2013 - Page 4 of 20 - BusinessWest

High Stakes Assignment

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Bruce Stebbins Relishes His Role with the State’s Gaming Commission

Bruce Stebbins doesn’t remember the exact wording of the letter from the search firm that came roughly 20 months ago and would eventually prompt an abrupt career course change and thrust him into the middle of the casino era in Massachusetts.
But he remembers the gist, and the key sentence or two that certainly caught his eye.
“It talked about how the firm was trying to find an individual or individuals to serve on the Massachusetts Gaming Commission,” he said. “I don’t recall whether it said ‘from Western Massachusetts,’ but it did say, ‘if you know of anyone, or if you yourself might have any interest, feel free to give us a call.’
“So I called them back,” continued Stebbins, who, at the time, was serving as business development administrator in Springfield. “And while I was really happy doing what I was doing for the city, I inquired a little more about the position and what it involved. I didn’t have any friend or colleague or someone I knew who I was going to recommend, but I just wanted to find out more about it. By the end of the phone call with the recruiter I’d made up my mind to send him my resume.”
Fast-forward just a few weeks (things were moving quickly because deadlines for filling the panel were looming) and he was being interviewed by the governor, attorney general, and treasurer — the three officials who would collectively decide who won this slot on the board — and eventually prevailed. Jump ahead another 18 months, and he and the other four members are closing in on some of the most anticipated decisions in recent state history, choices that will change the landscape of cities and regions, both literally and figuratively, and alter the fortunes of countless individuals and businesses.
At present, the commission is neck deep in the process of deciding the winner of the contest for the one slots parlor that was made part of the gaming legislation passed nearly two years ago. Three proposals are being reviewed, and a decision is due early next year, said Stebbins.
Concurrently, the board is also advancing the process of determining who will win up to three licenses for resort casinos; there are competitions being played out in the three designated regions for such licenses — the Boston area, Western Mass., and Southeastern Mass.
And while a decision is not due on those licenses until early next spring, the commission is already having a huge impact on the proceedings.
Indeed, when a suitability assessment by commission investigators raised questions about Caesars Entertainment, a partner in the bid to put a casino at Suffolk Downs in East Boston, the industry giant abruptly withdrew — at the behest of its partner — throwing the Boston area competition into something approaching chaos as a Nov. 5 referendum vote on the proposal looms and the Suffolk Downs team scrambles to find a new partner.
The startling turn of events prompted the Boston Globe to praise the commission for setting the bar high when it comes to the standards that casino companies will have to meet in the Bay State. And it also inspired Caesar’s President Gary Loveman to opine that the bar has been set too high.
“It’s going to be very difficult for sophisticated multi-jurisdictional operators to tolerate the environment this commission has created,” he told the press.

Deciding the winner of the contest for the Western Mass. casino license — likely to be between MGM Springfield, left, and Mohegan Sun Massachusetts — will be one of many challenging assignments facing Stebbins and the other gaming commission members.

Deciding the winner of the contest for the Western Mass. casino license — likely to be between MGM Springfield, top, and Mohegan Sun Massachusetts — will be one of many challenging assignments facing Stebbins and the other gaming commission members.
[/caption]When queried about the Suffolk Downs development and, in general, the height of that aforementioned bar, Stebbins, obviously choosing words carefully and sounding a lot like Bill Belichick at one of his press conferences, said, “this is what the statute was intended to do; we need to be as thorough as possible, and our investigators have to be diligent and follow up every lead. We want to impress upon people that we want operators who have great business practices to be the ones operating casinos in Massachusetts.”
And when asked if he and his fellow commission members are feeling the pressure that will certainly accompany the decisions to come, Stebbins smiled broadly, implied that ‘pressure’ was probably too strong a word, but nonetheless verified the enormity of the moment.
“All five of us acknowledge that because there’s a limited number of licenses, we understand that we have one shot to get this done right,” he said. “We’re also buffeted by the fact that over half the states in the U.S. have done this before and there is a great working relationship with other jurisdictions.”
For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Stebbins about everything from his experiences on the commission to date to the factors he believes will ultimately decide how the casino licenses are awarded, including the one for the Western Mass. region.

Playing His Cards Right
Stebbins isn’t the official Western Mass. representative on the gaming commission, but that’s how he’s generally regarded.
He’s the only member from this part of the state, and he acknowledges that a desire on the part of those assembling the panel to create geographic diversity probably aided his cause. As did a quest for political diversity — Stebbins is a Republican, and one of the stipulations for this commission, he said, was that there not be more than two members for any one political party. (He assumes there are two Democrats and two Republicans, but isn’t sure of the affiliation of the fifth member; “we don’t wear our politics on our sleeves.”)
And he believes his work history, which includes a number of roles in business and economic development, might have turned some heads.
Indeed, Stebbins’ resume includes everything from a stint in the White House — as associate director of Political Affairs while George Bush the elder was in office — to two terms as a Springfield city councilor; from a short run as director of the Mass. Office of Business Development to a decade-long tenure as senior regional manager of the National Association of Manufacturers.
He said the experience gained at these various stops has certainly helped him with his current workload, but that his time with the gaming commission has also helped him grow professionally and sharpen existing skills sets.
“I think there are certainly skills and experiences I’m having that will help round me out as a professional and as an executive,” said Stebbins, who repeatedly compared his work on the commission — and its role in bringing the gaming industry to Massachusetts — to getting a startup business off the ground.
“I was intrigued by two things,” he said, when recalling what prompted this latest line on his resume. “Part of it was setting something up from the ground floor, albeit a government, regulatory agency. Taking something and building it from a piece of legislation — I thought that was a unique opportunity considering my years in public service. I’d never really had the opportunity to do that before; it was enticing.
“It’s not completely akin to a small business, because we came with an operating budget already in hand from the Legislature,” he continued, “but similar to a small company, we were building a way to do business, recruiting and building a team, and coming up with a mission statement, just like any business does, while at the same time learning about a business that was completely new to Massachusetts.
“The other intriguing part of this was the economic aspect,” he went on. “We’re introducing a whole new industry to Massachusetts and really focusing on the priorities of the statute, which are the job creation piece in difficult economic times, and the impact on tourism and small business — this was right up my alley when it came to my background and experiences.”
He said he took on the assignment expecting that there would be large amounts of travel and reading, and there have been both; he commutes to Boston four days a week, spending Friday in Western Mass., and the three slot parlor applications alone account for roughly 20,000 pages of material, although he acknowledged quickly that he doesn’t have to consume all of that.
Beyond that, he anticipated that it would be a learning experience on a number of levels, and it has been that as well.
When asked to elaborate on what he has learned, Stebbins listed everything from insight into just how competitive the gaming industry is, to lessons learned from the experiences of other jurisdictions, such as Atlantic City.
“New Jersey felt that by introducing casino gaming in an effort to revive Atlantic City there would instantly be jobs and opportunities for all the people living in that city,” he noted. “But the casinos came in, the people living in Atlantic City didn’t have the skills and the basic training assistance, and they missed out on the job opportunities that were created, and that’s why Atlantic City languished and some would say it continues to languish. It missed out on some opportunities.”

Odds and Ends
When asked if the decisions regarding the casino licenses were matters of objective or subjective analysis, Stebbins said there is certainly far more of the former, but there is certainly some of the latter.
Elaborating, he noted that proposals will be weighed in five categories — financial, building and site design, mitigation, economic development, and something he called ‘general overview of the project,’ and then described as the “wow factor.”
It is in that last category where there is some subjectivity, he told BusinessWest, adding that with the other four, analysis generally comes down to hard numbers, and lots of them.
“A good percentage of the information is very objective — ‘tell us the number of people you’re hiring,’ ‘show us the plans you intend to work with,’ ‘what’s your debt-to-equity ratio?,’ ‘what are your plans for implementing LEED gold design into your building?, ‘what are your plans for mitigating the impact on the lottery?,’” he explained, noting that for each of the five categories he mentioned applicants are given one of four ratings.
These are ‘insufficient,’ ‘sufficient,’ ‘exceeds expectations,’ and ‘outstanding,’ he went on, adding these ratings, as well as the answers to the 230 questions applicants must answer will be discussed in a public meeting before votes are taken on the specific licenses, including the one for what’s known as Region 2, Western Massachusetts.
When asked what may decide that competition, which will likely be an urban versus suburban matchup featuring MGM Springfield and Mohegan Sun Massachusetts in Palmer (a vote on the host-community agreement in that latter community is set for Nov. 5), Stebbins said it, like the others, will be determined by the tenets of the legislation — and perhaps by that ‘wow factor.’
“The purpose of the statute was to generate revenue for the Commonwealth and create jobs,” he explained. “A lot of the evaluation questions address the other requirements that were put in the statute.
“The general overview portion of this, the ‘wow factor,’ might well be more of a subjective answer,” he continued. “But backing all this up is that we want to know what these players’ track records are in other jurisdictions; have they met their promises? Have they done what they said they were going to do? How have those other facilities operated?”
Meanwhile, the commission will attempt to emulate the best practices of other jurisdictions and learn from what has gone right — and wrong — in other states, he went on.
“We’re all happy to share information and regulations,” he said of those other states. “They’ve been great to talk to; they’re candid and honest — they’ll say ‘we tried to do it this way and didn’t really work out that well. There are great opportunities to build on the best practices of other jurisdictions.”
While the pending decisions on the licenses are certainly the most pressing item facing the commission, its work certainly won’t end there, he told BusinessWest, adding there will be considerable regulatory work to finish, issues with the licensing process, and monitoring the progress of those companies who win the regional competitions.
“It shifts into a regulatory and oversight function,”he said, “but there will be a lot of important work to do.”

The Bottom Line
Stebbins said he’s just over half-way through a term that will last three years. It is possible that he will be awarded another, longer term and perhaps even two (commissioners can serve up to 10 years), but he acknowledged that there will be different people serving as governor and attorney general by then, and they may have some other ideas.
At the moment though, he isn’t focused on the future, but rather the present, and his large role in something that could only be described as historic.
Looking back on that letter from the recruiter that started him down this road, he said that what appealed to him initially — a chance to bring a new industry into Massachusetts and be part of a huge economic development initiative — continues to fuel his imagination today.
If his career gambit was a roll of the dice, he believes he’s thrown a 7.

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

Every Step of the Way

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Health Care Sections

Navigators Guide Cancer Patients Along Their Journey

Jolene Lambert (right) says HMC’s patient-navigation program has helped increase the hospital’s breast-cancer survival rate.

The five-year survival rate for breast cancer, nationally, is 89%.
At Holyoke Medical Center, it’s 95%. And Jolene Lambert believes she knows part of the reason why.
Lambert is HMC’s ‘cancer care navigator,’ working with breast-cancer patients from their initial diagnosis through the often-difficult journey of treatment and recovery. She has also spearheaded community-outreach efforts to persuade women to be screened for breast cancer in an effort to find early-stage disease before it spreads.
Since she took the position less than a year ago, Lambert has found striking success on both fronts. All the patients she helps as navigator are 100% compliant with getting to their medical appointments, taking the proper medication, and following other treatment recommendations — all of which enhances their long-term odds of beating the disease.
At the same time, the hospital has become more visible with community efforts to convince healthy women to get mammograms. “Some people are afraid to get it checked,” she said, “but the sooner you get it checked, the greater your chance of survival.”
The overarching idea, she explained, is that cancer is a frightening and often confusing subject, and helping women, well, navigate it will ultimately save lives.
“Patients absolutely require assistance navigating the very complicated silos of our healthcare system,” said Dr. Wilson Mertens, medical director of Cancer Services for Baystate Health. “I would consider navigation to be part concierge service and part rapid contact for patients, to help them manage their symptoms and side effects.”
Baystate offers navigation across a number of cancers, while Holyoke will expand its program beyond breast cancer early next year.
Yet, “I think this concept really started in breast centers across the country because of the complications associated with moving patients from a screening scenario to a biopsy and ultimately surgery, if that’s required,” Mertens said. “Moving through all those steps is complicated, and patients are bewildered when they have to arrange it themselves. They often don’t know how to take the next step, and care is increasingly fragmented.”
The idea behind a navigator, Lambert said, is to give a cancer patient a resource who will guide them every step of the way — in the case of breast cancer, from an abnormal mammogram through all treatments and follow-up. One of her roles is to ensure that the process moves quickly, because patients want answers.
“Patients who are seen in the women’s center meet with the navigator,” she explained. “If they have an abnormal mammogram, they are called on the phone right away to come back for more films, and if they need a biopsy, they are seen within two days for that. The biopsy results are then reviewed with the physician who ordered the mammogram, and they follow up within two days to schedule their surgery.”
But the navigator’s services don’t end there. “If they need rides to appointments, we can help them, or if they don’t understand what the physician is saying to them, we go with them to the appointments so we can explain to them in simpler terms what their care should be,” she told BusinessWest. “I start with the patient’s positive diagnosis and then follow the patient through her care — through surgery, through chemo, through survivorship — to make sure she’s making her appointments, following up, and not getting lost in our healthcare system.”
And it’s a trend becoming much more evident nationwide, she noted. “It is eventually going to be mandatory for all hospitals to have a navigator for cancer; we just happened to start a little early.”

Breaking Down Barriers
The concept of patient navigation was first developed by Dr. Harold Freeman in Harlem, N.Y., as an effort to reduce disparities in access to diagnosis and treatment of cancer, particularly among poor and uninsured people.
“During his practice, he realized he was seeing a lot of women who presented to him with stage 3 breast cancer,” Lambert said. “He felt there should be some way to get to these people because there is a cure for breast cancer if it’s detected early enough.
“So he devised a whole navigator program — not only following people through the disease, but getting out there in the community, getting people to their scheduled mammograms, offering them rides, and preventing barriers to getting mammograms, whether they don’t have insurance, they’re afraid, they don’t have transportation, or they don’t want to pay the co-pay, but would rather spend the money to feed their families. He helped them overcome the barriers to get the care they need.”

Dr. Wilson Mertens says cancer patients should not be made to feel burdened with every decision.

In 2007, with a $2.5 million grant from the Amgen Foundation, the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Care and Prevention established the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation Institute to train organizations in patient navigation. The core principles of the institute — which Lambert has attended — include:
• Informing people about the need for recommended examinations and providing timely access to such examinations;
• Eliminating any barriers to timely care across the entire healthcare continuum, and
• Eliminating any barriers to timely diagnoses and treatment in patients who have abnormal or suspicious findings.
Lambert said Holyoke’s program takes seriously the concept of breaking down barriers to care. “If people don’t have insurance, we write to drug companies and get them free medications — anything we can do, we do. We’ve gone as far as buying shoes for patients.”
Traditionally, one of the major barriers to patient compliance has been frustrating lags between diagnosis and consultation. When Lambert became navigator, she reviewed every patient’s chart and noticed a lag time between finding an abnormal mammogram and the resulting biopsy or surgery — in some cases, almost four weeks.
Now, “breast cancer patients are usually seen in one or two days. Some patients who are anxious about their diagnosis have been seen the same day,” she said. “It’s a relief for the patient. I’ve had patients say to me, ‘this would have been my first appointment at a different institution, but here, I already have three treatments under my belt.’ We’re really trying to get people treated quickly.
“Imagine having breast cancer and waiting three weeks for an appointment, or even two weeks,” she added. “I want to be seen the next day.”
At Baystate, Mertens said, navigators tend to work with certain doctors, or the same type of cancer, and they are considered a critical part of the cancer-care team.
“Cancer care has become more complicated,” he told BusinessWest. “Every disease, every patient requires a different set of services and support. What a head and neck cancer patient might need in terms of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation are very different from a breast-cancer patient, and a colon-cancer patient needs a whole different set of players and a different structure.”
Navigators who are well-trained in certain diagnoses are able to effectively answer patients’ questions and guide them to the right resources. “If we don’t provide that kind of support, the patients would be left to sort it out for themselves,” he continued. “But we don’t require patients to be their own physicians; we really need to be able to provide that to them.”
Meanwhile, navigation benefits physicians by making sure patients do what they’re instructed to do. Mertens used the example of someone whose primary-care doctor advises him to call a gastroenterologist to schedule a colonoscopy, but the patient decides to put it off. That’s just human nature, after all.
“Well, I can’t afford to have that with my patients,” he said. “If we need something arranged, we need to have it done. But I also think this is complicated enough that we need to own those arrangements.”

Community Minded
Lambert said no navigator program is complete without a public-outreach component that aims to identify cancers before they’ve advanced. She has distributed booklets throughout Holyoke, given several talks in the community, and recruited four physicians and two nurse practitioners for a free breast-cancer screening in March.
“We’re trying to reach all those people,” she said of such efforts. “In October, we’ll be at Stop & Shop booking mammograms on laptops.”
Once they’re in the system — particularly if a doctor detects early-stage breast cancer — she said patients are grateful that someone gave them the nudge to get checked. But she also deals with cultural barriers to care. “A lot of patients have certain religious beliefs, and think they have cancer because they’ve done something bad in their lives.”
Whatever the barrier, Lambert said, her job is to help break through it to get locals the help they need. After all, the mortality rate from all cancers combined has fallen to one-third what it was 40 years ago, and “immediate care and follow-up care are a big plus for these people.”
Patients are grateful for these targeted efforts to treat their cancer and keep them healthy, Mertens said. “They really appreciate the relationship. They spend a fair amount of time contacting the nurses, and the amount of information they receive is very robust.
“I think that it’s a great comfort for them,” he added, “and it’s a comfort for us on the physician side to know they have another healthcare professional with a deep, profound knowledge of what the patient is going through and can get the appropriate services they need.”
One challenge for the future, Mertens noted, is the still-unclear effect of healthcare reform, and new models of treatment like accountable-care organizations, on patient navigation. “There’s no specific payment for navigation, even though we think it’s critical and needs to be provided,” he said. “We’re not sure exactly what it’s going to look like.”
Still, the trend in oncology has been toward more navigation services, not fewer. And that’s bringing a measure of comfort to patients during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
“I had someone say to me the other day, ‘I don’t want to go to Holyoke; I had a bad experience there,’” Lambert said. “I said, ‘try it again; I’ll go with you.’ She said, ‘you would?’”
And she did just that, relieving the anxiety for one more woman in need. “If you don’t have a medical background nowadays,” she said, “you are lost — very lost.”
And when you’re lost, a navigator sure comes in handy.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Agenda

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Agenda Departments

Western Mass. Business Expo 2013
Nov. 6: Get ready for the Western Mass. Business Expo 2013, a day-long business-to-business event to take place at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. This fall’s show, the third edition of the Expo, which is again being produced by BusinessWest, will feature more than 100 exhibitors, seminars on timely issues of the day, special Show Floor Theater presentations, breakfast and lunch programs, and the wrap-up Expo social, which has become a not-to-be-missed networking event. The breakfast speaker will be Jim Koch, founder of Samuel Adams, while the lunch speaker will be author, activist, and marathon runner Kathrine Switzer. This issue of BusinessWest contains all you need to know about event details, which can also be found online at www.wmbexpo.com or www.businesswest.com. For more information on the event, call (413) 781-8600, ext. 100.

Civil War Lecture
Nov. 9: Civil War historian Walter Powell will deliver a free talk titled “So Clear of Victory: Emily Dickinson’s Gettysburg Address” at the Amherst History Museum at 3 p.m. The talk, co-sponsored by the Emily Dickinson Museum and the Amherst History Museum, will highlight contributions made by Amherst and the region to the Battle of Gettysburg and President Lincoln’s delivery of the Gettysburg Address during the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery on Nov. 19, 1863. A special focus will be on Emily Dickinson’s circle of friends and acquaintances involved in the battle, including Samuel Fiske and Springfield Republican publisher and editor Samuel Bowles. Powell has lectured widely on battlefield preservation and the Battle of Gettysburg, and is the editor (with the late Charles Hamblen) of Connecticut Yankees at Gettysburg. Powell was recently named executive director of the General Society of Mayflower Descendants, and previously served as executive director of the Conococheague Institute of Cultural Heritage in Mercersburg, Pa. For 17 years, he was director of Planning and Historic Preservation for the Borough of Gettysburg. There, he directed the restoration of the Gettysburg Railroad Station (built in 1858), and served as the project historian and borough liaison to the National Park Service Project Team that planned the restoration and exhibit plan for the David Wills House, where Lincoln completed the Gettysburg Address. He is also a past board member of the Emily Dickinson International Society. The Amherst History Museum is located at 67 Amity St. in Amherst. For more information about the talk, visit www.emilydickinsonmuseum.org/events.

Pynchon Awards
Nov. 21: The Trustees of the Order of William Pynchon and the Advertising Club of Western Mass. will honor the recipients of the 2013 William Pynchon Award — Jean Caldwell, Jean Gailun, Joan Kagan, and Sirdeaner Walker — at Chez Josef in Agawam. The Order of William Pynchon was established in 1915 for the purpose of giving public recognition to citizens of the region who have rendered distinguished civic service, a noble legacy and honor the Ad Club is proud to bestow. Cocktails will be served from 6 p.m., with dinner and the awards program beginning at 7 p.m. The cost is $70 per person, and tables of 10 are available. RSVP by Nov. 14 by calling (413) 736-2582 or e-mailing [email protected], including any special dietary considerations and a listing of table guests who wish to be seated together (for parties of 10).b

Community Profile: Wilbraham

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Community Profile Features

Wilbraham Embraces Vision of the Future

Amy Scott says businesses in Wilbraham try to support each other whenever possible.

Amy Scott, principal of Wild Apple Design Group in Wilbraham, was heading out to look for a new car on the day BusinessWest spoke with her about the general business climate in that community.
The Hampden resident acknowledged that, like other Western Mass. residents, she has plenty of options when it comes to where to shop for a new ride, but she entered the search firmly committed to making sure it started and ended on nearby Boston Road.
“It’s part of the loyalty factor,” said Scott, who used that term to cover not only her buying habits but her willingness to serve the community in a number of roles. It’s an attitude that emerged not long after she took a gamble and leased more expensive space in Post Office Park in Wilbraham when she was searching for a new home for her venture two years ago.
She accepted that risk hoping that her services would appeal to the more than 50 businesses in the park and the hundreds of others in the community and just beyond it in Springfield — and the gamble has been rewarded. And she’s made it her policy to repay the loyalty shown to her.
“I feel like every time I have an opportunity to make a purchase, I look around at my neighbors, and they seem to be doing the same,” she explained. “It shows good faith on everybody’s part.”
Good faith is needed in this community that suffers, in many respects, when it comes to that old axiom about commercial real estate: location, location, location.
Indeed, Wilbraham is not exactly easy to get to from most anywhere in Western Mass. So, in recent years, those involved in town government and its business community have been actively involved in providing reasons for people to withstand the many traffic lights and stopsigns they encounter when trying to get here.
Post Office Park is part of that equation, but so are ongoing efforts, waged by the Boston Road Business Assoc. (BRBA), to make that thoroughfare a true destination for those looking for everything from a car to a major appliance to a good meal.
Scott has recently helped the group revamp its Best of Boston Road awards, which now has thousands of Wilbraham and Springfield residents voting for their favorite retailer, insurance company, dentist, restaurant, and more.
But while civic and business leaders work to help convince consumers that Wilbraham is a good place to do business, they’re also focused on quality of life for those who have chosen to live there — and also those who will join them in the decades to come.
The town christened its new, $65 million Minnechaug Regional High School just over a year ago, and also opened a new fire station, thanks to some imaginative financing. The next priorities, said Robert Boilard, vice president of Boilard Lumber and a selectman, are a new police station and senior center.
They are likely to be key components in a new vision, or comprehensive plan, for the town taking shape through the work of the recently formed Vision Task Force.
Working under the slogan “honoring the past, understanding the present, and imagining the future,” the group began work in early 2012 and gave its final report a few weeks ago, said its chairman, Charles Phillips, a long-time resident. “The Vision Task Force expected a largely positive response and received it,” he noted. “We were surprised, however, at some of the creative ideas that were expressed for improvement.”
For this, the latest installment of its Community Profile series, BusinessWest will look at some of those ideas, and also some of the ongoing — and generally successful — efforts to help people in this region, and sometimes from well beyond it, find Wilbraham.

School of Thought
“Tweedy” and “New Englandy.”
Those are two adjectives concocted by Rodney LaBrecque, head of school at Wilbraham Monson Academy, to describe the institution and help explain why it currently boasts students from 34 countries and several U.S. states, and is at full enrollment.
Those terms (the former is actually in the dictionary, while the latter is not) help paint a picture of the 209-year-old campus, one that is obviously appealing. “It’s certainly a selling point,” said LaBrecque, adding that this quaintness is only one reason for the institution’s success and current growth pattern; the diversity of its programs and the school’s emergence as a leader in such fields as entrepreneurship and business studies are more pertinent factors.
And they (or at least ‘New Englandy’) can also be used to describe Wilbraham itself, which was incorporated in 1763 and, like many neighboring communities, was largely agricultural until quite recently.

Robert Boilard says the Vision Task Force has helped define future goals for the town.

