Month: November 2015

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will host the opening of Springfield’s first Thrive Financial Success Center on Thursday, Dec. 3, with a ceremony in the President’s Conference Room in Garvey Hall (Building 16) at 11 a.m.

Thrive is a collaborative effort between United Way of Pioneer Valley and STCC to provide financial education and support services to students and community residents. It is supported by PeoplesBank, MassMutual, the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the United Way of Pioneer Valley, and the STCC Foundation.

“After the success of the Thrive Financial Success Centers at Holyoke Community College and in downtown Holyoke, we are thrilled to open a third Thrive Center at Springfield Technical Community College,” said United Way of Pioneer Valley President and CEO Dora Robinson. “At the United Way of Pioneer Valley, we believe basic financial literacy should be a key aspect of everyone’s education. No career goal or life’s ambition should be hindered because a person doesn’t know how to balance their checkbook or maintain a good credit rating.”

Thrive @ STCC anticipates it will serve 400 individuals in its first year of operation. Program offerings include confidential benefits screening and enrollment, a money-skills class, individual financial coaching sessions, free income-tax prepatration through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, links to workforce-development and training workshops, and LifeBridge, MassMutual’s free life-insurance program.

Thrive Centers currently operate in partnership with the United Way at Holyoke Community College and at the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center in downtown Holyoke.

“Building financial awareness and planning skills is essential to our students’ and our community’s economic prosperity,” said STCC President Ira Rubenzahl. “Many of our students are overburdened with outside financial struggles. Coupling career guidance with access to financial coaching will assist Thrive participants to make informed decisions that will make their lives easier, allow them to remain focused on their studies, and prepare them for future employment.”

Ten from Bulkley Richardson Named Super Lawyers or Rising Stars

By BusinessWest Staff November 30, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — Eight lawyers from Bulkley Richardson have been named to the 2015 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list of top lawyers in the state, and two lawyers from the firm have been named to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list of top up-and-coming lawyers. No more than 5% of lawyers in Massachusetts are selected for the Super Lawyers list, and no more than 2.5% are selected for the Rising Stars list.

The following Bulkley Richardson lawyers were named to the 2014 Massachusetts Super Lawyers list:

• Francis Dibble Jr., whose practice areas include business litigation, health law, and antitrust litigation;

• J. Patrick Kennedy, whose practice areas include business litigation, banking and intellectual property litigation;

• Kevin Maynard, whose practice areas include business litigation, general litigation, and nonprofit;

• David Parke, whose practice areas include business/corporate and mergers and acquisitions;

• John Pucci, whose practice areas include criminal defense (white collar);

• Donn Randall, whose practice areas include banking and business litigation;

• Ellen Randle, whose practice focuses on family law; and

• Ronald Weiss, whose practice areas include mergers and acquisitions, closely held business, and estate planning and probate.

The following Bulkley Richardson lawyers were named to the 2015 Massachusetts Rising Stars list:

• Michael Roundy, whose practice areas include business/commercial litigation, tax appeals, and medical malpractice (defense); and

• Kelly Koch, whose practice areas include family law and estate planning and probate.

Super Lawyers, a Thomson Reuters business, is a rating service of outstanding lawyers from more than 70 practice areas who have attained a high degree of peer recognition and professional achievement. The annual selections are made using a patented, multi-phase process that includes a statewide survey of lawyers, an independent research evaluation of candidates, and peer reviews by practice area.

For more information about Bulkley Richardson and its practice areas, visit www.bulkley.com.

Springfield Museums to Showcase Gingerbread Exhibit at Event

By BusinessWest Staff November 30, 2015

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums’ Culture & Cocktails series continues with a special evening titled “Merry & Bright” on Thursday, Dec. 10 from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Springfield Science Museum. Guests can view the entries in this year’s gingerbread competition, “Seussian Holiday”; enjoy Motown classics; and try their hand at cookie decorating with Mark the Baker of the Log Cabin.

The Museum Store will also be open, with Museum members entitled to take 20% off their entire purchase (10% off for non-members), with free gift wrapping for all shoppers. Catering at all Culture & Cocktails events is by Log Rolling Catering. The December event will feature hors d’ouevres and other treats all included with admission, as well as a cash bar. Admission is $5 for members and $15 for non-members. To reserve tickets, visit springfieldmuseums.org or call (413) 263-6800, ext. 255. All attendees must be age 21 or older.

Culture & Cocktails are after-five events held at one of the four museums on the Quadrangle campus. Each event’s theme is inspired by the Springfield Museums’ extensive collections, special exhibits, and holiday celebrations. The series continues with “Indulgence: An Evening of Wine and Chocolate at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum” on Thursday, Feb. 4. More event information is available at springfieldmuseums.org and facebook.com/culturecocktails.

Unemployment Rates Down Across State in October

BOSTON — Seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates are down in all labor markets in the state, as measured by the Bureau of Labor Statistics compared to October 2014, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported.

During the month of October, seasonally unadjusted unemployment rates went down in eight labor market areas, increased in six areas, and remained the same in 10 other areas of the state.

Twelve areas added jobs over the month, with the largest gains in the Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Springfield, Brockton-Bridgewater-Easton, and Worcester areas. The Lowell-Billerica-Chelmsford area had no change in its jobs level over the month, while seasonal losses occurred in the Barnstable and Lynn-Saugus-Marblehead areas.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for October remained at 4.5%.

Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate was 4.6% for the month of October. The unemployment rate is down 0.9% over the year. The statewide seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed an 11,000-job gain in October and an over-the-year gain of 80,600 jobs.

ICNE Partners with Arbella to Support Friends of the Homeless

AGAWAM — Insurance Center of New England (ICNE) partnered with Arbella Insurance Foundation, to support Arbella’s “Let’s Drive Out Hunger” campaign with a donation of $1,500 to Friends of the Homeless Inc.

Located on 755 Worthington St. in Springfield, Friends of the Homeless operates 110 low-income housing units and provides services aimed at ending homelessness and hunger.

“In this season of gratitude, we are certainly thankful for Friends of the Homeless and the work they do for those who don’t have some of the basics in life, like a hot meal or a warm bed,” said William Trudeau, president and CEO of Insurance Center of New England.

Added Sarah Tanner, director of Development at Friends of the Homeless Inc., “we are incredibly grateful for the support from Insurance Center of New England. Beyond their own generosity, they are leaders in advocating for the needs of those in our community that are more vulnerable, and they have leveraged additional resources to help secure critical services available through our shelter. We all need a friend, and ICNE is one of our best.”

Insurance Center of New England is an independent agent offering an array of insurance products from reputable insurers. The agency is headquartered in Agawam and has additional locations in Gardner, Fitchburg, and Lowell.

Greater Holyoke Chamber Slates Holiday Business Breakfast for Dec. 9

HOLYOKE — The Holiday Business Breakfast of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, sponsored by Holyoke Gas & Electric, Health New England, United Bank, and the Republican/El Pueblo Latino will be held on Wednesday, Dec. 9 at 7:30 a.m. at the Delaney House.

Salutes will be given to Marcotte Ford for its new commercial truck repair facility; Vin’s Cloth Car Wash on its renovations; Holyoke Works for its new training facility at Mont Marie Rehabilitation & Healthcare Center; Holyoke-Chicopee-Springfield Head Start on its 50th anniversary; Joseph Peters, recipient of the SPE Thermoforming Division 2015 Outstanding Achievement Award; and Associated Industries of Massachusetts on its 100th anniversary. Salutes will also go out to the chamber’s new members, Paychex, Zerorez, Champ Law, Axxion Co., Towing Plus, and Revitalize CDC.

The Chamber’s ornament promotion will be in full swing and will feature Mountain Park, Kenilworth Castle, and the St. Patrick’s Day Road Race ornaments at $20 each. Solders’ Home of Holyoke ornaments will be offered at $25, with a portion of the proceeds to benefit the residents’ recreation fund.

