Month: May 2018

NORTHAMPTON — Smith Brothers Insurance was recently named to the Jewelers Mutual Insurance Group’s President’s Club. Each year, Jewelers Mutual recognizes top agents nationwide for their expertise in Jewelers Block, a specialized insurance coverage protecting the jewelry trade. Smith Brothers Insurance was one of 25 brokers throughout the nation named to Jewelers Mutual’s President’s Club.

“It’s an honor to be selected to the President’s Club,” said Mary McVeigh, commercial lines producer/account executive. “All of us at Smith Brothers focus on helping our clients protect what matters most to them. It’s rewarding to be recognized for our consistent dedication to our clients.”

Lunch & Learn Event to Focus on Employee Retention

By BusinessWest Staff May 31, 2018

SPRINGFIELD — Some 43 million Americans have $1.3 trillion in student loans. The average job tenure for Millennials is only 12 to 15 months. When an employee leaves, it costs the employer between 10% and 30% of their annual salary to replace them.

On June 22, the Gaudreau Group and GradFin will host a Lunch & Learn session at the Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Springfield to help employers overcome these issues. The session is sponsored by the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast.

College graduates enter the workforce deeply mired in debt that deflates their net worth and keeps them cash-strapped for years. As a result, younger employees are job-hopping to increase pay and help pay down their loans. A recent Oliver Wyman study reported that 80% of participants cited their indebtedness as a major source of stress, and a survey by American Student Assistance found that student-loan debt impairs employees’ focus on the job.

The June 22 event, led by Jenny MacKay and Geoff Urquhart, will focus on increasing employee retention with new employee-benefits and engagement strategies such as loan refinance and consolidation programs, financial-wellness education, and repayment-assistance benefits. Space is limited. Register at www.gaudreaugroup.com/events.

Pioneer Valley Credit Union Recognized for Promoting Savings

By BusinessWest Staff May 31, 2018

SPRINGFIELD — Pioneer Valley Credit Union was recognized for its efforts to encourage Americans and support its members to save money during America Saves Week and Military Saves Week.

“At a time when just two in five American households report making good or excellent savings progress, Pioneer Valley Credit Union went above and beyond to encourage and support its members to save,” said George Barany, America Saves director. “This year’s designees are the leaders in their field at responding to the savings crisis by working directly with American families to open and add to savings accounts. Pioneer Valley Credit Union doesn’t just tell people why it’s important to save, it helps them do it.”

Pioneer Valley Credit Union was one of 15 banks, 17 credit unions, and five military-affiliated organizations recognized around the world.

“Year after year, we work with our members to help them to achieve their financial goals and to become more savvy consumers,” said Anabela Grenier, Pioneer Valley Credit Union president and CEO. “We have been putting the savings needs of our members first for 95 years and are delighted to offer products, financial workshops, and convenient tools geared toward their success. America Saves is a wonderful program which works in concert with our philosophy to help members as they make their journey to a better financial future.”

Heather Loges Named COO at Royal, P.C.

NORTHAMPTON — Heather Loges was recently promoted to the position of chief operations officer at Royal, P.C., a labor and employment law firm in Northampton.

Loges has been with Royal since July 2016, joining as a paralegal. As the COO, Heather is in charge of all aspects of law-firm operations and law-firm management and finances, as well as managing the firm’s business-development and marketing strategies.

Loges has a bachelor’s degree from UMass Amherst and a certificate in paralegal studies from Boston University. She was recently nominated for the 2018 Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly Excellence in Paralegal Work Award.

Arrha Credit Union’s Tony Sanches Wins Rising Star Award

SPRINGFIELD — Michael Ostrowski, president and CEO of Arrha Credit Union, congratulates Tony Sanches, assistant vice president of Retail Operations, for receiving a Credit Union Rising Star Award at the Great New England Credit Union Show in Worcester.

The show highlighted new technology and featured breakout sessions in many topics, including cybersecurity, latest trends in digital banking, member satisfaction, and member experience. The morning breakfast was a salute to employees who showed a strong sense of the mission of credit unions and strong abilities in their area of expertise, along with community involvement.

“Tony was nominated for all that he is doing here at the credit union,” Ostrowski said. “He received one of the Rising Stars Awards for all his efforts that he does within our credit union and in the community. We are pleased to congratulate Tony on a very special recognition. The board sends their utmost congratulations to him for his efforts.”

BusinessWest Accepting Nominations for Women of Impact Awards

SPRINGFIELD — BusinessWest magazine decided recently, after much consideration, to launch a new recognition program to honor a specific segment of the local population: women. More specifically, women making an impact in and on this region.

BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for the Women of Impact honor (www.businesswest.com/women-of-impact), and those who score the highest in the eyes and minds of a panel of three independent judges will be honored at a luncheon in December (date and venue to be determined).

“We decided to create a special program recognizing women because, after careful consideration, we decided that this region needed one and that BusinessWest was the right organization to do it,” Kate Campiti, associate publisher and sales manager for BusinessWest, explained. “While women have certainly made great strides over the past several decades, and many women have made great achievements and broken through that proverbial glass ceiling, doing so remains a stern challenge for many.”

‘Women of Impact’ was chosen as the name for the program because, while nominees can be from the world of business, they can also be from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of all these — any inspirational women on any level.

Nominations for this honor, due on Aug. 3, should be written with one basic underlying mission: to explain why the individual in question is, indeed, a woman of impact. Nominations should explain, when applicable:

• How the nominee has made impactful accomplishments or contributions that have positively influenced business or the community;

• How the nominee demonstrates unwavering passion and commitment for an issue that has made a difference in the lives of others;

• How the nominee has influenced other women through her actions and contributions;

• How the nominee exemplifies qualities of spirit, service, compassion for others, or professionalism to achieve accomplishments, and how she may have overcome adversity in order to give back to the community;

• How the nominee has applied innovative thinking to push the boundaries and find new and better ways to do things; and

• How the nominee has consistently demonstrated exceptional and progressive leadership.

Additional information and guidlelines to consider when nominating are available at www.businesswest.com/women-of-impact. Nominations may be submitted at businesswest.com/women-of-impact-nomination-information-criteria. For more information, call Bevin Peters, Marketing and Events director, at (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

Lenox Chamber of Commerce Welcomes New Executive Director

LENOX — The Lenox Chamber of Commerce welcomes its new executive director, Shaun Kelleher.

Kelleher grew up in the Berkshires and is back home after spending nearly a decade in New York City. He attended Berkshire Community College and, later, Syracuse University. In New York, he cultivated a career in marketing. As senior director of Marketing at 24 Seven, a creative staffing and recruiting company with 12 offices across the globe, he led a team of designers, marketers, copywriters, and strategists to grow and promote the brand. Most recently, he was an account manager at BRIGADE, a marketing and design agency in Hadley, where he worked with clients such as SVEDKA Vodka, BIC, Black Box Premium Wines, Woodbridge, World Hotels, and Audience Rewards. He also sits on the board of the Ad Club of Western Massachusetts as its membership chair.

Jamie Trie, the marketing director for the chamber, will be stepping down from her full-time position to develop her own social-media marketing and graphics firm, Berkshire Media Marketing. She will continue working with the chamber as a consultant for its social-media and weekly member newsletters, and to help out with various projects and events.

“With Shaun’s appointment, we are looking forward to accelerating our momentum to grow Lenox into a year-round tourist destination, as well as to renew our efforts to attract people and businesses to Lenox,” said Robert Murray, chamber board president. “I would like to thank Jamie for her efforts over the past two years in helping to bring national recognition to Lenox, as noted by Lenox winning the USA Today 10 Best ‘Best Northeastern Small Town’ title and landing us on their top-10 list for their ‘Best Small Town Cultural Scene,” numerous Expedia mentions, and national media attention. We wish her the best with her new marketing company and look forward to our continued cooperation.”

Recognition Program Builds Off an Exciting First Year

Health Care Healthcare Heroes Sections

Nominate a Healthcare Hero

Only a few minutes into the first meeting of an advisory board created by BusinessWest and its sister publication, BusinessWest, to provide needed insight as they launched a new recognition program called Healthcare Heroes, the expected question was put forward.

“How do you define that word ‘hero?’ asked one of the panel’s members, addressing the magazines’ decision makers.

The reply, and we’re paraphrasing here, was something to the effect of ‘how we define ‘hero’ is not important — it’s how you define it.’

And by ‘you,’ Kate Campiti, associate publisher of the two publications, essentially meant anyone who would nominate an individual or group to be named a Healthcare Hero in one of seven categories that first year.

Those who did so came up with their own definitions, used to highlight the nominations of a unique class of individuals and groups that would include Sr. Mary Caritas, SP, former president of Mercy Medical Center, in the Lifetime Achievement category; Dr. Michael Willers, owner of the Children’s Heart Center, in the Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider category; Dr. Andrew Dobin, an ICU surgeon, in the Innovation in Health/Wellness category; and the Healthy Hill Initiative in the Collaboration in Health/Wellness category.

“Generally, ‘hero’ means someone or some group that stands out and stands above others in their profession, in their service to others, and in the way their passion for helping those in need is readily apparent,” Campiti said. “And we saw this in our first class of honorees. If there was one word that defined all of them, beyond ‘hero,’ it was ‘passion.’”

A panel of judges will be looking for that same passion as they weigh nominees for the class of 2018.

Nominations are currently being accepted, and will be until the end of the day on June 15. Nomination forms can be found on both publications’ websites — www.businesswest.com and www.healthcarenews.com.

Nominations are being accepted in the following categories:

Those nominating individuals and groups are urged to make their submissions detailed and specific, giving the judges who will review them all the information they need.

The honorees will be chosen this summer and profiled in the Sept. 4 edition of BusinessWest and the September edition of BusinessWest.

The Heroes will then be honored at a gala set for Oct. 25 at the Starting Gate at GreatHorse in Hampden.

Rounding out the class of 2017 are:

• Lifetime Achievement: Sister Mary Caritas, SP;

• Patient/Resident/Client Care Provider: Dr. Michael Willers, owner of the Children’s Heart Center of Western Massachusetts;

• Emerging Leader: Erin Daley, RN, BSN, director of the Emergency Department at Mercy Medical Center;

• Health/Wellness Administrator/Administration: Holly Chaffee, RN, BSN, MSN, president and CEO of Porchlight VNA/Home Care;

• Community Health: Molly Senn-McNally, Continuity Clinic director for the Baystate Pediatric Residency Program;

• Innovation in Health/Wellness: Dr. Andrew Doben, director of the Surgical Intensive Care Unit at Baystate Medical Center;

• Innovation in Health/Wellness: Genevieve Chandler, associate professor of Nursing at UMass Amherst; and

• Collaboration in Healthcare: The Healthy Hill Initiative.

For more information on Healthcare Heroes, visit www.businesswest.com or www.healthcarenews.com.

Legislation Aims to Improve Outlook for People with Dementia

Health Care Sections

Out of the Darkness

Daniel Zotos characterizes H.4116 as a workforce-training bill more than anything else.

When Carolyn Mutcherson’s mother was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, her family decided to care for her at home, even though they all worked full-time. It was a team effort, with family members alternating taking time off from work to give others a break.

“No one can care for someone, no matter what the illness is, alone,” Mutcherson told the audience gathered at a recent legislative breakfast of the Massachusetts/New Hampshire Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Assoc. “My sisters and I, along with our children, grandchildren, and spouses, helped care for my mother around the clock because she was home and my father wanted her to be home. She was our mother, but his wife. So whatever he asked us to do, we did.”

Mutcherson’s mom died at age 81, in her family’s care, but that care was often difficult, she recalled. She reached out to the Alzheimer’s Assoc. and to Baystate Health, where she worked, for help, but said too many family caregivers don’t know where to turn.

“We were fortunate to have a close-knit family, and as time went on, we found more resources in the community,” she said. “It’s very difficult caring for someone 24 hours a day when you don’t have resources or don’t know where the resources are.”

It’s a story playing out increasingly often in Massachusetts and across the U.S., as the senior population swells — around 10,000 Baby Boomers hit age 65 every day — and, with it, the number of Americans with Alzheimer’s and other dementias. In Massachusetts alone, about 130,000 residents age 65 and up have Alzheimer’s today, and that figure is expected to soar to 150,000 by 2025, a 15.4% increase.

It’s why advocates for a piece of legislation known as the Massachusetts Alzheimer’s and Dementia Act — unanimously approved by the state House of Representatives in January and now in the Senate Ways and Means Committee — are acting with a sense of urgency, said Daniel Zotos, director of Public Policy & Advocacy for the local Alzheimer’s Assoc. chapter.

“It’s always important to pay attention to these facts and figures and see where these numbers are going,” he told the local legislators, caregivers, and others at the April 27 breakfast. “We’ve been very active on the federal level and working with our members of Congress on Alzheimer’s disease research funding.”

On the federal level, Alzheimer’s research received a $414 million boost this year, bringing the total outlay to $1.8 billion — roughly quadruple what spending was in 2011, just seven years ago.

“Knowing we’re doing this advocacy work on the federal level is so important, but we’re also focused on people living with this disease now and families impacted by dementia, and that’s where I really see the state-level work — on the front lines of what is really a health crisis,” Zotos said.

Carolyn Mutcherson says caregivers often get frustrated and overwhelmed, and need to know where they can access resources and help.

The seeds of the bill known as H.4116 were sown at an event on Beacon Hill in October, featuring expert panels talking about Alzheimer’s disease from different perspectives — such as industry, research, and the care community — and that conversation went on for about five hours between two joint committees, he explained.

“The result of that conversation was a comprehensive bill that packaged together a lot of existing bills within the Alzheimer’s Association legislative platform, as well as other initiatives,” Zotos said — and the legislation has only picked up momentum since.

What’s in the Bill?

The Massachusetts Alzheimer’s and Dementia Act features four main components. First, it creates an integrated state plan within the Executive Office of Elder Affairs, and establishes a permanent advisory council to coordinate government efforts and ensure that appropriate resources are maximized and leveraged.

The second part deals with education and training, specifically requiring medical providers, including primary-care doctors, nurses, and physician assistants, to earn continuing-education credits in Alzheimer’s and dementia as a condition of license renewal.

The rationale, Zotos noted, is that an estimated 45% of individuals with Alzheimer’s are actually diagnosed, and far fewer are offered information and options. Patients with cognitive impairments going into variety of healthcare settings, he argued, need to be diagnosed and treated correctly.

State Rep. John Scibak, who serves the 2nd Hampshire District and has been heavily involved in Alzheimer’s issues, told breakfast attendees that this is a particularly critical part of the bill, even though doctors have told him they don’t support the additional mandatory training.

“They say, ‘we’re doctors. We went to medical school. We don’t need to be educated.’ Well, surprise. You now have to. I think it’s absolutely essential.”

The bill’s third element deals with dementia in the acute-care setting, ensuring that hospitals are better prepared to treat patients with cognitive impairments when they arrive for some other health issue. Statewide, individuals with dementia have a 22.5% readmission rate within a month of visiting the hospital — the sixth-highest rate in the nation.

“You can come at this disease from the heart, the impact there, but also the head when you think about the cost to the state,” Zotos said. “We can work to improve the experience in that setting. We’ve been having some really good conversations with hospitals about this.”

Finally, the bill establishes new protections from abuse and exploitation, including provider training with social workers from Elder Protective Services, and proper family notification, consistent with federal and state privacy guidelines, about incidents of abuse in care facilities.

Mutcherson says that element of the bill is not an attack on caregivers, but an acknowledgement that frustration is part of the daily experience. She said there were times she raised her voice inappropriately to her mother, only to be calmed down by family members.

“You do get frustrated, you do get angry; this is why you can’t do it alone,” she said, noting that even doctors sometimes don’t know how to communicate with patients with dementia and become flustered. “So education everywhere needs to take place — not just in hospitals, but in doctor’s offices and dental offices as well.”

Zotos said he characterizes H.4116 as a workforce-training bill more than anything else.

“If we focus on training our doctors and clinicians in recognizing Alzheimer’s and dementia, knowing the signs, it can really lend to improving that rate of diagnosis and getting folks into care-planning services much sooner,” he noted. “It’s a care-planning issue, it’s a financial-planning issue, and it’s also just a dignity issue to know you have a disease when you have it.”

One Step at a Time

Zotos said the bill, if passed, would be one development — albeit a significant one — in a long string of actions to improve quality of life for those with Alzheimer’s and other dementias in Massachusetts.

Those include legislation in 2012 mandating mininum dementia care standards in skilled-nursing and assisted-living facilities, and the establishment in 2010 of a Silver Alert system to help locate individuals who wander. Most recently, the Alzheimer’s Assoc. secured an additional $100,000 in state funding for Alzheimer’s public awareness.

“We’ve really focused on being in the community and talking about this issue,” he added. “And this budget item has really helped us focus on underserved populations across the Commonwealth, especially African-Americans and Latinos, who more than two times more likely to develop Alzheimer’s.”

Zotos noted that his grandmother had Alzheimer’s disease, and when he saw the impact of the advocacy movement, it encouraged him to get involved as well, leading to his current role. “We’ve had a lot of success in Massachusetts with Alzheimer’s and dementia, improving quality of care within in the care setting.”

Grace Barone, who chairs the association’s advocacy committee and works as director of community relations at Keystone Commons in Ludlow (see story on page 11), said she’s sometimes overwhelmed by the stories she encounters.

“I can’t walk away from this disease. It’s not me today, but it could be tomorrow. It could be any of us in this room. We need to share these stories; we need to be a voice for those who cannot speak any longer and share their experiences.”

Part of that message is educating those who deal directly with individuals with dementia, Zotos, and that’s the promise the legislation holds. He admitted it doesn’t include dramatic benefits like tax credits or respite grants for caregivers, but he’s determined to put families at the table with decision makers to improve quality of life.

“There’s a lot of good happening, but we have never seen a bill on a state level approach Alzheimer’s disease and dementia like this,” he said. “Massachusetts has really been known for healthcare, and this bill would put Massachusetts on the map in terms of helping families and reducing cost — but also helping our neighboring states get moving with legislation like this.

“This bill isn’t perfect; no bill is,” he concluded. “But the conversation continues; the fight continues. It’s a big step.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

MGM Springfield, PVTA Introduce ‘the Loop’

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield and the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority (PVTA) have joined forces to create the Loop — a new public transportation service linking downtown tourist attractions, hotels, restaurants, and arts and culture destinations to provide a more robust travel experience for Springfield visitors.

Debuting Aug. 24 as part of MGM Springfield’s opening day, the Loop will connect Springfield’s most storied landmarks, including Union Station, the Springfield Armory, Springfield Museums, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, and MGM Springfield.

The Loop schedule is designed with visitors in mind. In addition to stops at cultural highlights, the shuttle also will make stops at MassMutual Center, Holiday Inn Express, Sheraton, Hampton Inn, and La Quinta Inn & Suites. The Loop will run Wednesdays through Sundays from Union Station from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. and complete a full circuit in 60 minutes during the day and 40 minutes in the evening. Traveling on the Loop will be free.

“The Loop is yet another sign that the city of Springfield is on the rise, and tourism is a vital component to its revitalization,” said Alex Dixon, general manager, MGM Springfield. “The Loop will be a welcome boost for tourist-oriented businesses. It will allow us to package the whole area as a consolidated travel destination rather than just individual attractions.”

Sandra Sheehan, administrator with the Pioneer Valley Transit Authority, noted that the Loop will be operated with a zero-emissions electric bus as part of PVTA’s goal of providing sustainable transportation.

As part of its host-community agreement, MGM Springfield will provide PVTA with financial support to operate and maintain the Loop. This includes maintenance and insurance of the vehicle, as well as the costs associated with the hiring, supervising, and compensating the driver.

“For the hospitality community, the Loop has always been a key component of the MGM Springfield project,” said Mary Kay Wydra, president of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau. “The Loop introduces visitors to the many attractions that make Springfield special, provides access to MGM Springfield, and has the potential to increase visitor stays in the region.”

Memory-care Communities Emphasize Engagement, Individuality

Health Care Sections

Mindful Connections

Allison Baker (right, with Cheryl Moran) says everything from the Atrium’s programs to its physical layout caters to individuals with cognitive impairment.

Over the past few decades, assisted-living facilities have increasingly opened dedicated memory-care units, and for good reason — a booming senior population is set to spawn sharp increases in Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. These facilities stress safety, but more than that, they aim to keep residents active and engaged with life, while giving their loved ones much-needed peace of mind.

The guilt often associated with ‘putting mom in a home’ has never really gone away, even when the move makes sense, and those ‘homes’ — especially those which focus on memory care — aren’t what they used to be.

“It seems like a last resort sometimes,” said Allison Baker, director of Community Relations at the Atrium at Cardinal Drive in Agawam. “But what we’re able to provide in this community is care that is centered around their cognitive needs.”

Atrium — one of 56 communities in the Benchmark chain, which focuses solely on memory care — is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, which allows its leaders to take a long view of how residential memory care has evolved.

“We care for individuals who have some form of cognitive impairment,” Baker explained. “Some of our residents are milder in terms of cognitive impairment, while some have end-stage, advanced dementia. We care for residents through the entire spectrum.”

It’s no secret that, as the senior population in America swells, so have instances of dementia. Alzheimer’s disease alone affects more than 5 million Americans — and, barring a cure, that figure might soar to 16 million by 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Assoc.

That puts residences that specialize in memory care in a sort of sweet spot when it comes to meeting a growing need. In fact, that goes for assisted living of all kinds.

“The reality is, we’re all going to need help in the future,” Baker said. “It’s not something everyone wants to think about, but it’s reality. We try to educate families and provide them with guidance, whether or not someone moves into our community. Healthcare is not easy to navigate, but when families do come in, they see we’re not an institutional setting, but a homelike environment — yet, we can still meet their care needs.”

While giving BusinessWest a tour of Armbrook Village in Westfield, Executive Director Beth Cardillo noted the small size of the rooms in its Compass memory-care neighborhood, but there’s a reason for that — smaller spaces are easier to psychologically navigate, and residents spend most of their time outside the room anyway.

“Memory care is a smaller life in terms of space, but what we do there is no different than what we do in the rest of the building,” she said.

There are a few main reasons why families choose memory care, she noted. The first is that their loved one may be a flight risk, and families are worried their they might wander out of a building at 3 a.m. if the unit isn’t secured. “So, safety is obviously the number-one concern,” Cardillo said.

“The other piece, what people often don’t realize, is that, as someone’s world gets smaller, what we provide is a safe but very caring, normalizing environment. It’s a smaller world that’s a safer world. Often, people move to traditional assisted living and realize the world at large in this building is too big for them; they can’t negotiate the space. Sometimes less is more.”

Loved ones come to realize this too, she added. “When people move into memory care, for a lot of reasons, their families breathe a big sigh of relief, and it feels like a burden has been released off their shoulders. I always hear, ‘why didn’t I listen to you? It took me a while to get on the same page with this, but you were so right.’”

Kelly Sostre, executive director of Keystone Commons in Ludlow, which also boasts a dedicated memory-care neighborhood known as the Cottage, agreed that it can be difficult for families to come to terms with a growing need for help.

“It’s a hard hurdle for a child to get over, knowing her mom needs to be in memory care,” she told BusinessWest. “I definitely have to hold their hand through that process and explain the benefits of being in memory care.”

However, she went on, “just a week or two after they’re here, they’re like, ‘this is the best thing ever.’ They don’t have to worry anymore — they can come in and have a quality visit with mom, not worrying about medications or bathing her. They’re engaged, not tired, because they’re sleeping at night.”

