the inn’s new general manager, arrives from Topnotch Resort in Stowe, Vt., where she held several positions, including director of rooms, director of revenue management, and director of owner relations. She is a veteran of the U.S. Army and completed a five-year enlistment as an Arabic translator. She earned undergraduate and graduate degrees from Old Dominion University;
Pam Knisley, the inn’s new sales manager, comes from the Wheatleigh Hotel in Lenox. Prior to her position at Wheatleigh, she was general manager/innkeeper at the Inn at Richmond and owner of I’ll Do It! Concierge Service in Pittsfield. She graduated from State University of New York at Fredonia;
Tim Hajduk, the new food and beverage manager, joins the Williams Inn from the Embassy Suites in Waltham, where he spent five years as food and beverage manager. He began his hospitality career at Blantyre in Lenox, after which he spent 11 years in food and beverage management positions. He graduated from the University of New Hampshire.
• Other staffing changes within the inn include the appointments of Roger Gavin to maintenance manager and Adam Brassard to executive chef, and the promotions of Janine Velluci to catering sales manager and Jane Schnopps to guest services manager.
•••••
James Leahy

James Leahy

Nancy Coley

Nancy Coley

The International Volleyball Hall of Fame in Holyoke announced it has appointed James Leahy as its new president and Nancy Coley as a new member. A lifelong resident of Holyoke, Leahy has been on the board of the International Volleyball Hall of Fame for two years and brings extensive expertise in fund-raising and operations to his role as board president. While his professional career is in the pharmaceutical industry, he is also co-director of marketing and sponsorship for the St. Patrick’s Committee of Holyoke Inc., a nonprofit that operates one of the largest St. Patrick Day parades in the country. He has also served on numerous other nonprofit boards, including the Holyoke Merry-go-round, the Boys and Girls Club of America, Holyoke Youth Soccer, the Westfield State University Foundation and the Greater Holyoke YMCA and Children’s Museum boards. Coley is currently the director of Admissions at St. Michael’s Academy in Springfield and was previously a member of the communications team at Holyoke Medical Center for 29 years, serving as its public relations manager. Coley’s marketing and public-relations background will be invaluable as the Hall of Fame continues to unveil its new brand and strategic direction over the next two years.
•••••
Lou Curto

Lou Curto

PV Financial Group announced that Lou Curto, one of its top retirement-plan advisors, has earned the specialized designation of professional plan consultant (PPC). Recent regulatory changes to the qualified-retirement-plan industry have made navigating through the process more difficult for business owners. These regulations have sparked an urgency to ensure that retirement-plan service professionals have specialized training and the resources to help sponsors meet their fiduciary and prudent-practice obligations. The PPC designation was developed by Financial Service Standards to help professionals who specialize in this increasingly regulated niche. Curto sat for a two-day training class, passed a comprehensive final exam, signed off on the FSS Code of Ethics, and committed to ongoing training in retirement-plan management. Curto specializes in working with business owners to help develop retirement-savings-plan options that help ensure maximum benefit to employees.

Agenda Departments

Business@Breakfast
Jan. 7: The entrepreneurial spirit of the region will take center stage at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s Business@Breakfast on Jan. 7, from 7:15 a.m. to 9 a.m. at Ludlow Country Club, One Tony Lema Dr., Ludlow. Paul Silva, executive director of Valley Venture Mentors (VVM), will discuss “Putting the PIONEER Back in Pioneer Valley.” He will be joined by Natasha Clark, founder of LionessMagazine.com, a Western Mass.-based, all-digital magazine for the female entrepreneur. VVM is a nonprofit based in Springfield that provides key support to the entrepreneurial ecosystem through its mentorship and accelerator programs. Silva is the manager of the River Valley Investors angel-investor network and co-founder of the Valley Venture Mentors entrepreneurship-mentoring program and All in Play, a company creating software that helps the blind socialize with their fully sighted friends and families as equals. He is the former president of the co-working space and incubator Click Workspace. The breakfast will also honor Dr. Mark Keroack on his new role as CEO of Baystate Health, and recognize Andrew Associates on its 30th anniversary in business. Reservations are $20 for ACCGS members in advance ($25 for members at the door) and $30 for general admission. Reservations are suggested and can be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

WNEU Mini-Law School
Feb. 10 to March 10: Western New England University School of Law will open its doors to the community with a five-week program focused on demystifying the law. Starting on Feb. 10, the Mini-Law School will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Blake Law Center, Room D, 1215 Wilbraham Road, Springfield. “Individuals interested in becoming better-informed and engaging in stimulating dialogue will find this program rewarding,” said Pat Newcombe, associate dean for Library and Information Resources. “No legal knowledge is necessary, just a curious mind.” Mini-Law School offers non-lawyers an understanding of legal topics that impact their everyday lives. Each class is taught by School of Law faculty and moderated by the Hon. Kenneth Neiman, magistrate judge, U.S. District Court, District of Massachusetts. Blending theory and practice, the classes will focus on family law, health law, constitutional law, and environmental law. The sessions include:
• Feb. 10: “Welcome to Mini-Law School: An Inside View of Law School and the Courts,” presented by Neiman and School of Law Dean Eric Gouvin;
• Feb. 17: “Family Law: What Defines a Family?” presented by 
Professor of Law Jennifer Levi and Neiman;
• Feb. 24: “Health Law: End-of-Life Choices,” presented by 
Professor of Law Barbara Noah and Neiman;
• March 3: “Constitutional Law: Real Law or Just Another Kind of Politics?” presented by Professor of Law Bruce Miller and Neiman; and
• March 10: “Environmental Law: Legal Solutions to Pollution Challenges,” presented by 
Professor of Law Julie Steiner and Neiman.
“After five weeks, you won’t be a lawyer,” said Western New England University Associate Dean for Academic Affairs Beth Cohen, “but you will be able to better understand laws that have an effect on your life, and, unlike traditional law school, there are no tests or homework.” Tuition is $35 for all five sessions, or $10 for each individual session. The program is free of charge for any high-school, college, or graduate student with a valid student ID. To register by phone or for more information, call Newcombe at (413) 782-1616. Registration will continue through Jan. 19. Learn more at www.law.wne.edu/minilaw.

Difference Makers

March 19: The sixth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The magazine’s editor and publishers are currently reviewing nominations, and this year’s class will be profiled in the Feb. 9 issue.

Origami-inspired Art Exhibit
Through April 26: “Origami Interpretations,” an exhibit of 25 vibrant paintings, sculptures, and prints by New York artist Gloria Garfinkel, will be on view at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum through April 26. The works, produced in the late 20th century, feature bold color, energetic patterns, and abstract compositions inspired by Japanese designs and origami forms. The artist, whose work combines complex geometry and painterly invention, is particularly fascinated by the kimono, the traditional dress of Japan, and the obi, the wide sash that is worn as a belt with it. She appreciates the “beauty and tenacity” expressed through the garments and notes that Japanese women continually recycle and layer fabrics to create unique looks and patterns. Garfinkel is also inspired by the color-field artists of the mid-20th century who explored different optical effects by manipulating their canvases. Garfinkel carefully arranges her forms in very specific ways to create a uniquely approachable and participatory aesthetic experience. The exhibition features pieces from Garfinkel’s series “Gingko Kimono,” collaged etchings from the late 1980s; paintings inspired by the obi; etchings from the “Kiku” (chrysanthemum) series; Kado woodcut prints; Hanabi maquettes; and aluminum flip paintings.

40 Under Forty
June 18: The ninth annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Details on the event, which honors the region’s most accomplished and civic-minded professionals under age 40, will be published in upcoming issues. Nominations are now open for the class of 2015, and are due by the end of the day (5 p.m.) on Feb. 6. The nomination form can be found at HERE, in this issue, and in upcoming issues.

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]

Holiday Party

Christmas-PresentsChristmasBookPartyThe annual children’s party held by WTCC 90.7 FM, the community radio station at Springfield Technical Community College, provides gifts (including books donated by Barnes & Noble), games, and a visit with Santa Claus for area children in need. Held on Dec. 20, the party also featured a visit by STCC Professor F. Davis Johnson, a member of the WTCC board of directors, who donated copies of the children’s book he wrote.














Meeting of the Minds

FamilPorttraitSpringfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper recently hosted a holiday gathering at her residence on campus for the presidents of the Cooperating Colleges of Greater Springfield (CCGS). Pictured, from left, are Springfield Technical Community College President Ira Rubenzahl, Cooper, Holyoke Community College President William Messner, Elms College President Sr. Mary Reap, Westfield State University Interim President Elizabeth Preston, Bay Path University President Carol Leary, and American International College President Vincent Maniaci. Due to a prior commitment, Western New England University President Anthony Caprio was unable to attend. The CCGS, formed in 1971 by the presidents of its eight member institutions, is an educational consortium that fosters the sharing of programs, talents, and facilities in an effort to bring to the Greater Springfield area the educational resources of a university while retaining the initiative and vitality of independent institutions.

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Global Platform Solutions Corp., 46 Cottonwood Lane, Agawam, MA 01001. Chester Stanley Wojcik, Jr. Sale and lease of equipment.
 
CHICOPEE

Al Lafleur Inc., 467 East Main St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Albert Lafleur, same. Auto repair and sales.
 
FEEDING HILLS

Get Done Cleaning Services Inc., 26 Day Ave., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Leandro De Siqueira, same. Janitorial services.
 
GNG Discount Shop Inc., 662 Springfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Gina Calabria, 61 S. Westfield St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Nonprofit organization to collect donations for homeless veterans.
 
GREENFIELD

Deputy Sherriffs Association of Franklin County Inc., 160 Elm St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Joseph Lachance, 440 Leyden Road, Greenfield, MA 01301.
 
HOLYOKE

Dean Nimmer Arts Inc., 146 Allyn Street, Holyoke, MA 01040. Dean Nimmer, same. To create, sell, distribute and provide art related projects, art publications, art books and art material to the general public for public use.
 
LONGMEADOW

CB Leasing Inc., 60 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Gerald Coia, same. Derek Rodrigues, same. Equipment leasing.
 
LUDLOW

Global Compass Inc., 116 Warwick Dr., Ludlow, MA 01056. Derek Rodrigues, same. Construction industry with a focus on asbestos, lead, and mold removal.
 
SOUTHAMPTON

Gargan Paint and Paper Inc., 7 Center St., Southampton, MA 01073. Joseph Gargan, same. Painting and wallpapering services.
 
SOUTHWICK

Gardner Aerospace Services Inc., 2 Amberleaf Way, Southwick, MA 01077. Bernard Gardner, same. Aviation consultant providing various services including evaluation, maintenance oversight and damage assessment for new and pre-owned aircraft.
 
SPRINGFIELD

A & M Gas Mart Inc., 1390 Allen St., Springfield, A 01118. Asem Aydah, 68 Grover St., Springfield, MA 01104. Convenience store with gasoline.
 
Dreamz Made True Inc., 20 Rupert St., Springfield, MA 01108. Alycya Raquel Cook, same. The mission of this organization is to empower and encourage young ladies with positive interactions that helps build self-confidence and self-esteem where they are prepared to be successful as women.
 
Excellent Cuts Basketball Organization, 121 Wait St., Springfield, MA 01104. Willie Arthur Evans Jr., same. Basketball team and individual instruction; participation in various basketball leagues and tournaments (local and out of state); mentorship.
 
WEST SPRINGFIELD

EZ Transport Inc., 134 New Bridge St., Second Floor, West Springfield, MA 01089. Shakhmardan Shakirov, same. Business operating specialty and dedicated services of transporting foods, commercial goods, vehicles, and other commodities via flatbed, container, and heavy hauling trailers on a for-hire basis.
 
WESTFIELD

Aliganism Inc., 358 Southwick Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Gani Dinc, 398 Page Blvd., Springfield, MA 01104. Pizza and other fast foods restaurant.
 
Gee Force Trans Inc., 19B Otis St., Westfield, MA 01085. Igor Banar, same. Business operating specialty and dedicated services of transporting foods, commercial goods, vehicles, and other commodities via flatbed, container, and heavy hauling trailers on a for-hire basis.
 
American Colors Inc., 77 George St., Second Floor, Westfield, MA 01085. Dmitriy Kaplyuk, same. Auto body painting.
 

40 Under 40
The Search is on for the Forty 4o Under Forty Class of 2015

40under40threeinches-LOGO2013When she was chosen to judge last year’s 40 Under Forty nominations, Meghan Rothschild didn’t fully appreciate how challenging the task would be.

“There were so many deserving candidates to choose from that it was really difficult to rate everybody,” said Rothschild, co-owner of the marketing firm chikmedia and a member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2011.

“No two candidates are the same; everyone has different strengths or some sort of leadership role that’s a personal cause, or has done something different from the rest, so it was really tough having to assign a numerical score,” she added. “We had a lot of candidates who were involved in a half-dozen things, serving on committees, where someone else wasn’t as involved in local committees, but had one leadership role that was huge and super impactful in the community. How do you balance that?”

That’s just one question this year’s judges HERE will ponder as they sort through nominations for the class of 2015. Coming off a record number of applicants (more than 150) in 2014, the 40 Under Forty program shows no signs of slowing down as it enters its ninth year.

BusinessWest launched the program in 2007 as a way to spotlight the accomplishments of younger professionals throughout Western Mass. — not only their on-the-job achievements, but their often-extensive volunteer work with organizations that benefit their communities.

There were many motivations for creating the program, said BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien, listing everything from a desire to identify rising stars to encouraging individuals to get involved in the community and, in short, do the things necessary to become a 40 Under Forty winner.

“Within just a few years, 40 Under Forty became a brand, as well as a goal for many young people in the business community, nonprofit sector, and public-service realm,” said O’Brien. “It’s become a benchmark, if you will, a symbol of excellence that, above all, identifies someone as a leader.”

Over the years, the program has highlighted individuals from a wide range of businesses and industries, including nonprofits. In addition, a healthy number of honorees each year are true entrepreneurs, individuals who have taken risks, developed their own business plans, and built companies that in turn create jobs.

“It was very exciting for me to see a ton of people I had never heard of, people who had started businesses,” Rothschild said. “I had a very exciting and positive feeling reading about these talented individuals who choose to make Western Mass. their home. It resonated with me as a small-business owner. It was really inspiring.”

Who’s Next?

That process begins with individuals nominating the people who inspire them, either online HERE or with a nomination form found in this issue and subsequent issues.

Jim Sheils, partner at Springfield-based law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, also judged last year’s bumper crop of nominations, and was as overwhelmed — in a good way — as Rothschild.

“It really was a difficult process because all the applications we went through were pretty stellar,” he said. “It was so encouraging to see the type of young talent we have here in the Pioneer Valley, who will be up and coming in the business community. But it was also very difficult to go through them all and figure out who were 10s and who were less than 10s. Winnowing them down, I must have gone through the pile four times to make my final cut.”

In the end, Sheils said, “I was very pleased with the final 40. We’re very fortunate to have the level of talent and dedication we have in the community.”

With competition expected to be just as fierce this year, nominators have to raise their game, said Kate Campiti, BusinessWest’s associate publisher. “That’s where it starts, with the nomination. It needs to be complete, it needs to be thorough, and it needs to essentially answer the question, ‘why is this individual worthy of a 40 Under Forty plaque?’”

The nomination form requests basic information, said Campiti, and can be supported with other material, such as a résumé, testimonials, and even press clippings highlighting an individual’s achievements in their profession or service to their community. Nominations must be received by the end of the business day (5 p.m.) on Feb. 6. The five judges will then score those nominations, and the winners will be notified by mail by the end of the month.

The chosen 40 will be profiled in the magazine’s April 20 edition, then toasted at the annual gala reception on June 18 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke.

“The gala has become a happening, a not-to-be missed gathering that is also the year’s best networking opportunity,” said Campiti, adding that those who wish to attend must act quickly, because the gala traditionally sells out weeks before the event.

Hit Send

Before people clamor for tickets, though, they tend to get excited about the nomination process, which, again, is fully underway.

“When I was a judge last year, people called me, messaged me, sent me e-mail — ‘did you see my application? I heard someone nominated me. I really want this award,’” Rothschild recalled. “It’s become this goal that professionals in the community strive toward. This is a huge event, a huge award, and I think anyone somewhat tapped into Western Massachusetts wants to put it on their résumé.”

Sheils agreed, and said he’ll be excited to read about the class of 2015.

“The qualifications of people applying, they cross all the fields — people starting businesses, people who have been with large businesses for a number of years, people with social-service agencies, who are very dedicated to what they’re doing and making a terrific impact on the region,” he said. “The talent pool is not going down; it’s going up. We haven’t exhausted it by any means.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

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.