Reservations may be made in advance by contacting the chamber office at (413) 534-3376 or registering online at holyokechamber.com. Tickets are $22 for members if purchased in advance and $27 for all other tickets. Chamber members and the public are welcome to attend and encouraged to bring men’s, women’s, and children’s warm socks to be distributed to those in need by Providence Ministries.

Greater Easthampton Chamber Announces Winners of Business Awards

EASTHAMPTON — The nominations committee of the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its 2015 Business Awards.

The Outstanding Business of the Year is Duseau Trucking LLC. Also on the ballot: Manchester Co. – Just Ask Rental and Riff’s Joint.

The Outstanding Business Person of the Year is Janel Jorda of Web-tactics Inc. Also on the ballot: Fran Fahey of Fran’s Fine Editing and Keith Woodruff of KW Home.

The Outstanding Community Service Person of the Year is Greg Malynoski of Look Memorial Park & Garden House. Also on the ballot: Bob Canon of Canon Real Estate Inc. and Stan Paulauskas of FPS Inc. d/b/a Burger King.

Awards will be presented at the Jan. 21 annual meeting and awards dinner.

First Niagara Finances Expansion, Renovation of Apartment Buildings

SPRINGFIELD — First Niagara Financial Group announced it has financed a $4.2 million permanent mortgage and a $625,000 revolving line of credit to Blue House Property Management, a local real estate investment company which purchases and refurbishes multi-family housing in Holyoke and Springfield.

This financing package will be used to refinance existing debt, acquire new multi-family properties and for capital improvements and updates of existing buildings in the Brightwood, Forest Park, and Old Hill neighborhoods of Springfield as well as the Elmwoods and Flats neighborhoods of Holyoke. Improvements will include upgrading certain properties with super high efficiency gas heating and hot water systems, installing new rear porches and updating units and common areas. It will also be used to completely rehabilitate a 48-unit apartment complex at the intersection of Dwight St. and Elm St. in Holyoke that sustained major fire damage last year.

“First Niagara’s local presence is what initially attracted us to the bank,” said Ilya Shnayder President & CEO of Blue House Property Management. “We appreciate the fact that the communities they serve are the same ones where we are working to make a difference in the lives of the people who live here.”

Many of the properties owned by Blue House Property Management and its affiliated real estate holding companies are leased to not-for-profit organizations that provide housing to underprivileged families in the community. Additionally, some of the locations provide residents with classroom space and computer labs where residents can learn ESL, computer literacy skills and how to cook healthy, nutritious and affordable meals.

“Blue House Property Management has an established reputation when it comes to providing safe, quality housing for people in Greater Springfield,” said Allison Standish-Plimpton, Senior Relationship Manager and Vice President of Business Banking at First Niagara. “Their dedication to improving the community is something that aligns with our mission at First Niagara, and we are proud to provide them with the financing to continue their good work.”

Standard & Poor’s Reaffirms State’s AA+ Bond Rating

BOSTON — In a communication to the Commonwealth, Standard and Poor’s Ratings Services today shared that it has affirmed Massachusetts’ AA+ credit rating on its general obligation bonds, while also providing notice that it is changing the Commonwealth’s outlook to ‘negative’ due to concerns about a multi-year trend on spending and the use of reserve funds.

“While we have retained our current AA+ rating, we recognize and acknowledge the areas of concern raised today by Standard and Poor’s revised outlook,” Treasurer Deb Goldberg said. “I will continue to emphasize the importance of building our reserves, and I look forward to working with the Administration and Legislature to establish the path to a healthier, stronger reserve balance for Massachusetts.”

Said Administration and Finance Secretary Kristen Lepore, “since day one of this administration, we have stressed the importance of bringing spending in line with revenue, achieving structural balance, and building our Stabilization Fund, especially in good times. We have made significant progress in each area, but we have always acknowledged that this requires a multi-year fix to overcome issues, which we inherited. We take this guidance seriously and will review specific comments with the Treasurer and Legislature to develop a joint strategy and take necessary actions to ensure we remain on strong fiscal footing.”

S&P’s affirmation of the AA+ rating for the Commonwealth cited a number of positive factors, including:

• Strong historical budget performance, with timely monitoring of revenues and expenditures and swift action when needed to make adjustments, with a focus on structural solutions to budget balance;

• Strong financial, debt, and budget management policies, including annualized formal debt affordability statements, and multiyear capital investment and financial planning;

• An adequate Budget Stabilization Fund balance;

• High wealth and income levels; and

• Deep and diverse economy, which continues its steady recovery.

State general obligation ratings are largely based on four main factors: the state’s economy, financial position, debt and financial management, and long-term liabilities.

The Commonwealth has maintained its current ratings since September 2011 when it was upgraded by Standard and Poor’s.

Jackie Pritzen Lecture to Focus on War in the Age of Climate Change

AMHERST — People around the world are suffering from a proliferation of violent conflicts and social upheavals, and a massive tide of refugees is seeking to escape the violence. At the same time, there is increasing evidence of the impact of climate change on human societies, in the form of droughts, floods, forest fires and coastal erosion.

In recognition of this confluence of tragedies, this year’s annual Jackie Pritzen Lecture will focus on conflict in the age of climate change and depleting resources.

Author and Five College professor Michael Klare will address the trends facing the global community in his lecture, “World on Edge: War and Peace in the Climate Change Era,” at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 2 at Hampshire College’s Franklin Patterson Hall.

In his lecture, Klare will tackle these subjects and discuss the likelihood that climate change will lead to increased violence globally. While no final answer can be given to questions about the effect climate change will ultimately have, some trends are beginning to emerge and Klare — at the forefront of writing, researching and speaking on these issues — will share his insights into these pressing matters.

Klare is the Five College Professor of Peace and World Security Studies based at Hampshire College, a position he has held since 1985. He has written widely on U.S. military policy, international peace and security affairs, the global arms trade and global resource politics. The author of 14 books, including, most recently, The Race for What’s Left, Klare’s writing has appeared in Foreign Affairs, Harper’s, the Nation, and Scientific American, among many other journals. He serves on the board of the Arms Control Association and advises other organizations in the field.

The annual Five College Jackie Pritzen Lecture is named for longtime consortium staff member, Jackie M. Pritzen, who worked with many different faculty groups during her 25 years at the consortium. The lectures were initiated in tribute to the central role that faculty members play in furthering cooperation among the five institutions, and to celebrate a distinguished faculty member whose scholarship, teaching and service continue that work.

The Five College Consortium, based in Amherst, is celebrating its 50th year advancing the extensive educational and cultural objectives of its member institutions — Amherst, Hampshire, Mount Holyoke and Smith colleges and the UMass Amherst.

Country Bank Promotes Fleury to Senior Vice President

WARE — Country Bank President and CEO Paul Scully recently announced that Dawn Fleury has been promoted to senior vice president. Fleury has been with Country Bank since 2012 as the first vice President and chief risk officer. Fleury manages the bank’s comprehensive risk management programs, which includes the Risk, Internal Audit, Security, Commercial Credit, and Loan Workout and Collections departments.

“Dawn’s broad knowledge base in the areas that she manages is a great asset to the bank and in turn benefits our customers. It is terrific to recognize Dawn for her exceptional leadership,” said Scully.

Prior to joining Country Bank, Fleury was employed at the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation from 1991 through 2012 where she served as a senior risk examiner and an accounting specialist. She is a certified public accountant in Massachusetts, and has a bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from Western New England University. Dawn is a tennis coordinator in Western Massachusetts, and organizes competitive USTA leagues and tournaments for women, men, and mixed doubles.

Country Bank is a full-service mutual community bank serving Central and Western Mass. with 15 offices in Ware, Palmer, West Brookfield, Brimfield, Belchertown, Wilbraham, Ludlow, Leicester, Paxton, Charlton and Worcester.

Greater Chicopee Chamber Offers New York City Bus Trip Dec. 5

CHICOPEE — The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce is hosting a bus trip to New York City on Saturday, Dec. 5. Attendees will enjoy on their own in the city to shop, see a show, or go sightseeing.

