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Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of February 2016.

CHICOPEE

Brixmor GA Chicopee Marketplace, LLC
591 Memorial Dr.
$280,000 — Interior renovations

Center Group, LLC
13 Center St.
$5,000 — Install new doors and walls

Conway XSX
84 New Lombard Road
$28,000 — Replace existing rooftop HVAC units

MDrive, LLC
1183 Memorial Dr.
$455,000 — Remodel of interior

Public Storage Inc.
31 Jamrog Dr.
$20,000 — Install new antennas

Revampit
43 Bonneville Ave.
$45,000 — Install new roof

US Tsubaki, LLC
106 Lonczak Dr.
$120,000 — Construct new concrete pit

LUDLOW

Ludlow Police Department
612 Chapin St.
$8,000 — Commercial alterations

SBA Towers, LLC
201 West Ave.
$15,000 — Cell tower alterations

Xu Sheng
221-223 East St.
$3,000 — Commercial alterations

NORTHAMPTON

Atwood Drive, LLC
8 Atwood Dr.
$140,000 — Interior build-out of first-floor office space

Coolidge Northampton, LLC
241 King St.
$19,500 — Construct new bathroom

Gerard Paquin
319 Pleasant St.
$88,000 — Renovations at Northampton Bicycle

Marney Electrical Services
175 Main St.
$54,000 — Renovate interior

Northampton Holdings
180 North King St.
$46,000 — Minor structural repairs to adjacent tenant space

Peter Whalen
49 Gothic St.
$47,000 — Install roof-mounted solar array

Smith College
46 College Lane
$87,000 — Renovate administrative area

Smith College
7 Neilson Dr.
$16,500 — Create secure area for book storage

Thornes Marketplace
150 Main St.
$85,000 — Renovate first floor men’s room

PALMER

Baystate Wing Hospital
40 Wright St.
$69,000 — Renovate basement into offices

Cumberland Farms
1472 Main St.
$27,000 — New roof

SPRINGFIELD

556 MJ Real Estate, LLC
556-562 St. James Ave.
$15,000 — Install three cell antennas

Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut St.
$33,000 — Renovate welcome center

Burger King
400 Cooley St.
$9,500 — Repairs due to vehicle damage

Mercy Hospital
300 Stafford St.
$46,000 — Renovations to create medical office

Serv-U Locksmith
977 St. James Ave.
$85,000 — Repairs due to vehicle damage

Silverbrick, LLC
1623 Main St.
$7,500 — Interior renovations

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

66 Ashfield St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Deborah Diamond
Seller: Alexander Z. Nappan
Date: 01/29/16

4 Wares Hill Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Craig Sessions
Seller: Garofalo, John W., (Estate)
Date: 02/01/16

DEERFIELD

42 Captain Lathrop Dr.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Anthony J. Pettinato
Seller: Charles H. Turner
Date: 01/29/16

315 Conway Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Kevin Shepard
Seller: Anthony J. Pettinato
Date: 01/29/16

GREENFIELD

383 Colrain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $133,500
Buyer: John A. Payant
Seller: Raymond Gallo
Date: 01/25/16

212 Davis St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Layne V. Floyd
Seller: Pioneer Coop Of Franklin
Date: 02/01/16

131 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,250
Buyer: Marvin I. Surkin
Seller: Shawn M. Kilcommons
Date: 01/29/16

341 Plain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Adam R. Martin
Seller: Robert W. Martin
Date: 01/29/16

12 Saphire Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Army Salvation
Seller: Michael A. Buoniconti
Date: 02/01/16

42 Scout Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jesse A. Snow
Seller: Susan Murdock-Lutz
Date: 01/29/16

60 Silver St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $143,500
Buyer: Ethan A. Jones
Seller: Janet E. Deneault
Date: 02/01/16

NORTHFIELD

26 Birnam Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $199,000
Buyer: Kathryn D. White
Seller: Carpenter, Ethel L., (Estate)
Date: 02/03/16

ORANGE

150 Drew Blvd.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Erik J. Rousseau
Seller: Alexander C. Graziano
Date: 01/26/16

16 Dusty Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Eric D. Glatczak
Seller: Beth A. Anderson
Date: 01/26/16

71 Memorial Dr.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Suanne M. Elliott
Seller: John W. Ledoux
Date: 01/29/16

ROWE

33 Old Cyrus Stage Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $121,900
Buyer: Raymond Gallo
Seller: Norman I. Marchegiani FT
Date: 01/25/16

SHELBURNE

84 Mechanic St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Margit L. Walker
Seller: Erik H. Doty
Date: 01/29/16

88 Old Greenfield Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Corey D. Paul
Seller: Christopher J. Ethier
Date: 01/26/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

41 Belmont Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Ryan T. Kearney
Seller: Leonard Matz
Date: 02/01/16

51 Belvidere Ave.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Kenneth Modzelesky
Seller: Bank Of America
Date: 01/29/16

21 Blairs Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Suhem Soffan
Seller: Sherry S. Molta
Date: 01/29/16

172 Chapel St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $153,900
Buyer: Caira M. Dominguez
Seller: Sherri A. Quinn
Date: 02/03/16

16 Factory Place
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $159,900
Seller: Raymond F. Yarkey
Date: 02/01/16

28 Hendom Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Gallivan
Seller: Robert G. Gordon
Date: 01/29/16

68 Katherine Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: National Transfer Services
Seller: Brian M. Zaniewski
Date: 01/29/16

170 Meadowbrook Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $168,300
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Warren Williams
Date: 01/26/16

788 North West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Stephen Salem
Seller: Carl Ronca
Date: 01/29/16

43 Ridgeway Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $184,300
Buyer: Lauren A. Mendoza
Seller: Brittany A. McCabe
Date: 01/29/16

680 South West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Kevin T. Pagella
Seller: Thomas P. Pagella
Date: 01/29/16

87 Valentine Terrace
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Clara Scott
Seller: Luanne M. Caron
Date: 01/25/16

102 White Fox Road
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kellee A. Grucci
Seller: Frank J. Montagna
Date: 01/29/16

BRIMFIELD

119 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Tobe L. Gerard
Seller: Sawmill Lane LLC
Date: 01/28/16

CHICOPEE

28 Beaumont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $217,000
Seller: Robert Scribner
Date: 01/28/16

23 Bonner St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Gabrielle Bey
Seller: George Vasquez
Date: 01/29/16

641 Broadway St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Ana L. Artigas
Seller: James A. Robb
Date: 01/29/16

19 Hawthorn St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kendra M. O’Neill
Seller: Wendy W. Fitzgerald
Date: 01/25/16

61 Lemuel Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Harry C. Brandt
Seller: Edward J. Trzepacz
Date: 01/26/16

87 Mount Royal St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Carlos T. Torruella
Seller: Terry L. Vanderwert
Date: 01/29/16

225 Murphy Lane
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,480
Buyer: Michael E. Fregeau
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 01/25/16

46 Nutmeg Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Larry C. Ball
Seller: Carleen M. Nahorniak
Date: 01/29/16

15 Pleasant St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Michael P. Fitzgerald
Seller: Edna D. Sebor
Date: 01/29/16

37 Reed St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Lisa Letendre
Seller: Bruce A. Leaper
Date: 01/29/16

38 Shepherd St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Marc A. Labrie
Seller: Richard P. Mienkowski
Date: 01/29/16

24 South St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Michelle Doiron
Seller: Cynthia A. Bisner
Date: 01/29/16

67 Wilmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $194,900
Buyer: Raymond L. Gagnon
Seller: Larry C. Ball
Date: 01/29/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

71 Bayne St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Frank J. Commisso
Date: 01/26/16

100 Hampden Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Dustin Humphrey
Seller: Douglas F. Blake
Date: 01/27/16

88 Harwich Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $247,500
Buyer: Jeremy B. Warren
Seller: Kent D. Anderson
Date: 02/01/16

315 Millbrook Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Marullo
Seller: A. Peter Swiderski
Date: 01/28/16

12 Pembroke Terrace
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $430,000
Buyer: Jennifer Neal
Seller: Andrew C. Bauer
Date: 01/27/16

217 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: Michael A. Rossi
Seller: Steven K. Meher
Date: 01/26/16

HAMPDEN

Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Michael P. Harrigan
Seller: Janice Z. Gallivan
Date: 01/29/16

Mountain Road #3
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Bedrock Financial LLC
Seller: Joseph A. Dolben
Date: 01/25/16

Mountain Road #4
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Bedrock Financial LLC
Seller: Joseph A. Dolben
Date: 01/25/16

Mountain Road #5
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Bedrock Financial LLC
Seller: Joseph A. Dolben
Date: 01/25/16

240 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Mark Shumway
Seller: Frederick B. Shea
Date: 01/29/16

HOLYOKE

67 Arthur St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $117,313
Buyer: Matthew Peterson
Seller: Maria Padron
Date: 01/29/16

75 Lexington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Aaron G. Earls
Seller: Alice D. Klinge
Date: 01/29/16

378 Linden St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Nathan R. Allen
Seller: Nancy Dusek-Gomez
Date: 01/26/16

103-105 Lyman St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,001
Buyer: International Immobiliare
Seller: 85-105 Lyman Street LLC
Date: 01/29/16

93-95 Lyman St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $220,001
Buyer: International Immobiliare
Seller: 85-105 Lyman Street LLC
Date: 01/29/16

239 Madison Ave., West
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Natalia Seng
Seller: Tait, Bruce M., (Estate)
Date: 01/29/16

40 Moss Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: David Morrissey
Seller: Eleanor M. Morrissey
Date: 02/03/16

21 Norwood Terrace
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Louis J. Wesolowski
Date: 01/26/16

427 South Elm St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $720,000
Buyer: TDS Realty LLC
Seller: Windsor Realty LLC
Date: 02/01/16

LONGMEADOW

97 Ashford Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $795,000
Buyer: Adam Kramer
Seller: Richard B. Wait
Date: 01/28/16

61 Longfellow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Elias Family LP
Seller: Melenkivitz Joseph E., (Estate)
Date: 01/26/16

50 Sunset Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $115,914
Buyer: Bank New York
Seller: Karen M. Largay
Date: 02/01/16

LUDLOW

218 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $176,275
Buyer: Adam R. Hawley
Seller: Nathan E. Zajac
Date: 01/28/16

Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: LFP Holdings LLC
Seller: Elizabeth A. Eisold
Date: 01/28/16

59 Fairway Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $229,000
Buyer: David Cambio
Seller: John Pedro
Date: 01/29/16

392 Fuller St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Buyer: Gary L. Courchesne
Seller: Margaret M. Dovalina
Date: 01/26/16

15 Longview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Carlos Cortinhas
Seller: Alicinio M. Martins
Date: 01/29/16

38 Valley View Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Marc V. Andre
Seller: Stephen J. Provost
Date: 01/28/16

32 White St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Richard D. Ramsey
Seller: Webster First FCU
Date: 01/29/16

MONSON

36 Harrison Ave.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $122,400
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Patti Dineen
Date: 01/27/16

25 Lakeshore Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Walter D. Papsedero
Seller: Ian Lawson
Date: 01/29/16

8 Silva St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $161,050
Buyer: William M. Ladue
Seller: Robert F. Arbour
Date: 02/01/16

PALMER

18 Barker St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Billie J. Foskit-Nulph
Seller: Ronald J. Foskit
Date: 01/29/16

18 Memory Lane
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Kenelma D. Rivera
Seller: Laura A. Wolcott
Date: 01/29/16

232 Thompson St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Susan C. Taylor
Seller: Piechota, Shirley A., (Estate)
Date: 02/01/16

SOUTHWICK

22 Granville Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $156,000
Buyer: Earl J. Murphy
Seller: Mary C. Freeman
Date: 01/25/16

48 Kline Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Dean M. Rankin
Seller: William Z. Derosia
Date: 01/29/16

14 Overlook Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Valiantsin Zhmaidziak
Seller: Pinnacle Estates At Ranch
Date: 01/27/16

87 Powder Mill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Todd M. Crevier
Seller: Xavier Cody
Date: 01/25/16

98 Vining Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Charles P. Lippert
Seller: James C. Stellato
Date: 02/01/16

SPRINGFIELD

206 Acrebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Cynthia L. Bailey
Date: 01/25/16

103 Atwater Road
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Glenn E. Lafountain
Seller: Jean A. Omer
Date: 01/28/16

64 Audubon St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $191,184
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Jullian E. Spaulding
Date: 02/01/16

103 Barre St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Raheem D. Ovalles
Seller: Christopher J. Carabine
Date: 01/29/16

102 Bellamy Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: RHL Properties LLC
Seller: Christine M. Gotta
Date: 01/25/16

76 Brittany Road
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $163,900
Buyer: Alma R. Crane
Seller: Joseph R. Sleeper
Date: 02/01/16

52 Bronson Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Kevin M. Lalime
Seller: Marie T. Jablonski
Date: 01/28/16

120 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $182,725
Buyer: Abby L. Evers
Seller: Kelly Vo
Date: 01/27/16

21 Daytona St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Edson J. Navarro
Seller: Rosa N. Bonilla
Date: 01/29/16

30 Eckington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $139,500
Buyer: Frederick Bruce
Seller: Kamari A. Collins
Date: 01/28/16