The town was once famous for its apple and peach orchards and several farms — including Pheasant Farm, Rice’s Fruit Farm, and Bennett’s Turkey Farm — that are no longer operating. In fact, the Wilbraham Peach Festival, a popular fall tradition for a quarter-century, was discontinued in 2010.
In its place, the Wilbraham Nature and Cultural Center (WNCC) — steward of Fountain Park, located off Tinkham Road, where the peach festival was held — has re-energized a summer music series on Thursday nights, which has drawn great reviews and strong attendance for regional bands such as The Kings, Trailer Trash, and The Frank Manzi Band.
This evolution, from peaches to rock music, mirrors other transformations in the town, from agricultural center to one of the region’s more popular bedroom communities, and from a business community that could only be described as sleepy to one that is growing — and diversifying.
Indeed, the tenant list at Post Office Park, which has seen explosive growth over the past decade, includes everything from marketing firms to the Scantic Valley YMCA; from medical facilities to law offices.
The park has helped make Wilbraham the business mailing address for many entrepreneurs who previously had little reason to give the community a look, and it is fueling the potential for more commercial development, albeit controlled, as civic leaders cope with some of the growing pains that come with the population surge recorded in recent decades.
The new high school is a manifestation of this growth, said Boilard, as is the need for a new police station and senior center — and the new vision plan itself, which was commissioned with the knowledge that the community needed to anticipate its future and properly prepare for it.
The Vision Task Force, with which Scott was involved through her work with the BRBA, completed phase one of the initiative, called the “Community Vision,” which laid the groundwork for the next step, creation of a comprensive plan, which will be the road map for the community, said Phillips.
The key priorities identified by respondents, he said, include the need to work harder alongside the business community, continue to insist on excellent education, preserve the feel and beauty of the community, place added emphasis on individual recreation, offer reasonably priced housing with excellent town services, and improve service on sidewalks and bikeways.
And while contemplating the future, the town is coping with the present, which in recent years has meant everything from the Great Recession to the tornadoes that caused extensive damage within the community in June 2011 to the ongoing budget challenges faced by all cities and towns and exacerbated by the state’s own fiscal turmoil.
Effective teamwork in Town Hall has been the most important ingredient in meeting these challenges head on, said Boilard.
“Our department heads are phenomenal, and no matter what our political affiliation, we’ve always been on the same page fiscally,” he said. “When you have a team that is running for that common goal, it makes the end result easier to get to, and we all work as slim as we can to get the job done.”

The Bottom Line
‘Getting the job done’ is a phrase used by a number of people in a many different contexts in this community.
For town officials, it means creating that roadmap for the future while dealing with current challenges. For LaBrecque, it means continuing to build WMA’s brand around the world while also strengthening an already-solid town-gown relationship. And for Scott and others in business community, it means growing their own ventures while working, collectively, to convince the world that Wilbraham really isn’t that far away.
“I love that I’m doing business with my neighbors and they’re doing business with me,” she said. “It’s a pretty healthy place to be.”

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Company Notebook Departments

MassMutual Opens Phoenix Location
SPRINGFIELD — MassMutual Financial Group recently opened a 60,000-square-foot facility in Phoenix, Ariz., giving the company its first presence in the western part of the country. In a statement, the company said it plans to employ about 400 people at the Arizona location by 2014. The Phoenix location enables MassMutual to diversify its footprint, the statement said, “allowing for enhanced for enhanced service to all U.S. policy owners and customers while further mitigating operational risks.”

Hampshire Orthopedics Joins Cooley Dickinson Practice Associates
NORTHAMPTON — Hampshire Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, also known as Hamp Ortho and HOSM, joined Cooley Dickinson Practice Associates (CDPA) last month. Joining CDPA from Hamp Ortho are 39 employees, including four orthopedic surgeons, two physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians (physiatrists), two physical therapists, and an occupational hand therapist. As the oldest provider of orthopedic care in Hampshire County, Hamp Ortho has provided treatment of musculoskeletal problems — including management of spine disorders, primary and complex joint reconstruction, trauma, sports medicine, hand and arthritis care, and pain management — since 1952. The physicians of Hampshire Orthopedics are also on the consulting staff at the student health service department of the University of Massachusetts and have served as the orthopedic team physicians for many years. “One of the first priorities now that Hamp Ortho and CDPA are joined is to expand access and services to better meet the needs of patients who need orthopedic and rehabilitative care,” said Frank Dingler, executive director of CDPA. Dr. Jonathan Fallon, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine physician, added that “becoming part of CDPA will immediately allow the doctors at Hampshire Orthopedics and Sports Medicine to more effectively coordinate patient care and better communicate with primary-care providers.”

Money Magazine Touts Service at Citizens Bank
PROVIDENCE, R.I. — Money magazine recently selected Citizens Bank as one of nation’s best banks in its 2013 list of “The Best Banks in America.” Citizens Bank was recognized for its level of customer convenience available through its 24/7 customer contact center, its banking specialists available online via instant messaging, and its network of approximately 1,400 branches and 3,600 ATMs. The best-banks feature is in the November issue of Money. “Our customers typically choose to bank with us because of how easy it is to access their accounts at their local branch, through our 24/7 customer service center, at an ATM, online, or on their mobile phones,” said Brad Conner, vice chairman of Consumer Banking for RBS Citizens Financial Group. “We are committed to making banking simple, clear, and personal, and we are proud to be recognized by Money magazine as one of the best banks in America.” In addition to a “robust presence” defined by its many branches and ATMs, Money recognized Citizens Bank’s extended branch hours that include seven-day-a-week supermarket branches.b

Bottom Line

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Accounting and Tax Planning Sections

A chart of area accounting firms

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Net Results?

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Accounting and Tax Planning Sections

Medicare Tax Implications of the Affordable Care Act

By MICHAEL J. ROWE, CPA

Michael J. Rowe, CPA

The Affordable Care Act (ACA), signed into law in 2010, made two significant changes to Medicare tax for high-income taxpayers for years beginning after 2012. This article will provide a broad overview of the changes, explain how to reflect the additional taxes on an individual’s personal tax returns, and provide possible strategies to mitigate these taxes.

New 3.8% Surtax on Net Investment Income
Before the ACA, there was no Medicare tax on unearned income. The ACA imposes an additional Medicare tax of 3.8% of the lesser of: (1) net investment income, or (2) the excess of modified adjusted gross income over a threshold amount ($250,000 for joint returns or surviving spouses, $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return, or $200,000 for all other taxpayers).
The threshold amounts are not indexed for inflation, so as time passes, more taxpayers will be subject to the tax.
Modified adjusted gross income is adjusted gross income increased by any amount excluded from income as foreign earned income, net of deductions and exclusions disallowed with respect to the foreign earned income. As a practical matter, most U.S. residents do not have foreign earned income, so modified adjusted gross income would be the same as adjusted gross income.
Net investment income is the excess of the following items over deductions allocable to those items:
• Gross income from interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, and rents, unless they are derived in the ordinary course of a trade or business to which the 3.8% surtax does not apply;
• Other gross income derived from a trade or business to which the 3.8% surtax does apply; and
• Net gain attributable to the disposition of property other than property held in a trade or business to which the 3.8% surtax does not apply.
Gross income does not include items that are not included in gross income for income-tax purposes.
The 3.8% surtax applies to a trade or business only if it is considered a passive activity or if it is a trade or business of trading in financial instruments or commodities.
The additional Medicare tax is considered a tax for estimated payment purposes. An individual cannot request additional withholding specifically for the additional Medicare tax, but may increase his or her overall withholding using Form W-4.
The 3.8% surtax is calculated on Form 8960, which will be included in the individual’s tax return.
There are a few potential strategies to minimize additional net investment income in the current year:
• Consider taking taking capital losses to offset capital gains;
• Consider the installment method of reporting gains, if possible;
• If salary and other non-investment earnings plus net investment income approximate the threshold above, try to avoid, if feasible, additional income before year-end. This will defer, and possibly eliminate, the 3.8% surtax;
• If you have a one-time significant gain which brings you close to the threshold, try to defer, if possible, the recognition of additional income; and
• The surtax applies to passive activities, but not income from an activity in which a person is a material participant. It may be possible, with the advice of a tax advisor knowledgeable in the passive-activity rules, to increase participation in an activity in order to qualify as a material participant.

New 0.9% Medicare Tax on Wages and Self-Employment Income
The ACA increases the employee portion of the Medicare tax by an additional tax of 0.9% of wages and self-employment income received in excess of the threshold amounts as follows: $250,000 for joint returns, $125,000 for a married individual filing a separate return; or $200,000 for all other taxpayers.
As with the threshold amounts for the 3.8% surtax discussed above, these threshold amounts are not indexed for inflation, so as time passes, more taxpayers will be subject to the tax.
Unlike the current 1.45% Medicare tax on wages, the additional tax on a joint return is on the combined wages of the employee and the employee’s spouse.
The employer is required to withhold the additional 0.9% Medicare tax on wages in excess of $200,000, regardless of the person’s filing status or wages paid by another employer. It is possible that the person will owe more than the amount withheld. In that case, the employee should consider making estimated tax payments or increasing their withholding using Form W-4. If the person is self-employed, then he or she should consider increasing estimated tax payments.
If an employer withholds more than is required (for example, if an employee earns more than $200,000 but the joint return has total wages less than $250,000), then the excess withholding can be claimed as a credit on the employee’s income-tax return.
The 0.9% Medicare tax is calculated on Form 8959, which will be included in the individual’s tax return. To reduce or defer this 0.9% Medicare tax, consideration should be given to deferring income, if possible, to next year if income is above the threshold, especially if a non-recurring event occurred this year that increases wage and/or self-employment income above the threshold amount.

Conclusion
These new Medicare taxes will impact most high-income taxpayers. This has been a broad overview of the rules and planning strategies. There are more complicated rules and strategies beyond the scope of this article, especially with regard to investments in partnerships and subchapter S corporations.
For more information, you can go to www.irs.gov and search for “net investment income tax” or “additional Medicare tax,” or contact your tax advisor.

Michael J. Rowe is a principal with Wolf & Co., P.C., which has offices in Boston, Springfield, and other locations; (617) 428-5437; www.wolfandco.com

The Bay State’s Personnel Records Law

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Law Sections

Beware — There Are Some Traps for the Unwary Employer

By KATHRYN S. CROUSS, Esq.

Kathryn S. Crouss, Esq.

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts has strict regulations regarding employee records, and non-compliance can be costly for employers. Employers and employees should be aware of certain obligations and rights regarding an employee’s personnel file under the Massachusetts personnel records statute.
Amended in recent years to expand employers’ duties, the statute outlines certain affirmative obligations on the part of employers regarding an employee’s personnel record.
The statute defines a personnel record as a “record kept by an employer that identifies an employee, to the extent that the record is used or has been used, or may affect or be used relative to that employee’s qualifications for employment, promotion, transfer, additional compensation, or disciplinary action.” In short, all documents such as internal memos, letters, disciplinary actions, or notes that are being used, have been used, or could potentially be used to affect an employee’s employment are considered part of that employee’s personnel record.
Whether the employer keeps records in the employee’s formal personnel file or in various files, these records are subject to the requirements of the Massachusetts personnel records statute.
Here are more things you need to know:

Review of Personnel Records
The statute has several notable requirements relevant to both employers and employees. Employees and former employees have the right to request any documents that their employers used to evaluate, investigate, or discipline them. They also have the right to review their personnel records within five business days, provided that the request to review the record is made to the employer in writing.
In response, the employer is required to produce all information identifying the employee that is subject to the statutory requirements. While the employee’s written request may imply that the employee is requesting only information formally kept in his or her personnel file, employers must be mindful that the statute’s definition of an employee’s ‘personnel record’ is very expansive, and must carefully examine all records related to the requesting employee to ensure full compliance with the statute’s requirements.
Notably, employers will be in compliance with the statute if they simply allow the requesting employee to review his or her personnel record at the business itself; the statute does not require the employer to copy and forward all records to the employee.

Notice Requirement
New to the most recent amendment, employers must now notify employees within 10 days whenever a document potentially affecting an employee’s employment is placed in the personnel record. Specifically, the statute states that “an employer shall notify an employee within 10 days of the employer placing any information in the employee’s personnel record to the extent that the information is being used, has been used, or may be used to negatively affect the employee’s qualification for employment, promotion, transfer, or additional compensation, or the possibility that the employee will be subject to disciplinary action.”
The implications of this recent requirement are significant for employers. They must now be more vigilant about how they document personnel issues, as each time a document meeting the expansive requirements of the statute is placed in an employee’s personnel file, the employee must be notified. Additionally, employees now have the right to explain or rebut all information they may dispute in their personnel files in response to notification regarding negative information. The statute requires that an employee’s rebuttal to any negative information be transmitted to third parties along with the disputed information.

Exceptions
The most recent amendment to the statute provides that employees will not be permitted to review their personnel records more than twice in a calendar year. However, if an employee makes a request to review his or her personnel record after being notified of negative information, as discussed above, the amendment specifically exempts such reviews from the two reviews permitted each year.
In addition, the statute specifically indicates that a personnel record cannot contain information about another employee if disclosure of the information would be likely to invade the other employee’s privacy. Employers should be careful to edit any information that identifies other employees in disciplinary action forms, notes, memoranda, and the like, in order to comply with the statute’s privacy provision.

Specific Requirements for Larger Employers
Larger employers should note that the statute specifies what written information or documents must be contained in personnel records kept by employers with 20 or more employees. Such personnel files must contain the employee’s name, address, date of birth, job application, résumés, job title and description, compensation, starting date, lists of probationary periods, performance evaluations, written warnings of substandard performance, any other documents relating to disciplinary action, dated termination notices, and waivers signed by employees.

Enforcement
The statute does not provide for a private right of action, so employees cannot file a lawsuit if they believe that their employer has violated the statute. However, the Massachusetts personnel-records law is enforced by the attorney general, who may impose fines between $500 and $2,500 for violations. These fines are applicable regardless of the number of employees an employer has.
The statute leaves many questions open regarding an employer’s responsibility related to an employee’s personnel file, so employers are advised to contact an employment-law attorney to create a compliant personnel-records policy.

Kathryn S. Crouss, Esq. is a member of Bacon Wilson’s litigation department and handles all aspects of civil litigation, including employee and management-side employment-law litigation, personal injury, and domestic-relations litigation; (413) 781-0560; baconwilson.com/attorneys/crouss

Calculated Decisions

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Accounting and Tax Planning Sections

Effective Planning Now Can Lower Your Tax Burden

Kristina Drzal-Houghton

Tax planning is inherently complex, with the most powerful tax strategies often relying as much on clairvoyance as they do on calculations.
As 2013 begins to wind down, the need for a crystal ball lessens, and the ability to strategize with more certainty is upon us. This developing certainty provides opportunities for individuals and businesses to manage tax liabilities through tax-planning techniques.
Year-end tax planning has always been arduous, but early 2013 legislation complicated the tax structure by layering in new tax brackets and income buckets, bringing a multi-dimensional complication to tax planning this year.
In this article we focus on tax-planning techniques that can be executed during the remainder of 2013, but specific facts and circumstances may open up other opportunities or limit some of the tactics discussed.
Tax Strategies for Business Owners
Business equipment. Significant tax benefits remain available for business equipment purchases during 2013. A 50% bonus depreciation deduction is available for qualified property placed in service during 2013. The deduction is set to expire for 2014. To qualify for bonus depreciation, equipment must be new and placed in service by year-end.
Section 179 expensing rules provide full expensing for up to $500,000 of qualifying property placed in service during 2013. However, the full deduction is available only if the total amount of qualifying property placed in service in 2013 does not exceed $2 million. The Section 179 deduction limit is scheduled to be drastically reduced in 2014.
• Planning point: If you are planning to purchase a significant amount of machinery and equipment for your business in the next year or two, consider accelerating your order so the assets are delivered and placed into service by Dec. 31, 2013. To take full advantage of the Section 179 deduction, monitor total purchases to prevent its phaseout.
Deduction for qualified production activities income. Taxpayers can claim a deduction, subject to limits, for 9% of the lesser of (1) the taxpayer’s ‘qualified production activities income’ for the tax year (i.e., net income from U.S. manufacturing, production, or extraction activities; U.S. film production; U.S. construction activities; and U.S. engineering and architectural services), or (2) the taxpayer’s taxable income for that tax year, before taking this deduction into account. This deduction generally has the effect of a reduction in the taxpayer’s marginal rate and, thus, should be taken into account when making decisions regarding income-shifting strategies.
Net operating losses and debt-cancellation income. A business with a loss this year may be able to use that loss to generate cash in the form of a quick net operating loss carry-back refund. This type of refund may be of particular value to a financially troubled business that needs a fast cash transfusion to keep going.
There also are a number of different kinds of debt-cancellation or debt-reduction transactions that may generate taxable income in 2013 if not deferred until 2014.
Retirement Plans. Starting a small-business retirement-savings plan is easier than you think and offers significant tax advantages. Employer contributions are deductible from the employer’s income, employee contributions are not taxed until distributed to the employee, and investments in the program grow tax-deferred. Further, the tax law offers a small incentive of a $500-per-year tax credit for the first three years of a new SEP, SIMPLE, or other retirement plan to cover the initial setup expenses for certain small employers.

Individual Tax-rate Management
In prior years, the main concern was that, if you reduced your regular income tax too far, the alternative minimum tax (AMT) would step in to appropriate your hard-earned tax savings. There are now additional dynamics to consider, when certain thresholds are exceeded, in the form of a 3.8% net-investment-income (NII) tax levied on investment income, a 0.9% Medicare payroll tax levied on wages and self-employment earnings, and a multi-tiered, long-term capital-gains tax-rate structure.
These new taxes, beginning in 2013, apply when adjusted gross income exceeds certain thresholds ranging from $200,000 for single filers to $250,000 for married taxpayers. For these thresholds and most others mentioned in this article, married filing separate uses one-half the married threshold.
Additionally, the 39.6% tax bracket returns this year after a long hiatus for taxpayers above thresholds ranging from $400,000 of taxable income for single filers to $450,000 for married filers.
Net investment income tax. The 3.8% NII tax now applies to most investment income. For individuals, the amount subject to the tax is the lesser of (1) the net investment income; or (2) the excess of modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) over the applicable threshold amount.
NII includes dividends, rents, interest, passive-activity income, capital gains, annuities, and royalties. Passive pass-through income will be subject to this new tax, but non-passive will not. Self-employment income, income from an active trade or business, and portions of the gain on the sale of an active interest in a partnership or S corporation with investment assets, as well as IRA or qualified plan distributions, are not subject to the NII tax.
• Planning point: Weighing a decision about selling marketable securities to meet current cash needs? Consider using margin debt for replacement securities. The interest on the debt will be deductible, subject to the investment-interest limitation, which could reduce your NII for purposes of the new tax.
• Planning point: To the extent your NII is income from a passive activity, increasing your material participation in the activity between now and the end of the year can reduce the amount of income subject to the NII tax. Proceed with caution, though, because a change in participation level may impact other short- and long-term tax obligations.
• Planning point: As you near the applicable threshold, consider revising the timing of distributions from retirement plans to manage your net investment income. While the distributions themselves are not NII, the distributions increase your MAGI, which could subject more of your investment income to the NII tax.
Increased maximum tax rates on long-term capital gains. While avoiding or deferring tax may be your primary goal, to the extent there is income to report, the income of choice is long-term capital gain income thanks to the favorable tax rates available. The available rates differ depending on the taxpayer’s tax bracket.
Taxpayers in the 39.6% bracket will now pay a 20% long-term capital gains and qualified dividends rate. Additionally, those above the previously noted thresholds will pay the 3.8% tax in addition to the increased capital-gains rate.
• Planning point: The netting rules provide an opportunity to manage the net gain or loss subject to taxation, making it prudent to review your investment gains and losses before the close of year to determine whether additional transactions prior to year-end may improve your tax outlook.
Recognition of same-sex marriage for federal tax purposes. Beginning in 2013, legally married same-sex couples must file a joint or married-filing-separately return. The rules do not extend to cover domestic partnerships. The ruling is retroactive, opening up a refund opportunity in certain circumstances for those who were previously prohibited from joint filing. Amended returns may be, but are not required to be, filed for tax years still open by statute of limitations.

Year-end Timing Strategies
Managing the alternative minimum tax. The AMT applies when income, as adjusted for certain preference items, exceeds certain exemptions, but the rate applied to that income falls below the AMT rate, essentially acting as a tax-leveling mechanism. Residents of states with high income and property taxes, like Connecticut and Massachusetts, are more likely to be subject to the AMT because these state taxes are not deductible when computing AMT income.
The AMT exemptions are subject to phaseouts when AMT income exceeds $115,400 for single filers and $153,900 for married joint filers.
Delaying or prepaying expenses. As a cash-method taxpayer, you can deduct expenses when you pay them or charge them to your credit card. Payment by credit card is considered paid in the year the charge is incurred. Expenses that are commonly prepaid in connection with year-end tax planning include:
Charitable contributions. A tax deduction is available for cash contributions to qualified charities of up to 50% of adjusted gross income (AGI) and up to 30% (20% for gifts to private operating foundations) of your AGI for charitable gifts of appreciated property.
• Planning point: Consider contributing appreciated securities that you have held for more than one year. Usually, you will receive a charitable deduction for the full value of the securities, while avoiding the capital-gains tax that would be incurred upon sale of the securities.
State and local income taxes. Consider prepaying any state and local income taxes normally due on Jan. 15, 2014, or with the filing of the return if you do not expect to be subject to the AMT.
• Planning Point: If you expect to owe state and/or local income tax when you file your return for 2013, consider paying that amount before Dec. 31, 2013. Although you relinquish your cash in advance, the benefit from accelerating the tax deduction and lowering your current federal income tax could be significant. It is particularly powerful if the deduction could be lost through the AMT in 2014. Just be careful that your prepayment does not make you subject to AMT in 2013.
Real-estate taxes. Like state and local income taxes, real-estate tax levies due early in 2014 can often be prepaid in 2013. For real-estate taxes on your residence or other personal real estate, just be mindful of the AMT in both years. Real-estate tax on rental property is deductible whether or not you are subject to AMT, and it can be safely prepaid.
Mortgage interest. There are limits on your ability to deduct prepaid interest. However, to the extent your January mortgage payment reflects interest accrued as of Dec. 31, 2013, a payment prior to year-end will secure the interest deduction in 2013.
Other itemized deductions. Miscellaneous itemized deductions, like many deductions, are deductible only if you itemize your deductions and are not subject to AMT. Where miscellaneous itemized deductions differ is with the requirement that the total deductions exceed 2% of your AGI to be deductible.
Itemized deduction phaseout. After a three-year hiatus, 2013 marks the return of the phaseout of certain itemized deductions for higher-income taxpayers. For affected taxpayers, itemized deductions are reduced by 3% of the amount by which AGI exceeds thresholds ranging from $250,000 for a single filer to $300,000 for married joint filers.
However, deductions for medical expenses, investment interest, casualty and theft losses, and gambling losses are not subject to the limitation. Taxpayers cannot lose more than 80% of the itemized deductions subject to the phaseout.
Exemption phaseout. A personal exemption is generally available for you, your spouse if you are married and file a joint return, and each dependent (a qualifying child or qualifying relative who meets certain tests). In 2013, the exemption amount is $3,900, subject to a reinstated phaseout of the exemption for higher-income taxpayers. These phaseout thresholds begin at the same AGI limits discussed for itemized deductions above.
Retirement-plan distributions. If you are over age 59½ and your 2013 income is unusually low, consider taking a taxable distribution from your retirement plan, even if it is not required, to use the unusually low tax rate for the period. More powerful still, consider converting the funds to a Roth account.
• Planning point: If you expect to be in a higher tax bracket in the future, consider converting your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA during your lower-income years. You will be paying taxes early, but future appreciation of the assets in your account may escape income taxes entirely.
IRA distributions to charity. If you are over age 70½, you can make a tax-free distribution of up to $100,000 from your IRA to a qualified charity before Dec. 31, 2013. Under current law, this opportunity will not be available for 2014.
Note that this opportunity is doubly powerful beginning in 2013. In addition to prior tax benefits, now the IRA is not included in your MAGI, and thus this strategy may reduce exposure to the new 3.8% NII tax.
Worthless securities and bad debts. Both worthless securities and bad debts could give rise to capital losses. Since no transaction generally alerts you to this deduction, you should review your portfolio carefully.
• Planning point: If you own securities that have become worthless or made loans that have become uncollectible, ensure that the losses are deductible in the current year by obtaining substantive documentation to support the deduction.
Contributing to a retirement plan. You may be able to reduce your taxes by contributing to a retirement plan. If your employer sponsors a retirement plan, such as a 401(k), 403(b), or SIMPLE plan, your contributions avoid current taxation, as will any investment earnings until you begin receiving distributions from the plan. Some plans allow you to make after-tax Roth contributions, which will not reduce your current income, but you will generally have no tax to pay when those amounts, plus any associated earnings, are withdrawn in future years.
You and your spouse must have earned income to contribute to either a traditional or a Roth IRA. Only taxpayers with modified AGI below certain thresholds are permitted to contribute to a Roth IRA. If a workplace retirement plan covers you or your spouse, modified AGI also controls your ability to deduct your contribution to a traditional IRA. There is no AGI limit on your or your spouse’s deduction if you are not covered by an employer plan. If your modified AGI falls within the phaseout range, a partial contribution/deduction is still allowed.
• Planning point: If you would like to contribute to a Roth IRA, but your income exceeds the threshold, consider contributing to a traditional IRA for 2013, and convert the IRA to a Roth IRA in 2014. Be sure to inquire about the tax consequences of the conversion, especially if you have funds in other traditional IRAs.

