WEST SPRINGFIELD — Northeast IT Systems Inc. announced the addition of Paul Fortin to its team. Fortin will be joining Joel Mollison and Brian Sullivan as a desktop support specialist.
In that role, Fortin is able to implement cloud-based backup systems, reduce downtime of equipment, and increase speed of repairs for clients. With this new addition, Northeast IT Systems will be able to continue its pattern of steady growth and provide solutions to a broad range of clients.
NORTH ADAMS — State Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Rachel Kaprielian and state Health and Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz recently joined legislators and local workforce-development officials at a ribbon-cutting ceremony to officially open a worker-assistance center inside North Adams City Hall.
The center is the latest effort to marshal state resources in helping 530 area residents who lost their jobs when North Adams Regional Hospital (NARH) and its affiliates closed in March.
“The Patrick Administration is committed to making sure no worker or region is left behind as the state’s economy continues to improve and enjoys record job growth,” said Kaprielian. “This center and the skills-training opportunities the state is allocating will help get these residents back to work.”
The Mass. Department of Public Health has been instrumental in helping the hospital reopen as a healthcare facility and restore regional healthcare services. Three months ago, Berkshire Health Systems opened an emergency room in the facility and hired approximately 150 former NARH employees.
“Massachusetts is committed to ensuring that quality healthcare is accessible in every region across the Commonwealth,” said Polanowicz. “This worker assistance center in North Adams reinforces the administration’s commitment to the region’s healthcare community, and to supporting workers, patients, and families.”
Added North Adams Mayor Richard Alcombright, “a huge ‘thank you’ to our state partners at the Executive Office of Labor & Workforce Development, and our local partners at Berkshire County Regional Employment Board and BerkshireWorks, for providing this wonderful opportunity to the residents of our Greater Northern Berkshire region. This center will provide significant resources to the unemployed and underemployed that will help them seek out opportunities and provide training for the skills necessary to attain employment. What is also very exciting is that this center will be located right next to our Veteran’s Services Office, providing an on-the-spot resource for our local veterans seeking employment.”
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank and its foundation challenged bank employees to take part in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge on Aug. 14. The Berkshire Bank Foundation donated $50 for each of the first 50 employees that took part in the challenge and shared their videos on Facebook, at www.facebook.com/berkshirebank.
More than 50 bank employees completed the challenge within the first three days, including Berkshire Bank President and CEO Michael Daly; Executive Vice President, Retail Banking Sean Gray; Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer Linda Johnston; Executive Vice President, Chief Risk and Administrative Officer Richard Marotta; Executive Vice President and CFO Josephine Iannelli; and Executive Vice President, Commercial Banking George Bacigalupo. To date, more than 150 bank employees throughout Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont have participated in the challenge, in addition to several of Berkshire’s vendors and business partners.
The Berkshire Bank Foundation will make a $2,500 contribution to the ALS Assoc. as a result of employee participation in the challenge. As of Aug. 25, the ALS Assoc. has raised $79.7 million through the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge, compared to just $2.5 million during the same period last year.
The association’s mission includes providing care services to assist people with ALS and their families through a network of chapters working in communities across the nation, and a global research program focused on the discovery of treatments and eventually a cure for the disease. In addition, the association’s public-policy efforts empower people to advance policies in the nation’s capital that respond to the needs of people with ALS.
“We have been inspired by the overwhelming response of our employees to both participate in the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and support the important cause behind it,” said Lori Gazzillo vice president and foundation director. “We are proud to take part in this initiative, provide financial support, and share in the hope that one day we will find a cure for ALS.”
WESTFIELD — Tighe & Bond, a civil and environmental engineering consultant, has appointed Robert Belitz its chief financial officer this week. In this role, he will direct Tighe & Bond’s financial operations and priorities, as well as contribute to growth strategies consistent with the firm’s continued expansion in the marketplace.
Belitz, who will provide financial management from the firm’s Westfield office, is a certified public accountant and executive with more than 25 years of corporate finance and accounting experience in professional services. He previously has served as the chief financial officer, corporate controller, and vice president of Finance for firms such as Malcolm Pirnie, Arcadis U.S., and the Hunter Roberts Construction Group. He also provided senior management for the public accounting firms of Ernst and Young LLP and KPMG LLP in New York. His prior responsibilities have included oversight and management of all financial functions, as well as developing and implementing financial plans and processes to achieve strategic and operational objectives.
“Bob’s wealth of experience in our industry, and his proven ability to successfully direct financial operations, is instrumental to Tighe & Bond’s accelerating growth,” said David Pinsky, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond. “We’re thrilled that he has joined us as Tighe & Bond’s first chief financial officer.”
Belitz, who earned his bachelor’s degree in accounting from Muhlenberg College, is a member of the New York State Society of CPAs and the Construction Financial Management Assoc. He also has participated in various finance forums with the Environmental Financial Consulting Group, Ernst and Young, the American Council of Engineering Companies, and the Design Finance Officers Group.
Founded in 1911, Tighe & Bond is one of the most experienced engineering firms in New England, with offices in Pocasset, Westfield, and Worcester, Mass.; Middletown and Shelton, Conn.; and Portsmouth, N.H. With a team of more than 250 employees, Tighe & Bond provides engineering and environmental services for clients in government, industry, healthcare, education, real-estate, energy, and water/wastewater markets.
SPRINGFIELD — Dr. Mary-Beth Cooper, president of Springfield College, will address the Springfield Rotary Club’s luncheon meeting on Friday, Sept. 5. Her topic will be “Getting to Know the College and the Community.”
Cooper became the 13th president of Springfield College in August 2013. Choosing to work in education administration because of its vibrant atmosphere, Cooper said the guiding forces in her career have been her passion for learning, her yearning for intellectual stimulation, and her vision for human potential. She firmly believes that education can be the answer to creating a prosperous, successful community of thinkers and doers. In addition to her administrative leadership, she takes seriously her role as a mentor to and advocate for students, women, and athletes. Prior to coming to Springfield College, Cooper served as senior vice president for Student Affairs at Rochester Institute of Technology in New York.
The Springfield Rotary Club meets every Friday at 12:15 p.m. in the MassMutual Room at the Basketball Hall of Fame, West Columbus Avenue, Springfield. The luncheon is $17 per person and is open to the public. For more information on the Springfield Rotary or becoming a member, contact Springfield Club Membership Chair Mike Healy at (860) 796-1435 or visit www.springfieldmarotary.org.
SPRINGFIELD — Hampden Bank President and CEO Glenn Welch accepted the challenge presented by Bill Trudeau of the Insurance Center of New England to take the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge in the Hampden Bank parking lot, and instead of nominating three other individuals, as is customary, he nominated his Hampden Bank associates to do the same or donate to the ALS Assoc.
On Tuesday, the employees gathered in front of the West Springfield branch at 5:30 p.m. to accept Welch’s challenge. The company needed 100 pounds of ice to fill everyone’s buckets. Before everyone got soaked, Welch spoke and nominated all the other local banks to take the challenge within 24 hours. In addition to participating in the challenge, Hampden Bank as a company will be matching the $1,000 donation made by the employee dress-down fund to support continued research of Lou Gehrig’s disease and help find a cure for the fatal illness that affects over 30,000 Americans.
“I think it’s really great that we were able to do this and get other companies involved to support such a great cause. We at Hampden Bank are always looking for ways to give back,” said Welch. “Hampden Bank takes great pride in giving back to the community and supports many nonprofit organizations and charities throughout the year. In the past, Hampden Bank has held coat drives for children during the holidays as well as food drives to help feed the hungry, among other charitable contributions.”
SPRINGFIELD — With the change of Wing Memorial Hospital’s parent company from UMass Memorial Health Care to Baystate Health expected to take place on Sept. 1, Baystate Health announced leadership appointments for its Eastern Region and a new name for the Palmer hospital: Baystate Wing Hospital.
As of Sept. 1, Dr. Charles Cavagnaro III, now president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital, will be appointed president of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region, which is comprised of Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, Baystate Wing Hospital, and the employed medical practices and medical centers in that region. As he assumes this leadership position, Cavagnaro has appointed Dr. Shafeeq Ahmed chief operating officer of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region. Ahmed will also continue in his role as chief medical officer of Baystate Mary Lane Hospital and Baystate Medical Practices Eastern Region.
As president of the region, Cavagnaro will provide strategic, executive, and operational leadership for the two hospitals there, which provide inpatient medical, surgical, gynecological, and behavioral-health services; emergency services; as well as a range of primary-care and other outpatient services for about 80,000 people in that region. He will report to Dennis Chalke, senior vice president of Baystate Health Community Hospitals and senior vice president and chief financial officer of Baystate Health.
Cavagnaro has served as president and CEO of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers for the past 15 years. Before that, he was Wing’s vice president of Medical Affairs. In 2013, he served as interim president of UMass Memorial Medical Center in Worcester. Amid a challenging financial environment, Cavagnaro and his team have led Wing to serve a greater number of patients, add hospital beds, and increase the depth and breadth of services in its health centers and outpatient practices.
The hallmark of his leadership is a focus on quality and safety that led to an ‘A’ safety rating for Wing from Leapfrog Group and Top Performer status from the Joint Commission on core accountability measures. Cavagnaro is a board-certified primary-care internist in Belchertown and sees patients on a weekly basis. He is a Six Sigma and Lean Green Belt in healthcare quality-improvement processes.
Cavagnaro completed his residency in internal medicine at UMass Medical Center and is a graduate of Cornell University Medicine College in New York City. He is a member of the American College of Physician Executives and the American College of Healthcare Executives, and a fellow of the American College of Physicians. He was a founding member of the American Academy of Hospice Physicians, which is now known as the American Academy of Hospice and Palliative Medicine. He has served as a medical examiner for District IV of Hampshire County, and as a member of the board of directors of the Pioneer Valley Chapter of the Red Cross. He presently serves on the American Hospital Assoc. Regional Policy Board for the New England Region.
Ahmed was recently named one of ‘100 Hospital and Health System Chief Medical Officers to Know’ by Becker’s Hospital Review. Prior to his arrival at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, Ahmed had served as president of the medical staff, chief of Ob/Gyn, and a member of the hospital board of directors at the Naval Hospital in Cherry Point in North Carolina. Ahmed is a board-certified obstetrician/gynecologist at Baystate Medical Practices – Mary Lane Ob/Gyn in Ware, and sees patients on a weekly basis. Over the next several months, Cavagnaro and Ahmed will be working together as part of a larger, broadly experienced team to develop the integration strategy for Baystate Health’s Eastern Region.
The name Baystate Wing Hospital aspires to honor the hospital’s more-than-100-year history, and recognize the vision and contributions of the Wing family and the countless others who have contributed their time, talents, and money to making Wing the strong community health provider it is today, while also celebrating Wing’s new affiliation with Baystate Health.
EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Mass. announced a total of $240,000 in grant commitments in Berkshire, Franklin, Hamden, and Hampshire counties. Working within its focus areas of educational access and success, economic justice, and safety and freedom from violence, partners in these communities will each receive $60,000 over three years to deploy innovative programs that will help shift the landscape for women and girls.
Among the grantees, Berkshire United Way will spearhead a coalition effort titled Face the Facts Teen Pregnancy Prevention Coalition; in Franklin County, Greenfield Community College will launch the Franklin County Women’s GARDEN Project Collaborative; in Hampden County, the Prison Birth Project will continue its social- and reproductive-justice efforts for incarcerated and post-incarcerated mothers; and in Hampshire County, funding will go to the Treehouse Foundation’s project titled Re-envisioning Foster Care Together.
“We have incredible partnerships with our grantees,” said Elizabeth Barajas-Román, who joined the Women’s Fund as its new CEO earlier this month. “By investing in these organizations, the fund is deepening our impact and strengthening our reach.”
In addition to the financial award, the Women’s Fund is investing an additional $12,000 into the partnership by giving each organization the opportunity to select two of their staff, constituents, or board members as participants of the Women’s Fund’s Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI). LIPPI, a program of the Women’s Fund, has equipped 200 women from across the four western counties to become civic leaders in their communities; impact policy on the local, state, and national levels; and seek and retain elected positions.
Collectively, these four grantees will help leverage the Women’s Fund’s impact on the lives of women and girls in Western Mass. The Women’s Fund will also continue to convene skill-building sessions and support the programming of organizations that work on issues that impact women and girls.
The Women’s Fund advances social-change philanthropy to create economic and social equality for women and girls in Western Mass. through grant-making and strategic initiatives. Since 1997, the WFWM has awarded more than $2 million in grants to more than 100 programs in the four counties of Western Mass. The WFWM is building its capacity to be the go-to organization for all issues related to improving the lives of women and girls.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Construction employment expanded in 223 metro areas, declined in 72, and was stagnant in 44 between July 2013 and July 2014, according to a new analysis of federal employment data released by Associated General Contractors of America.
As employment grows, 25% of firms report that labor shortages are forcing them to turn down work, according to a new survey conducted by SmartBrief, an industry leader in curated business news and custom content, in partnership with the association. “Many construction firms looking to expand their payrolls are finding a surprisingly tight labor market,” said Ken Simonson, the association’s chief economist. “These expanding labor shortages threaten to impact construction schedules as firms struggle to find enough qualified workers.” These labor shortages are also having an impact on construction salaries, with 70% of firms reporting they are paying more for skilled labor than they did last year.
HOLYOKE — Hank Porten, former president of Holyoke Medical Center, paid back $860,000 to the hospital this week to cover overpayment for consultant services and other errors over the past three years, hospital officials told the Republican.
Current President and CEO Spiros Hatiras, who took over for Porten in October 2013, said the hospital had an agreement to pay Porten for three years as a consultant, which Hatiras soon decided was necessary. As of March, Porten had been paid $151,356, but “no work product was produced,” according to the Form 990 the hospital files annually with the Internal Revenue Service. “Additionally, the balance of the agreement has been cancelled, and no future payments will be made under this agreement,” the Form 990 said.
A review by hospital officials determined Porten had also been overpaid for his pension ($395,336), cost-of-living increases ($121,781), and vacation time ($175,737) from 2011 to 2013.
Holyoke Medical Center, which employs 1,193 people, including 380 physicians, has an annual operating budget of $124 million. About 73% of its patients receive Medicare, Medicaid, or another government-payer benefit.
NORTH BROOKFIELD — North Brookfield Savings Bank recently held ribbon-cutting events at its Ware, West Brookfield, and Three Rivers Village of Palmer branches. The events took place following the bank’s merger with FamilyFirst Bank in June.
“North Brookfield Savings Bank is honored to be a part of these great communities and hopes to make a positive impact for businesses and individuals for years to come,” said NBSB President and CEO Donna Boulanger. “We look forward to being ‘where it’s at’ for specially tailored financial products and services, the best customer service, community support, and fun community events.”
The ribbon cuttings drew current and prospective members of the Massachusetts Legislature. State Rep. Todd Smola attended the event at the Three Rivers Village branch, state Senate candidate Mike Valanzola attended the event at the Ware branch, and state Sen. Stephen Brewer and state Rep. Anne Gobi attended the East Brookfield branch ribbon cutting.
In addition to carrying the North Brookfield Savings Bank name, the three new NBSB branches feature state-of-the-art banking for residents and businesses alike, while renovations to the 40-44 Main St., Ware branch will begin shortly to provide more cutting-edge banking services and access to the business bankers at the NBSB Business Center.
WEST SPRINGFIELD — After more than 36 years of doing business in West Springfield, Advance Welding will relocate to Brookdale Drive in Springfield on Sept. 2.
“As our capabilities and customer base continue to grow, this move will improve our ability to process our customers’ work,” said Advance Welding President Christopher Kielb.
The company is a provider of metal-joining services to the commercial, marine, nuclear, medical, aerospace, and defense industries. Its operations and management team will remain the same. The new address is 150 Brookdale Dr., and the phone number will remain (413) 734-4544.
CHICOPEE — The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Common Capital Inc., is presenting a six-part part workshop series, “Taking Care of Business: How to Develop and Grow Your Business.” This series addresses best practices for all types of businesses.
The first session, being held on Sept. 5, is “From Start-Up to Finish: Financing Your Business.” This first workshop will be staged at the Residence Inn by Marriott Springfield/Chicopee and covers micro-lending, intermediate-level loans, and commercial loans. Presenters are Roberto Nieves, director of Business Development for Common Capital; Jeremy Casey, vice president of Small Business Banking at First Niagara Bank; and Trent Taylor, vice president of Commercial Loans at Chicopee Savings Bank.
The other five seminar topics are: “Negotiating and Understanding Leases,” “Human Resources: Best Practices for Small Businesses,” “How to Retain Your Top Talent,” “Is Your Website Working for You?” and “Strategic Networking: Networking to Increase Profitability.” Facilitators for each seminar are experts in their respective fields.
The cost is $20 per workshop for chamber members and $30 for non-members, or $100 for all six sessions for chamber members and $130 for all six sessions for non-members. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org under Upcoming Events, or call (413) 594-2101.