117 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Iris A. Garcia
Seller: Jose Soto
Date: 01/29/16

161 Florida St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $157,400
Buyer: James A. Stotz
Seller: Fawzia M. Curley
Date: 01/29/16

264 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Brianna Santiago
Seller: Michael P. Harrigan
Date: 01/29/16

52 Granby St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Tina M. Ortiz
Seller: R2R LLC
Date: 02/01/16

18 Huron St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Theodore E. Denette
Seller: Patricia A. O’Sullivan
Date: 02/03/16

93 Jeanne Marie St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Karen L. Madden
Seller: Stephen Demorris
Date: 01/28/16

37 Judith St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Israel Maldonado
Seller: Brad Sheehan
Date: 01/29/16

10 Labelle Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: 21st Mortgage Corp.
Seller: Cynthia J. Krautler
Date: 01/25/16

9 Luden St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Giuseppe Leone
Seller: Mark Lepak
Date: 01/26/16

2150 Main St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $2,480,000
Buyer: Memorial Square LLC
Seller: Memorial Square Medical Center Trust
Date: 01/29/16

19 Mattoon St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Ansel C. Erickson-Zinter
Seller: Philip S. Pohlmeyer
Date: 01/29/16

149-165 Mill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Mill Street Iconic LLC
Seller: Mill St. Innovative Housing
Date: 01/27/16

14-16 Milton St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Neisha Nixon
Seller: Saw Construction LLC
Date: 01/29/16

107 Northampton Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Alejandro Rivera-Colon
Seller: All Waste Management LLC
Date: 01/26/16

50-54 Orchard St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Aaron J. Parker
Seller: Sergey Shovgan
Date: 01/29/16

52 Orchard St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Aaron J. Parker
Seller: Sergey Shovgan
Date: 01/29/16

54 Orchard St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Aaron J. Parker
Seller: Sergey Shovgan
Date: 01/29/16

421 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Frank Golfieri
Seller: Colin J. Hetzko
Date: 01/29/16

198 Russell St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Joel Quinones
Seller: Equity T Co.
Date: 01/29/16

330 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $138,500
Buyer: TM Properties Inc.
Seller: TM Properties Inc.
Date: 01/25/16

81 Surrey Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,500
Buyer: Justin W. Batchelor
Seller: J. Adams Investments LLC
Date: 01/29/16

265-267 Water St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Bianca A. Bonsu
Seller: Marcia L. Turner
Date: 01/29/16

28 Whitmore Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Kayla Nieves
Seller: Paul J. Zguro
Date: 01/29/16

110 Wilmont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 01/29/16

182 Wrentham Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $129,562
Buyer: James W. Fiore
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 02/02/16

WALES

9 Reed Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Anthony R. Ardizzoni
Seller: Robert C. Ardizzoni
Date: 02/02/16

WESTFIELD

101 Birch Bluffs Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Kristen Jemiolo
Seller: Florence R. Godin
Date: 01/29/16

78 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $359,800
Buyer: Joseph F. Neale
Seller: Granville Road LLC
Date: 01/25/16

41 Heritage Lane
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Jason M. Worrell
Seller: David A. Amanti
Date: 01/25/16

110 Holyoke Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Crystal A. Hollister
Seller: Ann M. Polatol
Date: 01/27/16

78 Mountain View St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Edward J. Trzepacz
Seller: Carol R. Witherell
Date: 01/26/16

114 Old Farm Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Susan Joaquin
Seller: Jennifer P. Smidy
Date: 01/29/16

19 Railroad Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Westfield Riverside LLC
Seller: Able Industries Inc.
Date: 01/29/16

53 Scenic Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $352,900
Buyer: Marsha J. Del Monte
Seller: Grant K. Moore
Date: 01/28/16

14 Sylvan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jennifer P. Smidy
Seller: Debra L. Cigal
Date: 01/29/16

259 Valley View Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kevin Irujo
Seller: William J. Brown
Date: 01/29/16

87 Western Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Rebecca Knotts
Seller: Kenneth M. Brickett
Date: 01/25/16

43 Willow Brook Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Erin C. Cormier
Seller: Duane P. Desilets
Date: 01/25/16

WILBRAHAM

103 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Steven M. Harper
Seller: Mark W. Gardner
Date: 02/01/16

16 Stirling Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Michael Rust
Seller: David R. Bernstein
Date: 01/28/16

4 Sunset Rock Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $239,900
Buyer: Kathleen Demorris
Seller: Thomas E. Lamb
Date: 01/28/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

14 Brightwater St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $147,900
Buyer: Kimberly A. Paske
Seller: Joshua O. Edwards
Date: 01/28/16

195 Butternut Hollow Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Patrick T. McNulty
Seller: Nancy G. Shields
Date: 01/25/16

136-150 Doty Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $543,750
Buyer: Tariff Realty LLC
Seller: JWS Inc.
Date: 01/29/16

158 Doty Circle
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $181,250
Buyer: Tariff Realty LLC
Seller: JWS Inc.
Date: 01/29/16

604 Elm St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Keith J. Lafrance
Seller: Brad A. Whitaker
Date: 01/29/16

112 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Peter Pavalyuk
Seller: Barbara L. Sandman

329 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Bogumil Kazmierczak
Seller: Annette Lancaster
Date: 01/29/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

34 Dennis Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $320,500
Buyer: Scott D. Howard
Seller: Joshua Sugiyama
Date: 02/02/16

56 Sheerman Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Lorenzo Sorbo
Seller: Herschel Shohan
Date: 02/03/16

BELCHERTOWN

42 Clark St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Christopher C. Phelps
Seller: David C. Forton
Date: 02/01/16

171 Old Enfield Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Stephen P. Glaszcz
Seller: Joan F. Geller
Date: 01/29/16

EASTHAMPTON

29 Clark St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $197,950
Buyer: James B. Stillwaggon
Seller: Vanderburgh RET
Date: 02/01/16

3 Lang Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Marie R. Doherty
Seller: Gary F. Golas
Date: 01/29/16

292 Loudville Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: Dar V. Cote-Houghton
Seller: Leah M. Finch
Date: 01/29/16

106 Lovefield St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Brian J. Murphy
Seller: FNMA
Date: 01/29/16

329 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $323,500
Buyer: Amy E. Markham
Seller: Ashtons Acquisitions LLC
Date: 02/01/16

24 Monska Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Ryan A. Hobson
Seller: John Deiling
Date: 01/27/16

52 Williston Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Katie L. Maccallum
Seller: William J. Mohr
Date: 01/29/16

GRANBY

6 Acrebrook Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $202,400
Buyer: Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.
Seller: Daniel J. Carr
Date: 01/28/16

NORTHAMPTON

48 Austin Circle
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $184,500
Buyer: Citimortgage Inc.
Seller: Robert C. Gagne
Date: 02/03/16

88 Front St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Katharine A. Wagner
Seller: Valerie J. Vignaux
Date: 01/29/16

8 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Lyn Cadwell
Seller: Diane Lennox
Date: 01/27/16

66 Loudville Road
Northampton, MA 01027
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Alissa S. Marotto
Seller: Crescione LT
Date: 01/29/16

253 Spring Grove Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $246,670
Buyer: Hanuman E. Goleman
Seller: Gesiorek, Helen P., (Estate)
Date: 01/28/16

383 Spring St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Valerie J. Vignaux
Seller: Dorothy A. Cote-Houghton
Date: 01/29/16

2 Warfield Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Ruth Lounsbury
Seller: Kathleen A. McLaughlin TR
Date: 02/01/16

SOUTH HADLEY

81 Searle Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Jeremiah Beaudry
Seller: Richard E. Wojtczak
Date: 01/29/16

73 Woodbridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Joseph T. Lepper
Seller: David E. Turner
Date: 01/25/16

SOUTHAMPTON

9 Eastwood Dr.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Arkadiusz Jaworski
Seller: William C. Weltlich
Date: 01/27/16

6 Montgomery Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Patrick Schnopp
Seller: Michael R. Wohlers
Date: 01/29/16

Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Dennis J. Aube
Seller: David M. Lepine
Date: 02/01/16

44 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Jonathan P. Labrie
Seller: James R. Labrie
Date: 01/29/16

WARE

6 Hillside Terrace
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: John Chiaravalle
Seller: Valbona Lekani

2 Kingsberry Lane
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Donna Zacharie
Seller: Rachel C. Mace
Date: 01/27/16

WILLIAMSBURG

29 Mountain St.
Williamsburg, MA 01062
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Western New England Lodging
Seller: Karen J. Desalvio
Date: 01/29/16b

Bankruptcies Departments

The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.
 
Baran, Madonna J.
a/k/a Ulmer, Madonna J.
41 Chestnut St., Apt 3
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/06/16

Bigby, Robert A.
190 Frontenac St
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/16

Boucher, Bruce A.
55 Crest Road
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/16

Boutwell, Tammy L.
P.O. Box 558
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/16

Clark, Joan R.
147 Rosemary Drive
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/03/16

Dansereau, Kelley A.
63 Valley Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/16

Despres, Louis J.
2705 Greenwich Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/16

Franchere, Laura E.
24 Lemuel Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/03/16

Gifford, John Paul
PO Box 701
Chester, MA 01011
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/16

Gilman, William B.
Gilman, Deborah A.
a/k/a Clark, Deborah A.
475 Main Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/16

Grant, Robert C.
136 Riviera Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/12/16

Henriquez, Xiomara
525 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/16

Houck, Laura J.
8 Preserve Way
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/11/16

Ivers, Bruce F.
104 Forest Glen
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/16

Jones, Latoya Alexandria
1057 Worcester St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/16

Lamere, Crystal Amy
41 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/16

Laplante, Donna M.
19 Cornell Ave.
First Floor
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/13/16

Lewis, Ulysee G.
40 Montrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/05/16

Marvici, Anthony D.
89 Kensington St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/04/16

Mirror Image
Boutwell, Norman E.
P.O. Box 558
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/10/16

Moore, Francis W.
1110 Berkshire Ave.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/16

Morin, Jennifer Lynn
71 Pleasant St.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 01/31/16

Paoletti’s Fruit Store, Inc.
PO Box 766
Sturbridge, MA 01566
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/16

Perez, Evelyn
55 Central St., Apt. A
Springfield, MA 01105
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/16

Rodriguez, Yelitza Ivette
209 Dunmoreland St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/01/16

Rosa, Maricel
59 New Ludlow Road, Apt. 16
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/02/16

Shiever, Savannah R.
15 Bradley St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 02/03/16

Shumans, Carol A.
101 State St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/04/16

Spillane, Deborah A.
58 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/11/16

Walsh, Lawrence W.
245 Sand Springs Road
Williamstown, MA 01267
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/08/16

Wilson, Anthony
269 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 02/09/16

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of February 2016.

CHICOPEE

Aaliyah’s Grocery
830 Chicopee St.
Emmanuel Cedeno

A.C. Electric.
621 Grattan St.
Andrew Crane

American Dream Homes
565 Springfield St.
Max Belyran

Baystate Academy
25 Cross St.
Elizabeth Frangioso

CJC Mobile Homes
7445 Memorial Dr.
Jennifer Picard

Furniture Outlet
187 Exchange St.
Vajid Mahamood

Practical Painting Service
389 Chicopee St.
Richard Lemon

HOLYOKE

Bamboo House
2223 Northampton St.
Neil Wong

Cilantro Mexican
50 Holyoke St.
Brittany Peixeto

Dillon’s Package Store
589 High St.
Marek Wiczorek

Highland Nonstop Cuts
1375 Dwight St.
Jose Figueroa

Kim’s Holiday Cleaners
20 Forestdale Ave.
Woil Kim

NORTHAMPTON

Cosmic Cab Company
78 Conz St.
Jeremy Miller

On Demand
40 Center St.
Gary Bowen

Sledge
106 Cardinal Way
Alexander Sledzieski

The Body Mechanic
155 Main St.
Jason Morin

The Hempest
2 Conz St.
Steven Cox

PALMER

Dominos Pizza
1219 Thorndike St.
Anthony Patalino

Harvey Enterprises
1118 Park St.
Jeremy Harvey

Road Fox
136 Gates St.
Andrew Fox

The England Ad Weekly
21 Wilbraham St.
Richard Earle

SPRINGFIELD

Boss Goon Juice
83 Hamburg St.
Jayson Payero

Corey Motor, LLC
1469 State St.
Rodney Chavoor

Duke’s Barbershop
902 Carew St.
Juan Santana

East Columbus Auto Sales
351 East Columbus Ave.
Irina Krokmalyuk

Edgar Cintron
106 Bacon Road
Edgar Cintron

Family First Convenience
1019 Main St.
Ezequiel Navedo

Gray Grove State Committee
1350 Main St.
Lillian Gray

HNE
1 Monarch Place
Health New England

Jericho Commercial
11 Pearl St.
Tonya Hall

Miranda Auto Body
289 Mill St.
Ricardo Miranda

Nation Audio
100 Moreland St.
Izah Henry

Santa Enterprise
83 Magazine St.
Edwin Santa

SB Window Covering
27 Lyman St.
Ian Isgut

Valley Odd Jobs
37 Montcalm St.
Brian Dieter

Vida Saludable
904 Carew St.
Blanca Sanchez

Watch Repair
1655 Boston Road
Jesus Navarro

Winn Residential
70 Chestnut St.
Samuel Ross

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Ace Quality Floors
366 Prospect Ave.
Gregg E. Marshall

Brodsky Heating
37 Hewitt St.
Paul E. Brodsky

Delta Bulk Transport
66 Western Ave.
Bruce A. Voight

Executing Tactical
416 Hillcrest Ave.
Steven Duga

Fred Astaire Dance Studio
54 Wayside Ave.
Dancing with Style

Global Supermarket, LLC
907 Main St.
Govinda Adhikari

PC Web Creations, LLC
438 Cold Spring Ave.
Pablo Chaverri

Raymour & Flanigan
1406 Elm St.
Raymours Furniture

Departments Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

Amazon Foods Inc. 168 Center St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Ricardo Contrussi, 49 Azalea Lane, Marlboro, MA 01752. Manufacturing and distribution of sausages, meat products, frozen juices, and frozen foods.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Beauty Times Spa Corp., 16 Maple St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Nhac D. Troung, 40 Waterman Ave., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Hair, nail, skin, and beauty care/salon.