Other Personal Tax-planning Considerations
Withholding/estimated tax payments. With higher rates in effect for 2013, more taxpayers may find themselves exposed to an underpayment penalty. Underpayment penalties can be avoided when total withholdings and estimated tax payments exceed the 2012 tax liability or, in the case of higher-income taxpayers, 110% of 2012 tax.
• Planning point: If you expect to be subject to an underpayment penalty for failure to pay your 2013 tax liability on a timely basis, consider increasing your withholding between now and the end of the year to reduce or eliminate the penalty. Increasing your final estimated tax deposit due Jan. 15, 2014 may reduce the amount of the penalty, but is unlikely to eliminate it entirely. Withholding, even if done on the last day of the tax year, is deemed withheld ratably throughout the tax year.
Losses from pass-through business entities. If your ability to deduct current-year losses from a partnership, LLC, or S corporation may be limited by your tax basis or the ‘at-risk’ rules, consider contributing capital to the entity or, in some cases, making a loan to the entity prior to Dec. 31, 2013, to secure your deduction this year.
• Planning point: If you anticipate a net loss from business activities in which you do not materially participate, consider disposing of the loss activity by Dec. 31, 2013. Assuming sufficient basis exists, all suspended losses become deductible when you dispose of the activity. Even if there is a gain on the disposition, you may still benefit from having the long-term capital gain taxed at 23.8% (inclusive of the NII tax) with the previously suspended losses offsetting other ordinary income.
American opportunity tax credit (AOTC). The AOTC for college costs has been extended for five years through 2017. A credit of up to $2,500 may be claimed during the first four years of college. The credit phases out for AGI in excess of $80,000 for single taxpayers and $160,000 for married taxpayers filing a joint return.
• Planning point: If your income is too high for you to qualify for the AOTC, consider gifting your children the funds necessary to pay the qualified education expenses, making them eligible to claim the AOTC.
Energy credit. The $1,500 credit for new windows and doors has expired, but a credit of up to $500 for residential energy property is still available if prior years’ credits were not taken.
Estate and gift taxes. For 2013, taxpayers are permitted to make tax-free gifts of up to $14,000 per year, per recipient ($28,000 if married and using a gift-splitting election, or if each spouse uses separate funds). By making these gifts annually, taxpayers can transfer significant wealth out of their estate without using any of their lifetime exclusion.
• Planning point: Consider making similar gifts early in 2014. Each year brings a new annual exclusion, and a gift early in the year transfers next year’s appreciation out of your estate.
• Planning point: Additional gifts can be made using the lifetime gift exclusion, which is $5.25 million ($10.5 million for married couples) in 2013. Future exclusions are indexed for inflation. The recent increases to the exclusion make it a good time to review any existing estate and gift plans to ensure they best meet your needs.
• Planning point: When combined with other estate and gift-planning techniques, such as Section 529 plans to help fund your children’s or grandchildren’s college education, the potential exists to avoid or reduce estate and gift taxes while transferring significant wealth to other family members.

Conclusion
The changes initiated during 2013 added layers of complexity to an already difficult tax system, but with a purposeful, informed plan in place, taxpayers can still reap significant benefits. Consult your tax advisor so they can best support you in building your plan for 2013 and beyond.

Kristina Drzal Houghton, CPA, MST is a partner with the Holyoke-based accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, and director of the firm’s Taxation Division; [email protected]

A Time to Be Proactive

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Law Sections

Take Steps to Reduce Risk of Disability-discrimination Claims

Karina L. Schrengohst

The Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) and its federal counterpart, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), have identified disability discrimination as one of their top priorities. Consequently, employers would be wise to take preventive steps to reduce their risk of liability, such as implementing anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies and training their employees about such policies.
In a nutshell, under state and federal law, it is unlawful to discriminate on the basis of disability in employment decisions such as hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, discharge, and other terms and conditions of employment. Employers have an obligation to engage in the interactive process and provide reasonable accommodations to a qualified individual with a disability, unless such accommodation would cause an undue hardship to the employer.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act’s significantly expanded definition of ‘disability,’ when faced with a request for an accommodation, the focus should not be about whether the employee is disabled. Instead, the focus should be on engaging in the interactive process, which is triggered when an employee asks for an accommodation or when an employer recognizes the need for an accommodation.
A reasonable accommodation is a modification or change to the workplace that enables an individual with a disability to apply for a job, perform job duties, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment. This may include, for example, modifying work schedules, granting time off, making the workplace accessible by wheelchair, or providing an interpreter.
The interactive process is simply an informal, interactive dialogue between the employer and the employee. It is a conversation during which limitations are identified and reasonable accommodation options are discussed. There should be direct communication between the employer and the employee in which both parties explore possible accommodations. The employee may offer options for what he or she thinks would be the most effective and preferred accommodation, and the employer may offer alternative suggestions. The goal of the interactive process is for the employer and employee to work together to identify reasonable accommodations. Problematically, however, employers sometimes skip this very important conversation.
Many employers have anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies, but do not go that extra step to train their workers. Employees with supervisory responsibilities in particular should be trained to identify disability discrimination issues. Supervisors, as the eyes and the ears of the company, play an important role in preventing disability discrimination and harassment. Also, because of the MCAD’s and EEOC’s focus on the interactive process, supervisors need to be able to recognize the variety of ways in which a request for accommodation may be articulated so they can identify when there is a need to engage in an interactive dialogue with the employee. Providing supervisors with adequate training is essential to ensure that they do not skip this conversation.
Further, when faced with an MCAD or EEOC claim, one way a company can demonstrate that it takes its anti-discrimination and anti-harassment policies seriously is to show that not only does the company have a policy, but it also took affirmative steps to implement its policy by training its employees and supervisors. The MCAD clearly sees the value in training because the agency has increasingly been ordering that employers conduct training as part of settlement agreements or in addition to monetary damages.
The cost of defending against expensive litigation far exceeds the investment in providing preventive training. Effective anti-discrimination and anti-harassment training is strategically designed. For instance, interactive workshops keep employees engaged with real-life hypotheticals. Also, there are advantages to training rank-and-file employees separately from employees with supervisory responsibility. And the size of the group of individuals per training session and the length of time per session impact the experience.
Another important aspect of training is ensuring that supervisors understand that, when a request for an accommodation has been made, they need to be mindful of the potential risks that accompany employment decisions that are made related to that employee. Employment decisions such as giving a poor performance evaluation, changing job responsibilities or shift, transferring to a different department or location, or discharging an employee who has requested an accommodation can be perceived as discriminatory, harassing, and retaliatory.
This is also important when claims are filed by current employees, as they can be particularly difficult to navigate. However, when an employee puts his or her employer on notice that she or he is disabled and needs an accommodation, or files a claim of discrimination or harassment, it does not give that employee a free pass on otherwise bad behavior. Employers just want to make sure, if they are taking an adverse employment action, that there is documentation that supports that decision.
Finally, it is always a good idea to consult with employment counsel before disciplining or firing an employee who has requested an accommodation.

Karina L. Schrengohst, Esq. is an attorney at Royal LLP, a woman-owned, SOMWBA-certified, boutique, management-side labor and employment law firm; (413) 586-2288; [email protected]

Editorial

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Opinion

A Step Forward for Springfield

Seemingly lost amid all those much larger headlines last month concerning the World Series, the debt-ceiling crisis, and Westfield State President Evan Dobelle getting suspended and then suing everyone who had anything to do with that action was this item in the local paper: ‘Springfield City Council OKs raises for mayor, councilors.’
This development — at least the first part of the equation — has been talked about for some time and, in most respects, was expected and almost a foregone conclusion. But it is still a significant step forward for Springfield.
(Before explaining why, we’ll quickly address the second part of that headline: This is how it works in situations like this; city councils, in general, will gladly approve a pay hike for the mayor as long as they are quite sure the votes are there to give themselves one, too. It’s not going to happen otherwise, so just accept it and move on.)
That bit of local politics aside, this vote by the council to take the mayor’s salary from $95,000 to $135,000 — the first raise for the city’s chief executive since Bill Clinton was starting his second term — represents real progress when it comes to securing solid leadership in the city for years to come.
Raising the mayor’s salary does not ensure effective leadership — there are untold examples of how people in public positions with big salaries have failed in their roles (see Dobelle) — but it certainly helps in that regard. That’s because many people, especially members of the local business community, have eschewed bids for public office simply because they could not afford to take a serious pay cut.
This $40,000 raise will reward the current mayor, Domenic Sarno, but, more importantly, it will help ensure large, deep fields of candidates in the future.
And from our view, solid leadership is perhaps the most important ingredient in the large volume of work that remains to be done when it comes to returning Springfield, the state’s and the unofficial capital of Western Mass., to prominence.
Let’s just look at the near future. If a planned resort casino is built in the South End of the community, the city’s leadership, and especially the mayor, will have to assimilate that nearly $1 billion development and work to ensure that it becomes some kind of asset, not a liability; no small task. Meanwhile, that mayor will still have to deal with a school system in crisis, a downtown that will need much more than a casino, public safety issues, and the ongoing problem of reinventing this former manufacturing hub.
And if the casino is built somewhere else? Well, that mayor will have to contend with all those latter items listed above and then also deal with what will be serious psychological fallout — and find a way to develop several blocks of underutilized and/or tornado-damaged property the old fashioned way, and at a time when it is very difficult to convince developers to invest in the city.
Either way, whoever is in the corner office is going to have their hands full.
A $135,000 salary won’t make the job any easier, but it might help ensure that those who win that assignment have the wherewithal to carry it out effectively.
Springfield’s goal moving forward is to make itself a community of choice again. It held that distinction once, but it was a long, long time ago. Regaining that status won’t happen quickly or easily, and it won’t happen at all unless there is strong consistent leadership for many years to come.
The council’s vote to raise the mayor’s salary is just one step, but an important one, in moving the city forward. And it’s a step that other area communities currently underpaying their mayors — Chicopee, Easthampton, and others on that list — should emulate.

Rx for Trusts in Trouble

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Law Sections

Remember: ‘Irrevocable’ Ain’t What It Used to Be

By CAROL C. KLYMAN, Esq.

Carol C. Klyman, Esq.

So, who has a trust and why do we care if it’s ill?
It turns out that there are more people than you think who have set up or are beneficiaries of irrevocable trusts that, for one reason or another, are no longer desirable.
Maybe the law or the reasons for the trust have changed. Sometimes businesses that have been managed through a trust for a period of time may not currently be operating optimally for tax, business, and/or family purposes. Perhaps some provisions of the trust that were originally helpful now cause legal or family problems for the beneficiaries. Maybe the trust has simply outlived its usefulness. Perhaps the laws under which the trust was created are no longer in force.
Can you get out, how, and who decides where you end up? What, exactly, does ‘irrevocable’ mean when applied to a trust?
The Bay State has a long and fairly rich tradition of allowing modification to irrevocable trusts, which now has been amplified by the passage of the Massachusetts Uniform Trust Code in 2012 and a new court decision in 2013. The types of irrevocable trusts that could be affected are, among others, irrevocable trusts holding life insurance, trusts holding businesses for family and/or non-family members, special-needs trusts, and family and revocable trusts that have become irrevocable at the settlor’s death. What follows are some of the ways to modify irrevocable trusts under current law.

Pursuant to the Trust Instrument
• Contingency clauses. Many well-drafted trusts contain contingency clauses that allow the trustee to terminate the trust, to merge it with similar but not identical trusts, and to amend it to bring it into compliance with tax or other laws.
• Termination clauses. These clauses allow the trustee to distribute trust property out to the beneficiaries when it is too small to make trust administration economically viable.
• Special powers of appointment. These are powers that can be retained by the settlor or granted to a beneficiary. They allow trust property to be distributed or held in trust as directed by the person holding the power. This can be very helpful for minor or disabled beneficiaries or those who may have creditor issues, and is an elegant way of amending the trust without recourse to the trustee, the courts, or other beneficiaries.

Under the New Uniform Trust Code
A trust can be modified under the new UTC as follows:
• Without court approval but with the consent of all the beneficiaries and the settlor (M.G.L. c 203E, Section 411);
• With court approval with consent of the all the beneficiaries and with a court determination that modification is not inconsistent with a material purpose of the trust (M.G.L. c 203E, Section 411); and
• By the court where, because of circumstances not anticipated by the settlor, modification or termination will further the purposes of the trust (M.G.L. c 203E, Section 412).

Pursuant to Case Law
The courts in Massachusetts have allowed trust modification in some of the following circumstances:
• To distribute trust property outright or to appoint property in further trust pursuant to a special power retained by the settlor or granted to a beneficiary even though the trust option may not be specifically mentioned (Loring v. Karri-Davies, 1976);
• To implement intended planning to reduce estate or generation-skipping taxes (First Agricultural Bank v. Coxe, 1990, and its progeny);
• To disclaim a trustee power or beneficiary provision even though there is no express provision in the trust (McClintock v. Schahill, 1998); and
• To ‘decant’ trust property into a successor trust without consent of a court or trust beneficiary under the trustee authority, to distribute to or for the benefit of trust beneficiaries (Morse v. Kraft, 2013).

Some Pitfalls
But, beware, there are traps for the unwary!
Sometimes changes can trigger tax, creditor, or government eligibility problems that didn’t exist previously, and this can make the cure much worse that the disease. Here are some of the pitfalls:
• Loss of tax benefits such as the marital deduction or the generation-skipping tax exemption. Many revocable trusts are set up to maximize the use of the Massachusetts or federal estate-tax exemptions ($5.25 million and $1 million, respectively). At the death of the settlor, the trust becomes irrevocable. Any changes made pursuant to any of the methods above must take care not to lose the benefit of these exemptions.
• Loss of eligibility for MassHealth or other benefit programs. Supplemental-needs trusts and other discretionary trusts may be designed to allow the beneficiary to maintain eligibility for MassHealth, supplemental security income, Social Security disability insurance, veterans-assistance programs, or some rent-subsidy programs. Any outright distribution or transfers to a successor trust that allows the beneficiary independent access to trust assets or income can result in loss of eligibility for these benefits and a disaster for the affected beneficiary.
• Exposure to creditors. Some trusts are designed to shield a beneficiary from the claims of creditors. If these protections are not maintained in the successor trust, the beneficiary may end up with nothing.

Moral of the Story
If you have an irrevocable trust, have it reviewed by a knowledgeable attorney to be sure it meets your needs under your current circumstances, and, if not, ask about using one or more or the above methods to make changes. If you are contemplating creating an irrevocable trust, discuss viable exit strategies as part of your plan.
Remember … irrevocable just ain’t what it used to be!

Carol Cioe Klyman, Esq. is a shareholder of Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C., whose practice concentrates in the areas of elder law, estate and special-needs planning, estate administration, and trusts and estates litigation. She is a fellow of the American College of Trust and Estates Counsel and immediate past president of the Hampden County Estate Planning Council; (413) 737-1131; www.ssfpc.com

Briefcase

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Briefcase Departments

State Moves Forward with Interstate 91 Study
SPRINGFIELD — State officials have chosen a consultant to study possible alternative alignments for Interstate 91 through Springfield, while highway officials proceed with a plan to replace decks on a deteriorating elevated portion of the highway in the city. The state Department of Transportation has selected the Cheshire, Conn.-based consulting firm Milone & MacBroom to evaluate alternatives for a section of Interstate 91, including possibly depressing the highway section to ground level or below ground. At the same time, the state highway division will be moving forward with a plan to replace decks on the crumbling Interstate 91 viaduct. Milone & MacBroom will study a section of Interstate 91 south of the most elevated portion of the viaduct near the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. At the same time, the state highway division will develop a plan for replacing the decks of the existing Interstate 91 viaduct, which raised safety concerns after a chunk of concrete fell from the section in April. The activity comes amid plans by MGM Resorts International to build $800 million casino in the South End of Springfield that would front Interstate 91 and would draw most of its traffic from the highway. MGM is competing with Mohegan Sun Massachusetts in Palmer for the single casino license to be awarded in Western Mass. The state is starting contract negotiations with Milone & MacBroom with a goal of starting work in January. The firm will coordinate with the state highway division as it moves forward with its proposal to replace the decks on the viaduct.

U.S. Manufacturing Gains 2,000 Jobs in September
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The latest monthly U.S. jobs report shows America’s manufacturing sector gained 2,000 jobs in September. However, for all of 2013, the U.S. has gained only 12,000 manufacturing jobs. Commented Scott Paul, President of the Alliance for American Manufacturing (AAM), “in manufacturing, we’ve been treading water for nearly 18 months now. Yet no one in Washington seems to care. The September jobs report shows that private-sector job growth, and manufacturing in particular, is too weak to put the U.S. on a sound fiscal footing or to get the middle class back on track. It’s time for Congress to stop manufacturing crises and deal with our real manufacturing crisis. Washington needs to put into place policies that will get America back to work. The neglect is glaring: 70,000 structurally deficient bridges. Math and science achievement down compared to other industrialized nations. And our economic competitors are not standing still. This is no way to run a country or to support the private sector’s efforts to create jobs. And here’s the kicker: the October numbers could be even worse.” President Obama set a goal of creating 1 million new manufacturing jobs in his second term. To follow the president’s progress, the AAM continually updates a jobs tracker based on monthly jobs data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).

Student Debt Load Rising in Bay State
BOSTON — More students in Massachusetts public universities and colleges are incurring larger amounts of debt to finance their educations, the state higher education commissioner told lawmakers recently. “Let me sound the alarm on this issue,” Commissioner Richard Freeland said at the fourth in a series of hearings on college debt. “Make no mistake: the burden of student debt could derail us from achieving our goals.” The average debt for graduates of the University of Massachusetts system, other state universities, and community colleges increased 27% from fiscal 2008 through fiscal 2011, the last year for which data are available, Freeland said. And the percentage of graduates who accumulated debt rose across all levels, including a high of 64.8% at the state universities in 2011. The average graduate in the UMass system left with $26,844 in debt in 2011, an increase of $5,525 over three years earlier. At other state universities, the average figure was $22,362, a jump of $4,822. For graduates of community colleges, the average debt in 2011 ranged from $7,229 for graduates with associate degrees to $4,655 for graduates with one-year certificates or less. The percentage of graduates who left the UMass system in debt rose to 61.4% in 2011 from 57.9% in 2008. The biggest increase in public institutions, from 31.1% to 48.6%, was registered by community-college graduates with one- or two-year certificates.

Savage Arms, Cirtec Medical Win Grants
WESTFIELD, EAST LONGMEADOW — Firearms manufacturer Savage Arms in Westfield and Cirtec Medical in East Longmeadow, a maker of medical devices, have been awarded grants from the state’s Workforce Training Fund to expand their workforces and train employees in lean-manufacturing processes. Savage Arms was awarded $179,600, which will be used to train 400 employees, and 48 new jobs are expected to be created. Cirtec Medical was awarded $106,805, which will be used to train 63 employees, and three new jobs are expected to be created as a result of training. Lean manufacturing emphasizes on avoiding waste and improving quality, and is based on the Toyota manufacturing methods. The two awards are part of a package of 37 grants totaling $2.8 million. All told, the grants fund 3,106 current and newly hired employees. Savage Arms represents one-third of the total market for traditional firearms, with a particular focus on bolt-action rifles. Cirtec Medical is a contract design, development, and manufacturing firm focusing on medical devices, with a particular strength in active and passive implantable devices and minimally invasive systems.

State Increases Incentives for Hiring Veterans, Long-term Unemployed
BOSTON — The Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced that it has more than doubled cash grants available to employers hiring Massachusetts residents who have been unemployed for six months or more, or Massachusetts veterans (regardless of length of unemployment). Increased grant funding is available through the state’s Hiring Incentive Training Grant (HITG), a program of the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund. Any for-profit company or nonprofit organization that contributes to the Massachusetts Workforce Training Fund, a state fund enacted in 1998, is encouraged to apply. Eligible employers may now apply for grants of $5,000 for each new hire who meets the HITG program requirements. Employers may receive up to $75,000 each calendar year. Upon approval, payment will be available to the employer once the new hire has retained employment for at least 120 days. A copy of the Hiring Incentive Training Grant application, eligibility requirements, frequently asked questions, and other relevant materials are available at EOLWD’s website, www.mass.gov/hiringgrant. Grant awards are subject to funding availability, and applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.

Retailers Cautious About Seasonal Hiring Boosts
WASHINGTON — Facing economic wariness and wavering consumer confidence, retailers are approaching their holiday hiring with caution, forecasters say. Research firm Challenger, Gray & Christmas said it expects hiring will, at best, match the 752,000 retail jobs that were added last year between October and December, and the National Retail Federation projects retailers will add between 720,000 and 780,000 seasonal workers this year. Retailers are making their staffing decisions against a backdrop of uncertainty caused by tepid economic growth and, more recently, standoffs in Congress over funding the federal government and the debt limit. Toys R Us plans to hire 45,000 workers, about the same as it hired last year. Kohl’s is poised to hire 50,000 workers, also consistent with its 2012 hiring. Macy’s is set to add 83,000 seasonal workers, a slight increase from the 80,000 brought on the previous year. Wal-Mart says it will hire 55,000 holiday workers, a 10% increase from 2012. It will also transition an additional 35,000 temporary workers to part-time positions and yet another 35,000 part-time workers to full-time positions. Meanwhile, Target plans to pare back its seasonal staffing, expecting to add 70,000 workers in 2013 compared with 88,000 last year. The company said it will focus on giving existing staffers the chance to work extra hours. Foot traffic to bricks-and-mortar stores is taking a hit as more consumers buy online. That growth is reflected in Amazon.com’s hiring plans; the online giant expects to create 70,000 seasonal positions, a 40% increase from last year. While holiday retail hiring is expected to be somewhat flat, sales are expected to inch up. The National Retail Federation forecasts a 3.9% increase to $602.1 billion, an improvement over last year’s sales growth of 3.5% over 2011.

WSU President Files Suit Against Several Parties
WESTFIELD — Evan Dobelle, the embattled president of Westfield State University who was placed on paid leave of absence last month amid investigations of alleged improper spending and violations of university policies regarding travel and credit, has filed suit in U.S. District Court in Springfield against a number of parties directly or indirectly related to the action taken against him. Dobelle, who is suing the university, Higher Education Commissioner Richard Freeland, three trustees, the school’s accounting firm, a Boston law firm, and the university’s lawyers, is seeking an unspecified amount of money and legal fees. He claims that Freeland and the trustees are waging a “guerilla war for control of the university,” and that Freeland used extortion-like tactics in an attempt to force Dobelle from office. The suit also alleges that trustees Chairman John Flynn III conducted a “one-man investigation” into Dobelle’s travel between 2008 and 2013. Also named in the suit are trustees Kevin Queenin and Elizabeth Scheibel, the former Northwestern district attorney; the Braintree-based accounting firm O’Connell and Drew; Rudin and Rudman, a Boston law firm; and James Cox, lawyer for the Board of Trustees. The trustees voted on Oct. 15 to suspend Dobelle, following a 10-hou, closed-door meeting the president. The board also hired a Boston-based law firm to investigate Dobelle’s travel and spending, and report back by Nov. 25.

Bankruptcies

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Ahlberg, Jessica E.
240 West St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/13

Aycox, Cherie
94 Spikenard Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Faucher, Jamie R.
298 Oakham Road #19
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/03/13

Ferris, Cynthia L.
81 Tanner St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Gathro, Elizabeth N.
123 Edgewood Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Gillis, Brian A.
Gillis, Linda F.
a/k/a Bousquet, Linda F.
a/k/a Whipple, Linda F.
378 Holtshire Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Gordon, Holly M.
123 Mattawa Circle
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Hurley, Jocelyn
a/k/a Caisse, Jocelyn
49 Circle Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/13

Josefek, Terri-Anne
163 Whitney St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Kaminski, Daniel J.
3 Mary Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/13

La Forest, Jason M.
45 Versailles Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/13

Livingston, Christine M.
30 Yorktown Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/13

Lussier, Carol E.
39 Redstone Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/04/13

Malloy, David A. J.
Malloy, Kimberly A.
202 Columbia St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/13

McGuirk, Kimberly A.
59 Cailan Way
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/13

Michon, Cynthia A.
18 Patrick St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/01/13

Morse, Andrew
411 Turners Falls Road
Montague, MA 01351
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Newsome, Jeffrey
Newsome, Catherine F.
16 Ballard St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Olsen, Keith H.
12 Smith Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Pitcher, Amber
a/k/a Daniels, Amber
5 Capri Ter.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/13

Pitcher, Gary
51 Foote Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/13

Quinn, Brendan Michael
Quinn, Erica Vanderleeden
470 Bliss Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Radionov, Dmitriy
35 Colony Road 2-B
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/03/13

Rodriguez, Marilyn
a/k/a Laracuente, Marilyn Rodriguez
31 Elcon Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/01/13

Sosa, Tammy L.
42 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Tatro, Travis Brian
350 Norton Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Wackerbarth, John Fredrick
Wackerbarth, Anne Theresa
45 Pineywood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 09/30/13

Whitney, Mark S.
Whitney, Kathleen R.
34 Sumner Ave., #314
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/07/13

Wolf, Jaime L.
64 Timber Lane
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/02/13

Altered States

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Law Sections

Benefits Landscape in Massachusetts Changes After DOMA Ruling

By AMELIA J. HOLMSTROM, Esq.