Education Alone Won’t Save the Economy
By ROBERT KUTTNER
Our economy is now five years into an economic recovery, yet the wages of most Americans are flat. For the entire period between 1979 and 2013, median worker wages rose by just 7.9% while the economy’s growth and productivity rose 64.9%. The top 1% has made off with nearly all of the economy’s gains since 2000.
Is there nothing that can be done to improve this picture? To hear a lot of economists tell the story, the remedy is mostly education. It’s true that better-educated people command higher earnings. But it’s also the case that the relative premium paid to college graduates has been declining in recent years. If everyone in America got a doctorate, the job market would not be transformed. Mainly, we’d have a lot of frustrated, overeducated people.
The current period of widening inequality, after all, is one during which more and more Americans have been going to college. Conversely, the era of broadly distributed prosperity in the three decades after World War II was a time when many in the blue-collar middle class hadn’t graduated from high school.
I’m not disparaging education — it’s good for both the economy and the society to have a well-educated population. But the sources of equality and prosperity mainly lie elsewhere.
Three big things have changed in recent years that better explain why this recovery is accompanied by flat wages.
First, the financial collapse is still exerting a drag on the economy. Until the crash of 2008, ordinary families whose incomes had not kept pace with the cost of living had been borrowing to sustain their consumption. Americans ran up credit-card debts, borrowed to attend college, and above all borrowed against their homes. All of that camouflaged stagnant earnings. But the crash ended the borrowing binge. Without increasing debt (which is the wrong remedy), household purchasing power is too low to stimulate a strong recovery.
Second, corporate America got increasingly into the habit of hiring people on a temporary, part time, or contracted-out basis. Traditional payroll jobs became harder to come by. A small fraction of Americans turned this new insecurity into a plus, becoming entrepreneurs. But for every successful Internet startup and every truly joyous freelancer, there are dozens of people for whom working as a ‘consultant’ is nothing but disguised unemployment.
Third, the sources of labor bargaining, including strong federal labor-market regulation and trade unionism power, have been weakened. In their absence, corporations and investors are able to capture the lion’s share of the economy’s productivity growth.
So, are we just stuck? Do the characteristics of the new economy simply doom us to flat incomes for most people and stratospheric gains for the few? Actually, several things could be done to restore a better distribution of the economy’s productivity growth. But most of them are outside mainstream political debate.
A good historic parallel is the burst of deferred growth that came with World War II. In 1940, unemployment topped 13%, and many economists argued that technology had displaced so many human workers that this was the best the economy could do. But by 1942, unemployment had vanished.
In the intervening two years, workers did not suddenly become smarter, better educated, or more diligent. Rather, the government borrowed money and taxed the wealthy in order to massively invest in fighting World War II. The war, in turn, became the greatest accidental economic stimulus program ever. As a side effect, wartime spending produced scientific breakthroughs and technological gains as well as more purchasing power.
Today, we don’t need another war. But we do need major investment in decaying public infrastructure and in transition to a green, sustainable economy.
The wartime economy propelled America into the post-war boom and laid the groundwork for the post-war middle class. After the war, we doubled down with social investments such as the GI Bill and major infrastructure projects, as well as minimum-wage regulation.
We could do it again. All that stand in our way are a lot of bad economics and a consensus of the elites that cutting deficits and rewarding speculators take precedence over rebuilding the country. The obstacles to restoring prosperity are not economic. They are political.
Robert Kuttner is co-editor of the American Prospect and professor of Social Policy at Brandeis University.
Old Sturbridge Village Family Fun Days
Aug. 31 to Sept. 2: Bring the whole family to Old Sturbridge Village on Labor Day weekend, when the largest outdoor history museum in the Northeast opens its doors to children for free (normally, youth admission is $8). Guests are invited to play baseball the way early New Englanders did, make a craft, join a game of French & English (tug of war), meet the oxen in training, try their hand at marbling paper, see a puppet show, watch a toy fire-balloon flight, visit the Freeman Farm, stop and see craftsmen at work, and much more. In addition, the weekend will feature appearances by Bob Olson, performing 19th-century magic, as well as the Old Sturbridge Village Singers and the Old Sturbridge Village Dancers. Adult admission is $24. For more information, call (800) 733-1830 or visit www.osv.org.
Bay Path College Cybersecurity Summit
Sept. 5: Jennifer Lesser Henley, director of Security Operations for the social-media giant Facebook, will be the keynote speaker at Bay Path University’s second annual Cybersecurity Summit, “Security: Changing the Game,” in the Blake Student Commons. Breakfast begins at 7:30 a.m., with the lecture immediately following at 8 a.m. The conference will address security in the world of social media and how everyone plays a role in keeping people safe and making the Internet a more secure place. The summit is presented by Bay Path’s Master of Science in Cybersecurity Management program, which was launched last October as the first of its kind in New England. The summit is free to attend and open to the public. To attend in person or virtually, register at graduate.baypath.edu. For more information, contact Ann Cantin at [email protected].
Workshop Series on Growing a Business
Sept. 5: The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Common Capital Inc., is presenting a six-part workshop series, “Taking Care of Business: How to Develop and Grow Your Business.” Sponsored by Common Capital, this series addresses best practices for all types of businesses. The first session, being staged on Sept. 5, is “From Startup to Finish: Financing Your Business.” This first workshop will be held at the Residence Inn by Marriott Springfield/Chicopee. The other five seminar topics are: “Negotiating and Understanding Leases,” “Human Resources: Best Practices for Small Businesses,” “How to Retain Your Top Talent,” “Is Your Website Working for You?” and “Strategic Networking: Networking to Increase Profitability.” Facilitators for each seminar are experts in their respective fields. The cost is $20 per workshop for chamber members and $30 for non-members, or $120 for all six sessions for chamber members and $150 for all six sessions for non-members, meaning one session is free when signing up for the entire series. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org under Upcoming Events, or call (413) 594-2101.
ACA Roundtable Seminar
Sept. 11: With changes coming to the Affordable Care Act in 2015, business owners and managers need to ensure that their companies are up to speed on the newest developments, including the employer mandate, which will go into effect next year. Attorney Channez Rogers, an associate with the Northampton-based firm Royal LLP, will lead a roundtable-style seminar where she will provide practical pointers to assist attendees with helping their organizations stay current with the latest Obamacare provisions. Rogers will cover topics such as what to include in a comprehensive package, who is subject to the employer mandate and how to comply, and penalties for non-compliance. The seminar will be staged at Royal LLP’s offices, at 270 Pleasant St. in Northampton, from 8 to 9 a.m. The cost is $30 per person, and advance registration and payment are required. Seating will be limited. Contact Ann-Marie Marcil at (413) 586-2288 or e-mail [email protected] to register or if you have any questions about this seminar.
Western Mass. Business Expo
Oct. 29: BusinessWest will present its fourth annual Western Mass. Business Expo at the MassMutual Center in downtown Springfield. The business-to-business show, which last year drew more than 2,000 visitors, will feature more than 150 booths, seminars, and Show Floor Theater presentations; breakfast and lunch programs; and a day-capping Expo Social. Comcast Business will again be Presenting Sponsor, while the social will be sponsored by Northwestern Mutual and MGM Springfield. Silver Sponsors are Health New England, DIF Design, and Johnson & Hill Staffing. Education sponsor is the Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst. Additional sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information on sponsorships or booth purchase, call (413) 781-8600.
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
Michael Kelleher v. Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers of New York Inc.
Allegation: Negligence in food preparation causing illness and hospitalization: $11,972.83
Filed: 7/17/14
W & I Construction Inc. v. C.L. Diesel Repair Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for failure to repair work vehicle: $3,000+
Filed: 7/8/14
HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Sabrosura Supermarket Inc. v. Domingo Jiminez d/b/a Cuba Supermarket, LLC
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $300,000
Filed: 7/18/14
The Mack Group, LLC v. Greater Western Steel, LLC and Tower View, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract under a mechanics lien: $132,000
Filed: 7/9/14
HAMPSHIRE SUPERIOR COURT
Jennifer Fernandez v. RBS Assoc., N.A. and Citizens Financial Group
Allegation: Employment discrimination: $25,000+
Filed: 5/22/14
Joan Tremblay and Dorothy Dougherty v. Ryder Funeral Home, et al
Allegation: Breach of contract and negligent interference with a dead body: $100,000+
Filed: 6/10/14
NORTHAMPTON DISTRICT COURT
Prospect Woods Homeowner’s Assoc. v. Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.
Allegation: Failure to pay assessments imposed by homeowner’s association: $5,589.69
Filed 6/18/14
PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Adler Tank Rentals, LLC v. GML Construction Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $6,817.51
Filed: 6/20/14
Commerce Insurance Co. a/s/o Judy Joaquin and Melinda Alves v. FedEx Ground Package System Inc. and Kenneth Allen Jr.
Allegation: Negligent operation of FedEx vehicle causing injury: $10,608.73
Filed: 5/22/14
SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Liberty Mutual v. Larovere Design/Build Corp.
Allegation: non-payment of a workers’ compensation policy: $11,272.80
Filed: 6/27/14
Mary Perello v. Northeast Properties d/b/a F & P Realty Trust, 58 Realty Trust, and West Street Realty Trust
Allegation: Breach of implied covenant of habitability: $9,000
Filed: 7/9/14
Michelle Smith v. Swift Transportation
Allegation: Negligence causing injury: $24,999
Filed: 6/20/14
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
ASHFIELD
449 Hill Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: John L. Perkins
Seller: Brian D. Briten
Date: 07/16/14
BERNARDSTON
49 Martindale Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Katherine Malia
Seller: Scott A. Johnson
Date: 07/14/14
DEERFIELD
38 Captain Lathrop
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $335,500
Buyer: Sarah Z. Westbrook
Seller: Charles D. Gijanto
Date: 07/22/14
26 Conway St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $167,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Remillard
Seller: Christopher D. Davenport
Date: 07/22/14
26 South Main St.
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $237,000
Buyer: Deborah S. Dachos
Seller: Martha J. Jenks
Date: 07/15/14
ERVING
4 Prospect Heights Lane
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Johnson RET
Seller: Laureen A. Bertrand
Date: 07/24/14
GILL
10 Lyons Hill Road
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: David G. Cormier
Seller: Linda L. Cichanowicz
Date: 07/25/14
5 Meadow St.
Gill, MA 01354
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Mark J. McKenna
Seller: Shawn P. Sevoian
Date: 07/25/14
GREENFIELD
26 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Rodney I. Martin
Seller: Charles F. Reum
Date: 07/18/14
627 Barton Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Outdoor Industries Realty
Seller: Fine & Far Off Realty LLC
Date: 07/16/14
294 Country Club Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Jeffrey T. Tela
Seller: Jeffrey E. Page
Date: 07/14/14
368 Federal St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $423,000
Buyer: Scott D. Akers
Seller: O Ice LLC
Date: 07/25/14
493 Leyden Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $398,000
Buyer: Warren E. Facey
Seller: Ronald J. Wright
Date: 07/24/14
52 Shattuck St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Robin L. Hayden
Seller: Patricia P. Gallagher
Date: 07/25/14
2 Solon St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $183,338
Buyer: Midfirst Bank
Seller: Joshua P. Sonntah
Date: 07/21/14
LEVERETT
4 Cemetary Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: William J. Jackson
Seller: Diana D. Kallio
Date: 07/17/14
5 Meadow Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $530,000
Buyer: Jack D. Forde
Seller: Julian M. Olf
Date: 07/15/14
238 Pratt Corner Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $380,000
Buyer: Steven H. Stroud
Seller: H. N. Clark
Date: 07/15/14
285 Shutesbury Road
Leverett, MA 01054
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Lisa T. Brooks
Seller: Donald R. Nelson
Date: 07/25/14
MONTAGUE
128 7th St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Anne R. Stevens
Seller: Damien Schwartz
Date: 07/18/14
16 Country Club Lane
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $249,500
Buyer: Kristin R. Henry
Seller: Norman C. Campbell
Date: 07/23/14
6 High St.
Montague, MA 01344
Amount: $167,730
Buyer: Matan Rubinstein
Seller: Lise Brosseau
Date: 07/23/14
NORTHFIELD
179-A Captain Beers Plain Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $182,400
Buyer: Harold W. Pelletier
Seller: MW&MW Realty LLC
Date: 07/17/14
568-B Pine Meadow Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Amy A. Hall
Seller: Carol C. Brown
Date: 07/14/14
850 Old Wendell Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Apple Creek Farm LLC
Seller: Sarah Westbrook
Date: 07/21/14
79 School St.
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Cody T. O’Brien
Seller: David G. Cormier
Date: 07/25/14
84 Warwick Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Scott A. Johnson
Seller: Jason R. Besecker
Date: 07/14/14
ORANGE
60 Bartlett Lane
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $224,500
Buyer: Lisa A. Kidwell
Seller: Donna A. Billiel
Date: 07/21/14
85 East Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $118,125
Buyer: John Dunphy
Seller: Bank of America
Date: 07/17/14
77 Intervale Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Donna A. Billiel
Seller: Nancy B. Mousley
Date: 07/21/14
58 Pond Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: David J. Decker
Seller: James W. Taylor
Date: 07/18/14
SHUTESBURY
67 Cooleyville Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $502,500
Buyer: Timothy H. McNerney
Seller: James R. Lee
Date: 07/23/14
120 Cushman Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $460,000
Buyer: Nancy M. Dill
Seller: Mark D. Haffey
Date: 07/25/14
SUNDERLAND
8 Hemlock Dr.
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Blake J. Gorey
Seller: Henry Stankowski
Date: 07/22/14
111 North Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $287,500
Buyer: William W. McKerchie
Seller: Jeffrey Chevalier
Date: 07/21/14
141 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Lua T. Ngo
Seller: Homes By Leblanc Inc.
Date: 07/17/14
WENDELL
73 Montague Road
Wendell, MA 01379
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Beth Erviti
Seller: Fargo D. Whitman
Date: 07/15/14
HAMPDEN COUNTY
AGAWAM
71 Birch Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $344,900
Buyer: P. R. Asta-Ferrero
Seller: Michael R. Lawrence
Date: 07/16/14
Burlington Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Fiore Santaniello
Seller: John R. Rose
Date: 07/21/14
94 Carr Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Marc A. Pereira
Seller: Chester P. Kasperek
Date: 07/24/14
16 Corey St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Nicholas M. Pandolfi
Seller: Jeffrey T. Surprenant
Date: 07/22/14
29 Florida Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $184,900
Buyer: Casey A. Federico
Seller: Brenda Callahan
Date: 07/17/14
104 Gold St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $5,000,000
Buyer: ATS Labs Inc.
Seller: Microtest Properties LLC
Date: 07/14/14
26 Katy Lane
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Thomas Mezzetti
Seller: Joan M. Leahy
Date: 07/18/14
14 Keller Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $251,500
Buyer: Daniel C. Bonafilia
Seller: Felicia T. Seidel
Date: 07/24/14
74 Kensington St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Christopher A. Barnes
Seller: Gregory E. Jerome
Date: 07/23/14
14 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: NWST LLC
Seller: Lynnette A. Williams
Date: 07/16/14
135 Robin Ridge Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $274,900
Buyer: Andrew J. Craven
Seller: Stephen I. Bonesteel
Date: 07/18/14
117 Woodside Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $307,500
Buyer: Michael J. Skala
Seller: Jennifer Gold
Date: 07/14/14
BRIMFIELD
39 6th St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Shawn G. Fuhrmann
Seller: Eric J. Lombardi
Date: 07/24/14
Haynes Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Raymond E. Shea
Seller: Thomas R. Gately
Date: 07/25/14
37 Saint George Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Kevin D. Ragion
Seller: Ronald A. Ignotz
Date: 07/25/14
64 Washington Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Joseph E. McLellan
Seller: Andrew E. Shackett
Date: 07/18/14
CHICOPEE
36 Artisan St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $347,500
Buyer: 36 Artisan Street RT
Seller: 18 Piece Chicopee LLC
Date: 07/18/14
22 Berger St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Cristobal Malave
Seller: Jaime L. Flores
Date: 07/18/14
792 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Timothy M. Bielecki
Seller: Rene A. Roy
Date: 07/25/14
1149 Burnett Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $204,000
Buyer: Wilfred E. Thibodeau
Seller: Dennis G. Champagne
Date: 07/15/14
Center St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $775,000
Buyer: Ritmar Realty Corp
Seller: River Shore RE Inc.
Date: 07/18/14
582 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Orange Park Mgmt. LLC
Seller: Derrymore West Realty LLC
Date: 07/25/14
466 Front St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Eric Poirier
Seller: Zbigniew J. Federkiewicz
Date: 07/14/14
37 Grant St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Elm’s College
Seller: Debra Barrett
Date: 07/15/14
79 Kowal Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Paul R. Depelteau
Seller: James B. Calnan
Date: 07/14/14
140 Lonczak St.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Amount: $10,658,000
Buyer: ARC Fecpema001 LLC
Seller: Westmoreland Co Inc.
Date: 07/15/14
28 Lucretia Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $633,753
Buyer: Rooftop Properties Inc.