GRANBY

American Legion Auxiliary, Granby Unit 266 Inc., 2 Circle Dr., Granby, MA 01033. Lorraine Uhlig, 101 Abbey St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Non-profit organization established to support the American Legion; support for our veterans, our military, and their families by shaping a positive future in an atmosphere of fellowship, patriotism, peace and security.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Allard.org Inc., 61 Blue Hill Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. David Allard, same. Provide a working structure for the formation and operation of a scientific and educational non-profit organization.

HOLYOKE

Auto Sales Center Inc., 1607 Northampton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Ira J. Elfman, same. Auto sales.

B & T Laundromat Inc., 556 High St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Bo Wu, same. Coin-operated laundromat.

LONGMEADOW

China Access Inc., 86 Green Meadow Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Baiqing Li, same. Cultural exchange program with people and organizations located in China.

NORTHAMPTON

Allen Restaurant Group Inc., 8 Crafts Ave., Northampton, MA 01060. Kimberly Allen, same. Restaurant.

PALMER

Azb Logistics Inc., 11 Flynt St., Palmer, MA 01069. Lance Bokowski, same. Transportaion company.

PITTSFIELD

Andromeda Research Inc., 15 Bartleit Ave., Apt. 4, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Robert Keyes, same. Research and development corporation.

SOUTHAMPTON

Castle Architectural Salvage Inc., 8 Pine Meadow Dr., Southampton, MA 01073. Ronald Pike, same. Architectual salvage and sales.

WILLIAMSTOWN

Balkrishna Inc., 824 Simonds Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. Hastinkumar Mehta, 213 Main St., Williamstown, MA 01267. Convenience store.

Briefcase Departments

Council Approves Revised MGM Springfield Design

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield City Council approved MGM Springfield’s revised site plan Monday, voting 12-1 in favor of the $950 million casino project and changes that include the elimination of a 25-story hotel tower. Council President Michael Fenton was the sole vote against the altered proposal. MGM will replace the initially planned 25-story hotel tower on State Street with a six-story, 250-room hotel on Main Street. In another change, MGM’s host-community agreement with Springfield allows MGM to move about 54 proposed market-rate apartments from the casino grounds to a location near the casino. MGM Springfield has begun demolition and site preparation for the casino development, which is expected to open in September 2018 and bring thousands of construction and casino jobs to the city.

 

UMass Announces Progress on Renovations

BOSTON — The University of Massachusetts now spends three out of four capital dollars on renovation and repair and has significantly reduced its maintenance backlog in recent years, President Marty Meehan said this week. In a letter submitted to state government leaders, Meehan noted that UMass has gone through a building boom over the past 20 years, largely in response to enrollment and faculty-innovation booms, but said the university over the past decade has placed a significant emphasis on maintenance and renovation. “The building that has taken place across the UMass system has been critical to our ability to step forward and emerge as a great public university. While we have constructed new facilities, we have also recognized the need to repair facilities that aged over the years,” he noted. One of the fastest-growing universities in the nation, the five-campus UMass system experienced a 44% surge in enrollment in the past two decades and built academic buildings and student housing to accommodate the increase of 22,000 students. It also constructed laboratories and other facilities needed as it emerged as a global research university. But UMass also recognized that it had to repair as well as build, Meehan said, and has been guided in its efforts by Sightlines, a company that advises more than 400 colleges and universities across the nation and in Canada on facilities-management issues. In his letter to state government leaders, President Meehan said recent reports from Sightlines show that, between 2009 and 2015, UMass Amherst reduced its project backlog from $2 billion to $1.5 billion, achieving a 25% decrease. UMass Amherst saw deferred maintenance decrease significantly during this period, declining from $869 million to $596 million, for an even larger percentage reduction of 31%. This occurred at a time when backlog at public universities in the U.S. grew by nearly 20%, according to Sightlines. Meanwhile, Sightlines calculates that the UMass system is on course to reduce its current $1.45 billion in deferred maintenance by nearly 40% to $900 million by fiscal year 2019, when the university’s current capital plan concludes. It is also projected that the backlog for the UMass system will decline from $3.2 billion to $2.26 billion over the next three years. Backlog refers to those facilities projects that should be handled over the next decade, and deferred maintenance is the term for projects that need to be addressed within three years. “We are not declaring victory or minimizing the work that lies ahead, but I think it’s important to note that UMass has charted this prudent course,” Meehan said. Added Victor Woolridge, chairman of the UMass board of trustees, “the University of Massachusetts has taken the responsible course in addressing the needs of buildings that in some cases are 40-plus years old. We have taken on issues that we needed to confront in order to be able to provide really good students with the high-quality facilities they need to be able to compete in the contemporary environment.” Among other key points in Meehan’s letter, nearly three-quarters of the current UMass capital program is dedicated to projects that will reduce the five-campus system’s project backlog; since 2008, UMass has included a maintenance reserve for every new building constructed by the university; and enrollment at UMass has increased by 44.5% over the past 20 years, soaring from 51,044 to 73,761 students. Of the 22,717 students UMass has added, 14,673 are in-state students, while out-of-state students increased by slightly more than 8,000.

Mass Insight Education Honors 11 Area Teachers

BOSTON — Eleven teachers in Western Mass. have been honored with Mass Insight Education’s Partners in Excellence Award for helping students take advanced-placement (AP) courses with success as they prepare for college. The winners include Melissa Ferris and Patrice Latrell, Taconic High School, Pittsfield; Carla Comeau and Jennifer Gaudette, Pittsfield High School; Jill Keenan, Jennifer Levesque, and Tawnya Tiskus, Westfield High School; Michelle Fontana, Christopher Rea, and Diana Sands, Ludlow High School; and Marissa Lapointe, Springfield Central High School. The award recognizes 54 Massachusetts AP teachers for their outstanding contributions to student achievement and their dedication to college success during the 2014-15 academic year. The teachers were selected out of a pool of more than 600 AP teachers who participated in Mass Insight Education’s AP STEM and English program. “The teachers Mass Insight supports in AP partnerships across the state are the backbone of the schools’ role preparing students for college success,” said William Guenther, president, CEO, and founder of Mass Insight Education. “We’re very pleased to recognize the AP teacher partners who have produced especially outstanding results with their high-school students.” Mass Insight Education’s content directors selected the teachers based on their ability to increase their students’ access to AP classes, their students’ improved performance on the AP exams, and their students’ resulting college readiness. The award recipients will be honored at Mass Insight Education’s Partners in Excellence Award Celebration on Tuesday, April 5 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at Seaport Hotel in Boston. Eric Waldo, executive director of First Lady Michelle Obama’s Reach Higher initiative, will be the keynote speaker. Each award winner will be recognized for his or her achievement and will receive a check for $1,000. Mass Insight Education (MIE) is a national nonprofit dedicated to improving student achievement and increasing college success through district restructuring and rigorous academic programs. This is particularly important within the urban ‘gateway’ communities in which MIE operates, as youth from economically challenged communities are not as typically afforded the personalized, high-caliber instruction that is provided in the AP environment. Mass Insight Education’s AP STEM and English program encourages more students to take AP classes in an effort to increase their confidence while providing them with the academic skills they need to succeed in post-secondary education. The AP STEM and English program is a key part of MIE’s innovative College Success Campaign. Annually, more than 10,000 students at more than 75 Mass Insight Education partner schools take part in the program. These schools typically double or triple their enrollment in AP classes, and double the number of students earning qualifying scores on the AP exam. To help students prepare for the AP exams, Mass Insight Education supports them in several ways, including hosting a series of weekend classes. The goal is to have students take an AP class as an introduction to the level of work they will need to do in college. The hope is that the experience inspires many to enroll in college who previously thought themselves incapable of that work. Getting a qualifying score earns them college credit, thus allowing them to finish college more quickly and at a lower cost. Statistics show that 78% of Mass Insight Education students who took at least one AP math, science, or English course in high school attended a two- or four-year college after graduating high school. Ninety-three percent continued with two years of college, and 82% either graduated or are still in school four years after graduating from high school. Mass Insight Education also provides extra training for AP instructors to strengthen their teaching skills.

Company Notebook Departments

Mercy, SPHS Welcome RiverBend Medical Group

SPRINGFIELD — Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS), members of Trinity Health – New England, have welcomed RiverBend Medical Group into their family of providers and network of services. This partnership positions Mercy, SPHS, and RiverBend to make significant strides in care delivery while continuing to focus on high quality, efficiency, access to services, and cost containment, said Dr. Scott Wolf, president of Mercy Medical Center. “The joining of these two clinically excellent and financially strong providers – one with expertise in the delivery of outpatient care and the other with expertise in inpatient care and related services – creates a strong clinically integrated network that will better meet the health care needs of the local community.” The plan is for RiverBend’s physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and staff members to continue practicing at RiverBend’s current locations in Agawam, Chicopee, Springfield, Westfield, and Wilbraham. “We welcome the opportunity to partner with Mercy Medical Center because of our shared vision regarding patient care. We remain committed to treating each patient with dignity, compassion, and clinical excellence, and doing so in a manner that will have a positive impact on our community,” said Dr. Richard Shuman, president of RiverBend Medical Group. This new arrangement also strengthens the longstanding collaboration between Mercy Medical Center and RiverBend Medical Group on patient care and patient-experience improvement. Patients will benefit from enhanced services through Mercy’s continuum of care options that focus on the ‘triple aim’ of better health, better care, and lower costs for the patient population, Wolf said. In addition to his role as RiverBend president, Shuman has been named senior vice president of the Mercy Physician Network Organization (PNO). In this position, he will be responsible for strategic and operating plans for RiverBend Medical Group and the managed practices within the PNO. He will also focus on promoting the delivery of quality healthcare services, providing leadership for the effective management of medical resources and staff, and ensuing clinical quality management and improvement activities for RiverBend, the PNO, and Mercy Medical Center.

Website Lists the Fort as Bucket-list Restaurant

SPRINGFIELD — When onlyinyourstate.com, a popular website that lists top attractions in every state in the U.S., ranked its “14 Restaurants to Visit in Massachusetts Before You Die,” the Student Prince Café and Fort restaurant came in near the top of the list. The article cited “sublime German food,” the ambience of the dining room, and the restaurant’s noted collection of steins among the aspects that make the Fort a must-visit on any restaurant lover’s list. “It’s great to see a national media outlet highlight what locals have known forever,” said Managing Partner Andy Yee. “This is exactly why we all came together last year to make sure this Springfield institution survived. We hope this article will help a whole new crop of people discover the magic of our restaurant.”

Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art Named National Medal Finalist

AMHERST — The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced that the Eric Carle Museum of Picture Book Art is among 30 finalists for the 2016 National Medal for Museum and Library Service. The National Medal is the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries for service to the community. For 22 years, the award has celebrated institutions that demonstrate extraordinary and innovative approaches to public service to make a difference for individuals, families, and communities. This will mark the second year that the Carle has been recognized with this honor. “The 2016 National Medal finalists make lasting differences in their communities by serving and inspiring the public,” said Kathryn Matthew, director of IMLS. “We proudly recognize these museums and libraries for their invaluable work to provide citizens with educational resources, 21st-century skills, and opportunities for lifelong learning.” Added Christopher Milne, the Carle’s chairman of the board, “it is hard to believe what the Carle has achieved in just 13 years. The museum’s exhibitions are traveling to major museums in the U.S., while our literacy and art programs are reaching as far as Asia and the Middle East. It just proves that people of all ages and cultures are deeply moved by the artwork and stories of childhood.” The National Medal winners will be named later this spring.