Active Lives

Baker said the layout of Atrium is purposeful, catering to individuals with cognitive impairment.

“We don’t have long hallways with a lot of rooms coming off them, which can be confusing for residents,” she explained. “Instead, there are two wings with different neighborhoods in each wing, where apartments open into a common area.”

Beth Cardillo says families often find it difficult to choose memory care for their loved ones, but are typically relieved once they do.

Meanwhile, each apartment is decorated with a shadowbox out front, which families can decorate however they wish, telling a story about their lives and interests and reaffirming the idea that the residents are individuals. But, as Cardillo said, the idea is to get residents out of those rooms.

“In our model of memory care, we don’t want residents sitting in their room alone,” Baker explained. “Part of the reason someone moves into a community like this is that engagement. Someone with cognitive impairment may not feel comfortable around those without cognitive impairment, but here, in a comforting space, they feel free to express themselves — we’ve seen that time and time again.”

Executive Director Cheryl Moran noted that, whenever a resident is admitted, the family is interviewed to learn about their interests, past hobbies, favorite foods, and more.

“That way, we can program our care and activities to what they enjoy,” Baker noted. “Some residents may enjoy playing bingo, while others may prefer trivia or want to join a garden club or a baking club. There are always multiple programs going on, so residents have the ability to decide whether to actively participate or just socialize and observe.”

The emphasis on personalizing the experience stems from an acknowledgement that these are people with long histories who led rich lives, and want to continue living. “Some were homemakers, some were doctors, some were journalists. It runs the gamut, so it’s about finding what each resident enjoys doing so they can have the highest quality of life they deserve.”

With residents ranging in age from 60 to 97, Baker noted — with birth years spanning almost four decades — even what music residents enjoy varies wildly, with tastes ranging from the 1920s to the 1970s.

“It’s about finding what each resident enjoys and appreciates,” Baker said. “And we count on families and caregivers to provide a lot of that information — and, to some degree, our residents. We want them to feel as they have control, making their own decisions on things and letting us know what programs they like and don’t like.”

With a packed daily calendar of activities like word games, reminiscing, Zumba, tai chi, yoga, art, and music, Sostre said, Keystone also tries to offer something for everyone. Shuttle trips into the community are especially popular, and they’re also a chance to educate establishments like restaurants — which are contacted in advance — on how to accommodate people with memory loss.

Back on campus, many Keystone activities are enjoyed by an integrated group, with residents from independent, assisted, and memory-care neighborhoods gathering together for exercise programs or a chef’s club in which they prepare and enjoy a meal together.

“The road to Alzheimer’s is different for each individual here, and we try to program for that individual. Sometimes their needs might be different than the general group,” said Grace Barone, director of Community Relations, adding, however, that Keystone tries to strike a balance between meeting individual needs and encouraging group interaction.

Good Nights

Many times, dementia affects sleep patterns, which means some residents keep odd hours, but that’s no problem in a unit that’s staffed 24/7.

“If I walked in here at 1 in the morning, I wouldn’t be surprised to see a resident or two in the common area having coffee with the care manager or doing a puzzle together because their sleeping patterns do get mixed up,” Sostre said. “But we have staff here, so if that happens, it’s OK.”

Kelly Sostre, left, and Grace Barone say many of Keystone’s activities integrate its independent-living, assisted-living, and memory-care residents.

Cardillo agreed. “If you want to be up at 3 in the morning and have a cup of tea and toast, that’s fine. Want to dance in the living room at 4 in the morning? That’s fine, too. I don’t want to say anything goes, but the reason they’re here is not only to keep them safe, but to give them a robust life, not just keep them alive.”

Reminiscing is a big part of the activity program, she said, especially with a program called Reconnections, which is simultaneously a chance to learn new things and to generate conversation about the past.

“They remember going to USO dances or getting married the week before shipping out to war, or the Andrews Sisters singing ‘Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.’ They’ll talk about art or where they went on their honeymoon. It brings up so much conversation.”

Such reminiscing has a clinical benefit, she added. “It keeps the synapses going — it’s a spark that increases dopamine in the brain. To see them sit and have discussions, it’s beautiful to watch.”

Music is a critical element as well — “it’s a window to the soul; it can bring you to your high-school prom or anyplace, really” — not to mention sensory activities from dancing and yoga to gardening. “It’s the regular world in a smaller place.”

And it’s often a place that remains meaningful to the family long after their loved one is no longer there, Moran said.

“The wife of a gentleman who passed came back to visit me maybe a month ago. She said she has a connection here and she likes to come visit, and she’s thinking about volunteering in our programs, which is very touching,” she told BusinessWest.

“It’s about love — when you walk in, I hope you feel a real sense of connection and family.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Bean Group Has a Number of Intriguing Plans Coming to a Boil

Restaurants Sections

There’s More Growth on the Menu

Andy Yee says his family’s goal is to create the region’s largest and best restaurant group. Some would argue that the Bean Group is already there.

Andy Yee says he’s heard what he readily concedes is a truism pretty much his whole life.

‘The restaurant business is really hard.’

But while he acknowledges this commonly held belief, or the related opinion that this business is certainly harder than it looks, he quickly adds that such work is essentially all he’s ever known, at least since his father first brought him to work at the Hu Ke Lau in Chicopee as a teenager.

“People do say it, and I hear it in the finance world all the time, that the restaurant business is not for the faint of heart — that it’s a very difficult industry,” Yee told BusinessWest. “I don’t know what that means, because I was born into this business — I don’t know anything but restaurants, so ‘difficult’ is not a word I exercise all the time.

“Yeah, it’s difficult, but everything’s difficult — life’s difficult sometimes,” he went on. “You make it what it is; to me, it’s fun, challenging in a good way, and rewarding.”

Which is why Yee is not only still doing this roughly 40 years after he got his start in the family business, he’s somewhat consumed with a mission to create the largest and best restaurant group in the region.

“It’s a personal goal of mine that my family shares — we’re all united in this goal,” he said. “And that is to be the quintessential restaurant group in this area.”

Some would say he’s already accomplished that goal with a portfolio of eateries, operating under the corporate name the Bean Restaurant Group, that includes several entities bearing his father’s first name — Johnny’s Tavern, Johnny’s Bar & Grill, Johnny’s Tap Room, and Johnny’s Roadside — but also the venerable Student Prince (Fort), IYA Sushi and Noodle Kitchen, and the Hu Ke Lau, although that landmark is currently closed and with a future described with those three letters TBD (more on that later).

But like Johnny Yee, the principals in the Bean Group — Andy, his siblings Edison, Anita, and Nick, and aunt Bonnie — are seemingly always in a building, adding mode, and that’s why there will soon be a second IYA location, this one in downtown Amherst, and another addition on the banks of the Connecticut River.

Indeed, the Bean Group is joining the Rondeau family, long-time owners and operators of Masse’s Seafood in Chicopee, in a venture to write an exciting new chapter in the life of the Dockside Restaurant at Brunelle’s Marina. The landmark will be renamed the Boathouse Tavern, with the tagline ‘waterside dining.’

A new upstairs deck is planned, as well as some changes and additions to the menu, with the goal of making the popular eatery even more of a destination and a complementary piece to the other eateries within the Bean Group.

But there are certainly more additions to come, said Yee, who was vague as he talked about what specific opportunities might emerge for acquisition or new development, but quite specific, and determined, as he talked about that broad goal he described.

For this issue and its annual Restaurant Guide, BusinessWest talked with Yee about his future plans — to the extent that he was comfortable doing so — but more about his career in this business that’s harder than it looks (to other people), and what drives him to continually build upon his portfolio.

Stirring Things Up

Yee said the chosen closing date for the Hu Ke Lau was anything but random.

April 6 was also the date his father opened the restaurant 53 years earlier, he said, adding that his family chose to close the loop in a sentimental and powerful way.

“It was a fantastic run — I’m still in mourning, I’m still crying; I have my moments,” he told BusinessWest as he talked about the iconic landmark that brought generations of people to Memorial Drive in Chicopee, or ‘the drag,’ as he called it, which he saw transform itself several times over a half-century.

As sad and sentimental as that day was, there was also a considerable amount of order and logic to it as well, said Yee, adding that the family decided roughly two years ago that the aging property had seen its day and that pouring more money into made little, if any, sense.

“The family was united in shutting it down not because it wasn’t profitable, but because the building had run its useful life,” he explained. “We were putting Band-Aids on top of Band-Aids on top of Band-Aids; when it rains outside, it pours inside.”

As to what comes next, not only for the Hu Ke Lau restaurant but for a large property on that radically changed, now extremely vibrant ‘drag’ … Yee was non-committal on both matters. He would say only that the family has taken steps to protect the Hu Ke Lau brand until it decides what to do with and it, and that it will look at a wide range of options before deciding anything.

“The Hu Ke Lau brand has been in our community for a great amount of time, and my family doesn’t see it going away,” he said with conviction. “Will it be 27,000 square feet? I think big restaurants today are difficult to operate; dark rooms don’t produce income.

“There’s another chapter to begin with the Hu Ke Lau,” he went on. “We’re looking, but we’re not looking too hard because we have some other things we’re doing right now.”

The only other thing he said with finality in his voice is that the building will be coming down soon. “We’re packing up,” he said.

That was a reference to the fact that Hu Ke Lau property was not only home to the restaurant, but to the Bean Group’s corporate headquarters, if you will, which were on the second floor.

These offices will soon be relocated to Union Station in downtown Springfield, in space to be subleased from his business partner in the Fort venture, Peter Picknelly, who recently moved his family’s bus company, Peter Pan, into the recently reopened transportation hub.

Thus, that subleased space will now be home to what he called MMMs, short for Monday morning meetings, strategy sessions staged by Yee family members since as long as Andy can remember.

And there’s been lots to discuss and do as these meetings in recent months, including the finalization of plans for the second IYA Sushi and Noodle Kitchen location, a 2,000-square-foot location on East Pleasant St.

Yee said the setting is ideal given the proximity of UMass Amherst and the other institutions comprising what are known as the Five Colleges, and he sees plenty of opportunity despite the growing number of eateries with sushi on the menu.

“There’s plenty of sushi there, but we’re going bring a new and very unique eatery to the marketplace,” he explained. “We’re going to bring big-city flair and a higher caliber of execution to this area.”

Construction of the IYA facility is underway, and Yee anticipates a ribbon-cutting ceremony in September, coinciding with the return of students for the fall semester.

As for the new Boathouse Tavern, Yee will be partnering in that venture with his brother-in-law, Donald Rondeau, and other members of the Rondeau family. The Dockside has been a South Hadley institution for years, and the facility was famously rebuilt and expanded after a devastating fire in 2013.

The Brunelle family made the property available, he went on, and the new partnership is determined to take full advantage of what Yee sees as a tremendous opportunity.

“We’re going to change the brand and introduce waterside dining,” he said, adding that his team has closed on the property and already commenced work on everything from marketing to construction of the new deck to changes on the menu.

Food for Thought

While those MMMs at Union Station in the weeks and months to come will no doubt have packed agendas with just the two latest additions to the Bean Group’s portfolio, Yee said they are just a few of the items to be discussed.

Indeed, in addition to matters that fall into the category of old business, there will plenty of new business as well, as the group drives ahead with that broad goal of becoming, if it isn’t already, the quintessential restaurant group in the area.

Andy Yee isn’t ready to say what this new business — or new businesses, as the case may be — is just yet, but he knows that opportunities will continue to present themselves, and the group will take advantage of some of those opportunities.

And that’s because, as hard as this business is, it’s all they’ve ever known, and ‘difficult’ isn’t the first word they would choose to describe it.

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

An Important Step Forward

Opinion

It was encouraging to see that work will be starting again soon on the Innovation Center in downtown Springfield. Very encouraging.

It’s been almost a year since the work stopped, creating a strange and at the same time troubling blip in what seemed like an otherwise uninterrupted flow of progress, good news, momentum, and positive vibrations.

The center is just one project, but the halt to work — the result of what has been called a severe miscalculation of just how much this project cost and a resulting cash-flow problem that prompted the contractor to cease and desist — was unnerving on a number of levels.

Indeed, while all those involved were confident that work would start again soon and the project would live up it to its considerable hype, as the months went by and the quiet continued on Bridge Street, doubts grew about whether this important link in the chain would become reality.

Now, it seems likely that it will. And that’s good news on many levels.

Let’s start with DevelopSpringfield, the agency that conceived this project and saw its reputation take a small hit when the venture ran aground, if you will, just as its former director was leaving to take another opportunity.

The optics weren’t just bad, they were terrible. But the agency has bounced back from this setback to a large degree, and we will remind people that, from the beginning, and from a projects standpoint, DevelopSpringfield has taken on what could only be called the ‘hard ones.’ Make that the ‘really hard ones.’

This portfolio includes the Gunn Block in Mason Square across from the Springfield Technical Community College campus, a building that may be beyond rehabilitation at this point. But it also includes sites such as 77 and 83 Maple St. and 700 State St. (the former River Inn) — properties that have been successfully rehabilitated.

These are projects that no one else would seemingly touch. When you target longshot projects like this, things are not always going to go smoothly.

But there is a bigger-picture perspective when it comes to the Innovation Center. As we said, it is an important link in the chain, or important ingredient in the recipe for a successful downtown, if that analogy works better.

Indeed, for a central business district to work, it needs many different constituencies coming together. It needs workers (downtown has always had those); it needs residents (downtown has many of those, but it needs more, especially those in higher income brackets, and it will likely get more if talks for more market-rate options become reality); and it needs visitors, and downtown should have a much larger volume of those given the opening of MGM Springfield, the rehabilitation of Union Station, some new restaurants, and the possible revitalization of a moribund Tower Square.

But it also needs startups and young entrepreneurs, people who can make Main Street or Bridge Street, or any number of other streets in the downtown, their mailing address. In cities ranging from Cambridge to Seattle to Brooklyn (OK, that’s a borough, not a city), startups have been a huge factor in the off-the-charts growth of those communities.

They bring jobs, residents, commerce for service business, vibrancy, and something else — more startups.

The Innovation Center won’t do that all by itself, but it will be a huge contributor to that movement as it serves as home to not only Valley Venture Mentors, but eventually some of the startup businesses VVM mentors.

Given everything else going on downtown and all the things that have gone right, the restart of work on the Innovation Center may seem like a minor story.

It isn’t.

Women of Impact: New Recognition Program to Honor Those Doing Remarkable Things

Women of Impact

The name was chosen very carefully.

Actually, it was the last word that demanded the most time and attention, for reasons that will become obvious.

BusinessWest decided recently, after much consideration, to launch a new recognition program (yes, we already have several) to honor a specific segment of the local population.

Women.

More specifically, women making an impact in and on this region. Hence, Women of Impact. BusinessWest is currently accepting nominations for this honor HERE, and those who score the highest in the eyes and minds of three judges will be honored at a luncheon in December (date and venue to be determined).

Fast Facts

What: The inaugural Women of Impact Awards

When: Nominations are due Aug. 3. The awards luncheon will be in December, date and venue to be determined.

Why: To recognize women who are making an impact in this region.

For More Information: Go HERE.

But first, why a special recognition program for women? Why not call it ‘People of Impact’ and honor anyone who fits that description? We asked that question ourselves. Kate Campiti, BusinessWest’s associate publisher and sales manager, provides a synopsis of the answer.

“We decided to create a special program recognizing women because, after careful consideration, we decided that this region needed one and that BusinessWest was the right organization to do it,” she explained. “While women have certainly made great strides over the past several decades, and many women have made great achievements and broken through that proverbial glass ceiling, doing so remains a stern challenge for many.

“We want to recognize those who have broken through,” she went on. “But, more specifically, we want to honor those who are making full use of their time, talents, and considerable energy to impact this region and improve quality of life for those working and living in this region.”

Elaborating, Campiti said ‘Women of Impact’ was chosen as the name for the program because, while nominees can be from the world of business, they can also be from other realms, such as the nonprofit community, public service, law enforcement, education, social work, the mentorship community, a combination of all these — any inspirational women on any level.

Nominations for this honor, due on Aug. 3, should be written with one basic underlying mission: To explain why the individual in question is, indeed, a woman of impact. Nominations should explain, when applicable:

• How the nominee has made impactful accomplishments or contributions that have positively influenced business or the community;

• How the nominee demonstrates unwavering passion and commitment for an issue that has made a difference in the lives of others;

• How the nominee has influenced other women through her actions and contributions;

• How the nominee has applied innovative thinking to push the boundaries and find new and better ways to do things; and

• How the nominee has consistently demonstrated exceptional and progressive leadership.

For more information, go HERE.

“BusinessWest has consistently recognized the contributions of women within the business community,” Campiti said. “The Women of Impact Awards honor women who move the needle in their companies, are respected for their industry accomplishments, serve as mentors to other women, and give back to the community.”

Handbook Policies and Pitfalls

Opinion

By the Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast

Is your company handbook in need of a checkup? While handbooks vary in scope and detail, below are five policy areas employers should review.

Sexual harassment. With the rise in social awareness about sexual-harassment and workplace respect in general comes the need for companies to review the scope and depth of their policies, not only to ensure their policies are current regarding the process and procedures for handling complaints, but also in the messaging being communicated by leadership.

Equal opportunity. With additional protected classes coming into effect into 2018 in some jurisdictions (such as state initiatives designed to expand pregnant workers), employers should ensure their EEO policies cover these new protected groups.

Pregnancy accommodation. Some states, including Massachusetts, have enacted pregnancy-accommodation laws that will provide expanded communications and policies to inform employees about their rights to pregnancy accommodations and what those might entail.

Standards of conduct or employee conduct. With a new composition of board members at the National Labor Relations Board come new interpretations on a variety of subjects like civility, social media, and confidentiality.

Leaves of absence. As states continue to adopt sick-leave legislation and/or paid family-leave legislation, companies will either need to add leave policies to comport with the new requirements or update their existing policies to ensure that they are properly aligned.

In addition to these hot topics, here are five more handbook pitfalls to avoid:

Gender-identifying pronouns. Avoid using language like ‘he’ and ‘he/she’ in policies. Rather use language like ‘they,’ ‘them,’ ‘employee,’ or ‘employees’ where possible.

Contract language. Avoid language or phrases such as ‘terms or conditions of employment,’ ‘in consideration,’ and ‘employer and employee agree’ that could potentially leave the door open for a court to construe the document as a contract.

Handbook versions and revisions. Failure to maintain revision dates, execute and maintain signed acknowledgement forms confirming receipt of the current handbook revision, or identify in the handbook that the current handbook supersedes prior editions all can raise questions of which policies apply..

Avoid legal and ambiguous terminology where possible. Your employees are not lawyers. Use easy-to-understand, objective language in policies, particularly in discipline and related matters. Provide clear examples of behavior to provide a better understanding of employer expectations.

Avoid automatic termination or ‘cliff’ language in leave-of-absence policies. Leave policies that dictate that termination will automatically result after a certain amount of time could be construed as unlawful by a court or agency because it disregards the employer’s obligation under the Americans with Disabilities Act to engage in a “good-faith, interactive process” and fails to consider whether an extended leave of absence would be an undue hardship on the employer.

— Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast

MGM’s ‘First-gen’ Employees Were There at the Start

Features

Along for the Ride

Anita Bird, now an HR coordinator for MGM Springfield, knocked on the door of the company’s office back in 2012 not knowing what to expect.

As the final, final countdown begins for MGM Springfield, the opening of the nearly $1 billion project offers a different level of poignancy for a small group of individuals. They are known as first-generation, or first-gen employees. In many cases, they were the boots on the ground, stuffing envelopes and staging letter-writing parties when this was only a concept, not even an architect’s rendering. Today, they’re no longer volunteers; in fact, they’re already casino-industry veterans who have found not only a job but a career.

Anita Bird remembers knocking on the door not knowing who or what might lie on the other side.

She had left Temple University in Philadelphia that fall of 2012, and come home to Springfield looking for … well, she wasn’t exactly sure what. A “restart” was how she phrased it for BusinessWest. She had heard that MGM was looking at Springfield as the possible site for one of the Commonwealth’s first resort casinos and also that the company had opened a small office at 1441 Main St.

“I was trying to figure out what I was going to do,” she recalled, “and I’d heard that MGM was here, and I wanted some more information, mainly because I was surprised and confused and was just looking to see what all this was about.”

So she knocked on the door.

Fast-forwarding considerably, she was met by Brian Bass, manager of the company’s casino-referendum efforts, who would offer her an opportunity to volunteer for the entertainment giant as it sought to clear what would be merely the first of many hurdles it would face to gain a casino license.

That stint as a volunteer would eventually lead to a job and what has all the makings of a career in the casino business. Her business card now declares that she is HR coordinator for MGM Springfield, handling a wide array of responsibilities, from events to make people aware of career opportunities at the casino to birthday parties for those already on the payroll.

What it will read several years, or even several months, from now, she doesn’t know.

“You get a glimpse of every piece, a little of everyone’s world,” she said of her time at MGM to date and her exposure to a wide array of career paths. “I’m open to the many opportunities that MGM has; we have so many great properties and great opportunities.”

Bird is what’s known within the company as a ‘first-generation’ employee of MGM Springfield, which means, in most cases, that she’s been here from the very start, long before the very first architect’s renderings of the $950 million casino now nearing completion in the South End were drawn. Back before Springfield voters had even approved a referendum that would allow a company to build a casino within the city’s borders. Back before anyone around here had ever heard of Mike Mathis or Bill Hornbuckle.

Amanda Gagnon may have lost the battle for Ward 6 in the casino referendum fight, but she’s won not only a job but what has the makings of a career in the gaming industry.

There are several of these first-gen employees, many of whom, like Bird, started as volunteers. Sometimes they knocked on that office door, other times they joined a line at the MGM table at a job fair.

After volunteering, they then earned jobs with a wide array of titles, and now are in what appears to be the early stage of a career in the gaming industry. Many of them tell stories of ‘letter-writing parties’ from the days leading up to the city’s referendum vote and then, a year later, a statewide ballot initiative to undo the Legislature’s approval of casino gambling. And of long days and nights working toward something that was then only a concept. And of doing ‘anything and everything that needed to be done,’ a phrase many of them used.

“We were the feet on the ground — this little army of recent college graduates just knocking on doors, making phone calls, having house parties and letter-writing parties; if there was a way to get the word out, we were going to do it,” said Amanda Gagnon, who, after her time volunteering, wound up serving on the community relations staff, then as exective assistant to both Mathis, president and chief operating officer of MGM Springfield, and Alex Dixon, the general manager, and now, as project coordinator on the operations side.

Some have seen their journey take them to Las Vegas for management training or to MGM’s National Harbor casino in Maryland, which opened roughly 18 months ago. But they are all in Springfield, or back in Springfield, as the case may be.

And now that it’s reality and just a few months from opening its doors, the casino has become for them not only a place of employment, but a source of pride, something they’ve helped bring to fruition, something that, for those who grew up in and around Springfield, has changed their outlook on the city and its future.

“Back when I was going to college at Western New England, I would never have patronized any of the outlets down here,” said Thuy Nguyen, a first-gen employee now working in HR. “I wouldn’t even think to set foot downtown because you always thought it was too dangerous to be down there. Fast-forward five years, and I’m downtown almost every week — outside of work. It’s a nice, very refreshing change.”

For this issue, and as the opening date for the casino draws ever closer, BusinessWest turns the spotlight on an intriguing group of MGM team members — those first-generation employees who knocked on the door of opportunity, sometimes quite literally, and found a fulfilling career on the other side.