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Hikaru Taketani, father and next friend of Kazuki Takeni, a minor v. Northfield Mount Hermon School
Allegation: Breach of educational services and wrongful expulsion: $10,000+
Filed: 11/12/14

Roy Varney v. General Motors, LLC
Allegation: Product liability, breach of express and implied warranties. Vehicle airbags did not deploy causing serious injury and permanent injury: $25,000+
Filed: 11/7/14

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
B.S.C. Realty Inc. v. Baystate Gas Co. d/b/a Columbia Gas of MA
Allegation: Explosion caused by negligent puncture of an underground pipe at 91 Taylor St.: $500,000
Filed: 11/13/14

Frances Jacques v. Suburban Propane Gas Co. d/b/a Punderson Oil Co.
Allegation: Negligence in fuel-oil delivery causing release into basement of home: $175,000
Filed: 11/5/14

Gordon L. Goldsmith Jr. v. Axiom Capital, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract and non-payment of promissory note: $100,017.59
Filed: 11/21/14

Plumbing and Heating Supply Inc. a/k/a Langone Pipeline and Utility Contractors v. Carlysle Engineering Inc.
Allegation: Negligence and failure to follow required job specs causing damage: $31,697.25
Filed: 11/5/14

TerraSmart, LLC v. Sunpin Solar, LLC and Deming Family Nominee Trust
Allegation: Failure to pay under the terms of a construction contract: $196,463.05
Filed: 11/6/14

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Astro Chemicals Inc. v. Lansal Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $3,798.16
Filed: 10/23/14

Lisa Johnson v. M-Scribe Technologies Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay wages: $3,500+
Filed: 11/7/14

Marlent Johnson v. A.T.C. Home Improvement and Kenton Johnson
Allegation: Confirmation of an award set by arbitrator: $7,824.72
Filed 11/10/14

Olivia Weson v. Briarwood Three, LLC, Madison Square Realty Management, Clark HVAC, Union Mutual of Vermont
Allegation: Negligence and breach of duty to maintain property causing carbon-monoxide poisoning: $13,560.77
Filed: 11/3/14

Robert Billings III v. New Castle Building Products Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay overtime: $5,633.56
Filed: 11/10/14

Warren Slates v. Hulmes Transportation
Allegation: Negligence in operation and failure to attach restraints: $5,000
Filed: 10/29/14

WMECO v. Associated Building Wreckers Inc.
Allegation: While digging with heavy equipment, Defendant struck plaintiff’s electrical facilities: $12,248.02
Filed: 10/29/14

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Mount Tom Box Co. v. Renz America Co. Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $19,520.94
Filed: 10/20/14

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

25 West Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $326,500
Buyer: Henry A. Kaminski
Seller: Edward V. Callahan
Date: 11/14/14

BERNARDSTON

75 Merrifield Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Gruszkowski
Seller: Paul S. Fisher
Date: 11/20/14

49 Shedd Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Ament
Seller: Russell J. Woods
Date: 11/14/14

COLRAIN

13 Griswoldville St.
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $131,250
Buyer: Jade L. Mortimer
Seller: Aaron S. Cusimano
Date: 11/14/14

DEERFIELD

56 Boynton Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: 56 Boynton Road NT
Seller: Noyes, Edna J., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/14

18 Meadow Wood Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Stephanie Purington
Seller: Gretchen D. Burdick
Date: 11/25/14

ERVING

22 Wheelock St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Elinor L. Britt
Seller: Ursula J. Kersavage
Date: 11/21/14

GREENFIELD

918 Bernardston Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Joseph D. Stafford
Seller: Joseph E. Gruszkowski
Date: 11/20/14

55 Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Chani Craig
Seller: Richard A. Caracciolo
Date: 11/13/14

201 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Jakob T. Conway
Seller: Richard D. Larsen
Date: 11/25/14

182 Fairview St. West
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Brian T. Lafave
Seller: Meagan L. Veith
Date: 11/21/14

41 Haywood St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Chelsea Bailey
Seller: Timothy M. Gorts
Date: 11/26/14

43 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Oliver W. Steele
Seller: Gretchen Zwart
Date: 11/10/14

12 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Louis K. Barlow
Seller: Stephen M. Amidon
Date: 11/26/14

38 Spruce St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Vladimir Gheorghita
Seller: Kimberly A. Purvis
Date: 11/21/14

8 Woodard Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Fenwick LLP
Seller: Dougosz, Josephine M., (Estate)
Date: 11/13/14

HEATH

64 8 A S
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Sandra I. Oyola-Pike
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/21/14

12 Town Farm Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Lee Griswold
Seller: Peter J. Bernard
Date: 11/25/14

LEYDEN

39 Frizzell Hill Road
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $304,935
Buyer: Flagstar Bank
Seller: Daniel R. Murley
Date: 11/10/14

MONTAGUE

58 Oakman St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Allyson A. Greene
Seller: Makarewica, Alice A., (Estate)
Date: 11/12/14

26 X St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Diane M. Morrison
Seller: Stephen Fishman
Date: 11/13/14

5-7 Church St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Richard J. Widmer
Seller: Shelley B. Kick
Date: 11/25/14

168 Montague City Road
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Pamela J. McNamara
Date: 11/26/14

NORTHFIELD

40 Highland Ave.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Sheridan
Seller: Callahan, John T., (Estate)
Date: 11/28/14

95 Hinsdale Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $140,333
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Sean M. Klay
Date: 11/10/14

282 Millers Falls Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Andrew R. Campbell
Seller: Thomas A. Sheehan
Date: 11/20/14

ORANGE

176 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $146,219
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Matthew C. Kimball
Date: 11/26/14

59 High St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $127,420
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Mignonne D. Davis
Date: 11/20/14

47 Shelter St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Workers Credit Union
Seller: Wilfred J. Bolduc
Date: 11/19/14

Wheeler Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: DVK LLC
Seller: Wheeler Avenue RT
Date: 11/21/14

ROWE

6 Kings Hwy.
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Paul E. Hurtig
Seller: Helene S. Glass RET
Date: 11/13/14

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

74 Bessbrook St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Henry E. Alvarado
Seller: Wisam Yacteen
Date: 11/21/14

10 Columbus St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $253,500
Buyer: Jiwan K. Chuwan
Seller: Gayle Akumianakis
Date: 11/21/14

39 Fordham Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: James M. Monteith
Seller: Robert W. Perry
Date: 11/21/14

26 Hemlock Ridge
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Robert G. Rowe
Seller: David A. Kraus
Date: 11/14/14

11 Highland Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Anthony B. Torino
Seller: Lisa N. Wild
Date: 11/12/14

47-49 James Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Muhammad A. Razzaq
Seller: Francesco R. Depergola
Date: 11/21/14

60 James St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Alexis K. Simmons
Seller: Francis B. Liebel
Date: 11/21/14

41-43 Ley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Baldwin Street Realty LLC
Seller: 253 Center St Props Inc.
Date: 11/18/14

30 Logan Place
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Fox
Seller: John J. Martin
Date: 11/14/14

455 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $166,400
Buyer: Paula S. Wittenberg
Seller: Stephen Labun
Date: 11/25/14

1410 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $189,500
Buyer: Denis M. Lachapelle
Seller: William A. Saltman
Date: 11/14/14

Mark Dr. #12A
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Langone Realty Corp
Seller: Norman A. Pelley
Date: 11/13/14

104 North St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Alan E. Boissonneault
Seller: Suzanne Griffin
Date: 11/26/14

32 Oak Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Michael Lyman
Seller: Lee J. Simmons
Date: 11/21/14

111 Pineview Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Michael E. Crean
Seller: Robert G. Rowe
Date: 11/14/14

41 Stewart Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Edward Lisouski
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 11/24/14

BRIMFIELD

110 John Haley Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $187,655
Buyer: Michael C. Egan
Seller: Pelletier, Brian P., (Estate)
Date: 11/14/14

6 Saint Clair Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Michelle Cox
Date: 11/10/14

295 Sturbridge Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Brian S. Sacerdote
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/20/14

151 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $272,450
Buyer: Lauryn N. Fennell
Seller: Benjamin J. Kreft
Date: 11/25/14

CHESTER

102 Old State Hwy.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Alos
Seller: Robert E. Hohenberger
Date: 11/25/14

CHICOPEE

100 Angela Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Jeremy Redmond
Seller: Donoghue, Kahtleen, (Estate)
Date: 11/21/14

99 Beaumont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Joshua T. Malone
Seller: Marzena K. Samek
Date: 11/14/14

60 Beech St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $169,500
Buyer: Shaun R. Cote
Seller: DGL Properties LLC
Date: 11/14/14

90 Cambridge St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: John M. Mikkola
Seller: Wayne J. Conti
Date: 11/17/14

22 Cherryvale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Cecelia A. Devine
Seller: Jonathan J. Cassella
Date: 11/12/14

465 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Paul S. Greene
Seller: Jeffrey K. Toler
Date: 11/25/14

34 Clairmont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $161,900
Buyer: Roger G. Williams
Seller: Donna M. Rowe-Scott
Date: 11/25/14

58 Clarendon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,274
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: Wesley C. Drum
Date: 11/24/14

23 Cochran St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Brian W. Farnsworth
Seller: Michael Minkos
Date: 11/21/14

9 Deslauriers St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Alexander J. Rock
Seller: Shirley A. Gibson
Date: 11/25/14

48 Edward St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Philip M. Donnelly
Seller: Diane M. Lapite
Date: 11/26/14

23 Farmington St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Joshua D. Provost
Seller: John J. Florek
Date: 11/18/14

247 Grove St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $144,500
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Christine K. Racette
Date: 11/28/14

40 High St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $641,000
Buyer: Double D. Investments LLC
Seller: KV Properties LLC
Date: 11/10/14

16 Jacob St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $219,170
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Shannon M. Gaud
Date: 11/20/14

77 Labelle Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $231,500
Buyer: Rafael Santos
Seller: Ellen M. Pray
Date: 11/25/14

37 Lapa Farm Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $235,625
Buyer: Christine M. Halama
Seller: Maria Koziol
Date: 11/17/14

28 Lucretia Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $300,300
Buyer: MJT Properties LLC
Seller: Rooftop Properties Inc.
Date: 11/25/14

68 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Alyssa M. Os
Seller: Sharon E. Doucette
Date: 11/14/14

42 Monroe St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Alan L. Beaudry
Seller: James M. Roy
Date: 11/19/14

542 Montgomery St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kelly R. Ryan
Seller: Lori A. Stpierre
Date: 11/19/14

10 Myrtle St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Anthony Resnick
Seller: Dorothy Randall
Date: 11/18/14

25 Myrtle St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $132,170
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Marc E. Chevalier
Date: 11/20/14

N/A
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Michael S. Poggi
Seller: GKRR Assocs.
Date: 11/20/14

162 Narragansett Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Oleksiy Zhyboyedov
Seller: Dennis J. Dunigan
Date: 11/14/14

12 Paradise St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $151,900
Buyer: Maria Maziarz
Seller: Gerald J. Carney
Date: 11/21/14

20 Park St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Daniel Branco
Seller: Alda M. Carreira
Date: 11/20/14

36 Rivers Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Helen Properties LLC
Seller: 36-38 Rivers Ave. Realty LLC
Date: 11/25/14

216 Rolf Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Robert J. Czajka
Seller: Paul Kreminec
Date: 11/28/14

46 Saint James Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellowbrick Management Inc.
Date: 11/20/14

4 Searles St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $123,500
Buyer: Bruce A. Benson
Seller: Nicki M. Brunetti
Date: 11/20/14

51 Sunnyside St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Sandra Mosher
Seller: Cheryl Boissonnault
Date: 11/14/14

14 Westport Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Dawson
Seller: Stoner FT
Date: 11/26/14

57 White Birch Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $186,712
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Steven Gonet
Date: 11/13/14

EAST LONGMEADOW

100 Franconia Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ryan T. Morton
Seller: Gary O. Metzger
Date: 11/21/14

40 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jeffrey S. Zuccalo
Seller: Hall, Phyllis, (Estate)
Date: 11/10/14

216 Mapleshade Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Stephen Bilia
Seller: Latourelle, Robert L., (Estate)
Date: 11/26/14

11 Savoy Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: John F. Benjamin
Seller: Mark J. Hardy
Date: 11/10/14

143 Windham Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Lynn M. Rowland
Seller: Ned S. Schwarz
Date: 11/26/14

77 Wood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jung Kang
Seller: Jambazian, Barbara F., (Estate)
Date: 11/14/14

GRANVILLE

421 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Ashley N. Rescigno
Seller: Jay C. Goguen
Date: 11/24/14

133 South Lane
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Paula J. Cross
Seller: Judith M. Smith
Date: 11/14/14

HAMPDEN

548 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: David J. Nadeau
Seller: Jenifer P. Fasano
Date: 11/21/14

9 River Park Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $178,900
Buyer: Jeffrey P. Jones
Seller: Joan E. Gentile
Date: 11/17/14

HOLLAND

17 Brandon St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lee M. Vaillancourt
Date: 11/28/14

28 Forest Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $214,700
Buyer: Vanessa Suarez
Seller: Bruce N. Laprade
Date: 11/17/14

4 Maybrook Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: William J. Fonner
Seller: Mackenzie E. Langley
Date: 11/21/14

HOLYOKE

43 Arden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kristen A. Shea
Seller: Terrance W. Leary
Date: 11/17/14

10 George St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Todd A. McGee
Seller: Kathleen Plasse
Date: 11/26/14

22 Knollwood Circle
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Connor M. Dooley
Seller: Robert J. Rose
Date: 11/21/14

653 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Melinda S. Couture
Seller: Joan M. Archambault
Date: 11/24/14

12 Roosevelt Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Jessica Rosario
Seller: John Henriques
Date: 11/26/14

226-230 Sargeant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: 228 Sargeant Street LLC
Seller: Warren T. Barnshaw
Date: 11/21/14

31 Sheehan Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $154,500
Buyer: Joseph Zurheide
Seller: Roger W. Fournier
Date: 11/12/14

44 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $194,500
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Cynthia A. Ward
Date: 11/13/14

6 Upland Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: James Brunelle
Seller: Richard C. Page
Date: 11/24/14

276 Whitney Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Elaine A. Pluta
Seller: Lisa P. Thomas
Date: 11/12/14

LONGMEADOW

104 Albemarle Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $227,200
Buyer: Christopher E. Distefano
Seller: George B. Ackley
Date: 11/21/14

21 Ashford Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Michael A. Waterhouse
Seller: Anna M. Camerota
Date: 11/14/14

105 Edgewood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: Daniel B. Waterman
Seller: I Buysellhomes LLC
Date: 11/25/14

52 Fairway Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Ryan Lee
Seller: Thomas C. Corbett
Date: 11/21/14

22 Falmouth Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Rolland M. Combe
Seller: Daniels, Margaret P., (Estate)
Date: 11/10/14

256 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $252,500
Buyer: Peter M. Stearns
Seller: Cecelia I. Braica
Date: 11/21/14

154 Lawrence Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $510,000
Buyer: Daniel E. Blakesley
Seller: David L. Dambrov
Date: 11/21/14

951 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $673,930
Buyer: Aaron D. Kugelmass
Seller: Cynthia A. Pratt
Date: 11/21/14

207 Lynnwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Donald J. Collins
Seller: Kurt S. Rachdorf
Date: 11/24/14

128 Meadow Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Penguin Realty Inc.
Seller: Ralph A. Merullo
Date: 11/12/14

183 Meadowbrook Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $269,467
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Cynthia J. Kulle
Date: 11/24/14

70 Shady Side Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: Mark A. Camossi
Seller: Michael J. Pistrich
Date: 11/18/14

48 Willett Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Sharon A. Hart
Seller: Michael N. Taniwha
Date: 11/18/14

LUDLOW

845 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Moran
Seller: Qualahnia K. Suggs
Date: 11/25/14

49 Essex St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Christine Casagrande
Seller: David M. Garcia
Date: 11/12/14

50 Maple St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Katherine M. Charron
Seller: Alain H. Ricard
Date: 11/25/14

15 Richmond Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Ryan B. Churchill
Seller: Peter M. Roxo
Date: 11/17/14

258 Sewall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Michael T. Stierle
Seller: Robert A. Chrzan
Date: 11/24/14

41 Susan Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Fernandes
Seller: Patrick D. Meffen
Date: 11/10/14

88 Wedgewood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Joel Marrero
Date: 11/25/14

211 Wedgewood Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Eric J. Lacoste
Seller: David A. Gamache
Date: 11/19/14

111 Williams St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Arlindo M. Alves
Seller: Clara Alves
Date: 11/19/14

26 Wilson St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Laurinda Marques
Seller: Peter W. Leonczyk
Date: 11/24/14

MONSON

55 Brimfield Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Christopher T. Harris
Seller: Diane M. Oppel
Date: 11/28/14

57 Carpenter Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Jessica J. Biron
Seller: Andrew P. Beaulieu
Date: 11/17/14

73 Cote Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Keelin White
Seller: Bank of America
Date: 11/10/14

4 Country Club Heights
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Brandon W. Houle
Seller: Normand M. Evon
Date: 11/14/14

121 Fenton Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Danielle L. Beaulieu
Seller: James R. Hosey
Date: 11/17/14

270 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Paul E. Kida
Seller: Kevin M. Brown
Date: 11/12/14

65 Stafford Hollow Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Christopher Lepoer
Seller: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Date: 11/12/14

13 Stewart Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Wicks
Seller: Peter A. Kuselias
Date: 11/13/14

PALMER

196 Breckenridge St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Kyle Gouvin
Seller: Angel S. Santiago
Date: 11/21/14

27 Converse St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Ronald P. Christensen
Seller: Thomas A. Curtis
Date: 11/17/14

3041 Hillside Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Tina R. Serrazina
Seller: Elizabeth A. Pobieglo
Date: 11/24/14

11 Holbrook St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: David G. Walker
Seller: Gerald F. Quesnel
Date: 11/14/14

22 Linda St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Joan L. Boudreau
Seller: Carol Pederzani
Date: 11/26/14

21 Norma St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $177,464
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Richard Zwyrbla
Date: 11/19/14

95 North St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Thomas F. Catarino
Seller: Mark A. Maynard
Date: 11/25/14

3005 Prospect St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $191,500
Buyer: Robert W. Manseau
Seller: High Street RT
Date: 11/26/14

RUSSELL

1067 General Knox Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Jeremy M. Donnelly
Seller: Joseph J. Malcovsky
Date: 11/14/14

50 Highland Ave.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Joseph T. Walsh
Seller: John L. Berry
Date: 11/24/14

SPRINGFIELD

763 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Christian R. McCollum
Seller: Robert E. McCollum
Date: 11/21/14

Andrew St. (ES)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $651,543
Buyer: Hunter Place Apartments
Seller: Hunter Place Associates
Date: 11/13/14

67 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Claudia Labour
Seller: Melro Associates Inc.
Date: 11/25/14

980 Bay St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: HS Holding LLC
Seller: Quality Properties LLC
Date: 11/21/14

50 Benz St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Bhola Gautam
Seller: Cheryl A. Stone
Date: 11/28/14

48 Bevier St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Carol J. Flouton
Seller: Kevin R. O’Brien
Date: 11/25/14

36 Bonnyview St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $129,800
Buyer: Marlene Marshall
Seller: KGL Group LLC
Date: 11/20/14

1105 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Margarita Nieves
Seller: JJS Capital Investment LLC
Date: 11/12/14

628 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Kayrouz Realty LLC
Seller: Nicholas Ghaname
Date: 11/20/14

630 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Kayrouz Realty LLC
Seller: Nicholas Ghaname
Date: 11/20/14

115 Carnavon Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $124,000
Seller: Bonetti, Catherine B., (Estate)
Date: 11/14/14

14 Castle St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $132,000
Buyer: Evan Long
Seller: R. S. Cook
Date: 11/28/14

21 Cedar St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 11/12/14

780 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: Baystate Medical Center Inc.
Seller: Seven Eighty Club LLP
Date: 11/20/14

833 Chestnut St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Meggan M. Meade
Seller: Heriberto Flores
Date: 11/28/14

91-93 Clantoy St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $206,734
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Maritza Tejada
Date: 11/25/14

40 Covington St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jashon A. Williams
Seller: Richard D. Horne
Date: 11/21/14

45 Duggan Circle
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Wilmarie Crespo
Seller: Juan Valdes
Date: 11/20/14

22 Dunbar St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Tony D. Vo
Seller: Igor Gustev
Date: 11/26/14

8 Ellery St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Malynda M. Riopelle
Seller: Joseph C. Basile
Date: 11/10/14

146 Endicott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Adrian Piris
Seller: Jason Balut
Date: 11/17/14

86 Fairfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Julia Estela
Seller: Sanyalee Dejesus
Date: 11/25/14

26 Flora St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Joseph P. Raiche
Seller: Calvin P. Richard
Date: 11/14/14

155 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Joanne O’Connor
Seller: Eagle Home Buyers LLC
Date: 11/12/14

103 Gardens Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Ernestine C. Bess
Seller: Iswald, Tanya, (Estate)
Date: 11/19/14