Seller: Lucretia Properties LLC
Date: 07/23/14
32 Lucretia Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $633,753
Buyer: Rooftop Properties Inc.
Seller: Lucretia Properties LLC
Date: 07/23/14
735 McKinstry Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Bruce R. Duclos
Seller: Gerard F. Lachance
Date: 07/16/14
27 Meeting House Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Janette Rosado
Seller: Janice M. Parmelee
Date: 07/18/14
60 Montello Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Marzena Nieradko
Seller: Cynthia P. Gorman
Date: 07/25/14
153 Mount Vernon Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Ray J. Marion
Seller: Joseph D. Prince
Date: 07/23/14
101 Poplar St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Stephanie M. Fay
Seller: Linda M. Ducharme
Date: 07/21/14
114 Shepherd St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $179,000
Buyer: Gabriel Conde
Seller: Michael J. Moran
Date: 07/21/14
135 Stebbins St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $179,346
Buyer: Midfirst Bank
Seller: Douglas D. Meserve
Date: 07/24/14
16 Walton St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Keith W. Dahlquist
Seller: Fregeau Associates Inc.
Date: 07/18/14
EAST LONGMEADOW
215 Dwight Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01108
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: David J. Proulx
Seller: Paula R. Proulx
Date: 07/14/14
24 Forest Hills Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Jody C. Schnabl
Seller: Thomas P. Proctor
Date: 07/23/14
33 Holland Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $156,500
Buyer: Timothy E. Friel
Seller: Sally A. Cooper
Date: 07/25/14
62 North Circle Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: 62 North Circle Dr. LLC
Seller: James B. Killoren
Date: 07/22/14
721 Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Mot Nguyen
Seller: Elm Care Group LP
Date: 07/25/14
HAMPDEN
6 Andrew Circle
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Julia P. O’Connor
Seller: James M. Chapdelaine
Date: 07/22/14
2 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Mark J. Gentile
Seller: Philpott, Pauline M., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/14
HOLLAND
7 Bennett Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Wilhelmina F. Conerly
Seller: Dayna Penny
Date: 07/24/14
HOLYOKE
40 County Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Jessica L. Champagne
Seller: Craig A. Osborne
Date: 07/25/14
96 Dupuis Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Birth
Seller: Lee E. Townsend
Date: 07/18/14
68 Harvard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Christian T. Gregory
Seller: Yoosun Park
Date: 07/24/14
18 Howard St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Deborah Schwartz
Seller: David R. Chaput
Date: 07/18/14
LONGMEADOW
50 Anthony Way
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $384,000
Buyer: Charles L. O’Brien
Seller: Hendrick C. Burt
Date: 07/18/14
8 Ardsley Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $399,900
Buyer: Keith A. Cunningham
Seller: Sturbridge Development
Date: 07/15/14
43 Benedict Terrace
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $340,000
Buyer: Marshia G. Regnier
Seller: Susan C. Green
Date: 07/25/14
69 Canterbury Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $442,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Quirk
Seller: Khaldoon AlDulaimy
Date: 07/14/14
134 Crescent Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Matthew W. MacDonald
Seller: Rita R. Schwartz
Date: 07/23/14
37 East Primrose Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Michael Capotosto
Seller: Timothy J. Quirk
Date: 07/14/14
1090 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Leslie E. Ahlen
Seller: Crook, Mary G., (Estate)
Date: 07/15/14
1134 Longmeadow St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $279,900
Buyer: Benjamin J. Reardon
Seller: Andrew S. Jusko
Date: 07/17/14
35 Roseland Terrace
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $269,900
Buyer: Rita Trolio
Seller: Kathleen E. Grady
Date: 07/25/14
29 Tecumseh Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Kevin R. Ryczek
Seller: Darren W. Dawson
Date: 07/21/14
LUDLOW
173 Erin Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: Eric T. Stratton
Seller: Richard J. Papia
Date: 07/15/14
83 Laroche St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Reggie L. Lamothe
Seller: Laurie A. Beem
Date: 07/25/14
3 Mclean Pkwy.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Nicole Peritore
Seller: Antonio E. Dossantos
Date: 07/15/14
255 Pine Cone Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Jose R. Morales
Seller: Pedro M. Olmos
Date: 07/18/14
MONSON
43-1/2 Bethany Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Jonathan B. Jablonski
Seller: Alan C. Lyons
Date: 07/16/14
PALMER
28 Arnold St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: David E. Fisher
Seller: Jose J. Goncalves
Date: 07/17/14
77 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $151,546
Buyer: John T. Meehan
Seller: Wesley Blask
Date: 07/25/14
274-A&B Gates St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: David Kachinski
Seller: Stephanie J. Peterson
Date: 07/15/14
4139 Pleasant St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Harold R. Gelinas
Seller: Richard W. Smola
Date: 07/25/14
RUSSELL
178 Dickinson Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Lori A. Rowe
Seller: Frederick J. Wojick
Date: 07/14/14
General Knox Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Raymond J. Anton
Seller: Waversak, James G. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 07/18/14
SPRINGFIELD
252 Arcadia Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Cory W. Robinson
Seller: Andrea A. Luttrell
Date: 07/18/14
179 Ashland Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $145,500
Buyer: Brian S. Kirkpatrick
Seller: Lynn Stockley
Date: 07/25/14
1005 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $129,851
Buyer: JJS Capital Investment, LLC
Seller: JJS Capital Inv LLC
Date: 07/21/14
68 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Louis C. Sharp
Seller: Peter L. Sygnator
Date: 07/25/14
36 Cleveland St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: JJS Capital Investment LLC
Seller: JJS Capital Investment LLC
Date: 07/21/14
5 Dianna Dr.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Jose L. Rosario
Seller: Sodi Inc.
Date: 07/18/14
13 Donbray Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Enyoc Investment Properties
Seller: RBS Citizens
Date: 07/17/14
65 Dutchess St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Paul J. Hebert
Seller: Michael Cyranowski
Date: 07/25/14
43 Ellsworth Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Robin Martin
Seller: Nathan E. Conway
Date: 07/25/14
27 Flora St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Lois L. Grigely
Seller: Charles J. Lepkowski
Date: 07/15/14
21 Higgins Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Maria E. Davila
Seller: Armand R. Impionbato
Date: 07/24/14
112 Laconia St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Kaylina Green-Ingram
Seller: Anthony D. Kowal
Date: 07/25/14
46 Ledyard St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: Ysabel Espinal
Seller: Legacy Realty Associates
Date: 07/15/14
67 Marmon St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $153,000
Buyer: Natasha I. Christy
Seller: Richard W. Barrows
Date: 07/25/14
198 Park Dr.
Springfield, MA 01106
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Gary A. Daula
Seller: Michael A. Torcia
Date: 07/18/14
1872 Parker St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Sadie A. Eaton
Date: 07/25/14
43 Pineywoods Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $183,000
Buyer: Eric M. Levine
Seller: Debra A. Hurd
Date: 07/21/14
31-33 Price St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $164,900
Buyer: Michael A. Gardner
Seller: James W. Fiore
Date: 07/24/14
23 Providence St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: MassMutual Life Insurance Co.
Seller: Nilda Garcia
Date: 07/25/14
1019 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: William A. Julian
Seller: William A. Julian
Date: 07/21/14
320 Saint James Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: AQSA Realty LLC
Seller: Domingo Inc.
Date: 07/22/14
52-54 Silver St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Qaiss Mohammad
Seller: Joseph Lak
Date: 07/25/14
14 Starling Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Lauren K. Pyles
Seller: Clarence T. Connors
Date: 07/17/14
27 Sylvester St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $129,900
Buyer: Charles W. Sellers
Seller: Ali Awkal
Date: 07/18/14
15 Tanglewood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $283,000
Buyer: Justin Isenburg
Seller: John J. Guerin
Date: 07/18/14
Union St. (SS)
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Blue Tarp Redevelopment LLC
Seller: Gina G. Daniele
Date: 07/23/14
19 West Canton Circle
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Luis E. Agudelo
Seller: Paul J. Hebert
Date: 07/25/14
67 Wayside St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Ryan A. Hess
Seller: Theodore E. Thornhill
Date: 07/25/14
14-16 Webster St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: HSB Investments LLC
Seller: City Of Springfield
Date: 07/21/14
SOUTHWICK
2 Nicholson Hill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: James M. Murray
Seller: Michael S. Pietras
Date: 07/15/14
WALES
37 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $236,000
Buyer: Christopher T. Harrington
Seller: Randall J. Harrington
Date: 07/25/14
115 Main St.
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Kimberly M. Dugas
Seller: Patricia A. Hempel
Date: 07/17/14
WESTFIELD
26 Bailey Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $357,500
Buyer: Patrick J. Corrigan
Seller: Steven W. Harmon
Date: 07/22/14
316 Birch Bluffs Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Michael S. Bein
Seller: Heidi Quigley
Date: 07/18/14
12 College Park Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: John M. Standish
Seller: Mary S. Husted
Date: 07/16/14
1224 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $293,500
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Lyon
Seller: John M. Standish
Date: 07/16/14
277 Falley Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Jeremy J. Beltrandi
Seller: Russell A. Atwood
Date: 07/15/14
12 Farlaine Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Joshua M. Lamb
Seller: Michel P. Gaulard
Date: 07/17/14
16 Glen Ridge Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $234,500
Buyer: Nikolaus J. Schmitter
Seller: Andrew Vitkauskas
Date: 07/24/14
188 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Joel Bonilla
Seller: William R. Krok
Date: 07/25/14
48 Montgomery St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Teresa A. Beattie
Seller: Homeworks Construction Co Inc.
Date: 07/25/14
726 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Adam R. Fisher
Seller: Floyd R. Fisher
Date: 07/22/14
8 Phyllis Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Wayne D. Vangsness
Seller: Cynthia A. Williamson
Date: 07/18/14
4 Salvator Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: James T. Krupienski
Seller: Robert R. Barlow
Date: 07/25/14
62 Sherwood Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Dominic E. Catellier
Seller: Debra A. Dame
Date: 07/15/14
12 Woodmont St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $173,500
Buyer: Jared M. Materas
Seller: Joshua C. Cordeira
Date: 07/15/14
WILBRAHAM
19 Chapin Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Jason P. Donovan
Seller: Cynthia A. Edwards
Date: 07/24/14
822 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Katie O’Meara
Seller: Kurt L. Brannigan
Date: 07/25/14
851 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $230,200
Buyer: Sima Pariseau
Seller: Rita E. Trolio
Date: 07/25/14
299 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $202,375
Buyer: Bjorn Schultz
Seller: Joseph G. Lafreniere
Date: 07/15/14
WEST SPRINGFIELD
57 Angeline St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $139,952
Buyer: DLJ Mortgage Capital Inc.
Seller: Steven F. Bailey
Date: 07/22/14
76 Charles Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $169,900
Buyer: Leah K. Byrd
Seller: Jon Roberts
Date: 07/22/14
341 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Shirley A. Dowdall
Seller: Richard D. McCombe
Date: 07/17/14
33 Howard St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Derek M. White
Seller: Daniel C. Santos
Date: 07/24/14
413 Main St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Becar Properties LLC
Seller: Ali B. Kitchell
Date: 07/15/14
19 Prince Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $251,400
Buyer: Pizzaman Investment Realty LLC
Seller: Jeffrey W. Duda
Date: 07/25/14
683 Rogers Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: David W. Holt
Seller: Eric J. Heinrich-Steward
Date: 07/25/14
74 Southworth St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $115,620
Buyer: JP Morgan Chase Bank
Seller: Shawna E. Afake
Date: 07/25/14
25 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $157,500
Buyer: Ilir Mallopolci
Seller: William A. Bellany
Date: 07/18/14
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY
AMHERST
1360 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Olga Gealikman
Seller: Florence C. Ricciuti RET
Date: 07/16/14
30 Blue Hills Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $268,500
Buyer: William H. Ewell
Seller: Richard T. Alpert
Date: 07/15/14
30 Harlow Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Mark S. Miller
Seller: Donald S. Tetenbaum
Date: 07/17/14
21 Hop Brook Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $549,000
Buyer: Karen Sheingold
Seller: James A. Larimore
Date: 07/14/14
15 Jeffrey Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $242,000
Buyer: Wendy Stayman
Seller: Tiffany L. Johnson
Date: 07/15/14
68 Maplewood Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $475,000
Buyer: Kevin Q. Gallagher
Seller: Sheridan FT
Date: 07/21/14
237 Meadow St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Edward H. Axtell
Seller: Silas Axtell
Date: 07/24/14
18 Moody Field Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $640,000
Buyer: Vera Shevzov
Seller: Janet L. Howard
Date: 07/25/14
462 Old Montague Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Sonia G. Schloemann
Seller: Shari L. Andersen-Connor
Date: 07/24/14
65 Sunset Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Joonkoo Park
Seller: Katherine Glime-Lamotte
Date: 07/21/14
8 Weaver Circle
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Parker
Seller: Sonia G. Schloemann
Date: 07/14/14
BELCHERTOWN
246 Bay Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $208,000
Buyer: Michael K. Guyott
Seller: Terence M. Carney
Date: 07/25/14
109 Channel Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Mighty Xee
Seller: Christine M. Rodgers
Date: 07/18/14
46 Dana Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: James R. Lee
Seller: Aaron Saiewitz
Date: 07/23/14
1 Metacomet St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $206,575
Buyer: Ora A. Ermold
Seller: Herman, Janis, (Estate)
Date: 07/15/14
266 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Jackie D. Land
Seller: Rhonda R. Jacobs
Date: 07/24/14
195 Orchard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Ellen A. Parda
Seller: Paul R. Lussier
Date: 07/16/14
205 Orchard St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $135,251
Buyer: Florence Savings Bank
Seller: Brendan J. Plante
Date: 07/16/14
6 Pease Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Nicholas F. Osbourne
Seller: Steven W. Cox
Date: 07/15/14
Shea Ave. #9
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Carriage Town Homes LLC
Seller: Shea Avenue Realty LLC
Date: 07/22/14
401 Stebbins St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Kandace L. Carlin
Seller: Kuzmeski, Mary E., (Estate)
Date: 07/25/14
12 Tucker Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Pamela L. Warren
Seller: Chris Daley
Date: 07/15/14
EASTHAMPTON
8 Clark Lane
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Mary E. Bowen
Seller: Matthew W. McGill
Date: 07/25/14
14-16 Federal St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Jeffrey M. Palitsch
Seller: Mary A. Dzialo
Date: 07/25/14
4 Franklin St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Jeffrey L. Fournier
Seller: Donna Ray
Date: 07/25/14
198 Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Amy B. Davis
Seller: Daniel J. Crowley
Date: 07/24/14
Hendrick St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: David A. Hardy Contractor
Seller: Eric J. Wonderlich
Date: 07/24/14
36 Meadowbrook Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $322,000
Buyer: Shawn T. Korza
Seller: Chester & L. Warawka FT
Date: 07/18/14
113 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $823,878
Buyer: Bermatt Properties LP
Seller: Bernard P. Gawle
Date: 07/18/14
115 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Bermatt Properties LP
Seller: Bernard P. Gawle
Date: 07/18/14
GRANBY
13 High St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Aimee N. Brennan
Seller: New Chicopee TR
Date: 07/16/14
1 Sherwood Dr.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Westover Metropolitan Development Corp.
Seller: Thomas D. Turkowski
Date: 07/16/14
22 Taylor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Jeffrey J. Asselin
Seller: Joanne C. Parry
Date: 07/25/14
96 West St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $182,500
Buyer: Charles W. Harris
Seller: Katherine J. Wilcox
Date: 07/23/14
HADLEY
200 Bay Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $1,245,000
Buyer: John W. Kinchla
Seller: Keith Rehbein
Date: 07/16/14
42 North Maple St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Una Z. Reiser
Seller: Nancy E. Fernald
Date: 07/24/14
66 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Isaac Chow
Seller: John N. Copoulos
Date: 07/17/14
HATFIELD
Brook Hollow Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Szawlowski Realty Inc.
Seller: Stephen F. Bruscoe
Date: 07/17/14
71 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Joseph N. Peltier
Seller: Malcolm B. Hardy
Date: 07/24/14
Great Neponsett Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $152,500
Buyer: Szawlowski Realty Inc.
Seller: Stephen F. Bruscoe
Date: 07/17/14
HUNTINGTON
80 Harlow Clark Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Donn Sayre
Seller: Miriam J. Beane
Date: 07/22/14
NORTHAMPTON
11 Arlington St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $487,000
Buyer: 11 Arlington Street RT
Seller: Nira H. Elkins
27 Beattie Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Susan M. Norrie
Seller: Michael V. Tobin
Date: 07/15/14
35 Beattie Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $238,000
Buyer: John M. Martine
Seller: Kimberly A. Foster
Date: 07/18/14
444 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $490,000
Buyer: Garrett A. Deane
Seller: Hutchins Family Partnership
Date: 07/15/14
829 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $272,000
Buyer: Adam M. Plumb
Seller: Siera TR
Date: 07/25/14
62 Conz St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $288,000
Buyer: Jian P. Zheng
Seller: John A. Andrulis
Date: 07/25/14
60 Fox Farms Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Mark B. Hoover
Seller: William F. Dostal
Date: 07/16/14
1 Franklin Court
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $448,000
Buyer: Maria H. Rueda
Seller: Vera Shevzov
Date: 07/25/14
67 Franklin St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $389,000
Buyer: Sarah Ketay
Seller: Kyle L. Hamer
Date: 07/24/14
22 Industrial Dr.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $1,500,000
Buyer: Malvern Instruments Inc.