Rolling the Dice

Gagnon can laugh about it now, but, for the most part, she still doesn’t. That’s because, on many levels, it remains a sore subject.

In the run-up to Springfield’s referendum vote on casino gambling in the fall of 2013, Gagnon, an East Longmeadow native, was essentially assigned Ward 6, the Forest Park area. As things turned out, that was the only ward to vote against the casino measure.

“I had a tough community, and I wore that scarlet letter for a while, but they didn’t hold it against me, obviously,” said Gagnon with a laugh. She took those numbers hard, but quickly focused on the much bigger picture — all the work that still lay ahead, including another campaign — the ballot initiative (which was defeated by a wide margin) — and she’s embraced all of it.

Gagnon’s story, like that of all of the first-generation employees, has its unique elements and fate-filled moments; there’s even what is now a husband-and-wife team that went to Las Vegas together for management training and now work on different floors of MGM’s headquarters at 95 State St. (we’ll meet them in a bit).

But there are many common threads as well. Most weren’t looking for a job with MGM per se when they started, just a job, or a restart, like the one Bird described.

Thuy Nguyen says she never skipped school before attending that job fair where she connected with MGM Resorts. She certainly has no regrets now.

Gagnon was certainly looking for one of those after returning from New York — and a short stint on Broadway in company management and casting — as so many do who venture to the Big Apple, with big dreams mostly unfulfilled.

“I was working in entertainment because that’s my strongest passion,” she said. “But New York is expensive, and I came back with my tail between my legs, ready to reassess what my future should be. I felt defeated — but I heard that MGM was interested in coming to the area.”

But at first, the East Longmeadow native disregarded those reports as illogical, based largely on the city’s troubles at the time and her own perceptions of the community. “I said, ‘I know this area, and MGM and Springfield weren’t two words that went together at the time.’”

But she was pushed and prodded by family members to investigate the rumors and, more specifically, show up at a career showcase at the MassMutual Center and report back in detail on what transpired.

She did show up, and she did report back — that MGM had no job openings, per se, but it was looking for interns to help with the campaign.

She interned for about a month and then was brought on full-time to work on the referendum campaign — work that is far removed from the lights of Broadway and also from what most people think about when they sign on to work for MGM Resorts.

Derek and Jennifer Russell arrived at MGM Springfield by way of Las Vegas (management training) and an assignment to help open MGM’s National Harbor casino in Maryland.

As noted, these first-gen employees weren’t working for a casino, but for a company with aspirations for building a casino in the City of Homes. In the late spring of 2018, it might be hard for some to remember how all this started — with a grassroots effort to garner support for casino gambling in the city.

Those who were there certainly can’t forget; the images, and memories, are embedded in their minds.

“By October, when I arrived, MGM was just sort of putting the feelers out,” said Bird, who would eventually be appointed manager of that office bearing the door she knocked on, the first of many steps up the ladder. “That’s when we sent out all those mailers asking people what their feelings were on casino gambling and what they thought about a casino here; that’s where we started, with those mailers, and eventually there were house parties, letter-writing efforts, and other things to feel out where the support was and what people thought about the project.

“We would do fireside chats, we would go to hockey games and sign people up, we’d do giveaways — anything we could to get to talk to people,” she went on, adding that the goals back then were to build support but also a large army of people to carry on the fight.

Joining the Army

And the recruitment process for that army was quite involved, and many would join by what could only be called the indirect route. Nguyen enlisted by way of a career fair in 2013 staged not by her school, Western New England University, but UMass Amherst.

“I didn’t know what I was doing with my life, and UMass has, historically, one of the largest career fairs in the area,” she recalled. “I was searching on their database to see what companies were going to be represented, and almost fell off my chair when I saw ‘MGM Resorts’ on the list.

“I swear that, prior to that, I had never skipped school,” she went on. “But I skipped on that day, took a chance, stood in line for what felt like hours, and once I got to the table and spoke to a representative, I found they were recruiting for their Las Vegas properties.”

That news left her feeling quite deflated — she remembers almost being in tears as she left the career fair — but the picture changed quickly and dramatically when Bass, who was forwarded her résumé by MGM colleagues at the career fair, gave her a call, inquiring about whether she’d like to join the campaign as an intern.

“He hired me on the spot, and it’s history from there,” she told BusinessWest before offering, when prodded, a much slower version of the story.

That account featured a dramatic shift in scenery as Thuy ventured off to Las Vegas and the MGM Grand, where she took part in the management-associate program, a stint that lasted three years.

For someone who grew up in Springfield and then moved to rural Maine, it was quite a culture shock — “life-changing,” as she called it.

But her goal was always to come back to Springfield and open the MGM property here, and late last year, she did. Her business card declares that she is an HR business partner, handling a wide array of responsibilities, from internal investigations to counseling to workers’ comp claims — “all the fun stuff” — for a workforce now numbering more than 200 and on its way to 3,000.

From left: Derek and Jennifer Russell, Amanda Gagnon, Thuy Nguyen, and Anita Bird.

Among those 200 are Jennifer and Derek Russell. They have different jobs — she’s the manager of Talent and Acquisition, and he’s manager of Financial Planning & Analysis — and they work on different floors, but they took the same basic route here.

The same one Nguyen did.

Indeed, Jennifer, a graduate of the Isenberg School of Management at UMass, was at that very same career fair, also looking for a summer internship. She was thinking about Boston or Hartford as a landing spot, but was mostly focused on just getting some experience and making a little money.

“I talked to 18 companies, and saw this really long line at this last booth that turned out to be MGM,” she recalled. “I remember thinking, ‘this is a hospitality company; I don’t know much about it, but it seems really popular right now.

“I ended up waiting in line for a good 15 minutes just to talk with one person,” she went on. “I was asking if they had any HR positions or project-management roles.”

The person she spoke with was recruiting for Las Vegas, and she handed her over to the vice president of MGM Grand, who took one of Russell’s homemade business cards and dialed the number on it several days later, asking specifically if Russell would be interested in coming out to Las Vegas.

She was, went out for an initial 10 weeks, and “fell in love with all of it,” in her recollection.

She came back home to East Longmeadow and to Derek, whom she had started dating a few months earlier, and essentially talked him into going back out to Vegas with her.

As he recalls, it wasn’t exactly a hard sell.

“I spent the better part of a year in Boston doing something I probably wasn’t enjoying, and was looking for something different,” he said. “Jen decided she wanted to move to Vegas to take part in this management-associate program and wanted me to go with her.

“I said, ‘why not?’ — I wasn’t doing anything all that great for work,” he went on, adding that he applied for the MGM program, also known as MAP, and was accepted. “I told my boss at the time that I was moving to Vegas; he said, ‘you’re young … that’s probably not the craziest thing you’ll ever do.’ And I remember telling him, ‘I’m pretty sure moving to Vegas is one of the greatest things I’ll ever do.’”

Moving the story along, they spent a year in the MAP program, getting a holistic view of how a casino company like MGM operates, choosing a career path — again, his in finance and hers in talent acquisition — and then getting on with those careers.

While doing so, they were ever mindful of a pledge they made to each other that they would eventually return to Massachusetts and the families they left behind. They would do that, but first made a stop at National Harbor to be part of the team that opened that casino.

Today, like many of the other first-gen employees, their travels have taken them well beyond Greater Springfield, but they are happy to be here now at this pivotal moment in the city’s history.

It’s a moment they are part of on many levels. Indeed, the Russells not only work downtown, they live there, literally a few hundred yards from the front door of the casino’s hotel, in Stockbridge Court.

“It’s exciting to see the city come to life and be restored after so long,” said Derek. “The city is changing, and it’s great to be part of all that’s happening here.”

Others shared that sentiment and said they’re proud that the project they’ve been involved with for so much of their young lives is helping to transform the region they knew and make the memories — and sentiments — they had seem very distant.

“The Springfield we see now isn’t the same Springfield I left when I went to New York,” said Gagnon. “There’s new restaurants on Worthington Street, new events in Court Square. Springfield isn’t just a city people drive through anymore; we’ve become a place to stop, not just somewhere on the way.

Nguyen agreed.

“MGM is Springfield’s lifeline,” she told BusinessWest. “And I’m a true believer that, without MGM, we wouldn’t be anywhere near where we are today.”

In the Beginning…

Flashbacks.

All those we spoke with say they have them. Lots of them.

They flash back to selected moments in time that, for obvious reasons, have become indelible — because of the work being done, the time of day, the fatigue they were feeling, the emotions they were expressing, or, very often, the people they were working beside.

Many of those people are now on a different floor or, in some cases, just a few cubicles away. But they’re still ‘beside’ them, wearing MGM nametags and bearing business cards with the company’s logo. And that makes the flashbacks come more easily.

“I can think back on those nights when it was 1 o’clock in the morning and we were counting how many phone calls we had made,” recalled Gagnon with a heavy sigh. “That’s just one of many memories I have — and will always have. And every second of that is worth it to be able to be here today.”

With that, she certainly spoke for all of the first-gen employees.

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

West Springfield’s bNapoli Melds Big-city Style with Local Flavor

Restaurants Sections

Taste of Italy

Jerry Moccia says his goal is to provide diners with an authentic Italian experience.

If today’s dining public has become more demanding, Jerry Moccia says, television may bear some of the blame. But he’s not complaining.

“People are very into food — they know flavors, they know a lot about food, and things like the Food Network have brought a lot of exposure,” he noted. “People are more into food than they were 15 years ago, and expectations are much higher — which makes it more comfortable for us.”

He referred generally to the world of upscale dining, and specifically the Italian restaurant, bNapoli, he opened almost two years ago on Elm Street in the heart of West Springfield’s downtown.

Moccia is no stranger to the location, having opened Bella Napoli Pizzeria next door in 2005, four years after arriving in the area from his homeland of Italy. He ran that establishment for almost a dozen years before moving into the larger, neighboring space vacated by Curry Printing several years ago and creating a higher-end eatery.

“This is more my background,” he told BusinessWest. “We did Italian-American next door, with delivery, and I just wanted to bring something more authentic to the area, less Italian-American and more authentic Italian. I want people to experience how people really eat in Italy, while many restaurants in surrounding areas offer more Italian-American food.”

Thomas Fawcett, who oversees bar operations at bNapoli, said the restaurant is the culination of Moccia’s long-term vision.

“He plugged away there day and night with the vision of doing this,” Fawcett said of the pizzeria. “He always knew he wanted to open this; it was always sort of in the back of his mind. It was hard work, and that’s what he wanted. He was growing something.”

The goal, he added, was to serve fare that was ahead of the curve for the region, but not jarringly different. It was a risk, considering the success of Bella Napoli, but one that has paid off.

“Originally, it was tough, because people knew Jerry for next door, for the pizza shop — red sauce, Italian-American food,” he said. “A few people walked in here out of the gate with that expectation. But people gave it a shot, and maybe it wasn’t somewhere they could eat every night, but they knew on a special occasion they could. Then they told a couple people, who told a couple people, who tried it and told a couple more people.”

They’re still coming — and still telling their friends.

Heart of the City

Stepping inside bNapoli, diners are greeted by elegant, modern décor — all clean lines and earth and grey tones — meant to reflect what they might experience in a trendy restaurant in a big city, Moccia said. Meanwhile, the extensive menu currently runs the gamut from a grilled octopus appetizer and a house beet salad to creative entrees featuring veal, short ribs, haddock, ribeye, and a broad range of pastas.

“It feels very urban, metro New York or Boston,” he said of the atmosphere. “As for the food, we have some traditional, authentic Italian dishes with a contemporary spin. Everything is farm to table. We change the dinner menu three times a year based on the seasons. Tom came in over a year ago and brought the same expectation from a bar point of view.”

Indeed, when Fawcett showed up, there was no bar program to speak of, and he went to work crafting a unique experience for diners based on his training in Boston, where he was mentored by cocktail notables like Patrick Sullivan, who put B-Side Lounge in Cambridge on the map starting in the late ’90s, and Jackson Cannon, Fawcett’s fellow B-Side alum, who went on to establish Island Creek Oyster Bar.

Fawcett, who grew up in restaurants — his first job was at age 13 at Wild Apples Café in East Longmeadow — eventually enrolled in Jackson’s bar protégé program and became bar director at the second Island Creek location. He said what Moccia is doing at bNapoli — and what he has developed with the drink service — is very much in the spirit of those establishments, but innovative for Western Mass.

“It’s just different for this area. What we’re doing with cocktails out here is unheard of,” he said. “We make everything we can possibly make. We infuse our own spirits; we blend spirits for house blends. Strawberries just came into season, so we purchased strawberries from a farm and made a puree with them, which we won’t do in December, because we’d have to buy strawberries from California.”

As a result, the bar is even more seasonal than the restaurant, with a cocktail menu that changes roughly every six weeks. “Guests can come in today for their anniversary, and then if their birthday is in three months and they want to come back, the drink menu is totally different,” Fawcett said. “It’s something to look forward to for the next season. Right now we have a blueberry-infused Campari in one of our cocktails.”

Thomas Fawcett (right, with bar manager David Lazaro) says he has applied the restaurant’s from-scratch ethos to its drink menu.

Meanwhile, he expanded the wine menu from 40 to 100 labels but also focused it almost exclusively on offerings from Italy and the American West Coast. “This was fun for me; I’d never written an Italian wine menu, and I have fallen in love with Italian wine. What a great area of the world to grow grapes.”

As for beer selections, don’t look for big names like Anheuser-Busch and Miller; the roster is dominated by craft breweries — local names like Iron Duke and Fort Hill, but also small-batch producers from Maine to Virginia. “We are just a small, local restaurant, and we want to honor other small, local businesses.”

And Moccia definitely wanted to start small, Fawcett added.

“We’ve taken a slow approach. We didn’t want to open and have 1,000 people here right out of the gate. We’re sort of feeling our way, and we put a ton of time into what we do. We don’t have to work this hard, but we do because we’re passionate about it. David, the bar manager, doesn’t have to be here at 9 a.m. on a Monday pureeing strawberries for the week when we could just purchase it for a nominal fee and be done with it. But we take pride in what we do, and we love this and want to share this with everyone else.”

The feedback Moccia and Fawcett get from customers tells them that going the extra mile is appreciated.

“When I talk to people, they feel our passion for it,” Fawcett told BusinessWest. “When we’re at the table talking to them about what we do and how we do it, it’s a little more than just reading a list of ingredients. We’re sharing more of an experience. We’re bringing guests into the restaurant life, if you will.”

A Risk Pays Off

That life is one Fawcett knows well, and that Moccia has known for even longer. “He grew up in restaurants, and he understands the kitchen; he plugged away in one for 15 years,” Fawcett said. “So he had the back of house nailed down.”

His vision captured Fawcett’s imagination during their first meeting.

“I did not move back here expecting to see this,” he said. “I thought, there’s not going to be a restaurant that’s looking to do what I was doing in the city. But I met Jerry, and he said, ‘this is what we’re about; this is what we’re trying to achieve.’ And it has not been for naught.”

In some ways, Mocchia has been a risk taker, Fawcett said, but he’s adapatable, too, willing to alter offerings based on customer feedback.

“We just want to offer something fun and different which is fresh, and something that we believe in as well,” Fawcett went on, adding that bNapoli has amassed a strong cadre of regulars the staff knows on a first-name basis.

“We’re building relationships,” he told BusinessWest. “We’re a small restaurant. We don’t have the freedom of some large restaurants to be distant to their guests. You can walk into any big-brand restaurant and then walk out, and get a hello and a goodbye, and that’s it — and you could be fine with that. But here, I want to know how they’re doing. I want to know how their week was. I want to know if there’s a small touch we can make.”

In short, the goal is a big-city-type restaurant with a connection to the neighborhood, he went on — and his definition of ‘neighborhood’ is expansive, with regulars coming from places like Northampton, Wilbraham, and West Hartford.

“People make that ride, and they’re happy to be here,” he said. “People out here, when they believe in something, they stick with it. When they feel like you’re advocating for them, building something on their behalf, they will stick with you tooth and nail as long as you’re producing a good product, not taking shortcuts. If you’re working in their best interest, they know that.

“We’re in the business of hospitality,” Fawcett concluded. “It’s so much fun coming in here. We have a really strong group of people who bring that passion to the table, and we just want people to enjoy themselves.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Holyoke Chamber Slates Annual Meeting Breakfast for June 13

HOLYOKE — The Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce announced its annual meeting breakfast will take place on Wednesday, June 13 at the Wherehouse?

The chamber’s agenda includes recognition of new members — Hadley Farms Meeting House, Bath Fitter, Dan’s Power Plant, Combined Insurance, Custom Identity Apparel, and VenYOU Events — as well as welcoming WestMass Eldercare’s new executive director, Roseann Martoccia, and celebrating the Holyoke Merry-Go-Round’s 25th anniversary and Holyoke Medical Center’s 125th anniversary.

Additionally, new board members will be confirmed while outgoing board members will be bid farewell; accomplishments and initiatives from the past year, together with goals for this upcoming year, including news on the Chamber Gift Card, will be revealed; and information on SPARK startups, Have a Ball in Holyoke, Grow Holyoke, Leadership Holyoke, the Women’s Leadership Luncheon Series, and Women and the Art of Risk will be shared with breakfast guests.

The chamber will announce the 2018 Business Person of the Year and the Fifield Volunteer of the Year award recipients at the breakfast. The honorees will be honored at a dinner reception on Wednesday, Oct. 24. More details will follow at a later date.

Tickets to the breakfast are $25 for members and $30 for non-members, and may be purchased online at holyokechamber.com/events.

Available Commercial Real Estate May 28, 2018

Commercial Real Estate Sections

For Sale, for Lease

A listing of available commercial properties

Annual Brightside Golf Classic Set for July 23

SPRINGFIELD — More than 200 golfers are expected to participate in the 38th Annual Brightside Golf Classic on Monday, July 23 at Springfield Country Club in West Springfield.

“This event raises funds to continue Brightside’s mission to support our community’s most vulnerable children and their families,” said Carrie Fuller, executive director of Fund Development for Mercy Medical Center and its affiliates.

Two tee times are available. Registration and breakfast for the morning session will begin at 6:45 a.m. with a shotgun start at 7:30 a.m. Lunch and registration for the afternoon session will begin at 11:30 a.m. with a 1 p.m. shotgun start. The evening reception will be held immediately following the tournament from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Prices include green fees, golf cart, breakfast and/or lunch, a gift and swag bag, and reception featuring cocktails, food stations, auction, networking, and live entertainment. On-course food and beverages will be provided by event sponsors throughout the day. Golfers will also be eligible for a chance to win prizes and participate in raffles.

The 2018 Golf Classic chairs are John Kendzierski, founder and director, Professional Dry Wall Construction Inc.; Matt Sosik, president and CEO, Easthampton Savings Bank; Hank Downey, vice president, commercial loan officer, Florence Savings Bank; and Dan Moriarty, senior vice president, chief financial officer, Monson Savings Bank.

Brightside for Families and Children provides in-home counseling and family support to more than 650 children and their families throughout Western Mass. Services include resource coordination, parenting-skills development, behavioral-technique instruction, community support programs, and other programs tailored to prevent hospitalization from occurring. Specialized assessments such as neuropsychological evaluations and testing are also available. Each year, the Brightside Golf Classic attracts more than 200 business leaders from the Greater Springfield area who support the work and mission of Brightside.

For more information on sponsorships, donations, and attending the event, contact Suzanne Boniface at (413) 748-9935 or [email protected]. Information is also available at www.mercycares.com/brightside-golf-classic.

Northampton Energized by Its Lively Downtown

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Amy Cahillane says the DNA strives to promote and build on Northampton’s energy, understanding that it has competition from other area downtowns.

Northampton’s downtown, Amy Cahillane says, is nothing if not eclectic.

“We have a great mix of businesses,” said the director of the Downtown Northampton Assoc., a two-year-old organization dedicated to boosting vibrancy in the city’s center. “We have a lot of different clothing stores, coffee shops, restaurants and bars — there’s a lot of room to find your niche here.”

She said business owners downtown are very much a network of mom-and-pop outfits that take pride in the district’s economic vibrancy and work hard to welcome new shop owners into the fold as they’re launching their enterprises.

“We’re a community that really works hard to make things attractive and make sure there’s stuff to do downtown, and welcome people in our downtown. We’re not just a Walmart and a Target and a parking lot.”

It’s a place, Cahillane said, where small-business owners, many of them first-time entrepreneurs, have no qualms about asking each other about the smallest details, from the best point-of-sale systems to how to keep customers coming in despite a raft of construction projects making it more difficult than usual to get around and find parking.

“All of our small businesses know it’s tough to take that risk and open your own business,” she said. “Business owners who have been around 30 years have had these conversations a million times — they’re very happy to share information, share stories, and lend support. Nobody wants to see a vacant storefront; people want to support other fellow business owners that are taking that gamble. And a lot of times, these business owners are our neighbors or friends, or kids of our friends.”

Aimee Francaes, who opened Belly of the Beast a year ago with her partner, Jesse Hassinger, can vouch for the support of downtown businesses, adding that such an atmosphere suits a restaurant that has forged some other important relationships — with local farms.

“The concept is ‘comfort food mindfully made,’ she said, noting that all meats are sourced from farms throughout the Northeast — and are smoked and cured on site — and 90% of produce in season comes from the Valley, or just over the border in surrounding states.

“We’re very much focused on being part of the community,” she went on. “And we feel like the community has really welcomed us and brought us into the fold. People tend to be very warm and welcoming, and happy to have us here, and happy to have us so active with local farms. Being on Main Street, right across from Thornes, gives us wonderful visibility.”

Speaking of Thornes Marketplace, which houses its own eclectic range of small businesses, it recently undertook a major renovation of its iconic front entrance, making changes both aesthetic and aimed at preserving the building’s historic elements.

It’s the sort of project that pleases the DNA, a voluntary organization open to property owners, businesses, and city residents, whose members work to improve the business and cultural strength of the downtown area through investments in programming, beautification, and advocacy.

The DNA handles such things as city plantings and holiday lights, and sponsors events that bring visitors to downtown, like the first Summer Stroll and Holiday Stroll, Arts Night Out, and sidewalk sales. The city has also given the DNA a full-time worker who cleans and maintains public property in the downtown business district.

Beyond that, Cahillane said, “we do advocacy, and we make sure the downtown community has a voice at City Hall, that people feel their voice is heard, and that there are public meetings and community forums on issues that will impact downtown, so everybody has a chance to voice their opinions and thoughts.”

The organization rose up after the dissolution of the Northampton Business Improvement District, and has since taken under its umbrella events and projects once handled by the BID and other entities.

“We’re always looking to do new events and create new partnerships,” she told BusinessWest. “We’re open to it all. The focus this year is to tighten up events we already do, but we’re always game to bring new stuff into the fold.”

Positive Trends

Several years into a strong regional economy, indicators such as property taxes, meals-tax revenue, and the number of visitors to the city show plenty of life, and Northampton’s downtown district, home to unique retailers, eclectic dining choices, and active arts organizations, reflects that health.

It can be slightly more difficult to navigate the area, however, thanks to a good reason — the city’s investment in infrastructure on Main and Pleasant streets, which includes ongoing roadwork and utility upgrades, supporting, among other developments, two housing complexes going up on Pleasant Street. Work along that thoroughfare also includes a small park, more parking spaces, and improved sidewalks and bike lanes.

