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AGAWAM — To support its goal of accelerating international sales growth in Asia and Europe, OMG Roofing Products has established new warehouses in Rotterdam in the Netherlands as well as in Shanghai, China.

The two new warehouses are centrally located within their regions to enable OMG to rapidly supply products to roofing contractors and OEM partners in each of these critical markets. Both warehouses will stock a wide range of products sold locally, including OMG fasteners and plates, RhinoBond tools and plates, OMG telescopic tubes, OlyBond500 insulation adhesives, OlyFlow drains, and EverSeal roof repair tape.

“OMG Roofing Products has continued to grow and expand beyond U.S. borders,” said Web Shaffer, vice president of Marketing. “By adding these warehouses, we are building a stronger foundation on which to accelerate our international growth by improving our service and expanding our distribution into new countries throughout Europe and Asia.”

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SPRINGFIELD — Crevier & Ryan, LLP announced the addition of a new associate to the firm, attorney Richard “Kick” Sullivan III.

Sullivan works primarily for attorney Michael Ryan. Collectively, Ryan, Sullivan, and fellow associate Rebecca Moran have a practice devoted to residential real-estate transactions, commercial lending, commercial real-estate acquisitions and sale (including 1031 tax-free exchanges), corporate governance, buy and sell agreements for closely held businesses, contract analysis and negotiation, civil litigation, and pre-litigation disputes (including conflicts involving trusts and estates).

Sullivan graduated from Bates College in 2012, then enrolled in Western New England University School of Law, graduating earlier this year. During his legal education, he completed concentrations in estate planning, real estate, and business law. Eager to expand his education beyond the classroom, he completed the WNEU Law Small Business Clinic, Real Estate Practicum, and an estate-planning drafting course. These experiences have provided him with an advanced handle on transactional skills as well as a specialized knowledge in these practice areas. While most experienced in these legal fields, he aims to expand the practice and his expertise.

Sullivan was previously employed during law school for Westfield Bank, as a law clerk for Fitzgerald, Attorneys at Law in East Longmeadow, and as a legal intern for the city of Springfield Law Department, Code Enforcement. Active in the community, he serves on the Westfield Zoning Board of Appeals.

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HOLYOKE — Aegis Energy Services Inc., a provider of co-generation technology, announced a strategic alliance with Yanmar, a 100-year-old Japanese diesel engine and equipment manufacturer and cogeneration provider.

The Aegis and Yanmar relationship will broaden the reach of combined heat and power (CHP) systems by offering a wider product line to serve facilities of all sizes — from hotels, hospitals, and residential buildings with large footprints to smaller facilities, including nursing homes and assisted-living facilities, apartment complexes, boutique hotels, restaurants, and more.

“For more than 30 years, Aegis has designed, manufactured, and installed combined heat and power systems equipped with world-class remote monitoring and service across the Northeast and Mid-Atlantic,” said Aegis President Lee Vardakas. “The alliance with Yanmar not only increases our CHP product offerings, but our geographic reach. Together, we can provide modular systems for facilities of any size to generate sustainable, clean power options that reduce energy costs and emissions on a wider scale.”

According to the U.S. Energy Department, CHP captures energy that would normally be lost in power generation and uses it to provide heating and cooling, making CHP 75% to 80% percent efficient. While most central power plants create steam as a byproduct that is then expelled as wasted heat, a CHP system captures the thermal energy that would normally be lost in power generation and uses it to provide on-site heating and cooling to factories, multi-residential housing and hospitality facilities, breweries, athletic facilities, and other applications requiring thermal load. In 2012, legislation was enacted which set a national goal for increasing CHP capacity.

“Aegis has already demonstrated a commitment to Yanmar’s cogeneration product line by successfully completing our training courses designed for these systems,” said Arne Irwin, Energy Systems Business Unit manager at Yanmar America. “They will be able to provide a high level of service in their market for Yanmar’s CHP products.”

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HOLYOKE — Leadership Holyoke — a comprehensive community-leadership and board-development program of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce — is back again.

Leadership Holyoke utilizes a combination of classes and practical experiences to help local business people develop their leadership skills, increase their knowledge of the community, and acquire the skills needed to serve as board members and community leaders. The series is made possible by PeoplesBank and the Republican.

The 2016-17 Leadership series begins on Sept. 23, consists of a weekly series of eight seven-hour sessions, and concludes on May 3 with a graduation ceremony at Holyoke Community College with a specialty luncheon prepared by the college’s culinary students. All sessions will be held on Fridays (except for the Boston State House trip) and take place at Holyoke Community College (HCC) and other locations throughout the city.

Each session will include a segment on organization and leadership skills, and a segment on community needs and resources. Faculty members from HCC will participate as instructors and facilitators, and community leaders will participate as speakers and discussion leaders in areas of their expertise.

Tuition is $600 per participant, due at the start of the course, and includes the fee for a continental breakfast each week, a bus trip to Boston, and the graduation luncheon. Sign up online at holyokechamber.com or call the chamber with any questions at (413) 534-3376.

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HOLYOKE — The Economic Development Business Breakfast of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 21 at 7:30 a.m. at Wyckoff Country Club.

Attendees will learn about community-development updates and initiatives straight from local economic-development leaders, including Marcos Marrero, director of Holyoke Economic Development; Mike Sullivan, South Hadley town administrator; and Mike Vedovelli, Chicopee Director of Economic Development.

Chamber board chair Margaret Mantoni of Loomis Communities will kick off the breakfast with a welcome and then turn it over to emcee Spiros Hatiras, chamber board member and president and CEO of Holyoke Medical Center. The chamber will roll out the welcome mat to new members Expert Staffing, the United Arc, Score, the Jamrog Group, Skoler, Abbott, & Presser, P.C., the Munich Haus, Neari School, ArteSana Inc., KnoxworX Multimedia, Golden Heart Home Healthcare, LLC; and Applebee’s.

Also recognized at the breakfast will be the new superintendent of the Soldier’s Home of Holyoke, Marine Lt. Col. Bennett Walsh; General Cleaners on its 90th anniversary; the United Way campaign kickoff; McDonald’s on its new business on Whiting Farms Road; Applebee’s on its new restaurant on Whiting Farms Road, and former state Sen. and state Rep. from Westfield, Michael Knapik, the new director of the Western Massachusetts Governor’s Office.

The breakfast is presented by PeoplesBank and sponsored by Holyoke Medical Center, Hadley Printing, and United Bank. Admission is $23 with advance registration for chamber members and $28 for all other guests. Register early at holyokechamber.com/events or by calling (413) 534-3376.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Gray House, a nonprofit organization in the North End of Springfield, is kicking off its second annual Fill the Plate Challenge, an online fund-raising initiative running throughout September.

The organization has set a goal of $15,000 for the month of September and is asking the community to help it reach this goal. All proceeds will directly support its food-pantry operations, which serve an average of 80 to 120 households each week. In 2015, the Gray House served over 8,000 people in the community.

Participants are asked to make a donation through razoo.com/fill-the-plate-challenge, post a photo of themselves with an empty plate and a link to the donation page on social media, and tag the Gray House and any friends they want to encourage to donate. In addition to raising money, the goal of the fund-raiser is to raise awareness of the prevalence of food insecurity in the community.

“The empty plate represents all of those neighbors who would go hungry without groceries from our food pantry. We encourage donors to post photos on social media and share with their networks so that we can reach an even greater number of people,” said Teresa Spaziani, executive director of the Gray House. “Monetary donations to our food pantry go a long way in feeding our neighbors. As a member of the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts, we are able to purchase food for a significantly reduced price. For example, we can often purchase 90 pounds of meat for only $3.”

In 2015, the Gray House challenged the community to help it raise $10,000 in order to be eligible for a $10,000 matching grant through the United Way of Pioneer Valley. This goal was exceeded, with more than $12,600 raised in addition to the $10,000 matching grant.

Earlier that year, the Gray House entered into a partnership with Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry of Chicopee.

“The partnership enables us to share staffing and resources such as storage and delivery transportation, allowing us to operate as efficiently as possible while serving even more neighbors than ever before,” said Spaziani.

The food pantry remains a program of the Gray House, and, therefore, all donations stay at the Gray House.

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SPRINGFIELD — Curator Alex MacKenzie will showcase artifacts from the Springfield Armory collection in three presentations through the fall and winter. The first is slated for Saturday, Sept. 10 at 2 p.m. These experiences will be an expansion of the special exhibit “National Park Service Centennial: A Century of Service,” which runs through February 2017. This series offers the public a glimpse behind the scenes of the collection and a chance to hear the stories about these interesting objects. Admission is free.

Selecting a few pieces from the collection, MacKenzie will explain the history and details of each in an opportunity for the public to learn more about the rich collections of Springfield Armory National Historic Site.

“I enjoy these opportunities to show the public some of the objects in collections storage,” he said. “There are hundreds of stories in the museum collections at Springfield Armory NHS, most of which tie to nearly all of American history. Some are well-known; others are more obscure. Join us as we read the objects and dive into the fascinating history of Springfield Armory.”

A question-and-answer period will follow the presentation, as well as an opportunity to see these featured items up close. The next two presentations will follow on Saturday, Nov. 19 and Saturday, Jan. 14, 2017.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Inspired Marketing Inc. announced it has been certified as a woman-owned business by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), and also announced several promotions and hires in the company.

“This designation is something I have longed to receive, and this year was thrilled to have accomplished the goal,” said Jill Monson-Bishop, chief inspiration officer. “I am even prouder of this certification because I have incredible women on my team who celebrate it with me.”

In addition, Heather Ruggeri, the company’s chief events officer, was recently promoted and adds vice president to her business card. She joined Inspired Marketing in 2015 and previously worked as the conference service manager and sales manager at the Springfield Sheraton for nine years. In addition, she was recently named to the board of the Connecticut River Valley Chapter of Meeting Professionals International and is one of only a few certified meeting professionals in the area and one of only about 13,000 worldwide.

Another team member, Kristin Carlson, was recently named senior marketing visionary partner. Kristin started with Inspired Marketing as an apprentice right out of college in 2014. She has continued to evolve into a valued team member, creating innovative, successful media campaigns for several clients with outstanding results.

Meanwhile, Lauren Mendoza, who was with Inspired Marketing in its infancy before leaving for tech startup Waterdog, has rejoined the team and is now the office manager. Her organization keeps the team on track and helps communication, meetings, and schedules to run smoothly.

Cara Cole recently joined Inspired Marketing as a marketing visionary partner, serving on the front line with client creative implementation. She came to Inspired Marketing from the Center for Human Development and previously from Square One.

Finally, Jenifer Esile joined Inspired Marketing as on-staff graphic designer after having been a freelance partner since the company’s inception. In addition to 20 years of diverse design experience, she brings copywriting and social-media skills to the team to provide greater value to clients.

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SPRINGFIELD — On Friday, Sept. 2 at 7:30 p.m., the Springfield Science Museum’s large rooftop telescope will once again be open for public skygazing for the monthly Stars Over Springfield observatory program. These programs are organized by the museum and the Springfield Stars Club, and take place on the first Friday of each month. The featured talk on Sept. 2 is by Curator of Physical Science Richard Sanderson, who will speak about eclipses of the sun and moon, and the upcoming 2017 total solar eclipse.

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.

The Springfield Science Museum is located on the Quadrangle at 21 Edwards St. in downtown Springfield. Free on-site parking is available.

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SPRINGFIELD — Eastern States Exposition President Gene Cassidy and Marketing Director Noreen Tassinari will welcome the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts to the centennial edition of The Big E on Wednesday, Sept. 21. This is a chance to see racing pigs, the Cowsills, the Budweiser Clydesdales, and the fair’s centennial exhibit — and you may even catch outgoing Ad Club President David Cecchi on the Tilt-A-Whirl.

Tickets for this networking event, available online at adclubwm.org, are $20 for Ad Club members and $25 for non-members. Advanced ticket purchase by Thursday, Sept. 15 is required to allow time for delivery of credentials.  The club’s season kickoff event will take place from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Big E. The cost includes admission to the Big E, a parking pass for Gate 1, parade viewing from the Brooks Building Terrace (approximately 5:15 p.m.), cocktails, and hors d’oeuvres, and after the parade, attendees are free for the evening to explore the fair on their own.

The Ad Club and the Eastern States Exposition have a long shared history; the Exposition’s Betsi Sheehan Taylor served as president of the Ad Club in 1977-78, and the club presented Exposition founder Joshua Brooks and Exposition trustee Horace Moses with the Pynchon Award for community service in 1916. The club thanks Tassinari and the Eastern States Exposition for their help in reviving the long-standing tradition of hosting the Ad Club’s season kickoff meeting at the fair.

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SPRINGFIELD — Johnson & Hill Staffing Services Inc. recently enhanced its service offerings to include a specialized Accounting & Finance Division. While Johnson & Hill has always placed accounting and finance professionals, this move signals an increased commitment to this area of expertise. The agency sees a growing demand for this skill set and an opportunity to assist clients more proactively.

Tiffany Appleton has been appointed director, Accounting & Finance Division. Boasting more than a decade of recruiting experience in accounting and finance, she will provide direct-hire, contract-to-hire, and contract staffing, assisting clients in filling critical accounting and finance needs within their organizations. Roles range from clerk level up to CFO with a concentration on middle-management positions, including senior accountant, accounting manager, controller, financial analyst, manager of FP&A, internal audit, and public audit and tax. Her staffing experience crosses many industry sectors, spanning manufacturing, technology, nonprofit, professional service, and life science, with companies ranging from startup to publicly traded.

Appleton will focus on developing and nurturing long-term relationships with both clients and job seekers, which are built on mutual trust, sincerity, and confidentiality. She is sought after by clients for her progressive ideas on acquiring talent and consistent ability to deliver quality candidates. Job seekers appreciate her willingness to provide career coaching, interview preparation, and résumé assistance.

Prior to Johnson & Hill, her professional career included serving as client relations director for a large, regional CPA firm and principal and talent advisor for a boutique staffing firm specializing in accounting and finance placement.

Johnson & Hill is an independent, regional, woman-owned staffing service offering temporary, temp-to-hire, and direct-hire employment opportunities, serving Western Mass. and Northern Conn. Johnson & Hill specializes in administrative, accounting, legal, and professional staffing services.

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SPRINGFIELD — Innovative application of high-impact educational practices at Springfield College earned the school recognition in the national Colleges of Distinction guidebook. Springfield College students earn college credit and valuable life experience while participating in study-abroad programs, as well as through service learning and quality internships.

“We’re so happy to award Springfield College for developing skills relevant to graduates’ lives,” said Tyson Schritter, executive editor for Colleges of Distinction. “High student engagement in college is one of the keys to a successful undergraduate education. With an increasing emphasis on hands-on learning techniques, Colleges of Distinction applauds Springfield College for practicing methodologies that prepare students for their futures.”

Schools must demonstrate results across the four distinctions — engaged students, great teaching, vibrant community, and successful outcomes. High-school counselors and educators make nominations, and each school is evaluated on key indicators, including student engagement, student empowerment, and curricular innovation. Colleges that have distinguished themselves in each of the four distinctions and have demonstrated dedication to enriching student outcomes through innovative learning opportunities are then invited to join Colleges of Distinction.

The annual selection process also includes a review of each institution’s first-year student experience, as well as its general education program, strategic plan, and alumni success and satisfaction measures. To view Springfield College’s profile, visit collegesofdistinction.com.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums’ monthly tour and lecture schedule for September features the return of the popular Thursday Museums à la Carte lectures after a summer hiatus.

The lectures are held weekly at 12:15 p.m. at the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. Admission is $4 ($2 for Springfield Museums members). Visitors are invited to bring a bag lunch (cookies and coffee are provided). This month’s lectures include:

Sept. 8:LIFE in the Art World: LIFE Magazine and Modern American Art.” Melissa Renn, author and collections manager, HBS Art and Artifacts Collection, Harvard Business School, discusses how LIFE shaped the public and the critical reception of modern art in the U.S.

Sept. 15: “The Art of Illustrated Maps.” John Roman, author, illustrator, and assistant professor, Massachusetts College of Art and Design, shares his expertise on the world of imaginative mapmaking through the history and psychology of this form of art.

Sept. 22: “Pen to Paper.” Mary Savig, curator of Manuscripts at the Smithsonian’s Archives of American Art will reveal the expressive nature of handwriting found in personal correspondence.

Sept. 29: “When the Road Came Through: How The Construction of Interstate 91 Changed Western Mass.” Barry Deitz, local historian and storyteller, talks about the advent of the interstate highway system.

As an added feature, museum docents will lead guided gallery discussions titled Continuing Conversations following lectures on the second and fourth Thursdays of each month (museum members only). September’s Conversations will take place on Sept. 8 with docent Pat McCarthy at the D’Amour Museum (Early 20th-Century Gallery) and Sept. 22 with docent Dawn Whitney at the GWV Smith Museum (Classical Cast Gallery) at 1:30 p.m. (check with Welcome Center for locations).

Monthly walking tours are presented on second Saturdays in collaboration with the Armoury-Quadrangle Civic Association (AQCA). On Sept. 10, science educator Matthew Livermore will lead a tour titled “Downtown Nature.” Walking tours are free for Springfield Museums and AQCA members, $5 non-members, and start at the museums’ Welcome Center.