Amelia J. Holmstrom, Esq.
Massachusetts law has recognized same-sex marriages since 2003, but until recently, the Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA) had interfered with Massachusetts employers’ ability to grant same-sex couples full equality under the law.
DOMA governs all federal statutes, including the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA) and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). Section 3 of DOMA defined the term ‘marriage’ as between one man and one woman, and ‘spouse’ meant a person of the opposite sex. On June 25, however, the Supreme Court ruled that Section 3 of DOMA was unconstitutional.
The decision, United States v. Windsor, means that state law will now apply to the definition of marriage and spouse, which means that in states where same-sex marriages are legal, state law will take control. Under Massachusetts law, same-sex spouses will now receive all the benefits granted under federal law to opposite-sex spouses. The Windsor decision requires employers to adopt new policies and procedures because the decision impacts employee benefits and certain job-protected leaves and also has tax implications.
ERISA governs some health-benefit plans as well as retirement benefits offered to employees. Many Massachusetts employers have fully insured health plans, and those plans are governed by state law. Since DOMA governs federal laws, same-sex spouses have been covered under state plans since 2003. Some employers have self-insured health plans, which are governed by ERISA.
Prior to the Windsor decision, Massachusetts employers with self-insured ERISA benefit plans were not required to offer such plans to the same-sex spouses of their employees. The court’s decision changes this; Massachusetts employers with ERISA benefit plans are now required to offer insurance to a qualifying employee’s same-sex spouse. And, under COBRA, same-sex spouses who are already enrolled in the company’s insurance will need to receive the opportunity to continue their health-insurance benefits under the same circumstances that apply to opposite-sex spouses.
Qualified employee retirement plans, such as 401(k) and pension plans, are also affected by the decision. The ruling affects who is considered an automatic beneficiary, spousal consent for non-spouse beneficiaries, QDRO protection, automatic death benefits, and the timing and amounts of death-benefit payments, special roll-over rules, hardship distribution criteria, and minimum distribution rules.
These changes to employee benefit plans also raise tax implications. Many employers in Massachusetts already allowed same-sex spouses to be covered under the employee’s insurance plan, but for most such employees, the value of the healthcare coverage provided to the same-sex spouse was subject to federal income and employment taxes. To make matters more complicated, the value of the benefits was not subject to Massachusetts income and employment taxes because those benefits were not considered income under Massachusetts law. After the court’s ruling, same-sex spouses are considered spouses for employee benefit purposes under federal law, and the value of health-insurance benefits provided to those spouses is not considered taxable income.
The court’s decision also affects a same-sex spouse’s use of FMLA leave. Before the Windsor decision, DOMA prevented employers from granting FMLA leave to employees to care for their same-sex spouses. Accordingly, an employer who granted leave to an employee to care for his or her same-sex spouse could not count that leave time against the employee’s FMLA entitlement. This meant that employees who were granted non-FMLA leave time to care for their same-sex spouse were still entitled to leave under the FMLA for reasons other than caring for their same-sex spouse. Thus, some employees received double the amount of job-protected leave. Since the DOMA decision, Massachusetts employers must permit employees to take FMLA leave to care for a same-sex spouse with a serious health condition, and that leave may be counted against the employee’s annual FMLA allotment.
For Massachusetts employers with operations in other states that do not recognize same-sex marriage, the Internal Revenue Service and Department of Labor (DOL) have issued guidance clarifying the impact of the decision in those states. Specifically, same-sex couples legally married in a jurisdiction with laws authorizing such marriages will be treated as married for federal tax and ERISA purposes, regardless of whether they reside in a state where their marriage is recognized. In contrast, however, the DOL’s FMLA guidance provides that an individual will only qualify as a spouse for FMLA purposes if the employee was married to the same-sex spouse in a state where such marriages are legal and if the couple also resides in a state that recognizes same-sex marriages.
You need to take steps to ensure that your policies and procedures are in compliance with the changes in federal law that have followed the court’s Windsor decision. To be sure that you are making the right changes, you should consult your insurance carrier, retirement-benefits administrator, and labor and employment counsel.

Amelia J. Holstrom joined Skoler, Abbott & Presser in 2012 after serving as a judicial law clerk to the judges of the Connecticut Superior Court, where she assisted with complex matters at all stages of litigation. Her practice is focused on labor law and employment litigation; (413) 737-4753; skoler-abbott.com

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Chamber Corners Departments

AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
• Nov. 6: Business@Breakfast, 7:30- 9 a.m., at the Western Mass Business Expo, MassMutual Center, Springfield. Keynote speaker: Jim Koch, founder of the Boston Beer Co. and maker of the Samuel Adams family of beers. Hear the story of how Koch took his generations-old family recipe and changed the beverage landscape forever. Sponsored by the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County, MassMutual Center, United Personnel, and Frigo’s Foods. Reservations are $25 and may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.
• Nov. 13: ACCGS After 5, 5-7 p.m., the TD Bank Building. Sponsored by TD Bank. Tickets are $5 for members, $10 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.
• Nov. 21: ACCGS Government Reception, 5-7 p.m. at the Carriage House, Storrowton Tavern, West Springfield. A great opportunity to meet socially with your local, state, and federal officials. Sponsored by Baystate Health, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, and United Personnel. Tickets are $50 for members, $70 for general admission, which includes complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• Nov. 26: ACCGS Pastries, Politics, and Policy, 7:30-9 a.m. Reservations are $15 for members, $20 for general admission, and includes complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Call (413) 755-1313 for more information. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
• Dec. 4: ACCGS Business @ Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Colony Club, Springfield. Topic: “The Value of Volunteerism.” Sponsored By Masiello Employment Services. Tickets are $20 for members, $30 for general admission, which includes complimentary beverages and hors d’oeuvres. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700
• Nov. 20: Chamber After 5, 5-7 p.m., at the Amherst Survival Center. Sponsored by SciDose LLC. Admission: $10 for members, $15 for non-members.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
• Nov. 6: Arrive@5 Chamber Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at the World War II Club. Sponsors: Homeward Vets. Catered by Big Kats Catering. We’ll be collecting donations for Homeward Vets. A list of needed donations will be posted on the website. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members. RSVP to Esther at [email protected].
• Nov: 19: “The Art of Consulting,” 8:30-10 a.m. at the chamber office. This special program is a collection of the guiding principles of consulting that sum up the lessons presenter Don Lesser he has learned over the past 30 years. Each topic is summarized in a short, often humorous saying, which is followed by a longer explanation. In this session, Lesser, who has been a consultant and run a business that uses consultants for more than 30 years, will cover some of the basics of being a consultant, including “The Three Laws of Consulting,” “What Have You Done for Me Lately?” “Rules for Good Client Management,” and “Discount Sushi, or How Much Should You Charge?” The workshop is free, but pre-registration is required, and space is limited. To register, call (413) 584-1900, or e-mail www.explorenorthampton.com.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
• Nov. 4: Mayor’s Coffee Hour, 8-9 a.m., at the Genesis Spiritual Life and Conference Center, 53 Mill St., Westfield. Have coffee with Mayor Daniel Knapik, who will share information about what’s happening in the city. For more information or to register, contact Pam Bussell at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
• Nov. 6: 2013 Annual Meeting & Awards Dinner at the Westwood Restaurant, 94 North Elm St., Westfield. More information to come as this event date approaches.
• Nov. 13: WestNet, 5-7 p.m., the Cove, 90 Point Grove Road, Southwick. Come and meet chamber members and bring your business cards for a great networking opportunity. Cost: $10 cash for chamber members, $15 cash for non-members. Payment can be made in advance or at the door. Walk-ins are welcome. Call the chamber at (413) 568-1618, or e-mail Pam Bussell at [email protected] for more information. Your first WestNet is always free.

MASSACHUSETTS CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
(413) 525-2506
• Nov. 12: Massachusetts Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting & Awards Luncheon, 9 a.m. registration, at the Double Tree, Westborough. For more information on ticket sales and sponsorship opportunities, call the chamber office at (413) 525-2506 or e-mail [email protected].

NORTHAMPTON AREA YOUNG PROFESSIONAL SOCIETY
www.thenayp.com
(413) 584-1900
• Nov. 14: November Networking Social, 5 p.m., at the Northampton Brewery. Community involvement, networking, business and professional development. NAYP is excited to host its first event at the famed Northampton Brewery. Enjoy delicious beer and savory hors d’oeuvres. Cost: free for members, $10 for non-members. RSVP on Facebook.

PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310
• Nov. 6: November Luncheon at the Western Mass. Business Expo, at the MassMutual Center, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Keynote Speaker: Kathrine Switzer, first female Boston Marathoner in 1967. More than 40 years later, Switzer’s story continues to capture the public’s imagination. Reservations cost $35 members, $40 for non-members, and may be made at www.myonlinechamber.com or by contacting Cecile Larose at (413) 755-1313.

Real Estate Transactions

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

39 Deacon Parker Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Northfield Mt. Hermon School
Seller: Scott D. Sibley
Date: 09/30/13

BUCKLAND

3 Bray Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Brian W. Rice
Seller: Susan E. Geetersloh
Date: 09/30/13

34 Crittenden Hill Road
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $687,000
Buyer: Dennis D. Mehiel
Seller: Amy S. Reiser
Date: 09/27/13

CONWAY

896 Graves Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Marcia P. Lewis
Seller: Peter G. Prudden
Date: 10/04/13

117 Maple St.
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: William T. Cote
Seller: Doherty INT
Date: 09/27/13

DEERFIELD

5 Eastern Ave.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Mark E. Pichette
Seller: Sanicki, James J., (Estate)
Date: 09/27/13

46 McClelland Farm Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Gregory E. Whittier
Seller: Kris N. Warner
Date: 09/30/13

66 North Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Lisa B. Middents
Seller: Vladimir Agapov
Date: 09/27/13

ERVING

41 Forest St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Jeanine M. Dibari
Seller: Jeffrey D. Budine
Date: 10/02/13

GREENFIELD

73 Beacon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Gerard J. Gualberto
Seller: Chevalier, Mary A., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/13

24 Church St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $259,010
Buyer: Eleanor L. Mandell
Seller: Home For Aged People
Date: 09/30/13

85 Harrison Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: David R. Kox
Seller: Michael H. Merritt
Date: 09/30/13

119 Harrison Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Zsuzsana E. Randall
Seller: Shirley E. Renfrew
Date: 09/23/13

15 Lincoln St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Patricia P. Marcus
Seller: John D. Merrigan
Date: 09/23/13

186 Plain Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Joseph R. Charron
Seller: Douglas H. Robinson
Date: 09/30/13

53 Pleasant St.
Greenfield, MA 01376
Amount: $140,040
Buyer: Bank Of New York Mellon
Seller: Felix L. Diaz
Date: 09/30/13

HEATH

33 Town Farm Road
Heath, MA 01346
Amount: $331,500
Buyer: Thomas H. Manley
Seller: John K. Burk
Date: 10/04/13

LEYDEN

19 Stephen Lane
Leyden, MA 01301
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Priscilla E. Sherman
Seller: Nils E. Bross
Date: 09/23/13

MONTAGUE

46 Davis St.
Montague, MA 01301
Amount: $143,500
Buyer: Christopher L. Bedaw
Seller: Dorothy E. Juskiewicz
Date: 09/25/13

7 Woodland Dr.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Alvah L. Sibley
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/01/13

NEW SALEM

36 North Main St.
New Salem, MA 01355
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Cameron H. Dunbar
Seller: Richard C. Castine
Date: 09/25/13

NORTHFIELD

232 Old Vernon Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Thomas E. Harrison
Seller: Edmund C. Bassett
Date: 09/27/13

ORANGE

140 Horton Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Michael P. Gardner
Seller: Peter J. Baribault
Date: 10/02/13

419 Tully Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: Gregory R. McIntyre
Seller: Michael D. Sherar
Date: 10/04/13

SHELBURNE

462 Little Mohawk Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Robert N. Nouryan
Seller: Sayagyi U. Ba Khin Memorial TR
Date: 09/25/13

SUNDERLAND

466 Hadley Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $1,499,381
Buyer: Szawlowski Realty Inc.
Seller: S&J Land Trust LLC
Date: 09/25/13

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

6 Althea Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Amy Richards
Seller: Jason A. Rocca
Date: 09/26/13

32 Annable St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $148,000
Buyer: Arni Atlason
Seller: Colleen A. Shelden-Ferry
Date: 09/27/13

154 Elmar Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Heather R. Ferreira
Seller: Philip B. Charette
Date: 10/04/13

123 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $252,000
Buyer: William E. Bunnell
Seller: Donna L. Montagna
Date: 09/27/13

229 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $161,000
Buyer: Jerome L. Luke
Seller: Davilli, Faustino V., (Estate)
Date: 10/01/13

632 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $342,000
Buyer: Rudolph J. Gay
Seller: Carol E. Chatman
Date: 09/30/13

50 Primrose Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Francis A. Connor
Seller: Gilbert D. Olivares
Date: 10/04/13

32 Redwood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Sarah Morris
Seller: Amy Kowarsky
Date: 09/25/13

177 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Jonnie M. Starnes
Seller: Oak Ridge Custom Home Builders
Date: 09/26/13

92 Royal St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Ruslan Kuzmenko
Seller: Robert J. Hagberg
Date: 09/23/13

520 School St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Kevin B. Tos
Seller: Siarhei Siarheyev
Date: 09/23/13

274 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Jeremy R. Rodier
Seller: Preston F. Perreault
Date: 09/27/13

519 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $213,500
Buyer: Stephanie A. Lees
Seller: Jason R. Bessette
Date: 09/30/13

603 Suffield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Artem Artemov
Seller: Alma J. Cortez
Date: 09/30/13

BRIMFIELD

280 Little Alum Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Adam R. Ingram
Seller: Karen A. Davis
Date: 09/27/13

N/A
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $138,500
Buyer: Timothy R. Walder
Seller: Stearns, James C. Sr., (Estate)
Date: 09/27/13

CHESTER

375 Middlefield Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Mark A. Hynes
Date: 09/27/13

160 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Keith Hall
Seller: Christopher West
Date: 09/30/13

CHICOPEE

17 8th Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: William B. Vanzandt
Seller: Jeanne Y. Ruell
Date: 09/26/13

107 7th Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Spencer R. Hart
Seller: Derick B. Lamoureux
Date: 09/30/13

34 Baltic Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Carlos J. Delgado
Seller: Robert P. Langevin
Date: 09/23/13

56 Billings St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Christian McCoy
Seller: Doris M. Stewart
Date: 09/30/13

24 Blanchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Andrew M. Chagnon
Seller: Mary A. Duguay

4 Burton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $283,609
Buyer: Federal Management Center
Seller: Vesper Gibbs-Barnes
Date: 10/02/13

163 Delaney Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $181,000
Buyer: Amy A. Kowal
Seller: Richard A. Holmes
Date: 09/27/13

17 Factory St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $185,073
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Mark T. Sells
Date: 09/27/13

68 Factory St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Robert R. Mercer
Seller: Marie T. Appleby
Date: 09/27/13

6 Glenwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Alyssa A. Demers
Seller: Joseph Laliberte
Date: 09/30/13

217 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: FAB Holdings LLC
Seller: Philip L. Beaulieu
Date: 09/30/13

35 Linden St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Justin D. Delonge
Seller: Chicopee Neighborhood Development
Date: 09/27/13

124 Marten St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Paul C. Grace
Seller: Francis J. Schillinger
Date: 10/03/13

792 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Karen L. Watts
Seller: Geoffrey C. Gagnon
Date: 09/30/13

78 Old Lyman Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Michael J. Dean
Seller: Daniel P. Stamborski
Date: 09/30/13

114 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Nathan P. Hudon
Seller: Walter S. Urbanek
Date: 09/27/13

140 Trilby Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Travis J. Raby
Seller: Claire C. Zacharie
Date: 09/30/13

EAST LONGMEADOW

12 Dale St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Debora A. Lavelli
Seller: Raffaele S. Carrano
Date: 09/30/13

Denslow Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Bay Path College
Seller: WLF Realty LLC
Date: 09/27/13

12 Pilgrim Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: David Behnk
Seller: Thomas M. Dodge
Date: 09/30/13

217 Porter Road
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Edward F. Prendergast
Seller: Paul J. Mercieri
Date: 09/27/13

1 Redin Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Seyedmehdi Sehbarader
Seller: Emmett W. Reardon
Date: 09/25/13

5 Roderick Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: Loan Nguyen
Seller: Deborah A. Ainsworth
Date: 10/01/13

54 South Brook Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Ryan McCarthy
Seller: John F. Sullivan
Date: 09/25/13

83 Waterman Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Jennifer M. Territo
Seller: Vincenzo R. Amore
Date: 09/27/13

110 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $142,299
Buyer: Twinbrook Associates LLC
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/04/13

271 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Antonios C. Jannakas
Seller: Shelley L. Pim
Date: 10/01/13

GRANVILLE

123 Barnard Road
Granville, MA 01034
Amount: $655,000
Buyer: Paul Mayer
Seller: Robert Connelly
Date: 10/04/13

HAMPDEN

36 Crestwood Lane
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $203,000
Buyer: Christopher Lanzoni
Seller: Jason D. Christofori
Date: 10/02/13

23 Fernwood Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Ashlee M. Deziel
Seller: David J. Rock
Date: 09/30/13

50 Martin Farms Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $229,500
Buyer: Sharon A. Woodwin
Seller: Craig A. Krejci
Date: 09/30/13

187 Sessions Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $226,500
Buyer: Marlenne Rivera
Seller: Patricia R. Waskiewicz
Date: 09/30/13

HOLLAND

2 Fenton St.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Donald Boutin
Seller: David C. Silbor
Date: 09/30/13

34 Leno Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Nicholas C. Ellsworth
Seller: Eric Perez
Date: 09/30/13

25 Stony Hill Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Bradley S. Sherrod
Seller: Jonathan D. Mason
Date: 09/30/13

57 Sturbridge Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Jordan R. Vallon
Seller: Matthew A. Pooler
Date: 09/30/13

HOLYOKE

114 Allyn St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Katherine M. Hall
Seller: Hilda M. Kotfila
Date: 09/26/13

34 Bassett Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Donald W. Miner
Seller: William C. Riley
Date: 09/30/13

11 Belvidere Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $161,900
Buyer: Shawn R. Croake
Seller: Edward J. Rondeau
Date: 10/01/13

22 Bemis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $244,900
Buyer: Robert Zucker
Seller: Margaret Vezina
Date: 09/25/13

133 Brown Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: A-Z Property Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Joshua G. Lynn
Date: 10/01/13

158 Dartmouth St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Daniel S. Kates
Seller: James F. McDonough
Date: 09/27/13

81 Edbert Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $155,360
Buyer: Christopher J. Dautel
Seller: Joseph A. Rivera
Date: 09/25/13

26 Edward Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Corrie A. Houle
Seller: Minerva Alvarez
Date: 09/24/13

29 Fenton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $164,000
Buyer: Angel M. Cruz
Seller: James P. Fenton
Date: 09/26/13

4 Irving St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Kirstin R. Kay
Seller: Jeanne L. Lippman
Date: 09/27/13

1548 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: ES Residential LLC
Seller: John Sutter
Date: 10/03/13

1863 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,820
Seller: Gregory J. Fox
Date: 09/30/13

23 Washington Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $186,500
Buyer: Avraham A. Harris
Seller: Christine Callahan
Date: 09/27/13

1 Western View Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: April Choiniere
Seller: John J. Ferriter
Date: 09/26/13

LONGMEADOW

75 Brooks Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $335,500
Buyer: Steven E. Rovithis
Seller: Bernadette J. Weitz
Date: 09/24/13

67 East Greenwich Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Edward Feldmann
Seller: Paul G. Chiampa
Date: 09/30/13

156 Green Hill Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Michael W. Shea
Seller: Therese B. Lapierre
Date: 09/27/13

17 Highland St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Wranovix
Seller: Harriet A. Fortin
Date: 09/25/13

483 Inverness Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Denmark
Seller: Debora A. Lavelli
Date: 09/30/13

523 Laurel St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $271,500
Buyer: Thomas M. Libbos
Seller: Andrew Dzierzgowski
Date: 09/23/13

11 Maple Ter.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Helen C. Gouzounis
Seller: David H. Cosgriff
Date: 09/30/13

28 Oak Hollow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Peter D. Cherichetti
Seller: Gregory I. Halpern
Date: 10/01/13

24 Salem Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $513,000
Buyer: Gregory I. Halpern
Seller: Richard S. Bell
Date: 10/01/13

107 Viscount Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Daniel C. Petersen
Seller: Jorge E. Silva
Date: 09/24/13

LUDLOW

34 Alvin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Elba G. Pires
Seller: Susan C. Sulewski
Date: 09/27/13

42 Beachside Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Denise C. Golinski
Seller: Harvey A. Savoie
Date: 10/04/13

92 Chapin St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Rafael A. Silva
Seller: Kevin V. Maltby
Date: 10/03/13

125 Church St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Eric S. Bohnet
Seller: Rae C. Stack
Date: 09/25/13

49 Maple St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Brenna M. Dubosh
Seller: Arlindo Valadares
Date: 09/26/13

N/A
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Ryan Gagne
Seller: Nicholas Morin
Date: 10/04/13

Sunbriar Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Michael R. Beauregard
Seller: David R. Lavoie
Date: 10/01/13

MONSON

306 Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Floyd W. Fairbanks
Seller: Bruno J. Costa
Date: 09/30/13

80 Upper Hampden Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $254,900
Buyer: Charles L. Hood
Seller: Harold J. Henry
Date: 09/25/13

MONTGOMERY

285 Main Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Laura M. Marino
Seller: Jeffrey M. Defeo
Date: 09/30/13

PALMER

78 Bacon Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: John Perkins
Seller: William M. Wanat
Date: 10/01/13

57 Elizabeth St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $232,500
Buyer: Jeremiah Casavant
Seller: Barbara A. Butcher
Date: 09/27/13

4185 High St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $139,500
Buyer: Jaime Delvalle
Seller: Duane M. Corbin
Date: 10/01/13

3136 Hillside Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Jason M. Carlow
Seller: HAP Inc.
Date: 10/04/13

117 Longview St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Pamela J. Gurney
Seller: Lou A. Grimes
Date: 09/30/13

2010 Overlook Dr.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: James Brothers
Seller: Sharon A. Woodin
Date: 09/30/13

3051 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Michael B. Atwood
Seller: Renee Belleville
Date: 09/30/13

61 Summer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $166,556
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Benjamin A. Cooper
Date: 10/04/13

SOUTHWICK

2 Alcove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $570,000
Buyer: Claudia T. Martorell
Seller: Matthew A. Curtis
Date: 09/30/13

3 Birchwood Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Eugene J. Whitehead
Seller: Blake, Helen, (Estate)
Date: 09/27/13

2 Falcon Crest
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $442,000
Buyer: Jason Rocca
Seller: Randal B. Carlton
Date: 09/26/13

15 Lake Shore Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $129,500
Buyer: Paula Maher
Seller: Joshua G. Lynn
Date: 10/01/13

9 Maple St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Jamie L. Garvey
Seller: Amie S. Seibert
Date: 10/01/13

North Pond Road #2
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $123,735
Buyer: John R. Parla
Seller: David M. Falbo
Date: 09/26/13

North Pond Road #3
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $123,735
Buyer: John R. Parla
Seller: David M. Falbo
Date: 09/26/13

10 Secluded Ridge
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: David K. Kruse
Seller: Mary L. Guzik
Date: 09/26/13

49 South Loomis St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Kelli M. Higgins
Seller: Michael R. Burns
Date: 10/04/13

109 Summer Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $123,735
Buyer: John R. Parla
Seller: David M. Falbo
Date: 09/26/13

SPRINGFIELD

9 Allen Park Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: Edwin D. Deberry
Seller: John J. Albano
Date: 09/30/13

25 Arvesta St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Gerald M. Foley
Seller: Paul F. Fernands
Date: 09/27/13

31 Balboa Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $132,500
Buyer: Joseph G. Forbes
Seller: Jeffrey Dunlop
Date: 10/04/13

150 Brookdale Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $1,125,000
Buyer: Manufacturers Group LLC
Seller: Berkshire Brookdale LLC
Date: 09/26/13

49 Burnside Terrace
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $132,900
Buyer: Katelyn R. Kimball
Seller: Jeanette A. Whittier
Date: 09/30/13

112 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: David Rudder
Seller: Steven C. Wolf
Date: 09/30/13

223 Dayton St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Daniel P. Allard
Seller: Marjorie C. McNeill
Date: 09/27/13

84 Denwall Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Enyoc Investment Properties
Seller: Nancy L. Folk
Date: 09/27/13

132 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Luis M. Perez
Seller: Ahap LLC
Date: 09/26/13

123 El Paso St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $124,407
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Matthew F. Dusseault
Date: 10/02/13

30 Falmouth St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Angela L. Martins
Seller: Ana Beleza
Date: 09/26/13

5 Gates Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Douglas Johnson
Seller: Joyce M. Debose
Date: 10/01/13

301 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Kara Sotolotto
Seller: Kevin M. Dudley
Date: 09/25/13

176 Glenoak Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: James M. McLaughlin
Seller: William J. Lapalm
Date: 10/02/13

105 Hampden St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Denise Anghilante
Seller: Shu Cheng
Date: 09/23/13

109 Harmon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Joanne G. Costello
Seller: Rafael A. Hernandez
Date: 10/04/13

14 Hartwick St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Stephanie N. Cisler
Seller: Stephen Gasco
Date: 09/30/13

14 Herman St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Jose Santos
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 10/01/13

88 Hickory St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $1,093,376
Buyer: Springfield College
Seller: Spring Hill Apts. LP
Date: 09/30/13

17 Kosciusko St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Ferber
Seller: Cindy C. Santos
Date: 10/04/13

60 Lancaster St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Matthew R. Sullivan
Seller: Ashlee M. Deziel
Date: 09/30/13

59 Laurence St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Vilai Sivongxai
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 09/23/13

42 Longfellow Ter.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $162,501
Buyer: Household Finance Corp.
Seller: Jacqueline M. Griswold
Date: 09/24/13

3 Los Angeles St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $178,220
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Gricelle Santiago
Date: 10/02/13

46 Midway St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jaimie L. Standing
Seller: Robert N. Genander
Date: 10/04/13

41 Montclair St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Angel J. Martinez
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 10/01/13

17 Notre Dame St. #38
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $202,000
Buyer: Charles Stevenson
Seller: Elaine C. Graham
Date: 10/04/13

87 Pennsylvania Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Narapati Kafley
Seller: Anita L. Reilly
Date: 09/30/13

74 Randall Place
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $236,900
Buyer: Randall Seventy Four LLC
Seller: KRM Real Estate LLC
Date: 09/26/13

Shefford St. (SWS) #9
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Lynn A. McAuliffe
Seller: McAuliffe, Pauline R., (Estate)
Date: 10/04/13

115 Signal Hill Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Robin S. Sanchez
Seller: Diane A. Demarco
Date: 10/03/13

51 Sylvan St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Luis J. Navarro
Seller: Nguyet Nguyen
Date: 09/25/13

425 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Lauren E. Fiorentino FT
Seller: Nicole E. Marks
Date: 09/27/13

3 Waterford Circle
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Peter Kelly
Seller: Karen R. Hanson
Date: 09/26/13

206 West Allen Ridge Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Hung Giang
Seller: Andrew Thomas
Date: 09/30/13

8 White Birch Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jose Serrano
Seller: Martin J. Getchell
Date: 09/30/13

178 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Omar J. Yousef
Seller: JV Properties Inc.
Date: 09/25/13