36 Gates Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Warren L. Barnett
Seller: John P. Jarzabski
Date: 11/20/14

128 Hampden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $155,500
Buyer: Johanna C. Cecilia
Seller: Jermaine J. Barnett
Date: 11/14/14

33 Hardy St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Nana Anowuo
Seller: Connie-Jo Russo
Date: 11/19/14

60-62 Hastings St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,600
Buyer: Eric D. Gordon
Seller: Robert F. Chalero
Date: 11/13/14

161 King St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 11/12/14

22-24 Lawndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Lawndale Street RT
Seller: William A. Dowell
Date: 11/26/14

83 Mallowhill Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Brett D. Kalish
Seller: Couture Partners LLC
Date: 11/20/14

60 Marmon St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Nancie B. Anzivino
Seller: Marek Dybacki
Date: 11/21/14

75 Merida St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $121,500
Buyer: Aniceto R. Reyes
Seller: John W. Bryant
Date: 11/14/14

13 Oak St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Orange Park Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Roxanna Fredette
Date: 11/26/14

306 Pasco Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Best Pizza Inc.
Seller: Elmon LLC
Date: 11/14/14

199 Powell Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $151,500
Buyer: John P. Cadigan
Seller: Paul M. Lafleur
Date: 11/21/14

125 Roanoke Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Wayne D. Robinson
Seller: Michael T. McNally
Date: 11/14/14

718 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Nadine S. Michel
Seller: John B. Young
Date: 11/13/14

105 South Shore Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Joyce Porter-Debose
Seller: Gladys E. Cousineau
Date: 11/12/14

156 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Easton A. Coffie
Seller: Nancie B. Anzivino
Date: 11/21/14

99 Strong St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Alex Dobiecki
Seller: James F. Moriarty
Date: 11/20/14

501 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $1,400,000
Buyer: Petrakis Realty LLC
Seller: David Seaman
Date: 11/24/14

176 Tamarack Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $180,300
Buyer: Juliana F. Castrillon
Seller: Kathleen M. Brenner
Date: 11/17/14

23 Thornfell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $139,900
Buyer: Anned M. Soto
Seller: Kevin J. Tessier
Date: 11/17/14

471 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: John W. Zizik
Seller: Kevin M. O’Connor
Date: 11/12/14

40 Westbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jeffrey T. Barbeau
Seller: Sandra J. Moore
Date: 11/20/14

72 Westbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jason Hansen
Seller: Agnes A. Barber
Date: 11/17/14

62 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,500
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Tony Anthony
Date: 11/20/14

625 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Tuan Truong
Seller: Chuong T. Nguyen
Date: 11/13/14

Williamsburg Dr. #36
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Raban LLC
Seller: FNMA
Date: 11/25/14

83 Wilton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Victor M. Aguirre
Seller: James F. Fahey
Date: 11/28/14

73 Woodcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Marianne Alvarado
Seller: Josephine C. Muska
Date: 11/21/14

SOUTHWICK

14 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $231,000
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Gail J. Lariviere
Date: 11/19/14

71 Buckingham Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: Marjorie A. Keating
Date: 11/18/14

114 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Joshua D. Bradway
Seller: Glowacki, Jean M., (Estate)
Date: 11/14/14

117 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Erin M. Laughlin
Seller: Janet A. Ghareeb
Date: 11/17/14

17 George Loomis Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Larry H. Phillips
Seller: RBS Citizens Bank
Date: 11/21/14

298 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Matthew J. King
Seller: Paula S. Wittenberg
Date: 11/25/14

28 Grove St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $447,000
Buyer: Donald E. Coffin
Seller: William D. Acquaro
Date: 11/25/14

Mort Vining Road #3
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Valeriy Solokhin
Seller: B&B Construction Inc.
Date: 11/20/14

27 Pineywood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Kerri Francis
Seller: New England Remodeling
Date: 11/25/14

124 Point Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Jeremy R. Becker
Seller: Regina F. Bates
Date: 11/14/14

53 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Jason M. Derosier
Seller: Mark S. Fletcher
Date: 11/18/14

24 Veteran St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Margaret G. Graveline
Seller: Robert J. Rzasa
Date: 11/12/14

154 Vining Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Irene Roy
Seller: Margaret A. McCool
Date: 11/24/14

33 Woodland Ridge
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $199,719
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Jeffrey A. Stenberg
Date: 11/17/14

WEST SPRINGFIELD

217 Ashley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $147,500
Buyer: Ann M. Clark
Seller: Maria Villandry
Date: 11/14/14

6 Austin Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $446,500
Buyer: Sanjana Pai
Seller: John D. Eaton

61 Chestnut St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Joseph W. Renaud
Seller: David Gamelli
Date: 11/21/14

30 Cottage St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $134,500
Buyer: Paw Htoo
Seller: KANDC Associates LLC
Date: 11/13/14

674 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Brice W. Herrick
Seller: Scott T. McCoy
Date: 11/14/14

72 George St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Sarupa Rai
Seller: John J. Murphy
Date: 11/21/14

10 Lower Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $304,000
Buyer: Dzemal Jusufbegovic
Seller: Richard F. Seidell
Date: 11/21/14

16 North St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Christine M. Langone
Seller: David D. Delnero
Date: 11/21/14

76 Old Barn Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Jeffrey K. Toler
Seller: Robin M. Parent
Date: 11/25/14

14 Orchardview St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Christine M. Amsden
Seller: Cheryl A. Hohmann
Date: 11/26/14

146 Overlook Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: I. Fernandez-Almodovar
Seller: Gerard Desjardins
Date: 11/28/14

55 Partridge Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Michael N. Beaudry
Seller: Frederick C. Bell
Date: 11/18/14

18-20 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Cumberland Farms Inc.
Seller: Julia Reynoso
Date: 11/14/14

74 Russell St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Parsu R. Sinchuri
Seller: Lilia Dzhenzherukha
Date: 11/28/14

35-A Summit St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: TEL Properties LLC
Seller: Thomas J. Alouise
Date: 11/26/14

39-41 Summit St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $158,500
Buyer: TEL Properties LLC
Seller: Thomas J. Alouise
Date: 11/26/14

WESTFIELD

35 Bowdoin St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Derek Burdick
Seller: William T. Daley
Date: 11/28/14

7 Brentwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: William F. Carlin
Seller: Luiz, Bernardino Jr., (Estate)
Date: 11/21/14

15 Briarcliff Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $156,052
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Patrick J. Flynn
Date: 11/12/14

48 Brookline Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Albert D. Bakalis
Seller: Henry E. Rivera
Date: 11/10/14

40 Butternut Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $266,500
Buyer: Scott McCoy
Seller: William J. Persch
Date: 11/14/14

34 Cross St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Jason R. Fiore
Seller: Brian S. Winters
Date: 11/21/14

27 Crown St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $116,900
Buyer: Scot A. Lambert
Seller: Killips, Robert J., (Estate)
Date: 11/21/14

40 Darby Dr.
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: William Lemanski
Seller: Alcide E. Galarneau
Date: 11/24/14

32 Denise Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $149,330
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jeffrey A. Emken
Date: 11/25/14

14 Grandview Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Phoebe L. Harris
Seller: David G. Carpenter
Date: 11/25/14

498 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $244,900
Buyer: Benjamin A. Lisheness
Seller: Ian A. Scott
Date: 11/14/14

191 Munger Hill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Alyssa M. Goodreau
Seller: Joseph F. Rizza
Date: 11/14/14

49 Old Farm Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: William Daley
Seller: Michael J. Callahan
Date: 11/28/14

209 Pochassic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Maureen A. Phelon
Seller: Sandra J. Oliver
Date: 11/25/14

466 Pochassic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Carl M. Schwarzenbach
Seller: Leah R. Swords
Date: 11/13/14

167 Prospect St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $278,500
Buyer: David S. Prouty
Seller: Kathryn V. Roberts
Date: 11/26/14

60 Riverside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Sonia Aube
Seller: Edward J. Barrett
Date: 11/13/14

538 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Robert E. Calsetta
Seller: Susan M. Tatro
Date: 11/13/14

28 Southgate Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Brian G. Chen
Seller: Scott A. Spear
Date: 11/21/14

20 Stephanie Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,900
Buyer: Christopher Wiggs
Seller: Aspen Props Holdings LLC
Date: 11/19/14

WILBRAHAM

5 Beechwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $323,000
Buyer: Blake H. Gelonese
Seller: Bronislaw L. Sajdak
Date: 11/20/14

2 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: William F. Brenner
Seller: Edward C. Coffey
Date: 11/26/14

2 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Patrick Meffen
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 11/10/14

77 Cherry Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $329,605
Buyer: Bronislaw L. Sajdak
Seller: 2301 Boston Road LLC
Date: 11/20/14

35 Decorie Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $233,000
Buyer: Willard W. Boss
Seller: Ronald C. Nobbs
Date: 11/21/14

151 East Longmeadow Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Juan C. Rodriguez-Lopez
Seller: Joseph P. Raiche
Date: 11/14/14

1 Manor Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Julie A. Russell
Seller: Richard S. Stamm
Date: 11/12/14

11 Merrill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Megan R. Buckley
Seller: Andrew E. Litowitz
Date: 11/26/14

7 Red Gap Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Scott Kertenis
Seller: H&L Tassinari Builders Inc.
Date: 11/20/14

34 Sandlewood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $419,779
Buyer: Joseph R. Kennedy
Seller: Mile Oak Land Holdings
Date: 11/21/14

Sandlewood Dr. #36
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $406,746
Buyer: Joanne Mary Guadio TR
Seller: Mile Oak Land Holdings
Date: 11/14/14

180 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Peter Goodale
Seller: Annie C. Zheng
Date: 11/10/14

1 Winterberry Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Gary D. Poehler
Seller: Winterberry LLC
Date: 11/13/14

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

7 Bayberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $344,000
Buyer: Mary V. Dougherty
Seller: Paul E. Drummond
Date: 11/20/14

66 Bridge St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: Zachary B. Fried
Seller: Fina, Angela C., (Estate)
Date: 11/21/14

16 Edge Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $247,000
Buyer: Lei Lian
Seller: Kimberly Y. Chicone
Date: 11/24/14

40 Elf Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $271,300
Buyer: Ramin Soltani
Seller: Matthew J. Pogoda
Date: 11/21/14

Harris St. #69
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: UFP Eastern Division Inc.
Seller: Harris Milk Transport Co.
Date: 11/12/14

25 Merrick Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $160,155
Buyer: Dennis Cavaliere
Seller: David H. Glassberg
Date: 11/10/14

29 Mill Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $1,000,000
Buyer: 29 Mill Lane TR
Seller: Mill Lane NT
Date: 11/14/14

132 Northampton Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Keedy
Seller: Ashley D. Keedy
Date: 11/18/14

80 Pine St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $297,750
Buyer: Killian O’Connell
Seller: Liza A. Bouchard
Date: 11/24/14

89 South East St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $319,684
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Lewis R. Fleischner
Date: 11/24/14

BELCHERTOWN

202 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: Jonathan J. Cassella
Seller: Daren E. Winckel
Date: 11/13/14

25 Chestnut Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Christine E. Wanat
Seller: Francesco Dellolio
Date: 11/10/14

14 Edelcy Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Caitlin M. Waskiewicz
Seller: Max W. Bock
Date: 11/21/14

617 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Jane E. Jalbert
Seller: Stanley H. Libucha
Date: 11/20/14

234 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Andrew J. Ferrier
Seller: Elizabeth A. Jekot
Date: 11/25/14

88 Gold St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $132,678
Buyer: USA
Seller: Bruce J. Sibya
Date: 11/13/14

123 Granby Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $383,000
Buyer: Jacqueline M. Fredenburgh
Seller: Jeffrey H. Mckie
Date: 11/26/14

39 Grenwich Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Donald J. Powers
Seller: Thomas A. Ciolek
Date: 11/14/14

24 Nathaniel Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Kimberly A. Pacheco
Seller: Jacqueline Fredenburgh
Date: 11/26/14

Old Enfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: LJ Development LLC
Seller: Wilson, Robert A., (Estate)
Date: 11/26/14

29 Old Pelham Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Kate A. Sypek
Seller: Brenda M. Silva
Date: 11/26/14

27 Sherwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Rosary M. Blair
Seller: Richard D. White
Date: 11/24/14

64 South St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $265,500
Buyer: Michael T. McNally
Seller: Tadeusz Szadkowski
Date: 11/14/14

60 Summit St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Samuel O. Walker
Seller: David P. Wanczyk
Date: 11/25/14

255 West St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Frank E. Dzwonkoski
Date: 11/25/14

53 Wilson Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: Joseph Baffour
Seller: Maxon, Kathleen, (Estate)
Date: 11/21/14

CUMMINGTON

13 Potash Hill Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Carol R. Stevenson
Seller: Judith M. Moore
Date: 11/14/14

EASTHAMPTON

12 Ballard St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $269,910
Buyer: FHLM
Seller: Catherine Newsome
Date: 11/26/14

31 Bayberry Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $368,000
Buyer: Linfei Liu
Seller: Richard J. Shea
Date: 11/17/14

52 Campbell Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Edward J. Parr
Seller: William G. Massey
Date: 11/26/14

8 Clark Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Mary E. Bowen
Seller: Douglas A. Bowen
Date: 11/17/14

42 Division St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Sylvia A. Buzzee
Seller: Jacob Schrader
Date: 11/21/14

25 Dragon Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Michael B. Sundel
Seller: Joseph Wozniak
Date: 11/14/14

27 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Allison E. Guidry
Seller: Andrew R. Tilbe
Date: 11/19/14

17 Kingsberry Way
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Maria A. Colpack
Seller: Czelusniak Custom Homes
Date: 11/18/14

34 Oliver St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Joseph Wozniak
Seller: Kyle M. Adamski
Date: 11/14/14

32 Treehouse Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Michelle Meyers
Seller: EH Homeownership LLC
Date: 11/25/14

34 Treehouse Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $244,900
Buyer: Regis Corvee
Seller: EH Homeownership LLC
Date: 11/14/14

15 Truehart Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: William Gnatek
Seller: Krieger, Dolores C., (Estate)
Date: 11/19/14

4 Wendell Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jesus J. Vega
Seller: Donald E. Macleod RET
Date: 11/25/14

48 Westview Terrace
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Eve S. Eichwald
Seller: Stanley E. Michalski
Date: 11/14/14

29 Zabek Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Kenneth P. Bachand
Seller: Thomas J. Colpack
Date: 11/14/14

GOSHEN

27 West St.
Goshen, MA 01026
Amount: $219,500
Buyer: Sherri L. Andrews
Seller: Clayton, Jenna, (Estate)
Date: 11/21/14

GRANBY

11 Acrebrook Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.
Seller: Jeremy L. Redmond
Date: 11/14/14

1 Greystone Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $159,500
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Labrecque
Seller: James B. Bright
Date: 11/26/14

148 School St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $196,500
Buyer: Kenneth J. Poulin
Seller: William Martin

HADLEY

53 Bay Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Jason M. Kicza
Seller: Michael H. Spanknebel
Date: 11/24/14

13 Laurana Lane
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $263,700
Buyer: Matthew Olszewski
Seller: Susan A. Scranton
Date: 11/21/14

15 Mount Warner Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Mark R. Moriarty
Seller: Russell, Elizabeth A., (Estate)
Date: 11/13/14

HUNTINGTON

2 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Sandra L. Dunn
Seller: Westcott FT
Date: 11/20/14

13 East Main St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $227,800
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Joshua M. Noonan
Date: 11/13/14

NORTHAMPTON

68 Bliss St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Ann S. Knickerbocker
Seller: Ellen T. Miller-Mack
Date: 11/14/14

18 Fairview Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Susan E. Stebbins
Seller: Kathleen Denning
Date: 11/26/14

78 Hawley St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Erin A. Moore
Seller: Paul L. Holt
Date: 11/21/14

202 Jackson St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Diane K. Merritt
Seller: Jonathan D. Richmond
Date: 11/12/14

14 Liberty St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Teresa J. Pianta
Seller: Adam L. Zucker
Date: 11/13/14

56 Lincoln Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Michael E. Staub
Seller: Gabriel T. Cade
Date: 11/14/14

17 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: EZMJ LLC
Seller: Marie L. Papillon
Date: 11/21/14

196 Main St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $1,050,000
Buyer: 300 Elm Street LLC
Seller: Anne G. Marley
Date: 11/25/14

46 Marshall St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: Rebecca M. Allen-Oleet
Seller: Panayotis Kevrekidis
Date: 11/26/14

127 Overlook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Netania Shapiro
Seller: James L. Zieminski
Date: 11/25/14

155 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Kathryn I. Dominguez
Seller: Donna M. Riley
Date: 11/14/14

269 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Anne W. Hopkinson
Seller: Jane C. Kulis
Date: 11/14/14

242 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Lawson R. Wulsin
Seller: Edward A. Sr. & J. M. Towles TR
Date: 11/20/14

185 Spring Grove Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Engebretson
Seller: Thomas J. Coogan
Date: 11/14/14

305 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Lococo
Seller: James K. Dimos
Date: 11/21/14

PELHAM

44 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $292,075
Buyer: Gregory M. Chilenski
Seller: Ernest D. May
Date: 11/18/14

55 Buffam Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Jacqueline Alvarez
Seller: R. Mason Bunker RET
Date: 11/14/14

SOUTH HADLEY

10 Grandview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $252,445
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Megan Smith
Date: 11/25/14

14 Hunter Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Devin R. Crawley
Seller: Edward F. Jackson
Date: 11/21/14

1 Lansing Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Susan Wilson
Seller: Alice H. Haber
Date: 11/14/14

23 Ludlow Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Michael T. Wimer
Seller: Anthony T. Iannolo
Date: 11/13/14

8 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Patricia M. Stefanelli
Seller: Ronald Baldwin
Date: 11/24/14

286 North Main St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Amy L. Galik
Seller: Helen C. Casey
Date: 11/14/14

49 Pearl St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Angela B. Haggerty
Seller: Anne M. Downey
Date: 11/24/14

6 Pheasant Run
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $378,000
Buyer: Mark R. Marion
Seller: Joseph M. Nolan
Date: 11/20/14

31 Pine Hill Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Mary H. Damato
Seller: Kimberly R. Greaney
Date: 11/18/14

4 Rita Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ian P. Lariviere
Seller: Stephen C. Scherlin
Date: 11/14/14

21 Spring Meadows
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Jason S. Balut
Seller: Ruth A. Doyle RET
Date: 11/17/14

36 Summit St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Brandon Adams
Seller: William F. McManus
Date: 11/20/14

3 Woodcrest Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $399,990
Buyer: Timdee Rainey Inv. LLC
Seller: Robert L. Mathieu
Date: 11/26/14

14 Young Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $317,000
Buyer: Ellen Miller-Mack
Seller: Linda S. Samano LT
Date: 11/14/14

SOUTHAMPTON

34 Bissonnette Circle
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Florida Corp.
Seller: Joseph C. Sampson
Date: 11/17/14

113 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Haley E. Pearl
Seller: Andrew P. Murphy
Date: 11/24/14

29 Hillside Meadows Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $405,800
Buyer: Michael Chmura
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 11/26/14

41 Lead Mine Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Keith M. Holbrook
Seller: Charles L. Filkoski
Date: 11/18/14

5 Old County Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Amy R. Adamski
Seller: Theodore H. Blais
Date: 11/14/14

WARE

320 Belchertown Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Aaron M. Sundberg
Seller: Craig S. Harder
Date: 11/21/14

241 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: Lars R. Stanley
Seller: Willard W. Boss
Date: 11/21/14

26 Pulaski St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $182,750
Buyer: Matteo Colletta
Seller: Richard Binns
Date: 11/14/14

27 Sczygiel Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $415,625
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Joseph C. Ragno
Date: 11/17/14

WESTHAMPTON

36 Clapp Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $1,775,000
Buyer: Jennifer Milikowsky
Seller: James H. Averill TR
Date: 11/20/14

80 Easthampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Meehan Estates Inc.
Seller: Sarah W. Hollis
Date: 11/14/14

51 Main Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Guy B. Delozier
Seller: Sylvia A. Buzzee
Date: 11/20/14

15 Pine Island Lake
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Benjamin B. Bedell
Seller: Carolyn A. White IRT
Date: 11/18/14

290 Southampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Thomas Raschi
Seller: Ricardo Portalatin
Date: 11/14/14

WILLIAMSBURG

77 Hemenway Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $116,000
Buyer: Gregory Kilbride
Seller: Cross, Norman H., (Estate)
Date: 11/17/14

17 Mountain St.
Williamsburg, MA 01062
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Diane M. Lacasse
Seller: Richard A. Nelson
Date: 11/19/14

WORTHINGTON

43 Old Post Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Gabriel K. Shippee
Seller: Tanya E. Lerose
Date: 11/28/14

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of December 2014.