Northampton
at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1883
Population: 28,483
Area: 35.8 square miles
County: Hampshire
Residential Tax Rate: $17.04
Commercial Tax Rate: $17.04
Median Household Income: $56,999
Median Family Income: $80,179
Type of government: Mayor; City Council
Largest Employers: Cooley Dickinson Hospital; ServiceNet Inc.; Smith College; L-3 KEO
*Latest information available

Cahillane said new businesses like Belly of the Beast have entered this landscape with aplomb, while occasional special events shine a spotlight on other businesses, like Sutter Meats on King Street, which ran a successful, two-day pop-up event in conjunction with the Little Truc food truck, serving up pho to sellout crowds.

Typically, she added, retail establishments participate enthusiastically in special events downtown — such as a fundraiser for Hampshire County Friends of the Homeless, in which music groups were stationed downtown, performing and passing the hat — but it’s harder for restaurants to do the same.

“The retailers are always game for everything. The restaurants, when we have events, are so busy with the people who come downtown for these events that it’s hard for them to also simultaneously staff a second, separate thing on that same day. So we try to bring the people downtown and then encourage them to eat at the restaurants. But they’re very supportive of our organization.”

Homestead, which set up shop in the former Ibiza Tapas location on Strong Avenue, is another fairly recent addition to the restaurant scene.

“They are doing very well and have made a lot of local relationships to bring products into their restaurant that are locally sourced,” Cahillane said, before adding that such a designation is par for the course in this city.

“I would say just about every restaurant in our downtown does some version of locally sourced,” she noted. “We have thought about ‘let’s do some sort of downtown festival where each restaurant could feature maybe a locally sourced dish,’ but that’s their whole menu at every restaurant. That’s not a Northampton festival; that’s an everyday reality. But some of them have had some really interesting or unique things that they have done with those local partnerships.”

Cahillane added that there should be more news of new businesses on the horizon. “They’re not ready to make it public yet, but I’d say, over the next six months, there will be some exciting storefronts popping up.”

That’s always a welcome development, she said, because even Northampton, known regionally and beyond for its downtown life, does grapple with occasional vacant storefronts. But in context, and relative to the struggles of many other communities, Paradise City is in a good place.

“I think it’s a great downtown,” she said, “and I think people are looking to come downtown.”

Making Contact

To cultivate that spirit, the DNA conducts monthly meetings with downtown businesses on a variety of topics.

“That’s a great opportunity for them do some networking with new businesses — and older businesses, too — and talk about things that might be mundane to the outside person, but are still important,” Cahillane said. “Recently, there was going to be construction, and some of them wanted to know how people dealt with the scaffolding outside and putting a banner on it. Other businesses were able to say, ‘make sure it’s really big, and make sure there’s not a lot of words on it, because no one’s going to stop and read it.’ So, things like that, which would not necessarily occur to me, are real issues, and we’re able to facilitate some of those conversations.”

Thornes Market

These connections are important in the big picture — one in which individual success stories become shared successes, she added.

“There is a feeling that all boats rise with the tide, that having a beautiful downtown can only help encourage people to come downtown, and there’s a recognition that is only going to happen if everybody pitches in.”

After all, Cahillane noted, Northampton isn’t the only downtown destination in the region, and shouldn’t rest on its laurels or take its visitors for granted.

“We’re fortunate to live in the Valley where there are a lot of great communities, and there are some, like Turners Falls and Easthampton, that are becoming up-and-coming, hip, trendy places to go and hang out,” she said. “Then there’s the casino that’s opening in downtown Springfield.

“We love our downtown,” she went on, “but we don’t want to just assume that everybody else knows and loves it, and I think you risk getting stagnant and a little boring if you don’t work to improve or at least maintain what you already have. So that’s what we’re trying to do.”

Francaes appreciates the effort, as she does the business owners downtown, from the owners of Thornes Marketplace to established restaurateurs, who acted as informal business consultants when she and Hassinger were getting ready to open their doors.

“We haven’t talked to anyone who hasn’t been supportive,” she told BusinessWest. “That’s part of the reason we chose Northampton — that vibe and warm, welcoming spirit.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

2018 Restaurant Guide

Cover Story Restaurants Sections

The region’s bevy of restaurants comprises one of the area’s most intriguing business sectors, one in which there is constant movement, new additions, and exciting stories unfolding. This year is no exception, and BusinessWest captures that movement, that excitement, in its annual Restaurant Guide.

Planning Can Help Eliminate Common Mistakes in Retirement

Features

A Mindset That Pays Off

Amy Jamrog says individuals, couples, and families make many mistakes when it comes to retirement planning. The biggest, perhaps, is not starting that planning soon enough.

‘Not practicing for retirement.’

OK, that’s not one of Amy Jamrog’s official 10 ‘mistakes business owners make before and after retirement,’ but it is certainly a related topic and one worth thinking about as that day approaches.

Practice for retirement? “Yes, definitely,” said Jamrog, a financial advisor with Northwestern Mutual as she delivered the second installment in a series BusinessWest calls Future Tense on May 17 at Tech Foundry in Springfield, using that word ‘practice’ loosely to describe how individuals and especially married couples should get ready for something they’ve never experienced before and are, in most cases, not really ready for.

“Practicing retirement is a big deal,” she said, relating a story about a couple intent on retiring and moving to Cambridge. She suggested they try before they buy when it came to that concept, and they did, spending quite a bit of time in that college town.

“They loved it in the summer and hated it in the winter,” Jamrog went on. “So they’re going to split their time — keep their house here and buy a condo there; they’re not going to move there.”

The moral to the story? Prepare — for everything you can possibly prepare for.

And this brings us to those ‘official’ mistakes. They’re listed in the box on page 19, and include everything from not understanding the impact of taxes on one’s retirement to not matching beneficiaries with the right assets, to what might well be the biggest of them — not planning early enough.

And that’s just a partial list, said Jamrog, who noted that, to the casual observer, most of the points on this list seem obvious, things that most people, and certainly successful business owners, would know about and be thinking about as they progress through their career toward retirement.

But the truth of the matter is that many don’t know about such matters. And what’s worse, she told her audience, is that they think they know.

Indeed, using quite a few hypotheticals — financial advisors rely on those — but even more true but sometimes scary stories (such as the one about the owner of a $10 million business who is still using TurboTax instead of a CPA) that come in the form of conversations she’s had with her clients over the years, Jamrog drove home the point that retirement isn’t something to be entered into lightly.

And with that overriding concept, she hit many of the same chords struck by Delcie Bean, founder of Paragus Strategic IT, in the first talk in the Future Tense series, titled “An Unprecedented Technology Disruption.” Slicing through that talk, which touched on the potential impact of everything from driverless cars to artificial intelligence, Bean told his audience that, while the future is difficult if not impossible to predict, business owners must nonetheless be proactive and energetic in their efforts to prepare for what is to come — whatever that may be.

Paraphrasing considerably, Jamrog said essentially the same in her ‘10 mistakes’ talk. And that idea will be conveyed once again in September with the final talk in this series, to be presented by Meyers Brothers Kalicka.

It will be titled “Change Considerations: An Examination of Lean Process, Market Disruption, and the Future of Your Business,” and will feature Mark Borsari, president of Sanderson McLeod, who will discuss change and innovation through lean concepts, and focus on resulting cultural considerations. The program will also feature commentary from Jim Barrett, managing partner at MBK, who will address already-active market disrupters that affect business processes in various industries.

But that’s in September. First, those mistakes that business owners make before and after retirement.

Taxing Situation

To show just how common these mistakes are, Jamrog started not with a hypothetical or a conversation with a typical client, but with a reference to her own parents, who began teaching her about money and how to manage it at a very early age.

“My parents taught us to balance a checkbook, we had small stock portfolios as kids … they did a really good job teaching us about money; it’s no surprise that I ended up being a financial advisor,” she said. “But we never talked about their money; we grew up in a private, ‘it-wasn’t-polite-to-ask’ kind of household.”

Fast-forwarding a little, Jamrog said that when, at the advice of her mentor, she brought her parents in for a financial review, she was shocked at how ill-prepared the people who taught her so much about money were for the retirement that was coming up on them fast.

“My father was co-owner of PolyPlating in Chicopee; he and his business partner started the business when they were 20, they had a handshake agreement, no buy-sell agreement, nothing in writing. They hadn’t done anything with their 401(k) in 20 years, they had no life insurance for other. They basically said, ‘we’ll take care of each other if anything happens.’

“The first thing I learned about business owners from working with my parents is to not assume, just because someone looks like they’re in good shape, that they’ve got it all figured out,” she said. “They had no ducks in order at all. My dad said, ‘all I do is work; the plan is to work and then retire, so I haven’t taken any time out to see if we’re doing it right.’”

That last comment — that one about not taking the time to out to see if he was doing it right — is the keeper in this discussion, the one Jamrog wanted her audience to remember as they walked out the door.

Amy Jamrog’s 10 Retirement Mistakes

• Not having the right people on your team;
• Not applying an accumulation strategy to your distribution plan;
• Not preparing your children for the future;
• Not understanding the impact of taxes on your retirement;
• Not prepping for important age milestones: 59½, 62, 65, 70½, and 85;
• Not understand the issues inherent in your IRA;
• Not having a philanthropic plan;
• Not matching your beneficiaries with the right assets;
• Not understanding the correlations between happiness and aging (this pertains to you and your parents); and
• Not planning early enough.

Those 10 mistakes are all common, they’re all important, and they offer specific thoughts to digest. But the common denominator and the overriding assignment is to take the time to make sure you’re doing it right.

That applies to specific issues such as taxes, distribution plans, issues with individual retirement accounts, matching beneficiaries with assets, having a philanthropic plan, and much more, said Jamrog, who encouraged those in the audience to embrace issues and discussions that are often difficult for married couples to engage in and then do some hard planning.

That’s because the worst-case scenario can and often does happen, and Jamrog, sadly, can go back to her family for solid evidence. Her father died at 50 after suffering a major heart attack. Jamrog was 26 at the time, and that incident created a passion within her to work with people in their 50s, and before that, to make sure they have their ducks in a row.

“I freaked out … I started calling all my parents’ friends and asked them to come in and meet with me,” she said, adding that, when they do come in, she often sees people making some of those common mistakes because, again, they think they know what they should be doing.

That is often the case when it comes to taxes and retirement, said Jamrog, who said mistakes in this realm can have serious consequences.

Elaborating, she said retirement plans, and specifically 401(k)s, constitute the most expensive money people have in retirement, meaning they are 100% taxable.

“And yet, I see it all the time — all people want to do is pre-tax, pre-tax, pre-tax everything they’ve got,” she explained, referring to the options for those looking to put money aside. “They don’t understand that, when they get to retirement, they have a growing tax problem, a deferred tax problem. And then that’s further compounded when people think they’re going to leave that to their kids.”

That wasn’t a direct segue into some of those other common mistakes — ‘not understanding the issues inherent in your IRA’ and ‘not matching beneficiaries with the right assets’ both came several items down on the PowerPoint — but it served that role.

“The worst thing you can leave your kids, besides nothing, is a 401(k) or an IRA,” she said. “It’s the most expensive money to leave behind.”

To get that point across, she related the story of a bank president who was, that’s was, very proud that he was going to leave a $2 million IRA to his four children.

“Good news/bad news, those four children are very successful and all in high tax brackets,” Jamrog told her audience. “So if he leaves $500,000 to each of these four kids, they’ll each lose about 45% of it to taxes; they can stretch it out over their lifetime, but they’re still going to lose almost half of it in taxes.

“When he found this out, he was angry,” she went on, putting heavy emphasis on that last word. “And did not understand how he did not know that. So we came up with a plan — a $2 million life-insurance policy, which gives each of those kids $500,000 in tax-free money, plus whatever’s left in the IRA.”

This is an example of people thinking they know what to do, but in reality not knowing, said Jamrog, adding that she could fill a talk that would last several hours with such examples.

Still another common mistake, and this is related to all of those listed above, Jamrog said, is parents not doing what her parents did — compelling their children to be both informed and responsible when it comes to money.

“I have clients whose kids are in their 40s and 50s, and the parents are still prepping their taxes for them,” she said in an effort to get her point across. “They just sign their tax return and have no idea what they’re signing.

“Teach your kids how to read a tax return, introduce your kids to your accountant,” she said. “If your kid is graduating from college and getting their first job, sit down and teach them what their benefits are, show them what a 401(k) is, and encourage them to enroll in a 401(k). And if your kids don’t listen to you, introduce them to your financial advisor.”

Bottom Line

Among the many anecdotes she shared, Jamrog said one in particular probably sums up the essence of her presentation better than any other.

“I had a man in my office last week, 62 years old, say to me, ‘I’ve been meaning to meet with you for six years, but I was afraid to meet with you because I was afraid you were going to tell me I was doing it wrong, and that it would be too late,’” she said. “And I said, ‘so you waited six more years?’”

Pride, insecurity, and ego all contributed to that six-year delay, she went on, adding that, while it’s difficult to remove those factors from the equation, individuals and couples should try and put their energy into planning.

And while they’re at it, they should try practicing retirement as well.

By doing so, they may just make the future less tense.

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

Webber & Grinnell Acquires Ross Insurance Agency

Insurance Sections

Seeing Eye to Eye

Bill Grinnell says the Ross Insurance purchase is essentially a match of similar cultures.

Bill Grinnell says he’s known Kevin Ross for years, both through the region’s insurance industry and socially as well.

“I got to know him better at the Springfield Country Club,” said Grinnell, president of Northampton-based Webber & Grinnell Insurance, recalling the start of conversations leading to his firm’s recent acquisition of Ross Insurance Agency in Holyoke.

“At one point several years ago, I sent him a letter that said, when he’s getting close to retirement, I’d love to talk to him because we’d love to have an office down in Hampden County,” Grinnell went on. “We write a lot of business down there, a lot of commercial business, and several of our salespeople are from that area — and we were interested in expanding and growing the business.”

But the purchase of Ross Insurance — a third-generation family business run for many years by the brother-sister team of Ross and Maureen Ross O’Connell — was also based on what Grinnell called a mutual respect between the firms and similarities in philosophy. As Ross did, in fact, contemplate retirement, he and Ross O’Connell — who is joining the Webber & Grinnell ownership team and will continue to oversee the Holyoke office, which will operate under the name Ross, Webber & Grinnell Insurance — narrowed their list of potential partners to a handful before deciding on whom they wanted to do business with.

“They approached those firms and interviewed them,” Grinnell noted, “and at the end of the day, we submitted an offer to them, went back and forth and ironed out some details, and we all agreed to do it.”

While Ross intends to transition out of the company in the next 18 months, Ross O’Connell will work with the Webber & Grinnell team to merge procedures and operations, Grinnell said, adding that the Northampton office will handle most of the commercial operations in Holyoke.

He added that having two locations will be a benefit to customers based in Hampden County. “If we station salespeople down there, it’s just easier to call on folks in the Springfield area.”

Meanwhile, he added, Webber & Grinnell has a benefits division for group life and group health insurance, “so we’ll be able to offer those services to those [Ross] accounts for those interested. That might provide some opportunities for growth for us.”

Community Ties

Both insurance agencies boast deep local roots, Grinnell noted. Ross Insurance was founded by George Ross in 1925 and has continuously served residents and businesses in Holyoke and surrounding communities for three generations. Meanwhile, Webber & Grinnell’s origin can be traced back to 1849, when E.W. Thayer opened an insurance and real-estate storefront on Pleasant Street in Northampton.

Once the acquisition is complete, the company will employ 41 people and serve more than 6,000 clients.

“They have a great name,” Grinnell said of the Ross family. “They’re as much involved in their community and supporting their community as we are up here. We’ve had a reputation for giving back to the community and helping a number of not-for-profits, and Maureen and Kevin are totally committed to the city of Holyoke, so they have the same kind of value system there. They’ve got some long-time customers, and they have a sort of family culture down there, which meshes well with what we’ve tried to create here as well.”

Both companies have also done extensive outreach to the community through social media, discussing topics of interest to both personal and commercial insurance clients. Ross in particular has developed a robust blog thanks to Jennie Adamczyk, the firm’s receptionist and social-media architect — a niche Grinnell has noticed.

“They’ve got a person down there who really focuses on that, and I think she’s going to be a big asset for us as well,” he said of Adamczyk. “Sometimes we have focused on that, but you get caught up in the day-to-day, and it gets pushed back a little bit, so we’re excited to have someone on our team to keep that going.”

For now, the companies will work to combine their communications, marketing, and other systems, and reconfigure roles, Grinnell said, “so there are some initial hurdles to get over. But it’s going pretty well so far. We’ve had positive comments from competitors who know both of us.”

Added Ross O’Connell, “we feel that we found the perfect partner to continue the Ross family legacy. Webber & Grinnell has a long history of generous community support and exceptional customer service.”

Perhaps just as important, Grinnell noted, many of his agency’s employees are in their 30s, making it a relatively young agency in an industry where many companies often struggle to replace retiring talent.

“A lot of guys are getting older in this business,” he said. “So I think Kevin and Maureen felt good about having local guys with a local presence be able to perpetuate their agency, because there are a million different options out there now. There are a lot of national players buying up agencies left and right, but they really wanted a local company that had that reputable, similar culture. So it worked out.” u

—Joseph Bednar

Holyoke Medical Center to Offer Free Lecture on Veins June 7

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Medical Center will host a free discussion, “Venous Disease & You,” on Thursday, June 7 at 5:30 p.m. in the HMC Auxiliary Conference Center.

While often considered a cosmetic issue, have you ever wondered if spider veins could be cause for more concern? Join Dr. Sandip Maru, HMC vascular surgeon, to learn all about veins and how to prevent and treat venous diseases, such as varicose and spider veins.

This program is free and open to the public, and is part of Holyoke Medical Center’s community education programming. This is one in a series of workshops held throughout the year to help people learn about specific health issues, wellness, prevention, and treatment. To register, visit www.holyokehealth.com/events or call (413) 534-2789.

Agents Work to Communicate the Many Nuances of Auto Insurance

Insurance Sections

Matters of Policy

Regina Jasak says local agents can help consumers avoid some “really scary policies.”

When Massachusetts opened up its auto-insurance landscape in 2008, switching from a one-price-fits-all approach to the current model known as managed competition, it created more challenges for independent agents, but much more opportunity for customers willing to take the time to examine the many options and credits available to them. The key, these agents say, is putting their expertise to use — a resource not available to those purchasing insurance from direct writers online.

Eileen Bresnahan is always amazed at what people will do for a low insurance rate — like one individual who was covered for $5,000 in property damage for his 2017 Camry.

“If I hit you and do $17,000 worth of damage, my company is going to pay you the five grand, and you’re going to have to try to get the rest out of me,” she said, putting herself in that individual’s shoes for a moment. But such is the world of direct insurance writers — like Progressive and Geico — that market themselves based mainly on price, and wind up skimping on, you know, actual coverage.

“We always say ‘buyer beware,’” Bresnahan, president of Bresnahan Insurance Agency in Holyoke, said of local independent insurance agencies like her own. “We’re all licensed and trained; we can look at a policy and can tell you the things you might not know.”

Regina Jasak, president of Regina Jasak Insurance in Ludlow, has seen the same cases cross her desk.

“Anything you might hit — a guardrail, a car, a house — after that $5,000, you’ll be paying for it as well. You can get a really cheap policy, but you get what you pay for. I’ve seen some really scary policies out there from the direct writers.”

The truth, she added, is that customers can get policies for not much more than the bare-bones pricing of the online marketers, but with much better coverage, explained in detail, simply because of the flexibility Massachusetts insurers have enjoyed over the past decade — flexibility that, for the most part, didn’t exist before.

Indeed, for much of the past century, auto-insurance rates in Massachusetts were set by the state Division of Insurance. Anyone who requested a premium quote for a certain level of coverage would receive the same price from any number of companies, unless they were eligible for a group discount.

Managed competition, which began in 2008, allows insurance companies to offer their own rates. Although these rates may vary, they must still be approved by the Division of Insurance — hence the term ‘managed.’ The result is that Massachusetts drivers are able to compare the different rates, benefits, and services offered by the insurance companies competing for their business.

“There’s a lot of flexibility in auto rates and coverages, and it really needs to be tailored to each client,” Jasak said. “Each company has its own appetites, so we really need to delve into the client to figure out what’s best for them in order to find the best company at the best rates.”

SEE: List of Area Insurance Agencies

That changed landscape made life more complicated for local agents, but in a good way, Jasak added.

“I find it more entertaining. It used to be that auto insurance was auto insurance, and it didn’t really matter where you were insured, whereas now the consumer can consider things like the company’s billing process, how claims are settled, are their rates good for my circumstances, do they offer me a great bundle option tying the house and car together? Is that the best thing to do, or can I get a better rate if I split things apart?”

Shifting Gears

Trish Vassallo, personal and commercial lines director at Encharter Insurance in Amherst, agreed that managed competition has radically changed the automotive side of the insurance business in Massachusetts.

Trish Vassallo (left, with Tracey Benison) says customers should review their policy every year to make sure they’re taking advantage of all the credits available to them.

“Carriers have been able to offer add-ons and packages and rider endorsements and enhancements that are specialized per carrier,” she said, “so while the Geicos and Progressives talk about accident forgiveness and gap coverages and reward dollars, those are available with everyone operating in Massachusetts today. Independent agents offer these coverages, but they are an added expense, as they would be with any carrier. As a client, you need to look at your coverage every year to make sure you’re getting the right pricing for the right products.”

That’s where independent agents serve a role the direct writers online cannot, she went on. “Sometimes people aren’t aware of options available or never had them explained to them, or they just don’t care — they want the bottom-line price and don’t understand what they’re missing out on.”

Under the prior, regulated system, insurance providers were required to apply specific surcharges for certain accidents and traffic violations. Now, insurance companies are permitted to develop their own rules, subject to state approval, for imposing surcharges for at-fault accidents and traffic violations.

They can also include a raft of discounts, such as for students who attend school away from home, making it easier for their parents to carry them on their policies year-round, or for bundling auto and home insurance when both policies are bought from the same carrier.

“Different carriers all have their own model customers,” said Tracey Benison, president of Encharter Insurance. “Our job is to really know the carriers and try to find the right fit for the customer.”

For example, Jasak said, some carriers will look back at driving records over three years, some six, and they also vary in how they incorporate accidents — both at-fault and not at-fault — into their pricing.

Then there are the credits, and they are myriad, Bresnahan said. “There are good-student discounts, so if a student gets a 3.0 GPA or higher, that’s one of the credits on there. Let me tell you, it is a big savings — and it’s an incentive to get good grades, and it also pertains to college.”

She also mentioned the discount for students away at college, as well as low-mileage discounts, which can knock anywhere from 2% to 17% off the cost of a policy. “Just think — the lower the mileage you drive, the less chances there are of getting in an accident or having a moving violation.”

From left, Shelly Chantre, Judy Orlen, Nicole Shibley, Janet Fernandez-Santiago, and Eileen Bresnahan of Bresnahan Insurance.

Carriers may also offer multi-car discounts, a AAA membership credit — with the discount increasing the longer a customer has been a member — and a discount for individuals who enroll in an advanced driver training course. “There’s also a disappearing deductible that wasn’t in effect before either, so if you don’t have an accident for a certain number of years, each year your deductible builds up.”

With each carrier using such incentives to attract their own version of a model customer, agents need to understand all the nuances and how best to match a driver with a policy, Bresnahan added.

“It’s just training your staff to know which credits to offer,” she said. “We have letters go out with renewals, and we highlight discounts and enhancements they currently have and other ones they don’t, and they can call if they’re interested in knowing more about those.”

More Than 15 Minutes

The direct writers have certainly made an impact on Massachusetts auto-insurance scene, but they’ve also brought some controversy, being fined multiple times by the state’s Division of Insurance for various deceptive or confusing practices.