Seller: GE Healthcare Bio Science
Date: 07/25/14
103 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Seller: Hospital Hill Development LLC
Date: 07/23/14
111 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Seller: Hospital Hill Development LLC
Date: 07/23/14
116 Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $507,641
Buyer: Kim G. Selden
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 07/17/14
42 Norfolk Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $512,000
Buyer: Jacob E. Fine
Seller: Lynn S. Hicks
Date: 07/15/14
89 Oak St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $359,000
Buyer: Jennifer Jachowski
Seller: David M. Plaut
Date: 07/16/14
226 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $599,000
Buyer: Joanne Marqusee
Seller: David T. Lyons
Date: 07/22/14
35 Revell Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $362,500
Buyer: Horst H. Winter
Seller: Tammy Landon
Date: 07/16/14
619 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: B&E Capital LLC
Seller: Michael Hogan
Date: 07/23/14
35 Water St.
Northampton, MA 01053
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Thomas
Seller: Laurel Crommett
Date: 07/25/14
SOUTH HADLEY
103 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: David B. Henry
Seller: Aaron S. Haesaert
Date: 07/23/14
83 Alvord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ryan K. Johnson
Seller: Kathleen A. Greenwood
Date: 07/23/14
16 College View Heights
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $299,900
Buyer: Michael J. Romanko
Seller: Joan P. Cummings
Date: 07/16/14
38 Cornell St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Messier
Seller: Christopher Sandrilla
Date: 07/25/14
6 East Red Bridge Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $447,500
Buyer: Robert L. Whited
Seller: JN Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 07/22/14
83 Lamb St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Katherine L. Paul
Seller: Scott R. Levreault
Date: 07/17/14
9 Landers St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Edythe A. McGinnes
Seller: Jared Cousineau
Date: 07/15/14
Amount: $353,000
Buyer: Aaron S. Haesaert
Seller: Mary L. Pigott
Date: 07/25/14
190 Woodbridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Michael F. Lenart
Seller: Beverly A. Astley
Date: 07/24/14
SOUTHAMPTON
146 Brickyard Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: Anne M. Chaput
Seller: Daniel G. Hamel
Date: 07/18/14
12 Kingsberry Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $221,400
Buyer: Samantha E. Patrick
Seller: Charles R. Christoferson
Date: 07/17/14
Madeline Way
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Olde Colonial Building Co.
Seller: Connecticut River Valley
Date: 07/25/14
Nicholas Lane #8
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: James F. Boyle
Seller: Chester J. Kellogg
Date: 07/25/14
Old Harvest Road #5
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: David M. Lepine
Seller: Triple 7 LLC
Date: 07/23/14
Old Harvest Road #9
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: David M. Lepine
Seller: Triple 7 LLC
Date: 07/23/14
143 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $282,500
Buyer: Kathryn M. Cadwgan
Seller: A&S RT
Date: 07/25/14
242 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $121,000
Buyer: Robert E. Williams
Seller: Amanda M. Mitchell
Date: 07/24/14
WARE
12 Aspen St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Scudder Bay Capital LLC
Seller: SJJC Realty Corp. LLC
Date: 07/25/14
19-21 Aspen St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Scudder Bay Capital LLC
Seller: SJJC Realty Corp LLC
Date: 07/25/14
44 Cummings Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Christopher J. Jovak
Seller: Matawin Venture TR
Date: 07/18/14
64 Cummings Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $128,500
Buyer: RRH RT
Seller: Catherine J. Boos
Date: 07/23/14
80 Cummings Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Christopher Desantis
Seller: Marmor, Robert, (Estate)
Date: 07/21/14
Gilbertville Road (rear)
Amount: $399,000
Ware, MA 01082
Buyer: Maura C. McCaffrey
Seller: Harry Lomas
Date: 07/24/14
259 Malboeuf Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Meghan M. Peddle
Seller: Elizabeth A. Rand
Date: 07/15/14
WORTHINGTON
44 Buffington Hill Road
Worthington, MA 01098
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Brenda C. Shanley
Seller: James A. Ryan
Date: 07/16/14
The following bankruptcy petitions were recently filed in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Readers should confirm all information with the court.
Abrahamson, Donald G.
187 West St., Apt. # 1
West Hatfield, MA 01088
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/20/14
Avery, Michael J.
7 Cross St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14
Bracci, Elaine A.
a/k/a Ora Bracci, Elaine
5 Maxine Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/14
Brown, James Andrew
Brown, Michelle Lyn
103 Manchonis Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/14
CandyHouse
Otto, Teresa M.
a/k/a Lyons-Otto, Teresa M.
15 Norcross Road
Royalston, MA 01368
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14
Chey, Chansophoan
392 Paige Blvd.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/24/14
Ciejka, Ronald P.
Ciejka, Mary Ann
2026 Cross St.
Three Rivers, MA 01080
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/19/14
Dietz, Heather R.
56 Westwood Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/14
DiNuovo Consulting
DiNuovo, Sara B.
17 Brown St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/14
Fernbacher, Colleen J.
a/k/a Curry, Colleen J.
95 West Ave., Apt. 1
Great Barrington, MA 01230
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/28/14
Franklin, Dawn
27 Pine St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/25/14
Gaughan, John M.
7 Country View Lane
Granby, MA 01033
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/14
Gebo, Joey A.
168 Maple Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/14
Grimard, Suzanne
56 Elm St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/24/14
Ingram, Ingrid B.
8 Navajo Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/14
Lafond, Scott R.
60 Helen Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/25/14
Lawrence, Kettie Rochelle
135 Village Park Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/14
Lyons, Troy M.
320 Wilbraham St., Route 20
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/21/14
Mazejka, Scott A.
78 Beveridge Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/31/14
McCray, Sheila Marie
a/k/a Donaghy, Sheila M.
51-G Moser St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/25/14
McLaughlin, Patrick J.
405 Pittsfield Road
Lenox, MA 01240
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/14
Medina, Ana M
a/k/a Medina-Faxas, Ana M.
30 Dunsany Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/17/14
Merk, Marina
231 Sawmill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/14
Minney, Amy B.
a/k/a Bellerive, Amy B.
343 Chicopee St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/19/14
Mitchell, Gregory Allen
67 Summit Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14
Morin, Janice J.
P.O. Box 63
Chicopee, MA 01021
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/14
Mossetty, Elsie
67 Summit Ave.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14
O’Connor, Keirn M.
85 Orchard St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/14
O’Neil, Judith A.
87 East Road
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/24/14
Parker, Bernadette M.
36B Holland Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 07/23/14
Parkman, Nicole L.
174 Adams Road
Oakham, MA 01068
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/31/14
Patsera, Dmitriy A.
7 Mansion Woods, Unit 7H
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/24/14
Petrowicz, James E.
143 Pleasant St. #7
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/14
Piscioneri, Anthony T.
56 North Summer St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/17/14
Pretlow, Eugene Leonardo
Pretlow, Yvonne
50 Sanderson St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/14
Quill, David H.
Quill, Susan E.
15 Northview Terrace
Hampden, MA 01036
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/14
Ring, David M.
Cooley, Nicole E.
126 Union St., Unit 12
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/14
Rodriguez, Madeline I.
211 Fernbank Road #9
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/22/14
Salemi, Michael J.
232 East St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/14
Saltmarsh, Lee F.
Ortiz Saltmarsh, Michelle L.
278 Ambrose St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/14
Sedelow, Daniel L.
78 McKinley Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/14
Soto, Jose R.
a/k/a Soto, Joseph
127 Avery St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/23/14
Szafranski, Sheila M.
37C Benoit Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/30/14
Tirrell, Jon Scott
9 Taft Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/25/14
Warner, Kimberly A.
13 Wells Road
Cheshire, MA 01225
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/18/14
Webster, Eric W.
18 Armory St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/29/14
West, Robin Lee
West, Linda Lee
112 Silver St.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 07/25/14
It Takes the Right Tactics to Improve Sales Performance
By JOHN GRAHAM
In Lee Child’s Without Fail, a Secret Service official simplifies a disturbing problem. “If the Yankees come to town saying they’re going to beat the Orioles, does that mean it’s true?” And then he adds, “Boasting about it is not the same thing as actually doing it.”
It’s the same with sales, where there’s often too much boasting and not enough doing. Here are seven tactics to improve sales performance.
1. Use stories that make a difference to customers. While facts help support a sales presentation, they can also be confusing, create doubt, and turn people off. Yet, many salespeople fill their presentations with facts and figures and so-called ‘hard information’ to build a solid, compelling case with customers.
A simple, quick story that grabs interest may be far more effective in moving a customer to action, however. While salespeople love to tell stories, too often they shoot themselves in the foot with stories about themselves or whatever comes to mind at the moment, failing to sense the effect on the customer.
Sales stories should be strategic, as marketer Jen Agustin suggests when she says, “if you think back to your favorite stories, the great ones are those that inform, educate, and drive people to act.”
2. Forget about ‘the latest and the greatest.’ “I’ve made a conscious choice to not spend all my time … looking down at a device,” said legendary motion-picture director James Cameron, of Avatar and Titanic fame, in a recent USA Today interview. “I’m a Luddite — but a high-tech Luddite.” Referring to Twitter, “I hate it,” he said. “I hate everyone else’s tweets, too. They’re boring. What can you say in 140 characters? I can’t even clear my throat in 140 characters. Same goes for Facebook.”
As the most techie director of all time, Cameron’s outburst sends a message to salespeople. It wasn’t so long ago that ‘cutting edge’ gave salespeople an advantage with customers, as they longed for the next great thing. But not now. The times have changed. It’s clear what moves them to action now: they want what works, what solves a problem, what gives them an edge.
3. Don’t talk about what you do. It may sound crazy to suggest that salespeople should avoid talking about what they do. Even so, it’s good advice. It’s tempting to talk about what we know best — what we do. We’re excited about we do and want to share ‘the good news.’ But, no matter what anyone says, to talk about what we do is a huge turnoff for customers.
If you ask Sally what she does and she tells you she sells insurance, that’s all it takes — you shut down. However, when Sally recognizes that you’re 50-ish, you might feel different if she said, “I help people make sure they have enough money for a great retirement.” If you’re someone with a young family, Sally might say, “I help make the dream of going to college a reality.” It’s an approach that gives new meaning to ‘the customer comes first.’
4. Be careful when you make promises. There’s always a temptation to tell customers what they want to hear, and it leads to trouble. “It will be here in about three weeks,” said the contractor, referring to the bathroom accessory selected by the customer. Well after the due date, the customer was upset because it still was unavailable, and was then told the expected delivery would be several months later.
It’s a familiar story, and it points how out salespeople disappoint customers by making promises they can’t keep. It’s a deadly scenario. Once disappointment sets in, satisfaction begins unraveling.
To maintain customer confidence if a problem may occur, tell them about it upfront, keep them informed, and have options ready if they’re needed.
5. Don’t overstate. In other words, don’t exaggerate. It’s the curse that many salespeople fall prey to time and again, so that it becomes second nature — and it always causes trouble. They can’t have a conversation or make a presentation without ‘gilding the lily,’ as they say. Salespeople want to look good to their customers, so they stretch the truth, embellish the facts, and are even misleading.
It’s a dangerous practice. For today’s customers, it’s one strike and we’re out. No one understands this better than Amazon. And few companies do a better job communicating with customers, particularly when it comes to on-time deliveries, accurate product descriptions, and reliable customer comments.
Unlike other retailers who try to lure customers with exaggerated claims, Amazon’s goal is to build trust so customers come back again and again, even when a competitor may have a lower price. It starts with a no-exaggeration policy. Salespeople can learn from companies like Amazon.
6. Explore vulnerabilities. Salespeople can perform a significant service to customers by showing them where they may be losing business, how they might improve a procedure, if they have a product or service weakness, or any other exposure.
Because business owners and managers can be so caught up in daily operations that they fail to see potential threats, salespeople can be the extra set of eyes to provide valuable feedback. The owner of a retail chain was ready to buy another store when a salesperson pointed out that significant changes in the area could have a negative impact on the business. The owner heeded the salesperson’s advice and avoided making a costly mistake.
7. Reinforce the customer’s buying decision. It’s just after the sale — when salespeople revel in their success — that the customer relationship is most vulnerable. This is when post-sale doubts set in and questions arise. Perhaps they are getting more familiar with a purchase, encounter an unexpected issue, or discover that what they bought isn’t what they expected. Whether it’s a beer or Lexus, customers want to feel good when they make a purchase.
The savvy salesperson, knowing what can occur, takes the initiative and contacts customers to gauge how they are feeling about their purchase and to reinforce why their buying decision was prudent. The person who made the sale should make the contact, otherwise the value of the call is diminished in the customer’s mind. The customer wants to know that the salesperson cares.
The bottom line is, when salespeople use the right tactics, they boast less, do more, and improve their sales performance.
John Graham is a marketing and sales strategist, consultant, and business writer with GrahamComm. He publishes a free monthly e-bulletin titled “No Nonsense Marketing & Sales”; (617) 774-9759;
[email protected]; johnrgraham.com
New Programs Prepare People for Careers in Manufacturing
Several weeks ago, Bob LePage met with a fourth-generation manufacturer who is having problems finding new employees with the right skills to fuel his company’s growth.
“He told me his competitors were also having a difficult time and he gained new customers when another fourth-generation manufacturing company went out of business because they could not find enough talent,” said Springfield Technical Community College’s vice president of Foundation & Workforce Training.
In response to the growing need for skilled workers in the manufacturing sector, STCC launched several new programs this summer and expanded existing programs that provide training and retraining for careers in the field.
Specifically, STCC’s associate-degree program in precision machining doubled in size last September from 40 to 80 students, thanks to a $2 million upgrade of the school’s Smith & Wesson Technology Applications Center. “We have all new CNC machines, computers, high-end computer workstations, and software. We also hired two new faculty members as well as technicians,” said STCC President Ira Rubenzahl, adding that there will be a total of about 250 students in non-credit and for-credit manufacturing-related programs this fall.
From left, West Springfield High School students Lexi Pastore, Jared Schelb, and Chris Brown prepare to make key fobs under the direction of STCC Professor John LaFrancis.
The accelerated program includes a combination of classroom and hands-on training in machining, and will continue this fall, with a class at STCC’s Smith & Wesson Center and another sponsored by HCC. The latter will consist of evening sessions held at Dean Vocational Technical High School, with hands-on training there and in the Smith & Wesson Center.
“The program provides students with production, foundational machining, and fabrication skills,” said LePage. It includes classes on machinery, instrumentation, LEAN production, blueprint reading, teamwork, and manufacturing math. Students are also given exposure to the industry via speakers and field trips.
When the first class graduates later this month, members will receive certificates of completion, OSHA 10-hour cards, and mechanical-aptitude certificates. Companies have already interviewed them in anticipation of the upcoming commencement, and LePage said starting salaries should between average between $35,000 and $40,000.
The program was funded by the Massachusetts Competitive Partnership, MassMutual, Suffolk Construction, and Smith & Wesson.
LePage said the college has weekly meetings with administrators at Smith & Wesson, who invested more than $200,000 in the center five years ago and continue to support it.
“Our plan is to expand the program; we want to offer it at UMass Amherst and in two other communities in addition to Holyoke,” he explained. “We need to grow capacity so we can meet the volume needs for the region.”
Other measures to fill the gap include an increase in the number of training sessions for employees of manufacturing companies, accomplished through a partnership with the Regional Employment Board of Hampden County (REB). It allows individuals and small groups working in the field to update their skills at the Smith & Wesson Center. Larger manufacturers with six or more employees have the option of sending them to the center or having instructors from the college conduct on-site trainings in their locations.
Credit and certificate programs are also part of the mix, and STCC offers a CNC certificate in design, a CAD-CAM certificate, and an associate’s degree in mechanical engineering technology. Classes are held four nights a week to meet the needs of people already employed who want to step up their careers, as well as those in traditional degree programs.
Early Exposure
STCC and its partners are also looking to the future, and this summer, the REB paid for a group of 10 students from West Springfield High School to attend a new, two-week summer session called “Pathways to Prosperity” at the Smith & Wesson Center.
The teens, who will be entering their sophomore year this fall, were selected by the school and were among a group of 60 students who toured the center in the spring. “The program gave us the opportunity to expose students from a non-vocational high school to manufacturing,” said John LaFrancis, professor of Mechanical Engineering.
The students learned how to design parts using computer software programs, then took the design for a small bottle-style container with four sides to a rapid prototyping machine.
LaFrancis said they worked as a group to decide what to emblazon on two sides of the container, and chose their high-school Terrier logo for one side and put their names and/or a quotation on the other.
“This was an additive process which required them to add material to manufacture their bottles,” said LaFrancis. “Each student got to keep their container, and they will make good holders for pens and pencils.”