AGAWAM

Bags on the Go
55 Ramah Circle
Chellis Collins

Feeding Hills Wellness Center
567 Springfield St.
Christine Bailey

J & E Repair Service
47 Valentine Ter.
Joseph Catania

JH Walmart Tax
15 Worthington Brook Circle
Meenaxi H. Gada

RST Training
499 Springfield St.
Raymond Boissonault

CHICOPEE

Eric’s Sales
103 Lukasik St.
Eric Ladabouche

Horseshoes and Hand Grenades Tattoo
6 Center St.
Andrew Barrett

Michael J. Ash Construction
30 East Street Ave.
Michael J. Ash

Rogers Auto Body
26 Old James St.
Roger Castonguay

GREENFIELD

Abram Son’s Renovations
111 Beacon St.
Brian Abramson

Chinese Body Work
91 Main St.
Yon Xia

Goodies Restaurant Inc.
256 Federal St.
Idanis Dimitrion

Ken’s Tax Prep
280 Main St.
Kenneth Lang

Meadows Café & Golf Center
398 Deerfield St.
Constant Poholek

The Vocal Artists Studio
38 Alden St.
Eileen Ruby

HOLYOKE

Epic Kids Clothing
134 High St.
Richard R. Rodriguez

Executive Vending
154 Rock Valley Road
John P. Larose

F & M Motor Sales
414 South St.
Michael Gruszka

Goodwill Industries of Pioneer Valley
235 South St.
Steven Mundhal

High Class Cuts
451 High St.
Gamaliel Soto

JGL Truck Sales
27 Jackson St.
Javier Gonzalez

Reyes Auto Sales
100 Main St.
Oscar Reyes

Sears Beauty Salon
50 Holyoke St.
Joni Jacobson

LUDLOW

Angle Home Building & Remodeling
65 Meadowlark Circle
Todd Goncalves

Joseph Testori Electrical Contractor
71 New Crest St.
Joseph Testori

Open Door Café
247 Cady St.
Arlinda Alves

PALMER

Go Mobile
1581 North Main St.
Kevin Elder

On 3 Photography
9 Carriage Dr.
Maryellen Roche

Payless Auto Repair
26 Wilbraham St.
Kelly Doyle

SOUTHWICK

4 Life Entertainment Organization
389 North Loomis St.
Spencer Lavoie

Five Star Transportation
809 College Highway
Theresa Lecrenski

Ger-Pal, Inc.
610 College Highway
Geraldine Bshara

JD Berry Contracting
274 Granville Road
James Berry

Linen Lady Gifts
60 Miller Road
Clara Scott

R2 Prints
22 South Longyard Road
Robert Slate Jr.

Systems Personnel
414 College Highway
Edward Carroll

Tanya Salon
627 College Highway
Tatyana Brathichenko

SPRINGFIELD

Georgie’s Barber Shop
776 Liberty St.
Jorge L. Cruz

Innovative Concepts
29 1st St.
Tiffany Lissa

La Zona Supermarket Corporation
24 Fort Pleasant Ave.
Mindy L. Torres

Millennium Leasing Inc.
622 Cottage St.
Faramarz Bahrehmand

Mindy’s Cleaning Service
132 Mayfair Ave.
Mindy L. Torres

Orange Scarf
677 South Branch Parkway
Diane R. Sabato

Pars, Inc.
622 Cottage St.
Faramarz Bahrehmand

Property Maintenance
56 Gilbert Ave.
Daniel Rivera

Ron Zundell
92 Bairdcrest Road
Ronald K. Zundell

Shelby Motors, LLC
180 Boston Rd.
Khalid Albaghadadi

The Day Spa
78 Maple St.
Jun Sun

United Way of Pioneer Valley
1441 Main St.
Raymond Berry

Vraceworks MA
556 St. James Ave.
Juan E. Maldonado

WESTFIELD

Bertera Chrysler Dodge
167 Springfield Road
Bertera Motors of Westfield

Fisher Health & Wellness
110 Christopher Dr.
Kimberly Fisher

Hair Design by Leah
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Leah A. Huffmire

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Isander Robles

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Gail Roberts

Features
HitPoint Studios Brings Gaming Innovation to Downtown Springfield

The white rabbit in Fablewood

The white rabbit in Fablewood, a social game played on Facebook, is a fan favorite, says Paul Hake.


Aaron St. John says there are “three legs of the stool” that make a region fertile ground for businesses — and entire industries — to take root: access to talent, quality of life, and access to capital.

Until recently, he said, the perception among high-tech firms was that the Pioneer Valley had the first two in spades, but would always be trounced by the likes of Cambridge, New York, and Silicon Valley when it came to capital.

That perception is changing, he told BusinessWest, and HitPoint Studios is exhibit A.

The video-game-development company that he and Paul Hake started in 2008 has grown exponentially from its humble beginnings and now employs about 35 people. Based first in Greenfield, then Hatfield, and most recently in Amherst, the firm relocated to downtown Springfield last week, thanks to a commitment of $1.25 million by area investors to keep HitPoint local at a time when Boston and California were calling.

“Our entire round of funding is from the Valley,” St. John said. “We’ve had access to talent and good quality of life in this region — it’s a good place to live. But access to capital has been a challenge for this area. So I think it’s really encouraging that we didn’t need any outside funds.”

These investments in HitPoint’s future — about 40% of it from MassMutual’s Springfield Venture Fund and the rest from members of River Valley Investors — is a sign that the Valley’s reputation in this regard might be changing. The Venture Fund requires recipients to base their operations in Springfield, but regardless, St. John believes the city’s downtown is a natural spot for HitPoint to grow.

Aaron St. John

Aaron St. John says Springfield’s location, amenities, and rising profile make it an ideal place to grow HitPoint.

“Seeing all the entrepreneurship taking place in Springfield is very encouraging in a business where we rely on being innovative and finding creative solutions,” he said. “Being engaged by a city in that way, we got the feeling of an open door, of Springfield rolling out the red carpet, and asking, ‘what can we do?’ We felt this would be a good place for HitPoint.”

As they packed up boxes for the big move to the City of Homes, St. John and Hake talked with BusinessWest about what the move means for their company — and for the gaming industry in general.

Roads Taken

HitPoint’s founders traveled different roads to their eventual partnership. St. John’s older brother was an executive at Microsoft who introduced him to some of the big names in the game industry, and by age 16, he could see that making games — something he was passionate about — could be a viable career.

While still a teenager, on summer break from Earlham College in Indiana, St. John found himself interning for Monolith, a then-fledgling game company which is now one of the biggest online game portals. The company solicited game ideas from its people and got more than 100 back; of the three ideas deemed best, two were submitted by St. John. He was quickly hired on full-time.

That experience led to the development of Sanity: Aiken’s Artifact, which was brought to market by Fox Interactive. Later, St. John returned to his native Bay State to finish his degree at UMass Amherst; he launched his own design company, Golden Goose Games, soon after.

Hake, on the other hand, didn’t grow up playing video games; in fact, he wasn’t allowed to play console games at home. But he got hooked on computers after his father brought home an IBM PS2 and started teaching him how to program. Soon after, the family got another computer and a few PC games, and he played them all the time.

At UMass, he got more into gaming — not just playing them, but making them, using his programming background and the classes he was taking to build his skills in that arena. When the results of one assigment — he created a scrolling game with flying and shooting features — was particularly well-received, he decided this was what he wanted to do with his life.

So, after college, Hake landed a contract position with the Tiger Electronics division of Hasbro Toys. Eventually, he gained enough experience and contacts developing games that he was able to launch his own company, Paul Hake Productions, in 2004.

Having both attended UMass for a spell, the pair worked together casually from time to time and decided to go into business together in 2008. They began with eight employees — four from each company — but soon saw their enterprise take off.

HitPoint has long specialized in four lines of business: branded entertainment, which are games designed for companies’ Websites; casual games, which are also typically work-for-hire projects; social games, typically played through Facebook; and independent games, which the company designs and distributes on its own — a niche St. John and Hake have been working to expand.

Not that partnering with other companies hasn’t been lucrative.

“We were a first-party partner with Microsoft, one of two they chose to work with. We were developing their strategic titles for launch of Windows 8; we did about 12 titles for Microsoft, all featured in the App store, all top-grossing and top-ranked,” St. John said. “Then, just this past year, we worked on a product with Dreamworks to promote How to Train Your Dragon 2, a map-based explorer game, where you fly a dragon over a real, updating GPS map.”

In addition, HitPoint boasts several social games on Facebook — including Fablewood, Seaside Hideaway, and Jane Austen Unbound — with another set to release soon.

Facebook games and many mobile games are free to play, but are often monetized with ‘punch points’ in the game where there’s a significant time investment to get to the next level — and an option to get past those punch points faster by paying. The biggest hits of the genre can be extraordinarily lucrative. And with most people now playing games on their phones, mobile platforms represent an area of the gaming market that’s only expected to continue its surge in popularity.

Nuts and Bolts

Designing and developing each game is a painstaking process involving programmers, gameplay designers, graphic artists, sound specialists, and others. To coordinate them, St. John and Hake adhere to a software-development process known in the industry as ‘scrum,’ in which phases of a project are broken into short ‘sprints’ with specific goals. It’s the reason HitPoint can keep upwards of 15 projects in the air at one time.

Each must undergo a process of risk assessment and profit projection before being greenlit, which involves determining what’s achievable in the amount of time available and whether a project complements the company’s strategic goals — goals that will now turn heavily to independent projects, starting with a new product set to launch in the second quarter of 2015; they’re hush-hush on the details right now.

“We want to be focused around our own titles,” St. John said. “We work with other companies — we’re continuing our relationship with American Family Insurance, with one of the biggest insurance-based games, and we have relationships with some of the larger companies in the industry, like EA and a large Japanese company. But most of our effort is spent on games we’re launching and maintaining ourselves, where we own the game and the infrastructure.”

They’ll be entering this new phase in downtown Springfield — One Financial Plaza, to be exact — during a time of bustling activity in the neighborhood, with class A tenancy rates up in the towers; investments by a host of companies as well as UMass, Bay Path University, and Cambridge College; and, of course, the $800 million MGM Springfield casino set to open in 2017.

It definitely represents a more jarring change than HitPoint’s last move, from a retrofitted barn in Hadley to digs on University Drive in Amherst.

For that last move, “we mostly wanted to get out of the barn,” Hake said with a laugh. “It was getting a little old and crowded, and during the past few years, we’d been building up our own properties, including the suite of games on Facebook that we own and a couple of games on mobile as well.”

Then, starting early last year, he continued, “we discussed raising capital to continue our independent growth, and as part of that, we’re making this move to Springfield.”

St. John said there’s no reason why Springfield can’t be an attractive spot for companies such as his. “There’s easy access to [Bradley] airport, and we have several people that live close to Boston, who have much easier access to the office. I’m excited about all that. With the new-product innovation we have planned, we expect to grow quite a bit out of Springfield over the next two or three years.”

St. John has always been loath to look beyond Western Mass. as HitPoint’s headquarters, saying the the region’s colleges provide a solid pipeline of talent.

“We’ve gotten a lot of mileage out of being in Western Massachusetts,” he told BusinessWest. “Frankly, the game industry is pretty competitive, especially the competition for talent. We don’t have a warehouse, we don’t even have physical goods that we sell; the value of this company is in the people who work here. And the kinds of people we have to attract find the Valley a phenomenal place to live.”

He recognizes that being among the biggest players on the regional game-development block gives HitPoint, access to some of the top talent graduating from the region’s colleges and universities, but he also believes that, should the Valley become a hub for game developers as he believes it can, there will be plenty of talent to go around, because out-of-staters will be drawn by the quality of life. “We’ve found people who want to live here, people willing to move from California, New York, Texas.”

Downtown Dreams

The question, though, is can Western Mass. realistically become that video-game hub?

“That’s certainly my hope,” St. John said. “We’re hoping we can engage other entrepreneurs in area schools to look at the gaming industry, start game companies, and make their own games.”

He said HitPoint has been active with area colleges, and hosted two ‘game jams’ last year, at which students, with the help of faculty and HitPoint staffers, designed games for 24 hours straight.

“We saw a lot of talent and actually hired some people from those events; we’ve seen a few of them start their own projects on Kickstarter, things like that,” he noted. “It’s our hope — assuming we’ll be a successful presence in the area — that we’ll see a change in the perception students have about this area.

“That was certainly my perspective,” St. John continued. “I grew up in Amherst, and all I wanted to do was play games. We want to change people’s perceptions locally, but also change the industry perception, so people say, ‘why not Western Mass.?’”


Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Law Sections
Having Thorough, Detailed Documents Is a Must for Employers

By SUSAN G. FENTIN, Esq.

Is one of your New Year’s resolutions to work on your company’s job descriptions? If so, make this an early priority in 2015.

SUSAN G. FENTIN

Susan G. Fentin

Job descriptions are one of the five documents that are guaranteed to show up in employment litigation. Full and accurate job descriptions can make the difference between winning and losing claims filed by employees under a multitude of state and federal statutes, including discrimination claims under the Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII, the Equal Pay Act, the Fair Labor Standards Act, and parallel Massachusetts law.

The New Year is a great time to tackle this job. This review is especially important if it’s been several years since you last conducted a full review. Frequently, job duties change over time: new tasks are added, and duties that previously were assigned to a particular worker might no longer be necessary or not performed in the same way. Employees who were originally considered exempt may have had responsibilities removed from their job duties, which might lead to questions as to whether the employee is still properly classified.

If an employee should have been paid on an hourly basis and worked substantial overtime, there could be a basis for large damages under Massachusetts wage-hour law. In addition, a good job description clearly communicates the company direction and where the particular position fits in the big picture. It describes the major areas of an employee’s job, sets out clear expectations for performance, and provides a reference point for compensation decisions. Carefully drafted job descriptions help attract the right candidate for the position and give supervisors the documentation they need to support decisions such as performance evaluations and promotions.

Complete and accurate job descriptions that include all the essential functions of a position and the physical requirements of the job have become especially significant since the amendments to the ADA were passed in 2008. As a result of those amendments, more and more employees are able to claim that they are disabled in some way, leading to an increase in claims of disability discrimination and failure to accommodate.

However, employers who develop full and accurate job descriptions have an easier time beating disability-discrimination claims, as the Friendly restaurant chain demonstrated in a 2010 case that went all the way up to the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Friendly’s hired Katharine Richardson as assistant manager at its Ellsworth, Maine, restaurant. In addition to administrative tasks, Richardson was expected to work the grill, cook French fries in a deep fryer, scoop ice cream, lift heavy bags of trash, mop the floor, wait on and bus tables, and unload delivery trucks.

In January 2007, Richardson began to experience severe shoulder pain. For the next nine months, she did her best to do her job by changing the way she performed her duties: she cooked French fries in smaller batches and used tongs, since she couldn’t lift the basket from the fryer, and she delegated many other tasks, such as mopping the floor and taking out the trash.

In September 2006, Richardson took FMLA leave for shoulder surgery. She expected to return to work in October, but her surgeon did not release her to return to work until January 2007. Friendly’s extended her leave of absence, but when she finally returned to work, she had severe, permanent restrictions on lifting anything that weighed more than five pounds and performing repetitive activity. Since Richardson’s limitations meant she was unable to perform most of the manual tasks required of assistant general managers, Friendly’s terminated her from employment.

Predictably, Richardson sued. Friendly’s defense was that she was not a ‘qualified individual’ entitled to the protections of the ADA, since she was not able to perform the essential functions of her position with or without an accommodation. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the First Circuit took up the case to decide whether Friendly’s had discriminated against Richardson and/or failed to accommodate her disability. After all, Richardson argued, the restaurant chain had been able to accommodate her for quite some time by allowing her to assign many of her lifting tasks to other employees.

The court reviewed EEOC regulations governing ‘essential functions’: does the position exist for the purpose of performing the function? How many employees could perform the function? Is the function highly specialized? Was the employee hired for her expertise or ability to perform it? The court also considered other factors, including the employer’s judgment concerning essential functions, written job descriptions, the time spent performing the function, the consequence of not requiring the employee to perform the function, any applicable collective bargaining agreement, and the work experience of past and current employees in similar positions. The court noted that substantial weight is given to the employer’s view of what functions of the job are essential, particularly when articulated in a written job description.

Richardson claimed that, as an assistant manager, her only truly essential job function was to oversee the smooth operation of the restaurant. However, Friendly’s relied heavily on its six-page, written job description for the position, which specified essential functions and specific, physical requirements of the position.

Indeed, Richardson conceded that part of her job was to be able to fill in for any employee in the restaurant when needed, and she described in detail the duties she was required to perform. The First Circuit came to the conclusion that Richardson’s manual duties were essential to her position, and that, since she was not able to perform them, she was not a qualified individual under the ADA.