Greenfield Cooperative Bank Partners with Raymond James

GREENFIELD — John Houston, managing director of the Raymond James Financial Institutions Division, announced that the advisors at GCB Financial Services, a division of Greenfield Cooperative Bank, will offer investment and wealth-management services to its clients through Raymond James Financial Services Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. GCB Financial Services includes program manager and financial advisor Michael Johnson and financial advisor Edward Zadworny. The team previously partnered with MML Investors Services for third-party support. “We chose Raymond James as our new partner because it provides its clients with superior research, technology, and planning tools,” said Michael Tucker, president and CEO of Greenfield Cooperative Bank and its parent company, Greenfield Bancorp, MHC. “The breadth of the resources and the type of support available to its financial advisors will allow us to provide more in-depth service to our clients and, ultimately, to help them better achieve their financial goals.” Johnson has more than 20 years of experience in the financial-services industry, having begun his career in 1995 with A.G. Edwards and moved to Greenfield in 2003. He is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in economics. Zadworny has been in the financial industry since 1988, when he joined Prudential Insurance and Pruco Securities. In 2012, he moved to Greenfield, where he partnered with Johnson as part of the investment program at Greenfield Cooperative Bank. He earned a bachelor’s degree in business from Westfield State University.

Adam Quenneville Wins Award from Astec Roofing

SOUTH HADLEY — Adam Quenneville announced that his company, Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding, was awarded the 2015 Astec Roofing New Dealer of the Year award, which is presented to a dealer who has completed the most work in the Northeast region, as well as had the highest customer satisfaction. In addition, Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding was also named the number-one Astec dealer in the state of Massachusetts for 2015. “We here at Astec hold our dealers to the highest standards in providing our strict specifications on each and every job,” said Scott Transue, a sales representative at Astec. “Adam Quenneville Roofing & Siding has outperformed even our strict standards of professionalism.” Astec is a fluid-applied roofing solution which takes the same durable, protective, and energy-efficient principles the NASA space program uses. Its mission is to solve industrial problems, improve appearance, and save energy, while adding to the weathertight sustainability of roofs, walls, and industrial surfaces.

Departments People on the Move

Wolf & Co., P.C. announced the promotion of Ryan Gorman, CPA, to Member of the firm. He has 15 years of experience in providing audit, review, and business-advisory services to middle-market businesses within various industries and ownership structures. A significant focus of Gorman’s practice includes private-equity and family owned manufacturers, distributors, retail, and service organizations. In addition to his private-company practice, he also works with publicly traded companies and performs audits of employee benefit plans. Gorman, a graduate of Stonehill College, is a founding member of Wolf’s audit quality task force, a committee established to ensure the company is equipped with the appropriate training, tools, and techniques to deliver effective, quality services.

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Howard Bruck

Howard Bruck

Howard Bruck has been named president and CEO of Farm Credit Financial Partners Inc. (FPI). With 30 years of experience in general business and financial services, Bruck was most recently chief information officer with Sterling National Bank in New York, responsible for information technology and banking operations. “The breadth and depth of Howard’s business and technology experience and expertise will bolster our collective and individual efforts to better serve our customers and continue to evolve our organizations,” said Bob Bahl, chairman of the board. “His vision builds on FPI’s 21-year history of providing technology to the Farm Credit System.” Bruck has an MBA in accounting from Fordham University and a bachelor’s degree in mathematics from Long Island University. He also served as an adjunct professor at Fordham University, teaching technology, information-management systems and security, and project and operations management for the past 10 years. He has also advised major corporations, investment managers, and technology providers in those areas. “FPI has an impressive history of providing important technologies to the Farm Credit System for over 20 years,” Bruck said. “I am honored to have the opportunity to lead the organization as we embark into an exciting era of business-technology transformation. Realizing the opportunity to strengthen our products and services and support the business objectives of our customers will require us to be innovative, proficient, and competitive. A big part of my job will be to insure that we focus on creating and delivering great solutions and be recognized as thought leaders and valued partners.”

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Greenfield Mayor William Martin and Northampton Mayor David Narkewicz announced the hiring of Teri Anderson as the new Executive Director of the Franklin Hampshire Employment & Training Consortium (FHETC) and the Franklin Hampshire Career Center. FHETC is the administrative entity established by the two mayors in 1981 to operate public employment services in the 50-community Franklin, Hampshire, and North Quabbin region. Utilizing federal and state funds associated with the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, the agency delivers services through one-stop career centers in Greenfield and Northampton, and a satellite office in the North Quabbin region. The previous director of the center, Michael Truckey, retired in May 2015 after 38 years with FHETC. An interview team including representatives of the mayors’ offices, the career center, the Franklin Hampshire Regional Employment Board (REB), and the Mass. Division of Career Services conducted a thorough search process, looking for a person with the right combination of leadership, planning, and management skills to take on the job. Anderson is past economic development director for the city of Northampton and brings many years of experience in planning, project development, grants management, and economic development. Patricia Crosby, executive director of the Franklin Hampshire REB, which oversees workforce services in the region, quoted from the letter sent on behalf of the interview team to the mayors, saying, “we firmly believe that Teri has both the big-picture visioning and the day-to-day administrative skills needed for this important position, and that her deep knowledge of the Franklin/Hampshire region, planning expertise, and calm, steady presence will serve us well in this critical transitional period.” Anderson has recently has held positions with Common Capital and the Mass Broadband Institute. In addition, Crosby noted, she is no stranger to the workforce-development activities of the Career Center and the REB, having served in the past on the board as a representative of the former Northampton mayor’s office.

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Eric Martinez

Eric Martinez

HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, announced that Eric Martinez has joined the company as Personal Lines Account Manager. He will be based in the East Longmeadow office and will assist clients with their homeowner’s, auto, and personal-liability umbrella coverages. Martinez joins HUB International with more than 10 years of experience in the personal-lines field. His past job responsibilities have included supervising and scheduling staff, resolving client issues, working to maintain carrier relationships, and assisting in planning and implementing marketing programs. His role at HUB International includes assisting in the day-to-day needs of clients, reviewing and updating policies and certificates, maintaining existing client relationships, generating new business, and keeping abreast of the changing market. Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England, noted that “Eric’s personality and strengths will certainly be beneficial as we continue to expand into one of the largest agencies throughout New England.”

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Peter Pan Bus Lines announced that Danielle Veronesi has been named Marketing Director. She will be responsible for overseeing Peter Pan’s Marketing Department, which includes but is not limited to creating digital advertising in multiple markets through multi-media platforms. Veronesi brings more than 15 years of experience in the marketing and promotions industry. She previously worked at iHeartMedia, where she served as the company’s Marketing and Promotions director.

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Matthew Sosik, president and CEO of bankESB, announced the following:

Kirsten Barkman

Kirsten Barkman

• Kirsten Barkman has joined the bank as Assistant Vice President, Portfolio Manager. Barkman most recently served as a portfolio manager at Chicopee Savings Bank, where she had been working since 2012. She has more than 15 years of experience in the financial industry. She earned a bachelor’s degree in economics from Tufts University. She has also passed Level 1 and Level 2 of the Chartered Financial Analyst examinations, and she is a Risk Management Assoc. member; and

Erin Joyce

Erin Joyce

• Erin Joyce has been named Special Assets Officer. Joyce joined the bank in October 2014 as special assets manager. She has had many years of banking experience within the local banking industry, the last six in the area of residential and consumer collections. She attended UMass and has completed numerous Center for Financial Training courses and received certificates and diplomas in many areas of finance, lending, appraisals, and compliance. Joyce is a volunteer tax preparer for the IRS Volunteers in Tax Assistance Program. She was a parent volunteer and fund-raising coordinator for the Northampton Youth Football League and Northampton High School Booster club. She has also served as treasurer for the John F. Kennedy Middle School PTO.

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Jay Smith, founder and president of Sports Travel and Tours, has been named Vice Chair of the executive board for the board of directors of the National Tour Assoc. for 2016. NTA is the leading business-building association for travel professionals in the packaged travel and tour industry. Smith, whose sports-travel business entered its 20th year this fall, has served for four years on the NTA as a tour-operator board member and as its secretary last year. NTA was founded in 1951 and is now the leading business-building association for professionals serving customers traveling to, from, and within North America. Smith founded Sports Travel and Tours in 1996. Its mission is to offer hassle-free trip options to sports fans so they can attend games and other events across the U.S. and Canada.

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Homewatch CareGivers announced the hiring of Deborah Epstein as business development manager for Hampshire and Franklin counties. She will work in tandem with Kate Tyler, who also works in those two counties. Epstein comes to Homewatch CareGivers with a skill set in public relations, program development, and administration. She has a master’s degree in public health from the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences with a focus in health policy management and community health education. This complements her dual bachelor’s degree in management and psychology from Simmons College in Boston. She also works as a marketing and health-promotion consultant for various organizations, including Orchard Medical Associates of Indian Orchard. She brings a wealth of experience through her work for Massachusetts General Hospital, Cooley Dickinson Hospital, Baystate Medical Center, various senior centers, and as coordinator of the Franklin-Hampshire RSVP Osteoporosis Exercise/Nutrition Program. Epstein will begin her role immediately, seeking out partners in the medical community who can assist Homewatch CareGivers in building alliances to better serve Western Mass. residents in securing appropriate homecare options.

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Berkshire Health Systems announced the appointment of Dr. Nina Molin, a board-certified internal-medicine practitioner, to the physician staff of Berkshire Osteopathic Health of BMC. A veteran of both private and academic practice in the Berkshires since 1995, Molin received her medical degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook School of Medicine, and completed her residency in primary-care internal medicine from the University of Rochester. Molin is presently a fellow in the Integrative Medicine Fellowship of the Academy of Integrative Health and Medicine, where she is the recipient of the Council for Responsible Nutrition scholarship. She has served as associate professor of Medicine at UMass Medical School. Molin served at Canyon Ranch in Lenox for 13 years as an integrative medicine specialist, lecturing and consulting in many areas, including integrative medicine, preventive medicine, women’s health, digestive wellness, inflammatory conditions, and Ayurveda. She has offered integrative-medicine consultations in her private practice, Ananda Health, and has offered primary care throughout the Berkshires since 1995, including as a volunteer physician at Berkshire Volunteers in Medicine.

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• March 31: Margarita Madness 2016, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at the Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. Cost: $20 in advance, $25 at the door. Tickets can be purchased at TD Bank on Triangle Street or Greenfield Savings Bank on University Drive, as well as the chamber office. You must be over the age of 21 to participate. If you are interested in participating or sponsoring, contact the chamber office at (413) 253-0700.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• March 9: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• March 10: VIP Networking, 6-9 p.m., at Yankee Candle, 25 Deerfield Road, South Deerfield, co-sponsored by the Greater Easthampton and Amherst Area chambers. Enjoy an evening at Yankee Candle and take advantage of 25% off of your total purchases (excluding Alex & Ani, Pandora, and currently discounted merchandise). The evening includes cooking demos, scavenger-hunt appetizers, music, and cheer. Beverage sponsor: Hangar Pub & Grill. Menu sponsor: Chandler’s. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

• March 18: St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon 2016, noon-2 p.m., at Southampton Country Club. Join us for a feast of corned beef and cabbage as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Day. Mayor Karen Cadieux joins us as our keynote speaker. We honor the Greater Easthampton Parade Committee Grand Marshal Coreen Foote. Congratulations also to: Sylvia Gallagher, Gallagher Walker Award; Erin Kelly and Anna Morrissey, Scholarship Award; and Kim Bush, Shamrock Award.  Mihn Sullivan will be the guest of honor as the 2016 Distinguished Young Woman of Greater Easthampton. Event Sponsors: Finck & Perras Insurance Agency Inc., Taylor Real Estate, Easthampton Savings Bank, and Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Cost: $25 for members, $30 for non-members.

 GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376

• March 16: St. Pat’s Business Breakfast 2016, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Log Cabin, 500 Easthampton Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by PeoplesBank, Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, and Hadley Printing. Tables reserved for groups of eight or 10 people. Join us as we celebrate St. Patrick’s Parade Committee award winners, the colleen and her court, and the following new chamber members: Creaciones Jahhai Boutique, Mr. Gio, Cultivate & Nest Inc., Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Underwood Photography, Hot Oven Cookies, NeWave Hydrographics, and Studio 20 Salon. Cost: $30 for members, $40 for non-members. Deadline to register: March 14 at noon. No walk-ins, please.

• March 23: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m. Hosted and sponsored by Marcotte Ford, 1025 Main St., Holyoke. Food, 50/50 raffle, and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 if you would like to bring a door prize or if you’re interested in a marketing table for $25.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• March 10: Workshop, “Introduction to Google Docs and Google Drive,” 9-11 a.m., at the Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. The class is an introduction to Google Docs and Google Drive, the online storage location for Google Docs. Since this software is available at no cost, many organizations are using it extensively for collaboration purposes and to supplement Microsoft Office. In this two-hour workshop, you’ll learn how to set up a local Google Drive folder, create new documents in the Google Docs format, work with Word documents in Google Docs, and convert Word documents to the Google Docs format. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, e-mail [email protected]. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for non-members.

• March 17: 36th annual St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Hotel Northampton Grand Ballroom. A parade to Fitzwilly’s follows the breakfast. Cost: $25 per person; tables of 10 are also available for $250.