TOLLAND

33 Lands End Dr.
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Peter Girouard
Seller: Hyland, Thomas, (Estate)
Date: 10/03/13

WESTFIELD

33 Adams St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: George Chapman
Seller: Robert K. Walker
Date: 09/26/13

305 Buck Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Laura C. Kellogg
Seller: Paul R. Desrosiers
Date: 09/30/13

315 Buck Pond Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jared M. Longley
Seller: Douglas W. Bishop
Date: 09/30/13

12 Cortez St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $124,440
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Melvin R. Perry
Date: 10/04/13

51 Court St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $218,900
Buyer: Christopher R. Judson
Seller: Pamela Leigh
Date: 09/27/13

10 Forest Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Sarah C. Sanderson
Seller: Lawrence Borovicka
Date: 09/30/13

59 George St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Amy M. Desilets
Seller: Julio Melendez
Date: 10/04/13

32 Harvest Moon Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $458,000
Buyer: David A. Carlin
Seller: Steven F. Bertera
Date: 09/30/13

55 Jefferson St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Buyer: William J. Cronin
Seller: Laura Kellogg
Date: 09/30/13

190 Joseph Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $208,900
Buyer: Inna Shvetsova
Seller: Kenneth O. Fuller
Date: 09/30/13

405 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Stacey A. Sorawat
Seller: Giberson Construction Inc.
Date: 09/23/13

32 Murray Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Nicholas R. Redfern
Seller: Kirsten I. Casavant
Date: 09/27/13

118 Old Farm Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Diamantis Diamantopoulos
Seller: Robert Barnes
Date: 09/30/13

21 Princeton St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Robert Mazeika
Seller: Provident Fund Assocs. LP
Date: 10/01/13

94 Riverside Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $157,000
Buyer: Mark P. Slessler
Seller: David G. Gauthier
Date: 09/27/13

3 Rosedell Dr. Ext.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Rodrigo D. Mascarenhas
Seller: Jazab LLC
Date: 09/27/13

571 Southampton Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Legend Associates LLC
Seller: Michael T. Beal
Date: 10/03/13

341 Springdale Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Frank R. Adamski
Seller: Jeffrey M. Litwin
Date: 09/30/13

24 Sunrise Ter.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $121,619
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Donna J. Miranda
Date: 10/04/13

158 Tannery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Robert W. Chipman
Seller: Daniel J. Seibert
Date: 09/30/13

WEST SPRINGFIELD

21 Almon Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $169,500
Buyer: Jason A. Caron
Seller: Peter D. Towle
Date: 09/30/13

24 Burke Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Yessenia Figueroa
Seller: Jared M. Longley
Date: 09/30/13

270 Ely Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Rizzuto
Seller: Patricia Langevin
Date: 09/26/13

189 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $149,229
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: James C. Parent
Date: 09/24/13

93 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $154,650
Buyer: Alfred P. Bronner
Seller: James A. Ryan
Date: 10/04/13

322 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Mustafa F. Niyazov
Seller: Filomena R. Larocca
Date: 09/30/13

618 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Brett A. Smith
Seller: Robert G. Gordon
Date: 09/26/13

782 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Peter E. Mwanansao
Seller: Mary E. Piela
Date: 10/01/13

29 Old Orchard Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Steven A. Bramlett
Seller: Bradford A. Aubin
Date: 10/04/13

15 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Richard T. Cerrone
Seller: Donald Vachon
Date: 09/27/13

521 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Daniel A. O’Sullivan
Seller: Michael S. Czepiel
Date: 09/24/13

64 Poplar Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Duane H. Mason
Seller: Centracchio, Julia, (Estate)
Date: 09/27/13

92 Prospect Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Alexis K. Godden
Seller: Marissa Monti
Date: 10/04/13

130 Prospect Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Maryann E. Solomos
Seller: Stephen P. Bartolucci
Date: 09/25/13

56 Woodbrook Ter.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: John F. Young
Seller: Laura J. Davis
Date: 09/24/13

WILBRAHAM

2350 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $725,000
Buyer: Baystate Self Storage of Wilbraham
Seller: Mari E. Tarpinian
Date: 10/03/13

100 Faculty St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Xingluan Cao
Seller: Mark T. Carlson
Date: 09/27/13

15 Hitchcock Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $439,000
Buyer: David Goodrich
Seller: Sheryl L. McQuade
Date: 09/30/13

11 Mcintosh Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $374,000
Buyer: Dominic D. Maloni
Seller: Christopher T. Collins
Date: 09/26/13

6 Millbrook Circle
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $297,500
Buyer: Brandon M. Waskiewicz
Seller: Beth A. Steil
Date: 09/30/13

726 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Marc E. Mylonakis
Seller: Rudolph M. Dias
Date: 10/01/13

491 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Linda Gates
Seller: Douglas Eldridge
Date: 09/27/13

34 Sunnyside Terrace
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Ian G. Kearney
Seller: Stephen M. Caraker
Date: 09/27/13

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

16 Arbor Way
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $433,500
Buyer: Tasmiah P. Chowdhury
Seller: Henry L. Pope
Date: 09/27/13

42 Harris St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $272,500
Buyer: Irene Nystrom
Seller: Anna M. Sceffey
Date: 09/25/13

41 Hunters Hill Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $316,000
Buyer: Sujata R. Konowitz
Seller: Windcatcher RET
Date: 09/27/13

93 High Point Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $339,900
Buyer: Ann C. Kenworthy
Seller: Gayle A. Metevia
Date: 10/04/13

11 Indian Pipe Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Iris Greene
Seller: Honore S. David RT
Date: 09/27/13

Lindenridge Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Amy B. Gallant
Seller: Tofino Associates LLC
Date: 10/04/13

30 Sunrise Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $325,311
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Sally Ann Washburn
Date: 09/25/13

65 Taylor St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Jocelyn A. Deangelis
Seller: Andrew J. Glace
Date: 10/04/13

BELCHERTOWN

426 Allen Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jeremy D. Cushing
Seller: David G. Cushing
Date: 09/25/13

86 Amherst Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $249,000
Buyer: Michelle Stewart
Seller: Nerissa C. Hall
Date: 09/26/13

161 Federal St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Marion P. Moreau
Seller: Diane J. Morre
Date: 10/04/13

16 Jackson St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Diane J. Morre
Seller: Richard F. Conrad
Date: 10/04/13

63 Mountain View Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Kenneth J. Riley
Seller: Edward J. Sokolowski
Date: 09/26/13

N/A
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $232,000
Buyer: Lurene A. Grenier
Seller: Donald W. Tyrie
Date: 09/26/13

21 Shea Ave.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Mark D. Wilkins
Seller: Donald R. Besancon INT
Date: 09/24/13

154 South St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Michael T. Schmidt
Seller: Jacob A. Speaks
Date: 09/24/13

CHESTERFIELD

79 Willicutt Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Eric A. Gougeon
Seller: Karen Higgins
Date: 10/03/13

CUMMINGTON

1 Swift River Road
Cummington, MA 01026
Amount: $154,000
Buyer: Joshua R. Gamache
Seller: Elizabeth J. Wade
Date: 09/30/13

EASTHAMPTON

2 Autumn Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: J. A. Fraser-Champagne
Seller: Czelusniak Custom Homes
Date: 10/01/13

8 Bayberry Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $410,000
Buyer: Lori D. Vaillancourt
Seller: Michael A. Forget
Date: 10/01/13

13 Broad St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $227,500
Buyer: Jose A. River
Seller: Krawiec, John, (Estate)
Date: 09/25/13

3 Carillon Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Katherine L. Hruby
Date: 09/23/13

302 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Young
Seller: Chad Alexander
Date: 09/26/13

151 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Charles Bobala
Seller: Michael J. Dean
Date: 09/30/13

17 Florence Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $172,500
Buyer: Bethany Ryan
Seller: William F. Gruber
Date: 09/30/13

65 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Green
Seller: Lauren A. Burke
Date: 09/24/13

12 Lawson Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $209,000
Buyer: Richard D. Desimone
Seller: Michael Donnis
Date: 09/26/13

260 Loudville Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $262,000
Buyer: Mukund Feldman
Seller: John W. Richardson
Date: 10/02/13

117 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Raymond C. Ledoux
Seller: Karel P. Guardado NT
Date: 09/27/13

144 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Jacob A. Speaks
Seller: Connie S. Going
Date: 09/24/13

18 Oakdale Place
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Matthew J. Clark
Seller: Deborah A. Kapinos
Date: 09/25/13

44 Oliver St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Deborah L. Barr
Seller: Raymond A. Kelliher
Date: 09/27/13

21 Pinebrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $290,500
Buyer: Chase S. Hunter
Seller: Lori D. Vaillancourt
Date: 10/01/13

18 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Rachael E. Barber
Seller: Joanne F. Staszko
Date: 09/23/13

6 Truehart Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: James A. Sturges
Seller: Karen Bolduc
Date: 09/23/13

GOSHEN

105 Ball Road
Goshen, MA 01096
Amount: $174,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Camilleri
Seller: Jan M. Kozloski
Date: 09/27/13

GRANBY

5 Lakeview Ave.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: William H. Fournier
Seller: Paul J. Fortier
Date: 09/23/13

HADLEY

206 Middle St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: David J. Fill
Seller: 63 MKT Realty LLC
Date: 09/30/13

453 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $778,119
Buyer: Szawlowski Realty Inc.
Seller: S&J Land Trust LLC
Date: 09/25/13

2 Sylvia Heights
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $405,000
Buyer: Valley Building Co. Inc.
Seller: Dorothy T. Ruder
Date: 10/04/13

HATFIELD

6 Pleasant View Dr.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $289,000
Buyer: Scott M. Cox
Seller: Kovalski, John F., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/13

HUNTINGTON

147 Worthington Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Christopher L. Meyerhoff
Seller: Sean M. Brady
Date: 09/27/13

NORTHAMPTON

15 Claire Ave.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: Jennifer A. Daekins
Seller: Choquette, M. A., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/13

47 Dryads Garden
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $685,000
Buyer: Adam L. Zucker
Seller: Jay A. Breines
Date: 09/30/13

196 Federal St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Paul E. Gulla
Seller: David Kherdian
Date: 09/30/13

200 Federal St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: James V. White
Seller: Joan Barberich
Date: 09/27/13

49 Gothic St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Tragin Properties LLC
Seller: Lori Morgan
Date: 09/30/13

37 Henshaw Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $645,000
Buyer: Mary J. Prince
Seller: Thomas P. Lesley QPRT
Date: 09/27/13

90 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $508,500
Buyer: Stephen D. Hawley
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 09/30/13

534 North King St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Anthony G. Nardone
Seller: Lynn M. Wiles
Date: 10/01/13

52 Pencasel Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Norman S. MaCleod
Seller: Paila J. Crest
Date: 09/30/13

19 Woodmont Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: John Baldarelli
Seller: F.V. & M.A. Salvatore NT
Date: 10/04/13

SOUTH HADLEY

3 Birch Hill Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Linda E. Brennam
Seller: Ellen V. Murphy
Date: 09/24/13

85 Charon Terrace
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Nigel J. Alderman
Seller: Colleen A. Garvin
Date: 09/30/13

130 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Robert J. Pleasure
Seller: Robert J. Shevlin
Date: 09/27/13

17 Jewett Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Linda Knorr
Seller: W&Margaret Lavallee LT
Date: 10/01/13

70 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: George Owen
Seller: Thomas J. Fitzell
Date: 09/27/13

29 Red Bridge Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Steven G. Marsh
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 09/25/13

38 San Souci Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $348,000
Buyer: Derick B. Lamoureux
Seller: Jerome B. Brightman
Date: 09/30/13

8 Scott Hollow Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Robert J. Shevlin
Seller: Edmund Babski
Date: 09/27/13

SOUTHAMPTON

3 Bluemer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $218,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Fungaroli
Seller: Nancy Heidenreich
Date: 09/27/13

228 County Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $221,000
Buyer: John W. Richardson
Seller: Stanley Stochel
Date: 10/02/13

100 Fomer Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Michael Kent
Seller: Gary P. Shannon
Date: 09/30/13

11 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Wendy J. Allen
Seller: Robert E. Hitchcock
Date: 09/26/13

WARE

1 Bellevue Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $165,429
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Chad Kenyon
Date: 10/02/13

45 Bond St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Andrea L. Nicholas
Seller: Osucha, Ann M., (Estate)
Date: 09/27/13

1 Briar Circle
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Belco Construction Co. Inc.
Seller: Hampden Bank
Date: 10/03/13

89 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Robert Sorel
Seller: Alex S. Engelson
Date: 10/04/13

7 Demond Ave.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Gregory P. Desantis
Seller: Oberg, Therese A., (Estate)
Date: 09/30/13

33 Eagle St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Cameron M. Harwood
Seller: Belaska, Genevieve, (Estate)
Date: 10/04/13

WESTHAMPTON

288 Chesterfield Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Cynthia Crooks-Garica
Seller: Peter Scherff
Date: 10/04/13

185 Main Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Marguerite A. Robbins
Seller: Charles Ognibene
Date: 10/01/13

Eliminating Guesswork

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Health Care Sections

Effective Legal Planning for People with Alzheimer’s Disease

Todd C. Ratner
Although it is important for everyone to plan for their future, legal planning for those diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease takes on heightened importance.
Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic, progressive illness and is the most common cause of dementia in our elder population. People with the disease are characterized with progressive intellectual deterioration together with a declining ability to perform the activities of daily living.
Early planning allows your loved one with the disease to be involved and express his or her wishes for future care, which eliminates the guesswork. Once an individual with Alzheimer’s disease has lost capacity, it is too late for him or her to designate the person or people they wish to make their healthcare, financial, and estate-planning decisions. It is imperative to note that most people in the early stages of Alzheimer’s disease have the requisite capacity to execute estate-planning documents.
As a threshold matter, when a client initially meets with an attorney, the attorney must determine whether or not the client has the requisite mental capacity necessary to reasonably articulate their wishes concerning their legal affairs. ‘Testamentary capacity’ is a legal term that refers to a person’s ability to be of sound mind in reference to altering or creating estate-planning documents. Unfortunately, legal testamentary capacity or competence is not a black-and-white determination.
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court provides the following standard definition of capacity to execute wills:
“Testamentary capacity requires ability on the part of the testator to understand and carry in mind, in a general way, the nature and situation of his property and his relations to those persons who would naturally have some claim to his rememberence. It requires freedom from delusion, which is the effect of disease or weakness, and which might influence the disposition of his property. And it requires ability at the time of execution of the alleged will to comprehend the nature of the act of making the will.”
In general, the requirements of testamentary capacity are fairly simple. Your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease must meet only this minimal test at the moment the estate-planning documents are executed. Therefore, documents may be valid even if the testator is in the midst of delusion immediately prior and subsequent to execution, as long as he or she possesses the requisite testamentary capacity at the moment of execution.
Therefore, even if your loved one does not recall signing the document the day following execution, it does not invalidate the document if he or she understood it when signing. The mere existence of the onset of dementia caused by Alzheimer’s disease does not preclude the signing of estate-planning documents, provided that the necessary criteria for mental capacity are met. However, the drafting or revisions to current estate-planning documents should be considered in the early stages of the disease.
Assuming that your family member with Alzheimer’s disease has sufficient capacity to do so, he or she should execute documents to nominate another to make their health and financial decisions at their earliest opportunity. These documents include a healthcare proxy, durable power of attorney, and a living will, which are oftentimes referred to as ‘planning for incapacity documents,’ as they are legally binding only while a person is alive. Preparing for the possibility of Alzheimer’s disease impairing decision-making abilities makes incapacity planning a necessity.
For Alzheimer’s patients, empowering family members or trusted friends to make healthcare decisions (healthcare proxy and living will) and financial decisions (durable power of attorney) ensures that the caregiving effort will not be hindered by a lack of resources or the absence of a decision maker. In the event that your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease no longer has legal capacity and failed to execute the above documents, another person must petition the probate court for guardianship and/or conservatorship, which is a long, public, and expensive process.
Similarly, everyone needs to make a will. This provides for the orderly distribution of your estate upon your death. If you do not draft one, or use some other legal method to transfer your assets when you die, Massachusetts law will determine what happens to your property according to a predetermined legal formula that may very likely not adhere to your preferences.
It is very likely that those with Alzheimer’s disease will incur exorbitant health costs and may require very expensive, specialized nursing-home care. The average cost of a nursing home in Massachusetts is approximately $10,000 per month. Moreover, those with Alzheimer’s disease tend to stay in nursing homes longer than the average resident. Unless you are a veteran of the armed forces, the available options include private payment, long-term-care insurance, and Medicaid.
Since most of us cannot afford to pay $10,000 per month privately without exhausting our assets very quickly, and since long-term-care insurance is typically not available to someone who has already been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, it is worthwhile to explore the Medicaid option. In order to qualify for Medicaid, the Alzheimer’s patient must meet an asset threshold and is subject to a five-year look-back period for any gifts or transfers they made. As such, timely Medicaid planning is essential to the preservation of assets.
It is critical to embark on a legal plan for the future medical and financial care of your loved one with Alzheimer’s disease at the earliest possible opportunity. Proper planning enhances the quality of care for an Alzheimer’s patient and also provides peace of mind for those caring for him or her. Most importantly, timely planning allows the Alzheimer’s patient to legally communicate his or her preferences for future financial and health-related decisions, even if they do not later have the capacity to make these choices.

Todd C. Ratner is an estate-planning, elder-law, business, and real-estate attorney with the regional law firm Bacon Wilson, P.C. He serves as the co-chair for the Alzheimer’s Assoc. Tri-County (Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin) Partnership and is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys and the Estate Planning Council of Hampden County. He is also a recipient of Boston Magazine’s Super Lawyers Rising Stars distinction from 2007 to 2011; (413) 781-0560; baconwilson.com/attorneys/ratner_2

Marketing

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Columns Sections

Creating Promotional Pieces that Attract Clients

By DAWN JOSEPHSON
Whether you’re creating a sales letter, brochure, newsletter, or any other business promotional piece, you need to write in a way that not only explains your product or service, but also compels your prospects to contact you.
Unfortunately, many promotional pieces miss the mark. Outrageous claims, weak calls to action, and boring text are common mistakes that plague most people’s writing. Such errors accomplish only one thing: they destine your promotional piece for the infamous round file. They also show prospects that you’re lazy, uncreative, and possibly incapable of delivering quality work.
In order to entice prospects to contact you based on your promotional mailings, you need to keep your writing both lively and factual. The following guidelines will help you write promotional pieces that even your toughest prospects can’t resist.

1. Write a headline that gets to the point. You have less than five seconds to impress your prospects to read on. And the first thing any prospect reads is the piece’s headline. So craft a compelling headline that immediately conveys why this information is important to your prospects. The four main headline formulas that work are:
How-to — the formula is ‘how to’ + verb + product/service/noun + benefit. Example: “How to create a store promotion that increases revenue.”
New — the formula is ‘new’ + product/service + benefit. Example: “New tax law saves you money.”
Power verb — the formula is power verb + product/service + benefit. Example: “Prepare a business plan that boosts company profits.”
Free — the formula is ‘free’ + product/service + benefit. Example: “Free booklet reveals the secret to lowering your interest rate.”
Since your headline determines if the prospect keeps reading, craft yours wisely.

2. Keep the hype to a minimum. Many people think that, in order to get people to read their promotional piece, they must write something outrageous. To some degree, this is true. Saying something outrageous is a great way to generate interest, as people naturally love controversy. Plus, if you can stir things up, you’ll get lots of exposure. The thing to remember, however, is that you must be prepared to answer questions and/or prove everything you write. So if you want to write something just for sensationalism but can’t back it up, don’t. You must be able to support everything you print.

3. Go easy on the posturing. While you may produce the best products or offer the most unique services in the world, that is for your prospects to decide. Every superlative you use in your promotional piece will reduce the prospect’s trust in what you say. So instead of telling prospects that your product is “the most extraordinary thing to ever hit the market” or that your service is “capable of revolutionizing the industry,” show your prospects how these claims are possible. Give the benefits of using the product or service as they pertain to your prospects’ lives so they can determine just how extraordinary or revolutionary the product or service really is.

4. Evoke images. As you write, evoke more than one of the five senses. Paint a picture with your words so prospects see, hear, smell, taste, and feel what you’re describing. Contrary to popular belief, the best promotional writers think in pictures, not words. They see the image they want to convey to their prospects, and that’s what they write. So if you’re a candy manufacturer or a florist, for example, write so that your readers smell the candy or the flowers, not just see what they look like. If you’re in the restaurant business, help your readers taste the food. If you’re writing about business productivity, help your prospects hear the hustle of productivity and feel the rush of a sales call. Do more than just tell prospects what’s going on.

5. Always make a compelling call to action. What do you want the person reading your sales letter, brochure, or other promotional piece to do? Buy your product? Call you for more information? Visit your website? Whatever action you want your prospects to take, state it clearly. Too many promotional pieces ramble on about all the features and benefits of the product, but they never tell the prospects to actually do anything. For example, in a sales letter, you could write: “Please call our office immediately for more information on how we can help.” A brochure could say: “Order the widget at our special introductory price today.” In a newsletter you could write: “Visit our website for more information about our new product line.” Tell prospects precisely what you want them to do.

Bottom Line
When your promotional pieces present your information in the most compelling and factual manner, your prospects will find them and your company irresistible. So as you write future sales letters, brochures, or other promotional pieces, keep these guidelines in mind. When you do, you’ll create a promotional piece that delights prospects and makes them eager to do business with you.

Dawn Josephson is a ghostwriter, editor, and writing coach who helps business leaders and professional speakers create engaging and informative books, articles, and marketing pieces; www.masterwritingcoach.com

Long Odds

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Health Care Sections

Why Pancreatic Cancer Is Still Too Often a Death Sentence

Dr. Richard Wait says surgery can be effective in extending life for pancreatic-cancer patients, but detecting the disease in time is often difficult.
In the world of healthcare, few words are as frightening as cancer. Yet, the medical community has found ways, over the years, to significantly reduce the mortality rates for certain types of cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is not one of them.
In fact, 45,000 new cases are diagnosed each year, and some 38,000 people die from the disease annually, said Dr. Richard Wait, chairman of the Department of Surgery at Baystate Medical Center. “The mortality is horrifically high. In fact, 80% of these cancers that develop, by the time they are found, are too large or too diffuse for treatment with any type of surgery — and surgery is, in fact, the only cure for pancreatic cancer.”
Pancreatic cancer forms in the tissues of the pancreas, a digestive and endocrine organ that lies behind the stomach. The pancreas secretes enzymes that aid in digestion as well as hormones that help regulate the metabolism of sugars.
The reason pancreatic cancer has such a poor prognosis, Wait said, is that no effective screening test has ever been developed to catch it early. Cancerous cells may develop in the ‘head’ or ‘body’ of the small, fish-shaped organ, and it typically spreads rapidly and is seldom detected in its early stages, before symptoms emerge.
“When the cancer is developing in the body, the tail becomes very large before the patient presents with pain, nausea, vomiting, and weight loss,” Wait said. On the other hand, pancreatic head lesions almost always manifest as jaundice because it affects the bile ducts. “That’s usually one of the first signs; the tumors are really small when the patient gets jaundice,” he explained, making this kind of pancreatic cancer more operable than one that affects the body and tail.
In any case, “the cure rates haven’t changed a lot over the past 30 years,” he told BusinessWest, “although the mortality associated with surgical treatment has decreased markedly.”
The challenge, of course, is detecting the cancer while it’s still operable. On that front, modern healthcare has a long way to go.

Cause and Effect
The pancreas plays a key role in multiple body functions, Wait said. “It’s basically a dual-purpose organ. It functions as an exocrine organ; it makes enzymes through a system of tubes and ducts on the intestine. If you don’t have pancreatic secretions, food would travel through the whole GI system and not get absorbed.”
Meanwhile, “the pancreas also serves an endocrine function because of the number of hormones it secretes, the most prominent and well-known being insulin.”
Pancreatic cancer occurs when cells in the pancreas develop mutations in their DNA, causing the cells to grow uncontrollably and continue living after normal cells would die, eventually forming a tumor. About 95% of all pancreatic cancer is exocrine, meaning it begins in the cells that line the ducts of the pancreas. Rarely, cancer can form in the hormone-producing cells of the pancreas, a condition known as endocrine cancer.
“They’re very different in how they present and how they grow, and their overall mortality,” Wait said. “What most people think of as pancreatic cancer is the exocrine.”
The incidence of pancreatic cancer is on the rise, Wait said, although it’s not clear why. “In terms of trying to lower the risk and find these tumors, the only things we know that increases the risk of pancreatic cancer is smoking,” he noted.
While smoking is now on the decline, it had increased over many years, and because of the lag time involved in developing disease, today’s increasing pancreatic cancer may reflect the higher smoking incidence of the recent past. Smoking might also explain why men are 30% more likely to contract the disease than women, simply because more men than women use tobacco products.
As for other risk factors, “diet may well play a role — in populations of patients who eat a high-fat diet, eat a lot of meat, the risk may be increased — but that’s not clear-cut at all,” Wait said. In addition, “about 10% of patients may have some kind of genetic disorder, and cancer can run in families, but, again, there’s not a very good way to screen patients, even those with multiple family members with cancer.”
Pancreatic cancer is the fourth-most-common cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S. and the eighth worldwide. For all stages combined, the one- and five-year relative survival rates are 25% and 6%, respectively. For locally advanced and metastatic disease — encompassing about 80% of all cases — the mean survival is about 10 and 6 months, respectively.