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NORTHAMPTON — To further combat the continuing challenge of homelessness in communities across Western Mass., ServiceNet’s Shelter & Housing division has been awarded a three-year grant, totaling $1.2 million, by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Returning Home, the program funded by this grant, is specifically focused on the needs of chronically homeless individuals and homeless veterans who also have a serious mental illness and/or substance-use disorder. The SAMHSA grant is one of 30 recently awarded nationwide, and it is the only one awarded in Massachusetts.

Returning Home has a two-fold goal: to successfully move individuals from homelessness to permanent housing, and to improve their overall health and well-being. It does so through a combination of intensive case-management services and evidence-based clinical care. Increased funding will enable ServiceNet to assist an additional 112 individuals in the three-year period, and to expand its community outreach to meet with people on the streets, in outdoor camps, and elsewhere in the community. Returning Home will accept referrals from service providers throughout Berkshire, Franklin, and Hampshire counties, as well as from ServiceNet’s own network of emergency shelters.

“This award reflects SAMHSA’s trust in the outstanding work our team has done to date in housing individuals who are chronically homeless,” said Jay Sacchetti, ServiceNet’s vice president of Shelter & Housing, Vocational, and Addiction Services. “We are proud of the work they do, and this funding further stabilizes and preserves our Returning Home program.”

Sacchetti also cited ServiceNet’s longstanding commitment to applied research as an advantage in securing the national grant. “When we say something works, we have the data to prove it; and when something doesn’t work, we understand why,” he said. “Our research team will continue to track the impact of Returning Home’s expanded services as we move forward.”

ServiceNet is partnering with the Hilltown Community Development Corp. — administrator of the federal continuum of care which oversees area initiatives related to homelessness — to serve as steering committee for the grant.

“This grant is going to help a lot of people a lot,” said Jack Tulloss, a former Marine and now clinical case manager with ServiceNet’s Shelter and Housing division. Increased case-management efforts will be underway by Oct. 1.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Central Cultural District (SCCD) has issued a call to artists for a unique opportunity in downtown Springfield. The cultural district is searching for artists to host a solo show and sell their work in one of three locations downtown: New England Public Radio (NEPR), SilverBrick Lofts, and 1550 Main. Applications are due on Thursday, Sept. 1.

The request for proposals asks for proposals from artists of all mediums to show their work from October to December 2016. Requirements to what the art should look like are fairly laid-back, to best enable creative expression. All art will be available for sale during the display period, with 100% of proceeds going directly back to the creator.

The gallery spaces range from a small community meeting space at NEPR which has been used for its youth arts program MediaLab and yoga classes, to the highly visible first-floor lobby of 1550 Main trafficked by hundreds of people daily, to a large community space at SilverBrick Lofts housing two mammoth, historic boilers. The SCCD hopes artists will draw inspiration from these differing spaces.

“The idea to create unconventional gallery spaces in the cultural district really sprung out of being asked by the host locations for ways to activate their community rooms,” said SCCD Director Morgan Drewniany. “By placing work, whether it be a 2D painting or a 3D installation, in these spaces, it challenges employees and residents downtown to open their eyes and perhaps linger to look at the art, and provides an opportunity for local artists.”

A joint reception will be held among the three locations in early October, with artist talks, street art, and performances between the locations to encourage walking, as well as light food and drinks, all provided by the SCCD and hosts for the artists.

The request for proposal and more details on this program can be found at springfieldculture.org/artistresources. Any questions can be forwarded to Drewniany at [email protected] or (413) 454-1195.

The Springfield Central Cultural District, which encompasses an area of the metro center of Springfield, is membership-based, involving many of the downtown arts institutions. Its mission is to create and sustain a vibrant cultural environment in Springfield.

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HOLYOKE — During September and October, Wistariahurst will host a new exhibit titled “Holyoke Renaissance: Rising from the Ashes.” Three area artists will showcase architecture as art when they present their work in a joint exhibition celebrating the renaissance of the city of Holyoke. The exhibit by artists Debra Dunphy, Nancy Howard, and Kristine Villeneuve-Topor, will feature various views of the old industrial city of Holyoke and its architectural designs.

Holyoke is currently undergoing a transformation that is renewing much of the downtown after suffering urban blight for decades. Works on display will include local landmarks and streetscapes from around the city and will be presented to shine a light on the beautiful art and architecture in the city.

The exhibit will run from Saturday, Sept. 10 through Saturday, Oct. 29. Gallery viewing hours are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. An opening reception is planned for Sunday, Sept. 18 from 2 to 4 p.m., and will be free and open to the public. Admission to the gallery is available for a $3 suggested donation.

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SPRINGFIELD — White Lion Brewing Co., in collaboration with Williams Distributing and the Student Prince and the Fort, will commemorate the Eastern States Exposition’s 100th anniversary with an exclusive centennial ale.

This limited-quantity Kolsch ale will be featured at one of the newest Big E venues from Sept. 16 through Oct. 2: the Wurst Haus, located near the New England Center and the Coliseum, where the Student Prince and the Fort will feature its German menu.

“We are happy to share our appetite of delivering quality food and beverage to festival goers that have been supporting the Eastern States Exposition for 100 years,” said Andy Yee, the restaurant’s managing partner. “In our inaugural year, it made sense for us to partner with community-committed companies such as White Lion Brewing and Williams Distributing as a way to further enhance the overall experience.”

Heather Gawron, operations and sales manager at White Lion Brewing Co., added that “White Lion is very excited to be part of the centennial celebration and be showcased at New England’s largest fair. To stand with a regional pioneer, the Eastern States Exposition, and two great community partners, Williams Distributing and the Student Prince and Fort restaurant, is a historical moment for our brand. Our brewer, Mike Yates, worked with the Student Prince and Fort restaurant to determine what style would complement the German-themed venue. Fittingly, the beer will be called Eastern States Exposition Centennial Ale: Kolsch. The beer will be a light-bodied and crisp golden ale, brewed with German hops and malts.”

Anthony Frasco, director of sales and marketing for Williams Distributing, noted that, “as a long-standing partner with the Eastern States Exposition, we felt this celebratory occasion was worthy of a commemorative brew, and to see it come to fruition under a Western Mass. collaborative made it all the more special.”

The beer will officially debut at a kick-off party hosted by the Student Prince and the Fort on Thursday, Sept. 1. There will be limited availability to accounts looking to showcase the Eastern States Exposition Centennial Ale: Kolsch in Western Mass.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Realtor Assoc. of Pioneer Valley reported that single-family home sales in July were down by 11.3% in the Pioneer Valley, compared to the same time last year. The median price was up 8.2% to $224,000.

In Franklin County, sales were down 26%, and the median price was up 24.7%. Hampden County saw a 7.5% sales decrease, with the median price rising 0.1%. In Hampshire County, sales were down down 15.6%, while the median price rose 8.1%.

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WEST SPRINGFIELD — Spherion Staffing Services, a local recruiting, staffing, and workforce-solutions provider, recently honored West Springfield franchise owner Brian Houle with the company’s 2016 Excellence in Safety Award. The annual award recognizes the Spherion owner who maintains the lowest workplace-injury rate among placed employees during the previous year and consistently demonstrates a safety-first mentality.

Through an emphasis on safety protocols and a commitment to ensuring employees understand and adhere to workplace regulations, Houle and his team improved their year-over-year injury frequency rate by nearly 20%. Houle frequently participates in panels and calls to relay new safety-improvement best practices, and implements new strategies to ensure compliance with changing legislative regulations.

“Ensuring the safety of our employees is of paramount importance to Spherion, and Brian Houle epitomizes our commitment to providing a secure a comfortable work environment,” said Sandy Mazur, division president of Spherion. “Brian and his team go above and beyond to identify opportunities to drive even greater workplace efficiency through safety. We are thrilled to honor their accomplishments and willingness to lead by example in achieving exceptional customer service.”

Houle joined Spherion in 2013, and has since grown the West Springfield branch to include a team of four dedicated staffing and recruiting experts. Under Houle’s leadership, Spherion likewise has expanded its community presence through involvement in the local chamber of commerce and the Western Mass. Economic Development Council, among other organizations. Additionally, the West Springfield team participates in philanthropic projects benefiting organizations such as the Sisters of Providence Health System, the Boys and Girls Club, and area libraries.

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AGAWAM — The West of the River Chamber of Commerce announced its Business Breakfast featuring speaker Howie Carr, an event which brings members and non-members together for a morning of breakfast and updates.

The event will take place on Thursday, Sept. 22 from 7 to 9 a.m. at Chez Josef in Agawam. Attendees will have the opportunity to connect with local business people over breakfast, and later will enjoy an informational session by Carr, an award-winning front-page columnist for the Boston Herald. Known for his scathing exposes of local politicians, he has raised plenty of eyebrows and voices over the years. Carr, famous for pushing the envelope and not regretting that he went too far, is regularly featured on NBC, MSNBC, C-SPAN, Court TV, CNN, Fox News, and CBS.

Event sponsors include Reliable Temps, Spherion Staffing, and Haselkorn Inc. The event costs $35 for members and $40 for non-members. For more information or to register, visit www.westoftheriverchamber.com or call the West of the River Chamber of Commerce at (413) 426-3880.

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SOUTH HADLEY — Stephan Chase, president of Fuel Services Inc. in South Hadley, was recently re-elected to serve a second two-year term as Massachusetts state director of the National Propane Gas Assoc. (NPGA) board.

Chase has been President of Fuel Services for more than 25 years. The company has evolved over the years, adding additional service areas and new fuels to the mix. His commitment to the propane industry extends to educating consumers on the benefits of this type of energy. He is also an active board member and the incoming secretary for the New England Propane Gas Assoc., a board member of the BBB of Central and Western MA, and a Navy veteran, having served on the USS Little Rock.

“As the leader in the fuel industry in Western Massachusetts, I am honored to be re-elected as the Massachusetts state director for the NPGA. It is a position I accept with great pride,” Chase said.

Richard Roldan, president and CEO of NPGA, addeed that Chase’s re-election is evidence of his support and desire to continue to actively participate in the work of the NPGA. “His service to the association is greatly appreciated,” Roldan said.

The National Propane Gas Assoc. is the national trade association representing the U.S. propane industry. Its memberships include small businesses and large corporations engaged in retail marketing of propane gas and appliances. Currently, the NPGA consists of approximately 2,800 memberships from companies in all 50 states.

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AGAWAM — The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE), in partnership with FIT Staffing, will present a seminar with Dennis Perlot, Microsoft evangelist, on Friday, Sept. 9 from 8:30 to 10 a.m.

The topic will be “Big Data – Unlocking the Mysteries.” Perlot will discuss ways to protect data in the cloud, information on unstructured data searches, Microsoft’s Power BI products, and much more.

This event is free to regional IT professionals and will be held at the EANE offices in Agawam. Registration is required. To register or for more information, contact Allison Ebner at [email protected] or (413) 355-5125.

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SPRINGFIELD — American International College (AIC) has been named among the top 10 colleges and universities in Massachusetts for starting salaries.

SmartAsset, a financial-technology company that studies and reports on a variety of topics, including home buying, refinancing, retirement, insurance, loans, and colleges, has compiled information on “best-value schools,” including college tuition, student living, and starting salaries.

This study considered starting salary, as well as scholarships and grants, tuition, living costs, and student-retention rate. With those factors calculated, AIC placed 10th for starting salaries of recent graduates, surpassing some big-name schools in the Boston area.

SmartAsset gave 25% weighting to starting salary, tuition, and living costs, and 12.5% weighting to scholarships, grants, and student retention rate to determine a ranking of schools in its analysis. The average starting salary for recent AIC graduates was $54,100, only $100 less than ninth-ranked Tufts University in Medford. Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge topped the list at $74,900.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Regional Chamber announced that Jeffrey Lomma has joined the chamber team as member services director.

He will be responsible for ensuring the continuous and steady growth of the chamber’s membership by building and maintaining a comprehensive and aggressive membership recruitment, retention, and service program. He will also develop and manage programs and services that grow member businesses, service member needs, and increase the overall value offered to members.

Lomma comes to the chamber with nearly 10 years of experience in sales, business development, and customer service. As a former Springfield Regional Chamber ambassador and past treasurer for the North Central Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, he is well-versed in chamber management and member services.

Lomma has been with Westfield Bank since 2007, most recently serving as a branch manager. Among his many client relationship responsibilities, he worked with local community members and nonprofits to support community-reinvestment initiatives and played a pivotal role in growing the location’s portfolio.

Lomma also served as a business specialist for the bank, where he helped lead the small-business sales-training program, managed customer relationships, and assisted in opening a banking center in a new market in Enfield, Conn.

A former board member with the Springfield Performing Arts Development Corp. and the Springfield Hockey Heritage Society, and committee member with the Young Professionals Society of Greater Springfield, Lomma currently serves as a member of the board of directors for Junior Achievement of Western Massachusetts and on the Greater Springfield Senior Services Money Management Program Advisory Council. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Western New England University.

Daily News

BOSTON — Local unemployment rates dropped in 21 labor-market areas, remained the same in two, and increased in one area in the state during the month of July, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported. Compared to July 2015, the rates were down in all areas.

Two of the 15 areas for which job estimates are published recorded seasonal job gains in July, with gains in the Barnstable and Pittsfield areas. Seasonal losses occurred in the remaining 13 areas.

From July 2015 to July 2016, all 15 areas added jobs, with the largest percentage gains in the Haverhill-Newburyport-Amesbury, Taunton-Middleborough-Norton, Peabody-Salem-Beverly, and Worcester areas.

In order to compare the statewide rate to local unemployment rates, the Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates the statewide unadjusted unemployment rate for July was 4.0%. Last week, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development reported the statewide seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.1% for the month of July. The unemployment rate is down 0.7% over the year.

The statewide, seasonally adjusted jobs estimate showed a 7,300-job gain in July and an over-the-year gain of 65,500 jobs.

The unadjusted unemployment rates and job estimates for the labor market areas reflect seasonal fluctuations and therefore may show different levels and trends than the statewide seasonally adjusted estimates.

The estimates for labor force, unemployment rates, and jobs for Massachusetts are based on different statistical methodology specified by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Pioneer Valley Montessori School (PVMS), a not-for-profit organization cultivating children’s natural desire to learn, has received a $10,000 grant from MassMutual Foundation Inc. PVMS is one of only 17 organizations nationally to receive an award as part of a national Community Service Award (CSA) program. The MassMutual Foundation made the grant as a tribute to the volunteer efforts of Erik Skar, financial professional with Charter Oak Insurance and Financial Services Co.

“Our Community Service Awards program aims to encourage and recognize those financial professionals who are active members of their community,” said Alison Mathias, MassMutual’s director of Charitable Giving and vice president of the MassMutual Foundation. “Erik’s volunteer work reflects our steadfast commitment to supporting organizations in the communities where MassMutual financial professionals live and work.”

Skar, who currently serves as president on PVMS’s board of directors, has dedicated countless hours of his time and talent to help the school grow and flourish. His passion and advocacy for the mission of PVMS inspires others to do the same. He has championed the efforts of the staff and volunteers, and has done everything for the organization from strategic planning to maintaining the facility to directing traffic at events.

“I am delighted that my work with PVMS has been recognized by the MassMutual Foundation,” Skar said. “This grant will provide much-needed funding to continue its improvement efforts after the tornado of 2011.”

PVMS provides Montessori early childhood and elementary education to children between the ages of 18 months and 12 years. The school enrolls students from 21 towns in Massachusetts and Connecticut, with approximately half of its students living in the city of Springfield. PVMS will put MassMutual’s grant to work by providing permanent shade structures to replace the trees it lost in the 2011 tornado, and to replace flooring and security doors.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Western New England University (WNEU) is featured in the 2016-17 edition of the Colleges of Distinction guidebook. Based on the opinions of guidance counselors, educators, and admissions professionals, the guidebook honors colleges that excel in key areas of educational quality and appeal to students’ unique and varied interests.

“We place high value on innovation and excellence in order to provide the best possible experience for our students. We challenge students to dream big, take risks, and surprise themselves with all they can accomplish,” said Bryan Gross, vice president for Enrollment. “This recognition affirms that our distinctive best practices are effective and achieve outstanding results for our graduates.”

Western New England University serves approximately 4,000 students, including 2,575 undergraduate students, on its main campus in Springfield.

In order to qualify for inclusion in the guidebook, Western New England University was evaluated for its performance in four distinct categories: engaged students, great teaching, vibrant communities, and successful outcomes. Guidance counselors and admissions professionals around the country recommended WNEU highly in all four categories. The university was particularly noted for providing an innovative, engaged experience that prepares students for successful careers, active citizenship, and lifelong learning.

Western New England University is accredited by the Assoc. to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International. Fewer than 5% of business programs worldwide are accredited by AACSB International.

Back to School Sections

Life Lessons

Jean Pao Wilson

Jean Pao Wilson homeschooled her son Dillan for six years until he chose to enter public school, and still homeschools her 13-year-old daughter Amelia.

Jean Pao Wilson will never forget the moment she decided to homeschool her children.