The bus will leave the chamber parking lot at 7 a.m. and return around 9:30 p.m. The cost is $55 per person. Seats can be purchased by calling (413) 594-2101.

‘Firearms of Famous People’ Exhibit on View at Wood Museum

SPRINGFIELD — “Firearms of Famous People: From Target Shooters to Presidents,” a temporary exhibit of extraordinary firearms and memorabilia owned by well-known politicians, presidents, and celebrities, is now on view at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. The exhibit, which was organized in cooperation with the Smith & Wesson Collectors Assoc., is on display through April 24, 2016 in a space adjacent to the Smith & Wesson Gallery of Historic Firearms.

The exhibit includes three presidential pistols, including a .44 double-action Smith & Wesson revolver owned by Teddy Roosevelt, along with a belt knife used by Teddy’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Also featured is a .32 safety hammerless Smith & Wesson acquired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he was employed as an attorney in New York in the 1920s. The third presidential weapon is a .357 Magnum made especially for John F. Kennedy, featuring the handiwork of master engraver Alvin White. The revolver is fully engraved and inlaid with gold and silver, and bears the Great Seal of the U.S. on the side plate.

This exhibit also includes three guns owned or used by movie stars, including a .32 caliber Smith & Wesson belonging to George Montgomery, well-known for his career as a film actor in many westerns. Clint Walker, best-known as the star of the Cheyenne TV series, owned a Smith & Wesson Model 3 that is on view. Also on display is a prop gun designed to look like a .45 caliber U.S. Army automatic pistol, used by Lee Marvin in the film Delta Force in 1986.

Probably the two most famous gunmakers in the history of this country are Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, and this exhibit features firearms connected to both of these innovators. Other firearms featured in this exhibit were owned by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Theodor Robert Geisel (the father of Dr. Seuss), and Christina Nilsson, one of the opera stars of the 19th century.

Admission prices are $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $9.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3 and museum members. The fee provides access to all four museums. General admission is free for Springfield residents with proof of address.

Christina’s House Slates Third Annual Ball for Dec. 5

SPRINGFIELD — The public is invited to attend the third annual ball at Christina’s House on Saturday, Dec. 5 at Chez Josef in Agawam. The event, which will include food, music, dancing, raffles, and a silent auction, supports this unique Christ-centered ministry that helps homeless women and children in the Springfield area.

Every day in Springfield, women with children go without basic housing and food. Christina’s House is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization that was created more than three years ago to change this. The organization is more than just a shelter for women, aiming to become a resource and a home. Christina’s House supports all residents with an educational transitional program that provides emotional, spiritual, and physical support.

“Our goal is to equip the women and children in this home with the skills they need to be successful, confident, and independent,” said Shannon Mumblo, a member of the board of directors and director of business development for Christina’s House.

The most difficult challenge, Mumblo added, has been turning away the many women and children in need of a home, hope, and healing. The organization receives e-mails and calls every day from individuals looking for help, and plans to continue to grow with the support of the community and donations made by local businesses.

“With every one family we are able to help, we know countless generations will be impacted,” Mumblo said. “I know that I am helping to make a lasting change in the lives of these women and children. I also know that I am being a light and that God is using me to fulfill his mission at Christina’s House.”

For the past two years, more than 200 supporters of Christina’s House have come together to eat, mingle, and dance at the gala fund-raising event. This year it will continue with plenty of raffle items, including the chance to win a $2,500 diamond ring. A silent auction will allow attendees to bid on items such as signed sports memorabilia from Wade Boggs and Rob Gronkowski, a weeklong getaway to Naples, Fla., flatscreen TVs, and more. All items have been donated to support the organization and raise funds.

All money raised at this event, the organization’s largest fund-raiser of the year, directly benefits Christina’s house and the women and children who reside there. Those who can’t attend the ball are welcome to make monetary donations or purchase tickets for the ring raffle (the winner of the diamond ring will be announced at the ball). To purchase tickets for the event or the ring raffle, or for more information, visit www.christinashouse.org.

Trent Domingos, Emily Sit Join Staff at Aaron Smith, P.C.

EAST LONGMEADOW — Aaron Smith, P.C., a certified public accounting firm serving individuals and businesses in the Pioneer Valley, announced the addition of two new staff accountants, Trent Domingos and Emily Sit. Both are responsible for audits, reviews, and compilations.

“We are pleased to add two staff accountants to our team, as this allows us to maintain a high level of excellence and personal attention that our clients have come to expect,” said David Padegimas, CPA, managing director of Aaron Smith, P.C.

Domingos is a graduate of Fairfield University with a bachelor’s degree in accounting. He previously served as a tax intern at Therrien & Associates, P.C., in Wilton, Conn. At Fairfield University, Domingos was a four-year member of the varsity rowing team.

“I am excited to join the team. I look forward to growing as an accountant in this position and contributing to the distinguished reputation that Aaron Smith, P.C. has established,” Domingos said.

Sit is a graduate of the UMass Isenberg School of Management with a bachelor’s degree in business administration and accounting. She is expected to obtain her master’s degree in accounting in May. Prior to joining the team at Aaron Smith, P.C., she was employed by IBM Corporation as a financial analyst. She is fluent in English and Chinese, and enjoys gardening in her spare time.

“Aaron Smith, P.C. has an excellent track record of great customer service,” Sit said. “I am thrilled to continue my passion for accounting in a well-respected firm.”

CPAs at Aaron Smith, P.C. continually invest time and resources into furthering professional education, using state-of-the-art computer technology and developing extensive new business relationships. For more information, visit www.aaron-smith-cpa.com.

Wine and Food Tasting Event Nov. 21 to Benefit Alzheimer’s Assoc.

SPRINGFIELD — Swanson Meetings & Event Planning, LLC will present its second annual Wine and Food Tasting Fund-raiser, with proceeds to benefit the Alzheimer’s Assoc. of Massachusetts, on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 7 to 9 p.m. at La Quinta Inn and Suites, 100 Congress St., Springfield.

Attendees are invited to browse many local vendors as they display their products and services just in time for holiday shopping. The event will include music, food, wine and beer tasting, and massages by Ericka. Food tasting will be provided by La Quinta and Antonio’s Catering. Sponsors include Williams Distributing, United Liquors, and Rob Alberti’s Event Services.

The cost to attend is $35 per person. For tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com or www.localwinevents.com.

Goodwill Offers Amnesty Day for Computer Parts on Dec. 12

SPRINGFIELD — Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley will hold an Amnesty Day on Saturday, Dec. 12 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each of its eight retail stores in Hampden and Hampshire counties, as well as at the corporate office located at 570 Cottage St. in Springfield. Visit www.ourgoodwill.org for individual store information. Any brand of computer or computer components will be accepted at no charge to the donor through a partnership with Dell.

This free program promotes responsible recycling while diverting e-waste from landfills. Dell Reconnect, as the partnership is called, makes getting rid of old technology easy as well as free. Make sure to remove your personal data from hard drives or other storage media before donating to Goodwill. Bring monitors, scanners, mice, printers, keyboards, speakers, cords, and cables. Television sets will not be accepted, however.

“Dell has come up with an innovative way to reduce e-waste and recycle old computers,” said Steve Mundahl, Goodwill Industries president and CEO. “Previously, we had to charge consumers for each piece of electronics they wished to donate, as we were unable to find a suitable vendor. Partnering with Dell means this is now free to the consumer. And all donations help us forward our mission of helping people with disabilities and other barriers to employment get jobs.”

In addition to its retail stores, Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley offers employment and training programs, adult foster care, and community-based day services.

SBA Massachusetts Announces 2015 Lender Awards

BOSTON — The Massachusetts District Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced its fiscal year 2015 lender awards.

Massachusetts District Director Robert Nelson called 2015 “an amazing SBA year in Massachusetts. It is awesome to recognize the many significant accomplishments of our lenders and small-business resource partners helping to make life-changing impacts here in Massachusetts. Congratulations to the entire Massachusetts small-business team for their continued focus on the small-business economy.”