The Only Option
Once a tumor is found, the only possible cure is still surgery, Wait said. “The surgery is aimed at taking out that portion of the pancreas that contains cancer.”
For tumors in the pancreatic tail and body, a surgeon will remove the tail and a small portion of the body — and possibly the spleen — in a procedure called distal pancreatectomy. For cancer located in the head of the pancreas, the surgeon will remove the head as well as a portion of the small intestine, the gallbladder, and part of the bile duct. Part of the stomach may be removed as well.
This surgery is known as the ‘Whipple procedure,’ named after Dr. Allen Whipple, who first developed it in 1935. “It’s still basically the same procedure, although the results are better,” Wait said. “It has been shown that the results for the Whipple procedure and other pancreatic-surgery procedures are better in those institutions that do large numbers, so we always encourage patients to go to high-volume centers, of which Baystate is one.”
Surgical treatment is usually reinforced by both chemotherapy and radiation therapy after the procedure, he added. “On occasion, we’ll use chemotherapy first, before the surgery, if the tumor is large.”
Because removing part of the pancreas decreases its endocrine function, blood sugar is typically higher after surgery, he explained. “If you were diabetic before, you’ll be more diabetic after and maybe need stronger medicine. If you were not diabetic before surgery, oftentimes you are after surgery, but you may not require insulin — just diet modifications or oral medications.”
When pancreatic cancer is diagnosed and the doctor determines it’s operable, Wait said, “the average survival time is 11 months if we don’t do surgery, and the average time if patients receive full treatment is 22 to 24 months — about double the life expectancy.” Most people who make it to five years can consider themselves cancer-free, he added.

Seeking Answers
To demonstrate the disease’s harsh mortality rate, Wait noted that 1 in 78 people contract pancreatic cancer, as opposed to 1 in 6 women who are diagnosed with breast cancer at some point — yet, because breast cancer is far more manageable, the total annual deaths from the two are very similar.
“There are no screening tests for pancreatic cancer,” he reiterated. “Some things are being developed in an attempt to screen for it, but nothing yet has been proven useful. In fact, a high-school student in Maryland did some work at Johns Hopkins and came up with a urine test, which they’re testing right now.”
Historically, however, answers have been frustratingly elusive.
“Our hope is that we find some way to screen patients and develop some new DNA testing that may show which people are most vulnerable to developing pancreatic cancer,” Wait said, “and also develop therapies that will really improve survival, because it’s clear that surgery alone almost always only extends survival, but doesn’t cure the patient.”
Because, even if pancreatic cancer remains a death sentence, every month of life counts.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Slim Pickings

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Health Care Sections

Obesity Rates Fall, but There’s Plenty of Room for Improvement

Dr. Rushika Conroy says parents should encourage their children to be active.
Despite all the talk of childhood obesity in the media and schools, the percentage of the state’s public-school students who are overweight or obese has significantly dropped over the past five years.
Or, perhaps, because of all the talk.
The percentage of overweight or obese students dropped 3.7% points to 30.6%, according to the state Department of Public Health, and those declines were greatest among elementary-school students.
Dr. Rushika Conroy, a pediatric endocrinologist at Baystate Children’s Hospital, said the messages that have been hammered home by news programs, public-service ads, and even the nutrition campaign being promoted by First Lady Michelle Obama may finally be taking hold and effecting change in some youngsters’ eating and exercise habits.
“Part of it is the higher awareness about the problem,” Conroy said. “We’re doing so much more to make parents and children aware, and to promote preventive measures — not just treating people who are already obese, but also preventing it from happening.”
Whether it’s Obama’s nutrition platform; the NFL’s “Play 60” program, which encourages young people to engage in active, preferably outdoor play for at least an hour a day; or other television spots encouraging healthy lifestyles, “there’s a lot more out there; it’s not just advertising for a video game or advertising for Cheetos, but also trying to show that it’s good to get moving,” she added. “We need to provide resources, ways to eat healthier. And in the media, that higher awareness has been a real plus.”
At the same time, obesity among U.S. adults is continuing to level off after several decades of skyrocketing growth.
In fact, according to the latest figures from the National Center for Health Statistics, part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, from 2010 to 2012, the U.S. obesity rate has dropped from 35.7% to 34.9%. Obesity is defined as roughly 35 pounds over a healthy rate.
Again, some of the credit goes to broader awareness, said Conroy, adding that the spotlight on America’s obesity problem even extends into restaurants and fast-food chains, which are required to post nutritional information. “It’s the little things — even having calorie counts available makes a big difference. If you go into a Starbucks and say, ‘oh, I want that giant cookie,’ you might get it. But if you see that cookie has 350 calories, you might think twice. I think it does make you think about what you’re doing.”

Delicate Subject
Massachusetts has been trying to get children — and parents — thinking about obesity for some time, including a controversial, recently ended program that measured children’s body-mass index (BMI) at school and sent notes home to the parents of kids classified as obese. Detractors of the program cited privacy issues and also argued that the notes could lead to bullying.
Specifically, schools said it was too expensive to mail the letters, so they often sent them home in students’ backpacks, which sometimes resulted in disclosure of the information to other students — and, often, teasing.
“There has been a lot of controversy about taking away these letters going out to parents or caregivers, saying, ‘your child is obese; please seek guidance or help from your physician,’” Conroy said, noting that other states had conducted similar programs and determined they were ineffective.
But despite such reports, and the understandable risk of teasing, she has mixed feelings about the decision to stop the letters, “because I do feel it’s important to have that awareness coming from the schools, and not just a medical professional.”
The state’s Public Health Council, an appointed body of academics and health advocates, called for an end to the letters, but still requires schools to conduct weight and height screenings in grades 1, 4, 7, and 10 to help officials gather data about obesity trends and identify possible solutions — a practice in place in 20 other states. Parents may request their children’s BMI information in writing if they wish.
And parents do seem to be more aware of the obesity problem, as evidenced by the declining rates among all age groups across the U.S. “As far as the nation goes, we’re overall more aware of what’s happening and what we as adults can do for our children,” Conroy said.
She noted that, while the medical community has always stressed lifestyle choices to prevent obesity, the alternatives for helping people rein in their weight have broadened significantly.
“From a treatment standpoint, there are more options available,” she said. “Lifestyle modification will always be the first line of defense, but now bariatric surgery and medications offer more options.”
Weight loss from lifestyle modification generally results in a loss of about 10% of total weight in a year, she noted, often not enough to combat the serious medical conditions that afflict many obese individuals. And the side effects of some weight-loss medications can be a deterrent to their taking those prescriptions. That leaves bariatric surgery as an effective last resort.
For example, Baystate Children’s Hospital now offers bariatric surgery to younger patients than ever before, in the form of sleeve gastrectomy, an increasingly common form of gastric surgery that removes all but a narrow ‘sleeve’ of the stomach, forcing patients to eat much less than before.
“Despite the fact that obesity has declined somewhat in the country, there are still many children whose weight remains dangerously high,” Conroy said. “For some of these adolescents whose weight exceeds 200 or 300 pounds, many are at risk for or already suffering from serious health problems such as diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, depression, sleep apnea, and liver disease, which can make it harder for them to lose weight.”
Studies on adolescents having bariatric surgery suggest the operation is as safe for them as for adults, but not enough teens have been followed after the sleeve gastrectomy to know if there are any long-term effects on their future growth or development. But Baystate has begun admitting 17-year-olds into the bariatric pre-op process, so they’re ready for the surgery at age 18 — with the potential to operate on younger teens down the road as more data emerges.

Go Outside
Of course, encouraging young people to eat right and exercise is still job number one, and that can be difficult, especially in an era when kids simply don’t play outside as much as they did decades ago.
“Parents say, ‘my neighborhood is not a very safe one; I wouldn’t want my children outside,’ or ‘I can’t afford a gym membership or a YMCA membership,’ or ‘I don’t have transportation to take them,’” Conroy told BusinessWest. “There are lots of different reasons why people to find it difficult to be active.”
One positive development, she noted, has been the popularity of video-game systems, like the Wii, that incorporate full-body movement. “Another thing we talk about is families doing chores around the house. That counts as exercise, too — helping mom with the sweeping or laundry, for instance.”
She also said both young people and adults should find ways to include more physical exertion in their daily routine, whether it’s walking to school (if possible) or not searching for the nearest parking spot when out shopping. “If you’re going to the mall, park farther away; instead of spending 15 minutes finding a spot closer to the entrance, park at the back and walk. These are ways of getting activity in.”
She understands, of course, that in an increasingly wired world, kids are going to spend time in front of their devices. So she suggests setting rules for their use. “Say, ‘you can spend an hour playing video games, but you have to spend an hour doing exercise first.’ The challenge is getting parents to enforce that rule, because we’re not going to be there to do it for them.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

PictureThis

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Departments Picture This

Send photos with a caption and contact information to: ‘Picture This’ c/o BusinessWest Magazine, 1441 Main Street, Springfield, MA 01103 or to [email protected]

Scientific Reality

More than 100 Elms College students and faculty members attended a dedication ceremony last month for the school’s new 22,000-square-foot Center for Natural and Health Sciences (CNHS). The facility includes a research laboratory, multiple lecture halls, and several other labs for biology, chemistry, and nursing. Pictured at the ceremony are, from left, Paul Stelzer, vice chair of the Board of Trustees; Maxyne Schneider, SSJ, president of the congregation Sisters of Saint Joseph, Springfield; William Lyons III, CNHS Committee co-chair; the Most Rev. Timothy McDonnell, D.D., Bishop of Springfield; Cynthia Lyons, CNHS Committee co-chair; Elms President, Mary Reap; and Walter Breau, vice president of Academic Affairs.

Rays of Hope

The 2013 Rays of Hope Walk-A Walk and Run Toward the Cure of Breast Cancer, staged Oct. 20 in Forest Park in Springfield and Energy Park in Greenfield, raised $750,000 and celebrated a few milestones. This year marked the 20th year for the walk, which was created to raise funds to improve the breast health of the people in local communities with quality and compassion in partnership with Baystate Health Breast Network. The day also marked the five-year anniversary of the Franklin County event, and the fourth year for the Annual Run in Springfield. This year’s walkers and runners added to the nearly $12 million that has been raised by Rays of Hope since its inception. At top are Daffy Duck and Bugs Bunny, Warner Bros. mascots from Six Flags New England, and below, are some of the 24,000 participants walking at Forest Park.

Celebrating the Super 60

The Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield staged its annual Super 60 luncheon on Oct. 25 at Chez Josef in Agawam, an event that celebrates the region’s top-performing companies in the categories of total revenue and revenue growth. Top to bottom, left, David Mahan, estimator and sales manager of Mahan Slate Roofing Co. in Springfield, the top finisher in the revenue growth category, receives the company’s plaque from Maura McCaffrey, left, chief operating officer of Health New England, the program’s presenting sponsor, and Meghan Sullivan, a partner with the law firm Sullivan Hayes & Quinn, a platinum sponsor; Scott Berg, center, associate Vice President for Development at Springfield College, the top performer in the total revenue category, receives the school’s plaque from McCaffrey and Glenn Welch, president of Hampden Bank; Jessica Montana, left, and Angie Gregory, principals with Simple Diaper and Linen, present the luncheon’s keynote address; a sellout crowd takes in the proceedings.
(Photographs courtesy of Ed Cohen)

Court Dockets

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

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
Javier Morales v. PVTA
Allegation: Negligent operation of a motor vehicle causing personal injury: $4,883.51
Filed: 9/23/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Eastfield Glass Company Inc. v. Fontaine Inc. and Federal Insurance Company
Allegation: Breach of construction agreement for new high school and monies owed: $80,912.50
Filed: 10/11/13

Fred L. Aaron v. Creating Comfort Outlet, LLP and Joshua Barina and Jose Barina Jr.
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $163,658.35
Filed: 10/4/13

RK Petroleum Inc. v. Arya Petroleum Corp.
Allegation: Breach of promissory note: $315,000
Filed: 10/9/13

University Driving School Inc. v. Anthony R. Gomez d/b/a Western Mass Auto Academy
Allegation: Violation of agreement not to compete: $2,500
Filed: 10/1/13

HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
John Mesheau v. IKO Manufacturing Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and express and implied warranties and unfair and deceptive trade practices: $60,000+
Filed: 9/6/13

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Paley, Rothman, Goldstein, Rosenberg, EIG, & Cooper, Chartered v. Hampden Structural Steel Inc. d/b/a Private Garden Greenhouse Systems
Allegation: Non-payment on previous judgment: $9,263.09
Filed: 8/26/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Ashaunti Lawrence v. Fara Leasing Inc.
Allegation: Negligent operation by a taxicab driver causing injury: $4,257.32
Filed: 9/20/13

Robert D. Manz v. Pioneer Valley Transit Authority
Allegation: Breach of contract: $2,400+
Filed: 10/7/13

Peace of Mind

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Health Care Sections

A chart of area behavioral health centers

Click here to downlaod the PDF

Room to Grow

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Health Care Sections

Surging Need Prompts Expansion of Sr. Caritas Cancer Center

This planned 20,000-square-foot expansion to the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center will allow Mercy Medical Center to offer more comprehensive cancer treatment.
When the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center opened its doors in 2003, the 16,000-square-foot facility effectively doubled the cancer-treatment capacity of Mercy Medical Center, the heart of the Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS), and specialized in the growing field of radiation oncology.
There was probably little thought then that a major expansion, one that would more than double the current footprint, would be needed less than a decade later. But in the ever-changing realm of cancer treatment, much can happen in just a few years.
In this case, advancements in the field of medical onology have precipitated an explosion in need for those type of services. At the same time, Mercy has joined forces with medical oncologist Dr. Philip Glynn, in a venture that has brought both great opportunity and a stern challenge: a pressing need for more space.
The latter is being addressed with a $15 million, 20,000-square-foot expansion that will increase the number of chemotherapy treatment bays from the current 10 to 32, while also providing the room, and flexibility, to handle projected needs for years to come, said Dr. Scott Wolf, who serves as Mercy Medical Center’s senior vice president of Medical Affairs, chief medical officer, and chief operating officer.
As for the former, Wolf said Glynn’s decision to merge his growing practice with Mercy Medical Center’s medical oncology services provides the institution with an opportunity to achieve much greater balance in its efforts to provide the two major cancer-treatment modalities — radiation oncology and chemotherapy — and also take cancer-treatment services to a much higher level.
“Our goal is to establish ourselves as a center of excellence in comprehensive oncology care,” Wolf told BusinessWest. “Building on the already-existing expertise in our radiation oncology, and then adding modalities and surgical oncology and subspecialty medical oncology, we will elevate ourselves as a center of excellence.

Dr. Philip Glynn serves as the cancer center’s new director of Medical Oncology, and has helped expand Mercy’s chemotherapy services.
“This has been Dr. Glynn’s vision, beyond just his practice, for several years,” Wolf continued. “He first came to me about two years ago about creating a foundation of a more comprehensive oncology service line.”
Soon after that conversation, Glynn merged his private practice, Murray Glynn P.C., with Mercy Medical Center in June 2012.
“Our group of medical oncologists came together because we felt that collectively we could provide a more effective service to our patients and to this community,” said Glynn, who is now the director of Medical Oncology through Mercy Oncology Services.
This development created an immediate need for more facilities at Mercy, which was met by establishing 10 temporary infusion bays at the nearby Weldon Center for Rehabilitation.
While this was taking place, MorrisSwitzer – Environments for Health, a Boston-based architecture firm that focuses exclusively on the healthcare sector, began designing an expansion of the Caritas Center.
Groundbreaking is slated for next spring, and the facility is expected to open in late 2015, said Wolf. Funding for the expansion will be derived through a variety of means, including a working capital loan from Trinity Health (the second-largest Catholic health system in the country), a forthcoming capital campaign, and future operating revenue from the new center.
While the architectural plans and the new expansion layout are complete, the bid requests for construction management will go out soon.
For this issue, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at the plans to expand the Sr. Caritas Center, and also at what this development means for Mercy and SPHS as the system works to expand its presence in cancer treatment.

Supply and Demand
As he talked about the changes and developments that put the Caritas Center expansion plans on the drawing board, Mark Fulco, senior vice president of Strategy and Marketing for SPHS, started with some rather sobering statistics regarding cancer in this country.
He said that analysis of data provided by the state Department of Health, national statistics, and interviews with consumers and community leaders reveals that the demand for medical oncology services is expected to increase by 11% over the next 10 years.
The aging of the nation’s population is a big factor in these estimates, but there are other factors that point to heightened demand both nationally and especially in this region, he went on, citing a smoking rate of 23.8% in Greater Springfield, nearly double the national average of 14.7%.
While these numbers indicate that Mercy was likely to eventually need more space and facilities at the Caritas Center, the recent merger with Glynn’s practice certainly accelerated that process, Fulco noted.
Wolf concurred, noting that this consolidation more than doubled the number of medical oncology treatments at Mercy, from roughly 3,000 per year to more than 7,000. And the expansion is designed to accommodate 30,000 annually.
“Phil is an incredibly gifted physician, and due to his presence in this community, he has an extremely loyal following,” said Wolf. “Oncologists as a whole are a special group of physicians, just because of the nature of their business, but Phil takes it to another level.”
The planed expansion will feature two floors of medical oncology services adjacent to the current single-story facility on the eastern side of the Mercy Medical Center campus that houses radiation oncology.
But there is much more to the expansion than additional square footage and infusion bays, said Fulco.
“What we’re putting together to meet greater demand for services is a truly comprehensive cancer center with cancer diagnosis, treatment, and other modalities, like support and our spiritual-care team, all in one place,” said Fulco. “The physicians will be in close proximity to each other so that it will further enhance collaboration efforts, with cancer being treated through a team approach.”
Elaborating, he said the new, enlarged Caritas Center will bring together what he called a talented team of clinicians.
Glynn is now responsible for all aspects of the medical oncology program and its activities, such as cancer prevention, screening, diagnosis, state-of-the-art treatment, counseling, and rehabilitation.
Glynn and his seven-member oncology team will be joined by Dr. Neal Chuang, the new chief of thoracic surgery, who is trained on the da Vinci S Surgical System, the latest in minimally invasive robotic-assisted surgery; Dr. Mark Sherman, also a thoracic surgeon and a new surgical oncologist; and Dr. Julia Donovan, a specialist in female reproductive cancers. Within the existing radiation department are Dr. Catherine Carton, the full-time director of radiation oncology; and radiation oncologist Dr. Mary Ann Lowen.
“Dr. Glynn has a very clear and progressive vision for where cancer care and interventions are going,” said Fulco, adding that Glynn’s keen interest in pursuing new interventions that aren’t currently available at Mercy, or anywhere else, for that matter, will see those new modalities being developed and eventually in use at the center.
For example, 10 years ago, when the current center opened, two linear accelerators (used for external beam radiation treatments) and intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) were hyped in the press as advanced technology; today, the team is proud of the two Elekta Infinity intensity-guided radiation-therapy machines, which are advanced linear accelerators (see sidebar, page 17), and are the only two of their kind in Western Mass.
Casting the net even wider, the business plan written 18 months ago by Daniel Moen, president and CEO of SPHS, with Wolf, Glynn and others, demands that the team be consistently aggressive in seeking new technology, new treatment modalities, and new relationships.
To that end, Wolf said the team is in the early stages of identifying a tertiary partner, one that would offer access to clinical trials, second-opinion expertise, genetic profiling, and many other services that will be demanded of a truly comprehensive cancer-care facility.
Fulco said this represents the type of forward thinking that is a very important motivation for Glynn, who also assists with the development and implementation of new program initiatives, such as cancer survivorship, navigation, community outreach, and clinical research/clinical trial participation.

Progressive Vision
Fulco told BusinessWest that, when plans were first put on the drawing board for what would become the Sr. Caritas Cancer Center, the overarching philosophy was to create a facility that would drive home the point that area residents did not have to drive to Hartford, Boston, New York, or anywhere else to receive quality cancer treatment.
Over the past decade, the facility has gone a long way toward proving that point, and the planned expansion of the center will only make it easier to make that argument.
“Except for the esoteric type of cancer that requires specialists who are just as rare and requires experimental therapies, the modalities that we have available to treat patients here are equivalent to the very best in the world,” said Fulco. “You don’t need to go to Boston or New York to get a leading-edge treatment.”

Elizabeth Taras can be reached at [email protected]

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Local Yo Inc., 103 Lealand Ave., Agawam, MA 01001. Anthony Surrette, same. Sales of frozen yogurt, desserts, and beverages.

AMHERST

Vision Hope USA Inc., 177 Henry St., Amherst, MA 01002. Andrea Crenshaw, 17152 SW Villa Road, Sherwood, OR 97140. Provide international relief and development aid and support to people in need in developing countries.

CHICOPEE

Ministerio Adoradora En Espiritu Y En Verda, 60 Alvord Ave., Chicopee, MA 01020. Norma Rodriguez, same. To get involved with different churches to expand my ministry.

EASTHAMPTON

Muttersohn Enterprises Corp., 103 Oliver St., Easthampton, MA 01027. Laura Singleton, same. Provide services as a non-profit entity for future endeavors.

FEEDING HILLS

B4 Race & Event Management Inc., 193 Coyote Circle, Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Wayne Robert Ball, same. Organize and host local events and road races.

HOLYOKE

J. Savage Inc., 4 Open Square Way, Suite 215, Holyoke, MA 01040. Jay Savage, 589 Pleasant St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Women’s apparel and accessories.

NORTHAMPTON

Hygeniks Inc., 74 Bridge St., Northampton, MA 01060. Todd Marchefka, same. Supply and distribute equipment, services, and systems for the biotech and pharmaceutical industries.

Integral Builders Inc., 225 Nonotuck St., Northampton, MA 01062. James Harrity, same. Real estate.

PITTSFIELD

Grant Technology Corporation, 2 South St., Suite 340, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Michael McCool, 266 Allengate Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Consulting, patents, technology innovation.

King City Forwarding USA Inc., 216 Fort Hill Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Michael Hilburn, same. Freight forwarding.

Lambda Prime Corp., 777 West St., 4th Floor, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Matthew Stack, same. Software and hardware development.

SOUTH HADLEY

Akamnonu Associates Inc., 11 Pittroff Ave., South Hadley, MA 01075. Oliver Akamnonu, same. Produce and market unique literature.

SPRINGFIELD

Harmonia Celestial Corp., 156 Florence St., Springfield, MA 01103. Julio Edwards, same. Church

M.L. Schmitt Leasing Inc., 371 Taylor St., Springfield, MA 01105. Thomas Schmitt, same. Equipment leasing company.

MLS Management Inc., 371 Taylor St., Springfield, MA 01105. Thomas Schmitt, same. Management company.

Pet Care Assist Inc., 23 Spruceland Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Henry Lingley, same. Financial assistance to pet owners to provide urgent medical attention for their pets.

Springfield Pulse Inc., 11 Pearl St., Suite 234, Springfield, MA 01118. Phoebe Stewart, 64 East St., Chesterfield, MA 01096. Free resource providing accessible space for artistic expression.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

No Casino West Springfield Inc., 1127 Amostown Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Nathan Bech, 84 Summit St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Educate and increase public awareness of the adverse health and social costs of gambling and associated detriments to the greater West Springfield community of any such casino.

WESTFIELD

Dhanlaxmiji Corp., 358 Southwick Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Dhruval Amin, 419 Southwick Road, L53, Westfield, MA 01085. Grocery and variety store.

WILBRAHAM

Baystate Holistic Health Inc., 16 Iroguois Lane, Wilbraham, MA 01095. Manuel Esteves, same. Holistic health services.

When Eating Becomes an Inner Struggle

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Health Care Sections

New Treatment Programs Developed to Combat Eating Disorders

By Dr. BARRY SARVET

It practically goes without saying that human beings need to eat.
Eating is not only necessary for survival, but what we eat and how we eat is often a fundamental aspect of one’s personal and cultural identity. For the newborn infant, feeding serves as one of the primary foundations of the relationship with his or her parent or caregiver, and a positive feeding experience in infancy and early childhood is vital to healthy physical and psychological development.
Continuing throughout the lifespan, eating together with family, friends, and co-workers strengthens relationships and builds community. Some even consider eating to be one of the most pleasurable activities of life.
Although difficult for many to understand, there are those among us for whom eating is associated with a terrible inner struggle. Individuals with anorexia believe themselves to be overweight and deny themselves food even when they are literally dying of starvation. Others diagnosed with bulimia are trapped in endless cycles of uncontrollable eating alternating with dangerous efforts to purge themselves of the food they’ve eaten. According to the National Institute of Mental Health, an estimated 6% of the adult population in the U.S. suffers from anorexia, 1% from bulimia, and 2.8% from a binge-eating disorder. Women are much more likely than males to develop an eating disorder and are three times as likely to experience anorexia and bulimia.
For many patients with eating disorders, the onset of symptoms occurs during adolescence. Without treatment, patients may develop chronic symptoms that cause significant medical and psychological disability throughout their adult lives. Some experience a particularly malignant course that may result in death if left unchecked.
Although numerous physiological, psychological, and environmental factors are thought to be associated with the development of eating disorders, it is very common for these disorders to be triggered by intensive weight- management regimens, including severe dietary restriction and rigorous exercise regimens. It is thought that the experience of starvation caused by intensive dieting may trigger physiological changes in the brain that contribute to some of the highly compulsive patterns of behavior, irrational thoughts, and distorted perceptions of the body associated with anorexia.
Many experts believe that another important factor contributing to the relatively high prevalence of eating disorders is the influence of popular culture and advertising media in contemporary society. Advertising and entertainment media seem to promote superficial and unrealistic norms of beauty and associate unnatural thinness with glamour and success. At the very same time, young people are encouraged by the same media to instantly gratify their desires and purchase and consume high-calorie fast foods and snacks.
There are numerous approaches to the treatment of anorexia and bulimia. One of the first priorities in the care of patients with eating disorders is a careful medical assessment. The primary-care provider is an important starting point for this assessment, although, depending upon the degree of starvation, patients may need to be monitored in the hospital setting in order for their weight to be safely restored. Beyond the immediate safety of the patient, medical stabilization and weight restoration is a necessary part of the psychological recovery of the patient. Patients with severe metabolic abnormalities associated with the state of starvation are usually not able to benefit from psychotherapy.
As soon as patients with eating disorders are medically stable, psychotherapy should be provided. In the Greater Springfield area, there are numerous psychotherapists who are experienced in the treatment of patients with eating disorders. Therapy must be customized to the needs of the patient and should involve the family whenever possible. Some approaches to therapy focus on helping the patient understand and fight against the irrational thoughts and behaviors associated with the eating disorder. Others focus on improvement in self-esteem and coping with negative emotions and conflictual relationships.
A particularly promising form of treatment for adolescent patients is family-based therapy for eating disorders, also known as the Maudsley approach. In this form of treatment, parents initially receive a great deal of support and coaching in order to leverage the power of their parental relationship in overcoming the child’s resistance to eating. As treatment progresses, the therapy shifts toward gradually promoting the teenager’s independence and autonomy in the family. Although this type of therapy is not suitable for all patients, the outpatient Child Behavioral Health Associates at Baystate Medical Center has seen excellent results with the use of family-based therapy.
Eating disorders are notoriously challenging conditions to treat. In the throes of their illness, patients often are in a battle for control with doctors, therapists, and loved ones who are trying to get them to change. Researchers are constantly looking for new therapeutic treatments that could help motivate patients to get treatment and develop a more accepting and comfortable relationship with their bodies.
There have been preliminary studies suggesting that the practice of yoga may have such an impact, and may therefore be a valuable part of the treatment plan. At Baystate, we are conducting a research study investigating the impact of a 12-week program of gentle yoga practice on some of the core symptoms of eating disorders. The study is supported through the generosity of the Calabrese family, who established the Lisa’s Light of Hope Fund at the Baystate Health Foundation in memory of their beloved daughter Lisa Calabrese, whose life was tragically lost after a long battle with an eating disorder.
The program, designed for teenage girls and young women ages 16 to 21 who have been diagnosed with an eating disorder, meets twice weekly at Yoga Sanctuary in Northampton. Sessions are conducted by a certified yoga instructor in collaboration with a clinical psychologist, and include gentle yoga practice along with brief group discussions. Participants are asked to complete questionnaires before and after the program to assess the severity of symptoms of their eating disorder and other associated symptoms. Those interested in participating in the program, or learning more about it, can contact Jennifer McCaffrey at (413) 794-6628.
For more information about research at Baystate Medical Center, visit baystatehealth.org/research, and for more information about Baystate Children’s Hospital, visit baystatehealth.org/bch.