“I can still see the picture in my head; my children were sitting on my husband’s knees on the riding mower as the sun set behind them,” the Easthampton mother said, adding that she had returned home from running errands, and although it was past their bedtime, her son and daughter ran and jumped into their father’s lap as soon as they saw him.

“It was a deciding moment; my son was in kindergarten and I had been thinking about the idea, but that did it,” Pao Wilson said, explaining that her husband worked six days a week, her children were in bed every night when he got home, and she knew homeschooling would allow them to spend more time together.

Other local parents who homeschool may not have experienced a similar epiphany, but those who have chosen this route say the benefits outweigh the challenges, and they and their children have no regrets.

Indeed, 16-year-old Dillan Wilson, who made the decision to switch to a brick-and-mortar school in seventh grade after years of homeschooling, found his experiences with learning very different than many of his peers.

“I saw so many kids who were just trying to get a (grade of) 60 to pass a test, rather than really wanting to understand the material,” he explained. “If I hadn’t been homeschooled for so many years, I might have been one of them.

“Homeschooling was a good experience,” he continued. “It wasn’t over-structured and I always wanted to learn more because there was never any pressure or testing.”

Statistician Sarah Grady from the U.S. Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics said the organization’s most recent study on homeschooling has yet to be released. But there was a 74% increase in homeschooling from 1999 to 2003, a 36% increase over the next nine years, and by 2012, 3.4% of students in the U.S. were homeschooled, including 31,000 to 41,000 children in Massachusetts.

Grady said the majority of parents cited concern about the environment in schools as the primary reason they decided to homeschool. However, the numbers reflect a limited population; 83% are white, and the income for most households is $50,000 to $100,000.

But local parents say the benefits are numerous: Homeschooling can be tailored to meet each child’s need; each child has a one-on-one-tutor; they can learn at their own pace without being labeled, which is especially important if they are ahead or behind in a subject area; they learn to think more independently than their peers; they are not bored by subjects they lack interest in or have already mastered; the environment is safe and devoid of bullying; and unusually close family relationships are forged due to a lifestyle that incorporates learning at every level.

Which is not to say that parents never have doubts.

David Iacobucci of East Longmeadow is a middle-school vice principal, and when his wife Adriana told him she wanted to homeschool their children he was apprehensive because he lacked a true understanding of the possibilities.

But over the years, a series of small and consistent successes that began when he watched Adriana teach his children to read built a belief in homeschooling that exceeded anything he could have imagined.

It has involved a lot of lot of hard work; the couple has studied Massachusetts and Connecticut state standards, and David has provided Adriana with many resources gleaned from his own career. But ultimately, he discovered that what was taking place in his home was the ideal set for public schools: Student-centered learning with an unlimited opportunity for socialization through a full schedule of diverse activities.

But he admits he continued to have some reservations, although they diminished over time, until his oldest daughter, Lena, got her first report card in a brick-and-mortar high school.

Today, Lena is a senior and president of the National Honor Society in East Longmeadow High School; her younger sister Sofia, who entered public school in 7th grade, has also earned honors, including the Presidential Award for Academic Excellence in eighth grade; and 11-year-old Eliza and 8-year-old Luca are being homeschooled by Adriana.

For this edition and its focus on education, BusinessWest takes a look at homeschooling through the eyes of several local families who shared their fears, hopes, and dreams, and the challenges and rewards of this form of alternative education.

Unlimited Resources

Miranda Shannon of Amherst started homeschooling 16 years ago. Today, one of her children is in graduate school, two are in college, her 18-year-old just finished his high school homeschooling program, and her 14-year-old son is still being homeschooled.

“Homeschooling is a viable way to educate children that can be done successfully because it allows parents to take their children’s personalities and learning styles into account; the ultimate goal is to produce an educated, self-confident young person,” Shannon told BusinessWest, noting that it’s more accepted today than when she started more than a decade ago.

Shannon is the moderator for the Pioneer Valley Homeschoolers Group, an inclusive, eclectic, online support group started in 2000 by a handful of families in a playgroup who shared the same goals.

It’s a place where people can find resources, ask questions, get advice and support, and post events, classes, and other activities. The group also offers help on tasks that include how to turn in paperwork required by local school departments as well as other practical information.

“There are things that every family must do, but when it comes to actual teaching we all do things very differently,” Shannon said, noting that PVHG provides support at all stages of schooling, from preschool/kindergarten through high school, which is important; veteran homeschoolers, who schooled their teens through high school give advice to families who wish to do the same.

The help ranges from information about existing options to advice on how to create high school transcripts, and personal experiences with the college application process.

Adrianna Iacobucci

Adrianna Iacobucci helps 11-year-old Eliza and 8-year-old Luca with their studies.

Indeed, so many groups exist in which homeschoolers and parents collaborate that it’s not difficult for parents to find one with like-minded people; they include cooperatives where group learning and projects are the primary focus; clubs formed by parents; support groups; and a growing number of field trips, classes, and educational sessions.

Sophia Sayigh is on the board of directors for Advocates for Home Education in Massachusetts; the statewide nonprofit is based in the Boston area and designed to educate and support parents in the Commonwealth who want to homeschool their children.

She says each town or city is responsible for overseeing residents who are homeschooled, and parents must submit an annual plan for each child. However, there is considerable room for flexibility because homeschoolers are not required to take standardized tests, although they can take an exam similar to the GED if they want a traditional diploma.

But experts say that is not necessary for entrance to college, especially at private schools, and an article in the Journal of College Admission notes that homeschoolers’ ACT and SAT scores are higher than those of public school students, and home-educated college students perform as well as or better than traditionally educated students.

Although some parents use curriculums they purchase to help guide their daily lessons, many create their own based on state standards. The Internet also provides an unlimited trove of resources: Lena Iacobucci took a free college course in psychology when she was in 8th grade, and her sister Sofia took a college course in International Law while she in 6th grade, thanks to offerings on the website www.coursera.org.

Sayigh tells parents to consider their child’s interests and how they learn best and include that in their education plan, and notes that being able to cater to their individual needs is one of the benefits of homeschooling.

“Everything is interdisciplinary,” she said, explaining that although schools divide their day into periods with designated times for different subjects, taking a child who is fascinated by marine biology to an aquarium can lead to extensive reading, research, writing, and math exercises that the child finds interesting. And since children learn best when they are enthusiastic about a subject, it can result in advanced learning.

In fact, homeschooling is an experience far removed from what most people imagine.

“You do not have to recreate school at home; there is no school bus to catch, and if something isn’t working, you change it,” Sayigh said. “Plus, your child doesn’t ever have to struggle because their learning is not dictated by an outside institution.

“Although you need to be able show progress, they don’t have to be at grade level in every subject,” she continued, citing the example of learning to read; there is a continuum of normal, and if parents read to their children every day and take other measures that hold their interest, they attain competence in their own timeframe.

Shattering Misconceptions

Homeschooling parents agree that although it can be a lifesaver for some children, it is definitely not for everyone, and is unlikely to be successful if the parent’s and children’s personalities do not mesh well, or for those unwilling to make the effort required to ensure their children have a multitude of opportunities to interact socially with their peers.

“If the parent is on the quiet or shy side, it may be hard to provide enough socialization for their children,” said Pao-Wilson, a licensed clinical psychologist. “It takes energy and time to network and establish and build the relationships and support that you and your children need.”

Local homeschooling parents say they don’t sit at the kitchen table for six hours a day, and their schedules are much different than one would find in a traditional school setting. Most tackle academic subjects such as math and language arts in the morning, because children learn best when they are not tired.

But their afternoons vary; children meet and do projects or learn lessons with co-op groups, take field trips, do volunteer work, research, read, take part in organized sports, and participate in the many programs that have sprung up in recent years at local museums, nature centers, and other facilities offering programs expressly for home-schooled students.

Gary Pao Wilson and his son Dillan

Gary Pao Wilson and his son Dillan share a close relationship and many interests, which was the intent behind Jean Pao Wilson’s decision to homeschool their children.

For example, Springfield College started a free physical education program last year for homeschoolers that divides them by age and meets on Friday mornings.

“All aspects of the program are directly supervised by Springfield College faculty members,” said Springfield College PEHE Chairman Stephen C. Coulon. “The physical education instruction is offered in a supportive environment with the emphasis on achievement and enjoyment.”

Parents also start their own groups. Pao Wilson and another homeschooling mother received a STEM grant from 4-H to start a Science Club, and was helped by two friends; a molecular cellular biologist and a friend with a degree in astrophysics.

“I know it’s incumbent on me to find programs that will interest my children, and if something doesn’t exist, I need to create it or find resources that will help me,” she said.

Most children’s schedules are filled with activities and trips to places that interest them, and they also belong to Girl Scouts, Cub Scouts, local sports teams, and more.

Social skills are formed as they work on projects in homeschool cooperatives and through the many group activities they take part in. In fact, parents and children say that being in a classroom doesn’t mean you will make friends with the people around you, and that it’s easy for them to form friendships in a homeschooling environment.

“You don’t need to be with 30 kids a day to develop as a normal, happy person, and homeschooled children are often more comfortable with adults because they don’t view them as someone who is trying to keep them in order,” Sayigh noted, adding that she successfully homeschooled her two children.

Different Styles

Pao Wilson does not think of homeschooling as simply another way to master academics; instead she views it as a place to learn lessons about life; develop critical thinking skills; and share her personal values.

And since most homeschoolers engage in a wide variety of activities related to their schooling, that’s exactly what has occurred with her children.

Her daughter Amelia, has earned ribbons for science-related projects in 4-H; taken photography classes, and pursued other things that interest her.

And although Dillan chose to leave homeschooling for a traditional education, 13-year-old Amelia tried an English class, then decided she wants to continue learning at home.

“I can do things at my own pace at home. It’s easier than having a schedule,” she said, adding that she likes the flexibility of being able to take a break when she gets tired.

Her outside activities include horseback riding, but she says she is very self-motivated when it comes to schoolwork.

“My mom is always there if I have questions, and I don’t have to wait for an e-mail or a phone call to get the answer,” she continued, citing the benefits. “Some of my friends wish they were homeschooled.”

Pao Wilson and other parents say they were initially apprehensive about their ability to teach their children, but when doubt arises, she recognizes it’s something she has to make peace with.

But it quickly became clear that she had to spend time on her relationship with her children and their relationships with each other; they had to learn to negotiate and resolve conflicts with each other, express their emotions, and get along.

“I had to change my style of parenting, and by the time they were 10 and 8, I was talking to them like they were teenagers,” she said. “But they were able to develop their own thoughts about things without worrying about conforming to the norm or being subjected to the pressure of how others perceive them.”

Adriana Iacobucci, who has homeschooled for 13 years, said she and her husband David gave their children choices from the time they were toddlers, and the decision to homeschool evolved after their oldest daughter Lena returned from preschool and announced she could learn the same things at home.

“We wanted them to be self-directed learners,” she said, adding that homeschooling families learn quickly to respect and support one another even if their teaching styles are very different.

Like other parents, she has moments of doubt, but she also views it as a challenge that must be overcome. But she has been part of many co-op groups, and continues to make a concerted effort to involve her children in as many activities as possible.

“They have been in many situations with diverse families, so they’re open minded about other people and really accept them,” she noted. “Our children are also extremely independent; making decisions about their own academic studies has spilled over into how they spend their time and who they spend it with.”

She has enjoyed watching them learn, and says it’s a luxury to allow them the time and space they need to master subjects they find challenging.

Eliza is still at home, and the 11-year-old enjoys her lifestyle. “I like being homeschooled, although I definitely do want to go to high school,” she said.

Her 8-year-old brother Luca also likes being homeschooled. “You don’t have to be in class as long,” he said, reciting subjects he enjoys, including science and math.

Difficult Lessons

Pao Wilson says homeschooling requires parents to learn how to learn themselves, have a desire to examine their beliefs, and be willing to change.

It also requires personal and financial sacrifices, because one parent is home instead of working. “But whether you’re home or making money in the workforce depends on your values and whether your definition of success is measured in dollars,” she noted.

Her initial goal of giving her children more time to spend with their father has been met, and today they all enjoy close relationships.

“Any endeavor worth pursuing will have its share of challenges, and there will be good days and bad days,” she explained. “But in the end, even with the kids squabbling, the uncertainty and worry about whether I’m doing the right thing or if I’m doing enough; and the sacrifices in health, time, energy, money, and sometimes my sanity … I still believe that homeschooling is worth the sacrifice.”

Teen Sofia Iacobucci agrees. “I left homeschooling because I wanted to try something new, and a lot of homeschool friends were going to public school,” she said. “But it was a big change. I liked the freedom we had at home. We had a say in what we wanted to learn instead of being told what we had to do and it allowed me to take my education into my own hands and become independent.”

Which is indeed the goal of every parent; to raise a well-rounded, happy and independent child.

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

BERNARDSTON

91 Bald Mountain Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Brian T. Seaman
Seller: Thomas F. Seaman
Date: 07/21/16

BUCKLAND

31 School St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Raymond Lanza-Weil
Seller: John D. Marry
Date: 07/13/16

COLRAIN

258 Main Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kurt J. Wenzler
Seller: Stuart S. Kingsley
Date: 07/15/16

48 Reils Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Steven Derscha
Seller: William K. Spencer
Date: 07/22/16

DEERFIELD

33 Graves St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brian A. Pytko
Seller: Nell Schechterle
Date: 07/15/16

76 Hillside Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Douglas E. Montminy
Seller: Marc G. Weinberger
Date: 07/15/16

196 Mill Village Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Brian J. Noyes
Date: 07/20/16

67 Sugarloaf St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Mark A. Wightman
Seller: Carol J. Gritz
Date: 07/11/16

69 Sugarloaf St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mark A. Wightman
Seller: Carol J. Gritz
Date: 07/11/16

161 Upper Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Robert H. Daigle
Seller: Robert H. Daigle
Date: 07/21/16

ERVING

19 Mountain Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Rodney W. Willis
Seller: Crosby, Ruth S., (Estate)
Date: 07/14/16

4 Semb Dr.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Aubrey S. Kocjan
Seller: Lori A. Hall
Date: 07/22/16

GREENFIELD

382 Adams Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Carew
Seller: Louis S. Giramma
Date: 07/21/16

18-20 Beech St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $146,120
Buyer: UMassfive College FCU
Seller: Kathleen M. Sullivan
Date: 07/22/16

397 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Hilaire Chucky
Seller: Sherri A. Hickey
Date: 07/13/16

335 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Samuel W. Stafford
Seller: Penny J. Stewart
Date: 07/15/16

425 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $133,500
Buyer: 425 Federal LLC
Seller: Ruggeri, Sebastian J., (Estate)
Date: 07/11/16

126 Maple St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Sean C. Devlin
Seller: Joshua A. Isles
Date: 07/19/16

145 Montague City Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jennifer Smith
Seller: Tracy A. Caisse
Date: 07/14/16

36 Revere Circle
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jenna Skutnik-Sheffield
Seller: Dylan D. Chase
Date: 07/20/16

HEATH

1 Clearwater Dr.
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Richard Allard
Seller: Wayne M. Macdonald
Date: 07/21/16

LEVERETT

15 Chestnut Hill Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: 15 Chestnut Hill Road TR
Seller: Ian Winokur
Date: 07/12/16

LEYDEN

555 West Leyden Road
Leyden, MA 01337
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Roark C. Herron
Seller: Patrick D. Sullivan
Date: 07/18/16

MONTAGUE

19 G St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Sadoway, Jack, (Estate)
Seller: Todd M. Shute
Date: 07/14/16

26 Maple St.
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Suzanne L. Lomanto
Seller: Lorraine D. Boguslawski
Date: 07/11/16

132 Montague City Road
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Curtis J. Lindberg
Seller: Douglas E. Montminy
Date: 07/15/16

16 Old Sunderland Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Amy E. Bovaird
Seller: Melissa L. Ross
Date: 07/22/16

70 Old Sunderland Road
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Kimberlee A. Gilhuly
Seller: Diane L. Norman
Date: 07/15/16

98 South Prospect St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Shawn Peyton-Pack
Seller: Craig Mackinnon
Date: 07/15/16

71 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: William J. Doyle
Seller: William A. Mackinnon
Date: 07/14/16

NEW SALEM

102 Whitaker Road
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $207,296
Buyer: Matthew J. Ferris
Seller: Garrick P. Doherty
Date: 07/13/16

ORANGE

80 East Myrtle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Adam S. Whitten
Seller: Swan, Richard C., (Estate)
Date: 07/22/16

189 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Terry L. Parker
Seller: Marc E. Parent
Date: 07/22/16

410 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Juliana L. Costa
Seller: Nathan A. Lacroix
Date: 07/11/16

170 Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Andrew S. Daisey
Seller: Raymond A. Teague
Date: 07/15/16

40 Town Farm Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Anne M. Chenausky
Date: 07/11/16

SHUTESBURY

56 Lakeview Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $309,900
Buyer: Lisa L. Adams
Seller: Jeremey A. Wright
Date: 07/21/16

375 Locks Pond Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: David R. Bernard
Seller: Donna L. Thackeray
Date: 07/22/16

291 Wendell Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: Melanie R. Desilva
Seller: Margaret M. Miklovich
Date: 07/19/16

SUNDERLAND

57 South Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $294,000
Buyer: Leif C. Riddington
Seller: William L. Rice
Date: 07/22/16