The students also chose a design for a brass key fob, and emblazoned ‘STCC’ on one side and their name or something else on the flip side. “The key fob was a subtractive process in which they removed material to reveal their individual designs,” LaFrancis explained. “The program has been a real success, and we would like to hold it again. But we want to expand it to two campuses so we can expose more students to manufacturing.”
STCC and its partners are doing all they can to meet that goal and interest young people in manufacturing. “The program was part of a strategy to build awareness about career opportunities,” LePage said.
Rubenzahl added that exposure to opportunities in manufacturing should start in middle school. “Students can have careers as engineers, run CNC machines, do design work, programming, quality control, or go into sales and marketing,” he noted. “Manufacturing is a hot field for employment in the Pioneer Valley, and, given the economy, it’s important for people to understand this and take advantage of it, because if there are not enough new employees, companies won’t survive.”
One reason for the shortage of skilled workers is the number of Baby Boomers who are retiring. “We believe the region will need 300 to 400 workers in the next few years,” said LePage. “One company that recently partnered with us told me they expect to lose two-thirds of their staff to retirement.”
The need has echoed throughout the Valley, and the new programs have been created through proactive collaborations with the REB, Holyoke Community College, and high schools with vocational technical programs, as well as information elicited from local manufacturers.
“We’ve been working to improve our ability to educate students for the manufacturing sector for 10 years, and people are wowed by what we are doing,” said Rubenzahl. “Manufacturing is the most important sector for revitalization in the Pioneer Valley; the area was a center for manufacturing during the 19th century, and there are many legacy companies, new companies, and a lot of skill in terms of business acumen to build on. An expansion of manufacturing will be the basis for building a robust economy here. Plus, these jobs pay well, and the college wants to provide the education students need to get good-paying positions.”
He added that STCC’s partnerships with manufacturers are growing in number, which heightens the school’s ability to link graduates to jobs while raising awareness about career opportunities through tours and informational sessions.
Solid Foundation
LePage said many people are unaware of the number of small manufacturers in the region who provide specialized products for the medical, auto, and aerospace industries. Pay for entry-level positions averages from $12 to $17 an hour; people with a one-year certificate earn between $40,000 and $50,000, and those with an associate degree gross about $50,000, or $70,000 with overtime.
Bob LePage, left, and John LaFrancis show off one of the new machines in the Smith & Wesson Technology Application Center at STCC.
Although STCC and HCC have created new programs, Rubenzahl said economic-development agencies and department heads need to place more emphasis on manufacturing. “I believe they need to make it an important priority because there is a huge potential future in terms of jobs and industry growth if we can all get on the same page,” he told BusinessWest.
He cited, as one example, the $1.5 billion appropriated by the Legislature to replace rail cars on the Mass. Bay Transit Authority Orange and Red lines, since it has been mandated that they must be manufactured in the state.
“We would like Western Mass. to become so prominent in the manufacturing sector that it would be the logical and most cost-effective place to do this work,” LePage said. “But we need to raise our game to be able to attract that type of business.”
This requires an educated workforce, especially since the manufacturing sector is very dynamic and large capital investments are required for companies to be successful. “We can’t compete with Mexico and India in terms of labor, but we can compete by making high-end devices, which are some of the key products which companies in this region specialize in,” Rubenzahl said, adding that he spoke to a manufacturer who showed him a $1 million machine and said he would be happy to pay someone $50,000 to $60,000 a year to run it.
“Companies have made huge investments in order to be successful, but they need highly educated people,” he went on. “And there are a lot of small, local companies here doing tremendously sophisticated work.”
Future Outlook
LePage argues that long-term planning has been critical in developing the new programs. “No one institution can solve the problem — it takes a collaborative regional approach,” he said. “But we plan to continue to add new components to our program at STCC meet the region’s needs.”
Gary Masciadrelli, chair of the Mechanical Engineering Technology Department, agreed.
“STCC is fully supportive of supplying the manufacturing industry with current and future workers today, evidenced by our programs in the high schools and for adult learners,” he said. “We look forward to continuing them in the future to meet demand.”
Clark Art Institute Reopens After Major Renovation
The Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute in Williamstown celebrated the grand reopening of its 140-acre campus on July 4. It has been transformed by a $145 million renovation designed to give visitors a more coherent and expanded view of art and nature.
“It’s a whole new Clark; we have recast the public profile of the institution,” said Thomas Loughman, associate director for programs and planning. “We have maintained the beautiful, intimate experience we are known for, but created a better way to experience it so visitors can connect with the great pinnacle of human creation, which is art.”
Reflecting pools greet visitors to the Clark.
“Ando is truly dedicated to the idea that great architecture needs to be in harmony with the landscape, and the reason the Clark Center has so much glass is because it was meant to bring the outside in,” Loughman said.
“The glass was installed to create a connection, historically and visually, with views to the left and right,” he continued, as he sat in a room backed by glass that looked out onto another pool of water. “The materials used in this building frame one’s view of the landscape, whether it is man-made and orderly or partially wild, with gradations in between.”
New ways to circulate between the buildings have also been created, which include a bridge outside and a hallway between the Clark Center and the museum. It has glass on one side, which changes as people travel along it, redirecting their view from a lily pond on the left to the reflecting pools on the right. Exhibit space has also been increased within the museum building itself, which had been closed for three years before the grand reopening last month.
Sally Majewski, manager of public relations and marketing, said reaction to the transformation has been overwhelmingly positive. “We’ve had an incredible response to what has been done, which has been very gratifying.”
She added that, when the museum building closed for the renovation, 75 French paintings from the Clark’s collection were sent on a three-year international tour in 11 cities. “They returned just in time to be reinstalled before we reopened,” Majewski told BusinessWest, noting that the international tour drew more than 2.6 million visitors.
In addition to the Clark Center and renovated museum building, other changes have been made, and the entire campus has become so inviting that locals can be seen walking their dogs along miles of pathways in the verdant landscape and pausing to sit beside the reflecting pools, while people from all over the world view art, study, and conduct research inside the buildings.
Ambitious Plan
Loughman said the expansion plans were first conceived in the late ’90s, when it became clear that the facilities at the Clark were too limited for their program, but they had ample room to grow.
Thomas Loughman says the design of the Clark and its surroundings help visitors make the connection between the beauty of nature and art.
In 2002, an architectural competition was launched, and Ando was chosen to design two new buildings. The first — the 42,600-square-foot Clark Center — includes more than 11,000 square feet of gallery space for special exhibitions, a multi-purpose pavilion for events, a dining area, a museum store, family spaces, and an all-glass museum pavilion that creates a new entrance to the original museum building.
The second new structure is the Lunder Center at Stone Hill, which houses smaller exhibits and contains a new art classroom, a seasonal café on a terrace that offers a sweeping view of the landscape, and the Williamstown Art Conservation Center’s facilities.
Phase 1 was completed in 2008 and included the Lunder Center, a new bridge, and a free shuttle service provided between that building and the main campus. Phase 2 involved the construction of the Clark Center with its reflecting pools, site work to the parking lot, and renovations to the museum building and Manton Research Center.
Consideration was also given to the environment, and the terraced reflecting pools that cover an acre were part of Ando’s master plan. They unite the museum’s campus by providing a peaceful view from inside and outside of Stone Hill Meadow, Christmas Brook, and its wetlands.
But they are functional as well and have helped position the Clark at the forefront of the museum world as a leader in sustainability and energy conservation.
Loughman said all the rainwater from the roofs and terraces is channeled into the pools and used to flush the toilets. “It’s a huge advance to have our stormwater-management system and gray-water system tied together in a sustainable fashion,” he told BusinessWest, as he gazed at the sheet of water, which is about 12 inches deep and has a bottom composed of Berkshire river rock and fieldstone.
Funding for the project came entirely from donations, with the exception of $1 million from the Massachusetts Cultural Facilities Fund, and financial vehicles were created to keep it moving forward. “People care deeply about our mission, which is to bridge the distance that separates the general public from what is happening in art history,” Loughman said. “We try to connect our guests with ideas and objects, and our new facilities let us do this better.”
Unification Efforts
Each of the four buildings on the campus has a distinct character. “The museum, which was built in the ’50s, is clad in white marble and looks like a Greek temple or mausoleum, while the Manton Research Center, designed in the ’60s, is clad in purple granite and built in New Brutalist style,” said Loughman, pointing out some of the differences.
But today, thanks to Tadeo Ando Architect and Associates, Selldorf Architects, and Reed Hilderbrand and Gensler, materials used in the Clark Center mirror those used in the museum and Manton Center.
The museum’s interior has also undergone change. The building gained 15% more exhibit space, which equates to about 2,200 square feet. That was made possible by moving the loading docks, mailroom, and other service spaces. “It allows us to put a substantially greater number of works on view, many of which were held in storage,” Loughman said.
New lighting and environmental controls were also installed, and three small galleries were created to showcase silver and porcelain as guests move west to east throughout the building. “In the past, we had very primitive displays, but the new cases give us so much more space,” he continued. “There is also a purpose-built gallery for American paintings in the former mailroom that allows us to show off our great collection of Winslow Homer and George Inness. We originally had two of Inness’ works in our collection, but two years ago, we were given eight more of them. Now, we have a place to display them.”
Other changes made to the museum building included raising and reconfiguring the height of the academic gallery to mirror the Impressionist artwork on display there. In addition, new walls were erected to create small showcases within the larger gallery, and the color in some areas was changed to create a more spacious feel.
A new small room with special lighting allows the museum to showcase pastels, and is one of three areas carved out to spotlight select pieces of art. “Ando and the curators tried to create moments of surprise by creating them so they could highlight a small number of works,” Majewski said.
There has also been a change, which began seven years ago, in the type of work put on display. “We wanted to challenge ourselves to show things beyond what people expect to see at the Clark,” Loughman said.
In the past, that was a collection of great 19th-century French and American paintings. But today, the Clark has exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century art as well as non-Western art and antiquity.
“What we’ve done on these fronts seems very provocative, but we have created immersive experiences that include contemporary art,” Loughman noted, referring to a number of exhibitions, including “Circles of Influence,” which showcases the work of the abstract expressionist Georgia O’Keefe and the modernist Arthur Dove.
Today, a show called “Unearthed: Recent Archaeological Discoveries from Northern China” is on display in the new Clark Center, while an exhibit titled “Raw Color: The Circles of David Smith” can be seen in the Lunden Center.
The multi-million-dollar, multi-phase project that began 15 years ago is almost complete, and a video presentation near the new entrance to the museum building documents the undertaking. Although it has taken time, the end result is a seamless experience, due to the work of four internationally renowned architects who added more than 13,000 square feet of gallery space, demolished the former physical plant building to make way for the new Clark Center and its three reflecting pools, upgraded major utilities, added a series of new geothermal wells, planted 1,000 new trees, and created new ways to circulate among the four buildings on the campus.
Unified Atmosphere
Other changes include upgrades and expansion of the walking trails, a new entry drive, and parking areas with water-permeable surfaces that lead to the rainwater-collection system.
A renovation of the Manton Research Center will complete the project. “The lobby will be turned into a public reading room. It’s one of the greatest art-history libraries in the world, but it has been behind doors, so it is critical to bring it out,” Loughman said.
Although this is important, he added, what has been already accomplished is extraordinary.
“The transformation allowed us to leap over something very old and non-functional and become something that is a generation ahead of our peers in terms of design and sustainability,” he said. “It was difficult to do everything at once, but our project was driven by unity and the historic connection to the earth, which is really art.”
At a Time of Change in Retail, Holyoke Mall Marks 35 Years
Holyoke Mall General Manager William Rogalski
These days, as the center celebrates its 35th anniversary, they’re anything but, losing ground to online retail options and smaller shopping centers. But Holyoke Mall remains a draw, said General Manager William Rogalski.
“Certainly, our traffic is good. In recent years, sales have fluctuated with the economy, but we’re still a significant part of people’s shopping experience,” he told BusinessWest. “Online shopping does affect us, but I’m still of the belief that people still like to see it, touch it, feel it, and try it on before they buy.”
To get shoppers inside the mall, though, variety and a fresh experience are key — part of the mall’s mission to get visitors to “stay longer and shop more,” to quote an oft-repeated mantra at Ingleside.
“We’ve always tried to be a shopping center where everyone can go, from the high end — like Apple, Sonoma, Pottery Barn, and a new store opening up, Michael Kors — to traditional retail tenants, to value tenants like Burlington Coat Factory and everything in between,” said Rogalski. “That’s what makes the difference for people here — there’s something for everyone.”
The fact is, despite the surge in online retail, consumers still visit brick-and-mortar stores for the vast majority of their shopping, according to a 2013 Nielsen report titled “Brick by Brick: The State of the Shopping Center.”
“Shopping centers aren’t just places to buy things,” the report notes. “They’re social centers, places for entertainment, and employment hubs. They’re also transforming what consumers can expect from a shopping experience.”
With the increasing diversification and aging of the U.S. population, the report continues, the line between shopping, entertainment, and community building has blurred, and this blending of experiences has created an opportunity for retail centers to strengthen social ties within communities that are looking for communal experiences.
“It’s a gathering point, even for people who don’t even shop, like mall walkers; for them, it’s a social experience,” Rogalski said. “And it’s nice to have them. Frankly, they’re a good source of information. They’re here every day, as we are, but we don’t see everything. In some cases, they become our eyes and ears. We’ve made some relationships, made some good friends.”
The goal of any mall, of course, is to ring up sales, and to that end, Rogalski — and Pyramid Management Group, which owns Holyoke Mall and 19 other properties in Massachusetts and New York — are not sitting on past laurels, instead moving forward with a series of renovations and possible future additions to keep the crowds coming back and spending money.
For this issue, Rogalski — a West Springfield native who actually worked at the just-opened Holyoke Mall in 1979, at Blake’s department store — sits down with BusinessWest to discuss some of those changes, and why he believes malls are far from irrelevant in the 21st century.
The Mall’s Changing Face
Signage goes up at Holyoke Mall in 1979.
But the mall still needed some work, said Rogalski, who has managed the facility for a dozen years. “We’re working on a major renovation now, retiling the whole center. We’re redoing the wood trim, replacing the wooden handrails with metal handrails, upgrading restrooms, and putting in a new guest-services area.”
Other changes will include refacing the mall’s signature glass elevator, new directional signage in the hallways, a continuation of energy-efficient lighting upgrades, new interior landscaping, and what’s known in the industry as ‘soft seating areas’ to help guests relax and extend their stay.
“It’s a pretty significant renovation. People will notice,” Rogalski said, adding that the work is largely taking place overnight so as not to disrupt shoppers. During BusinessWest’s visit, much of the the top floor had been torn out, awaiting new white tile, and fire alarms were being tested in the future location of Michael Kors.
He added that customer feedback has guided some of the changes, and mall management is also listening when it comes to future additions — including, perhaps, a movie theater. The Ingleside Eight Screen Cinema, which opened in 1979 and was located downstairs, beside the current food court, was shuttered in 1998.
“Of [Pyramid’s] 14 enclosed centers, we are one of two that does not have a movie theater. That’s definitely in the cards somewhere down the road for us,” he said, noting, however, that the mall is currently about 95% leased. “In one regard, that’s a good thing. But in another, it’s not so good, because we need to create space to include a movie theater. We’d be fine from a parking aspect; it’s a matter of getting contiguous space to do a theater.”
Pyramid is exploring other entertainment options as well, Rogalski added. “There’s always a buzz that gets created when we bring in new stores, restaurants, or entertainment. A lot of the changes happen gradually, but it’s always good to add new blood.”
Holyoke Mall, which attracts between 18 million and 19 million visitors a year, saw a downturn when the economy went south six years ago, but the hit wasn’t as severe as it was for retail centers in other regions.
“That’s probably more a reflection of Western Mass. as a whole as related to the general economy. Maybe because it’s our Yankee roots’ we’re a bit more conservative,” he noted. “When the nation is on a high, we don’t hit the high peaks; we roll a little bit below that. And when the nation hits lows, we roll a little bit above that; we skew more along the center line and don’t waver too far. That’s not to say we don’t have ups and downs, but they’re not as dramatic.”
Rather, the dramatic shifts come with the seasons, especially the holiday rush, from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, when many retailers find out whether they will turn a profit for the year.
“We’re in our second-best season now, back-to-school time,” Rogalski said. “Then we’ll have a little dip, accentuated by having the Big E for three weeks, drawing everyone’s attention. We certainly don’t shut down, but we feel the impact. Then we ramp up for the holidays. It’s a critical time, and it has been extended with the advent of gift cards — now it really flows into the end of December and the beginning of January.”
He added that malls tend to be slaves to the weather, citing a downturn in sales due to this year’s harsh, extended winter. “That impacted spring sales because people just weren’t in the mood. That’s one thing we can’t control.”
Gauging the Future
There’s plenty that malls can control, however, and it’s critical that they keep an eye on trends that have battered some shopping centers and helped others.