Among the banks with a Western Mass. presence that won awards:
• Easthampton Savings Bank, Q4 Lender of the Quarter;
• Santander Bank, Massachusetts Lender of the Year to Restaurants;
• NUVO Bank and Trust Co., Western Mass. 3rd Party Lender (dollars and volume);
• New England Certified Development Corp., Western Mass. 504 Lender (dollars and volume); and
• Berkshire Bank, Western Mass. 7(a) Lender of the Year (dollars and volume).

In fiscal year 2015, the Massachusetts District Office supported a total of 2,667 loans totaling $657 million through its 7(a) Loan Guaranty Program, Certified Development Company/504 Loan Program, and Microloan Program.

Country Bank Promotes Susan Teixeira to Senior Vice President

WARE — Country Bank President and CEO Paul Scully announced that Susan Teixeira has been promoted to senior vice president. Teixeira has been with Country Bank since 2007. She has 23 years of experience in the financial-services industry and manages the bank’s Operations and Compliance departments.

“Susan brings a unique perspective and fresh ideas to our senior team and to the departments that she manages. We are delighted to be able to recognize her efforts,” Scully said.

Prior to joining Country Bank, Teixeira worked for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., Woronoco Savings Bank, and Florence Savings Bank. She earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Western New England College and is a graduate of Stonier Graduate School of Banking. She is a board member for the Randall Boys & Girls Club/Ludlow Community Center and serves on the advisory board for the Springfield Salvation Army.

Berkshire Bank Foundation Invests in Baystate Charter Academy

SPRINGFIELD — Berkshire Bank Foundation is investing in Baystate Academy Charter Public School’s (BACPS) new program, Project Lead the Way, a nationally award-winning high-school biomedical science curriculum.

“Berkshire Bank Foundation is committed to education in Hampden County and the region. This $20,000 grant to Baystate Academy helps deliver on the school’s promise of world-class biomedical science education for Springfield high-school students,” said Lori Gazzillo, director of Berkshire Bank Foundation.

The three-year-old, college-preparatory, public charter school in Springfield for grades 6-12 is focused on science, math, and health careers. By integrating the nation’s leading provider of STEM education, Project Lead the Way (PLTW), into its academic program, BACPS will create a path to high achievement in science, technology, math, and particularly the biomedical sciences for high-school students.

To prepare students for the global economy, the PLTW biomedical science curriculum inspires innovating thinking and collaborative learning using digital tools, and empowers students to creatively solve real-world problems. The four-year program builds understanding of the principles of biomedical science, human-body systems, medical interventions, and biomedical innovation. Baystate Academy high-school students will study physiology, biology, chemistry, and research processes, and be exposed to immunology, genetics, and other medical careers through hands-on projects and intensive learning expeditions.

Research has shown that PLTW students score higher on state math tests, are more prepared for college, attend at higher rates, and earn wages 13.6% higher than non-PLTW students. In addition, many colleges actively recruit PLTW students and offer preferred admissions, scholarships, and course credit. The intensive program includes teacher training, classroom learning, and rigorous evaluation standards.

MGM Springfield’s Evolving Design Outlined at Public Forum

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts detailed on Wednesday how and why the MGM Springfield design has evolved over the last four months. In a public presentation at CityStage in downtown Springfield, MGM executives, led by President Bill Hornbuckle, walked hundreds of attendees through the enhanced design plan, highlighting changes that allow for both design and operational efficiencies. The late-afternoon forum was hosted by Mayor Domenic Sarno and his economic-development team, led by Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy.

“We are very proud of MGM Springfield’s improved design,” Hornbuckle said. “Our commitment to the city of Springfield, the region, and the Commonwealth has never wavered. Today, I am hopeful that people will see it has only gotten stronger. We are as ready as we have ever been to help return downtown Springfield to its glory days.”

The MGM team presented a detailed comparison of commitments in the May 2013 host-community qgreement and the new design plan, with an amenity layout resulting in a less than 1% adjustment in square footage to be experienced by customers. While some amenities, such as the child-care facility and retail, have grown in size, other operational and back-of-the-house spaces were reduced through design efficiencies.

A redesign was made public earlier this fall when MGM Springfield announced it was moving the 250-room hotel along Main Street and market-rate apartments off-site. With the changes, MGM hopes to further engage Main Street while promoting ancillary development opportunities with off-site market-rate apartments. MGM is currently negotiating the purchase of 195 State St., the former Springfield School Department headquarters, to move forward with a housing redevelopment at that property.

Brian Packer, MGM’s vice president of construction and development, joined Hornbuckle on stage, giving a construction update. Packer said that the company already has spent more than $23 million on MGM Springfield construction and employed 675 construction workers. Many of those workers were involved in the renovation of the new Mission on Mill Street, providing an updated, secure facility that will house a rehabilitation program, giveaway center, and business offices. Additionally, Packer laid out a sequence of construction events that will lead up to the September 2018 opening.

The company estimates it will now cost more than $950 million to open MGM Springfield. Original estimates were expected to exceed $860 million, including capitalized interest and land-related costs.

“MGM Springfield is not only the largest development project Western Massachusetts has ever seen, it is starting to rival the investment of the most-talked-about about development projects in the Commonwealth,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “We developed this presentation to provide transparency on our process. The people of Western Massachusetts want to be excited about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is MGM Springfield. We know maintaining a level of positive energy is our responsibility. Major demolition, large contract awards, and exciting opportunities to get involved are all part of the next phase, which will start very soon.”

MGM is scheduled to present a comprehensive cost and design analysis to the Mass. Gaming Commission on Dec. 3. The mayor and City Council must still approve the updated site plans before MGM can go forward with its design-approval process.

Veteran WGBY Newsman Jim Madigan Inducted into Silver Circle

SPRINGFIELD — Longtime WGBY producer and host Jim Madigan has been named a 2015 inductee for the prestigious Silver Circle Award of the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) Boston/New England Chapter. He will receive his award in a ceremony today in Boston.

The Gold and Silver Circle Awards are a special recognition to honor television professionals who have “made significant contributions to their community and to the vitality of the television industry,” according to NATAS. Madigan is one of six Silver Circle award recipients, which honor those with more than 25 years of distinguished service to broadcasting.

Madigan joined WGBY in December 1990 as senior producer for public affairs and is now director of public affairs. In addition to hosting WGBY’s Connecting Point public-affairs series, he is producer and host of “The State We’re In,” a weekly Connecting Point segment broadcast each Friday focusing on local, state, and national politics. Madigan is also a veteran moderator of seven gubernatorial debates over the past 20 years.

Prior to joining WGBY, Madigan was a reporter and backup anchor for WGGB/ABC 40 in Springfield, where he specialized in political reporting and Massachusetts State House coverage. This included the 1988 Republican National Convention in New Orleans and the presidential campaign of then-Massachusetts Gov. Michael Dukakis. Before that, he was news director for WLDM Radio in Westfield/Springfield. Prior to his broadcasting career, he served on the staff of the minority leader of the New York State Senate in Albany.

In 1992, Madigan was honored with both a New England Regional Emmy and National Public Service Emmy as a co-producer of the documentary Out of Work, a co-production by WGBH-Boston, WHYY-Philadelphia, and WGBY-Springfield.

Sip and Shop Extravaganza on Nov. 21 to Benefit Rays of Hope

SPRINGFIELD — Holiday shopping doesn’t have to be so stressful.

At least, not while browsing the first Rays of Hope Sip & Shop Extravaganza to be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at La Quinta Inn & Suites on 100 Congress St. in Springfield.

The first-time holiday fund-raiser for the Rays of Hope will feature more than 20 vendors selling a variety of handmade items and specialty foods such as handbags, hand-painted ties and scarves, cooking utensils, metal artwork, Christmas ornaments, engraved wooden items, create-your-own home fragrances, organic herbs and aromatherapy teas, and more. Food vendors will include Tastefully Simple and Pop’s Biscotti & Chocolates. There will also be Rays of Hope items for sale, including hand-painted wine glasses.