WHATELY

95 Westbrook Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $305,000
Buyer: Christopher R. Bourbeau
Seller: John P. Betsold
Date: 07/15/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

48 Carmen Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Barbara Nutbrown
Date: 07/14/16

712 Cooper St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Dmitriy Sidoryuk
Seller: Antonia Liquori
Date: 07/18/16

79 Cosgrove Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Daniel D. Osborn-Schray
Seller: Travis L. Trout
Date: 07/22/16

121 Fairview St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Nicolle Serafino
Seller: Christina Crevier
Date: 07/22/16

59 Federal Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Kelly Day
Seller: Catherine A. Valego
Date: 07/20/16

49 James St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $143,650
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Raymond J. Smith
Date: 07/18/16

199 Juniper Ridge Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $408,000
Buyer: Jack E. Vadnais
Seller: David M. Lloyd
Date: 07/15/16

111 Kensington St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Darren M. Rempp
Seller: Colleen A. Secovich
Date: 07/22/16

41 Lealand Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Peter M. Brault
Seller: Courtney J. Marshall
Date: 07/15/16

14 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Shawn P. Tatro
Seller: Aaron D. Holloway
Date: 07/20/16

140 Maple St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Fred R. Slattery
Seller: Elizabeth A. Jarvis
Date: 07/13/16

29 Mckinley St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Stephen A. Virella
Seller: John Williamson
Date: 07/18/16

586 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $567,450
Buyer: Chicopee Kendall LLC
Seller: Joseph L. Hart
Date: 07/21/16

9 Nolan Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $397,500
Buyer: Aaron D. Holloway
Seller: Patrick Benvenuto
Date: 07/21/16

42 Norman Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $141,000
Buyer: Vitalie Radu
Seller: Wilmington Savings
Date: 07/13/16

41 Pineview Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: STE Properties LLC
Seller: Susan C. Roberts
Date: 07/22/16

425 Pine St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $378,750
Buyer: Nancy L. Lane
Seller: Vincenzo P. Tirone
Date: 07/14/16

12 Scherpa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Elizabeth M. Gavioli
Seller: Kyle A. Gendron
Date: 07/20/16

65 Shopping Center
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: 65 Agawam Shopping Center LLC
Seller: BGL Corp.
Date: 07/21/16

24-26 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Xueling Tang
Seller: Samue L. Fay
Date: 07/19/16

BLANDFORD

19 Herrick Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Richard A. Lesperance
Seller: Kathleen M. Deviny
Date: 07/18/16

1 Maple Lane
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Sean P. Slowey
Seller: David Y. Proctor
Date: 07/21/16

BRIMFIELD

31 Lyman Barnes Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Paul B. Blackburn
Seller: David B. Deraleau
Date: 07/20/16

48 Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Joseph Fife
Seller: Roger E. Woods
Date: 07/19/16

CHESTER

689 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Anthony A. Volino
Date: 07/22/16

CHICOPEE

67 Basil Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $249,500
Buyer: James R. Cartier
Seller: Richard H. Gelinas
Date: 07/15/16

167 Beauregard Terrace
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,500
Buyer: Xizhong Yu
Seller: Shawn A. Guilbault
Date: 07/15/16

38 Dallaire Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Jaime Gilbert
Seller: Tuttle, Barbara A., (Estate)
Date: 07/15/16

25 Florence St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Ekrem Ademi
Seller: Renata Obiedzinski
Date: 07/14/16

34 Frink St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $190,900
Buyer: Kathleen M. Lavallee
Seller: Dennis R. Kahelalis
Date: 07/12/16

124 Gelinas Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Joshua E. Fradette
Seller: Jean B. Crevier IRT
Date: 07/22/16

38 Keddy Blvd.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $129,600
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Eric J. Davidson
Date: 07/14/16

45 Keith St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Lisa A. Phillips
Seller: Kevin A. Morris
Date: 07/15/16

83 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Deborah A. Dart
Seller: Christina K. Ford
Date: 07/15/16

100 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $146,925
Buyer: Heather M. Pietras-Gladu
Seller: Gail L. Turgeon
Date: 07/22/16

17 Morgan Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: Anthony Garfi
Seller: CRA Holdings Inc.
Date: 07/21/16

87 Old Farm Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Kimberly Sullivan
Seller: Robert Sadowski
Date: 07/22/16

202 Old Lyman Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Casey A. Breault
Seller: DGL Properties LLC
Date: 07/20/16

93 Paradise St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Daisy M. Aguilar
Seller: Annette M. Rochon
Date: 07/15/16

44 Pearl St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Richard L. Guimond
Seller: Peter J. Burek
Date: 07/11/16

90 Quartus St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Beatriz Agosto
Seller: Tyrone Osoimalo
Date: 07/15/16

160 Ruskin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Roxanne Labonte
Seller: Benjamin R. Christopher
Date: 07/11/16

1 Sherbrooke St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Joseph R. Beaulieu
Seller: Jeannette M. Beaulieu
Date: 07/13/16

189 Silvin Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Tarka
Seller: Joseph P. Tavernier
Date: 07/22/16

121 Streiber Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Jaime Santiago
Seller: Rachel M. Garfi
Date: 07/21/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

182 Benton Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $4,500,000
Buyer: Storage Properties East Longmeadow
Seller: Big Wind Corp.
Date: 07/14/16

21 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Dumala
Seller: Joseph F. Dilk
Date: 07/15/16

48 Greenwich Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $404,000
Buyer: Richard J. Condon
Seller: Daniel J. Swords
Date: 07/13/16

60 Helen Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $150,439
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: Scott R. Lafond
Date: 07/11/16

10 Jennifer Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Robert W. Jergensen
Seller: Gia Santaniello
Date: 07/22/16

98 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $192,450
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: James J. Griffin
Date: 07/19/16

10 Maynard St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: David P. Stgeorge
Seller: Oscar Real Estate LLC
Date: 07/15/16

24 Mill Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Dianne M. Evans
Seller: Michael Carabetta
Date: 07/12/16

76 Millbrook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Turowsky
Seller: Bailey, Albert 3rd, (Estate)
Date: 07/18/16

30 North Circle Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Jill M. Pszeniczny
Seller: Bruce W. Stebbins
Date: 07/12/16

141 Old Farm Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Talal Khan
Seller: Italo Santaniello
Date: 07/21/16

32 Scantic Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: Colin J. Robinson
Seller: Charles G. Lutz
Date: 07/15/16

4 Theresa St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Ryan P. Dermody
Seller: Matthew S. Hooper
Date: 07/22/16

11 Vadnais St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Shahadat Hossain
Seller: Adriana Lefebvre
Date: 07/21/16

65 Westernview Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $343,880
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: Whitney T. Thompson
Date: 07/22/16

78 Woodbridge Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $586,500
Buyer: Christopher D. McKinnon
Seller: Daniel J. Kleeberg
Date: 07/13/16

GRANVILLE

23 Dickinson Dr.
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Michael Hooben
Seller: Monica W. Mills
Date: 07/15/16

346 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $254,500
Buyer: Amy Jones
Seller: Nicholas Haftmann
Date: 07/13/16

474 Main Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Timothy A. Rickis
Seller: Carrie A. Forshay
Date: 07/15/16

538 South Lane
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Mark A. Gargiulo
Seller: Peter J. Batchelar
Date: 07/15/16

HAMPDEN

15 Fisher Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Anthony D. Smith
Seller: Joyce A. Dugre
Date: 07/20/16

71 Highland Circle
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Angel J. Rios
Seller: Bruce Stewart
Date: 07/19/16

HOLLAND

5 Candlewood Court
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $292,800
Buyer: Simon J. Gunnell
Seller: Bogdan Wyszomirski
Date: 07/18/16

1 Howlett Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $256,500
Buyer: Peter J. Brandolini
Seller: David S. Carson
Date: 07/11/16

Lake Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Holly M. Frisbie
Seller: Rebecca A. Bianchi
Date: 07/14/16

2 Old County Way
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Maple Ledge Associates
Seller: Kent E. Andersen
Date: 07/13/16

124 Old County Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Michael Damato
Seller: Kevin Sawyer
Date: 07/18/16

HOLYOKE

31 Bray Park Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Ian M. Guenette
Seller: Kara A. Schoeffel
Date: 07/22/16

18 Columbus Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Carmen O. Pena
Seller: Jeremy V. Croake
Date: 07/15/16

8 Liberty St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Alexandra J. Rowland
Seller: Chester W. Dudley
Date: 07/22/16

76 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $238,600
Buyer: Carolyn R. Sheridan
Seller: Sarah J. Dalhaus
Date: 07/11/16

1244 Main St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $137,024
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Cindy B. Baran
Date: 07/12/16

21 Norwood Terrace
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Jodine Powers
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 07/22/16

568 South East St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: ALE Ventures LLC
Seller: 568 South East Street LLC
Date: 07/15/16

22 Upland Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Cheryl G. Labrie
Seller: Patricia A. Keane
Date: 07/22/16

1 Wayne Court
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Trent Rivers
Seller: Lesley K. Lauderdale
Date: 07/19/16

LONGMEADOW

124 Birnie Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Michael Michaud
Seller: Katherine Cincotta
Date: 07/14/16

56 Churchill Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $569,500
Buyer: Stephen J. Kelly
Seller: Richard M. Owens
Date: 07/11/16

174 Edgewood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $259,500
Buyer: Daniel E. Sewell
Seller: Ronald Rice
Date: 07/22/16

75 Erskine Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Manish Sharma
Seller: Audrey G. Psaltis
Date: 07/15/16

57 Eton Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $396,900
Buyer: Garth Wolber
Seller: Richard J. Condon
Date: 07/13/16

1016 Frank Smith Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Carl A. Antonucci
Seller: Harold H. Hershelman
Date: 07/18/16

34 Greenwich Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $639,000
Buyer: Dean Curtis
Seller: Amy L. Greenbaum
Date: 07/21/16

626 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Roberto D. Naranjo
Seller: Marsha P. Conniff
Date: 07/11/16

787 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $449,900
Buyer: David Lyon-Bennett
Seller: Robert A. Lusardi
Date: 07/22/16

66 Metacomet Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $336,500
Buyer: Rachel L. Goldberg
Seller: Patrick J. McCoy
Date: 07/15/16

126 Oakwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $257,200
Buyer: Paul W. Koetsch
Seller: Carol A. Breton
Date: 07/15/16

7 Twin Hills Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $680,000
Buyer: Susan E. Denmark
Seller: Todd M. Adelson
Date: 07/20/16

312 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Alecka J. Kress
Seller: Erin Beaulieu
Date: 07/12/16

LUDLOW

25 Bliss St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $349,800
Buyer: Glen W. Shenkin
Seller: Gois Building Inc.
Date: 07/22/16

29 Cherry St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: James W. Monette
Seller: Adam Provost
Date: 07/15/16

23 Daisy Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Kristie Burdick
Seller: Gary G. Decoteau
Date: 07/18/16

81 Lockland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Renata Lewandowska
Seller: Elaine Tranquilli
Date: 07/18/16

1081 Lyon St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $341,000
Buyer: Adam J. Provost
Seller: James R. Cartier
Date: 07/15/16

42 Prokop Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: James E. Morell
Seller: Melissa M. Miele
Date: 07/20/16

132 River St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $209,500
Buyer: Melissa Ibay
Seller: Myrna E. Vehr
Date: 07/14/16

16 Vienna Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Christopher P. Silveira
Date: 07/20/16

MONSON

42 Bradway Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $290,500
Buyer: Richard D. Gastone
Seller: Kevin C. Ferguson
Date: 07/15/16

14 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Robert M. Clingman
Date: 07/13/16

167 Stafford Hollow Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Robert Pratt
Seller: Joeli R. McQuaid-Robert
Date: 07/15/16

PALMER

1 Beacon Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $12,100,000
Buyer: BC Palmer Green LLC
Seller: Palmer Green Assocs. LP
Date: 07/14/16

29 Bourne St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Angela M. Lebel
Seller: Zofia Gorzynska
Date: 07/20/16

87 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $162,900
Buyer: Michael Bedrosian
Seller: Dean P. Smith
Date: 07/14/16

19 Oakland St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Jared M. Sawabi
Seller: Robert Ray-Canterbury
Date: 07/15/16

57 Olney Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Carlos M. Huertas
Seller: Anthony E. Poindexter
Date: 07/12/16

3051 Palmer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $239,250
Buyer: Michael R. Harris
Seller: Mark Jackson
Date: 07/15/16

1352 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Matthew Johnson
Seller: Michael T. Marquette
Date: 07/15/16

2050 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jesse E. Taylor
Seller: Lisa F. Godek
Date: 07/21/16

1130 South Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Amherst Railway Society
Seller: Crossway Christian Church
Date: 07/21/16

31 Smith St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: David B. Deraleau
Seller: Richard M. Opper
Date: 07/20/16

129 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Lauren M. Reutenauer
Seller: Rose C. Dinelle
Date: 07/18/16

RUSSELL

75 Highland Ave.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Leo S. Hicks
Seller: Margaret L. Belanger
Date: 07/15/16

SPRINGFIELD

57 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $768,000
Buyer: Allen 57 LLC
Seller: Bill Stathakos
Date: 07/20/16

187 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Raymond Gonzalez
Seller: Andrew J. Jolicoeur
Date: 07/19/16

53 Balfour Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Sean C. Devanney
Seller: Siobhan E. O’Toole
Date: 07/12/16

406-408 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $795,000
Buyer: Sic Infit LLC
Seller: Stoneridge Realty LLC
Date: 07/15/16

36 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Stephen F. Rivers
Seller: Bryant M. Melluzzo
Date: 07/22/16

315 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $819,000
Buyer: UH Boston 315 LLC
Seller: Bill Stathakos
Date: 07/20/16

28 Brown St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $134,233
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Christopher C. Grier
Date: 07/22/16

35 Burnside Terrace
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Lenin A. Diaz-Guerrero
Seller: Tracy L. Lukas
Date: 07/15/16

188 Cherokee Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Tavia Jones
Seller: Evelyn Vergara
Date: 07/22/16

78 Dana St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Jessica Santiago
Seller: Arnaud T. Goulette
Date: 07/11/16

5 Danaher Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Derek Metras
Seller: Diane M. Laporte
Date: 07/22/16

299-301 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: John F. McCarthy
Seller: HSB Investments LLC
Date: 07/22/16

37 Dresden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $130,463
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Thomas Crane
Date: 07/11/16

475 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Bison Biswa
Seller: Jill Yarkey-Judd
Date: 07/15/16

75 Edgemont St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $124,999
Buyer: Paul Gilday
Seller: Branco Construction LLC
Date: 07/18/16

239 El Paso St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jesse Carman
Seller: Wayne P. Labranche
Date: 07/18/16

150 Ellendale Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Mary Corbett
Seller: Jeffrey E. Kline
Date: 07/19/16

248 Fiberloid St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jeff Patnaude
Seller: Jason R. Blinn
Date: 07/14/16

515 Forest Hills Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Doria M. Farrington
Seller: Richard Delviscio
Date: 07/15/16

225 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: James Francisco
Seller: Stephen M. Orszulak
Date: 07/14/16

32 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $177,400
Buyer: Michael P. O’Connor
Seller: Carol A. Thompson
Date: 07/14/16

21 Glenvale St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $175,037
Buyer: Edward E. Comini
Seller: Christopher J. Morrison
Date: 07/12/16

83 Groveland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Nidia Torres
Seller: Michael A. Witek
Date: 07/15/16

78 Grover St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,500
Buyer: Jessica L. Demaio
Seller: Hedge Hog Industries Corp.
Date: 07/13/16

335 Hermitage Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $161,500
Buyer: Gregory P. Hebert
Seller: Joseph J. Scruton
Date: 07/20/16

79 Judson St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Stephen D. Clay
Seller: K&N Properties LLC
Date: 07/15/16

73 Kirk Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Sheila I. Gonzalez
Seller: Bryant M. Hersh
Date: 07/22/16

12 Leyfred Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Suzy-Ann N. Baker
Seller: Vadim G. Romanchenko
Date: 07/18/16

89-91 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Jesse Martinez
Seller: Robert C. Leduc
Date: 07/15/16

25 Lynebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kyle M. Mascaro
Seller: Dennis J. Dowling
Date: 07/22/16

90 Macomber Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $201,000
Buyer: Syreeta Frazer
Seller: Keith A. Romano
Date: 07/12/16

644-652 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $713,000
Buyer: UH Main 644 LLC
Seller: Bill Stathakos
Date: 07/20/16

62 Manchester Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $146,500
Buyer: Ashlee Viens
Seller: Colin J. Robinson
Date: 07/15/16

169-171 Maynard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Jose Martinez
Seller: Daphne McDonald
Date: 07/15/16

93-95 Melha Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Eliana Taveras
Seller: Matteo J. RETtura
Date: 07/22/16

78-80 Mooreland St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: KG Holdings Inc.
Seller: William Raleigh
Date: 07/15/16

34 Newport St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Gloria Garcia
Seller: Brianne C. Methe
Date: 07/14/16

54 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Dean T. Godek
Seller: Luso FCU
Date: 07/20/16

83 Oakwood Terrace
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Justin M. Crapps
Seller: Viviana Council
Date: 07/15/16