On the plus side for Holyoke Mall is its enviable location at the crossroads of two major interstates. While malls located away from highways have struggled in recent decades, Ingleside’s location draws shoppers from as far away as New York to the west, Hartford to the south, Worcester to the east, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north. “We are at the intersection of 90 and 91,” Rogalski said. “Pyramid definitely paid attention to Marketing 101: location, location, location.”
America’s first enclosed mall, Southdale Center in Edina, Minn., was a true innovation in the way it invited people to browse, eat, hang out with friends, or just wander about. Early malls encouraged walking by placing anchor stores as far apart as possible, forcing visitors to pass dozens of small shops.
The model caught on big time, and the number of regional malls more than doubled from 1973 to 2006, topping 1,500 nationally, according to CoStar Realty Information. But since 2006, only one traditional enclosed mall has been built, in Salt Lake City. Analysts point to a number of factors hurting enclosed malls, from the growing popularity of smaller outdoor shopping centers to the rise in e-commerce.
But Pyramid has been proactive with freshening up a number of its properties, Rogalski said, including Walden Galleria near Buffalo, N.Y., Destiny USA in Syracuse, N.Y., Palisades Center in West Nyack, N.Y., and, of course, Ingleside.
Of course, no property that’s been around as long as Holyoke Mall will look much like it did 35 years ago, if only because the retail world is constantly in flux. Of the original 125 stores at Ingleside, only a few remain, including anchors JCPenney and Sears, as well as American Eagle Outfitters, Deb, Foot Locker, General Nutrition, Kay Jewelers, Motherhood Maternity, and Radio Shack.
Enclosed malls have been hurt by the decline of traditional anchors; Holyoke’s other two original anchors, G. Fox and Steiger’s, are long gone. But at the same time, the definition of an anchor has broadened significantly, and Holyoke Mall now boasts 12 anchors after launching with only four.
“We were probably the first developer out there that saw value in bringing in big-box retail,” Rogalski said. “Some said it can’t be done, that they want to be in strip locations, pad locations. But now you see the Targets, the Best Buys, you see Babies R Us, Hobby Lobby, AC Moore, those type of retailers. We thought they would be successful in a closed shopping center, and they’ve been wildly successful.
“Sometimes it takes retailers a while to think out of the box and get them out of their comfort zone,” he said. “But, at the end of the day, this is the Northeast; we aren’t sunny and 70 degrees 12 months of the year. It’s a nice convenience for shoppers to have all this under one roof.”
That kind of convenience, he said, will continue to make the Holyoke Mall a destination, especially given its prime location at the crossroads of the Pioneer Valley.
“It’s easy to get to, easy to park, easy to walk,” Rogalski said. “It definitely is an attraction.”
Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]
Community Spirit Fuels Growth in Southwick
Russell Fox grew up in Southwick and remembers when it was primarily a farming town. Although that has changed, farming still plays a significant role in the town’s economy, and the close-knit community that developed generations ago continues to be a cornerstone of life there today.
“There’s a community spirit in Southwick that people want to be part of,” said Fox, chairman of the Board of Selectmen. “It is alive and well and is enhanced by the generosity of our residents. We’re also very fortunate to have an extremely active business community that invests time and money in the town, along with many boards and commissions manned by volunteers.”
Karl Stinehart concurred. “People willingly step forward to volunteer to improve the community and help move it forward,” said the town’s chief administrative officer.
A prime example is the town’s new Whalley Park, which exists thanks to the generosity of John Whalley III and Kathy Whalley, who donated a 70-acre parcel to Southwick in honor of their son John Whalley IV, then paid to outfit it.
Russell Fox says residents’ willingness to help the town makes Southwick an attractive place to live and work.
It is located on 42 Powder Mill Road, adjacent to the Southwick Recreation Center, which stands as an example of the long history of private investment for public good. The center was formed in the ’60s by a group of farmers and residents, and is still run entirely by volunteers. “The people who created this nonprofit took out mortgages on their homes to raise the money they needed to acquire 24 acres for the center,” Stinehart said.
Today, it hosts sports teams that include soccer, baseball, softball, basketball, and floor hockey, serving hundreds of children and teens each year and boasting one of the best fields for travel soccer in Western Mass. “People love to come to Southwick and play on the field here,” Fox said.
A new, $500,000 animal shelter, called the Polverari/Southwick Animal Control Facility, is also being built, thanks to the generosity of residents Robert and Barbara Polverari, who approached town officials with the idea.
Stinehart said their proposal was timely, because the town had outgrown its old shelter, which was an outdated cinderblock building with electric heat. “It was so small, there was no way to separate different types of animals other than provide them with their own cages. It got to the point where we had to bring in temporary structures to house the kittens and cats,” he said.
The new facility not only fills a need, but also pays tribute to some town residents. For example, the adoption room was named after 22-year-old Haley Tierney, who was killed last year in a motor-vehicle accident, while the outdoor cat field is named for logger Tyler Granfield, who died in 2012 at age 28 while working at a job in East Longmeadow.
Southwick officials said there are many other examples of residents pitching in to address gaps the town cannot afford. For example, last year, when the police department needed bulletproof vests, residents and businesses came forward to pay for them. “And in the past few years, they also paid for two police dogs,” Stinehart said.
The town’s residents also support local businesses, who, in turn, do their share to contribute to the quality of life. “We were the first local community to have flags that welcome people to the town along our business corridor,” Stinehart said, noting that the business community paid for them. “There are also U.S. flags along College Highway that were donated and demonstrate the patriotism of the townspeople.”
Proactive Stance
Signs that greet drivers entering Southwick read, “Recreational Community,” and its attractions include the Congamond Lakes, the 6.3 mile Southwick Rail Trail, three golf courses, and a miniature golf course. “Southwick is also the home of motocross, plus we have two campgrounds and a very active Parks and Recreation Committee,” Fox said. “The town has also invested millions in cleaning up its lakes, and we have rehabilitated our boat ramp.”
The regional school system has expanded in the last two years and now includes Granville, in addition to Southwick and Tolland. The addition of the third town made the school system eligible for state funding not previously available, which prompted major renovations to Woodland Elementary School, Powder Mill Middle School, and the Southwick-Tolland-Granville Regional High School, which are all on one campus on Feeding Hills Road.
Fox said the three-year, $69 million project is nearing completion and includes additions as well as upgrades. “A new science wing and a wing that will become a junior high for seventh- and eighth-graders is being added to the high school,” he said, adding that the middle school currently houses grades 5 through 8.
Other improvements to the schools include new roofs, windows, heating, air conditioning and ventilation systems, and upgrades to make the buildings handicapped-accessible. “What’s unusual about this project is that the state typically only approves renovations to one school at a time, but they approved renovations for all of our three schools simultaneously,” Fox said. “This is a major step for the region, and everything is on schedule, so we are very happy.”
The state will pay for 40% of the work, and the three towns will share the remaining cost. “The voters of Southwick, Tolland, and Granville all approved debt exclusions to make this a reality,” Steinhart said. “They understand it’s important to keep our schools up-to-date so we can equip students with the skill sets they will need to enter the job market.”
A new, rubberized track at the high school is also under construction, thanks to a combination of Community Preservation Act funding and a $500,000 donation from alumnus Steven Nielsen via the Steven and Elizabeth Nielsen Gift Fund.
Nielsen graduated in 1981 and resides in Florida, but continues to support his alma mater. “He funds the Atkinson Scholarship, which is one of the largest scholarships given to a student at the high school each year. Plus, he has anonymously donated computers and school supplies,” Fox said, adding that Nielsen’s philanthropy is an example of the generosity of Southwick’s former and current residents and their dedication to the town.
Moving Forward
Economic growth has also occurred in the business arena. A new funeral home has been approved, Rite Aid expanded, and a CVS was built. “There is also a new Pride gas station, a new dollar store, and several new businesses in our industrial park,” Fox said.
In addition, in an effort to promote local businesses, the town partnered with Agawam to complete an expansion of Route 57, which will also benefit residents who use it to travel back and forth to work.
Other projects include $17 million of sewer infrastructure improvements downtown and around the lakes. Phase 1 was completed a few years ago, and the town is set to embark on Phase 2.
Karl Stinehart says Southwick takes a proactive stance to applying for state and federal money to improve quality of life.
But the small-town community spirit remains strong and is boosted by a number of active civic organizations in town, which include the Rotary and Lions clubs. “The Rotary hosts an Interact Club in the high school and offers internships and job shadowing through their Business Education Alliance program. This things connect people and keep them integrated,” Stinehart said.
Fox agreed. “The Rotary took up a collection this year to pay for the annual fireworks display. They received donations as small as $1 from children and as large as thousands from adults, which says a lot about our community; there is a reason why Southwick is growing, and it’s that people want to live here,” he said, adding the town has seven churches for 9,500 people, which illustrates the diversity of the population.
Seniors are choosing to live in Southwick, too, and several new 55-and-over communities have proved popular. “The American Inn, which offers independent and assisted living, has more than 200 residents who came from towns that include Westfield and Agawam as well as states as far away as New York because they wanted to make Southwick their home,” Fox said.
He has given updates on town government at the inn and said the Board of Selectmen has held meetings there. “Many people who live there are active in the community and we want to reach out and welcome new residents and urge them to become involved. We are a whole community, from young to old.”
To that end, a new, 1,500-square-foot addition was added to the Council on Aging building to accommodate the increase in demand for services and activities for seniors.
There are also two solar projects under development. “They are being done very tastefully; we appreciate alternative energy, but want to keep our rural views and vistas,” Fox said, adding that the farms in existence are very active and profitable.
Bright Future
Many new developments are taking place throughout the town. “We’re very busy and have a lot of positive things going on. We’ve been proactive with our infrastructure as well as improvements to our schools, and our fire station, police station, library, and Town Hall have all been renovated or moved to new buildings,” Fox said. “So I’m optimistic that new businesses will continue to come to Southwick, which will help with our tax rate and make the town an even more desirable place to raise a family.”
However, he reiterated that the strong sense of community will continue to play a major role in Southwick’s development. “The spirit that began when the town was first settled carries down to this day.”
AMHERST — The Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce announced the upcoming Farm to Table Annual Awards Dinner, to be held Oct. 2 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley. The dinner, a yearly celebration that is a highlight of area businesses’ community social calendar, is expected to sell out. This year’s award winners reflect a celebration and acknowledgement of a number of community partners and leaders. The “A+” Award Winners are:
• The Rotary Club of Amherst, which will receive the chamber’s Community Service Award, recognizing the many contributions that this group of volunteers has made to the Amherst area, in addition to its work dedicated to the global eradication of polio;
• Stephanie O’Keeffe, who will receive the chamber’s Legacy Award, a celebration of what this individual has accomplished, specifically in her role on the Amherst Select Board; and
• Tony Maroulis, former executive director of the organization, who will receive the chamber’s Most Valuable Player award for all of his hard work elevating the chamber’s stature and involvement in the community.
“It was a daunting task to sift through the nominations for this year’s batch of award winners, because as there are so many individuals and organizations in this community worthy of recognition,” said Don Courtemanche, Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce executive director. “We feel that the recipients that we have selected represent the best, the brightest, and the most outstanding of the terrific partners that the chamber is fortunate to be associated with.”
Tickets for the dinner will be available Sept. 2. Reservations for the dinner or for the program book may be made by contacting the chamber at (413) 253-0700.
SPRINGFIELD — Springfield College has again been identified as a 2014-15 College of Distinction for providing an innovative, teacher-centered undergraduate education with a strong record of preparing its graduates for real-world success.
Colleges of Distinction is a college guide that for the last 15 years has recognized colleges it determines to be the best places to learn, grow, and succeed. The goal of Colleges of Distinction is to provide students, counselors, and parents with information about such schools. Colleges of Distinction describes schools that take a holistic approach to admissions decisions, consistently excel in providing undergraduate education, and have a national reputation.
It also gives students, counselors, and parents an unbiased look at the college-admissions process. Colleges of Distinction looks at the myths surrounding college admissions, provides tools for self-assessment, and provides insights from college-admissions professionals, high-school counselors, students, and parents.
Founded in 1885, Springfield College is known worldwide for the guiding principles of its Humanics philosophy — educating students in spirit, mind, and body for leadership in service to others. The college offers a range of undergraduate- and graduate-degree programs in the fields of health sciences, human and social services, sport management and movement studies, education, business, and the arts and sciences. It also offers doctoral programs in physical education, physical therapy, and counseling psychology.
The college is ranked in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges in the top tier of “Best Regional Universities — North Region” by U.S. News Media Group, and is designated as a premier Leadership Development Center by the YMCA of the USA. More than 5,000 traditional, non-traditional, and international students study at its main campus in Springfield and its School of Human Services campuses across the country.
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]
All That Jazz
An estimated 5,500 people turned out for the inaugural Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival on Aug. 9, an event intended to promote an arts-driven, community-oriented, and sustainable revitalization of the city. The free, outdoor festival, held in Court Square in downtown Springfield, featured locally and internationally acclaimed musical artists and a variety of ethnic cuisines and local food producers. From top: Festival Producer Kristin Neville with Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin; from left, Charles Neville of the Neville Brothers, jazz saxophonist and Springfield native Phil Woods, and Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, who presented Woods with the key to the city; Charles Neville plays with his daughter, Charmaine Neville (left), and singer/songwriter/saxophonist Grace Kelly; some of the crowd gathered at Court Square. (Photos by Ed Cohen)
The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) has named Elizabeth Barajas-Román the foundation’s new CEO. Barajas-Román has been a leader in progressive movements, including advocating at the national level for the health and rights of immigrant women and their families. Most recently, she was a manager at the Pew Charitable Trusts, where she directed a portfolio of partners that campaigned for state and federal policy change to improve government performance on issues that impact children’s health. Barajas-Román brings a background in impactful philanthropy, data-driven strategy design, fund-raising through philanthropic partnerships, and creating coalitions and mobilizing partners. “We are very excited to have Elizabeth as the new head of the Women’s Fund,” said Michelle Theroux, chair of the WFWM board of directors. “Her experience, nationally as well as locally, provides a unique perspective for the fund as we continue to grow and bring attention to the issues surrounding women, girls, and our community.” Previously, as the director of policy at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health (NLIRH), Barajas-Román directed the organization’s Washington, D.C.-based office, where she was instrumental in expanding the visibility of NLIRH on the national stage. Barajas-Román was frequently invited to be a voice in national policy discussions in the media, at the White House, on Capitol Hill, and in target states. In addition, Barajas-Román’s leadership has been recognized by several national fellowships, including the Center for Progressive Leadership Executive Fellowship, the Rockwood Leadership Institute, and an appointment to the American Public Health Assoc. Committee on Women’s Rights. “I’m thrilled to be leading this dynamic public foundation at such an important time,” said Barajas-Román. “Women are at the center of every issue impacting families today: healthcare, equal pay and economic security, safety and freedom from violence. A Women’s Fund is able to highlight these issues, aggregate resources, and collaborate with existing community organizations to develop impactful, sustainable solutions.” Barajas-Román’s background also includes positions as a journalist, researcher, and director of policy and operations at a primary-care clinic for uninsured youth in Boston. She is a certified project-management professional, is a graduate of Oberlin College, and received her master’s degree in international policy from Harvard University.
The American Red Cross of Massachusetts announced the selection of Kim Goulette as the new Executive Director of the Pioneer Valley Chapter. With more than 20 years of experience in nonprofit administration, she succeeds Rick Lee, who retired on Aug. 6 after 30 years of service to the Red Cross. Goulette began her new role on Aug. 4. “I am thrilled to welcome Kim to the American Red Cross of Massachusetts,” said Ralph Boyd, Red Cross of Massachusetts CEO. “Kim is a successful administrator with a strong skill set in growth management, and I am confident that her steady leadership and excitement for the work of the Red Cross will effect a seamless transition and guarantee the continued success of the Pioneer Valley Chapter in delivering essential services to the community.” In her new position, Goulette will provide leadership to the local volunteers and paid employees who serve the residents of the Pioneer Valley with life-saving programs and services. “I’m honored to be selected for this key role with an amazing organization,” she said. “I look forward to working with the dedicated volunteers, employees, board members, community partners, and donors to strengthen our communities and help people in need.” Goulette most recently served as executive director of Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry Inc. in Chicopee, where she managed day-to-day operations and worked with board members and committees to raise funds to support the work of the organization. Previously, she served as director of Employment and Community Based Day Services at Aditus in East Longmeadow, as well as regional director of the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts. Goulette earned her bachelor’s degree from Franklin Pierce College in New Hampshire and serves as a Chicopee Rotarian, a member of the Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, and a board member and services committee chair at the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.