Dr. Barry Sarvet is vice chair of the Department of Psychiatry for Baystate Health, and chief of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry at Baystate Medical Center.

Opinion

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Opinion

Some Lessons from Worcester

By PAUL McMORROW
Worcester’s downtown withered when city officials staked the neighborhood’s future on a silver-bullet development that missed its mark badly. Now the city is redeveloping downtown, albeit at a pace that seems impossibly slow.
But impatience misses two key points. The massive effort is advancing, even in the face of a weak real-estate market, and it’s advancing in the right direction. Worcester, once bedeviled by gimmicky real-estate developments, is sticking to its plan and refusing to take shortcuts. Given the downtown neighborhood’s history, that’s the most important development of all.
When developers broke ground on Worcester’s CitySquare project three years ago, the development was the largest post-urban-renewal downtown redevelopment effort in Massachusetts history. The 20-acre, $565 million project involves demolishing a massive failed downtown mall, laying out a new street network, and constructing millions of square feet of offices, retail storefronts, and residential space. Worcester is trying to move beyond its failed downtown mall by creating something that is, in both physical form and philosophy, the antithesis of an urban shopping mall.
Scores of American cities suffered from disinvestment and population loss in the 1960s and 1970s. Worcester wasn’t alone in throwing an expensive mega-project at its case of urban rot. But its results were especially disastrous. The city saw scores of shoppers abandoning downtown storefronts for suburban shopping malls, so it decided to drop a shopping mall in the middle of its downtown, sandwiched between City Hall and the train station.
The mall was an unmitigated disaster. It failed twice. Those failures became magnified because Worcester had bulldozed a huge swath of its downtown and erased key roads to accommodate the mall. The city had cut its downtown in two for a gimmick that didn’t even work.
The city is currently working on rebuilding a downtown that looks and functions like one. It’s a turnaround plan that celebrates the downtown, instead of suburbanizing it. It recognizes that good downtowns start with people, and once downtowns fill with people, business happens organically.
CitySquare began with addition by subtraction. Construction crews demolished the old mall and much of the garage parking connected to it. They leveled 80,000 tons of concrete and rebuilt the street grid the mall had erased. The project developer, Leggat McCall Properties, built and opened a pair of commercial buildings, including a new headquarters for the insurance company Unum, in the midst of a poor development market.
Plenty of work remains. More than 1.5 million square feet of buildings remain on the drawing boards. The city needs every one of them to create a downtown that hums with life. Worcester’s failed mall showed that cities can’t wish vibrant downtowns into existence. People need real reasons for coming, and staying, downtown. That’s why the residential component of Worcester’s CitySquare plan looms large — it shows the city understands the importance of incremental change.
CitySquare needs around-the-clock residents to anchor Worcester’s new downtown, not just office workers who punch the clock before driving home. It needs a critical mass of bodies who are vested in the neighborhood and who will attract the restaurants and coffee shops that will draw new visitors to the area, which will, in turn, allow the entire district to succeed. This critical mass needs to be large.
The city needs sizeable apartment and condominium complexes to deliver the number of bodies that will anchor the rest of the neighborhood. Large residential buildings are also very difficult to build in Worcester because they cost more to build than they’d generate in rent. Cheaper wood-frame apartments could have gone up a year or two ago, but these low-slung buildings wouldn’t generate anywhere close to the kind of residential density the CitySquare vision hinges on. It’s a sign that the city gets it, that it’s avoiding shortcuts and holding out for the kind of density it needs to create a downtown that isn’t just full of buildings, but actually feels alive.

Paul McMorrow is an associate editor at Commonwealth Magazine.

Buidling Permits

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2013.b

AMHERST

Annie Chiu Lo
20 Belchertown Road
$4,000 — Interior renovations

Geoffrey Cornish
1030 South East St.
$6,000 — Exterior renovations

CHICOPEE

Real Roillard
1979 Memorial Dr.
$40,000 — Remodel

David Pulcini
747 Memorial Dr.
$50,000 — Tenant fit up

NORTHAMPTON

Babbott-Bryan, LLC
202 State St.
$11,000 — Reinforce roof

City of Northampton Parking Garage
89 Armory St.
$280,000 — Renovations

Christopher Copen
80 Damon Road
$3,500 — Remodel bathroom

Donald Grant
24 Trumbull Road
$5,000 — Repair siding and trim and replace rear porch supports

Hampshire Property Management
266 Grove St.
$20,000 — Replace damaged siding

Historic Round Hill Summit
47 Round Hill Road
$12,500 — Renovations

Kirkpatrick Realty, LLC
141 N. Main St.
$7,000 — Replace front window

TJS Properties, LLC
31 Trumbull Road
$17,000 – Rebuild existing stair entrance and temporary stairs

PALMER

Edward Bubon
69 State St.
$5,000 — Replace porch roofing

John Barbice
142 Boston Road
$2,000 — Replacement windows

SOUTH HADLEY

Town of South Hadley
8 Industrial Dr.
$15,000 — Erect new antenna

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Medical Center
759 Chestnut St.
$66,000 — Marketplace renovation

Colebrook Partners
505 East Columbus Ave.
$65,000 — Office space alterations

E.L. Roberts
630 Main St.
$20,000 — Install new foundation only

Hillcrest Park Cemetary
895 Parker St.
$38,000 — New roof

Save-A-Lot
665 Liberty St.
$20,000 — Enlarge meat cooler

SIS Center
1441 Main St.
$224,000 — Interior renovation for new tenant space

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Capital One Realty
37-41 Capital Dr.
$106,000 — Renovation

Robert Cushner
203 Circuit Ave.
$10,000 — Construct storage bays

John A. Peterson
8 Capital Dr.
$140,000 — Division of industrial area into two separate tenant areas

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff November 4, 2013

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of and October 2013.

AGAWAM

JW High School Academy
404 Barry St.
Trina Davis

Maximum Lawn Care
22 Vernon St.
Dean Molta

The Dirty Ash Cleaning Company
32 Rhodes Ave.
Paul Chenevert

Xpressions by Gigi
1192 Suffield St.
Gorete Goncalves

AMHERST

Amherst Machine Company
16 Cowls Road
James Bernota

GIS Matters
1 Tuckerman Lane
Christopher Duncan

Save Historic Cushman
400 Flat Hills Road
Ira Beyck

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Garden Club
16 Czepiel St.
Linda Perrault

Falon’s Hair & Nails
498 Britton St.
Falon Johnson

Partners in Prosperity
23 Trilby Ave.
Geoffrey Croteau

HOLYOKE

Banana Republic
50 Holyoke St.
Thomas A. Croston

Bodega 24, LLC
154 High St.
Hector Mangual

Fitzpatrick Snack Bar
575 Maple St.
Ann Lizak

Ikasa
231 South St.
Mohammed Sheikh

Spirit Halloween Superstores, LLC
50 Holyoke St.
Barry Susson

Zeus Refrigeration & Climate Control
409 Homestead Ave.
John Zantouliadis

NORTHAMPTON

Clarity Data Services
36 Wilson Ave.
Graham Ridley

Damon Road Rentals
96 Damon Road
William Mock

Hampshire House Publishing
8 Nonotuck St.
Stan Freeman

Incite
14 Maplewood Shops
Jonna Sciacca

Quantum Leap Dynamic Life Coaching & Hypnosis
2 Conz St.
Lillian Moss

The Word on Wood
342 Pleasant St.
Thomas Vassar

PALMER

Humble Abode Home Improvement
124 Chudy St.
Gregory Gibbs

Lawson Painting
370 Springfield St.
Michael Lawson

SPRINGFIELD

Just Communities of Western Massachusetts
640 Page Blvd.
Bliss Requa-Trautz

K & J’s Accessories
2 Chestnut St.
Karla Michelle

K & M Enterprises
123 Pondview Dr.
Kyle D. Callender

Kenny Tax Service & Co.
510 Armory St.
Eliana Taveras

King of the City Productions
385 Worthington St.
Anthony Joseph

L & S Fashion
1153 Main St.
Julie S. Soto

Law Offices of Michael J. Grilli
1 Monarch Place
Michael J. Grilli

Mar-Con
433 Nassau St.
Marcin Solowinski

Olive Garden Italian Restaurant
1380 Boston Road
GMRI, Inc.

Pretty Nails
786 State St.
Oanh Hoang

Skin Catering
1500 Main St.
Leanne Sedlak

Sophia’s Permanent Makeup
1188 Parker St.
Khoa H. Nguyen

T-Mobile
1655 Boston Road
Shaher Ismail

The Uppity Girl
522 Main St.
Jasmin Lowe

Vibra Nursing & Rehabilitation
1400 State St.
Vibra Hospital

Villa Electronics Repairs
31 Beauchamp St.
Leslye A. Rivera

Vinny’s Clothing Store
1611 Main St.
Vicente Gonzalez

Willow Tree Outdoor
1523 Wilbraham Road
Katie Pacheco

WESTFIELD

And the Beat Goes On DJ & Lighting
421 Northwest Road
Christopher J. DeGray

CFB’s Farrier Service
189 Honey Pot Road
Cary F. Bedor

Traveling Rosaries Apostolate
56 Grandview Dr.
Linda N. Gerlip

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Affordable Marine Service
58 Front St.
Jeffrey N. Netrault

Andrew Skroback and Association
117 Park Ave.
Andrew E. Skroback

Exceptional Property
108 Ely Ave.
David J. Pighetti

Green Valley Property
18 Church St.
Jeffrey Gagnon

K Brothers Construction
96 Kings Highway
Yuriy Krasnov

Editor’s Corner

By BusinessWest Staff November 3, 2013

Editor's Corner

A Step Forward for Springfield

Seemingly lost amid all those much larger headlines last month concerning the World Series, the debt-ceiling crisis, and Westfield State President Evan Dobelle getting suspended and then suing everyone who had anything to do with that action was this item in the local paper: ‘Springfield City Council OKs raises for mayor, councilors.’ The Springfield City Council’s recent vote to take the mayor’s salary from $95,000 to $135,000 — the first raise for the city’s chief executive since Bill Clinton was starting his second term — represents real progress when it comes to securing solid leadership in the city for years to come. Raising the mayor’s salary does not ensure effective leadership — there are untold examples of how people in public positions with big salaries have failed in their roles — but it certainly helps in that regard. That’s because many people, especially members of the local business community, have eschewed bids for public office simply because they could not afford to take a serious pay cut. This $40,000 raise will reward the current mayor, Domenic Sarno, but, more importantly, it will help ensure large, deep fields of candidates in the future. And from our view, solid leadership is perhaps the most important ingredient in the large volume of work that remains to be done when it comes to returning Springfield, the state’s and the unofficial capital of Western Mass., to prominence. A $135,000 salary won’t make the job any easier, but it might help ensure that those who win that assignment have the wherewithal to carry it out effectively. Springfield’s goal moving forward is to make itself a community of choice again. It held that distinction once, but it was a long, long time ago. Regaining that status won’t happen quickly or easily, and it won’t happen at all unless there is strong consistent leadership for many years to come.

Management

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Columns Sections

10 Ways to Lose Money in Your Business

By PAM LONTOS
Chances are that you’ve read numerous books and articles on what to do to succeed in business. But often, knowing what not to do is even more important. In order for your company to make more money, be sure you’re not inadvertently making any of these top 10 business mistakes.
Mistake #1: Prejudging your customers.
They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but all too often, business owners prejudge their prospects and customers before ever talking with them. How many times have you met someone and thought, ‘I doubt he can afford my product,’ ‘she looks like she’d be impossible to work with,’ or ‘this person isn’t my ideal client’? Rather than prejudge and dismiss who could be your next best customer, suspend judgment and take the time to get to know each prospect and client.
Mistake #2: Taking too long to follow up.
If someone calls or e-mails to inquire about your products or services, how long does it take you to get back to them? While many business owners think it’s OK to reply within three days, you really need to get back to people within 24 hours or less. After all, if they’re contacting you for information, they are likely contacting your competitors as well.
Mistake #3: Not working with someone because of imagined slights.
If someone is having a bad day or is not feeling well, they may say or do things that you think are intended in a mean-spirited way. For example, a prospect may ask, ‘how did you get into this business?’ But because of their demeanor that day, or because they’re rushed, or because of any number of other reasons, their question might come across to you as though they asked, ‘how did you of all people get into this business, because you certainly don’t look smart enough to do this?’ Never take anything a customer says or does as a personal attack. It usually isn’t.
Mistake #4: Making prospects and customers feel unimportant.
People want to know that they’re more than just another sale to you. They want to feel that you really care. For example, one business owner was stumped as to why one of the company’s best customers stopped buying. Finally, she asked the customer what happened, and the customer explained that, in the past, the business owner had had always taken her out to lunch once per quarter, and they hadn’t done that for nearly six months. As a result, the customer felt that she was no longer important. Upon hearing this, the business owner promptly took the customer out to lunch, and she got a sale. Therefore, take an active interest in your customers. Remember their birthdays. Send them a small gift on their anniversary. Do whatever you can to make each customer feel special.
Mistake #5: Not letting your staff handle important issues.
When there’s an issue with a customer, can your staff take care of most of the situations? Or must everything wait for you to resolve it? When you make customers wait for you to get an issue resolved, you’re giving them extra time to stew over the situation and get angrier. Instead, give your staff the training and tools to handle whatever situation arises so they can make the customer happy right away. Remember, you want your customers to always leave your store or office happy and with all their issues resolved. That’s the best way to ensure repeat business.
Mistake #6: Being inflexible with your hours.
We all want life balance, but sometimes work is not a 9-to-5 job. You have to be flexible if you want to get the sale. That means, if you have a good lead or a customer who is ready to spend money with you now, you may have to work outside your normal business hours. So be open to returning phone calls after business hours or even meeting with a client on a weekend. You can always balance out the extended hours you put in one day by taking time off another day.
Mistake #7: Waiting too long to make an important decision.
In business, the speed at which you can make an important decision is critical to your success. Opportunities won’t wait until next month, next week, or even the next day. To prosper, you have to take action quickly. For example, if you interview someone who seems perfect for your open position, make an offer immediately. If you wait, another company will also think the person is perfect and hire them. Or, if you have an opportunity to sponsor an event at a good price, secure your spot. When you hem and haw over the ROI of the decision, by the time you make up your mind, all the sponsorships could be bought. Trust your gut when it comes to decision making; it’s usually right on.
Mistake #8: Making it impossible to find your contact information.
Make sure your contact information is easy to find. On your website, your phone number and e-mail address need to be prominent on every page. Nothing frustrates customers more than wanting to contact you but not being able to because they can’t locate your phone number on your website or in your e-mail signature. Even the most loyal customer will eventually give up and call your competition simply because they made their contact information visible and easy to find.
Mistake #9: Using cheap marketing materials that make you look bad.
Your marketing materials tell a lot about your company — not just in the words on the page, but also in the overall look and feel of the piece. Take a good look at your current marketing materials. Do they look professional? Are there misspellings? Do they properly represent you? When your marketing materials look like an amateur created them, or when they’re riddled with errors, you send the message that you’re unprofessional and incapable of delivering quality work. Make sure your marketing materials present you in the best light.
Mistake #10: Being rigid with your contracts.
If your business uses a contract with customers, it’s definitely an important part of the transaction. However, just because it’s important doesn’t mean it can’t also be flexible. If someone requests a change to the contract, consider it. If it’s something small, give in to it. Realize that sometimes, people just want to feel as though they’ve won — that they negotiated a good deal. So if the item they want to change is small and not that important to you, let them have it. And rather than give them more time to think about it while you reissue a new contract, allow them to simply handwrite in the change and initial it. The quicker the contract is executed, the sooner you’ll get the sale complete.

Bottom Line
Of course, taking advice from others can be hard for any business owner. But why repeat the mistakes others have made? Why not learn from them so you can shorten your learning curve? When you take the steps to avoid these top 10 mistakes, you’ll be on the fast track to long-term success.

Pam Lontos is President of Pam Lontos Consulting. She consults with businesses, speakers, authors, and experts in the areas of marketing, publicity, and speaking. She is a past vice president of sales for Disney’s Shamrock Broadcasting, where she raised sales 500%, and she founded PR/PR Public Relations. She is the author of I See Your Name Everywhere: Leverage the Power of the Media to Grow Your Fame, Wealth and Success. She is also a former professional speaker; (407) 522-8630; [email protected]; www.pamlontos.com

Doing Business as Certificates

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of October 2013.

AGAWAM

Images & Artistry
46 Simpson Circle
Constance Bennett

The B’s Hive
289 Springfield St.
Elizabeth Atwood

Western Mass Sound System
33 Bridge St.
Oksana Mozolevskya

CHICOPEE

Exterior Construction
706 Construction St.
Anthony Hairston

Greenski Contracting
188 Irene St.
Jeremy Greene

NBC Construction
44 Baltimore Ave.
Thomas Byrnes

Shelleigh’s Handcrafted Designs
35 Stephens St.
Michelle L. Fass

Sparkle
15 School St.
Wioleta Plewa-Knurowski

White Orchid Nail Spa
1979 Memorial Ave.
Christy Le

EAST LONGMEADOW

Emeritus at East Longmeadow
741 Parker St.
ELM Care Group

Hawley’s Auto Repair
345 Shaker Road
Robert Hawley

National Camping Travelers
9 Somerset St.
David L. Fant

Party City
440 North Main St.
Stormie R. McGee

Silverson Machines Inc.
355 Chestnut St.
Harold Rothman

Smith’s Beauty Supply of Mass. Inc.
217 Shaker Road
Cheryl D. Pusateri

GREENFIELD

Allure
10 Fiske Ave.
10 Fiske Ave, LLC

Autozone
430 Federal St.
Autozone Northeast Inc.

Carol’s Shoe Design
333 Hope St.
Caroline Opiyo

Environmental Labs
5 Adams Road
Alan Rulewich

Franklin St. Barbers
97 Franklin St.
Stephen Prondecki

Loss Prevention Technologies
12 Riddell St.
Weslee Sicard

HOLYOKE

Fruity Bubble
50 Holyoke St.
Kelvin Zheng

J.C. Penney Optical
1018 Whiting Farm Road
Carmen J. Nepa III

La Barberia
153 Sargeant St.
Emmanuel Montano

O’Brien’s Auto
40 Sanderson Hill
Edward O’Brien Jr.

The Umbrella Tank
67 Lincoln St.
Raymond J. Larrow

SPRINGFIELD

Adam’s New Age Construction
101 Samuel St.
Adam Bosquet

Adjutricem Placement
184 Maple St.
Tonya L. Hall

Advance Stores Company
1100 St. James Ave.
Bonita Johnston

Affordable Airport Car
16 Malcolm Road
Ervin E. Carelock

Ahmet and Ersin Inc.
27 St. James Blvd.
Ersin Cinarlik

Ainong Lin
2946 Main St.
Ainong Lin

Amberpath
299 Carew St.
Gerald Nash

Arya Shnap
58 Crestmont St.
Arya Shnap

ATA Preservation
178 Nottingham St.
Andrew T. Allen

Bernard J. Harvey
47 Lester St.
Bernard J. Harvey

BTTR Booths
80 Teakwood Road
Jakub Lakomski

Calisasimone
160 Maple St.
Calisa S. Kennedy

Campus Convenience
463 State St.
Jason Alvarado

Pafumi State Inspection
390 Main St.
Joseph M. Pafumi

Peoples Pawn and Jewelry
363 Worthington St.
William B. Miller

Pioneer Wealth Advisors
1500 Main St.
Arthur J. Colello

R & B Communications
26 Hutchinson St.
Syed Razzaq

R.M.L. Construction
47 Elwood Dr.
Michael Lucier

Ricos Truck Repair
45 Penacook St.
Ricardo Emmanuel

Right at Home
1350 Main St.
Nicholas W. Colgin

Rockville Records
13 Akron Place
Anthony Dywane

Rodger’s Painting Services
144 Stuart St.
Rodger E. Goodhind

Sabor Pentecostal
2 Chestnut St.
Sasha L. Ramos

Shanghai Ichiban
882 Sumner Ave.
Yun Chen

Sophie A. Cieplik
259 Main St.
Sophie A. Cieplik

Sports Cut Barber Shop
1129 State St.
Miguel M. Soto

Stop-N-Save
172 White St.
Mohammed Sheikh

Stylistas Traveling Boutique
34 Leatherleaf Circle
Christine Michelle

Sunrise Grill
439 Main St.
Loan T. Champagne

Teresa Mama’s & Samms
137 State St.
Teresa A. Williams

Tip Top Nails & Spa
818 Boston Road
Trang Dam

TJ Productions
239 Ashland Ave.
Thomas J. Sliney

UPA’S Trucking Services
26 Sterling St.
Jose A. Sanchez

Varady & Associates
50 Dutchess St.
Robert S. Varady

Vibra Hospital
1400 State St.
Vibra Hospital

Waffles on Wheels
1577 Carew St.
Jeanne M. O’Brien

Well Done Maid Services
22 Eldridge St.
Jalin Mobley

Western Mass Cars
95 Laconia St.
Kevin J. Conway

WESTFIELD

Aube Interiors
12 Vincent Dr.
Sonia Aube

Davi Nails
141 Springfield St.
Nam Tran

GG’s Auto Repair Inc.
988 Southampton Road
Nicole Cruz-Cansino

Kathy’s Nails Salon & Spa
85 Main St.
Van Ly

Lorena Sienko Real Estate
24 Leaview Dr.
Lorena A. Sienko

Mitchell’s Dry Wall
16 Harrison Ave.
Bruce D. Mitchell

Olga’s Tayloring
81 Woodmont St.
Olga Bucalov

R.G.L.
329 Montgomery Road
Ruth Haley

Smart Style
141 Springfield Road
Rebecca Rheault

Tatro’s Mobile Mechanic Services Inc.
16 George St.
Gregg Tatro

That Guy Delivers
154 Little River Road
Cheyne Ordonio

Westfield Yoga Center
94 North Elm St.
Thomas J. Swochak

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Brothers Covers
239 Western Ave.
Kenneth Labelle

Designs for Everyday Living
215 Ely Ave.
Nicole A. Towsley

Distinctive Works
31 Lowell St.
Realm Mercier

ITS Service and Support
94 Janet St.
Matthew A. Raymond

Longhorn Steakhouse
1105 Riverdale St.
Rare Hospitality

RTCEU
1111 Elm St.
Jon J. Jaspensan

The Olive Garden
919 Riverdale St.
GMRI Inc.

Building Permits

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of October 2013.