90 Ogden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jean Claude-Letendre
Seller: Gladys C. Markuson
Date: 07/12/16

1943 Page Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Manuel Dejesus-Santiago
Seller: Elias Colon
Date: 07/18/16

60 Palmyra St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $181,986
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Benjamin B. Fox
Date: 07/18/16

72 Pear St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Tonika Feliciano
Seller: Nelson Garcia
Date: 07/18/16

34 Rencelau St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Katina M. Syner
Seller: Timothy F. Murphy
Date: 07/22/16

65 Riverview Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Kerry-Ann Crichton
Seller: SAW Construction LLC
Date: 07/19/16

57 Rochford Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Quang N. Nguyen
Date: 07/14/16

82 Rochford Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Labonte
Seller: Labonte, Shirley W., (Estate)
Date: 07/14/16

79 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: David Borkosky
Seller: Cheryl A. Raymond
Date: 07/15/16

32 Scarsdale Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Loni J. Sawtelle
Seller: James Niedbala
Date: 07/11/16

219 Seymour Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Samuel Gomez-Gonzalez
Seller: MYA Realty LLC
Date: 07/14/16

32 Sawmill Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Erika Linares
Seller: Denise L. Dickinson
Date: 07/19/16

5 Signal Hill Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Ernesto A. Castillo
Seller: Stanley Czaplicki
Date: 07/15/16

335 Sunrise Terrace
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $131,000
Buyer: Ace Home Equity Loan TR
Seller: Tony Yarborough
Date: 07/12/16

70 Sunset Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Kirsten M. Schuster
Seller: MYA Realty LLC
Date: 07/12/16

48 Thompson St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Brian E. Layfield
Seller: Jesse Carman
Date: 07/18/16

365 Tiffany St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Nancy J. Shewchuck
Seller: Sapphire Property Development LLC
Date: 07/14/16

95 Victoria St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Angel Rodriguez
Seller: Miguel A. Filpo
Date: 07/22/16

21-23 Virginia St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $119,445
Buyer: Bank New York Mellon
Seller: Michael C. Tuitt
Date: 07/22/16

90-92 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Joseph Sostre-Diaz
Date: 07/11/16

73 Wakefield St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $124,000
Buyer: Stephanie T. Jenkins
Seller: Lee A. Smola
Date: 07/15/16

195 Whittum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,900
Buyer: Luis A. Flores
Seller: Richard Chang
Date: 07/20/16

100 Wilmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: George Allen
Seller: Teneo Properties LLC
Date: 07/21/16

19-21 Windemere St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Marcus Wannamaker
Seller: Mario J. Tascon
Date: 07/14/16

1150 Worcester St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Kimone Gilbert
Seller: Kerri J. Niemice
Date: 07/11/16

1090 Worthington St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $389,000
Buyer: Bridge Home Inc.
Seller: Stephen P. White
Date: 07/22/16

SOUTHWICK

16 Gillette Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Joseph P. Myette
Date: 07/13/16

13 Grandview St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Benjamin J. Barton
Seller: Ralph H. Barton
Date: 07/11/16

16 Jeffrey Circle
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $324,900
Buyer: Matthew S. Bailey
Seller: Thomas R. Drapeau
Date: 07/15/16

316 North Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: John J. Morizio
Seller: Mark A. Criscitelli
Date: 07/12/16

3 Overlook Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Carolyn J. Cardaropoli
Seller: Pinnacle Estates at the Ranch
Date: 07/21/16

126 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Maryssa C. Cook-Obregon
Seller: James N. Beaulieu
Date: 07/19/16

8 Veteran St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Michael L. Menard
Seller: Susan W. Gilbert
Date: 07/15/16

73 Vining Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: William Kingman
Seller: Cynthia Marshall
Date: 07/22/16

TOLLAND

166 Brook Lane
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: William Minarik
Seller: John D. Martin
Date: 07/14/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

128 Althea St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $246,000
Buyer: Tracy L. Renaud
Seller: Donald F. Scripter
Date: 07/22/16

18 Ames Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Kathleen E. Sullivan
Date: 07/22/16

57 Belmont Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Scott Henderson
Seller: Shane J. Coffey
Date: 07/12/16

159 Connecticut Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Noah L. Cahillane
Seller: Oak Ridge Custom Home
Date: 07/22/16

43 Dorwin Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Robert E. McQueen
Seller: Kristen M. Haskins
Date: 07/18/16

232 Great Plains Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Rene O. Feliberty
Seller: David Braska
Date: 07/12/16

245 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Rebecca L. Taylor
Seller: Sergey Radionov
Date: 07/15/16

179 Lower Beverly Hills
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Anibal Jurado-Cruz
Seller: Craig W. Brown
Date: 07/12/16

76 Lynne Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Qahil Ahmeti
Seller: Frank W. Orr
Date: 07/13/16

758 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Javat Azizov
Seller: Xiuyu Ma
Date: 07/15/16

18-20 Morningside Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: MCL NT
Seller: Melissa Lichwan-Besse
Date: 07/13/16

49 Overlook Dr.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $216,400
Buyer: Keith R. Laflamme
Seller: Lisa M. Grondin
Date: 07/15/16

88 Partridge Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Andrey Korniyenko
Seller: James F. Sullivan
Date: 07/21/16

224 Prospect Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Priscilla A. Turgeon
Seller: S&C Homebuyers LLC
Date: 07/21/16

41 Silver St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Melanie D. Allen
Date: 07/12/16

442 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: T&Y LLC
Seller: Mark J. Danalis
Date: 07/15/16

2275 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Scott Ryan
Seller: Krishel P. Allen
Date: 07/22/16

47 Wilder Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Maksim Kolesnichenko
Seller: FNMA  Date: 07/13/16

43-45 Witch Path
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $408,000
Buyer: CA&DA Realty LLC
Seller: Mark F. Stinson
Date: 07/15/16

WESTFIELD

78 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Anthony G. Grader
Seller: Michael C. Oglivie
Date: 07/13/16

17 Blueberry Ridge
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Steven D. Leon
Seller: Melissa A. Gagnon
Date: 07/13/16

16 Christopher Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Liliya Kostinyuk
Seller: Bayview Loan Servicing
Date: 07/18/16

19 Country Club Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Vasily Zhuk
Seller: FNMA
Date: 07/22/16

33 Ely St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Wynn
Seller: Charlene C. O’Rourke
Date: 07/13/16

89 Fairfield Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Emil J. Altobello
Seller: Kevin J. Uva
Date: 07/14/16

41 Fowler St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $136,110
Buyer: Samantha L. Pielock
Seller: Joshua J. Massie
Date: 07/11/16

88 Highland View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Jason A. Croteau
Date: 07/13/16

6 Knollwood Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Steven M. Boisseau
Seller: Amy K. Hathaway
Date: 07/15/16

279 Loomis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Kiratsoulis
Seller: Theodore R. Koziol
Date: 07/13/16

6 Madison St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Jefferey M. Pleu
Seller: Tok Chang
Date: 07/18/16

48 Maple Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Roland R. Deblois
Seller: John D. Daniels
Date: 07/19/16

89 Mountain View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Tracey A. Bey
Seller: Kevin M. Dale
Date: 07/11/16

73 Old County Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Ella Krapova
Seller: John J. O’Connor
Date: 07/15/16

17 Overlook Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $249,900
Buyer: Gerald M. Oleksak
Seller: Joshua M. Carrig
Date: 07/18/16

274 Paper Mill Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $194,880
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Alan C. Matthews
Date: 07/19/16

50 Pleasant St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Ghenadie V. Cravet
Date: 07/13/16

19 Rider Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jordan T. Figueroa
Seller: Jeffrey P. Cyr
Date: 07/13/16

15 Sherwood Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Ryan T. Maheu
Seller: Thomas D. Robert
Date: 07/15/16

34 Southview Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $210,100
Buyer: Diane E. Tillman
Seller: Elisa A. Jaskolka-Monney
Date: 07/15/16

130 Steiger Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Alexander Purshaga
Seller: Robert I. White
Date: 07/18/16

6 Stephanie Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Craig A. Miller
Seller: Wayne W. Wood
Date: 07/22/16

11 Susan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Elizabeth J. Bigelow
Seller: Diane E. Tillman
Date: 07/15/16

25 William St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $144,757
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Kenneth A. Newell
Date: 07/15/16

18 Wilson Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Karianne M. Pioretta
Seller: Elaine J. Lees
Date: 07/13/16

WILBRAHAM

85 3 Rivers Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Margaret T. Wrede
Date: 07/19/16

23 Brooklawn Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Stratton Renovation LLC
Seller: John Haggerty
Date: 07/12/16

195 Burleigh Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $285,850
Buyer: Sean Cavanaugh
Seller: Annemarie Sweeney
Date: 07/18/16

30 Delmor Ave.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Plumtree Real Estate LLC
Seller: FHLM
Date: 07/20/16

3 Forest Glade Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $292,500
Buyer: Kristen M. Hughes
Seller: Cheryl D. Noad
Date: 07/15/16

7 Greenwood Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Jodoin
Seller: Mary C. Manning
Date: 07/15/16

3 Linwood Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Jonathan Courtney
Seller: US Bank
Date: 07/19/16

22 McIntosh Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Mathew A. Cowles
Seller: Daniel A. Shore
Date: 07/22/16

6 Pine Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michael A. Walker
Seller: Catherine C. Deloria
Date: 07/11/16

352 Springfield St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Andre L. Lamoureux
Seller: Mary E. Dickson
Date: 07/18/16

2 Stirrup Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Samson H. Hanka
Seller: Paul R. Bernier
Date: 07/11/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

23 Canton Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: John R. Sirard
Seller: Goralski, Lillian E., (Estate)
Date: 07/15/16

151 Columbia Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Eric Engelson
Seller: Paul R. Christiansen
Date: 07/12/16

27 Glendale Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Jennifer H. Kaplan
Seller: Cynthia A. McDonald
Date: 07/19/16

6 Kamins Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Francisco Cruz
Seller: Michael F. Malone
Date: 07/19/16

105 Leverett Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $304,000
Buyer: Chul Park
Seller: Melanie R. Desilva
Date: 07/13/16

30 Lindenridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $639,900
Buyer: Louis Parrot
Seller: Elizabeth E. Wright
Date: 07/11/16

44 Owen Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $765,000
Buyer: Peter H. Reinhart
Seller: Thomas S. Vanwinkle
Date: 07/15/16

360 Pelham Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $278,500
Buyer: Ruta M. Duncia
Seller: Melvin Carlson Jr. NT
Date: 07/14/16

156 Shutesbury Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Amy E. Kahn
Seller: James M. Theroux
Date: 07/21/16

61 South Mount Holyoke Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: William E. Soares
Seller: Nancy Jenal
Date: 07/21/16

211 South Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $352,000
Buyer: Amherst College
Seller: Jennifer H. Kaplan
Date: 07/15/16

6 Smith St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $354,000
Buyer: Evan A. O’Neill
Seller: Christopher Prather
Date: 07/13/16

132 Van Meter Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Mukul C. Gangull
Seller: John O’Brien
Date: 07/20/16

20 Whippletree Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $394,900
Buyer: Ric Weinman
Seller: Jesse S. Ortiz
Date: 07/15/16

36 Woodlot Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Conrad A. Marvin
Seller: Jeannette M. Tokarz
Date: 07/20/16

BELCHERTOWN

34 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: George W. Daole-Wellman
Seller: James O. Pazaris
Date: 07/15/16

59 Bay Path Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Daniel M. Laragy
Seller: Harold L. Boudreau
Date: 07/22/16

21 Brandywine Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Robert C. Merryman
Seller: Guodong Zhang
Date: 07/21/16

321 Chauncey Walker St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Brian R. Woodward
Seller: Jeffrey A. Demaio
Date: 07/22/16

38 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Heidi L. Bonafini
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 07/22/16

17 Jasons Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $595,000
Buyer: Matthew W. Buckingham
Seller: Heidi L. Bonafini
Date: 07/22/16

17 Ledgewood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Laira F. Vonschilling
Seller: Ronald C. Abdow
Date: 07/14/16

16 Nathaniel Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: William M. Powell
Seller: John Malinowski
Date: 07/18/16

27 Old Pelham Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Jeffrey Gnatek
Seller: Sarah D. Prall
Date: 07/22/16

270 South Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $157,250
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Jeremy C. Lackie
Date: 07/21/16

633 Warren Wright Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: David D. Messing
Seller: G&H Development LLC
Date: 07/18/16

CUMMINGTON

20 Porter Hill Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Jasper Kirk-Gardner
Seller: Andrew W. Dickinson
Date: 07/13/16

EASTHAMPTON

112 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Gary R. Campbell
Seller: Household Finance Corp. 2
Date: 07/15/16

33 Groveland St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Zhong Li
Seller: Andrey Korniyenko
Date: 07/20/16

11 Hannum Brook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $273,500
Buyer: John J. O’Connor
Seller: Sherrilyn A. Seklecki
Date: 07/15/16

237 Loudville Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Sherilyn A. Seklecki
Seller: Paul Wodecki
Date: 07/18/16

35 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Zachary F. Ciaschini
Seller: Marilyn Z. Cheek
Date: 07/21/16

14 Matthew Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $384,636
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: Daniel J. Greene
Date: 07/18/16

3 Pine Hill Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Daniel C. Labumbard
Seller: John E. Young
Date: 07/12/16

34 Pine Hill Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Susanne Weinman
Seller: Mary B. Bowers Manning LT
Date: 07/15/16

183-185 Pleasant St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: SSMZ LLC
Seller: Donna M. Weyant
Date: 07/19/16

8 Vadnais St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Emily C. Mew
Seller: Tomaszewski, Judith A., (Estate)
Date: 07/19/16

GOSHEN

37 Aberdeen Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Frederick Alexander
Seller: Haskell FT
Date: 07/14/16

5 Adams Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: David Kaufman
Seller: Lawrence & C. Osborn LT
Date: 07/15/16

GRANBY

257 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $279,500
Buyer: Marc C. Parent
Seller: Cheryl G. Labrie
Date: 07/22/16

34 New Ludlow Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Darrel B. Cutting
Seller: Ivonette Ortiz-Rodriguez
Date: 07/18/16

HADLEY

193 Hockanum Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Rebecca A. Bland
Seller: Samuel J. Russell
Date: 07/22/16

3 Joelle Terrace
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Brian R. Umberger
Seller: Andre L. Daniere
Date: 07/15/16

49 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $412,024
Buyer: Ryan G. Bamford
Seller: Richard D. Lacross
Date: 07/22/16

HUNTINGTON

8 Basket St.
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Nick Toroni
Seller: Katherine A. Kahn
Date: 07/21/16

140 Pond Brook Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Travis Trout
Seller: Gunther J. Reimann
Date: 07/22/16

NORTHAMPTON

17 Brewster Court
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $750,000
Buyer: Cago Enterprises LLC
Seller: Marjorie C. TR
Date: 07/22/16

788 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Anne L. Zawacki
Seller: Donald Y. Stiles
Date: 07/15/16

274 Crescent St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Laura A. Katz
Seller: Christopher F. Clark
Date: 07/20/16

54 Grant Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Rosemund LLC
Seller: Pedruczny, Louise A., (Estate)
Date: 07/14/16

30 Hampden St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Christine A. Nolan
Seller: Nolan, Patricia M., (Estate)
Date: 07/15/16

57 Kensington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $730,000
Buyer: Patrick M. Manseau
Seller: Peter W. Butler
Date: 07/11/16

18 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $247,393
Buyer: Thomas J. Herman
Seller: Center At 35 State St. LLC
Date: 07/22/16

13 Lexington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Letitia L. Ferguson
Seller: Michele E. Derouin
Date: 07/21/16

183 Maple Ridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $555,000
Buyer: Avital Levy-Carlis
Seller: Janice M. Sypek RET
Date: 07/15/16

20 Middle St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Joseph D. Wyman
Seller: Bradley B. Bacom
Date: 07/12/16

154 Oak St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Suzanne B. Goldstein
Seller: Peter J. Ells
Date: 07/22/16

139 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Stephen Petegorsky
Seller: Henry Badner
Date: 07/14/16

347 Riverside Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Angela M. Combest
Seller: Sandra J. Staub
Date: 07/11/16

78 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Michael P. Damon
Seller: Robert N. McLaughlin
Date: 07/14/16

355 South St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Justin R. Aquadro
Seller: Rebecca S. Macauley
Date: 07/22/16

47 Stone Ridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $499,000
Buyer: Robert A. Lusardi
Seller: Christopher K. O’Connor
Date: 07/22/16

1091 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Anthony F. Gleason
Seller: TJDL Development LLC
Date: 07/15/16

SOUTH HADLEY

84 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Steven N. Fiedler
Seller: John Bolton Hughes LT
Date: 07/22/16

16 Bardwell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Daniel F. Muldoon
Seller: Partyka, Walter P., (Estate)
Date: 07/20/16

146 Granby Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Alanna R. Hoyer-Leitzel
Seller: Pamela T. Rys
Date: 07/13/16

283 Hadley St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Jessica T. Krause
Seller: Foundation Investors Inc.
Date: 07/15/16

32 Lawn St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Donald Whelihan
Seller: Susan Wilson
Date: 07/11/16

46 Ludlow Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Anthony Cheney
Seller: Aaron J. Kremer
Date: 07/12/16

13 North St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Roanne Heroux
Seller: Scott J. Walsh
Date: 07/21/16

10 Oakwood Circle
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Robert L. Hollis
Seller: Mario Tedeschi
Date: 07/22/16

6 Parkview Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Siri J. Lewis
Seller: Roman Catholic Archbishop Of Springfield
Date: 07/14/16

15 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Jacie Mesheau
Seller: Thomas A. Boyer
Date: 07/12/16

28 Virginia Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Elizabeth K. Gray
Seller: Stephen P. Lavelle
Date: 07/22/16

33 Westbrook Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Bruce Boisselle
Seller: Virginia A. Benoit
Date: 07/15/16

SOUTHAMPTON

17 College Hwy.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $2,050,000
Buyer: Patrick Properties LLC
Seller: MCC Project 4 LLC
Date: 07/12/16

26 Gunn Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Cody A. Carson IRT
Seller: James M. Rigali
Date: 07/15/16

WARE

4 Eddy St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Shelley A. Soltys
Seller: Brian R. Pratt
Date: 07/22/16

310 Palmer Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Kristy L. Smith
Seller: Michael J. O’Connell
Date: 07/20/16

100 Pleasant St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $165,500
Buyer: Leo F. Dominie
Seller: Kevin C. Dimitropolis
Date: 07/12/16

2-8 Ross Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Michael J. King
Date: 07/12/16

WILLIAMSBURG

19 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: MHFA
Seller: Jonothan B. Ratcliffe
Date: 07/19/16

28 Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $137,499
Buyer: Paul V. Zononi
Seller: Zononi, Victor V., (Estate)
Date: 07/12/16

105 Old Goshen Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Lynn S. Gerlinger TR
Seller: Lisa T. Stiepock
Date: 07/20/16

WORTHINGTON

24 Fisk Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Nestor D. Matthews
Seller: George W. Samaha
Date: 07/21/16

17 Old North Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Cai Walkowiak
Seller: Gertrude T. Dunham
Date: 07/14/16

299 River Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Jennifer Maas
Seller: Karen S. Shedd
Date: 07/13/16

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The African Hall subcommittee of the Springfield Museums will present the 25th annual Ubora Award and the seventh annual Ahadi Youth Award at a ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 17, at 6 p.m. at the Michele & Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts.