• March 24: Workshop, “Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts in Microsoft Excel,” 9-11 a.m., at Greenfield Savings Bank, 325A King St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. This workshop will present our favorite tips, tricks, and shortcuts that we have collected and developed over 15 years of teaching and using Microsoft Excel. Topics will include shortcuts for selecting ranges, using Autofill to create a series of dates or numbers, setting the print area, using page-break preview, adding headers and footers, using page-layout view, grouping spreadsheets in the same workbook in order to type or format more than one sheet at the same time, and creating 3-D formulas that calculate across several spreadsheets in the same workbook. Participants are encouraged to bring laptops and follow along with the instructor, but this is not required. Pre-registration is required; space is limited. To register, e-mail [email protected]. Admission: $35 for members, $45 for non-members.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618

• March 7: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at Westfield News Group, 62 School St., Westfield. To register, call Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 9: Chamber After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m. at Alternative Health, 208 College Highway, Southwick. To register, call Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 14: Workshop, “A Purpose-driven Website,” 8:30 a.m., at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Presented by Bob Burch of Bright Cloud Studios. Registration is at 8:30 a.m., with networking from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Cost: free to chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 18: St. Patrick’s Day Breakfast, 7-9 a.m., at Westfield State University, 333 Western Ave., Westfield. To register, call Pam at the Chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• March 22: Small Business Legal Clinic, noon to 4 p.m., at the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, 16 North Elm St., Westfield. Sponsored by the Western Mass. regional office of the MSBDC. The event is free, but limited to chamber members only. Seating is limited. To register, call Lynn Shedd at (413) 737-6712, ext 100.

• March 25: Legislative Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 a.m., at Tekoa Country Club. Attendees will include state Sens. Don Humason and Ben Downing, and state Reps. Nicholas Boldyga, Peter Kocot, William Pignatelli, and John Velis. Cost: $30 for chamber members, $40 for the public (paid in advance). For more information and to register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER

www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310

• March 16: Professional Women’s Chamber Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Storrowton Tavern, Carriage House, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Featuring literary agent and national culinary talent agent Lisa Ekus. Cost: $30 for chamber members, $40 for general admission.

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555

• March 16: March Madness After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, 1000 Hall of Fame Ave., Springfield. Cost: $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• March 22: Pastries, Politics, and Policy 2016, 8-9 a.m., at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield. Featuring Attorney General Maura Healey. Cost: $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com
(413) 426-3880

• March 17: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m., at Lattitude in West Springfield. Enjoy a sit-down lunch while social networking with fellow chamber members. Each attendee will get a chance to offer a brief sales pitch. Attendees will order off the menu and pay separately the day of the event. Please note, we cannot invoice you for these events. The only cost to attend is the cost of your lunch. You must be a member or guest of a member to attend. 
For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or [email protected].

Agenda Departments

Management Conference

March 10: The Employers Assoc. of the NorthEast (EANE) announced its 12th annual Management Conference will be held at the Springfield Marriott, with a focus on driving business performance. The full-day conference will address how managers and supervisors can create a culture of alignment, agility, and engagement to improve organizational performance. The program will feature Bruce Tulgan, an expert on leadership and management. He is the bestselling author of It’s Okay to Be the Boss, Managing Generation X, and his newest book, Bridging the Soft Skills Gap. The conference also includes breakout sessions, a presentation on “Building a Leadership Culture of Innovation and Energy” with Rich Trombetta of Innovation Is Easy, and an improv workshop by ConnectAnd about connecting your leadership to your team. The cost for the program is $325 per person, with discounts for three or more. Register and learn more at eane.org/12th-annual-management-conference or call (877) 662-6444. The program will offer 6.75 credits from the HR Certification Institute. Sponsoring the program are Johnson and Hill Staffing and the Human Resource Certification Institute.

 

Springfield Falcons Dr. Seuss Night

March 12: The Springfield Falcons, in partnership with the Springfield Museums and Dr. Seuss Enterprises, announced Dr. Seuss Night, to be held during a game against the Portland Pirates starting at 7 p.m. Dr. Seuss Night and the game will be sponsored by Berkshire Bank. For the first time ever, Dr. Seuss Enterprises has partnered with the Falcons and the Springfield Museums in presenting this special night to honor Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss, who was born and raised in Springfield. The Springfield Museums are preparing to open the Amazing World of Dr. Seuss Museum in 2016, an exhibit featuring interactive activities for children and a one-of-a-kind experience that will provide a look at the man behind the drawing board. “We are excited to partner with the Springfield Museums and Dr. Seuss Enterprises in presenting this special night to honor one of Springfield’s most famous native sons,” Falcons President Sarah Pompea said. “We have been anticipating this night since the summer months and are excited to aid the launching of the new museum in support of a unique family entertainment night around a favorite children’s author.” The night will include appearances by the Cat in the Hat and Thing 1 and Thing 2 costumed characters. In addition, specialty jerseys will be worn by Falcons players and auctioned off, with proceeds donated to the Springfield Museums to help support the creation of the new museum. “We are thrilled that the Falcons are stepping up in support of our fund-raising campaign,” said Kay Simpson, president of the Springfield Museums. “It’s wonderful to have the support of one our best downtown neighbors.”

 

Difference Makers

March 31: The eighth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Tickets cost $60, and tables of 10 are available. To reserve a spot, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 10, or go HERE. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. This year’s class was profiled in the Jan. 25 issue, and their stories can also be read online at businesswest.com. They include Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr.; Mike Balise, Balise Motor Sales, philanthropist (1965-2015); Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties; Bay Path University President Carol Leary; and John Robison, president, J.E. Robison Service. Difference Makers is sponsored by EMA Dental, First American Insurance Agency, Health New England, Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C., Northwestern Mutual, PeoplesBank, Royal LLP, and Sunshine Village.

 

‘Training for the Digital Marketplace’

April 1, 8, 15: Stevens 470 will host a three-week program called “Training for the Digital Marketplace: Develop Your Online and Offline Marketing Strategies” to show attendees how to maximize their marketing channels. This seminar is for business owners, marketing managers, entrepreneurs, and key marketing staff. As marketing channels continue to evolve, are you using them to maximize your business opportunities? This program covers the latest online and offline marketing channels including brand presentation, websites, SEO, advertising, social media, e-mail, and mobile technologies. During this hands-on program, participants will review their current messaging and marketing channels; learn the latest ways to use both traditional and new media channels; explore social media, online advertising, and search-engine optimization; outline plans for offline and online marketing campaigns; coordinate marketing channels to maximize their effectiveness; and determine methods for evaluating results. Each participant will complete the program by creating a specific plan for their online and offline channels that they can share and put into action with members of their business team. The program meets weekly on three consecutive Friday mornings at Stevens 470 in Westfield. Limited space is available. For details, visit stevens470.com or call (413) 568-2660.

 

‘A Night of Passion’ for Link to Libraries

April 5: They’re calling the event “A Night of Passion.” That’s a phrase that applies to both support for efforts to promote childhood literacy and a fondness for a particular food or beverage. These various passions will come together April 5 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke at Link to Libraries’ biennial fund-raising event. Proceeds from all ticket sales will go to Link to Libraries. More than 500 people are expected to attend the event, which will be a celebration of all that Link to Libraries has accomplished since it was created in 2008 — including the donation of nearly 500,000 books to area schools and organizations — and how it intends to continually expand its mission in the years to come. As for those passions for specific foods and drinks, they will be a focus of the night, provided by a host of area celebrities and business leaders, including Mike Mathis, MGM Springfield president and chief operating officer; Kevin Rhodes, Springfield Symphony Orchestra conductor; Spiros Hatiras, Holyoke Medical Center president and CEO; Delcie Bean IV, CEO of Paragus Strategic IT; Mick Corduff, executive chef and co-owner of the Log Cabin; Amy Royal, founding partner of Royal, P.C., and many more. As for their passions, well, those are carefully guarded secrets at this point. Those who would like to experience these passions and support Link to Libraries — which supplies books to schools and other organizations across Western Mass. and Northern Conn., and promotes read-alouds that put area business and civic leaders in area classrooms — can buy tickets for $40 each by sending checks to: Link to Libraries, Attn. Karen Blinderman, P.O. Box 958, West Springfield, MA 01090. All beverages are included in the ticket price. Food and beverages are donated by the Log Cabin. Sponsors for “A Night of Passion” include lead sponsors Health New England and Rediker Software, and event sponsors Bacon Wilson, Bank of America – U.S. Trust, the Frank Stanley Beveridge Foundation, the Irene E. & George A. Davis Foundation, James Vinick and Moors & Cabot Investments, Monson Savings Bank, PeoplesBank, Peoples United Bank, the Springfield Falcons, and United Bank.

 

Not Just Business as Usual

April 14: The Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) Foundation’s Not Just Business as Usual (NJBAU) event, a networking event for business leaders in Western Mass., will be held at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. The event, now in its seventh year, is a celebration of innovative thinking giving participants the opportunity to learn from business experts while raising significant funding for the STCC WORKS scholarship program. A cocktail and networking reception will be held from 5:30 to 7 p.m., with dinner and keynote speakers to follow from 7 to 8:30 p.m. This year, NJBAU will host a discussion of diversity in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields with panelists Emily Reichert, CEO of Greentown Labs; Laurie Leshin, president of Worcester Polytechnic Institute; and Frank Robinson, vice president of Public Health and Community Relations for Baystate Health. Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are now available. Tickets are $175 each, and sponsorships begin at $2,500 for a table for 10. For additional information or to become a sponsor, contact Christina Tuohey, STCC’s director of Annual Giving and Alumni Relations, at (413) 755-4475 or [email protected]. To purchase tickets online, visit www.stcc.edu/njbau.

 

Walk of Champions

May 1: The community is invited to come together at the Quabbin Reservoir to mark the 11th annual Walk of Champions to benefit the Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware. The Walk of Champions, founded in 2006 by John O’Neill, field-hockey coach at Quaboag Regional Middle High School, began as a tribute to the compassionate care and comfort his mother received during her struggle with cancer. Since then, the Walk of Champions has grown into a collection of teams and individuals each walking for their own reason. There are friends and family members celebrating victory over cancer. Others are encouraging their loved ones in their personal fight over cancer, while others walk in memory of those who have lost their battle with cancer. The walk is a one-mile loop that allows walkers to choose the number of miles they complete among the comfortable walking terrain of the Goodnough Dike. Along the way, walkers will enjoy entertainment and refreshments, along with the peace and beauty of the Quabbin Reservoir. Since its inception, the Walk of Champions has raised more than $662,000. All funds raised remain local to support those cared for in the Baystate Health Eastern Region at Baystate Medical Center’s Mary Lane Satellite Unit and for things such as family-support counseling, educational outreach, pastoral care, medications, state-of-the-art equipment, and the Healing Garden located in the courtyard of the hospital. Overlooking the Healing Garden is the oncology suite, which provides access to comprehensive cancer care, clinical trials, and a multi-disciplinary team approach to cancer care. Pledge forms, fund-raising resources, giving opportunities, and more are available at www.baystatehealth.org/woc for businesses, community organizations, and individuals who wish to participate.

 

40 Under Forty

June 16: The 10th annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. An independent panel of judges has chosen the winners, and their stories will be told in the April 18 issue. The event is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual and Paragus Strategic IT (presenting sponsors), EMA Dental, Health New England, Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Moriarty & Primack, and United Bank. More details on the gala will be revealed in upcoming issues.

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

FedEx Techconnect Inc. v. Spectrum Crafts Inc., f/d/b/a the Janlynn Corp.
Allegation: Outstanding fees for shipping services: $11,520.28
Filed: 1/5/16

 

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Barbara A. Greco and Patrick A. Barnett v. East Coast Home Inspections, LLC and Mark Steven Roy
Allegation: Negligent performance of home inspection and failure to observe, discover, and report problems in the home: $180,000
Filed: 1/21/16

Frederick Revaz v. Smith & Nephew Inc.
Allegation: Defective manufacture and design of product: $165,882.16
Filed: 1/21/16

JL Construction Corp. v. Applied Underwriters Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $55,400+
Filed: 1/20/16

Tammy Brown v. the Horace Mann Cos. and the Gomes Co.
Allegation: Breach of insurance policy contract for death benefits: $640,000
Filed: 1/14/16

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT

Commonwealth of MA v. TC, LLC d/b/a Route 9 Diner, Chris Karabestos, Argiris Sideris, Steven Kwak, and Dimitrios Demos
Allegation: Employment discrimination and sexual harassment: $20,000+
Filed: 2/1/16

Connie Going v. Olde Tyme Stuff and Ronald G. Auteuil
Allegation: Non-payment of services and materials: $30,000
Filed: 12/28/15

Global Tech Talent Inc. v. Ready Electronic Data Exchange and Associates Inc., Charles J. Forest, and Andres J. Juarez
Allegation: Suit to recover amounts owed under a credit agreement: $104,855.25
Filed: 1/8/16

NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT

Cole Cabinets Co. Inc. v. James J. Welch and Co. Inc. and Berkeley Regional Insurance Company
Allegation: Non-payment of services, labor, and materials: $12,400
Filed: 1/6/16

Marcia Nickerson v. J.C. Penney Corp.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing injury: $6,371.54
Filed: 12/8/15

Patrick Presto v. Overlook Industries Inc.
Allegation: Violation of wage-and-hour law: $22,423.13
Filed: 1/20/16

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Matthew Matroni v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Co.
Allegation: Failure to pay plaintiff’s medical payments coverage: $8,224.12
Filed: 12/17/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Broadcast Music Inc. v. Pearl Street Nightclub
Allegation: Balance owed on music license agreement and arbitration award: $11,250
Filed: 1/8/16

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Last week, the Waterfront Tavern held a grand re-opening event at its newly renovated facility on Main Street, featuring Damn Yankee BBQ.