The entrance fee is $10, and the first 100 shoppers through the door will receive a silver quilted tote bag with the Rays of Hope logo and a signature cocktail to sip on while shopping. There will also be a cash bar.

Since its inception in 1994, Rays of Hope has been helping women and men in the fight against breast cancer. Through the Baystate Health Breast Network, Rays of Hope provides funding for state-of-the-art equipment, breast-health programs and outreach, and education throughout Baystate Health, as well as providing grants for complementary therapies and cancer programs to community partners.

For more information on the Sip and Shop event, call Barb Turcotte at (413) 794-7737 or Michelle Graci at (413) 794-4654. For more information on Baystate Health, visit baystatehealth.org. For more information on Rays of Hope, visit baystatehealth.org/raysofhope.

Unemployment Stable as Massachusetts Gains 11,000 Jobs in October

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 4.6% in October, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday.

The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts added 11,000 jobs in October. The largest over-the-month job gains occurred in the education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; and other services sectors. Year-to-date, Massachusetts has added 62,800 jobs.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised preliminary job estimates for September that originally indicated Massachusetts lost 7,100 jobs. BLS revised estimates for September show the state lost 2,200 jobs.

The October preliminary estimates show 3,396,900 Massachusetts residents were employed during the month, and 164,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,560,900.

The labor force decreased by 8,700 from 3,569,600 in September, as 9,600 fewer residents were employed and 900 more residents were unemployed over the month.

Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.9% from 5.5% in October 2014. There were 32,000 fewer unemployed persons over the year compared to October 2014. The October state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 5.0% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

“Massachusetts continues to add jobs, and the labor market is strong. We frequently hear from employers that they have jobs to fill, which is a good position for the state to be in,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said.

The state’s labor-force-participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — decreased 0.2% point to 64.7% over the month. The labor-force-participation rate over the year has decreased 0.8% compared to October 2014.

The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in professional, scientific, and business services; construction; other services; leisure and hospitality; and education and health services.

Mental Health Assoc. to Cut Ribbon at Magazine Commons Nov. 23

SPRINGFIELD — The Mental Health Assoc. (MHA) will hold a ribbon cutting and opening reception at Magazine Commons, located at 143 Magazine St. in Springfield, on Monday, Nov. 23 at 3 p.m.

Magazine Commons is a 16-unit affordable-housing development that was constructed as a replacement for housing at 145 Union St. which was destroyed by the 2011 tornado. MHA worked with the city of Springfield to acquire the land along Magazine Street to create this new facility.

Magazine Commons was designed by Studio One Inc. of Springfield, and N.L. Construction of Ludlow is the general contractor. The project is as an architecturally compatible addition to the neighboring McKnight Historic District that aligns with the city’s revitalization efforts. Magazine Commons represents a significant investment in the Magazine and Worthington neighborhood, including sidewalks, lighting, neighborhood stabilization, and brownfields development.

“MHA is incredibly proud of this project,” said Joan Ingersoll, MHA’s president and CEO. “It has been a joy and a privilege to participate in the creation of such exceptional housing. Magazine Commons will be a new beginning for 16 people who are filled with enthusiasm about their new residence. This opening represents the culmination of a lengthy process that required the investment and dedication of many people and partners. MHA is grateful to the city of Springfield and the state of Massachusetts for their ongoing collaboration and support.”

Magazine Commons, which is a HUD 202 project for people with disabilities, received funding and support from the following partners: the city of Springfield, the Mass. Department of Housing and Community Development, the Mass. Community Development Assistance Corp., the Mass. Department of Mental Health, the Mass. Development Authority, the Affordable Housing Program of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Boston, and People’s United Bank.

MHA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing residential and support services that promote independence, community engagement, and wellness for people impacted by mental illness, developmental disabilities, substance abuse, homelessness, and other challenges. It was founded in 1960 and serves more than 400 people annually throughout Greater Springfield.

Country Bank Promotes Denise Walker to Senior Vice President

WARE — Country Bank President and CEO Paul Scully announced that Denise Walker has been promoted to senior vice president, Retail Lending.

Walker has been with Country Bank since 2008 as first vice president, director of Retail Lending. She has 35 years of experience in the financial-services industry and is responsible for Country Bank’s Retail Lending division, including origination, processing, underwriting, secondary market, and loan servicing.

“Her commitment to exceptional service along with her strong leadership skills has made her a valuable asset to her team and to the bank,” Scully said. “We are delighted to recognize her for her efforts.”

Prior to joining Country Bank, Walker worked at Springfield Institution for Savings, Woronoco Savings Bank, and Monson Savings Bank, holding different positions in banking throughout her career. She attended the Massachusetts School for Financial Studies and the National School of Banking.

Walker was a treasurer for the Belchertown Football Assoc. for many years and started the Belchertown Salvation Army Community Unit in 2010. In 2013, Country Bank’s Retail Lending team was voted #1 Residential Lender by Banker & Tradesman.

Baystate Health Announces Changes to Eastern Region Services

WARE, PALMER — A year after adding Wing Memorial Hospital in Palmer to its family of community hospitals, Baystate Health announced it is seeking regulatory approval to integrate what is now known as Baystate Wing Hospital and Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware into a single-license regional hospital network.

This change in status will involve a consolidation of all inpatient services to Baystate Wing and begin a transition of the Baystate Mary Lane campus into a regional outpatient services center.

The transition process will formally begin in December with applications by Baystate Health to Massachusetts regulatory authorities to consolidate both facilities onto a single license. Pending those approvals, the change is expected to take place in the spring of 2016.

“Providing the right care in the right place at the right time is the notion that’s driving our efforts to evolve and succeed for our patients in the era of healthcare reform,” said Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health. “Transitioning inpatient services to a single campus allows us to provide the safest and highest-quality hospital care at a single site.”

With 74 beds, Baystate Wing Hospital has the ability, with its existing capacity, to care for patients who are now hospitalized at Baystate Mary Lane, said Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, president of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region, which includes the Palmer and Ware facilities.

“On average, there are fewer than 10 patients being cared for on the inpatient unit at Baystate Mary Lane each day,” he added. “Consolidating the region’s inpatients in one location would be a more efficient use of our limited resources at a time when all healthcare organizations need to receive and deliver the greatest possible value for every healthcare dollar spent.”

Particularly following an expansion of Wing’s inpatient units in 2009, adding 40 medical-surgical beds, six ICU beds, and 28 psychiatric beds, the Palmer campus is more than capable of handling additional traffic, Cavagnaro noted.

“That’s one of the reasons behind this consolidation. It’s certainly more efficient to keep inpatient care in one location. It also allows us to think about how to transform healthcare to meet the future needs of the region.

“Healthcare is moving increasingly away from inpatient care to outpatient care,” he elaborated. “I think everyone is trying to make do with fewer inpatient beds and pushing that care into the outpatient arena. It’s something we want to do — move away from volume-based care to value-based care, how well we’re keeping the population healthy.”

That’s why the Baystate Mary Lane campus — where, even now, 80% of visits are outpatient — will remain an important part of the Baystate system, which, like all providers in the age of accountable care, is focusing more on keeping people well and out of the hospital than just treating them when they’re ill, Cavagnaro said.

Therefore, Baystate Mary Lane will continue to provide outpatient services for the Ware community, and the region’s primary-care network will not be affected by the inpatient consolidation.

“That piece of the business is not changing,” he said. “My feeling is, whatever we’re doing now for patients in this region, we’ll continue to do for the foreseeable future, and we’ll make changes on the basis of what the community needs and what we can sustainably deliver.”

The move of inpatient services will lead to a reduction of jobs at Baystate Mary Lane. While Baystate Health is still determining the eventual job impact, the consolidation is expected to affect 25 to 30 full-time positions, including management and front-line employees. The system has a workforce-transition policy that supports employees displaced by these changes in numerous ways, including offering placement into open positions within the organization for which they are qualified, Cavagnaro explained.

“We are committed to a transparent process with our team members and our community throughout this period of change,” he said, “and we hope many of the affected employees will find positions within our Eastern Region or the Baystate Health system. We are grateful to all the region’s team members for their dedication and service.”