“Some of the direct writers are very coy with prices or hidden deductibles, which the customer is not aware of until a loss comes into play,” Vassallo said. “It can be difficult to understand your coverage when you’re buying off the rack.”

The benefit of an independent agent representing multiple carriers, she said, is that she can work to generate the best product for each individual — and educate customers on various pitfalls, such as the importance of listing all household members as operators, as failure to do so can lead to a claim not being paid.

“It’s very, very important that parents list their children on their auto-insurance policy as soon they get their license,” Jasak added. “If they have no prior insurance, it’ll be very expensive when they need it. Parents say, ‘oh, they never drive my car,’ but if they kids are never insured, if they’re never listed on their parents’ policy, they’ll be paying an exorbitant amount of money when they get their own insurance.”

It’s all about relationships, Bresnahan said, not just a bottom-line dollar figure on a computer screen.

“When you’re a local, independent agent, you have to look people in the eye. With these direct writers, you’re not looking that gecko in the eye,” she said, noting that she has lost clients to the online companies dangling a cheaper rate. “Buyer beware. If it’s too good to be true, there’s usually something up.”

And also beware, she said, when a direct writer promises to produce a quote in 15 minutes.

“We educate our personnel, and we keep up with the changes in this business — because it’s forever changing. There’s so much information that it’s not possible to get a quote in 15 minutes. You’re not getting proper explanation of the coverage. There’s so much involved in getting a quote. It takes a long time.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Picture This

Departments Picture This

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

Looking Sharp

The Light Microscopy Core Facility housed in the Institute for Applied Life Sciences (IALS) at UMass Amherst was designated as a Nikon Center of Excellence at a recent grand-opening event. It is one of eight Nikon Centers of Excellence in the U.S. The microscopes that make up the core facility have been purchased by UMass Amherst with funding from the Massachusetts Life Sciences Education Consortium and furnished by Nikon at a discount. They will allow the campus and the surrounding region access to cutting-edge technology and foster economic development, according to James Chambers, director of the IALS Light Microscopy Core Facility.

Jim Hamlin, vice president of sales for Nikon Instruments Inc., and Mike Malone, vice chancellor for Research and Engagement at UMass Amherst, cut the ribbon for the lab’s grand opening.

Chambers (left) and Hamlin survey some of the new equipment

Tru Stories

The developers and owners of Tru by Hilton conducted a grand-opening event on May 15 at the chain’s new Chicopee location. The new hotel, the first of its brand in Massachusetts, represents an $11 million investment by BK Investments, which also owns Hampton Inn in Chicopee, and the creation of 30 full-time jobs. The four-story building on Memorial Avenue boasts 108 rooms.

From left, state Sen. James Welch; Chip Rodgers, AAHOA; state Rep. Angelo Puppolo Jr.; state Rep. Joseph Wagner; hotel owner Dennis Patel; James Montemayor, Florence Bank; hotel owner Hershal Patel (with his children, Shaan and Neeva); Chicopee Mayor Richard Kos; Jessica Roncarti-Howe, Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce; state Sen. Eric Lesser; Mary Kay Wydra, Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau; Alexandra Jaritz, Tru by Hilton; and state Rep. Michael Finn.

Kos addresses the crowd at the grand opening. Top right: the hotel’s back terrace.

Planting Roots

On May 16, Green Thumb Industries (GTI), a national cannabis cultivator and dispensary operator, welcomed the community to an open house and ribbon cutting at RISE Amherst, the town’s new medical-marijuana dispensary, located at 169 Meadow St. “This is a great day for the patients of Massachusetts and the state’s medical cannabis program,” said GTI CEO Pete Kadens. “Our goal at our RISE dispensaries is to provide the very best care to our patients while offering the the most effective and quality medical marijuana available. We are thrilled to join the Amherst community and look forward to serving our patients.”

Cutting the ribbon are, from left, Kadens; Matt Yee, GTI Massachusetts market president; and Peter Vickery, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce president.

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BUCKLAND

7 Pine St.
Buckland, MA 01370
Amount: $263,500
Buyer: Christian M. Parenti
Seller: Joyce E. Tawney IRT
Date: 04/27/18

DEERFIELD

190 Lower Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: James D. Marciano
Seller: John Stankowski
Date: 04/23/18

ERVING

16 River Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Francis E. Prondecki
Seller: Prondecki, Helen M., (Estate)
Date: 05/04/18

25 River Road
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Fenner
Seller: Jeannette A. Felton
Date: 05/01/18

GREENFIELD

18 Champney Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Lisa Sommers
Seller: Steven H. Lepore
Date: 04/30/18

243 Conway St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $143,500
Buyer: John T. Sawyer
Seller: Gary T. Dubois
Date: 04/27/18

132 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Pioneer Valley Redevelopment LLC
Seller: Michael P. Mendyk
Date: 05/01/18

133 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Nancy Forrest
Seller: Stanley E. Page
Date: 04/30/18

141 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Nathan R. Jackson
Seller: Devorah L. Rosenberg
Date: 05/04/18

85 Hope St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Jonathan R. Storm
Seller: Matthew R. Guertin
Date: 05/02/18

6 Laurel St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Joe E. Otto
Seller: Mascavage, Phyllis F., (Estate)
Date: 05/04/18

48 Peabody Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Alistair N. Shurman
Seller: Whitney K. Robbins RET
Date: 05/01/18

58 Turners Falls Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: David E. Lavalley
Seller: Michael R. Babineau
Date: 04/30/18

100 Verde Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $298,000
Buyer: Ann Grippo
Seller: Greenfield KMW LLC
Date: 04/30/18

NORTHFIELD

504 Mount Hermon Station Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Donald L. Tefft
Seller: Joyce A. Roberts
Date: 04/30/18

207 Old Wendell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Colin G. Hamill
Seller: Glenn A. Thoma
Date: 05/01/18

86 West Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $288,500
Buyer: James G. MacLennan
Seller: Donald L. Tefft
Date: 04/30/18

ORANGE

12-14 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: M. Jemms Orange I. LLC
Seller: Chen Lin LLC
Date: 04/30/18

124 Mechanic St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Jacob R. Paul
Seller: Mark A. Sprague
Date: 04/24/18

53 Oak Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $255,850
Buyer: Marcia Nataly
Seller: Brandon Coy
Date: 04/27/18

185 Packard Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Brianna M. Lacki
Seller: PMC Reo Financing TR
Date: 04/27/18

114 Prentiss St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Harris Manufacturing & Supply
Seller: Boudreau, Phyllis G., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/18

ROWE

245 Zoar Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Brian C. Crowningshield
Seller: Steven R. Crowningshield
Date: 04/30/18

SHELBURNE

34 Main St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Suzanne M. Fand
Seller: Deerfield Avenue Realty
Date: 05/04/18

5 Maple St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $523,000
Buyer: Richard C. Zawalich RET
Seller: Elizabeth A. Perkins TR
Date: 04/27/18

SUNDERLAND

88 Old Amherst Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Douglas F. Houle
Seller: Cheryl A. Werner
Date: 04/27/18

26 S. Plain Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Mary A. Brandt
Seller: Anne R. Homme
Date: 04/30/18

WARWICK

555 Northfield Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $305,500
Buyer: Kelly A. Buchanan
Seller: Reva Reck RET
Date: 04/30/18

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

81 Belvidere Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: David Dunican
Seller: Kenneth Modzelesky
Date: 04/27/18

30 Clifton Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $238,500
Buyer: Wilnet Martinez
Seller: Sergey Savonin
Date: 04/25/18

54 Dartmouth St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $140,069
Buyer: Moustafa I. Tahoun
Seller: Bank Of America
Date: 04/24/18

64 Federal St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $311,500
Buyer: Brendon Struck
Seller: Patrick Baker
Date: 04/27/18

55 Halladay Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Kushtrim Krasniqi
Seller: Richard F. McCaslin
Date: 04/25/18

9-11 Hamar Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Dominic E. Santaniello
Seller: Scott G. Roberts
Date: 05/01/18

73 Hunters Greene Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Beth Denoncourt
Seller: Craig, Cookie, (Estate)
Date: 04/27/18

138 Lancaster Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $388,000
Buyer: Huynh D. Le
Seller: Oscar Gomez
Date: 04/27/18

252 Line St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Moltenbrey Builders LLC
Seller: Campagnari Construction
Date: 04/26/18

16 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Shaun P. Kelly
Seller: Racheal A. Paveglio
Date: 05/04/18

529 Mill St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Hayder Dawood
Seller: Yuriy Gavrilov
Date: 05/01/18

12 Ottawa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Kirk W. Cears
Seller: Phyllis Manning
Date: 04/25/18

50 Red Fox Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Jose E. Branco
Seller: John A. Cappuccilli
Date: 04/27/18

82 South Park Terrace
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $179,400
Buyer: Joanne N. Gilley
Seller: Kathleen A. Klimoski
Date: 05/03/18

61 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Alysia M. Loso
Seller: Johnson, Todd S., (Estate)
Date: 04/25/18

BRIMFIELD

320 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $228,500
Buyer: Sean Sweeney
Seller: Stephen R. Holuk
Date: 04/27/18

CHESTER

241 Route 20
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Carms Restaurant LLC
Seller: Robert A. Gauthier
Date: 05/01/18

CHICOPEE

43 Acker Circle
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,500
Buyer: Leigha Schmidt
Seller: James M. Babiec
Date: 04/26/18

2073 Airpark Way
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $1,900,000
Buyer: EIP Westover Road LLC
Seller: Sweeney Transportation
Date: 04/25/18

51 Alvord Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Loic R. Assobmo
Seller: Artur Formejster
Date: 04/27/18

118 Asselin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Alexcelin Saldana
Seller: Joyce A. Alfonso
Date: 04/27/18

23 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jessica Fuentes
Seller: Ronald A. Racine
Date: 04/27/18

518 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Stephanie M. Cruz
Seller: G&D Property Management
Date: 04/30/18

60 Coakley Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,800
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Connie M. Blais
Date: 05/04/18

47 Conrad St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Michael Jackewich
Seller: William Guy-Craig
Date: 05/04/18

247 East Main St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Miranda Cora-Brian
Seller: Daniel R. Bernashe
Date: 04/27/18

20 Factory St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Duane E. Gray
Seller: Anthony E. Giannetti
Date: 04/30/18

85 Falmouth Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $231,500
Buyer: Edward W. Passa
Seller: Jessica E. Brueshaber
Date: 05/04/18

41 Foss Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Roel Figueroa
Seller: At Home Properties LLC
Date: 05/02/18

165 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $7,800,000
Buyer: 4 Perkins LLC
Seller: 321 Space LLC
Date: 05/02/18

58 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $129,868
Buyer: Pennymac Holdings LLC
Seller: Timothy A. Albert
Date: 05/02/18

36 Grise Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sean Auclair
Seller: Henry A. Benjamin
Date: 04/27/18

46 Joy St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $242,900
Buyer: Jedediah S. Fiske
Seller: Marsha L. Burek
Date: 04/30/18

25 Juliette St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: William S. Andres
Seller: James T. Griffin
Date: 04/30/18

71 Kaveney St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Dominic A. Iannuzzi
Seller: Shawn C. Roberts
Date: 04/23/18

128 McCarthy Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: James M. Whalen
Seller: Matthew R. Blais
Date: 04/30/18

15 Mellen St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Robert Taloumis
Seller: Augustin Cardona
Date: 05/04/18

6 Mount Carmel Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $116,910
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Edna C. Barton
Date: 04/25/18

94 Mountainview St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Claire M. Kennedy
Seller: Anita M. Wylie
Date: 05/04/18

115 New Ludlow Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Jose A. Soto-Cintron
Seller: Kristen A. Hale
Date: 04/30/18

102 Ondrick Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brunilda Ramirez
Seller: Leonard Bernazki
Date: 04/27/18

17 Ohio Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Sophia Bagley
Seller: Janet E. Maynard
Date: 05/04/18

59 Oxford St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $298,800
Buyer: Luke J. Tetreault
Seller: Gia M. Lamothe
Date: 04/30/18

119 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Macmar LLC
Seller: Dows, David E., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/18

97 Robak Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Kevin Konstant
Seller: Ayaz Kagzi
Date: 05/01/18

137 Schoolhouse Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Stephen F. Powell
Seller: Sun West Mortgage Co. Inc.
Date: 04/26/18

22 Tenney St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Efrain Suarez
Seller: Douglas A. Dickens
Date: 05/01/18

31 Theroux Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $11,000,000
Buyer: Maple Ridge Apartments
Seller: Baker Turn LLC
Date: 04/25/18

21 Thomas St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $263,900
Buyer: Nadezhda P. Dipon
Seller: N. Riley Realty LLC
Date: 04/24/18

38 Ward St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Barrett
Seller: Louise M. Franczek
Date: 04/27/18

75 West St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Caroline K. Anzeze
Seller: Sergiy T. Shovgan
Date: 04/27/18

EAST LONGMEADOW

421 Chestnut St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Renee Denno
Seller: Marlene V. Lundberg
Date: 04/27/18

36 East Circle Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $277,500
Buyer: Mark T. Quinn
Seller: Craig D. Cowles
Date: 04/30/18

7 Jennifer Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Rebecca J. Harrison
Seller: Michael F. Connors
Date: 04/26/18

93 Meadowbrook Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $313,500
Buyer: International Faith
Seller: Grace & Glory Apostolic
Date: 05/02/18

1 Pecousic Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $313,000
Buyer: Kyle M. Harrison
Seller: Joel D. Baillargeon
Date: 04/27/18

137 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $218,983
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Jason A. Sutton
Date: 05/03/18

Pondview Dr. #1
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Christopher Arillotta
Seller: Joseph Chapdelaine & Sons
Date: 05/04/18

122 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Elizabeth M. McCarthy
Date: 04/23/18

152 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Ruby Realty LLC
Seller: Jacquelyn M. Graziano
Date: 04/23/18

83 Redin Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Santaniello
Seller: William F. Egan
Date: 05/03/18

4 Saugus Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Michael Stevens
Seller: Louis J. Durkin
Date: 04/30/18

52 Schuyler Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Timothy Ricky-Shink
Seller: Kelly L. Cianfarani
Date: 04/27/18

25 Westminster St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Alex P. Randall
Seller: Joseph E. Chlosta
Date: 04/23/18

HAMPDEN

125 Bennett Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Ewen A. Maceachern
Seller: Joo B. Lee
Date: 05/01/18

312 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $258,900
Buyer: Stephen Baker
Seller: John J. Scavotto
Date: 04/27/18

203 South Monson Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Henry J. Wawrzonek
Seller: Ewen Maceachern
Date: 05/01/18

HOLYOKE

650 Beaulieu St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $875,000
Buyer: Solurge Realty Holyoke
Seller: Dajo Realty LLC
Date: 05/03/18

1 Burns Way
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Deborah Rodriguez
Seller: Josue Colon
Date: 04/27/18

33 Carol Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: James E. Jaron
Seller: Richard C. Lovely
Date: 04/30/18

15 Lemay Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Beatriz Colon
Seller: Grzegorz Cygan
Date: 04/27/18

93 Mountain Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Steven Darryl-Cobb
Seller: Lynda S. Abel
Date: 05/03/18

130 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Kristy J. Ganong
Seller: Joseph H. Ely
Date: 04/30/18

North Bridge St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Richard Mei
Seller: Alan G. Barthelette
Date: 04/30/18

25 O’Connell Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Andrew Obrien
Seller: Michael A. Sullivan
Date: 04/25/18

6 Saint Jerome Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $146,475
Buyer: 6 Holyoke Holdings LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 04/30/18

246 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $134,846
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Esther Djumabaev
Date: 04/26/18

94 Westfield Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Stephen D. Bennett
Seller: Bennett, Mary C., (Estate)
Date: 04/24/18

40 Woods Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Jessa Tower
Seller: David L. Brunelle
Date: 04/24/18

LONGMEADOW

63 Briarcliff Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $389,900
Buyer: Rahul M. Jawale
Seller: Adam M. Goodman
Date: 04/30/18

44 Brookside Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Winifred N. Martin
Seller: Heather B. Termine
Date: 04/26/18

42 Elm Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $244,500
Buyer: Benjamin J. Barker
Seller: Richard J. Graveline
Date: 05/01/18

23 Fernleaf Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Goldfinch Holdings LLC
Seller: Robert L. Dambrov
Date: 04/30/18

85 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Justin D. Weber
Seller: 1066 Granby Road LLC
Date: 04/27/18

255 Green Hill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Ilyssa O. Zippin
Seller: Ruth B. Roth
Date: 04/23/18

711 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $304,850
Buyer: Charles Miller
Seller: 711 Laurel Street LLC
Date: 05/04/18

105 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Amanda S. Desrosiers
Seller: Bailey FT
Date: 05/04/18

26 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Andrew E. Finn
Seller: Michael P. Landry
Date: 05/01/18

50 Merriweather Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: John H. Glenn
Seller: Howard H. Barron
Date: 04/27/18

220 Prynnwood Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $549,900
Buyer: Jennifer Nichols
Seller: Bruce A. Keator
Date: 04/24/18

50 Wheel Meadow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $361,000
Buyer: George C. Prouty
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/30/18

101 Wildwood Glenn
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Joel D. Baillargeon
Seller: Alireza Vahadji
Date: 05/01/18

LUDLOW

202 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Antonio V. Alexio
Seller: Fontanella, Kenneth A., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/18

96 Clearwater Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $512,500
Buyer: Peter B. Homans
Seller: David Fernandes
Date: 04/27/18

195 Colonial Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $289,900
Buyer: Stephen W. Ryczek
Seller: Anselmo C. Amaral
Date: 04/30/18

33 Dinis St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Carol A. Babiec
Seller: Antonio L. Juliano
Date: 04/30/18

205 East St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Cesar Omy-Carattini
Seller: BP LLC
Date: 04/30/18

579 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $399,500
Buyer: Stephanie Shaw
Seller: Brett D. Bernardo
Date: 04/30/18

581 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $399,500
Buyer: Stephanie Shaw
Seller: Brett D. Bernardo
Date: 04/30/18

92 Grimard St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $168,750
Buyer: Michael L. Cabrera
Seller: Karl L. Richard
Date: 04/26/18

42 Manor Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Ryan Collette
Seller: John A. Ruell
Date: 05/04/18

32 Lehigh St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $314,000
Buyer: Daniel C. Fernandes
Seller: Jose M. Dias
Date: 04/25/18

140 Overlook Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Kyle J. Gauthier
Seller: Peter B. Homans
Date: 04/27/18

84 Simonds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Jason A. Barroso
Seller: Ronald R. Kincaid
Date: 05/04/18

3 Waz St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Julio E. Carmona
Seller: Jonas Carvalho
Date: 04/23/18

259 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Anthony Poehler
Seller: Kelly L. Glazier
Date: 05/01/18

139 Williams St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Matthew R. McGovern
Seller: June D. McCarthy
Date: 04/25/18

MONSON

30 Blanchard Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $336,000
Buyer: William L. Sharp
Seller: Lyn M. Fioravanti
Date: 05/01/18

9 Lincoln St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Ryan Ayaz
Seller: Wesley R. Crouch
Date: 05/01/18

169 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Jonathan D. Caskey-Medina
Seller: Dean P. Smith
Date: 04/27/18

144 Woodhill Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Eric S. Bohnet
Seller: Stephen Gallant
Date: 04/24/18

MONTGOMERY

1600 Russell Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Christopher M. Nadeau
Seller: James E. Johnson
Date: 04/24/18

PALMER

123 Belchertown St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $189,500
Buyer: Ryan A. Sprague
Seller: Sophie Majka
Date: 04/30/18

294 Emery St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Frederick H. Glanville
Seller: Kim M. Amadei
Date: 04/24/18

44 French Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Sharon A. Martel
Seller: Wayne R. Dimetres
Date: 04/30/18

4 Hickory Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: David R. Orr
Seller: Anthony R. Simmoneau
Date: 05/04/18

3182-3184 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $127,900
Buyer: Richard Sibya
Seller: US Bank
Date: 04/30/18

4 Homestead St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $243,250
Buyer: John M. Pollock
Seller: Michael J. Damiano
Date: 05/04/18

38 Ruggles St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Corey P. Chartier
Seller: Wayne K. Hawk
Date: 04/30/18

RUSSELL

770 Blandford Stage Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $123,250
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Yelena Govor
Date: 04/23/18

SOUTHWICK

19 Beach Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Jennifer Tibbetts
Seller: Marta M. James
Date: 04/24/18

5 Bugbee Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Timothy W. Cunningham
Seller: Winding Land Realty LLC
Date: 04/30/18

662 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $363,500
Buyer: O’Reilly Auto Enterprises
Seller: Keith F. King
Date: 04/23/18

9 Foster Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings
Seller: Douglas H. Teece
Date: 04/27/18

59 North Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: 59 North Longyard LLC
Seller: Griffin Land Development MA
Date: 04/26/18

SPRINGFIELD

344 Abbott St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Jennifer H. Allard
Seller: Elizabeth Szarkowski
Date: 04/30/18

810 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Valerie A. Cruz
Seller: James A. Ryan
Date: 04/26/18

940 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Jose R. Diaz
Seller: Richard Chang
Date: 05/04/18

95 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Derek Sargent
Seller: Linda M. Owens
Date: 04/30/18

22 Amanda St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $120,750
Buyer: William T. Raleigh
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/23/18

309 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Berkshire Realty LLC
Seller: MJ Chu LLC
Date: 04/26/18

172 Birchland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Joaeth A. Breton
Seller: Georgia L. Carleton
Date: 04/26/18

28-30 Blanding St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Waleska Lugo-Dejesus
Seller: Empire West LLC
Date: 04/23/18

Boston Road (SS)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $3,085,443
Buyer: True Blue Personal Touch
Seller: 739 Boston Road LLC
Date: 05/01/18

633 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: RHL Properties LLC
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/27/18

865 Bradley Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Value Properties LLC
Seller: Abel Lee
Date: 04/30/18

75 Briarcliff St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Brianna M. Barcomb
Seller: Elaine A. Rooney
Date: 05/04/18

90 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: 1492 Redevelopment LLC
Seller: Develop Springfield Corp.
Date: 04/30/18.