Events slated for the restaurant and nightclub include concerts, dancing, and comedy. Private events can be booked in one of the three banquet rooms, with capacities ranging from 50 to 300 people.

“Holyoke is a great spot to set up shop. We’re thrilled to be part of such a committed group of impassioned business owners,” owner Don Robert said. “The ease of obtaining the required permits went way above my expectations. This is definitely a business-friendly city.”

Robert, one of the partners at the Waterfront Tavern, has been in the restaurant business since he was 14, starting at Lacroix’s, his family-owned business in Willimansett. He is the owner of Maximum Capacity in Chicopee, which he acquired in 2004.

Waterfront Tavern’s restaurant partner is Rich Davieau, owner of Damn Yankee BBQ, a full-service barbeque catering company that has been in business, developing its own barbeque rubs and sauces, since 2010.

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SPRINGFIELD — Trinity Health, the parent organization of Mercy Medical Center, has selected Mercy’s new community health project as a recipient of a grant under its Transforming Communities Initiative (TCI), a program that will result in the investment of $80 million in grants, loans, community-match dollars, and services in six communities over the next five years.

As one of the six initial grant recipients, Mercy Medical Center will receive up to $500,000 per year to support a collaborative program that will improve health and well-being in the local community.

The Springfield-based TCI partnership involves Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield (LWS), a multi-sector, community-based coalition that includes more than 26 organizations working in the city. The program aims to provide services and improve policies that target low-income adults and children disproportionately impacted by health conditions related to poor diet, inactivity, tobacco use, and other social determinants. Specific strategies include enhancing early-education and care sites through nutrition and physical activity, school-nutrition improvements, Complete Streets infrastructure, and tobacco-use prevention.

Partners currently include Mercy Medical Center and LWS members Martin Luther King Jr. Center, HAPHousing, Square One, Springfield Food Policy Council, Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, and Partners for a Healthier Community, serving as co-conveners and evaluators. Expected community benefits for the Springfield community include reduced rates of smoking, reduced youth obesity rates, improved access to nutrition and physical activity opportunities, fewer health disparities, and enhanced community wellness and resiliency.

“The partnership between Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield is truly a collaborative effort that brings numerous agencies together to improve the health of our community and each person we serve,” said Doreen Fadus, executive director of Community Benefit and Health, Mercy Medical Center. “It also reaffirms our commitment to population health management that calls us to identify specific individuals with particular needs within a given population, and then create care systems that work to improve the care and the health for individuals, particularly those at high risk or with chronic disease.”

Mercy Medical Center earned the grant after responding to an RFP that defined appropriate multi-sector partners for these funded community collaborations. Potential partners included community groups, businesses, social-service agencies, schools, and others. The collaboration is expected to leverage system, hospital, and community expertise, funding, and other resources to improve community health.

“We are delighted to be providing Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield with this support,” said Dr. Bechara Choucair, senior vice president for Safety and Community Health, Trinity Health. “Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield have a strategic collaboration and shared commitment to improving people’s lives. It’s a great investment.”

In addition to the partnership between Mercy Medical Center and Live Well Springfield, Trinity Health has selected community partnerships in New Jersey, Illinois, Maryland, Idaho, and New York for participation in TCI. All of these programs will focus specifically on policy, system, and environmental changes that can directly impact identified areas of high local need and which can reduce tobacco use and obesity, leading drivers of preventable chronic diseases and high healthcare costs in the U.S.

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NORTHAMPTON — Attorney Jennifer Butler has joined Royal, P.C., the management-side only labor and employment law firm, and will focus her practice in labor law and complex employment litigation.

With her experience, Butler counsels companies on the multitude of state and federal employment laws impacting them, including employment discrimination and harassment, wage-and-hour law, disability and leave law, workplace safety, OSHA, affirmative action, and contract negotiations. Her other preventive work includes drafting employee manuals; preparing non-disclosure, non-solicitation, and non-compete agreements; and conducting management training.

Butler is a graduate of Norwich University and Western New England University School of Law.

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SPRINGFIELD — Massachusetts Treasurer Deborah Goldberg announced that the United Way of Pioneer Valley (UWPV) was one of five recipients of a grant that supports financial education to veterans and military families.

Known as the Operation Money Wise: Financial Education Opportunity Grant and funded through the Office of Economic Empowerment, these grants aim to increase the scope of financial education for military families by providing them with the tools they need to achieve financial stability. Many of these workshops will include strategy sessions on managing money, planning for college, preparing for retirement, and monetary decision making.

“These financial-literacy grants will further empower our military community to make informed financial decisions,” Goldberg said. “I am honored to support organizations that work to bring economic stability to the men, women, and families who help keep our country safe.”

With three Thrive financial-literacy centers up and running in Holyoke and Springfield, and the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program flourishing throughout the region, UWPV is already a leader in improving fiscal education and responsibility among those it serve. The Thrive centers have served hundreds of student and seniors, helping them improve their credit ratings and open their first bank accounts. Last year, VITA helped 4,594 working families keep $2,462,549 through the Earned Income Tax Credit.

“This $5,000 grant will help us broaden our reach and make our financial-literacy offerings more robust and sustainable,” said Sylvia deHaas-Phillips, senior vice president of Community Impact at UWPV. “We are honored and grateful to be selected for this grant.”

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SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson announced that Attorney Kenneth Albano will assume the role of managing shareholder, effective Jan. 1, 2017.

For the remainder of 2016, he will share the role with Bacon Wilson’s current managing shareholder, Stephen Krevalin, who has led the firm for the past 15 years, during which time Bacon Wilson has become one of the largest regional, full-service law firms in Hampden and Hampshire counties.

“I am thrilled at the choice of attorney Albano as my successor,” Krevalin said. “Ken was the unanimous choice among the shareholders, and I have every confidence that he will do a phenomenal job as the firm’s next managing shareholder.”

Albano is a senior partner and a member of the firm’s corporate, commercial, and municipal practice groups. In addition to his legal practice, he is active in the community, chairing the board of the March of Dimes Western Mass Division and serving on the board of the New England Chapter of the March of Dimes. He is a board member with Behavioral Health Network, where he has served for over 20 years. He also works with the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish, and the ALS Assoc. Last June, Albano was honored with the Massachusetts Bar Assoc. Community Service Award in recognition of his volunteer work.

Bacon Wilson, P.C. boasts total of 43 lawyers and approximately 60 paralegals, administrative assistants, and support staff. The firm’s offices are located in Springfield, Northampton, Amherst, Holyoke, and Westfield. For more information, visit www.baconwilson.com.

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NORTHAMPTON — On Saturday, April 9 at 3 p.m., Patrick Donnelly, 2015-17 poet laureate of Northampton, will host “Poets for Life: Poets Respond to AIDS,” a benefit reading in support of A Positive Place (formerly AIDS Care/Hampshire County), a nonprofit organization providing a wide array of services for people with HIV in Hampshire and surrounding counties.

The event will be held at the Paradise Room, Conference Center, Smith College, 51 College Lane, Northampton. The Northampton Council for the Arts and the Poetry Center at Smith College are co-sponsors of the benefit. Tickets for the event are $20 and may be purchased online at poetsforlife.brownpapertickets.com, or by phone at (800) 838-3006, ext. 1, or at the door at the event. All proceeds from ticket sales will benefit A Positive Place.

Those unable to attend the event can designate a tax-deductible donation through poetsforlife.brownpapertickets.com to make it possible for one of A Positive Place’s clients to attend.

“In the 35 years since AIDS began, there has been not only a medical and social-service response to preventing and treating the disease, but there has also been a response from artists of all kinds, mourning the losses and celebrating the victories,” Donnelly said. “Specifically, American poets have created an entire literature of AIDS, leaving for the future an important record of this time.”

Poets for Life will feature readings by award-winning poets Eduardo C. Corral, Patrick Donnelly, Michael Klein, and Joan Larkin, who will read not only from their own poetry about the epidemic, but from the work of other notable poets, living and dead. Singer-songwriter Laura Wetzler will also perform.

Since 1991, A Positive Place has been providing comprehensive, confidential case management and health-related support services, filling life-saving needs for people living with HIV/AIDS in the county. Anyone living with HIV or AIDS is eligible for services regardless of level of need, health status, or ability to pay. Services are free to people living with HIV.

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PITTSFIELD — The Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation, one of the most popular core exhibitions at the Berkshire Museum, will undergo a significant upgrade and reopen to the public on Saturday, April 16. The improvements and upgrades to the Hall of Innovation are supported by a grant from the Feigenbaum Foundation that has pledged $500,000 to the Berkshire Museum, to be used for a series of annual improvements over the next few years.

The Feigenbaum Foundation has made a commitment to “ensure the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation at the museum is on the leading edge of exploring innovation in the Berkshires and beyond. This will require ongoing intellectual, financial, and physical resources to implement and maintain a high-level core experience for visitors in the Hall,” said Emil George, president of the Feigenbaum Foundation.

While the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation will continue to feature the accomplishments of Berkshire innovators and the many ways they were able to change the world around them, visitors will experience several exciting new additions. The highly anticipated Mindball brain game will engage visitors of all ages. The only one of its kind in the state of Massachusetts available to the public, Mindball uses EEG biofeedback sensors to track the players’ alpha and theta brain waves sending the ball across the table and into their opponent’s goal.

In addition, the Museum’s brand-new interactive app, i-Innovate, provides a digital visitor experience, from opportunities to create and innovate right in the galleries to accessing expanded content and information. The video displays at each entrance to the Hall have been updated with new innovators, new ideas, and a fresh look. The Hall of Innovation will boast all-new interactive activities, original artwork, and new displays and objects from the museum’s permanent collection, as well as fresh paint and new carpet.

“I was fortunate to be part of the team that originally designed the Feigenbaum Hall of Innovation,” said Maria Mingalone, Berkshire Museum’s director of Curatorial Affairs and Collections. “After several years observing how the exhibition engages visitors to think creatively, we are excited to expand the audience experience through fresh new technology, with Mindball and the new i-Innovate app as centerpieces of this first upgrade. By modeling innovative thinking, we anticipate making ongoing improvements to keep the Hall of Innovation truly innovative, including the addition of new innovators and exhibit components in the coming years.”

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GREENFIELD — The 2016 Jury of Fellows from the American Institute of Architects (AIA) elevated 149 AIA members to its prestigious College of Fellows, an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to their profession.

Margo Jones, principal of Jones Whitsett Architects (formerly Margo Jones Architects), was nominated and elected to the College of Fellows in recognition of her leadership in the field and her service to the communities of Western Mass.

Jones, who holds a master’s degree in architecture from Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has practiced architecture in Greenfield for more than 30 years. As principal of her own design firm since 1984, she has designed numerous award-winning schools, public projects, and significant historic-preservation projects, including Sanderson Academy in Ashfield, several projects at the Bement School in Old Deerfield, renovations to the Ted Shawn Dance Theater at Jacob’s Pillow in Becket, and, most recently, the renovation of Colegrove Park Elementary School in North Adams, a project currently being considered for a Massachusetts Historic Commission Preservation Award.

Jones has also served on the board of directors of the National Council of Architectural Registration Boards, the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Architects, and the board of directors of the Western Mass. chapter of the American Institute of Architects.

Out of a total AIA membership of nearly 88,000, fewer than 3,200 members are distinguished with the honor of fellowship. Jones will be honored at an investiture ceremony at the AIA convention in Philadelphia in May.

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SPRINGFIELD — Keith Nesbitt has joined the Springfield office of NUVO, a division of Merchants Bank, as regional commercial credit officer, said Laura Abbott, senior credit officer of Merchants Bank.

Nesbitt brings a vast wealth of knowledge with 11 years of experience in commercial lending, portfolio management, and credit administration in regional and community banking institutions. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of Georgia, his master’s degree from Georgia State University, and his MBA from Keller Graduate School of Management. He is also a candidate for the chartered financial analyst (CFA) designation and will sit for the CFA Level III exam in June.

Nesbitt is a high-school and college football official and a member of the Western Massachusetts Football Officials Assoc. and the Eastern Assoc. of Intercollegiate Football Officials.

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SPRINGFIELD — In honor of its 80th Anniversary, Big Y Foods has partnered with Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, inviting customers to purchase ‘Wish Stars’ in checkout lines at all 61 Big Y World Class markets, including at 30 stores in Massachusetts.

Stars cost $1 each, and customers are welcome to write their name on their star for display in their store. Funds raised through the sale of Wish Stars in Massachusetts throughout March will help grant wishes for children with life-threatening medical conditions throughout the Big Y communities. On Thursday, March 17, Big Y will match all Wish Star purchases and any additional donations up to $8,000.

“As a local and family-owned and -operated company for 80 years, we strive to give back to the communities we serve, year after year. This year we are proud to partner with Make-A-Wish to bring joy to local children and their families through programs that involve both our employees and our customers,” said Big Y CEO Donald D’Amour. “Thanks to their efforts, we can make a difference.”