In the meantime, Baystate Health will continue to monitor community needs as it determines the roles its facilities in Palmer and Ware will play.

“We have a direction and a pathway forward. We kind of know the ultimate destiny, but in healthcare, it’s always going to be fluid,” Cavagnaro said. “Every year, we have a strategic plan, a community-needs assessment. It’s unfair to say, ‘this is what the future is going to be, and it’s written in stone.’ We do know we need to add more value to healthcare, and we need to keep patients healthy wherever they are, here or in their homes. And we need to do this in a way that adds sustainability and quality. We want to be here forever.”

State to Adopt Hybrid MCAS-PARCC Test

BOSTON — In an 8-3 vote, the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted Tuesday to replace the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test with a hybrid version that incorporates elements of a proposed replacement, known as PARCC. The new test will be administered starting in the spring of 2017.

School districts that tried out the PARCC this past spring will do so again for 2016, and districts that chose to stick with the MCAS will continue to use it unless they opt to switch to the PARCC, short for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers.

Massachusetts must begin administering the new test in 2017 to comply with a federal law that requires states to use a single standardized test. The state had obtained a two-year waiver to the law so districts could try out the PARCC before the vote.

According to the Boston Globe, the PARCC aims to examine how students arrived at their answers and requires more critical thinking skills than the MCAS, and is aligned with the Common Core standards adopted by the state in 2010. Just like the MCAS, students will have to pass the new hybrid test to graduate.

The Mass. Business Alliance for Education (MBAE), a supporter of the PARCC, issued a statement supporting the decision of Board of Elementary and Secondary Education, with reservations.

“We are encouraged that Board Chairman Paul Sagan clearly stated that, in developing a new test, the board does not intend to duplicate five years of investment by the state and hundreds of Massachusetts educators who developed a high-quality assessment in PARCC. We continue to believe the evidence showed PARCC was a superior assessment,” the Alliance said. “MBAE is concerned, however, that we don’t know what we’re buying, or what it will cost. Although Chairman Sagan pledged not to follow the experience of other states, the fact is that those developing a test like PARCC spent as much as $50 million or more.”

Picture This

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]

Men of the Year

As part of the Together is Better Campaign, the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts celebrated its inaugural Men of the Year Award recipients and finalists at an event last month at Twin Hills Country Club. The award honors men from the region who, in their professional or personal lives, have made significant contributions to ensure economic and social equity for women and girls.

BusinessWest Associate Publisher Kate Campiti presents the award in the ‘Legacy’ category to Robert Perry, retired partner for Meyers Brothers Kalicka

Waleska Lugo-DeJesus, director of the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, presents the award in the ‘mid-career’ category to David Sullivan, Northwestern district attorney

State Auditor Suzanne Bump presents the award in the ‘emerging’ category to Anthony Gulluni, Hampden County district attorney

Buffy Mayo, widow of Lifetime Achievement Award winner York Mayo, talks with Sullivan, left, and Edward Nunez, assistant vice president of Business Development for Freedom Credit Union, and a finalist in the ‘mid-career’ category

Noble Ball

Baystate Noble Hospital held its 51st Noble Ball on Oct. 17 at the MassMutual Center in Springfield. The Motown-themed event was co-chaired by the Queenin Family (pictured at left, from left): Jon and Lisa, Kevin and Barbara, Janine and Jay.

More than 700 guests attended the black-tie event, which featured live entertainment from two bands, silent and live auctions, a formal dinner, cocktails, dancing, and more. The 2016 Noble Ball chairs (pictured at right, from left) were Ali and Mandana Salehi,  Serena and Marc Lichwan, and Julie and Nabil Hannoush.

Grand Old Game

The Western Mass. Relics’ Softball League is a summer recreational slow-pitch league founded in 1994 with the idea that playing ball is fun, healthy, and a good way to maintain friendships. The Relics “80s Team,” sponsored by Savage Arms, competed in the Cape Cod Senior Softball Classic in September

Standing, left to right: Ken Cook, Frank Sousa, Leo Quinn, Phil Thibodeau, Art Brockelman, Dick Hastede, Coach Ed Gagnon, and Bob Brennan; in front, left to right: Lou Massoia, Frank Bernini, Bob Schoolcraft, and Don Holcomb.

Moving Forward from Chattanooga

Opinion

Editorial

Ron Littlefield, the former mayor of Chattanooga, said municipal leaders in Tennessee’s fourth-largest city haven’t been too proud to listen to others’ ideas — and steal them.

For example, in 1981, before launching a decades-long revitalization plan, Littlefield — then a city planner — and other officials visited Indianapolis to talk economic development, but also found inspiration in the recreational activities taking place along Indy’s White River. Once back at home, they launched efforts to promote recreation — kayakers, regattas, and the like — on the Tennessee River.

They weren’t done. A visit to Baltimore spurred the construction of the Tennessee Aquarium. The Creative Discovery Museum was inspired by children’s museums in Charlotte and Birmingham. And so on.

“We shamelessly stole things from all over, and we’re proud of it,” Littlefield said. “We tried to do it better than they did.”

That spirit of sharing — or stealing, as the case may be — is the driver behind City2City Pioneer Valley, a program that, every year or two, brings a host of Springfield-area leaders to a city with similar demographics and challenges; Chattanooga was the fourth such stop after visits, over the past several years, to Grand Rapids, Mich.; Winston-Salem/Greensboro, N.C.; and Allentown/Bethlehem, Pa.

And Chattanooga certainly had no shortage of ideas to chew on (see story, page 6), from its high-speed broadband network, which has drawn a number of high-tech businesses the city, to the way its public, private, and nonprofit sectors work closely together to fund projects; from its riverfront revitalization to its ambitious efforts to cultivate innovative startups. All have parallels to challenges the Pioneer Valley is facing.

So, what happens now?

That’s the big question, and one that has dogged the City2City program since its inception. The only initiative launched in Western Mass. as a direct result of a City2City visit is the Healing Racism Institute of Pioneer Valley, a Springfield-based program modeled after a similar initiative in Grand Rapids.

That’s about it. There has been plenty of talk about what Greater Springfield can do better, but little in the way of tangible changes based on these trips. That’s not to say the education, inspiration, and idea sharing that participants experience isn’t valuable; it certainly is. But what’s the next step?

After all, Springfield today has an underutilized riverfront, a waterway far cleaner than the polluted Tennessee River of the 1960s and 1970s, when efforts began to connect Chattanooga’s riverfront with its downtown district. Springfield faces the same type of manufacturing skills gap Chattanooga does, as well as similar challenges graduating students from underperforming schools.

To be fair, there are some lessons Chattanooga could take from Springfield, should their leaders ever come here. Connections between our region’s colleges and workforce-training organizations seem more robust than in Chattanooga, for instance. Leaders in Chattanooga seem hesitant to fully discuss the racial gentrification issues that beset their downtown neighborhoods. And healthcare drives economic development in far deeper ways in the Pioneer Valley than they do in Southeastern Tennessee.

It’s probably most accurate to say both cities have something to learn from each other. The challenge now, in Springfield and its environs, is to put into action what we’ve learned, and get to work turning this region into a destination officials from other cities will want to visit — and steal from.

In some respects, it’s already there.

Downtown Shows Power of Higher Ed

Opinion

Editorial

Let’s be realistic; Springfield will not become Boston, Worcester, or Cambridge — or even Northampton or Amherst, for that matter — when it comes to higher education and its impact on a community’s economy, culture, psyche, or anything else.

Springfield, while it has four colleges and a university conducting classes within its borders, is not, and probably never will be, what would be considered a college town. (Worcester isn’t one, either, really, but that’s another story.)

But while the City of Homes is not a college town, the colleges based within and just outside it have certainly been major contributors to the community’s overall health and well-being, in ways ranging from educating a workforce to providing significant buying power to adding cultural and entrepreneurial vibrancy.