180 Carver St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $146,400
Buyer: Kathleen Sheridan
Seller: Jeremy E. Lindsay
Date: 04/30/18

334 Chapin Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $137,000
Buyer: Eli S. Lopez-Torres
Seller: Charlie S. Melo-Perez
Date: 04/27/18

126 Clarendon St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $312,500
Buyer: Mary B. Campion
Seller: Walter W. Bigelow
Date: 04/25/18

114 Clement St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Michael Alexander
Seller: James R. Knight
Date: 05/03/18

95 Clough St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Minh Lam
Seller: Dixon, John G. Sr., (Estate)
Date: 05/04/18

187 Connecticut Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Julio Pineda
Seller: Oniel Morrison
Date: 05/04/18

11 Coomes St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Yolanda Gomez
Seller: Chad T. Lynch
Date: 05/04/18

15 Copeland St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Eula S. Drummer
Seller: Nicholas E. Sergentanis
Date: 05/04/18

44-46 Dawes St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Gabriel M. Serrano
Seller: Extremely Clean
Date: 04/27/18

120 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Rademacher
Seller: Abby L. Evers
Date: 04/27/18

43 Eckington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Linda J. Lafleche
Seller: Kenneth D. Lafleche
Date: 05/01/18

74 Ellendale Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Margaret L. Gatesman
Seller: Mary E. Surniak
Date: 04/26/18

40 Elmore Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Nyomie J. Montanez
Seller: BP LLC
Date: 04/27/18

242 Gilbert Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Julio A. Velez
Seller: Michael T. Tracy
Date: 04/25/18

27 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Castellano
Seller: Hillary M. Sullivan
Date: 04/30/18

98 Grover St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Cynthia Carmenatty
Seller: Junior Properties LLC
Date: 05/01/18

76 Hall St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Long River Realty LLC
Seller: Shawn Sandoval
Date: 04/23/18

100-102 Hamburg St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Nancy Cortes
Seller: Laura Sherry
Date: 05/01/18

99 Jefferson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $224,006
Buyer: AAA Homes LLC
Seller: City Of Springfield
Date: 04/27/18

186 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Hodges
Seller: Isarelys C. Ortiz
Date: 04/30/18

7 Joanne Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Cleveland Rahymes
Seller: Gregory P. Gethins
Date: 04/23/18

15 Jordan St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $175,074
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Daniel Brown
Date: 05/03/18

190 Leopold St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jacqueline M. Algarin
Seller: Alex Owusu
Date: 04/30/18

55 Lindsay Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Andrew T. Silva
Seller: Louis P. Marinaro
Date: 04/30/18

50 Macomber Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $139,500
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Johnny R. Hallums
Date: 04/25/18

1780 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $2,750,000
Buyer: 1780 HCHQ Inc.
Seller: Park View North LLC
Date: 04/30/18

50 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $2,000,000
Buyer: Arcoleo Realty LLC
Seller: Visiting Nurse Association
Date: 04/30/18

403 Maple St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Errin Green
Seller: Mental Health Assn. Inc.
Date: 05/02/18

20 Maura St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Conrad
Seller: Donald F. Healy
Date: 04/27/18

101 Meadowlark Lane
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Danielle M. Powell
Seller: Anthony C. Mone
Date: 05/02/18

29 Montford St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Jose L. Cortes
Seller: Kevin J. Tessier
Date: 05/01/18

201 Morton St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Robert N. Carter
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 04/30/18

196 Naismith St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Rafael Marte
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 04/26/18

67 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Sarah M. Fields
Seller: Robert Lunde
Date: 04/30/18

40 Old Farm Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: William Velez
Seller: Gina G. Daniele
Date: 05/01/18

36 Orchard St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Sharna Pearson
Seller: Jose Munoz
Date: 04/27/18

94 Orpheum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Seth C. Judson
Seller: Opus Durum LLC
Date: 04/30/18

936 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $139,239
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Mark Ako-Brew
Date: 05/03/18

2000 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $211,500
Buyer: Stephanie N. Burgess
Seller: John P. Lafrance
Date: 05/04/18

64 Price St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Rochelle A. Chaisson
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 04/30/18

30 Savoy Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Axel Davila
Seller: Ambika Biswa
Date: 04/30/18

618 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Anthony Nash-Yeboah
Seller: AAD LLC
Date: 05/01/18

1069 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Imani Hines-Coombs
Seller: Efrain Quinones
Date: 05/04/18

126-128 Tavistock St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Andrew H. Tsang
Seller: Brian M. Liquore
Date: 04/26/18

151-153 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $141,750
Buyer: Select Portfolio Servicing
Seller: Michael B. White
Date: 04/25/18

15 Undine Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: North Harlow 5 LLC
Seller: Patrick K. Sullivan
Date: 04/27/18

126 Undine Circle
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Alfredo Rosario-Roman
Seller: Harry L. Burgos
Date: 04/26/18

31 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Marta Rodriguez
Seller: Irene Provost
Date: 04/30/18

100-102 Wait St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Peter Livieratos
Date: 04/24/18

369-R Walnut St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Kathryn E. Suarez
Seller: Katherine A. Grenier
Date: 04/27/18

77 Warehouse St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Charles G. Arment
Seller: Peroulakis LLC
Date: 04/30/18

343-345 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: FV 1 Inc.
Seller: Kellie Lynch
Date: 04/30/18

52 West Alvord St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $123,032
Buyer: Tiffany Quan
Seller: OCWEN Loan Servicing LLC
Date: 04/24/18

72 Westbrook Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $121,688
Buyer: Matadormus LLC
Seller: Loandepot Com LLC
Date: 04/27/18

22 Wheeler Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Amanda M. Stone
Seller: Gabriel Almenas
Date: 05/03/18

186 Whittum Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Ashley L. Reilly
Seller: AJN Rentals LLC
Date: 04/23/18

1988 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $184,500
Buyer: Stanley Clerge
Seller: Joyce J. Turco
Date: 04/30/18

36-38 Wilmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Nina Nguyen
Seller: Kevin P. Bach
Date: 04/25/18

207 Windemere St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Monica M. Orta
Seller: Steven R. Lemelin
Date: 04/30/18

27 Woodcliff St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Jenna L. Hayden
Seller: Property Keys LLC
Date: 04/27/18

WALES

61 Monson Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $176,880
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Armand A. Arsenault
Date: 04/30/18

WESTFIELD

47 Aldrich Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $211,000
Buyer: Hector M. Hernandez
Seller: Shawn P. Tatro
Date: 04/27/18

3 Butler St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Mario R. Seguin
Seller: Tiffany Royland
Date: 04/26/18

24 Charles St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Aita Gurung
Seller: Jason P. Maraj
Date: 04/24/18

104 Foch Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Kevin Ritchie
Seller: Steven S. Brzoska
Date: 05/01/18

78 Heggie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $171,900
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Gladys D. Alcaide
Date: 04/23/18

112 Pineridge Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Timothy P. Ayers
Seller: Irene E. Dennison
Date: 04/30/18

22 Putnam Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,220
Buyer: OCWEN Servicing LLC
Seller: Frank L. Brucknak
Date: 05/03/18

83 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $379,000
Buyer: Babita Gurung
Seller: Ralph L. Tropeano
Date: 04/30/18

8 Sycamore St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Adam T. Chagnon
Seller: Dig Bista
Date: 05/03/18

70 Vadnais St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Bobbie C. Longo
Seller: Timothy P. Ayers
Date: 04/30/18

26 West School St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Gennadiy Lisitsin
Seller: Milton Vazquez
Date: 04/30/18

132 Westwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $232,750
Buyer: Isaac A. Stayton
Seller: Popovich, Sam H., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/18

WILBRAHAM

17 Joan St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Doris K. Johnson
Seller: Thomas G. Gilmour
Date: 04/25/18

593 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $195,700
Buyer: Fumi Realty Inc.
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 04/26/18

22 Merrill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $251,200
Buyer: Jeremy E. Lindsay
Seller: Debra J. Lampson
Date: 04/30/18

299 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Garry A. Nickerson
Seller: Bjorn Schultz
Date: 04/30/18

105 Post Office Park
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $930,000
Buyer: Cumberland Farms Inc.
Seller: Garvey Group Inc.
Date: 04/30/18

3 West Colonial Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Efrain Quinones
Seller: David R. Orr
Date: 05/04/18

WEST SPRINGFIELD

61 Appaloosa Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Hasmukh Gogri
Seller: Moe K. Denny
Date: 04/27/18

17 Blossom Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Michael K. Mattoon
Seller: Stephen Buynicki
Date: 05/04/18

70 Brookline Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Robert E. Gonzalez
Seller: Ashley T. Stone
Date: 04/30/18

65 Cataumet Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $439,900
Buyer: Isarelys C. Ortiz
Seller: David M. Duquette
Date: 04/30/18

55 Gay Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Kerryann M. Serju
Seller: Kellee A. Grucci
Date: 04/26/18

137 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Adam Bartman
Seller: Joshua C. Lyon
Date: 04/24/18

33 Kelso Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Ramon J. Sanchez
Seller: John E. Fitzgerald
Date: 05/03/18

83 Labelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Jose A. Benvenutti
Seller: FNMA
Date: 05/03/18

137 Massasoit Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,900
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jennifer L. Kenny
Date: 05/04/18

102 Miami St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Gary L. Scott
Seller: US Bank
Date: 04/30/18

23 Morningside Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Shawn D. Kelly
Seller: Miroslav Tkach
Date: 05/04/18

26 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Charles T. Disponett
Seller: Christian D. Bodley
Date: 04/30/18

68 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: David Wellspeak
Seller: Kenneth P. Goudreau
Date: 04/24/18

42 West School St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $120,500
Buyer: Joe O’Malley
Seller: OCWEN Loan Servicing LLC
Date: 04/27/18

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

132 Aubinwood Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $411,000
Buyer: Amanda L. Folsom
Seller: Joan T. Gallinaro
Date: 04/26/18

159 Farview Way
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Carolyne Hinkel
Seller: Jolayne J. Hinkel TR
Date: 05/04/18

24 Hickory Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Toby Barnes
Seller: Paul C. Roud
Date: 04/25/18

51 Jeffrey Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Dongliang Guo
Seller: Michael I. Fagerson
Date: 04/26/18

902 North Pleasant St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: John W. Kinchla
Seller: Diane M. Russell
Date: 05/01/18

33 Oakwood Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Mohamed H. Hassan
Seller: Judith A. Karren
Date: 04/30/18

159 Old Belchertown Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: ADB2 Properties LLC
Seller: Poet Valley Partners LLC
Date: 04/24/18

166 Wildflower Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Olufemi O. Vaughan
Seller: Nigar J. Khan
Date: 04/30/18

BELCHERTOWN

86 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Hilary N. Piquette
Seller: Michelle Stewart
Date: 04/27/18

535 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Chantel Mallalieu
Seller: Anuj Dhamija
Date: 05/04/18

196 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Kelly Gemme
Seller: Brandon J. Gonzalez
Date: 05/02/18

45 Jabish St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $187,400
Buyer: Pierre D. Willems
Seller: Allen F. Wentworth
Date: 04/27/18

522 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $245,900
Buyer: Philip M. Sze
Seller: Katherine A. Hannon
Date: 04/27/18

71 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Christopher K. Wyman
Seller: Springrestore RT
Date: 04/25/18

62 Oakridge Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $329,900
Buyer: Patrick R. Shea
Seller: Stephen Rock
Date: 04/30/18

290 Rockrimmon St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $137,600
Buyer: Wilmington Trust
Seller: Fred Davis
Date: 04/25/18

17 Sherwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Daniel P. Steele
Seller: Eugene J. Karmelek
Date: 05/04/18

237 West St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: William Sullivan
Seller: Cynthia L. Messer
Date: 04/30/18

CHESTERFIELD

213 Ireland St.
Chesterfield, MA 01084
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Kamil Zakrzewski
Seller: James S. Kolodziej
Date: 04/27/18

210 Sugar Hill Road
Chesterfield, MA 01096
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Kenneth R. Madigan
Seller: Ryan B. Bouvier
Date: 05/04/18

CUMMINGTON

54 Porter Hill Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Samantha B. Michaud
Seller: Matthew White
Date: 04/27/18

EASTHAMPTON

1 Allen St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: KM Properties LLC
Seller: Tina R. Wagner
Date: 04/25/18

38 Carillon Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Nina E. Spiro
Seller: Karen A. Normand
Date: 05/04/18

6 Davis St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Oliver Zeff
Seller: Corinne S. Barrineau
Date: 05/02/18

30 Kenneth Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Erik M. Swift
Seller: David E. Hunt
Date: 04/27/18

Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Tim Seney Contracting Inc.
Seller: Cykowski RET
Date: 04/26/18

Pomeroy St. #1
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: David A. Hardy Contractor
Seller: Cykowski RET
Date: 05/03/18

143 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Rebecca J. Mazuch
Seller: US Bank
Date: 05/01/18

3 Zabek Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Andrea A. Przybyla
Seller: Alena Marand
Date: 04/30/18

HADLEY

22 Breckenridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Philip W. Shumway
Seller: Marlene A. Schuster
Date: 04/23/18

HATFIELD

15 Plantation Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Raymond Romero
Seller: Vionette Vazquez
Date: 04/27/18

HUNTINGTON

15 Mountain View
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $150,880
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Dustin S. Kellogg
Date: 04/30/18

NORTHAMPTON

16 Bates St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $331,000
Buyer: Valerie Hood
Seller: Martha V. Dragon
Date: 04/30/18

540 Elm St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Heather G. Richard
Seller: Mckeever, C. J., (Estate)
Date: 04/27/18

66 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $565,000
Buyer: Katrina Fralick
Seller: Hampshire Property Mgmt.
Date: 04/27/18

15 Franklin St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $467,500
Buyer: Matthew Muspratt
Seller: Faith L. Foss
Date: 05/03/18

3 Linden St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Melanie Richards
Seller: Stephen P. Mikelis
Date: 05/01/18

179 Prospect Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Mark C. Jewell
Seller: Michael D. Houle
Date: 04/26/18

34 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $256,500
Buyer: Charlotte T. Hathaway
Seller: Edward W. Passa
Date: 05/04/18

11 School St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Ethan Vandermark
Seller: Luke Bloomfield
Date: 05/03/18

17 Villone Dr.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Alice G. McKusick
Seller: David P. Foster
Date: 05/01/18

19 Washington Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $451,000
Buyer: William G. Sherr
Seller: Allison Lockwood
Date: 04/27/18

779 Westhampton Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Kevin L. Shepard
Seller: Kevin T. Kittredge
Date: 04/27/18

71 Woodmont Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $184,720
Buyer: LNV Corp
Seller: Kathleen Mullaney
Date: 04/27/18

PELHAM

312 Amherst Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Scott R. Rhodes
Seller: Sarahbess Kenney
Date: 05/01/18

SOUTH HADLEY

28 Atwood Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Thomas F. Ciufo
Seller: Elizabeth P. Sharp
Date: 04/27/18

1 Bach Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Michelle L. Hamelin
Seller: Phoebe Daunais
Date: 04/26/18

6 Center St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $207,500
Buyer: John M. West
Seller: Peter H. Engel
Date: 04/30/18

65 Columbia St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Margaret Beauchemin
Seller: Oliver M. Zeff
Date: 05/02/18

10 East Red Bridge Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Juan A. Marin
Seller: Luis Builders Inc.
Date: 04/25/18

100 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Jessica Poser
Seller: Raymond R. Brunelle IRT
Date: 04/27/18

21 Grandview St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $294,900
Buyer: Matthew M. Trudel
Seller: Stephen W. Sroka
Date: 05/01/18

99 Hildreth Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Stephen J. Lamirande
Seller: Bruce C. Taylor
Date: 04/24/18

5 Hillcrest Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Matthew M. Kakley
Seller: Martha Lee-Brown
Date: 04/26/18

14 Hollywood St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Timothy A. Sheaffer
Seller: Jeffrey M. Poirier
Date: 04/27/18

4 Leblanc Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Rubeela Malik
Seller: Philip C. Beaudry
Date: 05/02/18

85 Lyman Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $322,500
Buyer: Charlene Wilder RET
Seller: Thomas J. Vautrin
Date: 05/02/18

144 Lyman St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Matthew B. Fitzgerald
Seller: Anouk RT
Date: 04/27/18

37 Old County Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $452,000
Buyer: Albert P. Cordner
Seller: Patrice L. Dardenne
Date: 04/30/18

315 River Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $293,000
Buyer: Bryan M. Trapp
Seller: Deborah C. Saperstone
Date: 04/23/18

5 Rivercrest Way
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Shawn M. Spencer
Seller: Rivercrest Condominiums
Date: 05/04/18

24 Tampa St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: David G. Morris
Seller: RB Homes LLC
Date: 05/03/18

8 Walnut St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Marleena A. Biela
Seller: Cynthia M. Chapdelaine
Date: 04/24/18

SOUTHAMPTON

40 Lead Mine Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Aaron L. Simms
Seller: Patricia G. Sandoval
Date: 05/03/18

75 Moose Brook Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $432,000
Buyer: Robert T. Hurley
Seller: David Garstka Builders
Date: 05/04/18

WARE

62 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $298,139
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Anna P. Thomas
Date: 05/03/18

16 Dugan Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joshua Lynch
Seller: Daniel J. Alexander
Date: 04/27/18

7 King St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: George N. Hadley
Seller: Gail A. Glassbrenner
Date: 05/04/18

14 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Kristin M. Fredette
Seller: Stephen W. Ryczek
Date: 04/30/18

290 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $287,000
Buyer: Richard A. Cook
Seller: Jennifer L. Murray
Date: 04/26/18

27 Otis Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: HSBC Bank
Seller: Paul T. Poirier
Date: 04/23/18

22 Sorel Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Alma J. Feitelberg
Seller: Erik F. Ramsland
Date: 04/27/18

WILLIAMSBURG

123 Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Ronald K. Munson
Seller: Sacheverell Seney
Date: 04/23/18

10 River Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $560,000
Buyer: Lawrence L. Lashway
Seller: Willo Carey
Date: 05/01/18

27 South Main St.
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: N. J. Fischer-Rodriguez
Seller: Douglas P. Ferrante
Date: 04/26/18

WORTHINGTON

165 Starkweather Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Marie Hellouin-DeCenival
Seller: Susan S. Markush
Date: 04/27/18

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

State Receives $11.7 Million for Opioid Prevention, Treatment

BOSTON — The Baker-Polito administration announced that Massachusetts has received an $11.7 million federal grant to continue its public-health response to the opioid epidemic and bolster community overdose prevention, outpatient opioid treatment, and recovery services across the Commonwealth. This is the second consecutive year the state has received the funding, bringing the two-year total to $23.8 million. “The opioid and heroin epidemic have led to heartbreaking addiction and losses for too many families in the Commonwealth, and this critical funding will increase support for important services like recovery coaches and medication-assisted treatment,” said Gov. Charlie Baker. This grant, from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, is the second round of funding authorized under the 21st Century Cures Act, signed into law in December 2016. The funds address the opioid crisis by increasing access to treatment, reducing unmet treatment needs, and reducing opioid overdose-related deaths through the provision of prevention, treatment and recovery activities for opioid-use disorder. It supports existing statewide services managed by the state Department of Public Health’s Bureau of Substance Addiction Services. In addition to this new federal funding, through administrative actions, the Baker-Polito administration will invest up to $219 million over five years from the state’s 1115 Medicaid waiver, starting in the fiscal year 2018, to meet the needs of individuals with addictions and/or co-occurring disorders. These funds will expand residential recovery services, increase access to medication-assisted treatment, add new recovery coaches and navigators, and implement a consistent clinical assessment tool throughout the treatment system. Since 2015, the administration has doubled spending to address the opioid crisis and added more than 1,100 treatment beds, including 748 adult substance-use treatment beds at different treatment levels, and certified more than 162 sober homes, accounting for an additional 2,184 beds.

Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone Awarding $5,000 in Scholarships

HOLYOKE — The Law Offices of Mark E. Salomone in Massachusetts is sponsoring a nationwide essay contest focusing on innovative ways to prevent drunk driving. The three essay winners will receive $5,000 worth of scholarship prizes for education-related expenses. The essay contest is open to undergraduate college students and law-school students enrolled at accredited schools in the U.S. Essays must be between 500 and 1,000 words on the following topic: “How can we prevent drunk driving and promote safe driving among young motorists?” The winning essay will be awarded $2,500, second prize is $1,500, and third prize is $1,000. Each submission must include an essay as a Microsoft Word document (.doc or .docx format); school transcript or proof of enrollment; applicant’s name, address, and phone number; school name and address; a two- to three-sentence bio; and a waiver form with a parent or guardian’s signature for applicants under 18. The application deadline is Aug. 15. Winners will be announced on Sept. 14. Applicants can view the rules of the contest and apply online at www.marksalomone.com/scholarship.

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

AMHERST

Democracy Action Inc., 48 North Pleasant St., Suite 304, Amherst, MA 01002. Ben Clements, 256 Park St., Newton, MA 02458. Promote social welfare and working to protect the promise of American democracy, challenging corruption at the highest level of the American government.

CHICOPEE

Czar Industries Inc., 1981 Memorial Drive, #256, Chicopee, MA 01020. Curtis P. Duval, same. Metal door manufacturing.

EASTHAMPTON

Easthampton Screaming Eagles Softball Corporation, 57 Ward Ave., Easthampton, MA 01027. Jennifer McCarthy, same. Provide a fast-pitch softball organization for the youth in and around Hampshire county. For tournaments, games and fun.

HOLYOKE

Casa De Restauracion Nuevo Pacto, 384 High St., Third Floor, Holyoke, MA 01040. Luz Torres, 26 Tracy St., Springfield, MA 01104. Restaurant.

PALMER

Aquatic Avengers Inc., 45 French Dr., Palmer, MA 01069. Corey Lomas, Same. Swim coaching.

PITTSFIELD

Bill White Insurance Agency Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. William White, 710 Rimpau Ave., Suite 203, Corona, CA 92879. Insurance producer.

SPRINGFIELD

Colby’s Path to The Cure; Hope. Love. Cure. Inc., 35 Palm St., Springfield, MA 01108. Colette Proctor, same. Raising awareness and supporting research to cure synovial sarcoma.

Crowned with Excellence Inc., 1655 Main St., Suite 302, Springfield, MA 01103. Merlly Ortiz, 52 Casino Ave., Chicopee, MA 01013. Foster a holistic approach of healing, transformation and empowerment of woman.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Aroma One Inc., 935 Riverdale St., Suite F105-107, West Springfield, MA 01089. Xian-Ming Zheng, Same. Restaurant.

Carolina Express Tours Inc., 425 Union St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Rheuben Herbert, same. Charter bus company.

Chrzan Founder Holdings Inc., 143 Doty Circle., West Springfield, MA 01089. Jan Chrzan, same. Shipping and delivery service.

Doing Business As Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following business certificates and trade names were issued or renewed during the month of May 2018.

AMHERST

Analystika
11 Amity St.
Infinitika, LLC; Seyed Amirali Jazayeri

The Athena Initiative
226 Pine St.
Julia Khan

Innate Body Wisdom Physical Therapy
96 North Pleasant St.
Marjorie Giliberto

Kendrick Property Management
1185 North Pleasant St.
Donna Golec

Neyman Arts
23 South Mount Holyoke Dr.
Ignacy Grzelazka

Northeast Construction Services
433 West St.
Ronald Laverdiere

Rise Salon
40 Main St.
Michelle Tomlinson

Sarah Marcus, LICSW
24 South Prospect St., #108
Sarah Marcus

Shumway Roofing
625 East Pleasant St.
Alan Shumway

Tensen Kilduff Design Lab
220 North Pleasant St.
Tim Tensen

BELCHERTOWN

Out! for Reel
27 Eagle Heights
Judith Lebold

Quabbin Painting and Construction
340 State St.
William Landford

Robert’s Handyman Services
38A Warren Wright St.
Robert Rybicki

Strong Walls
15 Sherwood Dr.
James Strong

CHICOPEE

Anajen Group, LLC
13 Lauzier Terrace
Jennifer Diaz, David Diaz

D & M Compliance Services
25 Jefferson Ave.
Mary Schryver

Hair Kings
693½ Grattan St.
Hector Cortez Jr.

L & L Treasures
35 Simonich St.
Elizabeth Thomas

Lisa A. Vachon, CPA
48 Center St.
Lisa Vachon

Nuñez Tax Service
28 Montgomery St.
Sonia Torres

Pavel Delivery
57 Larchmont St.
Pavel Arbuzov

Porchlight Home Care
2024 Westover Road
Kurt Toegel

Porchlight VNA
2024 Westover Road
Kurt Toegel

Property Keys, LLC
144 Broadway
Hector Quiles

Real Estate Keys, LLC
144 Broadway
Natasha Quiles

Webway Transport
53 Chatham St.
Jeffrey Weber

EASTHAMPTON

Ben Falkoff Music
8 Groveland St.
Ben Falkoff

Creations by Candy, LLC
186B Northampton St.
Candy Lacey

Dostal Eyecare
250 Northampton St.
Eric Dostal

Mac Industries
30 Pleasant St.
John McDonough

Old School Landscaping
245 Park St.
Jason Lafosse, Douglas Barton II

Salon Avanti
186 Northampton St.
Michelle Shanley, Ronald Finnessey Jr.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Agnew Quality Painting
P.O. Box 63
Val Shuetz

Shapes
219 Shaker Road
Joanne Cirillo

Shear Integrity
60 Shaker Road
Patricia Morin

Travel with Paula Jean
65 Porter Road
Paula Jean Alger

HOLYOKE

413 Family Fitness
15 Dillion Ave.
Juan Vazquez

Aguila Recording Studio
671 High St.
Abimael Robles

Dollar General Store #15341
250 Westfield Road
DG Retail, LLC

FYE #725
50 Holyoke St.
Record Town Inc.