Clearly, a carefully drafted job description that includes all the physical requirements of a position and delineates essential functions can make the difference between winning and losing a charge of disability discrimination. And, as we’ve explained above, there are many other ways in which full and accurate job descriptions can make a big difference in managing your employees.

If you need assistance identifying essential functions or developing an accurate list of the physical requirements of your position, contact your labor and employment counsel. But be sure to put this on your list of new year’s resolutions for January 2015.

Attorney Susan G. Fentin has been a partner at Springfield-based Skoler, Abbott & Presser since 2004. Her practice concentrates on labor and employment counseling, advising large and small employers on their responsibilities and obligations under state and federal employment laws, and representing employers before state and federal agencies and in court. She speaks frequently to employer groups, conducts training on avoiding problems in employment law, and teaches master classes on both the FMLA and ADA; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Allbee, Jonathan G.
126 Bridges Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/14

Barclay, James K.
2 Anita Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/14

Barszewski, Daniel J.
89 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Bella Bags by Marcia
Mazochia-Harms, Marcia M.
12 Willow Lane
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Bernard, Richard H.
PO Box 790
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Biddle, David W.
P.O. Box 701
Hatfield, MA 01038
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/14

Bouchard, Linda M.
55 Athol Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/16/14

Bowe, Sandra
a/k/a Commesso, Sandra
138 Three Rivers Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/22/14

Bowes, Suzanne Lynn
a/k/a Brandt, Suzanne Lynn
79 Jackson St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/14

Chartier, Donald Alfred
Chartier, Joyce May
735 Memorial Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Cooper, Brian R.
19 Ave. C Apt #2
Turners Falls, MA 01376
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/14

Cote, Beth A.
6 Smith St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/14

Coyne, Kelly P.
a/k/a Lyons, Kelly P.
54 Yorktowne Court
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Dapper, Joseph E.
Russo, Susan J.
670 Old Petersham Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Davis, Robert J.
14 Ellington St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Deauseault, William Frank
20 Boulay Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/14

DePace, Katelyn M.
a/k/a Morin, Katelyn M.
a/k/a Burke, Katelyn M
18 Robbins Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Deschenes, Robert R.
32 Berbay Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/26/14

Durand, Andrew
94 Erin Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Fortier, Jerome S.
Fortier, Sandra A.
PO Box 1186
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/14

Fournier, Joshua Adam
62 Oliver St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Fox, Michael T.
Fox, Cheryl A.
a/k/a Stratton, Cheryl A.
735 Memorial Dr., Lot 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/26/14

Gardner, Todd D.
Gardner, Barbara B.
1562 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/26/14

Gayac, Diosdado L.
104 Johnson Road, Unit 10
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/26/14

Girard, James A.
Girard, Margaret S.
58 Freeman Dr., Apt. 12
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/14

Grandy-Merkel, Pamela Y.
31 Tulsa St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/14

Grimaldi, Jane K.
a/k/a Cyranowski, Jane K.
379 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/18/14

Hatchett, Johnnie A.
644 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/14

Hooper, Debra J.
46 Balis St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Kelley, Lawrence T.
Kelley, Tracy M.
a/k/a Fitzgerald, Tracy M.
15 Crestmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/26/14

Krawiec, Walter L.
36 1/2 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/26/14

Ly, Hung Van
Nguyen, Hang
245 Allen St
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Marrero, Venancio
111 Manning St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/18/14

Meagher, Robert C.
41 Tracy Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Miller, Lawrence
Miller, Susan
150 Ashalnd St., #503
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Miner, Annette Y.
384 Tokeneke Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/14

O’Connell, William J.
82 Broad St., Apt. 4
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/14

Ortiz-Rivera, Lourdes M.
27 Bancroft St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Partlow, Michael R.
PO Box 325
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/14

Peyron, Joanne M.
54 Acrebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Rehayem, Abdullah B.
Rehayem, Lynn C.
41 Laurel St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/18/14

Roy, Annmarie
155 Balance Rock Road
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Ruge, Anna
356 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/14

Ruge, Oksana P.
145 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/14

Santos, Nancy A.
62 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/17/14

Spirito, Mark A.
99 Tilley St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Timberlake, Aaron C.
32 Olive St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/14

Velazquez, Marelin
293 Cortland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Vizard, Jonathan Jason
Vizard, Jennifer Anne
328 New Boston Road
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Wiggins, Charles W.
117 Dawes St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/19/14

Wilson, Robert R.
Wilson, Suzanne I.
a/k/a Eisermann, Suzanne
17 Noble Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/20/14

Young, Vera S.
a/k/a Young, Shauntae V.
47 Davis St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/24/14

Zamboni, Silvia O.
122 Polaski Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/25/14

Architecture Sections
Caolo & Bieniek Associates Has Designs on Innovation

Curtis Edgin

Curtis Edgin, principal with Caolo & Bieniek Associates.

It’s not easy being green, but for today’s architects, it’s necessary.

“We’ve definitely had a mix of sustainable-design projects,” said Curtis Edgin, one of the principals of Caolo & Bieniek Associates in Chicopee, noting that some of them have been certified by the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) program, but not all.

“Some of our clients seek to pursue that,” he added, “but whether or not they go for that official recognition, they tend to pursue the same design practices.”

LEED, a federal program that lays out stringent, and often costly, guidelines by which new buildings can earn ‘points’ toward different levels of sustainability, has been a driving factor in making construction and renovation projects more environmentally friendly. It involves everything from air quality to the paints and furniture used; from ventilation to energy efficiency, and much more.

The emphasis on green design has seeped so thoroughly into the design and construction industries that even developers who aren’t seeking LEED status are demanding many similar elements, and this is certainly true for Caolo & Bieniek, which is no stranger to sustainable design, including the new Easthampton High School, which features bigger windows to maximize daylight, a photovoltaic array on the roof to harvest solar power, and LED lighting.

“Codes are getting more and more stringent, and continue to evolve,” Edgin said. “Plus, people are more concerned about energy use and will take a long view of things — sometimes pay a little more to have a more cost-effective building throughout its life. That’s what sustainable design is all about. It’s not just about recycling materials and conserving energy; there’s a whole list of things we can do that utilize those defining practices in all our projects.”

Caolo & Bieniek will celebrate 60 years in business next year, providing architecture, planning, and interior-design services across the Pioneer Valley. And Edgin understands the need to stay ahead of the curve when it comes to trends like sustainable design.

“It’s a more long-term view, rather than what’s cheapest on bid day,” he said. “Energy use is the first thing people think of, but it’s much more than that. You can insulate, insulate, insulate, but you still need to get ventilation into it, get fresh air into a very tight envelope.”

Then there’s long-lasting LED lightbulbs, which have become standard practice, replacing fluorescent bulbs. But green design and building extends to the work site itself, from efforts to reduce water runoff from the site to how materials are disposed of.

“When you’re doing demolition, does the debris end up in a landfill, or does it get separated?” Edgin said. “It used to be that everything got pushed off and sent to a landfill. Nowadays, we’re much more careful about what’s going on with these projects. Steel is sent off to be recycled, and maybe masonry is crushed and used for fill.”

The UMass police facility

The UMass police facility, designed by Caolo & Bieniek, was the first LEED-certified building on campus.

In theory, he added, a project like Easthampton can even turn its green features into an outdoor learning experiences, teaching students about bioswales and solar energy. “You can put a lot of technology into the building.”

For this issue’s focus on architecture, Edgin sat down with BusinessWest to talk about the going-green movement and also other challenges and opportunities posed by what has become a fiercely competitive, fast-moving industry.

Broad Palette

Although it has remained active in private development, Caolo & Bieniek wins about 75% of its work in the public sector, which includes plenty of public school construction and renovation. Besides the completed Easthampton project, Edgin said, “the old Chicopee High School is converting to a middle school, and we’re working with the Mass. School Building Authority on that. We also have a project with Phoenix Academy, a charter school in Springfield, up at the Tech Park, and a handful of smaller school projects for various communities.”

In addition, the firm has long been active with area municipalities, from the ongoing construction of the West Springfield public library to a number of public-safety jobs. “Police, fire, public safety … we have several projects ongoing, some in the study phase, some in the early construction phase,” he noted. Area colleges, including UMass, Westfield State University, and STCC, have also been a reliable source of work, from the UMass police station — the campus’s first LEED-certified project — to renovation and repair work on residence halls.

“We’ve also done projects for local public-housing authorities, and also some private, multi-family development in the Northampton area,” Edgin said. “And we’ve been keeping busy with work for financial institutions — banks and some investment companies.”

The sheer diversity of Caolo & Bieniek’s workload is a hedge against recessions, but Edgin admitted that the scale of the average project has decreased slightly over the past several years. That means more, smaller jobs, “which keeps you very busy meeting schedules, juggling multiple projects, and serving clients. We were very blessed to stay busy over the past 10 years. We attribute that to a good staff and good service. We continually strive to satisfy our clients.”

Caolo & Bieniek has taken jobs as far away as Ohio for a Veterans Affairs hospital, and conducted some far-flung work for the U.S. Postal Service, but most of its signature projects have been in or not far from the Pioneer Valley — from the aforementioned schools and colleges to work for MassMutual, Spalding, Raymour & Flanigan, Polish National Credit Union, Rocky’s, Boys and Girls Club of Chicopee, Subway, IHOP, and many others.

“We don’t go long distances away — generally within an hour or hour and a half radius,” Edgin said. “You can’t give good service in the car, so we stay close to home, and wind up seeing clients in the supermarket, in the hardware store, or out to buy a cup of coffee.”

The auditorium inside Easthampton High School

The auditorium inside Easthampton High School, a recent Caolo & Bieniek project with many ‘green’ features.

The firm has also performed historic-preservation work, which comes with two distinct, and often competing, challenges: restoring buildings according to a client’s demands, or working with a client who doesn’t care about a structure’s historical elements, but local and state historical commissions do.

“Phoenix Academy has been reviewed by the National Park Service, the Springfield Historical Commission, and the Mass. Historical Commission,” Edgin said. “Some of the challenges with these projects is getting everyone on the same page. It’s often about balance, what’s practical.”

Older buildings pose myriad questions, he added. “What are the requirements of the building code in order to reuse or renovate historic properties? What is the use? It may have been built at a time when the code requirements — what the building has to withstand from a seismic perspective, especially — were much different than what they are now. And, of course, what does it cost? There are a lot of noble gestures you can make, but somebody has to fund them.”

Issues with historic buildings have come to the forefront at a time when renovation is more popular than new construction, and investors are taking a hard look at older properties they can rehab, as opposed to building from the ground up. “Not everyone wants new construction or can afford it,” Edgin said. “Sometimes there’s value in older buildings, but you have to weigh the cost of meeting present needs, and that goes back to building codes and what the long-term cost is going to be.”

Old and New

Architects and contractors have long told BusinessWest that clients are more demanding than ever before, and time windows are often compressed. On the other hand, technology has improved project planning and communication.

“With the computers these days, the visualization tools we can use now, we’re no longer showing just flat plans. People often can’t read two-dimensional plans, but now we’re showing them three-dimensional images, what it will really look like,” Edgin said. “But you have to keep up with the technology and the new software, and so does your staff.”

It helps that most of Caolo & Bieniek’s 10 employees have been with the firm for many years, bringing consistency to operations. The same goes for customers. “A lot of our clients are long-standing. Even cities and municipalities, we’ll do multiple projects — it might be a school, a public-safety project, and a library project in the same city or town.”

Customer loyalty is critical at a time when firms from Boston and Connecticut are raiding the Pioneer Valley for work, a trend that has developed and intensified over the past 10 to 15 years.

To keep those clients happy, “you have to plan ahead. Everything moves so much faster these days, but you still have to allow time for the process. It doesn’t just happen. If you want a successful project, sometimes it takes years of foresight, and hopefully clients are thinking in the long term, too, rather than just today, what the present need is. Ultimately, that should shape your decision making.”

That forward thinking is one driving force behind sustainable building, but Edgin said it’s important in any project.

“You have to manage expectations, understand what’s possible and what’s not; you have to be honest,” he added. “People have very lofty goals, but cost is often the driving factor. You try to bring your experience — communicate your knowledge and understanding of the process — as early as possible to the client to determine what the end result will be.”

The goal, of course, is something everyone can live with — both literally and figuratively.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Law Sections
The New Year Is the Perfect Time for an Audit of Your Practices


By SARAH G. TORRES, Esq. and KARINA L. SCHRENGOHST, Esq.

Sarah G. Torres

Sarah G. Torres

Karina L. Schrengohst

Karina L. Schrengohst

As the new year approaches, employers would be wise to include in their resolutions efforts to ensure compliance with the myriad employment laws affecting their business, including those related to sick leave, disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and wage-and-hour issues.

To accomplish this, employers can begin by conducting an internal audit of their employment practices with the assistance of employment counsel, including looking at their employee handbook and other policies and job descriptions, as well as planning supervisor training.

Employee Handbook and Policy Reviews

Is your employee handbook up to date? Employers should consider having their employee handbook and other policies reviewed on an annual basis by employment-law counsel to ensure they are compliant with state and federal law and recent National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) decisions. For instance, just this month, the NLRB issued a decision permitting employees to use company e-mail accounts on their own time for non-business purposes, including discussing union organizing and work grievances.

Employers must be aware that these communications are protected in both union and non-union workplaces. Accordingly, employers may need to revise their computer-usage policies to comply with this decision.

Likewise, many Massachusetts employers will need to revise their current paid-time-off policies or create sick-time policies to comply with new sick-leave legislation that will go into effect on July 1, 2015. Under this new law, employers with 11 or more employees must provide up to 40 hours of paid sick time per calendar year. Employers with fewer than 11 employees must provide up to 40 hours of unpaid sick time per calendar year.

In addition, some Massachusetts employers with 50 or more employees will need to create policies or amend their employee handbooks to incorporate a domestic-violence-leave policy, if they have not done so already. This past summer, Massachusetts enacted a law that requires these employers to provide up to 15 days of leave during a 12-month period to employees who are victims of domestic abuse or who have a qualifying family member who is a victim, and to notify their employees of their rights and responsibilities under the law. The attorney general recently suggested that employers can meet the notice requirement under the law by including a provision in their employee handbook.

Also, employers with six or more employees are reminded that Massachusetts law requires annual distribution of your sexual-harassment policy.

Training for Managers and Supervisors

Do you offer your managers and supervisors regular training?

Creating or revising workplace policies to comply with new laws and regulations is only one preventive step. The next step is training managers and supervisors to ensure they understand these policies and their responsibilities under these policies, which is equally crucial. Employers should consider scheduling training for their management personnel on employment-law topics such as sick and domestic leave laws and the new NLRB decision related to e-mail communications, as well as refreshers on topics such as disability discrimination, sexual harassment, and wage-and-hour issues.

Many employment issues that eventually evolve into litigation stem from actions or inactions of managers or supervisors. Employers should regularly conduct trainings to give these key employees the knowledge and skills required to enable them to properly handle situations as they arise.

Review, Update, and Revise Job Descriptions

Do your job descriptions accurately reflect your employees’ actual job duties?

Job descriptions can be used as a basis for interviewing candidates, orienting a new employee, and evaluating job performance. In addition, an accurate job description listing the essential functions of a position will assist you when faced with requests for accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act. Sending an accurate job description to an employee’s medical provider will help you determine whether an employee is able to return to his or her position and what, if any, accommodations may be necessary.

An accurate job description with a detailed list of the essential functions of a position can also assist you with determining whether an employee is exempt from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act. This is especially important because the Department of Labor (DOL) announced this year that it will be reviewing these overtime exemptions and will likely be revising their regulations in 2015. Compliance in this area is particularly important because an employer who has been found to have misclassified an employee as exempt can be subject to significant penalties as a result of a DOL audit.

The cost of defending expensive litigation far exceeds the investment in taking proactive, preventive steps to reduce the risk of litigation. Therefore, employers should consider conducting an internal audit at the beginning of the New Year.

Sarah G. Torres, Esq. and Karina L. Schrengohst, Esq. are attorneys at Royal LLP, a woman-owned, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm. Royal LLP is a certified women’s business enterprise with the Massachusetts Supplier Diversity Office, the National Assoc. of Minority and Women Owned Law Firms, and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]; [email protected]

Chamber Corners Departments

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• Jan. 7: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Ludlow Country Club, One Tony Lema Drive, Ludlow. “Putting the PIONEER Back in Pioneer Valley” is the name of the program, to be led by Paul Silva, executive director of Valley Venture Mentors, and Natasha Clark, founder of LionessMagazine.com. Saluting: Dr. Mark Keroack, new CEO of Baystate Health, and Andrew Associates, celebrating its 30th anniversary. Cost: $20 for members ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Jan. 12:
“Getting Down to Business about Business,” 8-9 a.m., hosted by Web-tactics Inc., 83 Main St., Easthampton. Mayor Karen Cadieux will be available for casual question-and-answer sessions. RSVP to the chamber at (413) 527-9414 by Jan. 1.
• Jan. 22: Chamber Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner, 5 p.m., hosted by Southampton Country Club. The event will feature presentation of Business of the Year awards and celebrate member milestones. For more information, contact the chamber at (413) 527-9414 or e-mail [email protected]
• Feb. 14: 2nd Annual Easthampton WinterFest — Fall in Love with Winter, starting at 11 a.m. The Nashawannuck Pond Steering Committee and Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce invite you to the WinterFest, a community-wide event that features family-friendly winter activities held throughout the day. They include an historical ice harvest on Nashawannuck Pond, horse-drawn wagon rides, snowshoeing, snow sculpture, a chili cook-off, a community bonfire, and much more. There will also be winter-themed indoor activities for all ages. Most events are free or by donation. A lineup of the day’s events will be posted on www.nashawannuckpond.org.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• Jan. 8: Winners Circle 2015 Reception, 5-7 p.m., at the Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St., Holyoke. Sponsored by Ross Insurance. We invite you to attend this enjoyable event where we honor all of our local and state elected officials. Tickets are $27. To sign up, call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com.
• Jan. 13: “How to Start and Maintain Your Business — Finding a Location,” 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the chamber office, 177 High St., Holyoke. Join us in this workshop series as members of the chamber teach members of the community the steps it takes to build a successful business. Cost: $20 per session or $175 for the series.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Jan. 7: Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at McKenney Electric, 100 Northampton St., Holyoke. Sponsored by King & Cushman. Cost: $10 for chamber members.
• Jan. 27: New member orientation, 3-4 p.m., at the chamber office, 99 Pleasant St. This is the chance to tell us more about your business and how the chamber can best serve you. Meet other new members and learn how to make to the most of your chamber membership. Admission is free. RSVP to (413) 584-1900 or [email protected].