But in recent years, the higher-education community is making a difference in another way — by bringing people, energy, brainpower (Mayor Sarno’s term), and additional vibrancy to the city’s central business district (see story, page 21).

There are now four schools with a downtown mailing address — Cambridge College, which arrived in 2012; Bay Path University (located in Longmeadow but founded in Springfield more than a century ago) in 2013; the University of Massachusetts, through its UMass Center at Springfield, in 2014; and Springfield College, which opened the doors to a small office in 1350 Main St. just a few weeks ago.

The size and scope of these facilities vary — UMass and Cambridge are conducting classes downtown, Bay Path has 40 employees and its American Women’s College based at 1350 Main St., and Springfield College has only a few small offices — but, together, it’s becoming somewhat of a force.

The phrase ‘education hub’ was used by some of those we spoke with, and that seems like an effective assessment of what is taking shape. Because of these schools and their facilities, there are now a least a few hundred more people in the downtown on a typical day than we saw before.

They’re buying lunches, coffee, and greeting cards, and thus helping existing businesses, while helping to create a critical mass that may inspire more retailers to consider downtown.

We shouldn’t expect a return to the days before the Fairfield and Holyoke malls were built and there were a number of thriving department stores along Main Street, but we should expect progress when it comes to creating an environment in which downtown can expect the residential and commercial growth that feed off one another.

In the meantime, this proliferation of higher education will likely stimulate more collaborative efforts between the schools, more internships involving city businesses, and more innovation and entrepreneurship.

Overall, this higher-education hub, if you will, equates to one decent-sized employer moving downtown, when it comes to additional bodies in the central business district, or feet on the street, as they say. But there is more to than that.

The colleges and universities do bring positive energy and momentum, and the promise of much more of both in the years to come.

As some of the administrators we spoke with noted, Hot Table in Tower Square is now open until 8 p.m. because of the students now taking classes in the building, and the lines at all eateries are longer.

We expect this to be just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the overall impact of this education hub.

STCC to Offer New Winter Session Classes Starting Dec. 21

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) will begin offering four-week online Winter Session classes starting Monday, Dec. 21 through Friday, Jan. 15, 2016.

This is the first time the college has offered classes during the winter recess. Online Winter Session classes are an ideal opportunity for area college students to earn college credit during the traditional winter-break period.

“The majority of classes available during winter session can be used as electives both at community colleges and four year colleges and universities,” said STCC Dean of Enrollment Management Matthew Gravel. “The online format reduces the need to cancel classes for weather conditions and allows students the flexibility to study on their own schedule.”

Winter session class offerings include Business Ethics, Computer Basics, Economics 1, Electronic Health Records, General Psychology, Introduction to Sociology, Nutrition, Principles of Management, and World Religions.

Students can register for one or more classes beginning Tuesday, Nov. 24. Registration is available online at www.stcc.edu/winter, via phone at (413) 755-4321, or in the Registrar’s Office on the first floor of Garvey Hall South.

Human Service Forum to Host Attorney Steven Schwartz on Nov. 18

HOLYOKE — The Human Service Forum (HSF) will welcome attorney Steven Schwartz, litigation director for the Center for Public Representation, on Wednesday, Nov. 18 for a presentation titled “The ADA: Successes and Challenges for Ensuring Full Equality.”

This past July, America marked the 25th anniversary of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the landmark civil-rights law designed to promote full citizenship and equal opportunity for individuals with disabilities. But how much has that promise been realized? Like most visionary laws and social reforms, only somewhat. In certain arenas, like equal employment opportunities, the past quarter-century has been marked by a series of disappointing Supreme Court decisions, consistent (more than 90%) court victories for employers who refuse to hire or accommodate employees with disabilities, and even a major legislative initiative to amend the ADA to rebalance the legal landscape.

In other areas, and especially with respect to the historical segregation of persons with significant disabilities, the ADA has radically restructured the provision of public services in many state systems, and created a warning signal to those states which refuse to integrate their public and private programs.

Both of these trends are likely to continue for the next decade, with new targets for the ADA’s integration mandate and, most importantly, a profound cultural change in public awareness of the contributions of citizens with disabilities in all aspects of community living.

The event will take place from 8 to 9:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. The cost is $25 for HSF members, $30 for non-members. Online registration is available at www.humanserviceforum.org.

Bay Path Awarded $300,300 to Enhance Undergrad STEM Education

LONGMEADOW — Thanks to a recently awarded grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF), Bay Path University will undertake a three-year project aimed at increasing the academic success, engagement, and retention of undergraduate women enrolled in bachelor’s-degree programs in biology, forensic science, and cybersecurity, particularly those students from underrepresented groups. The grant, totaling $300,300, will be awarded over a three-year span.

The funding provides resources and programmatic support for student tutors and mentors, materials and stipends for student research, student travel, and guest speakers. In addition, funding was allocated for upper-level course redesign and faculty professional development around mathematics.

“Providing access and support to women entering careers in the STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math) fields is one of Bay Path’s highest priorities,” President Carol Leary said. “This grant will help us nurture essential skills critical for future scientists, chemists, and biologists, ultimately increasing the representation of women in these valuable professions.”

The project will strengthen STEM curricula at Bay Path, expand peer academic support, and broaden student participation in high-impact practices. These practices include early student research, mentoring by faculty and STEM professionals, academic enrichment, and career exploration through internships and other experiential learning opportunities. Project activities will be coordinated through a new academic center at Bay Path University, called the Center of Excellence for Women in STEM.

Through the support provided by NSF, Bay Path faculty will implement and extend recommendations for effective teaching in the biological sciences defined by the Vision and Change in Undergraduate Biology Education Initiative, an initiative of the American Assoc. for the Advancement of Science. This initiative is being further advanced through the work of faculty fellows nationwide as part of the Partnership in Undergraduate Life Science Education (PULSE).

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Akca, Fahri
628 College Highway
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/15

Bancroft, Jessica A.
6 Royalston Road
Phillipston, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/15

Bezio, Kevin M.
124 Highland Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/15

Bilton, Mark A.
43 Meadowbrook Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/13/15

Bonanno, Christopher T.
5 Maple St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/15

Brignoni, David
a/k/a Brignoni-Nieves, David
72 Kearney Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/15

Bryden, Christopher L.
Bryden, Christina M.
61 Dickinson St.
2nd Floor
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/15

Burns, Robert F.
44 Daniel Dr.
Leominster, MA 01453
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/15

Cameron, Lucretia D.
1259 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/08/15

Churchill, Michael J.
Churchill, Rachel L.
26 East Road
Hawley, MA 01339
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/15

Coleman, Erin S.
111 Paige Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/15

Creative Touch
Dawson, Colleen
346 College Highway
Southhampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/15

Delaney, Wendy J.
a/k/a Delaney King, Wendy
452 West Pelham Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/15

Forsyth, James M.
19 Revere St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/05/15

Hartmann, Paige I.
10 Holland Road
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/15

Hill, Sean E.
85 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/15

Jones, Icie B.
a/k/a McMullen-Jones, Icie B.
211 Crane Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/13/15

Keeler, Allan E.
22 Manor House Court
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/10/15

Kelley, Kristopher R.
47 Richelieu St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/15

Larson, Frank T.
Larson, Kathleen P.
a/k/a Proulx, Kathleen
a/k/a Kate Larson
21 Sterrett Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/05/15

Latini, John
19 Wilson St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/15

Lemke, John
53 Corey Colonial
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/14/15

Lord, Janet Irene
35 Robert St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/09/15

Marshall, Robert J.
93 Grochmal Ave., Lot 40
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/10/15

Martinez, Angel
83 Ontario St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/13/15

McGuigan, John M.
43 Lakewood Dr.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/15

Monopoli, Leanne F.
a/k/a Josephson, Leanne F.
a/k/a Farr, Leanne F.
P.O. Box 1435
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/15

O’Hare, William J.
O’Hare, Susan A.
a/k/a Gosselin, Susan A.
54 Mountainview St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/15

Perry, Ivan J.
Perry, Marie E.
a/k/a Perry, M. Ella Anita
315 Ridge Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/30/15