Holyoke Express Multiservice
78 Cabot St.
Rosa Sanchez

JYN Mini Market
81 North Bridge St.
Norquelis Veras

Le Sisters, LLC
50 Holyoke St.
Huu Van Le

Manny’s Pizza
510 Westfield Road
Ricardo Sustache

Massachusetts Academy of Ballet
4 Open Square Way
Charles Flachs

Mercy Medical Group Inc.
306 Race St.
Mercy Medical Group

Ross, Webber & Grinnell Insurance
150 Lower Westfield Road, Suite 2
William Grinnell

LONGMEADOW

Heather Murphy, LICSW
785 Williams St., #344
Heather Murphy

Police Drones of Massachusetts
57 Cooley Dr.
John Alden

LUDLOW

Jayott General Development
644 Poole St.
Walter Martowski

Thermocrete Chimney Sweeps, LLC
36 Nowak Circle
Jonathon Burek

NORTHAMPTON

Alexander W. Borawski Inc.
88 King St.
Robert Borawski, David Malek

Country Hyundai Inc.
347 King St.
Carla Cosenzi Zayac

Elisabeth’s Hair Design
30 North Maple St.
Elisabeth Gaddy

Gene Callahan Real Estate
44 Conz St.
Eugene Callahan Jr.

Great Clips
228 King St.
Inpachelvan Vithianan Than

Kailo Coaching and Consulting
90 Conz St., Suite 101
Erik Mutén

Kailo Mentoring Group
90 Conz St., Suite 101
Erik Mutén

Kelley Green Lawncare
30 Hatfield St.
Peter Kelley

LadyBug Body-Mind Healing
90 Conz St.
Leslie Gould-Barkman

Little Bear Bread
61 Overlook Dr.
Joshua Stumpf

Massmetal Publishing
670B Haydenville Road
Kristian Strom

NETA
118 Conz St.
Leslie Laurie

Room 6 Salon
140 Pine St.
Jennifer Lea Mott

Stan Schapiro Consulting
139 Vernon St.
Stanley Schapiro

TJ’s Pop
467 Burt’s Pit Road
Troy Atherton Sr.

Wade Wofford, Filmmaker
8 Munroe St.
Wade Wofford

Your Elegant Divorce
76 Masonic St.
Gabrielle Hartley

PALMER

ABC Pool & Supply
248 Ware St.
Mark Kirk

Diamond Junction Bowling Lanes
1446 North Main St.
Charles Hood III

RB Enterprise
Nipmuck Street
Raymond Breton

SOUTHWICK

Jerrett Fanion Moving Specialist
7 Sheep Pasture Road
Jerrett Fanion

Patriots Machine
12 Patriots Way
David Diadzio

SPRINGFIELD

Car-On Transport
19 Yale St.
Timothy Caron

Denise & Friends Salon
931 Belmont Ave.
Denise Carol

Dollar General Store #14404
1504 Allen St.
DG Retail, LLC

Euro Style Hair Salon
28 Burnette St.
Yelena Merzel

Jah Lloyd Cuisine
341 Wilbraham Road
Trevor Lloyd

K’s Kakes
529½ Main St.
Luz Cruz

KK’s Discount Market
666 Belmont Ave.
Kamal Biswa

L.J. Liquidation Co.
1078 Worthington St.
Luis Esoinal

La 3 Pleta
5 Fairdel St.
Yonad Sierra

Makki Masjid
605 Dickinson St.
Rizvan Merza

Mayers Home Repairs
30 Clayton St.
Simeon Mayers

Mercy Medical Center
271 Carew St.
Mark Fulco

Mobile Gifts Express
30 Wing St.
Richard Agin

Mom & Rico Market
899 Main St.
Enrico Daniele

Rosario’s Junk Removal
60 Glenwood St.
Carlos Rosario

Scanlon Social Media
119 Bellwood Road
Patrick Richard

Springfield Golden Nozzle
915 East Columbus Ave.
Nouria Energy Retail

Treaty, LLC
3601 Main St.
Marc Gammell

Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital
233 Carew St.
Mark Fulco

Wireless Connection by Torres
1655 Boston Road
Beury Torres

Workwise Occupational Health
233 Carew St.
Mark Fulco

YBL Youth Basketball League
79 Eloise St.
Julius McKinstry

WARE

Best Bee Honey
115 Greenwich Plains Road
John McCarthy

Carpentry Concepts
75 Cummings Road
Roger Bouchard

Larry Allard Plumbing & Heating Co.
193 Old Gilbertville Road
Lawrence Allard Jr.

Odd Jobs
51 West St.
Derek Murphy

Property Masters
15 Homecrest Ave.
Joshua Berthiaume

Swistak Stump Grinding
131 Church St.
John Swistak

WESTFIELD

Kirby’s Kids Family Childcare
92 Union St.
Kimberley Kirby

R & C Countertops
9 Bartlett St.
Randy Arkoette

Scooters Paradise Pet Resort
380 Southampton Road
Susan Lamoureux

Stephanie at Source Hair Salon
2 Russell Road
Stephanie Haskins

WEST SPRINGFIELD

C.R. Landscaping
92 Chilson Road
Patrick Butler

Capital Realty Inc.
125 Capital Dr.
Capital Realty Inc.

Caring Solutions, LLC
131 Elm St.
Patricia Baskin

The Head Shop
524 Main St.
Steve Holloman

Line-X of West Springfield
52 Baldwin St.
Automotive Innovators

Mayimbes Auto Repair Inc.
55 Exposition Terrace
Luis Martinez

Oak Hollow Farms
711 Amostown Road
Joseph Dumont

The Tent
977 Main St.
Hamza Khdeer

Thibault Fuel, LLC
41 Chapin St.
Rene Thibault

West Springfield 15
864 Riverdale St.
Efrain Hague

Wright Associates
1111 Elm St.
John Wright

Yara Market Corp.
470 Main St.
Mohammed Mohammed

WILBRAHAM

American Discount Gutters
23 Pine Dr.
Marcel Vendon

Fresh Home
1158 Glendale Road
Dana Botta-Arroyo

Suzann Andre Salon
2341 Boston Road
Wioleta Guberow

Company Notebook

Company Notebook Departments

Big Y Opens New Fuel Station on Cooley Street in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y Foods Inc. recently opened its seventh Big Y Express gas and convenience store at 471 Cooley St. in Springfield. The other six Massachusetts stores can be found in Lee, Pittsfield, Hadley, Longmeadow, Wilbraham, and South Hadley. The new Springfield location boasts eight gas pumps and free air machines for tire inflation. Inside the store, selections include donuts, pastries, and store-baked muffins; Green Mountain Coffees; fresh fruit; gourmet sandwiches and salads; milk and numerous other cold beverages; as well as bread, candy, snacks, tobacco products, lottery, and ice. The store director of this location is Yanira Febus. There are currently seven employees, and Big Y is looking to hire one or two more. The site formerly operated as Ultra Gasoline, and all Ultra employees were encouraged to apply for a position with Big Y. The store will be open from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. seven days a week, 365 days a year.

Florence Bank Recognized at Banking Choice Awards

FLORENCE — Florence Bank recently earned four industry honors at the first annual Banking Choice Awards in areas such as quality and service, with recognition based on an independent survey of customer feedback. At the event on April 26 at Boston’s Omni Parker House, Florence Bank ranked first in the Western Mass. region in Overall Quality, Customer Service, and Technology, and second in Community Contribution. “These rankings came from an independent survey performed by a recognized leader in tracking and measuring the customer experience,” President and CEO John Heaps said. “It’s nice to get recognition from those we aim to serve well. I couldn’t be prouder of our employees and this achievement.” Florence Bank employees were among staff from 33 banks across the state at the Banking Choice Awards, developed jointly by the Warren Group and Customer Experience Solutions.

Hazen Paper Earns Accolades with AIMCAL Product of the Year

HOLYOKE — The holographic Kat Von D “Metal Crush” limited-edition powder highlighter carton produced by Hazen Paper Co. was named Product of the Year at the 2018 annual meeting of the Assoc. of International Metallizers, Coaters and Laminators (AIMCAL), held in Charlotte, N.C. Hazen also received Product Excellence awards for a Marc Jacobs “Decadence” perfume box and a Burmester Porsche “Music to Your Ears” brochure. “We’re always pleased when our customers obtain recognition for extraordinary packages that take advantage of our capabilities,” said John Hazen, the company’s president. “They challenge us to continue to develop new and better products. Together, we work to intrigue and delight consumers and improve revenues, while doing our part to operate conscientiously and sustainably.”

Elms to Launch Computer Science, Computer IT and Security Majors

CHICOPEE — Elms College announced that it will launch two new majors this fall, in computer science (CS) and computer information technology and security (CITS). The CITS major prepares students for careers as information technology (IT) professionals, providing a breadth of knowledge and the skills necessary to become IT technicians, system administrators, network administrators, and cybersecurity specialists. Required course topics for this major include databases, networks and security, system administration, digital forensics, hardware maintenance, cyber ethics, web design, and more. The CS major focuses on the design and development of software and the algorithms that make code work efficiently. Students will become proficient in C#, Javascript, HTML/CSS, SQL, and other programming languages. Required courses for this major will focus on programming, data structures and algorithms, databases, system administration, cyber ethics, web design, and more. “Our students are very excited about these new majors,” said Beryl Hoffman, associate professor of Computer Information Technology at Elms. “Computer-science graduates are in high demand, and computer security is one of the fastest-growing job markets within IT.” Both majors will include a professional internship that will give students real-life experience in computer science or computer information technology and security. Electives for both the CS and CITS majors will include artificial intelligence, game design, mobile-app design, graphic design, and video.

PetSmart Charities Awards $200,000 to Second Chance Animal Services

EAST BROOKFIELD — Second Chance Animal Services recently received a $200,000 grant from PetSmart Charities, the leading funder of animal welfare in North America, toward the purchase and renovation of a new location for its Community Veterinary Hospital in Springfield. After five months of hard work and setbacks that included delays from extensive water damage in January, Second Chance celebrated its grand opening on May 23. Second Chance had been leasing a building on Belmont Avenue in Springfield, offering full-service veterinary care ranging from routine exams and vaccines to in-house blood testing and urinalysis, X-rays, spay/neuter surgery, dental surgery, and more. Its community veterinary hospitals provide high-quality veterinary service to all, with subsidized pricing for qualified households. Word spread throughout the community, and the growing demand for services quickly outgrew the space. The move to a new and larger location at 67 Mulberry St. in the heart of Springfield this month will allow Second Chance to meet the need for veterinary care.

Berkshire Theatre Group Feted by Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Theatre Group (BTG) was honored as Employer of the Year for “providing valuable employment opportunities for the members of Berkshire Pathways” at the Massachusetts Clubhouse Coalition’s annual Employment Celebration at the State House in Boston on April 3. Joanne Rosier, a BTG ticket-office associate, was also honored as a Clubhouse member and Berkshire Theatre Group employee. In addition, BTG received a congratulatory citation in recognition of its award from the Massachusetts House of Representatives, offered by state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier. Berkshire Theatre Group also received a congratulatory citation from the Massachusetts Senate, offered by state Sen. Adam Hinds.

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Alexopoulos Construction Inc.
TREE413
Alexopoulos, Joseph P.
155 Hillcrest Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/23/18

Arnold, Christopher M.
Arnold, Carrie J.
257 Farrington Road
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/18

Arnold, Vicki Q.
63 Beekman Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/26/18

Bansfield, Gregory
73B Hadley Village Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Barnard, Immacolata C.
a/k/a Lombardi, Immacolata C.
13 Redfern Dr.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Beauregard, Kevin M.
Beauregard, Suzanne Marie
a/k/a O’Connell, Suzanne M.
32 Acrebrook Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Berkshire Brush
Smith, Jeffrey M.
P.O. Box 115
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Breton, Dawn
16 Ludon St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/18

Brunelle, Sarai
324 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/18

Burnash, Laurie Ann
13 School St., Apt 1L
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/18

Build Your Brand Management
McGregor, Winston Benjamin
160 Shefford St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7 Filing
Date: 04/16/18

Cassaro, Dominick
42 Hall St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/18

Citlak, Ilknur
81 Bluebird Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/18

Cordero, Andrew A.
23 Shaker Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/18

Cuoco, Josephine
a/k/a Papallo, Josephine
136 Pineacre Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/30/18

Desilets, Robert A.
188 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/18

Desilets, Sarah
9 Ellis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Dould, John Francis
Dould, Kathleen Marie
494 School St., Apt. 3
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/18

Drewnowski, Paul Donald
90 Royal St., Fl. 2
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/18

Dunn, Dana M.
88 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Felix, Stanley
7 Campbell Place
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/18

Ferguson, David J.
98 Brown St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/18

Fleur de Lis Housekeeping
Hoynoski, Suzanne L.
a/k/a Perna, Suzanne
1278 Colebrook River Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/18

Fonseca, Ricardo
Aponte, Liliana
50 Langdon St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/18

Fresh Cuts by Toni
Marcus, John C.
Marcus, Toni R.
a/k/a Francisco-Marcus, Toni R.
123 Shawinigan Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/20/18

Furey, Fonda M.
166 Madison Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/28/18

Gates, Kim Marie
a/k/a Zink, Kim
25 Woodland Dr.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/18

Gentles, Cheryl Denise
82 Ardmore St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/23/18

Goralski, Kimberly A.
P.O. Box 192
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/18

Harrison, Timothy W.
1 Congress St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/16/18

Hartshorn, William Wayne
5 Greenleaf Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/18

Haynes, Patricia A.
267 Rowley St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Henry’s Tailor Shop
Sinkowski, Henry
a/k/a Sinkowski, Henryk
a/k/a Sinkowski, Henri
Sinkowski, Dorothy E.
110 Grape St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/24/18

Hurteau, Renee F.
1209 White Pond Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/16/18

Ingersoll, Michael Robert
Ingersoll, Melissa Lynn
PO Box 314
Belchertown, MA 01007
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/18

Kiki’s Magic World DayCare
Sierra, Marimonsi
a/k/a Sierra, Mary
53 Jenness St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Landry, Linda M.
28 Glen Albyn St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/23/18

Lemelin, Craig P.
71 Michigan St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Marrero, Carmelo O.
a/k/a Barrero, Carmelo
Marrero, Virgen G.
101 Lowell St., Apt. 722
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Marrero, Joanna M.
79 Michaelman Ave., Apt. 10
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/18

Martin, Neal B.
Martin, Barbara J.
36 Cady St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/18

Martinez, Juan B.
a/k/a Vega, Juan
a/k/a Martinez Vega, Juan B.
Martinez, Nancy A.
137 Hendrick St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/18

Nichols, John A.
Fletcher St., Apt. 25A
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/18

Oliveira, Mario
Oliveira, Amanda
272 Mount Pleasant St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/24/18

Palmer, Tammy L.
a/k/a Duggan, Tammy
a/k/a Thiphavong, Tammy
4030 Church St.
Thorndike, MA 01079
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/18

Prindle, Joyce E.
266 Grove St., Unit 1
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Przechocki, Daniel C.
Przechocki, Diane M.
55 Mohegan Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/18

Ramsdell, Cheryl Patricia
a/k/a Gonzalez, Cheryl Patricia
130 Mt. Pleasant St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/18

Rogerson, Mark K.
Rogerson, Lynne A.
a/k/a Ziegert, Lynne A.
51 Wrenwood Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/22/18

Sanborn, Kathleen M.
a/k/a Bouvier, Kathleen M.
62 Aspen St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/23/18

Sarcastic Fringehead Vapo
Hurteau, Christopher D.
1209 White Pond Road
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/16/18

Semaski, Jason R.
Semaski, Kerry A.
58 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/24/18

Siano, Michael George
Connolly, Catherine Elizabeth
145 Rolf Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/18

Solomon, Maxwell O.
PO Box 3202
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/18

Steele, A. J. Michael
107 Quarry Road
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/18

Sullivan, Dennis J.
101 Putnam St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/18

Sullivan, Keith Andrew James
101 Putnam St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/18

Szymanski, Catherine J.
P.O. Box 121
Pittsfield, MA 01202
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/24/18

Tripp, Stephen A.
100 Mechanic St., Apt.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/18

Ward, Anthony Lee
Ward, Faith Eileen
a/k/a Montaperto, Faith Eileen
224 Main St., Apt. B
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/18

Webb, Constance A.
4168 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/17/18

Wolf, Lynn M.
28 Chase Ave., 1st Fl.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/18

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners Departments

1BERKSHIRE
www.1berkshire.com
(413) 499-1600

• June 13: Good News Business Salute, 4:30-6:30 p.m., hosted by Hotel on North, 297 North St., Pittsfield. Join us to celebrate the following salutes: Excelsior Integrated, Buxton School, Mildred Elley, and the Brien Center. The presentation will begin at 4:45 p.m., and cocktail hour will start at 5:30 p.m. Enjoy Hotel on North for dinner afterward.

• June 20: Chamber Nite with Booking.com, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Hilton Garden Inn Pittsfield Lenox, 1032 South St., Pittsfield.

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• June 14-17: Taste of Amherst on the Amherst Town Common. Showcase your restaurant or business with more than 20,000 attendees throughout the weekend. Booth space is limited, so reserve your space soon. All vendors must be open for all four days and all hours of operation, rain or shine. For more information, call the chamber office at (413) 253-0700 or e-mail [email protected].

• June 22: New Member Reception to welcome, celebrate, and showcase our new members, 5 p.m. Venue to be announced.

FRANKLIN COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.franklincc.org
(413) 773-5463

• June 14: Business After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Crumpin-Fox Club, 87 Parmenter Road, Bernardston. Networking event with refreshments and cash bar. Register at franklincc.org or [email protected].

• June 22: Annual Meeting, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by Eaglebrook School, Deerfield. This will be the last breakfast until September. Local state legislators have been invited, and chamber officers will be elected. Sponsored by Greenfield Cooperative Bank, Greenfield Recorder, Greenfield Savings Bank, Pocumtuck Valley Memorial Assoc., and Yankee Candle Village. Cost: $13 for members, $16 for non-members. Register by June 16 at franklincc.org or [email protected].

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• May 31: Sunshine Soiree, a multi-chamber networking event, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Sunshine Village, 75 Litwin Lane, Chicopee. The event will feature complimentary hors d’oeuvres, wine, and beer. Register in advance for this free event online at springfieldyps.com.

• June 14: CEO Luncheon, 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by the Collegian Court, 89 Park St., Chicopee. A quarterly luncheon series where CEOs tell of how they rose to their positions. May’s luncheon will feature Dr. Harry Dumay of Elms College. Series sponsored by Polish National Credit Union. Cost: $30 for members, $35 for non-members. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org/events or call (413) 594-2101.

• June 16: Run the Runway 5k, 9:30 a.m. Race starts at Westover Metropolitan Airport, 255 Padgette St., Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee Chamber, GCC, and WMA. Spectators welcome (behind the fence only).

• June 20: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Elms College Campus Center. Air Show theme. Chief Greeter: Connie Brown, Galaxy Council. Keynote: Col. Bull Durham, 439th Airlift Wing. Sponsored by United Personnel, Westfield Bank, Holyoke Medical Center, Polish National Credit Union, Gaudreau Group, Spherion Staffing Services, and PeoplesBank. Cost: $23 for members, $28 for non-members. Sign up online at chicopeechamber.org/events.

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

• June 14: Networking by Night, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Fort Hill Brewery, 30 Fort Hill Road, Easthampton. Sponsored by Oxbow Ski Show Team and Tandem Bagel. Food and door prizes will be available. Pre-registration is suggested. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. For more information, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber office at (413) 527-9414.

• June 27: Speaker Breakfast 2018, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted and sponsored by Williston Northampton School, 19 Payson Ave., Easthampton. Keynote speaker Kate Harrington, Human Resource manager for Smith College, will speak on “Hiring the Right Fit.” She will help attendees understand how to develop a diverse applicant pool, know what questions to ask, and recognize what questions to avoid. She will also point out what to look for in a great employee and how to watch for bias. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members. Pre-registration is suggested. For more information, visit www.easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber office at (413) 527-9414.

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

• June 6: June Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Glendale Ridge Vineyard, 155 Glendale Road, Southampton. Sponsored by Northeast Solar, MassDevelopment, and Kuhn Riddle Architects. A networking event. Cost: $10 for members.

• June 21: Workshop: “Microsoft Word: Advanced Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts,” 9-11 a.m., hosted by Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will go beyond the basics and explore some of Word’s more advanced features. Cost: $35 for members, $45 for non-members. Space is limited, and pre-registration is required at goo.gl/forms/pX8YUuC25YdMsLjD2.

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

• June 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., hosted by Domus Inc., 101 Meadow St., Westfield. Join us for coffee and light refreshments with Mayor Brian Sullivan to get an update of important issues and projects in Westfield. This event is free and open to the public. Sign up online at www.westfieldbiz.org so we may give our host a proper count. For more information about the event, call the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• June 13: June After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Westfield Bank, 462 College Highway, Southwick. Refreshments will be served, and a 50/50 raffle will benefit our chamber scholarship fund. Bring your business cards and make connections. Cost: free for members, $10/ for non-members (cash or credit paid at the door). Sign up online at www.westfieldbiz.org. For sponsorships or more information, call the chamber at (413) 568-1618.

• June 21: Summer Sizzler Kick-Off, 5:30-8 p.m., hosted by the Ranch, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. This event, featuring networking, oversized outdoor games, heavy hors d’oeuvres, and cocktails, is great for making connections and team building while having fun. Sponsors include Mestek Inc. (platinum event sponsor) and Berkshire Bank (gold sponsor). For sponsorships or reservations, call the chamber at (413) 568-1618 or visit www.westfieldbiz.org.

SOUTH HADLEY & GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shgchamber.com
(413) 532-6451

• June 1: Annual Legislative Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., hosted by the Orchards Golf Club, 18 Silverwood Terrace, South Hadley. Meet with our town and state legislators, who will talk about the hot issues upcoming for the rest of the year. More details to come. By reservation only at [email protected].

• June 12: After 5 at Ameriprise, 5-7 p.m., hosted by: Ameriprise building, 551 Newton St., South Hadley. Come meet Steve Duval and the rest of the Ameriprise team, who are new members this year to the chamber family. Mix and mingle with other SHG Chamber members, spread the word about your business, and hear about theirs. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Register at www.shgchamber.com (click on the link in the event description) or e-mail [email protected].