Jeffrey LaValley was recently appointed Community Outreach Manager at Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity. LaValley’s primary responsibility is the development and execution of strategies to increase awareness and financial support of the affiliate’s mission. LaValley will play a pivotal role in implanting the organization’s capacity-building efforts, specifically the 30 in 3 campaign, the affiliate’s vision to serve 30 families in three years. He also will oversee Habitat’s annual resource-development plan, including outreach efforts to foster a positive identity for the affiliate in the community. Most recently, LaValley served as executive director and director of sales and marketing for Shaker Farm Farms Country Club in Westfield. Previously, he served as associate director of donor relations for Shriners Hospital for Children in Springfield. Prior to that, he was the community-development coordinator at Noble Hospital in Westfield and director of alumni and parent relations at Keene State College in New Hampshire. LaValley received a bachelor’s degree in journalism/public affairs and a master of education in curriculum and instruction from Keene State College. He also earned a certificate in fund-raising from UMass Amherst.
Fallon Health, a nationally recognized healthcare-services organization, announced the appointment of B. John “Jack” Dill to its board of directors. Dill is President and CEO of Colebrook Realty Services Inc., a privately owned, full-service commercial real-estate firm headquartered in Springfield. Dill oversees commercial real-estate development, management, finance, brokerage, and consulting. Prior to this role, Dill was executive vice president of SIS Bancorp and SIS Bank (now TD Bank). Dill holds a Counselors of Real Estate designation and is a fellow of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He is a founding director of the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corp. (MHIC), a nonprofit equity investor/financer of affordable housing, among other services. To date, MHIC has placed in excess of $1 billion in qualified developments. Dill is currently chairman of the Board of Springfield School Volunteers Inc., a member of Springfield Business Leaders for Education, and director of the Springfield Education Fund. Additionally, he is the current campaign chair of WFCR New England Public Radio’s 50th Anniversary Capital Campaign. Dill has held leadership roles on the boards of many organizations, including Baystate Health System and Baystate Medical Center, Mercy Medical Center, Counselors of Real Estate, Western Mass. Life Care Corp., WGBY public television, and American International College. An alumnus of Williams College, Dill pursued a P.M.D. at Harvard Business School and attended the School of Mortgage Banking at Northwestern University.
New England Promotional Marketing announced that former abc40 anchor Maggie Pereiras has joined its team. She will be contributing to the NEPM sales force and creating a cohesive social-media platform for the company while highlighting the success of its clients. Pereiras acquired her bachelor’s degree in communications with honors from Marist College in Poughkeepsie, N.Y. after graduating from Minnechaug Regional High School. She began her professional career as an editor for Avon Products Inc. and then Victoria’s Secret, both in New York City. Upon returning to Western Mass., she began working as an account executive for WGGB Channel 40/Fox 6. Shortly thereafter, she transitioned from advertising sales and became the host, executive producer, and editor for abc40’s local lifestyle program, SimplyLiving. The program allowed her to sharpen her creativity and build lasting relationships with many businesses throughout the area. Once SimplyLiving had run its course, she transitioned again to become a reporter and anchor for abc40’s news team. Pereiras has a strong background in creative marketing and social media.
Brian Kane, a professor and researcher at UMass Amherst, is this year’s co-recipient of the International Society of Arboriculture’s (ISA’s) prestigious Alex L. Shigo Award for Excellence in Arboricultural Education. The award honors ISA members for enhancing the quality and professionalism of arboriculture through education. Kane is the Mass. Arborists Assoc. professor of Commercial Arboriculture at UMass Amherst. He is an ISA-certified arborist who started climbing trees professionally 25 years ago. Kane invites his students to participate in his tree research, supports them in their tree-climbing competitions, and guides them to be skilled future workers and business owners in arboriculture. ISA honored Kane at a ceremony on Aug. 3 in Milwaukee as part of the 90th annual ISA International Conference and Trade Show.
Lathrop Communities recently announced the appointment of Mauria Sirum, RN, as the new director of Wellness and Home Care. Sirum is a graduate of Vermont Technical College and Excelsior College in Albany, N.Y., and has a broad range of healthcare experience, including supervision and leadership. Early in her career, Sirum served as a CNA at Berkshire Health Systems and worked as a staff nurse and nursing supervisor for the Sisters of Providence Health System. Just prior to joining the Lathrop team, she was director of nurses at Wingate Healthcare, where she oversaw the nursing department and memory-care neighborhood. She is devoted to transparency, communication, a person-centered wellness philosophy, preventive health education, and initiatives for residents and those who care for them, as well as staff development and team building. In her spare time, Sirum serves on the board of directors for Arena Civic Theater and works as a costumer for plays in her community. Lathrop is a not-for-profit affiliate of the Kendal Corp., and manages independent-living communities in Northampton and Easthampton, serving older adults in the Quaker tradition.
The Big E Continues to Be an Economic Engine
Eastern States Exposition CEO Gene Cassidy and the man who inspires his work, fair founder Joshua Brooks.
“Mr. Brooks was concerned about agriculture,” Cassidy told BusinessWest. “He was an industrialist, but he saw that agriculture was losing ground in New England at the turn of the last century, with so much agriculture being produced out of the Midwest and South Central estates. So he established the Eastern States Agricultural and Industrial Exposition.”
Specifically, he got the National Dairy Show to move its annual event from Chicago to West Springfield in 1916, but only after he transformed a bare plot of land into a property where the expo could be staged.
“There’s a great story of how he capitalized the fairgrounds and got people to donate incredible sums of money,” said Cassidy, citing, as an example, the night of Feb. 1, 1914, when a major blizzard hit the Pioneer Valley. A fund-raiser was scheduled for that night, and Noyes Fisk, owner of Fisk Tire Co. in Chicopee — which later became Uniroyal — was given the responsibility of raising $750,000. “Even in that blizzard, with limited attendance, he was able to raise $450,000. That was the initial capital providing resources to build these facilities, including A Barn, B Barn, and C Barn.”
All three of those barns, including several other structures built in the early years of the fair, still stand today, while the fairgrounds has added many others over the years. More importantly, however, the fair — its name eventually shortened to the Eastern States Exposition and known colloquially as the Big E — has built a nearly century-old legacy that’s measured by more than its impressive regional economic impact (more on that later).
“The impact of Eastern States is dramatic, and it’s important to the region,” said Cassidy, who joined the Big E 20 years ago as chief financial officer and took the reins from longtime CEO Wayne McCary. Cassidy’s first two fairs as CEO set records for attendance, but he has been equally successful with another mission: bringing the expo’s history to life, partly by decorating the expo’s offices with dozens of posters, documents, and artifacts from the past 98 years, including more than one celebrating the work of the man he respectfully calls Mr. Brooks.
“Since I became CEO, my goal has been to reconnect and resurrect, if you will, the spirit of our founder, Mr. Brooks,” Cassidy said. “This building was pretty sterile before, but I think the history is important, and it’s important for all of us who work here to be reacquainted with why we’re here — and what, really, is the purpose of the Eastern States Exposition.”
As the 99th edition of the Big E gets set to roll out in two weeks, Cassidy sat down with BusinessWest to answer that question in a number of ways.
Animal Attraction
Although the words ‘agricultural’ and ‘industrial’ are no longer in the fair’s name, Cassidy said, it would be a mistake to underestimate their importance to what the Big E is all about.
“Yes, entertainment drives people’s interest, and we make a big deal about food; that drives people’s interest as well. And certainly the midway is an attraction, so making sure we have a good, clean, safe, attractive midway is key,” he explained. “Behind the scenes, though, we’re engaged in producing an event that serves the agricultural industry and the commodities industry for all of New England. Those are less exciting things for some people, but we get very excited about them.”
He said the fair has become known over the decades as a prime showcase for what he called the “bovine, equine, and swine” categories of livestock shows, as well as for produce and other food products. “If you win a blue ribbon at the Eastern States Exposition, whether it’s for cheese or cattle or goats, whatever it is, that gives you national cachet, national attention. Most fairgoers aren’t cognizant of that, but it’s very important for both the agriculture and industry that drives a large part of the New England economy.”
The fair has always educated people about livestock and agriculture, and Cassidy feels that mission is more important than ever, with so many Americans, particularly of the younger generations, unaware of what goes into putting their food on the table.
“So much time has passed from 1916 to today, and people are so distant from production agriculture. In many cases, animals [at the show] are viewed as if they’re domestic pets and not domestic food products. Youth today have no connection, no understanding of where their food actually comes from,” he said, adding that this disconnect isn’t limited to the agricultural side, and he’d like to see more fair offerings that teach people about food processing as well.
In addition, “it’s a continuing battle with animal-rights organizations,” Cassidy noted. “We get blowback from rogue groups that raise money on the Internet, anonymously, and they influence our programs in a way that’s detrimental to the general public.”
For example, “my office is two miles from the house where I was born and raised,” he continued. “When I was a kid, the Eastern States Exposition had a carcass exhibit, and a butcher butchering beef cattle and explaining the different cuts of beef. People would be mesmerized, and would learn where the loin comes from, the shoulder, and so on. In this day and age in New England, you could never have an exhibition like that, and it’s sad.”
Just like today, fairgoers have long been able to peruse and buy the latest products at the Big E.
“Companies used to use fairs as a means of promoting their new products,” he noted. “With the advent of television, fairs became less attractive for, say, Westinghouse or General Electric to launch their latest washing machine or other product. But we’re working very hard here to create opportunities for companies to re-engage people on the one-to-one level.”
This year’s fair will showcase the Ford Mustang, which made its debut at the New York World’s Fair 50 years ago. The Big E will display one of the Mustangs that was actually on display in New York in 1964, and Sarat Ford has produred a few rare special-edition Mustangs to display as well. “In many ways, we’re celebrating the World’s Fair,” Cassidy said. “It’s a throwback feature, which I’m really excited about.”
Eat, Listen, Love
Cassidy told BusinessWest that he fully understands the fair’s appeal to tradition and nostalgia that repeat visitors enjoy — everything from the livestock shows to the parades and circuses to the state buildings, where the six New England states promote their most popular foods, crafts, and other products. The challenge, of course, is maintaining those traditions while keeping the fair fresh.
Entertainment is a large part of that, and the Big E has long offered free concerts to visitors — this year’s extensive lineup features up-and-comers like The Voice winner Cassadee Pope and veterans like Eddie Money — while mixing in a few bigger-name shows that require an extra admission fee, including Darius Rucker, Little Big Town, and ZZ Top.
“I’ve been trying to get ZZ Top for 10, maybe 15 years, and I finally got them, so I’m very excited,” Cassidy said, adding that financial changes in the entertainment-booking world have made charging for some acts necessary.
“You’ve got to have good entertainment — that’s the thing that puts the buzz in the air. But that’s extremely difficult to do, and every year, it’s harder and harder. When I started here in 1994, we could book the biggest acts in Las Vegas for $40,000 or $50,000, and they would do two shows a day. Now, in the current age, we can’t afford these acts,” he said, noting that booking Reba McEntire in 2011 cost $335,000. “So we’ve been forced to charge now for the biggest acts, and we do our best to find solid acts we can give away.”
He credited John Juliano, the long-time special-events director for the Big E, with always being able to book talent on the rise, from Beyoncé before Destiny’s Child was popular to Hunter Hayes last year to Pope next month.
Still, for many fairgoers, music isn’t the number-one attraction; they’re more interested in finding out how many foods can be successfully deep-fried.
“Talent is such an important way of keeping people interested, but the other way is gastronomically,” Cassidy said of the Big E’s extensive selection of fair food. “I love cheese curds, and this is the only place in the world I get cheese curds. But we also have to continually discover new products and find means by which to bring new products to the fairgoing public.”
After all, the vitality and continuing popularity of the Big E has a direct economic impact on the region. According to a report the Eastern States Exposition produced this year, the 17-day Big E, plus all the other events that take place on the fairgrounds each year — which feature exhibitions for animal lovers, car enthusiasts, gun owners, campers, and dozens of other groups — benefit the region with an annual economic impact of $479 million.
The tax revenues alone include $3 million in income tax, $1.4 million in sales tax, $427,000 in hotel tax, and $3.3 million in food and beverage tax. More significantly, events generate $299 million in gross regional product and account for 3,000 jobs in Hampden County that generate $91.9 million in personal income. The exposition’s impact on the rest of New England and New York include 2,000 jobs generating $134 million in personal income. In all, 2.5 million visitors stop by the fairgrounds each year, well over 1 million for the Big E alone.
“We need all the stakeholders — which include the fair patrons, business leaders from throughout the region, and our own board of trustees — to be able to draw a direct link toward the Eastern States as a mechanism to drive the economy and jobs,” Cassidy said. “The fair has a broad impact on agriculture worldwide, but has its most important role in this region. It plays a very important role in generating business on a grand scale, and that ripples throughout the economy at many different levels.”
Into the Next Century
At one point, Cassidy pulled out an old, worn book filled with stock certificates that Brooks sold to some of Greater Springfield’s most notable citizens in the fair’s early days — then later bought back so that no individual or group could set the event’s agenda.
To continue Brooks’ legacy for the next 100 years, Cassidy knows that the fairgrounds need some attention, starting with those century-old buildings. Renovating the large B Barn, otherwise known as the Coliseum, is a $60 million endeavor, and that’s just one structure. Last year, the fair generated about $5 million in profit — a success, of course, but not the kind of revenue flow needed to sustain multiple improvement projects.
“We need to continue to grow, not just because we’re a 100-year-old facility with a great deal of deferred maintenance, but to re-educate the fair-going public,” he said. “I think we’re the most successful fair in the country; we’re recognized nationally as a best-practices organization. We’re one of the largest fairs, and the largest fair that’s not state-subsidized, which is really remarkable. But we need to put a lot of attention into this 100-year-old plant.”
To do that, Cassidy says it’s crucial to generate regional philanthropy, like Brooks did when he reached out to his wealthy friends to launch the exposition in 1916. “We’re a 501(c)(3) public charity, and financially, we’re a very stable organization, but we need to reinvigorate our stakeholders — not just to sustain ourselves, but we owe it to the region to grow, so the region grows.”
As board treasurer of the Regional Employment Board of Western Mass., Cassidy is keenly aware of the region’s need to retain talent to grow a number of its industries, and he feels like the Big E and its myriad activities can play a role in that, if only by improving quality of life in the Pioneer Valley.
“We have access to the best education in the world, and we’re exporting our graduates. Any company executive who scoffs at that is not being responsible in their duty to grow the economy and make their mark on the general citizenry,” he told BusinessWest. “It’s all about quality of life. My hope is that the Eastern States Exposition adds to quality of life for people in West Springfield and all of Greater Springfield.”
It’s an easy thing to get excited about, Cassidy added. “People pay to get in, and they’re predisposed to happiness. There are very few jobs in the world where the person coming through the gate is coming in to have a good time. You go to the grocery store because you have to, or go to the tire store because you need tires. You don’t have to come to the Big E.
“Our job,” he concluded, “is to deliver a product that makes you want to be here. If we can take our presence here and use it as a multiplier to drive industry in the local economy, we’ve succeeded.”
Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]
In Pursuit of an Innovation District
Kevin Hively, one of the authors of a redevelopment plan for the area impacted by the natural-gas explosion in 2012 — and the streets surrounding the so-called ‘blast zone’ — hit the nail on the head while explaining why this plan is ambitious and why it will be quite challenging to convert into reality.
“We want to create an innovation district with a lot of energy and momentum taking place,” he told those assembled at a press conference earlier this month staged near where the blast took place. “But the fact of the matter is, innovation districts are driven by talent, and talent is driven by job opportunities and quality of life.”
Right now, Springfield can’t say it offers either one. And that’s why there’s not much talent here around which to create an innovation district.
But there is promise for both, and that is the city’s ongoing mission — to convert that promise into something tangible, something that will attract talent.
Backing up a bit, the report, called “The Worthington Street District Plan,” lays out not only what the city can do with the multi-block area in its central business district, but also the stern challenges that lie in the way.
Indeed, as Hively pointed out at the press event, probably every city in the country would like to create a thriving innovation district, but certainly not all of them can. To replicate, even on a much smaller scale, what has been accomplished in Cambridge, Silicon Valley, and North Carolina’s Research Triangle will take some luck, a good deal of patience, and, well, some innovation.
And the city is not exactly starting from a position of strength. While this area of the city has some assets, most of them — like Apremont Triangle, Stearns Square, the existing entertainment district, and Union Station — are not going to attract that aforementioned talent, at least not in their current form.
But there is some momentum in a few key areas — promoting entrepreneurship, opening up avenues to capital, and promoting innovation. This momentum is best exemplified in initiatives like Valley Venture Mentors, which encourages entrepreneurship and helps fledgling businesses get off the ground; the Baystate Innovation Center, described as a mix between an incubator and an accelerator now taking shape in downtown Springfield; and Tech Foundry, which is billed as a training ground for those who might enter the technology field.
And there are other positive developments, such as the new UMass Center at Springfield in Tower Square and the potential for a casino in the South End.
But as Hively pointed out, talent is driven by job opportunities and quality of life. Springfield can’t match Cambridge, Boston, or San Francisco, or even Providence or Lowell at this time.
It must do something about both crime and the perception of crime, foster the development of more restaurants, shops, and cultural attractions, and, above all else, help create attractive places for people to live.
At the moment, there is a distinct lack of people who have a desire to live, work, or start a business downtown, and this is the equation that simply must change.