Perry, Kimberly A.
a/k/a Sullivan, Kimberly A.
1362 Massachusetts Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/15

Rivera, Gisela
37 Woodrow St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/15

Rodriguez, Graciela
147 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/15

Rose, William W.
87 James St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/06/15

Sanocki, Henry S.
19 Pine St., Apt. A
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/15

Sickler, Suzanne Hunt
6 Treehouse Circle Apt. 3
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/15

Sinopoli, Jessica M.
450 Greylock St.
Lee, MA 01238
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/15

Slate, Wiona S.
22 South Long Yard
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/15

Torres, Elis Z.
391 Tokeneke Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/08/15

Vasquez, Alex
21 Bowers St., Apt 306
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/15/15

Springfield Museums Announce Lecture, Tour Schedule for December

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums’ monthly tour and lecture schedule continues in December with the popular Museums à la Carte lectures, which take place each Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

Admission is $4 ($2 for members of the Springfield Museums); visitors are invited to bring a bag lunch (cookies and coffee are provided). For more information about Museums à la Carte, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 488. This month’s lectures include:

• Dec. 3: “Secrets of Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks Revealed.” Andrew Linnell, author and lecturer from the University of Michigan, unlocks the riddles of da Vinci’s two mysterious paintings of the Virgin Mary.

• Dec. 10: “Cabinets of Curiosity: Historical and Contemporary Interpretations.” Heather Haskell, director of the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, provides historical context for the current exhibit at the George Walter.

• Dec. 17: “The Star of Bethlehem: Investigating an Ancient Mystery.” Richard Sanderson, curator of Physical Science, Springfield Science Museum, and Jack Megas, planetarium educator, Springfield Science Museum, explore one of history’s most enduring mysteries.

No à la Carte lectures will be held on Dec. 24 or Dec. 31.

As part of the Museums’ members-only Continuing Conversations series, museum docents Deena Maniscalchi and Pat McCarthy will also lead a guided gallery discussion at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum following the Dec. 10 lecture.

On Friday, Dec. 4, the Springfield Science Museum’s large rooftop telescope will be open for public skygazing at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Stars Over Springfield observatory series. These programs are organized by the museum and the Springfield Stars Club, and take place on the first Friday of each month. Each event features an introductory talk on topics such as space exploration, seasonal sights of the night sky, current astronomical research, or upcoming events like eclipses or comet appearances. This month’s featured speaker will be Alan Rifkin, Springfield Stars Club president, whose talk is titled, “Astronomy Gifts: All I Want for Christmas or Chanukah Is…”

Stars Over Springfield programs are best suited for families with children ages 8 and older; however, younger children are also welcome. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 17 and under. These programs are held rain or shine. If it is cloudy, a planetarium show will be presented in place of telescope viewing. For information about astronomy programs at the museum, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 318.

Doing Business As Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of October 2015.

AGAWAM

ASD Plumbing & Heating
55 School St.
Stan Anisimov

GBB
540 Southwick St.
Christopher Catjakis

Feeding Hills Wellness Center
567 Springfield St.
Gina Manning

Paradise Destinations Travel
33 North St.
Danielle Plascik

HOLYOKE

Electric Cafe & Catering
10 Open Square Way
John Aubin

Lighthouse Holyoke
208 Pace St.
Josiah Litant

Mount Joe to Go
206 Maple St.
Peter Rosskothen

Scout Curated Wears
10 Lexington Ave.
Lorg Fischer-Dewitt

NORTHAMPTON

Behrens Collective
56 Meadow St.
Kory J. Behrens

Clinic Alternative Medicines
98 Main St.
Jennifer Nery

Euphoria Float Spa
241 King St.
Loria Schott

Northampton Radio Group
15 Hampton Ave.
Samuel Bush

Rhodes, Bixby & Wakefield
125 Pleasant St.
Keith Bixby

River Valley Company
330 North King St.
Rochelle Prunty

PALMER

Baldyga Service, LLC
11 Wanut St.
Bruce Baldyga

Jane Alden Convenience Store
1469 North Main St.
Mukesh Patel

SPRINGFIELD

A Pro’s Touch
169 Savoy Ave.
Yamil Santiago

A to Z Gate
465 Belmont Ave.
Benjamin Nguyen

All World Costume Jewelry
18 Eldridge St.
Foster White

BWF Inc.
354 Main St.
Joseph Pafumi

C.J. Bella’s Landscaping
38 Sunrise Terrace
Carlos Labella

Cedar’s Food Mart
405 Armory St.
Linda A. Gheit

Cotto’s Power Washing Inc.
16 Tyler St.
Alexander Cotto

Deb’s Auto Repair
250 Vergs St.
Albert Charles

Duke’s Barbershop
902 Carew St.
Juan Santana

Elsie’s Flower Shop
166 Main St.
Rebecca L. Kelly

Envy Nails
1777 Boston Road
Loan Nguyen

Escuadron de Limpiesa
26 Arch St.
Betty Duena

Forest Hills Landscaping
138 Gillette Ave.
David P. Robillard

J & D Polish & Deburring
33 Mohawk Dr.
Dennis Nelson

WESTFIELD

Ebenezer’s Bar & Grill
110 Elm St.
Ebenezer’s Westfield Inc.

French Twist Bakery
183 Highland Ave.
French Twist Bakery

Frosted Swirl Cupcakes
36 Jeremy Dr.
Frosted Swirl Cupcakes

Michael’s Towing
247 Elm St.
MCV Inc.

The Country Clipper
9 Russell Road
Sara Noska

The Groomer
77 Main St.
Tracy Durkee

Top to Bottom Cleaning
23 Reservoir Road
Lynn Cornelius

Whip City Music
126 Elm St.
Whip City Music

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Auto Kraft Service Center
44 Mulberry St.
Frederick Fruwirth

Beedle’s Baubles
179 North Blvd.
Galen Plourde

Direct Results
2005 Riverdale St.
John Epstein

Gorecki Enterprises Inc.
1285 Riverdale St.
Gorecki Enterprises

Park Square Realty
470 Westfield St.
PSQ Inc.

Sol’s Tire Service Inc.
953 Union St.
William R. Ellis

Speedway
341 Memorial Ave.
Speedway, LLC

Agenda

Agenda Departments

SRC Government Reception

Nov. 19: The Springfield Regional Chamber will hold its annual Government Reception from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Carriage House at Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Sponsored by Baystate Health and Comcast with support from Columbia Gas of Massachusetts and Westfield State University, the reception provides business and community leaders with the opportunity to meet socially with local, state, and federal officials following the end of the formal legislative session. Last year, more than 200 people attended the event, including members of area select boards and city councils, as well as state representatives and senators. Reservations for the event are $50 for chamber members and $70 for general admission. To reserve a spot, visit www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or e-mail Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

Neuroscientist to VisitSpringfield College

Nov. 19: The Springfield College Center for Wellness Education and Research (CWER) will host world-renowned neuroscientist and nutrition and diet expert Nicole Avena at 7 p.m. in the Fuller Arts Center. Avena’s presentation, “Why Diets Fail: Because You’re Addicted to Sugar,” will focus on years of research showing that sugar is addictive, and present a science-based plan to stop cravings. The event is free and open to the public. Author of more than 50 scholarly journal articles, Avena’s research suggests that overeating of palatable foods can produce changes in the brain and behavior that resemble addiction, findings that have jump-started an entire new field of exploration and discovery related to the obesity epidemic. She has presented her research to an array of audiences, including pharmaceutical companies, diabetes-prevention groups, food-industry marketing executives, nutrition groups, and obesity-education groups, and has contributed to articles in Men’s Health, Psychology Today, Bloomberg Businessweek, and WebMD. The New York Academy of Sciences, the American Psychological Assoc., and the National Institute on Drug Abuse have honored her research achievements. Housed in the Springfield College School of Health, Physical Education and Recreation, CWER’s mission of is to serve as the region’s pre-eminent source for best practices in nutrition and physical-activity programming for young people.

Briefcase