Added Charlotte Beattie, CEO of Make-A-Wish Massachusetts and Rhode Island, “support from our community is critical to our ability to give wish children the hope, strength, and joy that comes from a wish fulfilled. We are incredibly grateful to Big Y and the D’Amour family for supporting our efforts and helping to make wishes possible for children with life-threatening illnesses.”

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SPRINGFIELD — The Gray House will hold its 25th annual Spaghetti Supper on Wednesday, March 9 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Greek Cultural Center, 22 St. George St., Springfield.

“This special event is a crucial fund-raiser for the Gray House, attracting approximately 400 attendees,” said Dena Calvanese, executive director. “All proceeds will help the Gray House provide food, clothing, and educational services to our neighbors in need. We couldn’t do this without the support of our community and sponsors.”

This year’s platinum sponsors include Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Freedom Credit Union, and Charlie Arment Trucking Inc. Tickets for the event are a minimum donation of $5. Children 6 and under are free, and all tickets can be purchased at the door. In addition to the supper, the event will include a ticketed raffle and a Chinese raffle. The East Longmeadow Knights of Columbus Council #9960 will once again be cooking the meal.

This year, the Gray House will honor Bill Toller, deacon at Holy Cross Church in Springfield. “Deacon Bill has been at Holy Cross Parish for 15 years and has been a long-time supporter of the Gray House,” Calvanese said. “His own generosity, volunteer time, and support are commendable on their own, and yet Deacon Bill has done much more by creating awareness and excitement about the Gray House and our mission. He has introduced an incredible number of very dedicated supporters to the Gray House, and I look forward to honoring him at this year’s Spaghetti Supper.”

The Gray House is a small, neighborhood agency located in and serving the North End of Springfield, one of the city’s poorest neighborhoods and one of the poorest in the state, where more than 50% of residents live in poverty and struggle to meet their daily needs. The Gray House assists by providing food, clothing, adult education, and after-school and summer programming for children. The agency assisted nearly 8,000 people in 2015.

For more information or to purchase tickets to the supper or the raffle, contact the Gray House at (413) 734-6696 or [email protected], or visit www.grayhouse.org.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Regional Chamber will present a Business@Breakfast event, featuring a mayor’s forum, on Wednesday, April 6 from 7:15 to 9 a.m. at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke.

Dave Madsen, primary anchor for Western Mass News, will moderate an informal discussion with Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, Easthampton Mayor Karen Cadieux, and West Springfield Mayor Will Reichelt. The discussion will provide attendees with an inside look at the personal and professional lives of these elected officials.

Business@Breakfast is a monthly series which pays tribute to individuals, businesses, and organizations for major contributions to civic and economic growth and for actions which reflect honor on the region. The April 6 event is sponsored by breakfast series sponsor United Personnel Services and speakers sponsor Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts.

Tickets cost $20 for Springfield Regional Chamber members and $30 for general admission. Reservations are suggested and can be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or by e-mailing Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected]. Sponsorship opportunities are also available; contact Mazzaferro at (413) 755-1313 for information.

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LEE — Lee Bank President and CEO Chuck Leach announced that Lee Bank and St. Germain Investment Management have entered into a strategic alliance called October Mountain Financial Advisors, by which St. Germain will provide investment-management and financial-planning services to Berkshire County clients from its new offices in Lee.

“Lee Bank is thrilled to offer a Berkshire County-focused wealth-management platform staffed with Berkshire residents who care deeply about their customers and community,” said Leach. “We’re extremely pleased to join forces with St. Germain Investment Management as we embark on this new endeavor. Furthermore, with our recently granted trust powers, we look forward to working closely with attorneys, CPAs, and our clients on trust and estate-planning matters right here in Berkshire County.

“We have long considered tackling the wealth-management space because it’s a natural extension of what we do extremely well — building strong relationships with our customers and community,” he added. “It is logical for us to be working with St. Germain given their deep bench of talented investment professionals, most of whom I have worked closely with in the past, and their commitment to remaining independent and committed to our same core values.”

Prior to being named president and CEO of Lee Bank last July, Leach served as senior vice president/managing director of wealth management and chief investment officer at Berkshire Bank Wealth Management. Previous positions include vice president/senior portfolio manager at TD Bank Wealth Management Group and vice president of the Gilder Technology Group and the Telecosm Fund.

According to Tim Suffish, senior vice president and head of equities at St. Germain Investment Management, “we place the highest value on client relationships and locally made investment decisions, whether it’s a family’s nest egg or a nonprofit’s endowment. We believe that October Mountain Financial Advisors is well-positioned to avoid the conflicts of interest, persistent fee increases, and key person risks inherent with most investment options available today. As a long-time resident of Pittsfield, I’m thrilled to bring our highly qualified team to the Berkshire community.”

Along with Suffish, October Mountain Financial Advisors’ principal team includes St. Germain Investment Management’s Michael Matty, president and director; Richard Bleser, vice president, portfolio manager; Matthew Farkas, vice president, portfolio manager; and Thaddeus Welch, portfolio manager.

October Mountain Financial Advisors is now open for business at the bank’s branch in Lee and at St. Germain’s offices in Springfield and Hartford, Conn. October Mountain’s permanent headquarters will be located at 103 West Park St., adjacent to Lee Bank, and is slated to open in the spring following renovations to the building.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Falcons will celebrate Six Flags Night on Sunday, March 13 at 5 p.m. against the Syracuse Crunch. The Falcons and Six Flags New England will partner for the first time to support the Square One, a 133-year-old, nonprofit organization that provides services for children and families throughout the Springfield area.

Fans will have the opportunity to be gifted Six Flags memorabilia, day passes, and front-of-the-line access passes with a donation to Square One.

“Opportunities like this are a great reminder of how fortunate this region is to have businesses and community leaders who are so committed to the work of organizations like Square One,” said Kristine Allard, Square One’s vice president of Development. “We are so grateful to Six Flags and the Springfield Falcons for lending their support to our important work with children and families.”

Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, and Agawam Mayor Richard Cohen will go head-to-head in a first-intermission shootout. Each mayor has 10 pucks to attempt to shoot into the net. For each successful goal, Six Flags New England will donate 10 tickets valued at $61.99 to children and families affiliated with Square One. In addition, Looney Tunes characters will be in attendance.

To purchase tickets, call (413) 739-4625 or visit the team office at the MassMutual Center weekdays, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tickets are also available on ticketmaster.com.

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HOLYOKE — Want to start documenting your family or community’s history? This spring, Wistariahurst has teamed up with a variety of professionals to help you do just that. With a Monday-evening series starting March 14 at 6 p.m., participants will have the opportunity to work with experienced workshop leaders to learn the techniques and methods of gathering, recording, sharing, and presenting their own stories.

First in the series is Gail Herman, professional storyteller, performer, and educator, who will focus on the art of storytelling. “Stories are windows into other worlds; they are what make us human,” she said. “And family storytelling gives us a sense of roots, no matter how many places a family resides.”

As the weeks progress, presenters such as Sam Redman, professor in the UMass Oral History Lab, and journalist Greg Saulmon will facilitate workshops on a variety of memory-collecting and sharing methods. The workshops will address displaying artifacts to tell a story, conducting oral histories, interviewing techniques, creating and broadcasting a podcast, writing personal stories, and composing a strong photograph.

No prior experience in necessary to attend a workshop, and participants may attend one or come for the whole series. “If you have an interest and a willingness to participate and learn, you should join us,” said Holyoke City Historian and series curator Penni Martorell. “The skills you will come away with will not only apply to documenting your family history, but will bring you an understanding of some aspects of the work that goes into being an historian and interpreting the past.”

Workshops will take place in the Carriage House at Wistariahurst, and will run for 90 minutes. Pre-registration is strongly suggested, as there is limited space in each workshop, and sellouts are expected. To register, visit www.wistariahurst.org/museum/getting-to-the-stories. Each workshop costs $7 for the public or $5 for museum members.

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SPRINGFIELD — Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., a leading labor and employment law firm serving employers in the Greater Springfield area, announced that attorney Marylou Fabbo was appointed by the Wilbraham Board of Selectmen to the Wilbraham Commission on Disabilities.

The commission provides information, referral, and technical assistance to individuals, businesses, and organizations in all matters pertaining to disability. The commission acts as an advocate for disabled people, family members, and caregivers. The commission also advises and assists Wilbraham businesses and municipal officials in ensuring compliance with disability laws. Fabbo’s involvement on the commission will include promoting awareness of disability-related issues and assisting in compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and state disabilities laws.

Fabbo, a partner in the Springfield office of Skoler, Abbott & Presser, joined the firm in 1995. As head of the firm’s litigation team, she practices in all areas of employment litigation. She provides counsel to management on taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of legal liability that may be imposed as the result of illegal employment practices and defends employers who are faced with lawsuits and administrative charges filed by current and former employers.

Fabbo is a frequent speaker on employment-related topics. She conducts extensive management training, is a published author, and has repeatedly been included on the list of Super Lawyers by Boston magazine.

“I am honored to be given this opportunity to work with the residents of Wilbraham and address the challenges that face disabled individuals,” she said. “My goal is to work with committee members to make sure that the proper accommodations are being made throughout our community.”

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BOSTON — Confidence among Massachusetts employers weakened for the fifth time in seven months during February, but businesses remain optimistic overall about the ability of the Massachusetts economy to ride out uncertainty abroad and an increasingly curious election season in the U.S.

The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index shed 0.7 points to 55.1 last month, still comfortably above the 50 mark that denotes a positive economic outlook.

However, the reading was 4.7 points below its level of a year earlier, weighed down by growing concern about the slowing U.S. economy. That concern was confirmed Friday when the government said U.S. economic growth slowed to 1% during the fourth quarter of 2015.

“We’re seeing some ambivalence among employers as they look at the economy, especially the turmoil in some overseas markets, but all within the range of general optimism about 2016,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “Ambivalence indeed seems to define most views of the U.S. economy, as we saw last week when the annual economic report of the president noted the strong rebound since 2008 while acknowledging that economic forces, including the rapid pace of technological change, are weighing on American industry.”

The AIM Index, based on a survey of Massachusetts employers, has appeared monthly since July 1991. It is calculated on a 100-point scale, with 50 as neutral; a reading above 50 is positive, while below 50 is negative. The index reached its historic high of 68.5 on two occasions in 1997-98, and its all-time low of 33.3 in February 2009. The index has remained above 50 since October 2013.

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EAST LONGMEADOW — Painting with a Twist, an art and social studio, will host a Painting with a Purpose charity event Sunday, March 6 from 7 to 9 p.m. to benefit the Center for Human Development. Attendees will participate in an instructed painting class while sipping on their beverage of choice at this BYOB venue.

Each month, franchisees from across the nation hold monthly painting fund-raisers through the Painting with a Purpose program to benefit local charities. For this event, half the proceeds will be donated to CHD Disability Resources. To date, Painting with a Twist studios have raised $1 million for local charities.

“We’re delighted to partner with the Center for Human Development to help raise funds and increase awareness,” says David Small, Painting with a Twist owner. “Community involvement is of utmost importance to us. We are thrilled to be helping a local group in need.”

The Center for Human Development delivers a wide array of social and mental-health services to more than 18,000 people each year right in Western Mass. and Connecticut.

Painting with a Twist is located at 448A North Main St., East Longmeadow. The ticketed event costs $35 per person.

In addition to supporting the local community, Painting with a Twist also offers private parties for corporate outings, bachelorette parties, sorority functions, date nights, and special events. For more information or to reserve a spot, visit www.paintingwithatwist.com/east-longmeadow.

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CHICOPEE — Bob Pion Buick GMC recently welcomed Toby Grader to the team.

Grader has worked in the auto industry for more than 25 years and is a GM certified service manager. He took time off to open his own restaurant, but is now excited to start a new chapter at Bob Pion Buick GMC.

“I enjoy the challenge of working in the auto industry. Helping people find the car of their dreams and making them happy is very rewarding,” he said. “Being in the auto industry for over 25 years, you make a lot of friendships. It makes the hard work worthwhile.”

To learn more about Bob Pion Buick GMC, visit www.pionauto.com.

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SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College President Mary-Beth Cooper announced the hiring of Dr. Stuart Jones as vice president for Enrollment Management, effective April 1.

“I am delighted that Stuart will join the leadership team at Springfield College,” Cooper said. “His extensive experience in enrollment management and data analysis, coupled with his engaging personality, will make him a great addition to our college community.”

An enrollment-management professional in higher education for more than 20 years, Jones was vice president for Enrollment Management at Trine University in Angola, Ind. since 2013. Prior to that role, he was vice president for Enrollment Management at Averett University in Danville, Va. and dean of Enrollment and executive director of the Student Success Center at Manchester University in North Manchester, Ind.

At Springfield College, Jones will work to further strengthen the college’s competitive position through enrollment growth in traditional undergraduate and graduate programs. He has a bachelor’s degree in interpersonal and public communications from Purdue University, a master’s degree in divinity and theology from the Christian Theological Seminary in Indianapolis, and a Ph.D. in higher education leadership from Northcentral University in Prescott Valley, Ariz.