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• Jan. 5: January Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at MoFroYo, Little River Plaza, 617 East Main St., Westfield. This event is free and open to the public. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618 or e-mail [email protected].
• Jan. 14: January After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at the Arbors of Westfield, 40 Court St. Sponsored by Susan Allen Financial. Cost: $10 for members, $15 cash for non-members. Refreshments will be served. Bring your business cards and make connections. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• Jan. 15: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Lattitude, 1338 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. One must be a member or guest of a member to attend. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while social networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. The only cost to attend is the cost of your lunch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately the day of the event. Please note that we cannot invoice you for these events. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

40 Under 40
Introducing the 2015 40 Under Forty Judges

Again this year, five individuals have been chosen to score the nominations submitted for the 40 Under Forty Class of 2015. In keeping with past practice, BusinessWest has chosen two former winners to be part of this panel — in this case, members of the class of 2014. This year’s judges are:

ElmsCollegeKimKenneyRockwalKim Kenney-Rockwal, director of MBA programs at Elms College, provides strategic direction into programming, learning outcomes, and student success within the MBA tracks of Accounting, Management, and Healthcare Leadership. She recently developed a graduate certificate program in Forensic Accounting. Prior to joining the college, she held executive human resource and coaching roles within the healthcare, electronic manufacturing, and pharmacy retail industries. Kenney-Rockwal is certified as a senior professional in human resources, a Myers-Briggs type indicator master practitioner, and an executive coach. Additionally, she is a business advisory member of the Mass. Rehabilitation Commission and a member and past president of the Human Resource Management Assoc. of Western New England.

LAM-AndrewDrAndrew Lam, M.D. is a retinal surgeon and bestselling author. A graduate of Yale University and member of the 40 Under Forty class of 2014, he is a partner with New England Retina Consultants, P.C., an attending surgeon at Baystate Medical Center, and an assistant professor of Ophthalmology at Tufts University School of Medicine. He is the author of two books: Two Sons of China and Saving Sight, the latter of which won awards from the New England and London Book Festivals and was a finalist in the 2014 Next Generation Indie Book Awards. In Longmeadow, Lam serves on the Finance Committee and has also served on the Historical Commission, Historical District Commission, and Center School Council.

B24B9321Kate Putnam is president and CEO of Package Machinery Co. Inc., a technology leader in wrapping machinery for consumer products. Under Putnam’s leadership, the company has developed a new generation of all-servo wrapping machinery for consumer products. She brought her career in multi-national banking, corporate treasury, and consulting to her role as change leader at Package Machinery. She serves on the board of Associated Industries of Mass., the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, and the state board of The Nature Conservancy. Putnam has served on the board of the Packaging Machinery Manufacturers Institute (2005-08), Parkinson Technologies (2007-09), the Food Bank of Western Mass. (2000-10), and Baystate Health. She holds a BA in history from Mount Holyoke College and an MBA in Finance from New York University.

JeffSattlerJeff Sattler is president and senior loan officer at NUVO Bank & Trust Co. For 33 years, he has been working in the Western Mass. banking industry. He began his career in 1981 with the Bank of New England West, formerly known as Third National Bank, where he became vice president of the Corporate Banking Division. Sattler filled a number of roles as he forged a career in commercial lending, including managing large corporate relationships for Shawmut Bank, N.A., Baybank, N.A., and TD Banknorth. In 2006, he became one of the original organizers that formed NUVO Bank & Trust Co., now in its sixth year of operation as the only independently owned, local commercial bank in Western Mass.

SchneiderMichael Schneider, a member of BusinessWest’s Forty Under 40 class of 2014, is a business attorney with Doherty, Wallace, Pillsbury & Murphy, P.C. He works in all areas of commercial and industrial real estate, including the disposition, acquisition, financing, and leasing of commercial properties. As a land-use attorney, he has worked extensively in the zoning and permitting of industrial and commercial real-estate projects. His business practice focuses on representing lenders and borrowers in complex secured financing transactions and on the acquisition and sale of area precision-manufacturing companies. Aside from his real-estate and corporate practice, Schneider works extensively with the law governing physician-compensation arrangements and railroad operations. His pro bono activities include membership on the Longmeadow Conservation Commission and board membership in Springfield educational charities.

Law Sections
Now Is the Time to Review Documents and Create an Action Plan

By LISA L. HALBERT, Esq.

Lisa L. Halbert

Lisa L. Halbert

As the end of 2014 approaches, articles are published that recap the year’s events (“the best of…,” “the worst of…”), or that encourage changes in behavior (how-tos) for 2015. Among that genre are the top 100 videos, 10 most influential people, and my perennial favorite, “how to lose that first 10 (or 50) pounds this year.”

In this respect, the field of elder law and estate planning is not terribly different. The new-year celebration is an opportunity to review legal documents and consider an action plan for estate-planning needs during the coming year.

Estate-planning documents need to be reviewed at least every five years and also upon major life events, to make sure they continue to be relevant. Even attorneys can neglect this periodic review, and as this article is written, I am reminded to pull out my own documents and confirm that my wishes are properly reflected. As for those who do not yet have documents, read below for the potentially serious consequences of not having documents in place.

What follows is a list of estate-planning documents, action steps, and paperwork to consider, and advice for the coming year.

Prepare a Comprehensive List of Assets

Make this less daunting by doing it in stages. When next balancing your checking account, before you get up from your desk, start an asset list and add all bank accounts and possibly real estate. Then set a time to consider what you hold in securities, retirement funds, insurances (life or disability), annuities, business valuations, and tangible personal property, such as art, furniture, and jewelry. Make a column and indicate who owns the asset, whether it is held in your name alone or jointly with another. See the section about beneficiary designations for further information.

This list should also include any assets held in a trust. Sharing this list with your estate-planning attorney is a good beginning point. Understand that, after your estate plan is fully developed, the titling of your assets may change to accommodate the plan.

Durable Power of Attorney

The DPA allows you to appoint people to assist with financial management of assets in your name while you are alive. The person who creates or grants the power is referred to as the ‘principal,’ while the person who is appointed to act on behalf of another is sometimes referred to as the ‘attorney-in-fact’ (AIF). The principal gets to determine the amount of authority to grant the AIF, with the exact terms set forth in the DPA. The benefit to a DPA is that you, not a court, choose who can have access to your financial information. A DPA can allow the AIF to access your assets even though you are fully capable of thinking and acting for yourself (for example, as a convenience for you while away on vacation), or it can be written to allow access only if and when you start to fail mentally.

A DPA does not change the ownership of any asset or account. It merely allows another to act as your fiduciary — to step into your shoes and make decisions as your agent. If an asset is owned by you alone, then at your death, the authority of the AIF terminates and the asset then goes through your will, unless there is a beneficiary designation attached to it.

Whether a copy of the DPA is immediately provided to your appointees or held to be distributed at a later time is a discussion to have with your attorney. Remember, if no one knows about it, or you fall ill and cannot communicate where the document is located, court action might still result.

The issue always comes up about whom to appoint and how many to serve at any one time. Should it be one person, or two people serving together? And if two serve, do they need to act together, or may they act unilaterally? From a purely administrative perspective, it is easiest to identify one person to act alone. But in families where there may be friction, or differing skills in terms of money management, then appointing two people to act may be the best choice for that particular family.

Decisions about whether to require two signatures or one are made by the principal after considering the benefits and burdens of both choices.

If a DPA does not exist or cannot be located, and you are unable to manage your financial affairs, then without a DPA in place the family may find itself needing to go to court to obtain a conservatorship over the accounts. In the alternative, the matter might linger and not be addressed in a timely manner. For example, through oversight, a deadline may be missed to pay a premium for life or disability insurance, causing the policy to lapse. Either way, the financial consequence could be much greater than the cost associated with having the document prepared and gaining control of who has access to the accounts.

Healthcare Proxy

Review your HCP to confirm that it identifies those you would want making healthcare decisions for you if and when you can no longer make or communicate them on your own. List appointees to serve in consecutive order, and make it long enough so that it stands the test of time. Discuss the prudence of additional provisions. For example, do certain religious beliefs impact healthcare decisions, and how should they be articulated? Would you allow certain drugs to be administered that might otherwise require court approval? Do you want your healthcare agent to choose a nursing home for you if it becomes necessary?

Once signed, provide your HCP to your healthcare providers and other physicians and hospitals. Some people keep a copy on the refrigerator, in the car, in their luggage, or with other important papers. And, of course, provide a copy of your HCP to those you have appointed as decision makers.

Remember, an HCP is not a medical release that allows an appointee to look into your private medical records or make changes to current treatments. Rather, a physician or certain nurses must invoke the HCP when you are no longer able to make informed decisions about your healthcare, or cannot communicate them. And just because the HCP is invoked does not necessarily mean that you do not have capacity to handle your own finances or manage other contracts.

If you have a surgical procedure, remember to bring a copy of your HCP with you, or ask the facility if you can e-mail a copy for their records. Many medical facilities provide a boilerplate form for completion prior to a procedure. Patients then dutifully fill it in, not necessarily realizing that this new form will revoke a previously signed HCP. It is always better to supply a doctor or hospital with your own HCP document, which will likely be a more considered and thorough document than the hospital’s standard form.

Without an HCP, if healthcare decisions need to be made for you, a court will appoint a guardian. This process takes time and costs money, and you may no longer get to control who is appointed to serve. The benefit of an HCP is that you get to choose those individuals you trust to make decisions for you as you would want for yourself, as opposed to having a court choose.

Massachusetts Medical Orders for Life-sustaining Treatment

The MOLST is a relatively new medical form and not a legal form. It is intended to be used by patients of any age who suffer from an advanced illness. It addresses current medical orders about life-sustaining treatment(s). It involves the medical provider/clinician and the patient, and it is effective as of the time of signing. It serves a different purpose than a HCP. Those with advanced illness or the loved ones of those same people are encouraged to discuss a MOLST with their clinician, or visit molst-ma.org.

Nursing Homes and Long-term-care Facilities

This is one of those cautionary tales that cannot be ignored. Too many times in 2014, clients have come in to ask for assistance in dealing with a collection issue concerning a loved one in an assisted-living residence, nursing home, or similar facility. For example, Barney Rubble arrives in the office stating that an assisted-living facility is looking to collect against his own assets to pay for his friend Fred Flintstone’s stay. It seems that the insurance that might have covered the experience had a glitch and is not paying.

Barney is Fred’s trusted friend and is appointed as Fred’s healthcare agent and AIF. On Fred’s application for admission to the facility, Barney signed as the ‘responsible party,’ because he felt that, since he was helping his friend Fred, he was therefore responsible to make sure Fred’s bills were paid. Although Barney was well-intentioned, in most cases, he missed the mark. While he is the AIF, it is only with respect to using Fred’s funds. Barney never intended to promise to use his own funds.

Before signing any paperwork, slow down and carefully read the application. ‘Responsible party’ frequently means that the person signing is actually financially responsible for the person who is going into the facility. Therefore, the proper way to have completed this area of the form so as to insulate Barney’s assets was: ‘Fred Flintstone by Barney Rubble, his AIF.’ Otherwise, Barney may be setting himself up for the facility to come after his own assets, in addition to Fred’s.

Last Will and Testament

A last will and testament controls assets that are held in your name alone without a designated beneficiary, at your time of death. These are the only assets that go through the probate process. Your will is a road map as to whom you would like to receive your probate assets, so long as it is not illegal.

It can also provide for forgiveness of debt or allow someone temporary use of an asset (such as living in a home until X age, or Y event occurs). Generally, a will allows you to control and determine who inherits your estate at your death. (A surviving spouse and minor children, however, do have certain statutory rights that take priority over the terms of the will, even if you intended to try to disinherit the spouse and/or child.)

When you die, the Mass. Uniform Probate Code (MUPC) controls the probate process. The MUPC is intended to expedite the process and no longer requires as much court intervention or oversight, although court supervision is available where appropriate. For those with new probate matters, be aware that, as of the end of October, a new rule was issued that requires seven days’ notice must be given to the Division of MassHealth before a petition for probate is filed with the court.

While this usually will not pose a problem, compliance is required. Because the MUPC is still relatively new, attorneys continue to identify nuanced changes relative to how the rules are to be implemented. And while the law was intended to be user-friendly and more streamlined, another caution is to seek legal counsel, especially where a decedent dies owning real estate.

If you pass away without a will (referred to as dying ‘intestate’), state law dictates how your assets get distributed. Under the MUPC, if you die intestate and are survived by your spouse and children of both you and your spouse (whether biological or adopted), then your spouse will receive your entire estate, without any portion specifically allocated to the children of the relationship. If there are stepchildren (on the side of the decedent or the spouse), then a different distribution is dictated.

Under the MUPC, your spouse has priority to serve as the personal representative (formerly executor) for your intestate estate. The statute, however, provides that, if your spouse does not want to accept the position, he or she may designate someone else to act, effectively skipping over an adult child who might have anticipated taking on that role. So, while you might not think you have enough assets to have a will prepared, having control and choosing the beneficiaries is likely the best route to go in case that late-bought lottery ticket is found, or a family member inadvertently left you as a beneficiary.

A will can also have some significance prior to your death. During your lifetime, if you become incapacitated and another is put in charge of your assets and financial management, there may be occasions where gifts are appropriate. The AIF or conservator can look to your will in order to figure out who or what entities are most dear to you and help implement some of those dispositions even before you pass away. The will, therefore, may offer some guidance even during your lifetime.

Trust-based Planning

Depending upon your assets, intended beneficiaries, and other information, a trust might be a better option to accomplish your preferred distributions than a will. A trust is a document with three major players — the person who creates it (you, also known as the grantor), the trustee (who could be you and/or others and is the one who actually administers or managers the assets), and the beneficiaries (who could be you and/or others who receive a benefit under the trust). The trust document provides direction as to how you want your assets (and debt) managed, invested, and distributed. It is especially useful if there are minor beneficiaries and you want to know that instructions are followed long-term, or where another needs some long-term financial assistance or management (such as a special or supplementary needs trust.)

This year, irrevocable trusts have become a topic of much discussion among elder-planning attorneys. Irrevocable trusts have been used by elder-planning attorneys as one way to provide the elder ‘income only,’ but save the principal for others. When created, counsel and clients knew that income-only trusts would leave the income exposed and in the sights of MassHealth, and available to pay for care.

This past year, however, MassHealth more frequently required that the principal also be made available to pay for the elder’s care. MassHealth’s position seems based on an interpretation of text that might allow for the trustee to alter or exchange assets within the trust. While there is some myopic interpretation which, when taken out of context, might allow for an elder to receive what was formerly characterized as principal, when considered in total, most of these irrevocable trusts do not allow for such dispositions.

The legal battle continues to heat up, and for the immediate future, an irrevocable income-only trust, where a MassHealth application might someday be required, should be approached with extreme caution.

Beneficiary Designations

Review beneficiary designations on your various accounts to confirm that they remain current and in line with your overall estate plan. Types of assets that frequently carry opportunities for beneficiary designations include insurance, annuity, retirement accounts, and some brokerage accounts (accounts that hold securities and other investments).

Designating a beneficiary completely avoids the asset going through probate, and there may be some income-tax advantages to naming a direct beneficiary. Most people, however, forget that the first-named beneficiary might not outlive them, and do not properly name a contingent beneficiary. Also, if your estate plan is premised on having assets go through your probate estate, but the designations are not changed, then your plan may be defeated.

An estate plan, once completed, may use a blend of assets that are directed to specific beneficiaries via designation, as well as assets that go through probate or a trust. Retirement assets may have a better income-tax benefit if directed to specific individuals or charities (especially if you are looking to save an income-tax bite to the estate), while life insurances might be more appropriate to go through probate. Each client situation is different.

The MUPC effectively revokes certain beneficiary designations to a prior spouse. Therefore, if you are divorced and yet still intend for your ex-spouse to receive assets via a beneficiary designation that has not been changed since the divorce, revisit the designation.

Further, there are many insurance companies that do not yet respect the MUPC and stand by their own rules stating that, where a spouse is named as a beneficiary, even after a divorce the prior designation stands. So, even if your separation agreement holds that the ex-spouse is not a beneficiary, some companies ignore that text. Rather than cause your family unnecessary angst, it is best to affirmatively confirm or change beneficiary designations after a divorce is finalized.

Same-sex Spouses

A year ago, significant ink was used getting the word out that same-sex spouses could qualify for spousal benefits in Massachusetts and under the federal law. While not exactly breaking news, spouses (including same-sex) are once again encouraged to review all financial aspects that might impact their married life. For planning purposes, this impacts your federal income taxes, Social Security benefits, FMLA, and health-insurance coverage.

Retirement benefits from a qualified retirement plan will be required to allow the surviving spouse of a married couple, whether same-sex or not, to withdraw the funds over the surviving spouse’s lifetime. IRAs that allow a spouse to roll over inherited assets into his or her own IRA are now allowed. There are more than 1,000 federal benefits that may be impacted by this ruling. Check beneficiary designations as well as federal tax withholding. By now it should be old news, but I will remind you that same-sex spouses may file joint income-tax returns.

From an estate-planning perspective, we are in the second year that same-sex couples can take advantage of the unlimited marital exemption to transfer assets between spouses during life, as well as at death. For high-wealth couples, ‘portability’ of the estate-tax exemption at the death of the first spouse to a surviving spouse is now allowed. With an estate-tax exemption currently at $5.34 million per spouse (and $5.43 million for 2015), this allows a same-sex married couple to have a combined $10.68 million ($10.86 million for 2015) estate-tax exemption.

While this may not currently impact you, if the surviving spouse wins a large lottery ticket, or comes into money for any other reason even after the first spouse’s death, having elected portability may result in a significant estate-tax savings.

Do-not-resuscitate Order

A DNR is not prepared by your attorney. It is available to be signed in your physician’s office, and it states that, if your heart stops, you do not want extraordinary measures taken to restart it. A DNR is not interpreted to mean that you want to be taken off of medical machinery (and be allowed to die) if you are being kept alive only by such mechanical devices.

Passwords

Regrettably, I am electronically challenged. So, the best advice I can offer is that you need to figure out an appropriate way to track all of your passwords and user ID information, and consider how to leave this information so that your attorney-in-fact or personal representative can access it in the future. There is an old-school view, which is to write it all down and keep it in one place, and there are those who use the cloud or other programs.

Either way, while you still have capacity, think about and organize the information. From experience, the list should include bank accounts, ATM cards, brokerage access, credit and other loans, and even health-related information. Document the answers to applicable security questions.

From a practical perspective, it is frequently very hard for your AIF to establish online access; it is much easier to continue access which you have established. Yet, where many AIFs do not live proximate to the principal, online access is the best solution. So before your memory fades, or an unexpected accident arises, consider whether you want to figure out a solution that makes it much easier for those who might have to assist you.

Important Papers

Organize a filing system for important papers. Whether alphabetical or by category (bank papers, insurance, etc.), consider putting all important papers in one place. Documents to be retained include Social Security cards, copies of birth certificates, and legal documents (will, trust, HCP, DPA, marriage license or divorce decree, and funeral-related paperwork). Include on this list your children or next of kin and their addresses. If you should die, and a non-family member is involved, it makes locating family much easier.