The Ubora Award, named for the Swahili word for ‘excellence,’ is presented to an African-American who has made a significant contribution to the greater Springfield area. The Ahadi Youth Award is presented to an African-American young person who demonstrates strong character, leadership, academic achievement, and future potential (Ahadi means ‘promise’ in Swahili).

Ubora Award winner Helen Caulton-Harris is the currently the commissioner of the Division of Health and Human Services for the City of Springfield. In her many years of public service, she has played a prominent role in developing policy for the health and human-services needs of underserved populations on the local and national level. In recognition of those efforts, she has received numerous awards, including the AIDS Action Award from the Action Committee and the Rebecca Lee Award from the Harvard School of Public Health.

Caulton-Harris was named Woman of the Year by the Springfield Postal Service and received the Paul Revere Award from the Massachusetts Public Health Assoc. In 2015, she selected as one of the 100 Outstanding of Women of Color from Western Mass. and Connecticut.

Previously, Caulton-Harris was appointed by former Gov. Deval Patrick to both the Public Health and Food Policy Councils for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and was also appointed to the Region 1 Health Council by the Secretary of Minority Health in Washington, D.C. She is the immediate past chair of both AAA of Pioneer Valley and Holyoke Community College. She is also a past president of the Greater Springfield Chapter of the Links Inc., a life member of the Carl L. Talbot VFW Ladies Auxiliary, and a member of the Xi Xi Omega chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, as well as GirlFriends Inc.

Ahadi Award winner David Bass is entering his junior year at Putnam Vocational High School, where he has distinguished himself as an outstanding student in both the classroom and the community. He has held perfect attendance and highest honors in his first two years of high school, and currently has a 3.9 GPA.

A founder and active participant in Putnam’s Intellectuals Debate Club, Bass is an outstanding public speaker and communicator, and was elected president by the class of 2018. He has participated in every volunteer opportunity offered by his school this year, and assisted the Putnam’s Voice outreach group with its annual clothing, canned food, and toy drives as well as neighborhood cleanups. He is also part of the Project Purple volunteer group that seeks to curtail teen drug and alcohol abuse, and a member of Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Gulluni’s 2016 Youth Advisory Board. David is part of Putnam’s Marketing and Real Estate program, and plans to embark on a career in real estate following his graduation.

The Ubora and Ahadi Award presentations will be followed by a reception at the Springfield Science Museum, with food and refreshments provided through support from Baystate Health. Admission to the event is $15 for adults and $10 for children under 12. For more information or advance reservations, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 325.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — United Way of Pioneer Valley’s Day of Caring, slated for Friday, Sept. 9, is the largest day of service in the Pioneer Valley. The day brings together more than 1,000 volunteers from area businesses and organizations to complete community service work for 35 nonprofit agencies and more than 85 projects throughout the Pioneer Valley.

This year, the event kicks off with a celebratory breakfast in Springfield’s Court Square from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m., featuring food, drinks, and music from the Community Music School of Springfield’s faculty band.

The Day of Caring was established to promote the spirit of volunteerism, increase awareness of local human-service organizations, and demonstrate how people working together for the common good can accomplish great things. The United Way of Pioneer Valley is a state-recognized volunteer connector, assisting families and individuals to engage in community service. Last year, its volunteer projects contributed 22,715 hours of service with a value of $636,044.

For more information about the Day of Caring or the breakfast, contact LaTonia Monroe Naylor, manager of community impact, at (413) 693-0215 or [email protected].

Departments Picture This

A photo essay of recent business events in Western Massachusetts August 23, 2016

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

 

First Impressions

PicThisFirst2

 

PicThisFirst1

New York-based Elle Magazine sponsored an opening reception at Visual Changes Salon and Spa, a high-end, contemporary facility at 100 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow. WHERE: Visual Changes owner Mark Maruka (right) with Craig Sweitzer, owner of Craig Sweitzer & Co., the general contractor for the new facility.

(Photos by Robert Charles Photography

Business Management Sections

Pay Attention to This Measure

By John S. Gannon, Esq.

John S. Gannon

John S. Gannon

Earlier this month, Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker signed a new law aimed at strengthening pay equity for women in the Commonwealth.

The new law amends the state’s Equal Pay Act by imposing stringent equal pay obligations on employers. The purpose of the law is certainly commendable, but the legislation goes beyond pay-equity issues by prohibiting certain pay-related conduct that is routine in some workplaces, including asking job applicants about their wage history and requiring employees not to discuss compensation.

The new law will be enforced by the Mass. Attorney General’s Office, but it also allows employees to sue their employers in court. The law takes effect in 2018, but employers should start planning today for necessary compliance obligations. Employees who successfully sue under the new Equal Pay Act will be entitled to recover all unpaid wages, plus an amount equal to unpaid wages as liquidated damages, as well as attorney’s fees.

Equal Work v. Comparable Work

Under the existing Massachusetts Equal Pay Act, employers are required to pay men and women equally for comparable work. The current version of the law, however, does not define “comparable.” Some judicial decisions interpreting the “comparable” work language have suggested that comparable work is something equivalent to the “equal pay for equal work” standard applied in federal law.

The legislation signed by Gov. Baker — which was also passed unanimously in the state House and Senate — defines comparable work in a much broader fashion. The new law defines “comparable work” as work that requires “substantially similar skill, effort, and responsibility” and is performed under “similar working conditions.”

This “substantially similar” language is likely to open the door to more equal-pay lawsuits in Massachusetts because it is much less demanding than the “equal work” language used under federal law.

Look at it this way, consider how many employees truly perform “equal work?” Regardless of your answer, it’s probably safe to say many more employees perform work that is “substantially similar.” When the law takes effect in 2018, all employees performing “substantially similar” work must be paid the same, unless a permissible variation applies.

Permissible Pay Differences

Some variations in pay will still be permissible, even for employees performing “comparable” work. If the difference is attributable to one (or more) of the following factors, wage differential liability may be avoided:

• A seniority system;
• A merit system;
• A compensation scheme that measures earnings by quantity or quality of sales;
• Geographic location of the job;
• Education, training, and experience; or
• The amount of travel required.

Unfortunately, the new law does not provide any guidance explaining how these exceptions will work in practice, leaving many questions unanswered. For example, is a 15-mile difference in geographic location of the job sufficient to justify pay variances for comparable work? What about a 50-mile difference? Does a bump in pay after an initial 90-day introductory period constitute a legitimate seniority system? The Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office has the power to issue regulations interpreting the new law, so it is likely the agency will put out guidance helping to clarifying these terms.

One thing we do know is that employers may not reduce the salary of an employee in order to comply with the new law. Employers who have unexcused pay differentials will need to “level up” by bringing the pay of lower earners up to the pay of the highest earner doing comparable work.

More than Pay Equity

The new law goes beyond requiring equal pay for comparable work, because it also prohibits employers from engaging in several common wage-related practices. When the new law takes effect, employers will no longer be allowed to require applicants to provide wage and salary history on job applications or at any other time before an offer of employment is extended.

This means job applications and interview practices may need a refresher. The law also penalizes employers who require employees not to discuss compensation with coworkers.

There is one silver lining for employers. The new Equal Pay Act provides an affirmative defense to employers who complete a ‘good faith’ self-evaluation of their pay practices and demonstrate “reasonable progress” toward eliminating any wage differentials. This means that employers who adequately audit their pay practices may avoid liability under the new law. However, the employer’s self-evaluation must be “reasonable in detail and scope in light of the size of the employer.” Again, regulations from the Massachusetts Attorney General’s Office might shed light on what constitutes an appropriate self-evaluation.

Skoler Abbott will be partnering with Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) on August 30, to present a webinar on the new pay- equity law. Skoler Abbott will also be hosting a Labor and Employment law symposium the morning of Sept. 20, at which attorneys from the firm will be discussing significant developments in state and federal law, including the Massachusetts pay equity law.

John S. Gannon is an associate at the firm Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C.; (413) 737-4753 or [email protected].

Features

Providing a SPARK

Since its launch nearly two years ago, SPARK Holyoke has become an important addition to the region’s growing entrepreneurial ecosystem, providing a learning-and-nurturing environment for a variety of business owners. To sum up its impact, one participant said the agency gave him the discipline to be “both a creator and a finisher.”

Farid Kheloco

Farid Kheloco says SPARK was created to help start-ups get off the ground — and maybe help fill some of Holyoke’s vast supply of vacant mill space.

When asked to talk about the agency known as SPARK (yes, that’s an acronym, but not really; hardly anyone knows what those letters stand for) and how it’s helped her create, shape, and realize a vision for her company, Hot Oven Cookies, Sheila Coon found it necessary to do a little comparing and contrasting.

And the other subject in the discussion was a close cousin among organizations that are part of what is now being described as an ‘entrepreneurial ecosystem’ — Valley Venture Mentors, known for many things, but especially its high-octane, extremely intense accelerator program, with which Rivera also participated.

“VVM … I love it because I’m kind of a high-action person,” she told BusinessWest. “With VVM, you go the edge of the cliff, they hand you a prarachute, and tell you to jump. And as you go down, they tell you ‘jump this way’ or ‘jump that way.’ It’s very high-paced.

“SPARK, on the other hand … kind of has you sit back, and think, and analyze things slowly and more methodically,” she went on. “It gave me the opportunity to slow down and think things through. And it was very intimate — there were 10 people in the class; we had more time to think and talk things through. It was amazing.”

Though perhaps not intentionally, Coon used this exercise to not only point up the differences between the two organizations, but also spell out, in an effective manner, why SPARK Holyoke, which has the Hispanic community as one of its main focal points, has become an important addition to the entrepreneurial landscape in Western Mass.

In short, since being launched in late 2014 as part of a Working Cities Challenge grant, SPARK Holyoke has enabled a number of aspiring entrepreneurs to sit back, think things through, and, hopefully, go into business for themselves.

It does so through a 15-week course that, according to Executive Director Farid Kheloco, has a number of moving parts and objectives and is designed to help a wide range of individuals, from start-up owners to those who have been operating for several years and, for one reason or another, are trying to change how they do things. In other words, people like Coon.

“We want to hold your hand so you can take your idea and turn it into a bullet-proof business plan,” he said while smashing the mission down to a simple phrase.

The current series of classes started earlier this month, said Kheloco, noting that the one that ended during the summer featured 42 participants and 31 businesses.

Since it was launched, SPARK Holyoke has provided assistance to individuals involved with a wide variety of businesses, from cookie making to motorsports sales; from home remodeling to sock-manufacturing; from event planning to window-tinting.

Sheila Coon, seen here with her husband, David

Sheila Coon, seen here with her husband, David, says SPARK helped her create a vision, and a game plan, for her venture, Hot Oven Cookies.

Overall, SPARK is part of a series of initiatives undertaken by Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse and his administration to spur entrepreneurship, create jobs, and generate more interest in Holyoke, especially with the younger populations.

Those efforts have been successful enough to earn the city placement on Popular Mechanics’ list of the “most entrepreneurial” cities in the country.

And while the goal is to encourage entrepreneurship and help businesses get off the ground, there is another, very practical element to the agency’s existence. That would be the roughly 2 million square feet of vacant mill space in this former industrial powerhouse, and a desire to fill it, said Kheloco.

He doesn’t expect SPARK to make a huge dent in that inventory any time soon, but the agency’s work can certainly be a factor in bringing more life to the old paper and textile mills that gave this city its identity and providing another spark (there’s that word again) to broad efforts to revitalize the city.

“SPARK is helping to put us (Holyoke) in the game when it comes to promoting entrepreneurship,” said Kheloco, as he spoke with BusinessWest in the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce offices (where the agency is housed) on High Street. “SPARK has a definite role in that perception of Holyoke, and that’s important for our city, because we have a lot of open space.”

For this issue, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at SPARK Holyoke and how, despite the fact that it doesn’t issue parachutes to participants, it does help them get off their ventures off the ground.

Igniting Passion

For the record, SPARK is short for Stimulating Potential, Accessing Resource Knowledge. Kheloco and others involved with the program can probably recite all that (again, that’s probably) but most participants wouldn’t care to try.

But they do care about trying to take ideas they have a product or service and advancing them in the form of a new business. Or not, if they determine that said idea is not really viable, and SPARK Holyoke can help with that, as well.

It’s all part of that ‘thinking through’ concept that Coon mentioned, and while there is quite a bit that goes into it, the agency’s broad goals are to simplify the many matters involved with a business as much as possible, said Kheloco, who can speak with experience as he goes about working with aspiring entrepreneurs.

“I’ve been entrepreneurially minded my whole life, and growing up here I was told that you should leave the area if you want to be an entrepreneur,” he said, adding that while he works today to dispel such notions, at the time, he took that advice.

He went to New York and then Dubai, before relocating to the western part of this country and eventually for working for several different IT companies.

He returned to this area a few years ago, soon became program  manager of TechFoundry, and found himself immersed in the work of VVM and other agencies involved with entrepreneurship.

He was looking to launch his own venture — one that would produce wooden sunglasses — in Holyoke, but wound up launching SPARK instead.

“The market is pretty much saturated with wooden sunglasses,” he joked, adding that the opportunity to run SPARK — a career path recommended to him by Katie Stebbins, who was then overseeing Holyoke’s Innovation District and is now working in the Executive Office of House & Economic Development — sounded like much more of a winning proposition.

Felix Santana, owner of Northeast Motorsports

Felix Santana, owner of Northeast Motorsports, says SPARK has given him the discipline to be “both a creator and a finisher.”

Initially, his work centered around getting the agency started, honing its mission, and developing its curriculum, he said, adding that now, he spends more of his time getting the word out — in essence, filling seats for the classes — while also achieving sustainability; the grant that funds the program is three years in duration, and this is year 2 of the initiative, so new funding sources must be attained.

“We’re kind of in our teen-aged years,” he said of the organization. “We’ve identified a little of what we are, but we need to mold that and solidify what’s needed to survive for the long term.”

Kheloco’s various outreach efforts drive home the basic point that SPARK is a community organization to help what he called “every-day entrepreneurs.”

That’s certainly not a technical term, but one he summoned to describe “neighborhood projects” — small ventures, mom-and-pop operations that may or may not scale.

“We want to work with them to give them the guidance they need to get started,” he went on. “So we take a lot of the competition aspects out of the equation, and we take a lot of the business jargon out of it; we try to make it team-oriented and say ‘now you’re part of this group, the SPARK starters, and how are we going to help each and work together?’”

SPARK carries out this work with a host of partners, which include VVM, the chamber, SCORE, Holyoke Community College, Easthampton Savings Bank, and Nuestras Raices, a nonprofit group that seeks to promote economic, human, and community development in Holyoke through projects related to food, agriculture, and the environment.

“Predominantly, we deal with concepts, and we work on taking the idea and turning it into a business model,” he went on. “We like to say that we work with anyone’s who’s stuck.”

Getting Down to Business

‘Stuck’ might not be the best term to describe what Coon was when she encountered SPARK and its curriculum, but it’s in the ballpark.

To be more precise, she was at a crossroads of sorts, or transition phase, and in need of some guidance and perhaps technical help with regard to where she could and should take her venture — as well as ‘how’ and ‘when.’