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HOLYOKE — Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C. (MBK) announced the hiring of three new associates: Elyse Merrigan, MSA, Sevane Khatchadourian, and Mila Renkas.

Merrigan is an associate in the Tax department. She previously held a career as a trial paralegal with a regional law firm. However, based on her strong aptitude with numbers, she decided to pursue the necessary advanced education that would allow her to transition into the field of public accounting. She is a graduate of the Commonwealth College at UMass Amherst and recently earned her master’s degree in accounting from Western New England University. She joined the Mass. Society of Certified Public Accountants (MSCPA) and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA) as a student during her graduate studies and is currently a candidate to sit for the CPA exam.

Khatchadourian is beginning her career in public accounting in the Audit and Accounting (A&A) practice at MBK. As an A&A associate, she will help service a wide variety of A&A clients throughout the year. She graduated from Westfield State University in 2015 with a bachelor’degree in business management with a concentration in accounting, and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in accounting at the same school. As a current graduate student, Sevane is a student member of the MSCPA and AICPA.

Renkas, who is also an A&A associate, brings five years of bookkeeping experience and fluency in three languages to her new position. She earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Elms College in 2015 and is currently pursuing her master’s degree in accounting at Westfield State University. She has been recognized for her significant academic achievements though her membership with various honors societies and scholarships, including the Western Mass Women magazine scholarship.

“MBK is excited to have the opportunity to welcome such a diverse and academically achieved group of women to our firm,” said MBK Partner Howard Cheney. “We work hard to find and attract the best and brightest to our firm because we know that the key to sustained, quality service for our clients is having great people at every level in our organization. We are proud that Elyse, Sevane, and Mila have chosen to pursue their careers in public accounting with MBK.”

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SPRINGFIELD — Gov. Charlie Baker will serve as the keynote speaker at the Springfield Regional Chamber’s Outlook 2016 on Tuesday, March 29 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the MassMutual Center, 1277 Main St., Springfield. He made his first major address to the business community at the chamber’s annual event in 2015.

Presented by Health New England, Outlook is the area’s largest legislative event, attracting more than 700 guests and presenting expert speakers on local, state, and federal issues. The event is sponsored by Eastern States Exposition, MassMutual Financial Group, United Personnel, and MGM Springfield; program/reception sponsors Sisters of Providence Health System, Comcast, Eversource, and the Republican; with support from Chicopee Savings Bank and BusinessWest, and presented in in partnership with the East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce (ERC5).

Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito have set their sights on addressing some of the Commonwealth’s greatest long-term challenges, including reducing family energy costs and improving the reliability of the energy grid through hydro- and solar-power legislation; lifting the charter-school cap; securing a 50% increase in the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC); and curbing the opioid epidemic’s grip on Massachusetts families.

Baker will be joined in the program by U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, who will remark on events at the federal level, including his insight into activities on Capitol Hill, the presidential race, and front-burner issues facing Congress in the coming months.

“As a senior member of the powerful House Committee on Ways and Means and ranking member of its Select Revenue Measures subcommittee, Congressman Neal serves in a critically important capacity in Washington for our area, our state, and the entire country,” said chamber President Jeffrey Ciuffreda.

Tickets are $50 for Springfield Regional Chamber members and ERC5 members, and $70 for general admission. Reserved tables of 10 are available. Reservations must be made by Friday, March 18 by visiting www.springfieldregionalchamber.com or e-mailing Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected]. No walk-ins will be accepted, and no cancellations will be accepted once the reservation deadline has passed.

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CHICOPEE — The Good Dog Spot is now offering a curbside service to make pet drop-offs and pick-ups easier. Customers using the service will provide an estimated time of arrival and pull up to the marked bus stop, and the Good Dog Spot will take care of the rest.

“We understand our lobby gets hectic,” said Elizabeth Staples, owner of the Good Dog Spot. “Our customers live very busy lives, and we want to make things as easy as possible for them. Let us know your approximate time of arrival, and your furry friend will be brought right out to your car.”

The service will be available weekdays from 7 to 9 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. The bus fare will cost $2 for non-members and is complimentary to all members. For more information, visit www.gooddogspot.net.

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HOLYOKE — The St. Patrick’s Business Breakfast of the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce will be held on Wednesday, March 16 at 7:30 a.m. at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House.

Event sponsors are PeoplesBank, Holyoke Mall at Ingleside, and new chamber member Quality Life Adult Day Service. A full Irish breakfast will be served at 7:30 a.m.

Jeffrey Sullivan of M&M Consulting and the Chamber Foundation’s board chairman will serve as greeter, while Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse kicks off the program with a special St. Patrick’s Day welcome and roast. State Rep. Aaron Vega and state Sen. Donald Humason will provide the audience with lots of laughs as they roast friends and fellow politicians.

The Holyoke St. Patrick’s Parade, to be held on Sunday, March 20, will once again be in the spotlight along with the 2016 Grand Colleen Meghan Ryan and her court, the Parade Committee, and all award winners. Also recognized will be the chamber’s new members: Brennan’s Place, Cultivate and Nest, Hot Oven Cookies, Jadhai Boutique, Mr. Gio, Newave Hydrographics, Quality Life Adult Day Service, Rainbow International Restoration, Studio 20 Salon, Therapeutic Equestrian Center, Underwood Photography, Vapers Edge, and YNI Services, LLC. CareerPoint will be honored on its 20th anniversary, as well as Holyoke Rotary Club, celebrating its 100th anniversary.

Music will be provided by Kira Jewett and Dave Meuser, who are both members of the traditional Irish sextet Banish Misfortune, recently voted one of the top five bands in the Valley in the 2015 Valley Advocate Grand Band Slam.

Guests will have an opportunity to purchase St. Patrick’s Day Road Race ornaments, Holyoke shamrock hats and cozies, and the Republican’s Heritage series of books featuring The Irish Legacy.

Tickets may be purchased at $30 each until Friday, March 10, and $40 thereafter. To order tickets, call the chamber office at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com. Payment at time of registration is required.

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SPRINGFIELD — Women in Philanthropy will host its biennial “Growing Philanthropy” conference on Thursday, March 17 at the Springfield Marriott.

Internationally acclaimed speaker Dan Pallotta, author of Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential and Charity Case: How the Nonprofit Community Can Stand Up for Itself and Really Change the World is the keynote speaker for the event. During his address, Pallotta will take a deeper dive into the topics mentioned in his 2013 TED Talk. He will encourage attendees to consider the disparities between nonprofit organizations and for-profit companies in the way they spend funds on compensation, capital, and advertising, as well as how the two invest in their futures and experiment with new ideas.

Morning keynote speaker Dr. K. Shelette Stewart is a Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Program specialist and author of the book Revelations in Business: Connecting Your Business Plan with God’s Purpose and Plan for Your Life. She has more than 20 years of leadership experience in strategic business planning, marketing, and national account sales with Fortune 500 companies including Coca-Cola and BellSouth/AT&T. Her presentation will offer spiritual principles, practical tools, and real-life examples from today’s industry leaders to help attendees connect profession with purpose and maximize personal fulfillment and professional success.

In addition to these keynote speakers, “Growing Philanthropy” boasts breakout sessions that will round out a full day of new tactics, best practices, and networking with philanthropic peers and leaders. Topics will include annual fund, donor relations, planned giving, boards and volunteers, storytelling, stewardship, successful special events, and more, and will feature leading experts in philanthropy, including Susan Alston, Sarah Nathan, Sam Samuels, A. Rima Dael, Maeve Strathy, Jeff LaValley, Ayda Sanver, and Alfonso Santaniello. For speaker bios and detailed information on each session, visit www.wipwm.org.

Conference registration is open until March 14. Visit www.wipwm.org to learn more and register. If you have general questions about the conference, e-mail [email protected].

“Growing Philanthropy” is sponsored by WGBY, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, Andrew Associates, Five Maples Development Communications, PeoplesBank, Rainmaker Consulting, United Way of Pioneer Valley Women’s Leadership Council, and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts.

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SPRINGFIELD — Houzz (www.houzz.com), a leading platform for home remodeling and design, recently announced its online community’s picks for “Best of Houzz 2016,” a homeowner-to-homeowner guide to the top home builders, architects, interior designers, landscape pros, and other residential remodeling professionals. Kitchens & Baths by Curio (www.kitchensandbathsbycurio.com), located at 1045 Boston Road in Springfield, was honored in the category of customer service.

Houzz connects people with home professionals for their projects by providing information on their portfolio, client reviews, awards and accreditations, and their work style and expertise, said Liza Hausman, vice president of industry marketing for Houzz, adding that these awards help homeowners identify popular and top-rated home professionals in every metro area.

“We are very proud to be awarded the ‘Best of Houzz 2016’ for customer service, the recognized quality mark for kitchen and bath installation services,” said Frank Nataloni, co-owner of Kitchens & Baths by Curio. “This offers our customers complete reassurance that Kitchens & Baths by Curio will deliver on the excellence associated with this prestigious award. After winning last year, 2015, and now 2016, our staff is delighted to have received this award again as recognition of the careful planning and preparation we put into every purchase and installation.”

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GREENFIELD — The Connecticut River Watershed Council and Art for Water are creating a ‘river of words’ to draw attention to the federal re-licensing of five major hydroelectric facilities from Turners Falls to north of Hanover, N.H. This public-participation, community art project will tell stories to improve the ecological health and recreational opportunities of the Connecticut River. The public is invited to add their voice at Great Falls Discovery Center, 2 Avenue A, Turners Falls on Saturday, March 5 at 1 p.m.

“We are working together to bring a public-opinion art installation to the state and federal government,” said Andrew Fisk, executive director of the Connecticut River Watershed Council, noting that the government is in the process of making decisions about how these dams will operate over the next 30 to 40 years. “You have a unique opportunity to influence how 200 miles of the Connecticut River and its tributaries … will be managed, restored, and improved.”

At the art installation, he added, “we are building an inspiring and influential art exhibit that is made up of your stories and aspirations for our rivers. It’s called ‘The Power of Water, The Power of Words’ because our voices do have the power to influence positive change.”

To learn more about presentation, call (413) 772-2020, ext. 206.

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BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced $9.3 million in workforce skills equipment grants to 35 high schools, community colleges, and vocational training providers across the Commonwealth for vocational-technical education and training equipment purchases that connect Massachusetts students and residents to economic opportunities in high-demand industries.

“Workforce skills education and training plays an enormous role in economic and personal development by helping residents acquire the skills they need to connect with promising careers,” Baker said. “These vocational-technical education equipment grants will help build stronger communities and a more competitive business environment that ensures more residents have the skills they need to succeed in and support the Commonwealth’s economic future.”

Added Polito, “these workforce-development grants will build bridges between residents seeking careers to build a future on and the employers who need a skilled workforce to grow the state’s economy. Today, too many good-paying jobs are going unfilled because employers are struggling to find skilled employees. This investment in training equipment will enable high schools and community colleges across the Commonwealth to equip students with the skills they need to secure a bright future.”

The Workforce Skills Capital Grant Program is a new initiative of the Governor’s Workforce Skills Cabinet, which seeks to align education, workforce, and economic-development strategies across the state.

Western Mass. recipients of the new round of grants include:

• Berkshire Community College, Pittsfield, $465,119 to upgrade and modernize its manufacturing and engineering program, utilizing new hydraulics, pneumatics, electrical controls, materials testing, CNC, and 3-D printing equipment to train students and adult learners for careers in advanced manufacturing, engineering, and biotechnology;

• Dean Technical High School, Holyoke, $393,156 to transform its existing machine technology shop into an advanced-manufacturing shop that aligns with current industry practices and technologies, in order to connect Holyoke students to career opportunities in the Pioneer Valley’s skilled manufacturing workforce;

• Franklin County Technical School, Montague, $52,500 to revamp its computer programming and web-design programs and expand the programs’ capacity to reach adult learners;

• Lower Pioneer Valley Educational Collaborative, West Springfield, $257,100 to expand the capacity of its recently-founded high school Machine Technology Program, and to extend programming to adult learners, including unemployed and underemployed individuals facing barriers to employment;

• McCann Technical School, North Adams, $121,128 to revamp its welding and metal-fabrication equipment to train students for careers in Berkshire County’s aerospace, defense, commercial, medical-device, and power-generation industries, and enable re-training for unemployed workers;

• Roger L. Putnam Vocational Technical Academy, Springfield, $441,500 to launch a new program to equip students with the skills to enter the construction workforce, including training with heavy equipment; and

• Springfield Technical Community College, $499,785 to enhance training in its Laser Electro-Optics and Advanced Manufacturing Engineering Technology programs by creating an advanced-laser-machining laboratory and a one-year Laser Materials Processing Certificate of Completion, in order to meet the needs of the Commonwealth’s rapidly growing laser-manufacturing industry.

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SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Regional Chamber will hold its monthly Business@Breakfast on Wednesday, March 2 at Chez Josef in Agawam. The keynote address, “The Human Wake-up Call,” will be delivered by 9/11 survivor Mike Jaffe.

Networking begins at 7:15 a.m., and the program begins at 7:55 a.m. The chief greeter will be Ed Nunez of Freedom Credit Union. Business@Breakfast events aim to provide business and community leaders with a morning networking opportunity and educational topic.