This checklist provides a starting point. For more information, contact an estate-planning professional for a comprehensive review of your plans.


Lisa L. Halbert is an estate-planning, elder-law, and real-estate attorney with the regional law firm Bacon Wilson, P.C. She is especially focused on legal matters relating to elder care, estate planning, and asset protection; (413) 584-1287; baconwilson.com

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Helping companies navigate healthcare benefit options while controlling costs and improving service has earned the American Benefits Group an Innovator Superstar Award from The Institute for HealthCare Consumerism (IHHC). The Annual HealthCare Consumerism Awards, published in the Journal HealthCare Consumerism Solutions last month, recognize companies who excel in executing innovative health and benefit management programs or providing those solutions to organizations. As healthcare costs have steadily increased, employers nationwide have been responding with large-scale adoption of high-deductible health plans paired with pre-tax, employee-controlled benefits spending accounts. American Benefits Group provides employers with turnkey third-party administration of a wide range of pre-tax employee benefits including health reimbursement accounts (HRA), health savings accounts (HSA), and flexible spending accounts (FSA). These accounts help companies and their employees offset the cost of deductibles, co-pays, and other medical expenses that are not covered by their healthcare plan, allowing employees and employers to contribute pre-tax funds into accounts designated for healthcare expenditures. Since pre-tax account contributions are not subject to employment and personal income taxes, they create substantial tax savings for the employees. The company also provides COBRA administration and compliance, and pre-tax commuter accounts. “We’re honored to be recognized by the Institute for HealthCare Consumerism,” said Robert Cummings, CEO and managing principal of American Benefits Group. “Our company delivers concierge-level services with cutting-edge technology for our customers who range from Fortune 1000 organizations to Main Street business. Using leading edge technology, such as consumer web and mobile applications and a smart benefits debit card payment system we’re deliver efficiencies and a superior consumer experience for our customers and their employees.”
American Benefits Group was founded by Cummings in 1989 and has 27 Northampton-based employees. Current customers include more than 650 companies nationwide with 50 to 15,000 employees including international iconic brands like Ferrari, Maserati, Wall Street giant Cantor Fitzgerald, and Mitsubishi, as well as many area employers such as Mount Holyoke College and Florence Savings Bank.

Opinion
Five Reasons to Be Optimistic About 2015

As the curtain comes down on 2014, a memorable year in many respects and one that produced large doses of momentum across the region, there are many reasons for optimism when it comes to the year ahead.

No one can truly predict what will happen regionally, nationally, or internationally in the months to come, but most signs are pointing to new levels of properity and vibrancy for the region. Here are five reasons for the business community to welcome the new year with its head up.

• An Improving Economy. Granted, not all businesses or business sectors saw bottom-line improvements in 2014, but many did, and both hard and anecdotal evidence reveals that something approaching real recovery may finally visit this region after steering clear of it since the Great Recession officially ended in 2009.

Indeed, jobless rates have improved, the housing market is slowly inching its way back up, and business confidence, as measured by Associated Industries of Mass. and other groups, has been steadily rising.

Even gasoline prices are cooperating in a big way. While they scare investors because of their potential to stifle the all-important energy industry, cheaper gas and oil are boons for consumers and business owners alike, and they amount to a huge stimulus package that puts money into the economy.

• The Casino. It will be at least two and a half years before anyone pushes the buttons on a slot machine, doubles down at the blackjack table, or brings a convention to the hotel being built by MGM. But one can already sense that the $800 million facility soon to rise in the South End is generating not only excitement, but opportunity.

Downtown Springfield’s commercial real-estate market is finally picking up steam; the long-suffering construction sector will soon have some long-term, lucrative work; and the tourism sector is aglow with expectation about what the casino will mean for the convention business. Meanwhile, the casino’s promise is spurring action on some long-delayed projects like the Court Square revitalization.

• Subway Cars. As we’ve written before, the announcement that Changchun Railway Co. will be building subway cars at the former Westinghouse site in East Springfield is positive news on several levels. It will bring jobs, and the kinds of well-paying jobs that everyone wants, but it has also brought a sense of accomplishment, a feeling that, yes, things like this can really happen here. And sometimes, developments like this one can give a region and its economic-development leaders a huge boost of confidence.

• A Surging University of Massachusetts. President Robert Caret announced recently that he will be leaving the university to take the helm at the University of Maryland. While that’s a setback in some ways — Caret brought strong direction to the school — UMass has in many ways reached a critical turning point when it comes to being the economic engine the state and this region always hoped it would be, and there seems little chance of it falling back.

While many of the recent developments at the school have involved Springfield, the impact is truly region-wide, with projects ranging from the High Performance Computing Center in Holyoke to the recently announced plans to establish a National Aeronautics Research, Development, and Training Center at Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, with UMass Amherst as the lead institution. Expect more of the same in the months and years to come.

• A Focus on Entrepreneurship. This may well be the most compelling reason for optimism in the region, because this area will need much more than a casino to recover. It will need thousands of new jobs and opportunities to retain the young people who grew up here or attended college here. And the recent focus on fostering entrepreneurship — best exemplified by Valley Venture Mentors, its new accelerator program, and MassMutual’s Springfield Venture Fund — has the potential to provide both.

Springfield is not going to turn into Boston or Cambridge overnight, or even in a decade, most likely, but it will become a hub of entrepreneurial activity, and thus it can become home to dozens and perhaps hundreds of new startup companies.

For all these reasons and many more, 2015 is worthy of the growing sense of optimism this region is experiencing.

Architecture Sections
Gillen Collaborative Architects Offers a Unique Approach

William Gillen

Several years ago, William Gillen changed his business model to one where architects work independently but market themselves as a team.

When William Gillen created Gillen Collaborative Architects Inc. in Amherst, he based his business model on decades of honed experience. “There is no payroll here, so there is no pressure to generate a bill. If one of us wants to spend 24 hours working with a group, we do it,” he said, noting that the two registered architects under his umbrella are self-employed and can work independently on their own projects, or collaboratively as a group, while sharing resources and information from their own areas of expertise.

The trio, which includes Gillen, Carol Vincze, and John Krifka, have more than 100 years of combined experience, and venture into territory that most architects don’t have the time or interest to explore.

For example, when Krifka began working on a contract to renovate the Berkshire Family and Probate Court in Pittsfield and restore its north façade, he came up with an idea to create a documentary that would benefit the public, the city, the state, and groups interested in historic restoration.

After he spoke to city officials about obtaining a grant to pay for a detailed video production of the restoration and renovation, UMass graduate student John Dickson heard about it from the Pittsfield Historical Commission and received permission to document the work as part of his thesis. In addition to a written document, he created a seven-minute video with Pittsfield Community Television titled “Conserving the Old Berkshire Athenaeum,” which can be seen on YouTube.

Since the work on the courthouse is not yet complete, he is also working on another version, which he expects will be at least an hour in length. The finished product will be shown on public-access TV and will serve as a tribute to the artisans who created the 1876 building as well as those who painstakingly matched intricate patterns on the crumbling stone.

“City officials feared the project would disrupt parking and traffic to and from local business, so the idea was born partially to help to help establish liaisons,” Krifka said, explaining that he met with the Town Council and businesses owners to promote the video because he believed it would generate a lot of interest. “Stone structures aren’t built anymore, and I knew this was something that wouldn’t happen in Pittsfield again, so I really wanted it to succeed.”

A photograph was taken of every stone that was removed from the building, and Dickson interviewed a number of artisans about their restoration techniques, including a stained-glass specialist who described the process of reconditioning and replacing missing glass from original windows.

“People will learn many interesting things from the video, such as the fact that you can take a damaged stone with a decorative pattern and build up the missing part with modern materials,” Krifka said, adding that Dickson shared his work with the Western Mass. Historical Commission Coalition at its meeting in July.

“Bill, Carol, and I like to generate ideas,” he added. “But if we were just employees, it wouldn’t be in our interest to do things like this.”

Carol Vincze (right, with John Krifka)

Carol Vincze (right, with John Krifka) says the freedom she has at Gillen Collaborative Architects serves her well in her work.

Vincze agreed and said sharing space with co-workers is a growing trend that allows people to socialize while working independently or in collaboration with each other.

She explained that the freedom she has at Gillen Collaborative Architects served her well when she redesigned the Amherst Survival Center. It serves more than 4,400 needy individuals each year, and Vincze was determined to see firsthand how it used its existing space before she began forming ideas for a design.

“I visited the center at least six times and ate lunch there. I also watched people come and go, and interviewed members of the staff who told me it was important to build a feeling of community,” Vincze said. “They thought they needed six rooms for activities, but it quickly became clear which areas could be combined.”

As a result, she was able to create a workable design, assist with the client’s fund-raising efforts, oversee the bidding and construction administration, and do everything else required to finish the project on time and on budget.

Business Changes

Gillen, who farms 20 acres and owns several real-estate firms in addition to his architectural company, changed his business name several times and had a number of partners in the course of more than five decades of work.

In 1969, the Boston architectural firm that employed him asked him to move to Amherst to take over a satellite office, and all went well until the recession of 1975.

“A moratorium was placed on most state projects, and it knocked the wind out of our sails,” he recalled. “There was not enough work for the architectural firm to keep its Amherst office, so they allowed me to take it over.”

He named his new business William Gillen Architects, finished the projects started by his previous employer, and began paying the employees’ salaries.

A short time later, he formed a partnership with architects John Kuhn, Christopher Riddle, and Dennis Gray, and the business was renamed Gillen, Kuhn, Riddle and Gray Inc.

The firm grew quickly, and although Kuhn and Riddle left in 1988, Gillen and Gray stayed together and kept 10 of 30 employees. In the early ’90s, they were joined by former classmate Kevin Omarah, and the firm’s name changed to Gillen, Gray and Omarah Architects Inc.

“But Omarah died, and Gray moved to Salem, and I became Gillen Architects again; by that time, I knew I needed to be more than a one-man band to do sizeable projects,” Gillen said, explaining that it is risky for a client to do a project with only one architect.

In the late ’90s, Kathleen Ford joined him from New York City, and Ford Gillen Architects was born. The duo worked together for a decade, but after she left and Gillen found himself on his own again, he began collaborating with Vincze because he needed help to complete some large state projects.

“Several years ago, I changed my business name and model again to better reflect what I was doing and market more effectively,” Gillen said, adding that he formed a collaborative because he wanted to eliminate the stress of constantly having to meet payroll. “I created a model where we are all independent, but can also work together and market ourselves as a group.”

However, each of the architects has their own niche.

Gillen specializes in historic preservation and unpretentious architecture that is harmonious with a neighborhood. Meanwhile, Vincze is LEED-certified, and Krifka has done a number of institutional and commercial projects for nonprofit organizations.

Gillen provides space inside a building he owns on Main Street as well as a full-time receptionist who acts as an administrative manager and does all of the paperwork.

“We share resources and networking, but since each architect has their own business, there is no set time for any of us to arrive or leave. But we’ve been very fortunate; architecture is very competitive, and we’ve been awarded several half-million-dollar contracts,” he told BusinessWest, outlining projects that include renovations and updates to buildings at UMass Amherst and county courthouses.

A year ago, the trio was hired to create a master plan for St. John’s Episcopal Church in Northampton, which is located in the Elm Street Historic District.

“We marketed ourselves as a group, but Carol is the project manager,” Gillen said, noting that the renovation plan is in the design stage and includes adding an elevator, a social hall, and office space.

Vincze spent untold hours at the church, helping members of the building committee generate ideas.

“We work really well with committees made up of lay people. In fact, we spend more time figuring out what people need and how much it will cost than any architectural firm I have ever worked for,” she said, adding that she is also involved with a design for a new, large mixed-use building in South Amherst that is under construction.

Gillen’s project history is storied and includes the conversion of the former Northampton railroad station in 1980 into restaurants, as well as the 2002 design of the Strong Avenue shops and condominiums in Northampton, which won accolades from the city. Meanwhile, Krifla’s previous employment included stints with three architectural firms in New York.

Their combined experience has served them well. In fact, over the past three years, the trio has undertaken at least 100 projects.

“Many of them were small, but they were punctuated by the $3.5 million Pittsfield District Courthouse renovation and restoration and a $2.5 million upgrade to the Gardner District Courthouse,” Gillen said. “We also just completed the preliminary work to put a new boiler room in the Pittsfield Superior Courthouse, which will provide heat for the entire district.”

He added that he and designer Lisa Lindgren, who has also begun working collaboratively with him, are creating plans for a house in Hadley.

Attention to Detail

Vincze said one thing that sets Gillen Collaborative Architects apart from other firms is that the architects see their projects through from start to finish.

“We maintain continuity with our clients from the time of the first interview to opening-day ribbon-cutting ceremonies and the years beyond,” she told BusinessWest.

Gillen added that the architects take pride in being accessible, even when it involves little or no notice. “Yesterday at 7:48 a.m., a masonry contractor called me and asked if I could meet him at St. John’s in 40 minutes. I wasn’t dressed, but I got there on time. Then I was told a general contractor was going to remove the staging on the courthouse in Pittsfield over the weekend and needed our architects to take a close look at it, so I volunteered to go there on Friday so the contractor could meet his schedule.

“The bottom line,” he stressed, “is that, if one person is successful, we are all successful.”

Daily News

GLASTONBURY, Conn. — William H.W. Crawford, IV, CEO of United Financial Bancorp Inc. and United Bank of Glastonbury, Conn., today announced that the company expects to record certain charges in its fiscal 2014 fourth-quarter earnings, aggregating to a total of approximately $5.5 million pre-tax. The company has initiated certain restructuring initiatives in order to achieve greater operational efficiencies. The charges relate to a reduction in an unspecified number of management and staff positions and the implementation of a branch-optimization strategy, which includes the closure of five non-strategic branches in United’s branch network, pending regulatory approval. The five branch locations are: 180 Main St. in Northampton; 491 Pleasant St. in Northampton; 6 Church St. in Northborough; 701 Church St. in Whitinsville; and 124 Main St. in Broad Brook, Conn. These branch closures are in addition to the four branches United said it would consolidate after it announced its merger in November 2013. Those four branches officially closed in October 2014. The company expects to realize approximately $3 million pre-tax of ongoing cost savings as a result of this restructuring. Nearly all of these benefits will be fully realized in fiscal 2015. “A continuing focus on cost efficiency has always been a key driver in making our company a success. We said we would continue to look for ways to strengthen United when we announced our merger last year and we are delivering on that promise,” said Crawford. “Therefore, it requires some difficult but prudent financial decision-making to make the company stronger and more efficient without compromising our commitment to exceptional customer service or our unwavering commitment to our communities. With expectations of continued pressure on spread income in 2015 due to the likely interest rate environment, we thoughtfully and strategically identified key operational efficiencies that will result in significant ongoing costs savings in 2015.” The bank considered many factors before making a final decision, including the location of the branches and whether they supported its branch network; performance of the branches and deposit levels; demographics; and the level of customer foot traffic at these locations as well as business activity in the area. “Deciding to close these branches is not a reflection of the hard work and dedication of the employees who work at these locations. Instead, based on many factors, we just couldn’t make these five branches successful,” said Crawford. “We know change is not easy for employees and our customers. However, we will always be focused on delivering great customer service, providing convenient access to full service banking through different channels and giving back to the communities we serve. Implementing this branch optimization plan does not deter us from those priorities.” The company also announced to today that Scott C. Bechtle, chief risk officer, will be leaving United Bank effective Dec. 30. The bank’s risk-oversight responsibilities will be divided into a credit risk function overseen by the current Executive Vice President and Chief Credit Officer Mark A. Kucia. The enterprise risk management and compliance will now be overseen by United’s newly-appointed chief risk officer, Elizabeth “Betsy” Kenney Wynnick, its current executive vice president and director of Internal Audit who is replacing Bechtle.

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of December 2014.

AGAWAM

JK Real Estate, LLC
221 Springfield St.
$1,300,000 — Alterations to existing building for car dealership

Six Flags
1623 Main St.
$20,000 — Renovations to create Blackout Maze

AMHERST

Jeffrey Krauth
373 Main St.
$9,000 — Renovations for massage room

Mercantile Buildings of Amherst
45 South Pleasant St.
$3,000 — Interior renovations

WD Cowles Inc.
113 Cowles Road
$10,000 — Structural stabilization and repairs

CHICOPEE

Curry Honda Body Shop
765 Memorial Dr.
$54,000 — Re-roof

Pioneer Valley Condo Association
114-120 Colonial Dr.
$56,000 — Strip and re-roof

Pride Convenience Inc.
167 Chicopee St.
$12,000 — 504-square-foot accessory building

GREENFIELD

D & G Holding Company, LLC
39 Beacon St.
$25,000 — Install new tile floor

John Chakalos
130 Colrain Road
$13,000 — Roof repairs

LUDLOW

PV Financial Group
535 Main St.
$23,000 — Re-shingle

PALMER

Allen Block
1005 Church St.
$45,000 — Build-out for hair salon

Pro Tech Energy Solutions
2183 Baptist Hill St.
$4,200,000 — Ground-mount solar PV

SOUTH HADLEY

Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$25,000 — Install antennas

South Hadley Police Department
41 Bridge St.
$12,000 — Roof repairs

SOUTHWICK

Episcopalian Church
784 College Highway
$9,000 — Re-roof

SPRINGFIELD

Curtis Industrial
4 Birnie Ave.
$77,000 — Interior renovation of office

Dan Lauber
551 East Columbus Ave.
$20,000 — New roofing

Eastfield Mall
1655 Boston Road
$44,000 — New roofing

Edgeland Partners
162 Fort Pleasant Ave.
$20,000 — Fit-out for new business

JGT Mass, LLC
1391 Main St.
$120,000 — Fit-out for new business

WESTFIELD

City of Westfield
57 Twiss St.
$4,000,000 — Solar voltaic facility

Virginia Galaska
215 East Main St.
$5,500 — Exterior renovation

Columns Sections
Consider the Many Options with IRAs

By KEVIN E. HINES, CPA, MST, CVA, CSEP

Kevin Hines

Kevin Hines

It’s a common belief that Social Security benefits alone will not be enough to fund your retirement, these benefits will most likely diminish over the years as the need grows, and you will need to supplement them with other income, whether through part-time work or retirement savings.

It is a given that, if you can contribute to your employer’s retirement plan, you should do so. At a minimum, you should participate with your employer so that you can maximize any company matching, since this is newfound money. This article will explore other options beyond employer retirement plans.

Traditional IRA

The IRA began back in 1974 when it was first added as a tax-advantaged investment (deferral of taxes until withdrawal). Current rules allow you to make annual tax-deductible contributions up to $5,500 (and an additional $1,000 if you are over age 50); these can be made before April 15, 2015 for calendar year 2014. There are certain restrictions for which taxpayers can take the deduction.