Backing up a bit, she said Hot Oven Cookies was enjoying decent success and had developed a solid following (one fan called this the ‘Ben & Jerry’s of the cookie world’) with its 100 flavors — some staples, or “classics” and other varieties rotated in weekly — and a business focused on gifts and catering, all delivered.

“That keeps it fun,” she said of the large inventory of flavors. “It’s good for the customers, but it’s good for us, too — we get to keep creating.”

This first phase of the venture, as Coon described it, helped pinpoint demand and identify need, and with regard to latter, what emerged was a desire to enable customers to buy a cookie or two or three, and not a full dozen, the minimum she set for deliveries.

And this led to talk of putting a food truck on the road and bringing the product directly to consumers. It’s a big step and a sizable investment, and she credited both SPARK and VVM with helping her bring it all the fruition; the truck makes its debut next month.

She was in the second accelerator cohort, which wrapped up its work in the spring, and through that experience was introduced to Kheloco and SPARK Holyoke, and took part in both programs simultaneously.

She credits VVM with helping her take an idea off a napkin, as she put it, and take it forward, but she said SPARK provided that more-intimate, slower-paced environment that enabled her to stop and work things through.

“We talked through all of my phases,” she said of the SPARK experience, adding that the experience not only helped her conceptualize her ideas, but pitch them in a more-effective manner.

Felix Santana wasn’t exactly stuck, either. But he did need some help with his venture, Northeast Powersports, which seeks to become the largest provider of Chinese-made motorsports — primarily scooters, dirt bikes, and go carts — in the region.

The company has become an authorized dealer of Cao Cao products, offering both sales and service, he said, adding that he graduated from SPARK’s first class.

He said it provided him with both support, in the form of mentorship, and technical guidance.

“I went in there with a really solid business plan — it was a matter of getting the numbers and the data to back it up,” he explained. “They helped me get my business plan focused and connect with the right people, like SCORE, and get organized.”

He noted that he’s a serial entrepreneur of sorts, but one that doesn’t “finish,” as he put it.

“I was one of those entrepreneurs who was a really good starter, but when I got to the middle point, I never knew how to finish and would usually sell whatever idea I had at that point,” he explained. “SPARK helped give me the discipline to be both a creator and a finisher.”

Seeing the Light

Searching for more words and phrases to describe what SPARK Holyoke is and what it does, especially with regard to the proverbial ‘big picture,’ Kheloco said it acts as the glue that binds the many organizations and agencies promoting and facilitating entrepreneurship in Holyoke and the communities surrounding it.

And in that capacity, it is not only helping to create new opportunities in Holyoke and fill some of that vacant mill space, but also taking on an important role within a growing entrepreneurial ecosystem.

SPARK is technically an acronym, but mostly it’s both a noun and a verb, and as such, the word effectively describes what the agency is, and what it provides.

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

Business Management Sections

Anatomy of an ESOP

Delcie Bean recalls that he was advised — by more than one individual and on more than one occasion — that it might not be wise to initiate an employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) while the company was still very much in a strong growth mode. But he decided this self-described gamble was certainly worth taking — and for many reasons.

Delcie Bean

Delcie Bean

Delcie Bean likened an employee stock ownership plan, or ESOP, as one is commonly called, to an onion.

By that, he obviously meant that it has many layers of intrigue and complexity, as he found out while researching, planning, and eventually executing one for the company, Paragus Strategic IT, that he founded 17 years ago, when he was just 16.

“My initial understanding of an ESOP amounted to this 30,000-foot view,” he explained. “Over the past 2 ½ years, we kept peeling back the layers. I’ve learned more about this over the past few years than I could ever have imagined.”

Despite all these layers, Bean, as he explained why and how he went down this path, said there are two basic truths that he started with and that were still there when he peeled away all those layers: That this is, at least in his mind, the proper and fair course to take, and it is also (and this is in nearly everyone’s mind) a gamble.

“There’s a big part of me that believes that it’s the right thing to do — the fair and equitable thing to do,” he explained. “It’s not like I work that much harder than anyone else here, and there are people here who I’m sure work much harder than I do some days.

“To me, I always just felt uncomfortable with the fact that this young company was growing so fast and amassing a decent evaluation,” he went on, “but, for the most part, that was predominantly just to benefit me; I didn’t really like that.”

As for that second basic truth, Bean said he’s gambling that if he fast-forwards 10 years … 60% of the valuation of the business (as an employee-owned company) will be roughly the same or more as 100% of the valuation if he had remained the sole share holder in the venture.

“And I’ll never really know the answer to that, because we won’t be able to see both, obviously,” he told BusinessWest. “But it is something I really believe is possible. However, it takes a lot more than just forming an ESOP — there’s a lot of cultivation, education, and motivation needed. But if we get it right, then I think we can leverage the ESOP to grow the company, not only faster, but better, making it healthier, more stable, and more resilient than it could have been had I owned it and just had a bunch of employees.”

Referencing this ‘gamble’ part of the equation, Bean noted that he was actually advised — very early and quite often — against taking this step now, when the company is still very much in a growth mode, as opposed to full maturity or something approaching it, when ESOPs are a far more attractive option.

“They told me I might be leaving a lot of money on the table,” he said, adding that he didn’t want to wait 10 years or even 10 more months, because he thinks this gamble is well worth taking, and one he believes other business owners should take as well.

Paragus owners

Delcie Bean, third from right, joins other Paragus owners at a recent reception to mark the closing on the company’s ESOP.

Why? Primarily because giving employees an ownership stake in the company can — that’s the operative word here — bring advantages ranging from greater ability to recruit and retain talented workers, to improved morale, to an even sharper focus on growth and strategies to enable a company to function more effectively and more profitably.

And as one small, yet hopefully effective example, Bean pointed to … the company’s postage machine, or, to be more, precise, to the fact it’s been retired in favor of simply placing stamps on envelopes (no one has to lick them anymore).

“One of the employees pointed out that the cost of our postage machine we were renting, for the amount of postage we were using, just didn’t make sense,” he explained. “We thought ‘we’re a business, we’re supposed to have a postage machine; no one puts stamps on envelopes anymore.’ But she ran the math and figured out it would save us $1,800 a year to just pay for stamps and put them on, even with the labor added in.”

But overall, ESOPs are undertaken for more far-reaching, and more long-term, strategic thinking and implementation, he went on, noting that with ownership of the company comes what amounts to a greater stake in its success.

For this issue and its focus on business management, BusinessWest uses the Paragus ESOP as a window into this complex and often misunderstood business tool, and also at what Bean believes it will mean for his already-highly-visible company.

Taking Stock

To help explain just how onion-like and complicated an ESOP is, Bean said the plan to initiate one was actually announced to staff at a company retreat nearly three years ago, and he had undertaken preliminary research and calculations long before that.

Then, as now, the company was defined by strong growth (roughly 24% per year has been the average), as well as physical expansion — the company is already starting to feel snug in new quarters opened in Hadley just two years ago — a constantly growing staff, and the mounting challenge of finding and keeping talented help in that climate.

In all ways, the arrow was pointing decidedly up.

And this is not the time, as noted earlier, when business consultants advise ownership to go the ESOP route.

But Bean, who has generated headlines in recent years for all kinds of reasons — from almost-permanent residence on Inc. magazine’s fastest-growing companies list, to BusinessWest’s Top Entrepreneur award for 2014, to the opening of new businesses and a unique training facility to prepare people for careers in IT — decided it was time to generate one of a different kind.

And, again, he said there were many motivations, and primarily a desire to share the wealth — in part because it should be shared, in his thinking, but also because doing so would benefit the company.

Seeking to feel more comfortable with the manner in which the pie would be divided, Bean started doing some research.

It involved books, articles, case studies, and some recent examples, locally and nationally. As noted with the onion reference, he learned that ESOPs are quite involved and require planning, execution, and a large team to handle both.

As part of the exercise, Bean became closely acquainted with the ESOP undertaken by a Springfield, Ill.-based company that remanufactures and resells engines. That case was considerably different — the venture had been bought, the buyer announced its intention to sell it or shut it down, and the employees, fearing the loss of their jobs, secured the capital to buy it — but the machinations were similar enough to make it a learning experience.

There were others, including the ones at Harpoon Brewery and Chibone Yogurt, Bean went on, adding that his research revealed that in most cases, ESOPs are initiated by companies looking to raise capital for equipment purchases and other reasons, or by owners looking for an effective exit strategy.

“As Baby Boomers look to retire, if they don’t have a succession plan already created they may use ESOPs to help them with that challenge,” he said, adding that given current demographic trends and the lack of succession plans at companies large and small, it’s likely that there will be an uptick in ESOPs in the years to come.

Despite his aggressive research, though, Bean found it very difficult to find an ESOP quite like the one he was planning, for all those reasons stated earlier.

“I’m not looking to go anywhere,” he said, adding that this was a point he had to drive home to his employees over the course of the nearly three years it took to bring the plan to fruition. “Rather, it’s a commitment that I’m all in.”

ESOP’s Fable

And as he explained ‘all in,’ Bean offered some specifics as to how this ESOP works, and, more importantly, how he expects the company to leverage it in the years and decades to come.

He started by saying that unlike those cases where an ESOP is an exit strategy, no funding was raised by employees and no cash changed hands. In essence, 40% of Paragus (roughly $1.4 million) was gifted to the 40 or so employees in the form of a trust that is wholly owned by the employees of the company. And this share of the company becomes a type of retirement plan, or another retirement plan as the case may be (there’s a 401(k) program already in place).

“Once a year, employees will get a statement showing how many shares they have in their account, and what the valuation (of the company) is, and therefore what those shares are worth and what their account is worth,” he explained, adding that the ESOP becomes a perc — in his mind, a very attractive one.

We need to help the employees understand, from the context of their job, the things they can do to have an impact that matters and that can change the bottom line. We have an obligation to simplify the business down so that every position has a metric that they can understand, that is tracked, is clear, and that ties into our profitability, so they know what they can do.”

Indeed, the company has a 10-year goal for growth and valuation ($40 million to be specific), and if it is hit, he projects that the average ESOP account, governed by ERISSA, will be worth “in the low six figures.”

As for leveraging the ESOP, which closed June 8, Bean said the company had already generated a culture of ownership — reinforced with rewards — throughout its ranks, but the ESOP will hopefully take it to a higher level.

“In order for this gamble to work, there is an obligation on the part of the employee, but there’s also an obligation on us,” he explained, meaning company leadership. “We need to provide education, training, and motivation.

“We need to help the employees understand, from the context of their job, the things they can do to have an impact that matters and that can change the bottom line,” he went on. “We have an obligation to simplify the business down so that every position has a metric that they can understand, that is tracked, is clear, and that ties into our profitability, so they know what they can do.”

Elaborating, he said that each position has such a metric, and, therefore, steps, or operating strategies, that can improve profitability. Examples include everything from purchasing policies, to the level of customer service provided by service techs, to that postage machine.

At present, the company is looking at every position from the vantage point of creating a metric and providing employees with the tools, and motivation, to know where and how to work harder and better.

“If they don’t know where to invest the effort, then even if they want to, they won’t do it,” he explained, adding that one key through all of us is to take steps that improve profitability while not negatively impacting quality of service.

The Bottom Line

When asked if and how the company would begin to know if this gamble was paying off, Bean said a look at the numbers about 16 months from now would provide some clues.

“We’ve been averaging about 24% growth over the past seven years; if we can increase that number, I think we can be fairly confident that it’s because of the ESOP as the biggest factor,” he explained. “We’ll know at the end of 2017, when we’ve had a full year with this; we’ll see if we beat that 24% number.”

But the company is looking well beyond the end of next year, he added quickly, noting that the key isn’t achieving more-profound growth, it’s sustaining it.

“It’s not about a short-term bump, it’s about a long-term sustainable approach,” he said in conclusion, adding that he firmly believes an ESOP can help attain all that, and that’s why he took this gamble.

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

Back to School Cover Story Sections

Learning Environment

Not long after arriving on the Hampshire College campus in 2011, President Jonathan Lash asked students how long they believed it would be before the school could accurately declare itself carbon neutral. Upon hearing that they thought it could be done in 25 years, he said, in essence, that this wasn’t nearly good enough. So the school set a new goal — 10 years — and with some dramatic recent developments, it is well on its way to meeting it, and in the process it is writing an exciting new chapter in a history long defined by progressiveness and unique approaches to learning.

President Jonathan Lash in the Kern Center

President Jonathan Lash in the Kern Center

Jonathan Lash noted that Hampshire College — that self-described “experiment” in higher education located on rolling farm land in South Amherst — has been operating for 46 years now.

That’s more than enough time to gather research, look at trends, and develop a composite, or profile, if you will, of the graduates of this small and in many ways unique institution.

And one has emerged, said Lash, the school’s president since 2011, noting quickly that individuality and independent thinking are perhaps the most common traits among students and alums, so it is impossible to paint them with one broad brush. But there are some common traits.

One of them is entrepreneurship. A quarter of the school’s graduates — an eclectic list that includes Stonyfield Farm chairman and former president and CEO President Gary Hirshberg, documentary filmmaker Ken Burns, actor Liev Schreiber, and countless others involved in the arts and literature — have started their own business or organization, placing the college on Forbes’ short list of ‘most- entrepreneurial colleges.’

Another is a passion for learning; the school is in the top 1% of colleges nationwide in the percentage of graduates who go on to earn doctorates.

“Our students have such a good time learning that they don’t want to stop,” said Lash with a laugh, noting that the desire to create unique learning experiences for students was one important motivation for two recent sustainability initiatives on the campus — construction of a so-called ‘living building,’ the school’s R.W. Kern Center, which will use zero net energy, and the announcement that the institution would take a huge step toward becoming the first private college in the country to go 100% solar powered.

Hampshire College

Recent initiatives in sustainability have added another intriguing chapter to Hampshire College’s history of progressiveness.

Indeed, professors in several disciplines have incorporated the Kern Center into their curriculum, said Lash, noting also that for a course he was teaching last fall in sustainability, he assigned students the task of reviewing the contract for the solar installation and explaining why the initiative was a sound undertaking for the school and the company building it.

“One of the ideas behind this building is to make sure you learn something every time you walk into it,” Lash said of the Kern Center.

As for the exercise involving the solar installation, he borrowed an industry term of sorts. “You could see the lightbulbs going on,” he said while relating how the students eventually grasped the many aspects of the concept.

But creating such learning opportunities is only one motivating factor. Indeed, this school that has been seemingly defined by that adjective ‘alternative’ since it was first conceived nearly 60 years ago, is adding another dimension to that quality. And in the process, it is living up to its own core beliefs while also taking on the character (and the mission) of its president, hailed by Rolling Stone magazine as one of 25 “warriors and heroes fighting to stave off the planet-wide catastrophe.”

And it is a dimension that Lash believes will inspire other institutions — both inside and outside the realm of higher education — to follow suit.

For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest traveled to the Hampshire College campus to talk with Lash — in the Kern Center — about how that building and a broader drive to become carbon neutral is adding another intriguing chapter to the school’s brief but already remarkable history.

Alternative Course

Hampshire’s distinct philosophy and pedagogy assert that: Students learn best when they are given the independence to direct their own learning under the advisement of faculty, and education should not be imposed on students.

Courses are not the only sites of learning for our students; instead they engage in a variety of learning activities and environments that challenge their creativity, problem-solving, and discovery of ideas and meaning, through independent study, internships, community engagement, social action, lab work, and teaching assistantships. Hampshire was founded by the leaders of four venerable colleges in Western Massachusetts to re-examine the assumptions and practices of liberal arts education.

At Hampshire, all students are challenged to perform serious independent work under the mentorship of faculty. The college’s goal is to graduate students who can identify significant questions, devise interesting ways to approach them, and follow through to a solution … we have no majors, each student designs their own program of study, commonly examining questions through the lenses of several disciplines. The student negotiates their studies with faculty advisers in a rigorous environment that supports student intellectual growth. The student learns to be a creator of knowledge, engaging in substantial independent research and self-directed projects as they explore the questions that drive them.


List of Colleges in Western Massachusetts


This language, taken directly from the school’s own literature — a fact sheet describing and explaining its academic program — does an effective and fairly concise job of explaining what this school is, and more importantly, what it isn’t.

It isn’t a college in the traditional sense of that term — as made clear in that passage about majors, grades, and set programs of study, or the distinct lack of them, to be more precise.

These are the foundations upon which the school was founded, and Lash admits that he knew very little, if anything about all that when he came across an e-mail titled ‘Hampshire College’ from a headhunter, one that would eventually lead to the most recent line on a very intriguing resume dominated by work in the environment and sustainable development.

But first, back to that e-mail. Lash wasn’t going to open it; he opened very few of the many he received from search firms looking for candidates for a host of different positions. But something compelled him to click on this one.

“I cannot tell you why I opened it — I just don’t know; but instead of just clicking ‘delete,’ like I did with all the others, I opened it,” he told BusinessWest, adding that upon reading it, he recalled that a friend, Adele Simmons, had served as president of the school in the ’80s. He called her, and she eventually talked him into meeting with the search committee.

Lash needed such prodding, because he didn’t even know where the school was, and also because higher education was somewhat, but not entirely, off the career path he had eventually chosen, with the accent on eventually.