• June 20: BBQ Bash Membership Drive, 5-7:30 p.m., hosted by Brunelle’s Marina, 1 Alvord St., South Hadley. Invite your friends who are not yet members of the chamber so they can get to know us. It will be an evening of food, lawn games, conversation, door prizes, and a 50/50 raffle as an extra incentive. Bring your business cards to enter the door-prize drawing. Sponsors to date include Westfield Bank (presenting sponsor) and Florence Savings Bank, M. Connie Laplante ERA Real Estate, and SHELD (participating sponsors). Register by June 15 at www.shgchamber.com (click on the link in the event description) or e-mail [email protected]. Be sure to let us know how many will be coming with you.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER
www.springfieldregionalchamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• May 31: Sunshine Soirée with the Springfield Regional Chamber, the Greater Chicopee Chamber, and YPS, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Sunshine Village, 75 Litwin Lane, Chicopee. Reservations may be made at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, [email protected], or (413) 755-1310.

• June 6: Business@Breakfast and Annual Meeting, 7:15-9 a.m., hosted by Flynn Campus Union, Springfield College Club, 263 Alden St., Springfield. Honoring our Richard J. Moriarty Citizen of the Year, Ellen Freyman, Esq. Cost: $25 for members ($30 at the door), $35 general admission ($40 at the door). Reservations may be made at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, [email protected], or (413) 755-1310.

• June 19: Lunch ‘n Learn: Business Succession Planning, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., presented by Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, hosted by Colony Club, 1500 Main St., Springfield. The event will discuss the various stages of a business that should trigger succession-planning conversations, as well as discussion of three options for transferring the business: sale to an independent third party, transfer to family members, or sale to employees. Cost: $30 for members ($35 at the door), $35 general admission ($45 at the door). Reservations may be made at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com, [email protected], or (413) 755-1310.

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

• June 6: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., hosted by Partners Restaurant, 485 Springfield St., Feeding Hills. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, which bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information about this event, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880, or register at www.westoftheriverchamber.com.

• June 12: Annual Meeting and Business Grant Drawing, 7 a.m. The event will kick off with the welcoming of new co-chairmen Frank Palange and Ryan McLane and the incoming WRC board of directors. Two $500 business grants will be drawn the morning of the event. Guest speaker Michael Harrison from TALKERS will address guests. Cost: $35 for members, $45 for non-members. Sponsorships and program advertising are available. For more information or for tickets, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
springfieldyps.com

• June 28: Tenth annual Great Golf Escape, hosted by the Ranch, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Visit springfieldyps.com for registration information.

People On the Move

Departments People on the Move

Ellen Freyman

The Springfield Regional Chamber has named Ellen Freyman, an attorney with Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. in Springfield, its 2018 Richard J. Moriarty Citizen of the Year. Freyman concentrates her practice in all aspects of commercial real estate: acquisitions and sales, development, leasing, and financing. She has an extensive land-use practice that includes zoning, subdivision, project permitting, and environmental matters. A graduate of the Western New England University School of Law and Pennsylvania State University, Freyman has been recognized or awarded by the National Conference for Community and Justice for Excellence in Law, the Professional Women’s Chamber as Woman of the Year, the Ad Club of Western Massachusetts as a recipient of its annual Pynchon Award, the Springfield Leadership Institute with its Community Service Award, Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly as a recipient of its Top Women in Law Award, and Reminder Publications with its Hometown Hero Award. She was also chosen as one of BusinessWest’s Difference Makers in 2010. Freyman is active on many nonprofit boards and currently serves as a member on the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce board of directors, which she has also chaired; the boards of the Community Music School of Springfield, the Center for Human Development, New England Public Radio, the Springfield Museum Assoc., the World Affairs Council, the YMCA of Greater Springfield, the Springfield Technical Community College Foundation, and the Springfield Technical Community College Acceptance Corp., and on the Elms College board of trustees. She is also an active member of the Longmeadow Zoning Board of Appeals, the Jewish Family Service board of directors, and the National Conference for Community and Justice board of directors. She is the founder and president of On Board Inc., a past president of the Springfield Rotary Club, and has been honored as a Paul Harris Fellow.

•••••

Tracy Adamski

At the firm’s annual stockholder’s meeting, Tighe & Bond announced the promotion of Principal Planner Tracy Adamski to vice president. Adamski, who joined Tighe & Bond in 2001, is an American Institute of Certified Planners (AICP) professional with 24 years of experience. She provides the firm’s clients with a broad range of planning expertise in regulatory compliance, environmental permitting, land-use planning, grant writing, and public outreach. Adamski has employed her in-depth knowledge of local, state, and federal environmental and land-use laws and regulations to successfully permit a broad range of complex projects throughout the Northeast. This includes renewable-energy power-generation facilities, electric utility infrastructure, resource-area enhancements, municipal infrastructure improvements, and coastal infrastructure. She is currently coordinating permitting efforts on several coastal projects to address climate change in the city of Quincy, developing petitions related to siting energy-facility infrastructure in Eastern Mass., and assisting communities across Massachusetts with stormwater-management compliance programs. Adamski works out of Tighe & Bond’s Westfield office. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Worcester Polytechnic Institute, and is a member of the American Planning Assoc. and the New England Water Environment Assoc.

•••••

Leslie Jordon

Peter Shrair, managing partner of Cooley Shrair, P.C., announced the appointment of attorney Leslie Jordon to the firm. Jordon has practiced family law since 1991. Her practice has focused on marital dissolution actions involving high-net-worth estates, complex support proceedings, and high-conflict custody matters. A graduate of Brown University and the Northwestern University School of Law, Jordon has been active in the bar and has held leadership positions in national and local organizations. She served as chair of the Family Law Section of the American Assoc. of Justice (formerly the Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of America), was on the executive committee of the Family Law Section of the Beverly Hills Bar Assoc. as well as the board of governors of the Women Lawyers Assoc. of Los Angeles, and was appointed to the Sole Practitioner and Small Firm Section Council of the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. Jordon has also lectured and moderated panel discussions on the subject of family law for the Family Law Section of the Assoc. of Trial Lawyers of America, the International Bar Assoc., and the Law Education Institute, co-sponsored by the Family Law Section of the American Bar Assoc., and has been a contributing author to multiple continuing legal-education programs. Since the inception of her career, she has engaged in pro bono work, receiving an award from the Harriet Buhai Center for Family Law for distinguished service to the cause of justice of low-income families in Los Angeles County and representing economically disadvantaged litigants in court. She has also volunteered her time as a judge in the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. Mock Trial Program, a competition for high-school students in the Commonwealth.

•••••

Jocelyn Roby

Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Jocelyn Roby has joined the firm’s Hadley office as an associate attorney. Roby is a member of Bacon Wilson’s real estate department, where her practice is focused largely on residential real estate, including closings and title work. She is a graduate of the Western New England University School of Law, and received her bachelor’s degree from Plymouth State College.

•••••

At its annual stockholder’s meeting in April, Tighe & Bond announced that Robert Belitz will succeed David Pinsky as president and CEO when Pinsky retires from that position at the close of 2018. Belitz, the firm’s current chief financial officer, will assume the role of president and CEO effective Jan. 1, 2019. Belitz will be Tighe & Bond’s ninth leader in its 107-year history. Pinsky has served as president and CEO since 2006 and has been with the firm for 30 years. During Pinsky’s tenure as CEO, Tighe & Bond has substantially increased its revenue and more than doubled its staff size, growing from 160 to 340 employees. Tighe & Bond also has expanded its breadth of engineering and environmental services, as well as opened four new office locations throughout the Northeast. Belitz, who has more than 25 years of experience in the industry, joined Tighe & Bond four years ago as the firm’s chief financial officer. In this role, he has directed the firm’s financial operations and priorities, as well as contributed to growth strategies consistent with the Tighe & Bond’s continued expansion in the marketplace.

•••••

Russell Fontaine

Yvonne Santos

Country Bank announced that Russell Fontaine has joined its team as first vice president of Sales and Market Management, while Yvonne Santos has joined the team as vice president of Market Development. These two newly created positions allow the bank to further focus its efforts on market management and development within its various markets throughout Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties. With 27 years in the financial and retail-services industry, Fontaine is an experienced sales manager and has held various positions over the years in sales, management, and customer contact solutions. His earned his bachelor’s degree in business management and finance from Westfield State University. He also graduated from the ABA Stonier Graduate School of Banking and earned a Wharton Leadership certification. Fontaine served on the board of directors for Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity for the past five years and chaired the Habitat Restore committee. He is also an avid supporter of the United Way and Western Mass. Special Olympics. Santos joins Country Bank from United Bank, where she worked for the past 33 years in various roles, with her most recent position being vice president, area manager in the Ludlow and Indian Orchard markets. Santos is actively involved in the Ludlow Community Center, the United Way, and Relay for Life, and is on committees of the Rotary Club of Ludlow (chair of the scholarship committee), the Gremio Lusitano Club, the East of the River Chamber of Commerce, and the Portuguese American Citizens Club. She has received the Rotary International Paul Harris Award, the Ludlow Education Association Award, the Friend of Education Award, and the United Cooperative Bank President’s Award.

•••••

Beverly Elliott

Comcast announced the appointment of Beverly Elliott as vice president of Engineering for the company’s Western New England Region, which is headquartered in Berlin, Conn. and includes more than 300 communities in Connecticut, Western Mass., Western New Hampshire, Vermont, and New York. In this role, Elliott oversees Comcast’s network operations, including construction, product engineering, and overall system integrity, as well as the reliability and resiliency of Comcast’s converged, fiber-optic network. Recently, she was responsible for the rollout of Comcast’s new 1-Gb internet service. Elliott has more than 20 years of industry experience and has held a number of roles in engineering, project management, and marketing at Comcast since she joined the company in 2005. Prior to her new role, she served as vice president of the region’s Project Management Office, where she created and managed the execution of plans and cross-functional teams to ensure new initiatives and product launches were rolled out smoothly. One of her key initiatives was to implement the company’s multi-year strategy to transform the customer experience. Before Comcast, Elliott worked for Cablevision for six years and also spent five years at BET/Action Pay-Per-View service in Santa Monica, Calif.

•••••

Rebecca Greenberg

The Solidago Foundation recently introduced Rebecca Greenberg as the newest member of its program team. As program officer, Greenberg will draw on her 15 years of frontline advocacy to support the organization’s democracy and independent power-building work. She will work with the veteran Solidago Program team of strategic funders and national organizers to recommend program strategies. Greenberg is a leader in the New York City housing-justice movement, serving most recently as deputy director of the Tenant Rights Coalition, the largest civil legal-services program in the country. In this role, she has worked with diverse stakeholders including tenants, judges, attorneys, clients, and policymakers, and supervised a legal team, working in partnership with local organizations and elected officials, to support communities facing significant housing needs in light of rapid and disruptive neighborhood changes and gentrification.

•••••

Keshawn Dodds

Karissa Coleman

The African Hall subcommittee of the Springfield Science Museum announced the winners of the 27th annual Ubora Award and the ninth annual Ahadi Youth Award. The 2018 Ubora Award recipient is Keshawn Dodds, executive director of the Springfield Boys & Girls Club. The 2018 Ahadi Youth Award recipient is Karissa Coleman of Springfield Central High School. A former a fourth- and fifth-grade elementary-school teacher at the Homer and Washington elementary schools in Springfield and a mayoral aide under former Springfield Mayor Charles Ryan, Dodds worked for a decade at American International College as director of Diversity & Community Engagement. He is currently executive director of the Boys & Girls Club Family Center. He is also a published author, playwright, and actor. His first book, Menzuo: The Calling of the Sun Prince, became an Amazon bestseller. Coleman, who attends Springfield Central High School, is a cadet in the Air Force Junior Reserve Officer’s Training Corps (AFJROTC), where she is a training captain. Her high grade point average qualifies her to serve as director of Academics, and she runs the tutoring program for her fellow cadets. She also helps to mentor younger AFJROTC members in the overall training program. Coleman is a cheerleader, plays softball, is a member of the National Honor Society, and volunteers for Revitalize Springfield, Toys for Tots, and breast-cancer awareness. She also participates with her church community by singing in the choir, helping to usher, working with children, and participating yearly in the Easter play.

•••••

Erin McHugh

Florence Bank promoted Erin McHugh to the position of vice president/operations manager. McHugh joined Florence Bank in November 2010. Formerly, she served as the payments operations manager. An accredited Automated Clearing House professional, she studied at the University of Connecticut, where she earned a bachelor’s degree in mathematics. She volunteers as a basic tax preparer for Community Action Pioneer Valley’s income-tax assistance program. She attends the New England School for Financial Studies. McHugh is a past recipient of the President’s Club Award, given out annually to Florence Bank employees who exemplify the highest standards of performance and customer service within Florence Bank.

•••••

Renaissance Investment Group, LLC, an independent, SEC-registered investment-advisory firm, announced the appointment of Chris Silipigno to the role of chief operating officer. He will be responsible for providing operational leadership within the firm, as well as coordinating strategic business-development efforts across the region. Silipigno comes to Renaissance with nearly 20 years of senior leadership positions in both operational and business-development functions for nonprofit and for-profit enterprises. His experience spans all facets of the mortgage banking industry, nonprofit development, organizational effectiveness and leadership, performance management, and revenue growth areas. Most recently, he brought his business acumen to City Mission of Schenectady, N.Y., an inner-city nonprofit dedicated to helping the homeless, abused, and impoverished to become sustainable. Previous to this role, he held multiple positions at the vice-president level within the banking and finance industry. His accomplishments include building and managing divisions responsible for originating more than $750 million in annual loan volume. Chris earned a bachelor’s degree, magna cum laude, from SUNY at Albany and a master’s degree from George Mason University, and he holds his FINRA Series 65 registration.

•••••

Daishany Torres

Daishany Torres was named 2018 Youth of the Year by the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee, and will compete against other Boys & Girls Club members for the Massachusetts Youth of the Year title and a $5,000 college scholarship from Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA). Torres, 18, was recognized for her leadership, service, academic excellence, and dedication to live a healthy lifestyle. She has been a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee Teen Center since her freshman year at Chicopee Comprehensive High School. She is a junior counselor now, working with other club members each week. She is also part of the club’s SMART Girls program, which allows members to explore their own and societal attitudes and values as they build skills for eating right, staying physically fit, getting good healthcare, and developing positive relationships with peers and adults. She has developed a passion for working with children, and will continue her education after graduation next year and hopes to open her own daycare in the future.

•••••

Stephanie Rodrigues

Anna Dias Vital

LUSO Federal Credit Union announced the promotion of Stephanie Rodrigues to senior branch supervisor and Anna Dias Vital to lead VIP banker. In her new position, Rodrigues will be responsible for overseeing the teller line, member service representatives, and new account openings in the credit union’s Wilbraham branch, as well as meeting branch goals, holding staff meetings, and mentoring personnel. Rodrigues joined LUSO as a member service representative in 2013 and most recently served as head of consumer lending for both the Ludlow and Wilbraham branches. Vital has nearly two decades of experience in finance. She worked in the controller’s office of Western New England University before joining LUSO in 2016. In her new role as lead VIP banker, she will oversee the teller line at the credit union’s Ludlow branch and will be responsible for cross sales, managing member satisfaction, and day-to-day operations.

•••••

OTELCO Inc. hired David Chaplin as an outside plant field technician to work out of its Granby office. In this position, Chaplin is responsible for all aspects of OTELCO network maintenance and customer service in Granby, including both the central office and the outside plant. He also serves as special projects contributor and emergency coverage backup in the Shoreham, Vt. market. Chaplin comes to OTELCO with 31 years of service as a technician at Verizon Communications. Most recently, he worked as an engineering project manager at UC Synergetic. OTELCO provides wireline telecommunications services in Massachusetts and six other states.

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of May 2018.

AGAWAM

1514 Main St., LLC
1514 Main St.
$4,500 — Illuminated ground sign

Agawam Veterans Housing, LLC
702 South Westfield St.
$11,300 — Erect pre-built shed on property

CH Realty VII/CG Mact Bird, LLC
6 Lealand Ave.
$14,000 — Two ground signs and one wall sign

PCT Realty Ventures, LLC; BRN Mustang, LLC
265 Main St.
$190,000 — Roofing

Rayonia Motors, LLC
521 River Road
$2,450 — Ground sign

AMHERST

Central Amherst Realty Trust
33-37 East Pleasant St.
$1,000 — Install smoke detector and CO detector

CHICOPEE

John Boryczka, Linda Boryczka
508 Montgomery St.
$5,200 — Roofing

Dwight Manufacturing
165 Front St.
$33,136 — Verizon Wireless to replace existing antennas with new models and replace remote radio heads

E and R Realty, LLC
285 McKinstry Ave.
$6,975 — Demolish storage building

Thomas Fotiathis
105 East St.
$66,850 — Demolish fire-damaged building

Meadow Street Partners, LLP
317 Meadow St., Unit 1
$1,000 — Install partition wall to separate office area

Westover Airport
255 Padgette St.
$180,000 — Re-roof terminal building

EASTHAMPTON

Keystone Enterprises
122 Pleasant St.
$20,000 — Install garden wall fence

Plauterman Enterprises, LLC
9 Chapman Ave.
$4,424 — Rebuild chimney

Willison Northampton School
19 Payson Ave.
$5,000 — Renovate bathroom

EAST LONGMEADOW

Cartamundi
443 Shaker Road
$97,325 — Erect two steel silos

Rocky’s
24 North Main St.
$32,765 — Antenna

GREENFIELD

Baystate Franklin Medical Center
164 High St.
$26,140 — Remove existing windows on west side of building, infill, and insulate

CJBW Stamp, LLC
15 Greenfield St.
$1,500,000 — Construct pre-engineered factory building

OM Greenfield Realty Trust
45-49 Main St.
$1,500 — Remodel space for a church

Town of Greenfield
209 Wells St.
$17,000 — Pour concrete foundation for modular building

Melissa Winters, Christopher Sexton
126 Deerfield St.
$10,000 — Repair siding

HADLEY

Jones Properties, LP
438 Russell St.
$10,150 — New and altered wall and ground signs at Chili’s

Parmar & Sons
340 Russell St.
$58,872 — Pool at Homewood Suites

LONGMEADOW

Bliss Williams, LLC
679 Bliss Road
$2,500,000 — Alter existing Big Y supermarket; add former hardware store, café, and barber shop into existing space

Longmeadow Country Club
400 Shaker Road
$118,500 — Build open pavilion

NORTHAMPTON

94 Industrial Drive, LLC
94 Industrial Dr.
$15,200 — Install new siding and doors

The Coca-Cola Co.
45 Industrial Dr.
$150,000 — Tea brew skid

Paul Picknelly
118 Conz St.
$144,100 — Remove and replace two bathrooms and break area

Smith College
30 Lyman Road
Demolish building

Thornes Marketplace, LLC
150 Main St.
$25,350 — Renovate and alter ramp on first floor, modify Suite 40 to accommodate new ramp landing

Whiting Energy Fuels
300 King St.
$59,250 — Replace damaged support column and siding where car hit building

SPRINGFIELD

Bay Liberty, LLC
15 Girard Ave.
$12,000 — Install six new remote radio heads and replace three old ones

Big Y Trust
1070 St. James Ave.
$200,000 — Alter tenant space for expansion of Kool Smiles dental office

Blue Tarp Redevelopment, LLC
12 MGM Way
$600,000 — Install fire-alarm system in entertainment area at MGM Springfield

C & W Breckwood Realty Co.
1064 Wilbraham Road
$466,676 — Alter tenant space for Save-A-Lot grocery store

City of Springfield
1015 Wilbraham Road
$974,321 — Alter two art classrooms and storage rooms into new science classrooms at Duggan Middle School

CNR Springfield, LLC
655 Page Blvd.
$42,196 — Install modular office at CRRC assembly plant

Crown Atlantic Co., LLC
22 Birnie Ave.
$25,000 — Replace three existing antennas with three new antennas, replace three remote radio heads, and add three remote radio heads

Charles D’Amour, Donald D’Amour
90 Memorial Dr.
$50,000 — Alter space to isolate existing cell-tower control room from rest of building

Derrick Hatwood, Dana Hatwood
50 Chapel St.
$25,000 — Replace three existing antennas with three new antennas, replace six remote radio heads, and add nine remote radio heads

Jon Realty, LLC
230 Verge St.
$25,000 — Alter existing cell tower

MassMutual
1295 State St.
$100,570 — Alter drop ceiling in existing third-floor office area

MTK, LLC
535 Page Blvd.
$3,000 — Extend roof over existing rear patio at Mike’s East Side Pub

Sovran Acquisition, LP
40 Congress St.
$45,000 — Alter interior space to add steel storage units at Life Storage

Westfield Bank
1342 Liberty St.
$103,000 — Erect bearing walls for four new offices

Westrock CP, LLC
320 Parker St.
$420,000 — Roofing

WARE

Cold Spring Medical, LLC
182 West St.
$3,000 — Repair existing sign structure

Nicorn, LLC
4 Longview Ave.
$6,000 — Roofing

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Eastern States Exposition
1305 Memorial Ave.
$524,900 — Construct new barn

Eastern States Exposition
1115 Memorial Ave.
$28,875 — Roofing

Reda Ishak, M.D.
120 Westfield St.
$1,500 — Build separating wall, renovate existing commercial business space

Placon
1227 Union St.
$56,585 — Add second floor to existing office with set of stairs

Purple Diamond Realty
52 Baldwin St.
$1,800 — Reoccupy existing building and erect partition wall; wire in new lights in work area

WILBRAHAM

New Life International
4 Stony Hill Road
$4,200 — Three signs

First-ever Improv Theater in Western Mass. to Open in Hadley

By BusinessWest Staff May 25, 2018

HADLEY — Happier Valley Comedy announced the opening of the first-ever improv theater in Western Mass., to be located at 1 Mill Valley Road in Hadley. The local improv company will provide regular shows, classes, and professional and personal development services. It will be the only improv theater in the state outside of the Boston region.

Happier Valley Comedy’s recent fundraising effort raised close to $27,000, making it possible to begin immediate construction of a 70-seat theater and classroom space in the new complex along Route 9 in Hadley.

“We were absolutely blown away by the generosity and enthusiasm of our community, friends, and family,” says Pam Victor, founder and president of Happier Valley Comedy. “I am awash in gratitude. And let me add that hiring Scott Braidman two months ago was the smartest business decision I’ll ever make.”

Braidman was recently named general manager and artistic director of Happier Valley Comedy, and he is overseeing the theater build out and all operations of the new space. Braidman and Victor plan to open the theater by June 25 in time to hold their weekly summer classes. When the stage is complete later this fall, Happier Valley live shows will move to the new space. By the end of the year, the calendar will expand to include shows every Saturday night. The Happier FAMILY Comedy Show will remain at the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art.

Tickets Still Available for 40 Under Forty Gala

By BusinessWest Staff May 25, 2018

SPRINGFIELD — Tickets are still available for BusinessWest’s 12th annual 40 Under Forty Gala, a celebration of 40 young business and civic leaders in Western Mass.

The lavish cocktail party, to be held on Thursday, June 21, starting at 5:30 p.m. at the Log Cabin in Holyoke, will feature butlered hors d’oeuvres, food stations, and entertainment — and, of course, the presentation of the class of 2018, profiled in the April 30 issue of BusinessWest and also available at businesswest.com. Also, the fourth Continued Excellence Award honoree will be announced.

Tickets cost $75 per person, and a few tables of 10 are still available. For more information, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100, or e-mail [email protected].

The 40 Under Forty sponsors include PeoplesBank (presenting sponsor), Northwestern Mutual (presenting sponsor), Isenberg School of Management, the MP Group, Mercedes-Benz of Springfield, Health New England, renew.calm, Development Associates, and YPS of Greater Springfield (partner).

Taylor Real Estate Hires New Agent; Two Other Agents Earn Licenses

By BusinessWest Staff May 25, 2018