CHICOPEE

Chicopee Boys and Girls Club
580 Meadow St.
$50,000 — Interior renovation

Riverbend Medical Group
444 Montgomery St.
$4,500 — Renovations in radiology room

S.L. Carriers
318 Griffith Road
$8,000 — New HVAC system

Verizon
1790 Westover Road
$29,000 — Repair building damaged by car

GREENFIELD

Christopher Ethier
76 Hope St.
$ 10,000 — Repair roof rafters

City Tire Company
177 French King Highway
$26,000 — Remodel waiting/showroom

Greenfield Congregation of Jehovah’s Witnesses
290 Shelburne Road
$224,000 — Construct single story structure for church

Greenfield Corporate Center, LLC
101 Munson St.
$9,000 — Install dry chemical fire suppression systems to electrical rooms

Greenfield Savings Bank
400 Main St.
$5,400 — Install new door

Jeffrey Denny
77 Mohawk Trail
$11,800 — Strip and re-roof

Leo P. LaChance
487-489 Bernardston Road
$202,000 — Renovate office area for Center for Human Development

Robar Inc.
237 Mohawk Trail
$15,000 — Relocate existing café within existing store space

Sander Greenfield, LLC
367 Federal St.
$146,000 — Renovate existing building into a new store

SOUTH HADLEY

South Hadley High School
153 Newton St.
$282,000 — Install sport floor

SPRINGFIELD

Chris Spagnoli
890-892 State St.
$68,000 — Renovations for new restaurant

Mass Mutual
1295 State St.
$350,000 — Interior renovations

SHA
59-81 Woodside Ter.
$143,000 — Replace roof

Western Mass Home Therapies
100 Wason Ave.
$489,000 — Tenant build-out of 3,269 square feet for training clinic

WESTFIELD

K-C Aviation Inc.
33 Elm St.
$98,500 — Construct concrete foundation

RSP Realty, LLC
57 Union St.
$235,000 — Build out 4,800 square feet for medical office

Westfield Properties Limited
141 Springfield Road
$9,500 — Install nail salon in Walmart

WEST SPRINGFIELD

1275 LLC
1275 Elm St.
$55,000 — Renovate 1,850 square feet of existing office space

Dunkin Donuts
1333 Westfield St.
$280,000 — Erect a 2,324-square-foot commercial structure

Jodi Solomon
2025 Riverdale Road
$32,500 — New roof

Lattitude
1338 Memorial Ave.
$20,000 — Install two new handicap-accessible bathrooms

Do You Know a Difference Maker?

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Features

Nominations Sought for BusinessWest’s Recognition Program

Looking back at the five Difference Makers recognized by BusinessWest earlier this year, Kate Campiti, the magazine’s associate publisher, said the class of 2013 epitomizes what the five-year-old program is all about.
“We had five individuals or groups who showed that there really are many ways in which people can make a difference,” she noted, referencing a class that included the Sisters of Providence; Bruce Landon, general manager of the Springfield Falcons and the individual credited with keeping hockey in Springfield; John Downing, the driving force behind Soldier On; Jim Vinick, a supporter of a number of area nonprofits, especially the Basketball Hall of Fame; and state and local police involved in a unique effort to curb crime in Springfield’s North End. “This was a group that clearly demonstrated that are countless factors that go into the phrase ‘quality of life,’ and so many ways that it can be improved.”
But there are many more stories of difference making still to be told, she went on, and as 2013 moves toward an end, it is time for BusinessWest to again seek nominations for what has become a coveted honor.
The nomination form here explains how this process works, said BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien, who noted that the phrase ‘Difference Maker,’ as the class of 2013 proved, is a truly subjective phrase with a number of meanings.
“Since Difference Makers was launched in 2009, we’ve recognized college presidents, nonprofit managers, a crusading police chief, a woman who founded a program to fill the shelves of school libraries, and another who started a walk to raise money to fight breast cancer,” he explained. “All these stories are different, but there is a common denominator — people stepping forward, and stepping up, to change lives in a very positive way.
“There are many more individuals and groups who are changing lives in similar ways,” he went on. “This program was created to provide a forum for telling these stories, and we want our readers to help us with this assignment.”
As with another BusinessWest recognition, 40 Under Forty, Difference Makers is a nomination-driven process, Campiti said, urging those who propose an individual or group for consideration to be thorough with their nomination and, in simple terms, effectively answer the question, ‘why is this nominee a Difference Maker?’
Nominations, which can also be completed online, are due at the end of the business day (5 p.m.) on Dec. 20. The winners, as chosen by a review panel comprised of BusinessWest writers and editors, will be profiled in the magazine’s Feb. 10 edition and saluted at the annual Difference Makers gala, to take place in late March.
Questions about the program and the nomination process can be forwarded to [email protected], or call (413) 781-8600, ext. 102.

Previous Difference Makers:

2009
• Doug Bowen, president and CEO of PeoplesBank;
• Kate Kane, managing director of the Springfield office of Northwestern Mutual Financial/the Zuzolo Group;
• Susan Jaye-Kaplan, founder of GoFIT and co-founder of Link to Libraries;
• William Ward, executive director of the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County; and
• The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield

2010
• The Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation;
• Ellen Freyman, attorney and shareholder at Shatz Schwartz and Fentin, P.C.;
• James Goodwin, president and CEO of the Center for Human Development;
• Carol Katz, CEO of the Loomis Communities; and
• UMass Amherst and its chancellor, Robert Holub

2011
• Tim Brennan, executive director of the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission;
• Lucia Giuggio Carlvalho, founder of Rays of Hope;
• Don Kozera, president of Human Resources Unlimited;
• Robert Perry, retired partner/consultant with Meyers Brothers Kalicka; and
• Anthony Scott, Holyoke police chief

2012
• Charlie and Donald D’Amour, president/COO and chairman/CEO, Big Y Foods;
• William Messner, president of Holyoke Community College;
• Majors Tom and Linda-Jo Perks, officers of the Springfield Corps of the Salvation Army;
• Bob Schwarz, executive vice president of Peter Pan Bus Lines; and
• The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts

2013
• Michael Cutone, John Barbieri, and Thomas Sarrouf, organizers of Springfield’s C3 Policing program;
• John Downing, president of Soldier On;
• Bruce Landon, president and general manager of the Springfield Falcons;
• The Sisters of Providence; and
• Jim Vinick, senior vice president of Investments at Moors & Cabot Inc.

Company Notebook

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Company Notebook Departments

Berkshire Bank Ranked Among Most Charitable
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank was recently named one of the state’s most charitable companies by the Boston Business Journal at its annual Corporate Citizenship Summit in Boston. Berkshire Bank ranked fourth for its employees’ volunteer efforts, with more than 22,000 hours of service, and ranked 36th for total cash giving, with more than $1.1 million donated in Massachusetts. Berkshire joined national and international companies honored at the event, including AT&T, IBM, Microsoft, New Balance, Verizon, and Walmart. The Top Charitable Contributor award recognized Berkshire Bank and Berkshire Bank Foundation’s employee volunteer program; its philanthropic investments in the community through its charitable grants, corporate giving , and in-kind donations; as well as as its Recycle, Reuse & Renew Technology Partnership Program.

Financial Partners Raises Funds for Open Pantry
AGAWAM — Financial Partners Inc. (FPI) in Agawam recently hosted its annual food drive to help raise money for Springfield Open Pantry. The 185 employees were able to raise $8,219. Each year, FPI employees come up with new and creative ways to raise money for Springfield Open Pantry. As a technology company that provides business support to farm credit associations from coast to coast, this year FPI stayed true to its agricultural ties by introducing ‘animal herds’ as a means of fund-raising. Employees donated money to have herds of stuffed animals placed on the desks of colleagues each morning. Along with ‘herding,’ employees also sponsored a variety of raffles, a bake sale, a pitch tournament, and even a ‘best beard’ contest.

MMWEC Earns A Ratings on Power Projects
LUDLOW — Three major credit-rating agencies have affirmed the A-level credit ratings of of Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Co. (MMWEC) power supply projects. The agencies — Fitch Ratings, Standard & Poors, and Moody’s Investors — cited the financial and competitive strength of MMWEC and its municipal utility project participants. MMWEC project ratings are all in the A category, reflecting a strong and stable financial profile for the nonprofit, joint action agency that provides services to the Commonwealth’s consumer-owned municipal electric utilities.

Gove Opens Solo Legal Practice
NORTHAMPTON — Attorney Michael Gove has announced the opening of his solo legal practice under the name Gove Law Office, providing services in corporate and business law, estate planning, real-estate matters, and special education law to clients throughout Western Mass. and Connecticut. A Western Mass. native, Gove has developed a diverse practice assisting businesses owners and families in planning for the future. Gove is a 2001 cum laude graduate of UMass Amherst, where he received a BA in political science. In 2004, he earned his JD from Boston College School of Law. He is admitted to the Massachusetts and Connecticut bars, and to the U.S. District Court in both states as well. He is a member of the American Bar Assoc., the Massachusetts Bar Assoc., the Hampden County Bar Assoc., the Hampshire County Bar Assoc., the Connecticut Bar Assoc., the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, and the Northampton Association of Young Professionals. In 2007, he was honored by BusinessWest as a member of the inaugural 40 Under Forty class, in part for his work with the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission. In 2007, Gov. Deval Patrick nominated him to serve as the Connecticut Valley representative on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority, a position he held until 2012. He presently serves as a corporator of the Horace Smith Fund. Gove volunteers with the Hampshire County United Way and Cooley Dickinson Hospital, and previously served as president of the Advisory Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampshire County. In 2012, he was selected as a Massachusetts Rising Star by Super Lawyers, a professional achievement earned by no more than 2.5% of lawyers in Massachusetts.

Westfield Bank Rated Outstanding in CRA Exam
WESTFIELD — Westfield Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Westfield Financial Inc., received an outstanding rating as a large institution with total assets of $1.3 billion as of March 31, during the recent Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) exam conducted by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, the bank’s primary regulator. “The outstanding rating is the highest rating a bank can receive and represents the bank’s commitment to our communities in several performance areas, which includes lending, investments, and services,” said President and CEO James Hagan. The CRA is intended to encourage depository institutions to help meet the credit needs of the communities in which they operate, including low- and moderate-income neighborhoods. Some of the major factors that support the rating were the bank’s level of lending activity within its assessment area, the distribution of small loans to businesses and home-mortgage loans by income level of the borrower and geography, as well as community-development lending. The bank had an excellent level of qualified investments and donations totaling $7.4 million in the areas it serves during the timeframe and evaluation of the CRA exam, and exhibited excellent responsiveness to credit and community economic-development needs.

Finance

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Columns Sections

Set a Thorough, Realistic Budget for Your Business

By DEBRA KAYLOR, CPA

You may have heard a lot about the budget for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts this summer and how we, the taxpayers, were going to help balance that budget through new taxes. But what about your budget?
Budgets are a necessary tool to help you monitor where you are and what changes you may need to make to address any unforeseen situations on a timely basis. Many are still recovering from the recession, and while the thought of having to prepare a budget seems frightening to many, it’s a useful and necessary tool to help you and your business make it through any economy — good or bad.
Budgeting helps measure your performance by being able to review what you expected to happen as opposed to what actually happened, and analyze why those differences occurred. Depending on the size of your business, budgeting might be done semi-annually, quarterly, monthly, or even weekly. It relies on assumptions and expectations for the future. As such, you need the right data to build these assumptions and expectations.
There are many questions to ask yourself and others — where do we think revenues will be, what new customers do we think we will gain (or conversely lose), what is the expected cost of our supplies, what new projects do we need or want to do, how many employees do we need, and what will happen with our insurance rates? While no one has a crystal ball, working with other departments in your organization as well as colleagues in your industry will allow you to build a realistic vision of what is expected to happen.
Here are a few things to consider:
• Know what you can control and what you can’t control. Some industries are fairly straightforward, and revenues (and related expenses) can be easily predicted. However, most are not and are subject to variables that are market- or economy-driven and cannot be controlled. Start with what you know, and then step back to review the variable factors and how your business will (or can) react to significant changes in those factors.
• Be realistic. If you expect revenues to decrease, set your budget that way. Do not set yourself up for failure. Budgets are there to help you, not hurt you. Don’t make your budget a target of where you’d like to be, but rather a tool to monitor your progress toward your strategic goals.
• Be careful not to get too specific. This may divert your efforts too much to gathering the data instead of effectively using it.
• Consider seasonal changes in your business when preparing quarterly or monthly budgets. Is most of your revenue generated in the summer? Prepare your budget that way so you can better analyze your budget versus actual results and why actual results may or may not meet the budget.
• Allow plenty of time before the year begins to prepare the budget. Typically, the process isn’t easy, and a lot of information must be gathered prior to pulling it all together. This will also give you an opportunity to consider other actions that may be necessary to meet certain goals — i.e. do you need additional financing, or do you need to reconsider your insurance package? The budget should also be approved by management or a board of directors and discussed with those responsible for monitoring their areas.
• See if your accounting software can help develop and monitor your budget. Many software packages do allow you to enter your budget on an annual and/or monthly basis and may be able to help pull the historical data you may want. This will eliminate the time and potential errors of manually entering information into an Excel spreadsheet.
• Monitor the budget in a timely and consistent manner. This allows you not only to measure your performance, but also to hold people accountable for their areas and reward those who do well. Yes, there are always unknowns, and sometimes things happen that are not in the budget. But that’s OK. One common mistake of monitoring is expecting actual results to mirror the budgeted amounts. While some line items are typically easy to predict (like rent expense, which usually does not change month to month if there is a signed lease agreement in place), most are not, and variances are expected. Monitoring on a timely basis will allow you to identify the factor that kept you from meeting your budget. Successful monitoring will also enable you to adjust other areas as necessary for the larger variances in a timely fashion.
• Learn from your mistakes, especially if you haven’t used budgeting as a tool in the past. In addition to helping you monitor how your business performed monetarily, budgeting should teach you something about your customers and your vendors. What is happening with them will affect you both in the short and long term.
While budgeting is often thought of a tool for businesses, it is also effective for your personal finances. Do you want to take a vacation this year? Do you need a new car? How much money will you need? The same principles apply and will allow you to do the things you would like to do and be prepared to react to unexpected events.
Now that you have your budget, keep up the good work. Budgeting is not a one-time event. To be successful, it must be monitored on a consistent basis to help you succeed with all of your goals. If you monitor and review your budget on a timely basis, you will be better prepared for the unexpected as well as preparing for the future.

Debra Kaylor, CPA is an audit and accounting senior manager at the Holyoke-based public accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; (413) 322-3515; [email protected]

Court Dockets

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Court Dockets Departments

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

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Amcor Inc. v. HI-DE Liners Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $96,491.28
Filed: 9/4/13

Kronenberger & Sons Restoration v. Greenfield Community College, et al
Allegation: Construction dispute regarding the Energy Neutral Greenhouse: $500,000
Filed: 8/16/13

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Aleksandr Chuduk v. Maxim Avraamov, Oleysa Avraamova, Konstantin Avraamov, AK Diagnostic, and Pilot Travel Centers, LLC
Allegation: While acting as business partner and accountant, Avraamov committed breach of fiduciary duty, fraud, and negligence: $970,000
Filed: 8/28/13

Kevin Wales v. Ballard Truck Center, a/k/a Ballard Mack Sales and Services Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract, negligence in required repairs and maintenance, and breach of warranty: $175,000
Filed: 8/19/13

Monson Savings Bank v. Turbine Systems, LLC and Joseph and Kathleen Gendreau
Allegation: Default on commercial promissory note: $133,022.64
Filed: 8/8/13

Palatium Realty Inc. v. Berkshire Bank, Berkshire Insurance Group Inc., and Michael Smith
Allegation: Misrepresentation and breach of contract: $110,000
Filed: 8/9/13

273 State Street, LLC v. Saia Law Firm, LLC, et al
Allegation: Action for damages as a result of a breach of a lease agreement: $54,656.97
Filed: 8/22/13

HOLYOKE DISTRICT COURT
Marisol Marcano v. Government Employees Insurance Co. (GEICO) and Raymond Zayas Serrano
Allegation: Unfair and deceptive insurance claims and failure to effectuate a prompt, fair, and equitable settlement: $24,999.99
Filed: 7/26/13

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
ABC Supply Co. Inc. v. Boardwalk Contractors and Thomas J. Dean
Allegation: Balance remaining on previous judgment: $6,447.52
Filed: 9/6/13

Employers Mutual Casualty Cos. v. ASG Seamle Gutters Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay insurance premiums: $3,048
Filed: 8/12/13

Granite State Insurance Co. v. Nick’s Affordable Home Improvement
Allegation: Suit on non-payment of previous judgment: $37,185.23
Filed: 8/8/13

WESTFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield v. New England Transit Sales Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract and breach of express and implied warranties regarding sale of bus: $7,570.84
Filed: 9/4/13

Robert Johnson v. Valley Motorsports Inc.
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing trip and fall: $6,162.41
Filed: 9/11/13

People on the Move

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Departments People on the Move

Christine McCormick
Christine McCormick, Dean of the College of Education at UMass Amherst, was elected a fellow in Division 15 Educational Psychology of the American Psychological Assoc. (APA), the premier scientific and professional organization representing psychology in the U.S. The APA is the world’s largest association of psychologists, with more than 134,000 researchers, educators, clinicians, consultants, and students as its members. Fellow status is an honor bestowed upon APA members who have shown evidence of unusual and outstanding contributions or performance in the field of psychology. With UMass Amherst since 2005, McCormick is the author or co-author of publications on a variety of topics in child development and education. In 2012, she was elected to serve a three-year term on the executive board of the Council of Academic Deans from Research Education Institutions, an assembly of deans of education from research and land-grant institutions throughout North America. She was also elected to the executive committee of the American Educational Research Association’s Organization of Institutional Affiliates, which provides a forum for academic institutions, non-university-based research institutions, and professional associations to share information about federal education research issues, people, and events, as well as to be engaged in shaping policy with regard to significant research issues. She was appointed by Gov. Deval Patrick to the Mass. Special Commission on Civic Engagement and Learning, which completed its work last January, and also served on the editorial boards of two major journals in her field: the Journal of Educational Psychology and Educational Psychology Review. She received her Ph.D. in educational psychology, with a minor in measurement and statistics, from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
•••••
The Springfield-based regional law firm Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that Francis Mirkin, Esq. has been named 2013 Top Rated Lawyer in Real Estate by lawyer-ranking service Martindale-Hubbell. This distinction will appear in the December issue of American Lawyer & Corporate Counsel magazine. Mirkin is a shareholder and a member of the firm’s real-estate and banking and finance departments. He is also member of the Mass. Real Estate Conveyancer’s Assoc. and a frequent speaker on commercial real-estate and foreclosure-related matters. He is a multi-year recipient of the SuperLawyer distinction and is rated AV by Martindale-Hubbell, which is the highest ranking achievable. Mirkin earned his BA from the University of Massachusetts and his JD from Suffolk University School of Law.
•••••

Teresa Parker
Mortgage Originator Teresa Parker is now located at United Bank’s Ludlow branch. Parker had served as the personal banker at United’s Longmeadow branch for nine years before transitioning to her new position as mortgage originator in the bank’s Springfield region. She joins Ludlow personal banker Yvonne Santos and her staff at the 528 Center St. location.
•••••

Angela Lussier
The BrunoFox Group recently named Angela Lussier its Chief Strategy Officer. Lussier is an award-winning speaker, TEDx alumna, author, and business consultant whose advice has been featured on Yahoo!, NBC, ABC, Virgin.com, the Ladders, About.com, CBS Money Watch, and other outlets. Within this role, Lussier will serve as lead developer for the organization’s Innovation Unit, which is producing Consulting 2.0 services for entrepreneurs and young professionals. Lussier has worked with individuals, as well as Fortune 100 companies, who have used her successful strategies to achieve unprecedented results.
•••••

Erin Catharine
Erin Catharine, copywriter with the Lenox-based creative agency Winstanley Partners, has been named Young Careerist of the Year by Western Mass. Women magazine. The award is part of the magazine’s annual Women to Watch competition, which recognizes local women working in a variety of careers. Winners were decided by nominations and votes from the public. The honor is celebrated with a special issue of Western Mass. Women and an awards banquet. The Young Careerist award was added this year to recognize a professional woman in the region between the ages of 20 and 26 who has a college degree, has been working for less than three years in her profession, and has excelled in her position through contributions to the organization, continued professional development, volunteerism, and more. A graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University, Catharine joined the Winstanley creative team in 2012 following stints with Howell Creative Group in Williamsburg, Va. and Taradel LLC in Richmond, Va. She is a past recipient of the Advertising Women of New York scholarship, a Student Silver Addy award, a Richmond, Va. Ad Club Bronze Student Cannonball Award, and the Judge’s Choice Award at the Dallas Society of Visual Communications National Advertising Student Show and Conference.
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Daniel Sullivan
The Martin J. Clayton Insurance Agency, based in Holyoke, recently named Daniel Sullivan President. Sullivan has worked at the agency since 1990 and holds the Charter Property Casualty Underwriter (CPCU) and Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) designations. Sullivan works extensively in the commercial property and casualty arena, serving the needs of local businesses. The full-service agency provides personal and commercial insurance and financial services to clients throughout Massachusetts and Connecticut.
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The Loomis Communities recently announced the appointment of Dr. Charles Hines as Medical Director at the Loomis House Nursing Center in Holyoke. Hines has been a geriatric medical practitioner for 20 years and is board-certified in gerontology and internal medicine. Hines, who graduated from St. George’s University School of Medicine, is a certified medical director through the American Medical Assoc.
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Beth Raffeld was named Vice President for Development at Smith College. Raffeld, a Senior Executive at Massachusetts Institute of Technology, has a 30-year career in educational fund-raising and, as the new chief development officer, will over seen an organization that raised $39 million last year and direct a staff of more than 60.
•••••
The Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield (YPS) recently welcomed the following new members to its Executive Board:

Jeremy Casey
Peter Ellis
Elizabeth Ginter
Edward Nuñez
• Jeremy Casey, Assistant Vice President and Commercial Services Officer at Westfield Bank, takes the reins as President. Casey is also on the board of the Springfield Rotary Club and a member of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2013;
• Peter Ellis, Creative Director at DIF Designs, is the new Vice President. Ellis is a member of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2011;
• Elizabeth Ginter, Attorney with Ellis Title Co., returns to the board as Clerk. Ginter is a member of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2012 and Western Mass. Women magazine’s Women To Watch for 2013-14;
• Edward Nuñez, Assistant Vice President of Business Development at Freedom Credit Union, joins the board as Treasurer. Nuñez is a member of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty class of 2012 and is the 2012 recipient of the Bankers & Tradesman Credit Union Hero Award.
• Ashley Clark, Commercial Service Officer at Westfield Bank, also serves on the YPS Marketing Committee. Clark is a board member of the Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity.

Juli Thibault
• Juli Thibault, Talent Acquisition Marketing & Operations Manager at Baystate Health, is Co-Chair of the YPS Marketing Committee and Strategic Plan Task Force.

Incorporations

By BusinessWest Staff October 22, 2013

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Frank & Luigi Realty Inc., 944 Springfield St., Agawam, MA 01001. Frank Dibenedetto, 74 Dunsany Dr., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Real estate.

AMHERST

Marknell Inc., 215 Sunset Ave., Amherst, MA 01002. Marcos Kleinerman, same. Transportation of goods of any type and nature.

CHICOPEE

I-V Associates Inc., 10 Center St., Suite 211, Chicopee, MA 01013. Brian O’Neil, same. Provide specialty nursing services.

Melkor Inc., 10 Center St., Suite 404, Chicopee, MA 01013. David Melnichuk, 74 South West St., Feeding Hills, MA 01030. Business marketing.

EAST OTIS

Linden Graphics LTD, 12 Norton Road Extension, East Otis, MA 01029. Michael Linden, same. Engage in printing.

EASTHAMPTON

Ensemble Musica Humana Inc., 283 B East Street, Easthampton, MA 01027. Lidia Chang, 1859 River St., Hyde Park, MA 02136. To provide education as to the history of early music.

HOLYOKE

Iglesia Del Dios Soberano Inc., 28 Brown Ave., Holyoke, MA 01040. Diana Pares, same. Purpose and mission is to preach the gospel.

LEE

Greenhouse Dispensary Inc., 80 Run Way, Lee, MA 01238. Michael Kulig, 563 Laurel St., Lee, MA 01238. Promote cooperative research and educational projects between scholars.

NORTHAMPTON

C Care Inc., 7 Armory St., Northampton, MA 01061. Donald Chase, 39 Timber Ridge Road, West Springfield, MA 01089. Promote and support activities for the treatment of debilitating medical conditions.

Farm House Compassionate Care Inc., 13 Trumbull Road, Northampton, MA 01060. Susan Stubbs, same. Healing and wellness.

Hampshire Health Inc., 58 Belmont Ave., Northampton, MA 01060.Brian Paul Foote, same. Activities in furtherance of medical, educational, civic, and charitable purposes.

PITTSFIELD

A N General Painting Services Inc., 202 Dewey Ave., Apt. 6, Pittsfield, MA 02101. Antonio Nascimento, same. Painting services.

Forever Xia Inc., 26 Dunham Mall, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Al Ming Pan, same. Restaurant.

SOUTH HADLEY

Ackrion Inc., 2 Linda St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Kristpher Pacunas, 121 Aldrich St., Belchertown, MA 01075. Design, manufacture, and sell external wifi communication and processes devices.

SPRINGFIELD

365 Freight Solutions Inc., 1 Florentine Gardens, Springfield, MA 01108. Cecilio Cunningham, 3543 Woodlake Road, Hephzibah, GA 30815. Transportation of goods and related services.

Ahmetandersin Inc., 27-29 St. James Blvd. Springfield, MA 01104. Ahmet Citlak, 81 Bluebird Circle, Ludlow, MA 01056. Pizza and sandwich shop.

Building In Construction Inc., 72 Washburn St., Springfield, MA 01107. Angel Alicea, same. Rehabilitation center.

Changmu Corporation, 1655 Boston Road, Springfield, MA 01129. Chang Ho Kim, Same, clothing retail.

EVA Transportation Inc., 35 Princeton St., Springfield, MA 01109. Andres Rosario, same. Transportation services for seniors and disabled.

Hampden Care Facility, 180 Orange St., Springfield, MA 01108, Springfield. Tom Gallagher, 34 Mountain View St., Springfield, MA 01108. Promote patient care, encourage medical research, and support community development.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Dunamis Express Inc., 20 Hampden St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Elmira Usmonova, same. Transportation.

J Paier Carpentry Inc., 265 Lancaster Ave., West Springfield, MA 01089. Joseph Paier, same. Carpentry and related services.

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