Indeed, Lash, a graduate who earned both his master’s in education and juris doctor from Catholic University, started his career as a federal prosecutor in Washington in the mid-70s.

“At a certain point, it began to be less and less rewarding for me to send people to jail, and I wanted to have a different kind of impact on society,” he explained, adding that he left the prosecutor’s office for the National Environmental Defense Fund, at what turned out to be a poignant time in its history — just as Ronald Reagan was entering the White House.

“There was a period during the Reagan administration when environmental organizations were filing lawsuit after lawsuit to stop things Reagan was doing,” he noted. “It was like shooting at a Budweiser truck — you just couldn’t miss; they just didn’t bother with the law.”

Fast-forwarding a little, Lash eventually left that organization to run environmental programs for the new governor of Vermont, Madeleine Kunin, and later became director of the Environmental Law Center at Vermont Law School.

From there, he went on to lead the World Resources Institute, a Washington-based environmental think tank focusing on issues ranging from low-carbon development to sustainable transportation. Under his leadership, WRI quadrupled its budget and globalized its work, with offices in eight countries and partners in more than 50 nations.

It would take something compelling to leave that for the Hampshire College campus, and he encountered it at his interview before the search committee, a panel of 26, dominated by students.

“They asked very aggressive questions, they argued with all my answers, and they were absolutely passionate about it all,” he recalled. “And about 45 minutes into it, I thought to myself ‘I’ve been working on these environmental issues all my life; I’ve been really successful, and the things I care about are getting worse. If anyone’s going to change that, it’s going to be kids like these, and I should probably help them.’”

Entrepreneurial Energy

Lash said he did some research before he came to Amherst for his interview, and gleaned a general understanding of the school and everything that made it unique. But it didn’t really prepare him for what he found.

And it was only a matter of weeks after arriving that he said he found himself saying, ‘I wish I could have learned this way,’ or words to that effect.

Still, four decades after its doors opened, Hampshire College was facing a number of challenges, especially those that apply to a small school with a tiny endowment — $40 million. In many ways, the school needed to make some kind of statement, a reaffirmation of its core values — social justice and environmental sustainability — and an even stronger commitment to live them.

ground-breaking ceremonies for solar installations

Officials gather for the ground-breaking ceremonies for solar installations expected to save the college $8 million over the next 20 years.

The Kern Center is part of that statement, Lash said, referring to a structure that was carefully designed to make its own energy, harvest its own water, and treat its own waste, and thus become truly carbon neutral.

But that’s just one building, said Lash, who then related a conversation with students concerning the school’s participation in the American College and University Presidents’ Climate Commitment, under which institutions commit to implementing a comprehensive plan to achieve a carbon-neutral campus.

“The committee that was working on it came to me and said ‘maybe we can do it in 25 years,’” Lash recalled. “And I said, “I don’t think you understand how urgent this matter is; if Hampshire College says ’25 years,’ what is the world supposed to say?’

“So we switched it to 10 years, and that kind of forced us to think radically,” he went on, adding that such thinking included exploration of solar power.

But at that time, such a proposition was still financially untenable, he went on, adding that since then, the cost of photovoltaic collectors has gone down so much, and the efficiency of units has increased to such a level, that the proposition was not only feasible, but the school would save up to $8 million in electricity costs over the 20-year life of the project.

After months of cost analysis and negotiations with project partner SolarCity, which will construct the PV arrays and sell the electricity back to the college, work began earlier this month on the 15,000 solar panels, an installation that represents the largest known on any campus in New England and one of the largest in the Northeast.

It’s a groundbreaking development in many respects — again, Hampshire is the first residential college in the U.S. to go 100% solar — but it has been, and will continue to be a learning experience on many levels, in keeping with the school’s mission.

“The whole experience of reviewing proposals, shaping the contract, choosing where on our campus we were willing to put solar collectors, affirming the size of it and the ambition to go 100% solar, challenging and re-challenging the question ‘can you really do this in snow country?’ — students were involved in every step of that,” Lash explained, adding that this experience will serve them well.

“Students who have participated in this process and done this analysis, are going to go into the world really well prepared for answering the questions that society will need answered,” he went on. “If you take a highly entrepreneurial group of students who are already independent-minded and you give them this experience, they’re in a very good place.”

And moving forward, the installation can, and should, become both a classroom and an inspiration to those outside the institution who want to learn from it, he went on.

“Over the next 20 years, this is going to become a compelling environmental, but also business and technological question,” he explained. “The question of how we organize ourselves to provide low-carbon electricity will be central to the country.”

Which means he expects even more visitors to find their way to the Amherst campus in the years to come.

Kern20160715_0232-copyAlready, many have come to take in the Kern Center, he explained, adding that he is one of many who will give tours to those representing institutions such as Yale Divinity School, which is contemplating a village of buildings with similar credentials.

“Three or four other universities have come to look, and other nonprofits that were thinking of building something but thought this was out of their reach have toured and realized it’s not out of their reach,” he explained. “You can watch when people come in the building and begin to look around and understand what it says and what it does — it influences them.”

And he expects the same will happen with the solar installations.

Study in Progressive Thinking

As one traverses the long driveway to the campus off Route 116, one sees meadows on both sides of the road — and for a reason; actually several of them.

“We don’t see why we should use the thousands of gallons of gasoline necessary to keep all that as lawn,” Lash explained. “But it also creates a habitat for an incredible number of birds and other creatures, and our science students study that.”

Thus, those meadows become yet another example of the school’s unique approach to learning, as stated earlier — that section in the fact sheet about ‘engaging in a variety of learning activities and environments that challenge their creativity, problem-solving, and discovery of ideas and meaning.’

Today, there are more such environments, with others, especially the solar installations, now taking shape on the campus. They both exemplify and inspire those traits for which the school’s students and alums are noted — entrepreneurship and a desire to not stop learning.

And they are textbook examples, in every sense of the word, of how this experiment in higher education is adding new dimensions to its mission, uniqueness, and commitment to sustainability.

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

Daily News

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration, in partnership with the state’s advanced-practice nursing (APRN) programs and professional organizations, physician-assistant programs, the Mass. Assoc. of Physician Assistants, the Mass. League of Community Health Centers, and all affiliated community health centers, have agreed to expand the reach and use of the pioneering core competencies established previously for the prevention and management of prescription-drug misuse.

This set of cross-institutional core competencies will ensure advanced-practice nurses and physician assistants educated in the Commonwealth, as well as employees of community health centers, receive enhanced training in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies regarding prescription-drug misuse.

“Agreeing upon and expanding these core competency standards is another major step for the prevention and management phases of fighting the opioid epidemic,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. “As we search for new ways to bend the trend in this public-health epidemic, we appreciate the hard work and collaboration that prescriber and academic communities have demonstrated and look forward to continuing this partnership with our nurses, physician assistants, and members of the medical community.”

This first-in-the-nation partnership has been expanded with the establishment of cross-institutional core competencies for the prevention and management of prescription-drug misuse that will reach the approximately 2,000 enrolled APRN students, 900 enrolled physician-assistant students, and 50 community health centers representing the organizational membership of the Mass. League of Community Health Centers.

“Educating our clinicians on prescribing practices for opioids is critical to mitigating the opioid epidemic in the future,” said Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders. “We are pleased to stand with our healthcare partners to further advance the training and education of our current and future healthcare practitioners.”

The agreement follows similar partnerships with the Commonwealth’s three dental schools, the Mass. Dental Society, the Commonwealth’s four medical schools, and the Mass. Medical Society on sets of groundbreaking medical and dental education core competencies for the prevention and management of prescription-drug misuse. Practitioner training about addiction and safe prescribing practices was a key strategy recommendation of the opioid working group.

“Substance misuse is a chronic disease, and we must treat it as one, starting with education of our clinicians,” said Public Health Commissioner Dr. Monica Bharel. “We must approach the treatment of this disease taking into account the multiple needs of the individual, not just substance misuse.”

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

By Kathleen Mitchell

Mayor William Reichelt

Mayor William Reichelt says the $6 million Fathers & Sons auto dealership under construction on Memorial Drive will enhance the commercial corridor.

Mayor William Reichelt says West Springfield is a small town that in many ways assumes the character of a city, due in part to the popular retail establishments — stores and restaurants — that line its two main commercial corridors, Riverdale Street and Memorial Avenue.

Indeed, the traffic that passes along these stretches each day makes them such an ideal location that little commercial space remains. When parcels do become available, they move quickly, and right now, more than $34 million in new construction is underway along the two thoroughfares.

But that economic development has been balanced by efforts initiated by the new mayor: Reichelt, a member of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2016, took office in January and has already streamlined the permitting process and formed new committees and task forces to ensure that the zoning is appropriate, traffic flow does not affect residential neighborhoods, and blighted properties are addressed.

“West Springfield is easy to get to for people coming from the north, south, east, and west, and we have become a cut-through community, so we’re trying to improve the quality of life for our businesses and residents,” he said, noting that the town’s roadways connect Springfield to Agawam; Westfield to Springfield and points farther south; and provide access to Riverdale Street and Springfield for residents of the hill towns.

Reconstruction of the Memorial Avenue rotary on the West Springfield side of the Memorial Bridge, which contains two overpasses on Route 5 to the north and south, was recently completed by the state Department of Transportation under its Accelerated Bridge Program.

It’s an important gateway, which is matched by another one to and from Agawam at the end of the 1.7 mile strip, and last year the town signed a contract with Greenman-Pederson Inc. to create a design that incorporates principles of the Complete Streets program and will accommodate the increased traffic flow expected to occur when the MGM Casino in Springfield is finished.

“Memorial Avenue is expected to become a pinnacle of the Complete Streets plan,” Reichelt told BusinessWest, adding that the Big E is also studying the traffic flow through its property, and efforts will be made to ensure that any work that is done meshes together well.

The cost estimate for the Complete Streets project, which includes repaving the corridor, adding a two-lane bicycle path, updating utilities, and adding new landscaping, is estimated at $15 million, and since it’s more than the town and MassWorks can pay for, officials are hoping the Transportation Infrastructure Program will help fund the project.

“Memorial Avenue is the first view people have of West Springfield when they cross the Memorial Bridge, and we want to make it more attractive,” Reichelt said, noting that two major multi-million-dollar projects are underway along the commercial strip that will further enhance its desirability and likely spark investments by other businesses.

For this, the latest installment in its Community Profile series, BusinessWest looks at what is going on in West Side and the measures being taken to strike a balance between commercial growth and the needs of the town’s residents.

Major Investments

Reichelt said Fathers & Sons is building a new $6 million, 50,000-square-foot Audi and Volkswagen automotive sales showroom and service center on Memorial Avenue. The company’s former Volkswagen showroom and Kia of West Springfield, which it had closed earlier, were demolished to make way for the new facility, which will include two large showrooms and a 23-bay, state-of-the art service area and waiting room with flat-screen TVs, leather couches, and Internet access.

The company expects the new service area to increase efficiency and reduce customer waiting time, and notes that the new Audi store will free up space at the Fathers & Sons dealership on 989 Memorial Ave., which will sell and service Volvo vehicles exclusively once the new facility opens.

The town has never undertaken a comprehensive review of its zoning, and we want to make traffic flow and the use of property in our commercial areas harmonious with the rest of the town.”

The project is expected to create 20 new jobs, and Reichelt noted that the city approved a five-year tax-increment-financing deal with Cartelli Realty LLC, which owns the Fathers & Sons site. It will provide limited tax breaks on the so-called growth portion of the assessed valuation of the property at 434 Memorial Ave., and town officials hope it will help enhance the corridor’s desirability.

“The new dealerships will bring more business to Memorial Avenue, and we hope it will help it to become the new Riverdale Street. Everyone wants to move their business there (Riverdale Street) because it gets so much traffic, but space along that corridor is expensive,” Reichelt said.

Work is also underway on the grounds of the former St. Ann’s Church, which was sold to the Colvest Group by the Diocese of Springfield about four years ago.

Colvest President Frank Colaccino said the company acquired and combined three parcels, which include the church property, the Bridge Street road closure, and a parking lot behind Clark Paint Factory on 966 Union St., and created a plan to build a one-story, 9,000-square-foot retail structure on the 1.5-acre site that has been approved.

Currently, utility lines on the property are being relocated, work that must be finished before construction can begin.

“It will be a good addition,”Colaccino said. “West Springfield is a great town which is well-perceived; and the new mayor is very capable and gets an A+.”

Colvest recently signed a lease with Florence Bank, which will become the anchor tenant in the new building. The new bank branch will have a drive-through window and ATM, and its current West Springfield offices will be moved into the structure when it is finished.

But it has taken years to ready the site for construction. “The church property was contaminated when we purchased it. The diocese was responsible for cleaning it up, and it has been a process to get it ready for a new building,” Colaccino said, adding that the company is in negotiations with several businesses interested in occupying the 65% of the building that Florence Bank does not need.

“It’s nice to see the church property being reused for a commercial purpose,” Reichelt said, adding that traffic along the roadway is also driven by the Big E, which attracts thousands of visitors every year and can help spur continued growth.

However, new investments are ongoing. McDonald’s held a ribbon-cutting ceremony several weeks ago to celebrate a complete renovation of its 429 Memorial Ave. eatery; and a Chipotle Mexican Grill is in the permitting process and hopes to open next summer in the former home of Jiffy Lube, which moved into a new facility on 788 Memorial Ave.

Growth is also occurring on Riverdale Street, where a new four-story hotel with 92 rooms is in the permitting stage; and scattered improvements are being made throughout the community. The Food Bag on 884 Westfield St. is being remodeled; Arrha Credit Union recently opened on 63 Park Ave. in the former home of Springfield Teacher’s Credit Union; and plans submitted to knock down the Cumberland Farms on Park Avenue and built a new one have been approved.

Helpful Measures

The town is rife with private investments, and Reichelt is doing his part to facilitate balanced growth; he immediately began taking action to address issues and areas of concern after he was sworn into office earlier this year.

He told BusinessWest that he heard complaints from some business owners about the length of time it took to navigate the permitting process, so in April he kicked off a new program. Today, meetings are held on the first and third Mondays of the month, and business owners and developers meet with a team that includes the mayor, the chair of the planning board, and 11 department heads, which helps iron out difficulties and streamlines the process.

A new, 13-member Zoning Review Committee is also being formed to take a close look at West Springfield’s zoning as well as the zoning in a variety of communities across the state. The group will begin meeting in September and will determine what needs to be done to facilitate growth, while protecting the quality of life in residential neighborhoods.

“The town has never undertaken a comprehensive review of its zoning, and we want to make traffic flow and the use of property in our commercial areas harmonious with the rest of the town,” Reichelt said, adding that the committee will also look at pedestrian crossings to make sure residents are safe.

He noted that to that end, the entire lighting pattern at the intersection of Park and Elm streets was revamped after the 2011 tornado, and new pedestrian crossways were added.

A Blight Task Force has also been formed to deal with the 100 or more vacant or derelict properties in town. Members include the building inspector, two health inspectors, and the town attorney; who take calls from residents in a centralized location about sites that need to be addressed. The mayor told BusinessWest that since the task force was formed, four homes have gone into receivership and three are being rebuilt.

In addition, action is being taken at the former Standard Plating Co. on 964 Main St., which has been vacant since 2011 when it was ravaged by the tornado that swept through the area.

The city worked with the owner to remove contamination at the brownfields site, which is within walking distance of the Memorial Avenue rotary. The building has been razed, and when the environmental cleanup is complete, the Redevelopment Authority will take possession and build a new commercial structure there.

West Springfield also plans to apply for a $1.5 million MassWorks grant for a new pumping station and an extension of the sewer lines along Route 5.

“There are five properties near the river, including a large car dealership, that have septic systems right now,” Reichelt said, noting that the pumping station was built when Riverdale Plaza consisted of a drive-in movie theater and airport, and the area occupied by Costco was farmland.

He added that Agri Mark on Riverdale Road is also building a new processing plant. “They’re making a $10 million investment in West Springfield,” the mayor said.

Continued Progress

Although a significant amount of new construction is taking place in West Springfield, balance is critical to the town’s future.

“If you leave the business corridors, you find neighborhoods and two schools in the Merrick section of town,” Reichelt told BusinessWest. “Union and Main streets are walkable areas that contain small businesses, and as you move up the hill you encounter the residential subdivisions that have grown up over the past 20 to 30 years.

“There are a lot of commercial projects underway, and we benefit from being the crossroads of New England, but the town is also a great place to live,” he said. “We’re community-oriented and have active groups that range from the Tree Committee to the Garden Club, so we are careful not to forget about our residents.”

Which makes West Springfield far more than an address for the Big E and two busy commercial strips that have become a destination due to the large number of retail establishments and eateries that flourish there.

It’s also a community that residents and businesses alike love to call ‘home.’

West Springfield at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1774
Population: 28,391 (2014)
Area: 17.49 square miles
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $16.99
Commercial Tax Rate: $22.21
Median Household Income: $54,434
Family Household Income: $63,940
Type of government: Mayor; Town Council
Largest employers: Eversource Energy; Harris Corp.; Home Depot; Interim Health Care; Mercy Home Care
* Latest information available