If you can participate in your employer plan and your income levels are higher than threshold amounts (single taxpayers with income in excess of $129,000 and married filing jointly with income in excess of $191,000), you may be limited in the amount of your deduction. An additional requirement is that you have earned income that equals or exceeds the amount of the contribution. Examples of earned income would be W-2 wages, sole-proprietorship income, or partnership pass-through income subject to self-employment taxes.

Advantages of an IRA

There are several advantages to having an IRA or some other tax-advantaged retirement plan:

• You are able to invest more dollars because the investment is on a pre-tax basis;

• The earnings are tax-deferred as well; and

• Taxes are paid only when you withdraw the funds down the road. The common thinking is that, at retirement, you should be in a lower tax bracket and, therefore, pay less in taxes. This thinking may need to be re-evaluated in the future based on where the tax law is heading.

Disadvantages of an IRA

It is only fair to consider the negative attributes as well as the good:

• If you should withdraw the funds before age 59 1/2, there could be a penalty for early withdrawal of funds; and

• You will pay at ordinary tax rates when the funds are withdrawn and possibly lose out on the preferred tax rates of capital gain and qualified dividends, which are taxed at lower rates.

Spousal IRA

As required by tax law, you must have earned income in order to contribute to an IRA. There is one exception to this rule. Should your spouse have earned income, you may treat a portion of his or her earnings as your earnings. This will allow a spouse to contribute to his or her own IRA separate from the working partner. This would be the same for traditional and same-sex marriages recognized by your home state.

Non-deductible IRA

If you are not eligible to take advantage of the tax-deductible IRA (for reasons mentioned above), you still can put money into your IRA. Keep in mind that one of the advantages is the tax deferral on the earnings held within an IRA even if you miss out on the tax deduction.

IRA Payouts

There are a number of considerations when planning for IRA withdrawals:

• If you make a withdrawal from an IRA before age 59 1/2, generally there will be a 10% penalty, in addition to the withdrawal being included as taxable income. There are a number of exceptions to this for hardship causes, but generally, it is not a good idea to withdraw funds until after this age;

• You may defer withdrawals until age 70 1/2. It is generally an advantage to defer the payment of tax as long as you can. This will allow for more funds (the funds you would have paid in taxes) to be invested longer; and

• Should one spouse pass away, you may elect to defer taking into income the IRA funds by completing a spousal rollover and deferring the income until a later date.

Roth IRA

In 1997, along came the Roth IRA. This IRA involves a different approach to investing one’s retirement funds.

The Roth does not allow for an income-tax deduction when you contribute funds. The benefit is that, under current tax law, you will not pay any income tax on the withdrawal of the funds, both income and contributions, provided that you do not withdraw within the first five years and you are older than age 59 1/2.

Best of all, you are not required to begin withdrawing funds during your lifetime if you so choose. As you consider these Roths, think estate planning.

Consideration of Roth Rollover

Beginning in 2010, any taxpayer may take funds out of an IRA account and roll them over into a Roth IRA. The disadvantage to this practice is that you must pay income taxes up front on funds being rolled over. However, the estate-planning opportunities are significant in the right situation.

Consider the following example. Grandparents roll their funds into a Roth IRA and pay the tax up front. They name their grandchildren as beneficiaries. This might allow the funds to continue to accumulate during the remainder of the grandparents’ life and then be drawn down over the following 20-plus years tax-free by the grandchildren. This is real planning, especially if you don’t need the funds during your lifetime.

Consult with a Professional

This topic is a very complex area of income tax and estate planning and is fraught with peril. Consider seeking a tax or estate professional to sit with you and review your situation, particularly because each situation is unique.


Kevin E. Hines, CPA, MST, CVA, CSEP, is a partner with Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., with specialties in business valuations, estate planning, and taxes; (413) 536-8510.

Law Sections
A Primer on the New England Compounding Bankruptcy Proceedings

By STEVEN WEISS

New England Compounding Pharmacy Inc. (NECC) was a drug-compounding facility located in Framingham. Beginning in the fall of 2012, reports began to surface that patients across the country who had been given an NECC-manufactured product had contracted fungal meningitis.

Steven Weiss

Steven Weiss

Health authorities soon determined that NECC’s products were, in fact, tainted, and NECC ordered a recall. However, considerable damage had been done. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention eventually determined that, as of October 2013, 64 people had died, and 751 had become ill. At least 555 separate lawsuits have been filed against NECC, its officers, and others, which have been consolidated in federal court in Boston. Ultimately, approximately 3,350 people have filed claims for personal injuries allegedly resulting from the tainted pharmaceuticals.

Two weeks ago, 14 people, including the former owners of the company, were arrested on federal charges, including RICO charges under the Racketeer Influenced and Corruption Organizations law.

As a result of the outbreak, NECC could no longer operate, and on Dec. 21, 2012, it filed a Chapter 11 bankruptcy petition in the Massachusetts Bankruptcy Court (the case is being heard in the Springfield session of the court). Not long after the case was filed, NECC’s management was removed and a Chapter 11 trustee (Paul Moore) was appointed to oversee the liquidation of the company, to collect funds to distribute to victims and other creditors, and to establish a plan to distribute those funds. During the course of the case, the trustee and lawyers representing victims reached settlements with NECC, its officers and directors, several affiliated entities, several insurers, and others, through which as much as $135 million has been recovered for victims.

Recently, almost two years after the bankruptcy petition was filed, the Chapter 11 trustee and the unsecured creditors’ committee filed a joint disclosure statement and a plan of reorganization for NECC. Under the Bankruptcy Code, the disclosure statement is intended to be something like a stock prospectus; it is intended to provide creditors with sufficient information to enable them to make an informed judgment about whether to approve the plan. After the disclosure statement is approved by the Bankruptcy Court, it will be distributed to all of NECC’s creditors, who will have the opportunity to vote on whether or not the plan should be confirmed by the court. The vote is ‘weighted,’ because it has to be approved by a majority of creditors holding two-thirds of the dollar amount on the ballots of those who vote.

The plan, while complicated, is essentially a ‘liquidating plan,’ so-called because it does not contemplate that NECC will reorganize and ever operate again. Instead, it provides a process for estimating and determining the amounts of the victims’ claims, as well as a mechanism for making distributions to victims. If the plan is confirmed, all of the funds from the settlements will be transferred to a tort trust established under the plan.

One of the potentially controversial features of the plan is that, if confirmed, it will provide releases to parties not just to NECC and the insurers who have funded the settlements, but also to third parties who are not in bankruptcy, and enjoin further suits against those parties. Courts across the country have reached different conclusions about whether such broad injunctive provisions are beyond the powers of bankruptcy courts.

The plan provides for a ‘claims-resolution facility,’ under which victims’ claims are evaluated and ‘scored’ based on seven base-point categories, such as whether NECC’s products caused death and the extent of surviving victims’ injuries, then possibly adjusted based on individual victims’ personal circumstances.

That will enable the tort trustee to assign a dollar value to each victim’s claim. Those claims will then be eligible to receive pro-rated distributions from the pool of funds in the tort trust. Because there are so many claims, the disclosure statement does not provide any estimate of what the total amount of claims is likely to be, so the disclosure statement also does not predict what percent dividend victims are likely to receive on their claims. But for purposes of illustration, if there are total claims of $270 million, each victim with an allowed claim would receive a dividend of approximately 50% (less attorneys’ fees, of course).

The disclosure statement acknowledges that it may take several years to fully determine the amount of victims’ claims. Thus, the tort trust allows the tort trustee to make an initial interim payment to victims, followed by a final distribution once all of the claims have been calculated.

The Bankruptcy Court has scheduled a hearing on whether to approve the disclosure statement for Feb. 24. Once the disclosure statement is approved, it will be served on all of NECC’s creditors, along with the plan, a ballot, and voting instructions. A hearing on whether the plan should be confirmed — and be binding on NECC and all creditors — will likely be held in the spring.

Attorney Steven Weiss is a partner at Springfield-based Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin. He concentrates his practice in the areas of commercial and consumer bankruptcy, reorganization, and litigation. Weiss supervises the firm’s bankruptcy, reorganization, and workout practice; represents creditors, debtors, and others in both commercial and consumer bankruptcy cases throughout Massachusetts; and has been a member of the private panel of Chapter 7 trustees for the District of Massachusetts since 1987, and also serves as a Chapter 11 trustee; (413) 737-1131; www.ssfpc.com

Opinion
Another Company Bets on Springfield

It has been written — and Aaron St. John believes it’s true — that economic development is a three-legged stool, with the legs being access to talent, quality of life, and access to capital. A region with all three, the theory goes, should be able to attract and retain businesses and, in some cases, foster entire industries.

When it comes to Western Mass., quality of life has never been in question. Families and employers alike praise the region’s lower cost of living than, say, Boston, as well as its natural resources, myriad recreation opportunities, and access to major highways and Bradley International Airport, just to name a few traits.

And the talent being pumped out by the Pioneer Valley’s colleges and universities is unquestioned; the challenge has always been keeping them in the region with attractive career opportunities.

But St. John, co-founder of video-game developer HitPoint Studios (see related story page 6), says accessing capital hasn’t always been easy for entrepreneurs in Western Mass. — but that’s changing. His company recently won $1.25 million in funding from River Valley Investors and MassMutual’s Springfield Venture Fund, two entities that provide capital for entrepreneurs and small businesses trying to grow in Western Mass.

And efforts to keep talent local have picked up steam in recent years as well, with the rise of entities like Valley Venture Mentors, Tech Foundry, and others dedicated to mentoring and training the kind of workforce that companies looking to locate or grow here will need.

HitPoint is only six years old, but its rapid growth and reputation in the social and mobile gaming world — and its rising image as an independent game developer — makes its move last week to downtown Springfield big news. More accurately, it’s one more headline in what has become a string of activity downtown, with entrepreneurs, established businesses, and colleges all clamoring to have a presence on or near Main Street.

But is Springfield really a better landing spot for a promising game developer than, say, Cambridge or Silicon Valley, just to name two regions where investors were actively checking out HitPoint? St. John and company co-founder Paul Hake say yes — and they believe there’s room for many other firms in their field to grow alongside them.

In fact, some are already here. Two years ago, Hampshire College hosted a symposium of area companies involved in video-game design and development, and the overriding message that day was that there’s no reason why Greater Springfield or the broader Pioneer Valley can’t become a recognized hub for that industry.

Cambridge didn’t become the impressive high-tech cluster it is today overnight. Neither did the Research Triangle in North Carolina. Both, however, took advantage, in various ways, of those three stool legs: access to talent, quality of life, and access to capital.

They also benefited from huge doses of creativity, vision, and entrepreneurial spirit, and we believe this region possesses those in spades. And every bit of news about a company growing in the Valley or taking a chance on Springfield only makes that clearer.

St. John said he wants people to look at his industry, and other high-tech clusters, and ask, “why not Western Mass.?”

Good question.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Cathedral High School (CHS) campaign for tuition assistance has passed another milestone. Recently, the campaign exceeded 2,000 pledges, triggering the second $500,000 challenge gift from Michele Gaudette D’Amour (’69) and her husband, Donald D’Amour.

As of Dec. 19, in the 10 months since the campaign actively began, a total of $3,653,646 has been pledged or donated. Of that amount, $2,653,646 has been designated for the Cathedral Endowment Fund for Tuition Assistance. In addition, the MassMutual Insurance Co., in recognition of the important role that Cathedral plays in the local economy, awarded the school $500,000 for tuition assistance, payable over five years.

MassMutual was joined by BusinessWest Publisher John Gormally (’78), who also has made a donation of $500,000, half of which is earmarked for tuition assistance, with the other half designated for faculty support.

The Cathedral Endowment Fund for Tuition Assistance has been established as a long-term endowment, seeking a stable investment return to provide annual tuition assistance. In addition to the $2.6 million in endowment pledged and donated to date through the campaign, pre-existing endowment funds total $679,980. This means that the potential total of endowment funds would now exceed $3.3 million. Kickstarting the campaign were the D’Amours, who made a leadership gift of $500,000 along with two challenge gifts of $500,000 each. This brings their total campaign contribution to $1.5 million.

“Clearly all constituents in the Greater Springfield community have demonstrated how important Cathedral High School is to the community at large,” said Michele D’Amour. “As we continue this momentum, I am confident we can easily meet the $10 million endowment challenge. I feel confident that God’s loving hand will guide us in our work toward providing our children the opportunity for a faith-filled, top-notch education in a new, state-of-the-art facility in the near future.”

Cathedral High School President Ann Southworth also expressed gratitude for the response to date. “We are extremely grateful to all who have supported Cathedral’s need for tuition assistance in the past, as well as those who will donate in the future,” she said. “Already this campaign has led to almost doubling the amount of tuition assistance that we are able to provide. We went from $262,595 last year to $418,420 this year. The increased amount means the difference between serving 65 students last year and 107 students this year. By donating, you can help us keep Cathedral’s wonderful education open to all who wish to come.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Back by popular demand, the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield (ACCGS) will hold an afternoon of speed networking on Wednesday, Jan. 14 at the Sheraton Springfield, followed by an evening of informal networking at its After 5.

The combination of events will provide attendees the opportunity to meet new contacts in a formal manner, then continue conversations in an informal and casual setting. The core concept to speed networking is the ‘elevator speech,’ a short summary of an individual, business, organization, product, or service that a person could deliver in the time span of a short elevator ride.

Attendees will be divided into groups A and B. Members of each group will be seated across from each other. Each member of Group A will have 60 seconds to give his or her elevator speech to a member of Group B. A bell will ring, signaling the 60-second time is up, and each member of Group B will then get a chance to speak. The facilitator will signal when the 60 seconds are up again, and members of Group A will then move one seat to the right and begin the process again with a new partner.

The round-robin format of networking will continue until the event is over, at which time attendees can then move to the casual atmosphere of the MVP Pub for the ACCGS “Score a Touchdown” After 5, sponsored by Wolf & Co. and DevelopSpringfield with support from the Springfield Falcons, United Way of Pioneer Valley, and BusinessWest.

The event begins at 3:30 p.m. with registration and instructions. To accommodate the event, no admittance will be allowed after 3:55 p.m. The event ends at 5 p.m., and the After 5 runs from 5 to 7 p.m. Reservations are $20 in advance, $25 at the door, and only members of the ACCGS, Springfield Chamber of Commerce, or East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce are eligible to participate. Reservations include a complimentary ticket to the After 5. Reservations for the After 5 only are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. The After 5 is open to the general public.

Reservations may be made online in advance at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Coming off a record haul of nominations last year, BusinessWest expects the momentum to continue as its 40 Under Forty program enters its ninth year. The magazine launched the program in 2007 as a way to spotlight the accomplishments of younger professionals throughout Western Mass. — not only their on-the-job achievements, but their often-extensive volunteer work with organizations that benefit their communities.

There were many motivations for creating the program, said BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien, listing everything from a desire to identify rising stars to encouraging individuals to get involved in the community and, in short, do the things needed to become a 40 Under Forty winner. “In eight short years, 40 Under Forty has become a brand, as well as a goal for many young people in the business community, nonprofit sector, and public-service realm,” said O’Brien. “It’s become a benchmark, if you will, a symbol of excellence that, above all, identifies someone as a leader.”

Over the years, the program has highlighted individuals from a wide range of businesses and industries, including nonprofits. In addition, a healthy number of honorees each year are true entrepreneurs, individuals who have taken risks, developed their own business plans, and built companies that in turn create jobs.

“It was very exciting for me to see a ton of people I had never heard of, people who had started businesses,” said Meghan Rothschild, co-owner of marketing firm chikmedia and a 2011 40 Under Forty honoree, who helped judge last year’s submissions. “I had a very exciting and positive feeling reading about these talented individuals who choose to make Western Mass. their home. It resonated with me as a small-business owner. It was really inspiring.”

To nominate an individual, visit businesswest.com; the nomination form will also be printed in BusinessWest through January. Nominations will be accepted through the end of the business day (5 p.m.) on Feb. 6. Five judges will then score those nominations, and the winners will be profiled in the April 20 issue.

Kate Campiti, BusinessWest’s associate publisher, said a compelling nomination “needs to be complete, it needs to be thorough, and it needs to essentially answer the question, ‘why is this individual worthy of a 40 Under Forty plaque?’” The nomination form requests basic information and can be supported with other material, such as a résumé, testimonials, and even press clippings highlighting an individual’s achievements in their profession or service to their community.

The class of 2015 will be toasted at the annual gala reception on June 18 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke. “The gala has become a happening, a not-to-be missed gathering that is also the year’s best networking opportunity,” said Campiti.

Jim Sheils, partner at Springfield-based law firm Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, was excited to help judge last year’s bumper crop of nominations. “The qualifications of people applying, they cross all the fields — people starting businesses, people who have been with large businesses for a number of years, people with social-service agencies, who are very dedicated to what they’re doing and making a terrific impact on the region,” he said. “The talent pool is not going down; it’s going up. We haven’t exhausted it by any means.”

Added Rothschild, “it’s become this goal that professionals in the community strive toward. This is a huge event, a huge award, and I think anyone somewhat tapped into Western Massachusetts wants to put it on their résumé.”

Daily News

WESTFIELD — Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice recently sponsored the annual Children’s Christmas Party at Barnes Air National Guard Base. The event, co-sponsored by the Family Readiness Group and USO Pioneer Valley, was for families of all active base personnel. This year’s event featured crafts and other activities for children, including photos with Santa, a gift for each child up to 10 years old, and light refreshments.

Jennifer Cesaitis, airman and Family Readiness Program manager, said the 104th Wing was “thrilled” to have Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice on board as a sponsor. “This is the first Christmas party that we had Noble join us in sponsoring. They really helped take it to the next level.”

Each year, Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice provides comprehensive home-health and hospice care to over 1,400 local residents and their families across the Pioneer Valley. CEO and President David Mol — who made a guest appearance as a certain jolly bearded fellow — said the event was “very meaningful” to participate in. “Family is central to our mission — helping patients receive care at home, closer to their loved ones. We think about this a lot during the holidays, and the Christmas party was a perfect event for us to help sponsor.”

Cesaitis said the event was “a real team effort,” with each division of the base pulling together something special. Maintenance provided the space (the hangar), Civil Engineering completed setup, Security Forces handled gate access and parking, Emergency Management took on music and DJ duties, Ammunition organized hot-dog sales, and one of the base’s firefighters drew caricatures. “The goal of this event is to foster community on base, and having Noble on board extends that out a bit,” Cesaitis said. “Our families make a lot of sacrifices, and this is one way to give back to them.”

Noble Visiting Nurse & Hospice will also sponsor Barnes’ annual Easter Egg Hunt in the spring.