How? That’s the $64,000 question. Most observers say you can’t just build housing and then hope eateries, clubs, and shops will follow. Likewise, you can’t — or shouldn’t — open those businesses until you are sure there is a critical mass of people with disposable income to support them.
Is an innovation district possible? Of course it is. Is it doable in Springfield? Perhaps, but, then again, most every city has tried or is trying to create one, and success has been hard to come by.
One thing is for sure. There is little, if any, time to waste, and the city will have to be energetic and imaginative if it is going to attract the talent needed to make an innovation district thrive.
Springfield Unveils Blueprint for Downtown Innovation District
From the wreckage of a natural-gas explosion in Springfield almost two years ago has emerged a revitalization plan — one that encompasses far more than the immediate blast zone.
The “Worthington Street District Plan,” as the plan’s creators title it, contains an overarching vision of transforming much of downtown Springfield into an ‘innovation district,’ characterized by entrepreneurial businesses, expanded market-rate housing, new dining and entertainment options, and a raft of infrastructure and traffic-flow improvements.
It is, in a word, ambitious, said Kevin Hively of Ninigret Partners of Rhode Island, which produced the study in conjunction with Utile Inc. of Boston. The firms were hired by DevelopSpringfield, using part of an $850,000 settlement between the city and Columbia Gas stemming from the natural-gas explosion that rocked the Worthington Street-Chestnut Street area the day after Thanksgiving in 2012.
“We want to create an innovation district with a lot of energy and momentum taking place, but the fact of the matter is, innovation districts are driven by talent, and talent is driven by job opportunities and quality of life,” Hively told an assembly of municipal and economic-development officials and other neighborhood stakeholders.
“If you’re going to have an innovation district, you have to create a strong, robust, urban lifestyle environment,” he added. “The reality is, they are related.”
A key example is Kendall Square in Cambridge, which boasts, by far, the nation’s highest density of biotech and IT firms — 163 per square mile, to be precise. (Palo Alto, Calif. comes in a distant second, with 36.) Yet, Kendall Square developers have also been focused on quality of life, as evidenced by the emergence of outdoor cafés, charging stations for electronic devices, and lively kayak and canoe activity along the Charles River.
To develop such an environment in Springfield, the report notes, Worthington Street and its environs is the best place to start.
The key is the neighborhood’s pre-existing assets, including the architectural character of the building stock, public ownership of a number of parking lots and other empty parcels, existing housing stock that can be upgraded, proximity to Union Station, and pre-existing places — like Stearns Square, Apremont Triangle, and Matoon Street — that can serve as anchors for activity.
Once demand for an urban lifestyle — and development in response to that demand — lift the profile of this neighborhood, businesses will hopefully become interested in the neighborhoods northeast of Chestnut Street, producing a cascade effect of development, public improvement, and general buzz across the entire district.
Mayor Domenic Sarno noted that the plan isn’t unlike the city’s efforts over the past three years to bring large-scale improvements to Springfield in the wake of the June 2011 tornado. “From a potentially devastating tragedy, an opportunity has come forth,” he said. “As we did with the tornado, we have an opportunity to define this area as an innovation district.”
Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield, said his organization commissioned the study to establish a vision for how the downtown area should be developed. “We have a tremendous opportunity to create a truly vibrant, urban district, one that is walkable, with an innovation-based economy and market-rate housing — those are exactly the things we’d like to do.”
After all, Sarno added, “if we want to move the city forward, we have to be bold and innovative.”
Food for Thought
As one example, Sarno emphasized repositioning the city’s entertainment district as a restaurant district, because a neighborhood known for catering solely to large clubs and their patrons detracts from its universal appeal.
The Utile/Ninigret report highlighted several ways this can be accomplished, including placing size limits on venues to discourage large clubs; requiring all venues to have full kitchens; and using façade-improvement program funds to improve the aesthetic appearance of the district.
Another key is drawing an eclectic mix of retail businesses to the district, a goal, Hively noted, that Springfield officials can’t just wish into reality.
“It’s very hard to create a successful retail business,” he noted. “It’s out of the hands of the city. It cannot create a successful retail business, but it can create an environment that allows people to come in; then it’s up to the retailers to get people to come in and convert those people from shoppers to buyers.”
But downtown revitalization is about more than making it a destination for diners and shoppers; attracting people to live there is equally important, which is why the city is also looking at ways to develop more market-rate housing downtown. Officials believe a growing network of young entrepreneurs and residents want to see downtown become more livable, and that future rail service to the area will bring new opportunities, both to attract residents and encourage further development around Union Station.
It may sound a dizzying exercise in chickens and eggs, but the report highlights several improvements Springfield can undertake to make the district more attractive for both walkers and motorists. These include upgrading Stearns Square; redesigning Apremont Triangle’s open space and streetscape; converting Dwight and Chestnut streets to two-way streets; restriping travel lanes on cross streets; retrofitting Worthington and Bridge streets; improving Lyman Street, especially at the entrance to Union Station; and incorporating public art and lighting into underpasses.
This stretch of Worthington Street, which includes the site of the natural-gas blast, is among the areas the city hopes to revitalize as part of a broad innovation district.
“Everyone in the world wants an innovation district, but not everyone can have one,” Hively said, adding that the key questions are, does it have to be created from scratch, and are there people willing to make it happen? Clearly, he added, the answers in Springfield are no and yes, respectively. “You don’t have to create this from whole cloth.”
Added Sarno, “we are thinking big, thinking bold, thinking innovative. But the bones are already here, where other cities are sinking millions of dollars into that.”
Still, while those foundational elements exist, the study notes, they are still nascent and the lack critical mass necessary to have a major impact — yet. Other efforts are necessary, among them the potential conversion of the Willys-Overland Building on Worthington Street, which was damaged in the explosion, into a catalytic project featuring a mix of business uses, small-scale manufacturing, and housing.
Sarno said he envisions a neighborhood of revitalized properties featuring retail, dining, and business on ground level, parking on the second floor, and market-rate housing on the third. “It is extremely important that we continue to make downtown Springfield vibrant.”
Safety First
Kevin Kennedy, Springfield’s chief development officer, said the study is valuable in the way it outlines development concepts and encourages residents and businesses to generate more. “For some ideas, the city would have to help with some infrastructure, and that’s what we would do.”
The city has also been focused on public safety and raising people’s confidence in walking downtown — efforts that include everything from a lighting-improvement project along some of the city’s main thoroughfares, including the downtown club district, to police strategies to more effectively patrol the area. Public perception of crime and safety, after all, are “the 900-pound gorilla in the room,” said the mayor.
However, Evan Plotkin, president of NAI Plotkin, told Sarno and others gathered at the study presentation that the best way to make the innovation district safe is to make it vibrant. “Bringing foot traffic to these neighborhoods will do more to create a sense of safety than anything else you can do,” he said. “Having a police plan will augment that, but there’s nothing better for public safety than foot traffic.”
As for the Utile/Ninigret report, Plotkin said he hopes the city moves forward with some of the ambitious plans, and that the study doesn’t just sit on a shelf. “I think we can get it done.”
He’s not alone, judging by the sentiment of Herbie Flores, executive director of the New England Farmworkers’ Council and, like Plotkin, someone invested in the future of Springfield’s downtown.
“There are always going to be negative people in Springfield,” Flores told Sarno at the end of the presentation. “The hell with them. We’re behind you.”
Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]
The following building permits were issued during the month of August 2014.
AGAWAM
Agawam Crossing
200 Silver St.
$58,000 — Build out of existing space
Insurance Center of New England
1070 Suffield St.
$179,000 — Office expansion
Mark Difranco
838 Suffolk St.
$12,000 –— New dressing room
AMHERST
Ann C. Kenworthy
93 High Point Dr.
$210,000 — Addition for art studio
LUDLOW
Aldor Corporation
70 Kirkland Ave.
$50,000 — Addition and alterations
Chemi-Graphics
340 State St.
$32,500 – New roofing system
NORTHAMPTON
Clarke School for the Deaf
45 Round Hill Road
$60,000 – New roof
Cooley Dickinson Hospital Inc.
30 Locust St.
$673,000 — Renovation of pharmacy
Matthew Olivieri
110 Pleasant St.
$158,000 — Interior fit out for tattoo parlor
Smith College
8 Paradise Road
$388,000 — Heating system renovation
PALMER
Camp Ramah of New England Inc.
39 Bennett St.
$12,000 — Temporary structures of staff housing
Francis Murphy
3129 High St.
$3,000 — Repairs to apartment and fire escape
SOUTH HADLEY
Loomis
246 North Main St.
$35,000 — Repairs
Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$9,000 — Remodel
Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$37,000 — Build a handicap accessible ramp
Mount Holyoke College
50 College St.
$115,000 — Renovations at Dickinson
SOUTHWICK
Saltmarsh Industry
809 College Highway
$100,000 — New maintenance garage
SPRINGFIELD
90 Meat Outlet Inc.
90 Avocado St.
$17,000 — Interior renovation
Eastfield Association, LLC
1655 Boston Road
$42,000 — Interior fit out for new store
South Campus Group
140 High St.
$16,000 — Interior fit out of 912 SF for new tenant
Stop & Shop
1600 Boston Road
$10,000 — New freezer
Urstadt Biddle Properties
372 Cooley St.
$35,000 — Interior alteration
Winn Companies
321 Fernbank Road
$35,000 — New flat roof
WESTFIELD
Noble Hospital
115 West Silver St.
$69,000 — Renovate two rooms
Rosow Westfield, LLC
66 S. Broad St.
$3,500 — Construct pressure treated stairs
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Patrick Kelly
8 Chestnut St.
$20,000 — New roof
R.C. Taylor
124 Myron St.
$74,500 — Re-roof
United Bank
33 Westfield St.
$20,000 — Replace 14 windows
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick announced another major clean-energy milestone, surpassing 15,000 solar installations in the Commonwealth. There are now 15,762 systems installed across Massachusetts, a 20-fold increase from 2008.
“This achievement is due in large part to the strength of the Massachusetts solar industry,” Patrick said. “Clean-energy investments are smart for the environment and the economy, as proven by our 24% industry job growth in the last two years.”
There were 778 systems installed in Massachusetts on Jan. 1, 2008. As a result of this exponential growth, Massachusetts ranked fourth in the nation for new solar capacity installed in 2013 by the Solar Energy Industries Assoc. It also ranked fourth nationally in total solar jobs in 2013 by the Solar Foundation’s National Solar Jobs Census. There are more than 8,000 people working in the solar industry in the Commonwealth, and nearly 80,000 clean-energy workers at 5,500 companies.
“These achievements show that the Patrick administration’s policies and strategic investments are paying off,” said state Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Maeve Vallely Bartlett. “When we are competitive with other states much sunnier than ours, it’s a testament to the commitment of state and local officials, as well as home and business owners across the Commonwealth, to renewable energy.”
AFFILIATED CHAMBERS OF COMMERCE OF GREATER SPRINGFIELD
www.myonlinechamber.com
(413) 787-1555
Sept. 3: ACCGS Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place, Springfield. “Keeping All the Balls in the Air” with Rob Peck, Zestworks. The event will also salute Elegant Affairs (25th anniversary) and Springfield Partners for Community Action (50th anniversary). The breakfast is sponsored by United Personnel.Tickets are $20 for members ($25 walk-in) and $30 for general admission.
Sept. 10: ERC5/ACCGS Millfest After 5, 5 p.m. to dusk, at Ludlow Mills, 100 State St., Ludlow. Music, great food, lots of fun, and networking. Tickets are $15 for members, $25 for general admission. Proceeds benefit the ERC5 Scholarship Fund. The East of the River Five Town Chamber of Commerce is an affiliate of the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield.
Sept. 23: ACCGS Pastries, Politics & Policy, 8-9 a.m.
An informal roundtable discussion, designed for political and policy junkies. Reservations are $15 for members, $25 for general admission, which includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com.
Sept. 30: Rake in the Business Table Top Showcase, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Network with more than 100 vendors. Reservations are $5 in advance, $10 at the door. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com. Presented by the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield and the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, and Westfield chambers of commerce.
AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700
Aug. 27: 48th Annual Community Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m. in the Student Union Ballroom on the UMass Amherst campus. The annual Community Breakfast signals the start of the academic year and is an opportunity to meet newcomers to the community; see old friends, neighbors, and colleagues; and talk about the year ahead. All are welcome at this buffet breakfast and gathering of area business owners, legislators, mayors, select board representatives, and members of the academic and business communities. Tickets are $8 in advance or $10 at the door. For more information, call (413) 577-1101 or e-mail [email protected].
GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101
Sept. 5: “Taking Care of Business: How to Develop and Grow Your Business,” a six-part workshop series, begins with “From Startup to Finish: Financing Your Business,” from 9 to 11 a.m. at Residence Inn by Marriott, 500 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Sponsored by Common Capital. Cost is $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
Sept. 10: CEO Luncheon at the Munich Haus Restaurant. Registration at 11:45, lunch at noon. Network and hear from Eric Lapointe, executive vice president of the Springfield Falcons, who recently joined the organization and oversees all revenue-generating functions of the team. His most recent position was with the NHL’s Florida Panthers as director of premium seating, where his primary responsibilities included managing the senior-level sales and service team, developing and executing premium selling strategies, and driving revenue. He comes to Springfield with a career that includes managerial and sales responsibilities with the NFL’s Cleveland Browns and Miami Dolphins and the NBA’s Miami Heat. Lapointe’s extensive sports-business experience includes working under some of the most influential figures in professional sports, including Mike Holmgren, Bill Parcells, and Pat Riley. He is a graduate of UMass Amherst with a bachelor’s degree in sport management, and received a master’s degree in management from Cambridge College. Tickets are $25 for members, $30 for general admission.
Sept. 17: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Collegian Court, 89 Park St., Chicopee. Tickets are $20 for members, $26 for non-members.
Sept. 25: The “Taking Care of Business,” series continues with “Negotiating and Understanding Leases,” 9-11 a.m., at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 500 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Sponsored by Common Capital. Cost is $20 for members, $30 for non-members.
Sept. 30: Table Top Expo & Business Networking Event, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr. in Chicopee. Presented by the Greater Chicopee, Holyoke, and Westfield chambers of commerce and ACCGS. Tickets are $5 pre-registered, $10 at the door. Sign up at www.chicopeechamber.org.
GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414
Sept. 11: Networking By Night Business Card Exchange, 5-7 p.m., at the Look Park Garden House, 300 North Main St., Florence. Sponsored by Residential Mortgage Services. Door prizes, hors d’ouevres, host beer and wine. Tickets: $5 for members, $15 for future members. RSVP requested.
Sept. 12-13: Electronic recycling fund-raiser, Sept. 12, 1-4 p.m.; Sept. 13, 8:30 to noon. Dropoff location at Liberty and Mechanic streets, Easthampton. Sponsored by Duseau Trucking LLC and A-Z Storage & Properties. Proceeds to benefit the chamber’s programs, including the Holiday Lighting Fund. Responsibly dispose of your old computers, monitors, TVs, telephones, stereos, and office or home appliances. No registration required; open to all members of the Greater Easthampton community. Nominal recycling fees. We cannot accept refrigerators, freezers, dehumidifiers, or any appliances containing freon. For more information, contact the chamber.
GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.holycham.com
(413) 534-3376
Sept. 10: Legislative Coffee Hour, 7:45-9 a.m., at Slainte Restaurant, 80 Jarvis Ave., Holyoke, featuring guest speakers Mayor Alex Morse, City Council President Kevin Jourdain, and City Treasurer Jon Lumbra. Join us for coffee and conversation, where members of the community have a chance to ask questions regarding issues facing Western Mass. and the Greater Holyoke area. Sponsored by Ferriter Law and Marcotte Ford. Tickets are $18 for members, $25 at the door and for non-members.
Sept. 17: Annual Outing Clambake, 5:30-8 p.m., at Holyoke Country Club, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Lobster dinner, putting contest, raffle prizes, 50/50 raffle, chowder cookoff. Sponsored by United Water, Pioneer Valley Railroad, and CareerPoint. Tickets are $30 for members and advance reservations, and $40 for non-members and at the door. The public is invited to attend.
Sept. 30: Table Top Showcase, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights in Chicopee. Four area chambers — Greater Holyoke, Greater Chicopee, Greater Westfield, and the ACCGS — are getting together to present a tabletop mini-trade show. Tables cost $125. Visitors pay $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Call the Holyoke Chamber at (413) 534-3376 to secure a table, or sign up online at www.holycham.com.
Oct. 8: Autumn Business Breakfast at the Log Cabin, 7:30-9 a.m. Recognizing new members, business milestones, and networking breakfast meeting. Sponsored by the Republican and Holyoke Medical Center. Cost:
$22 for members in advance, $28 for non-members and at the door. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 for more information.
GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900
Sept. 10: Northampton Chamber Monthly Arrive @5, 5-7 p.m. Arrive when you can, stay as long as you can. A casual mix and mingle with your colleagues and friends. Sponsors: Greenfield Savings Bank, Hathaway Farms, and United Personnel. Tickets are $10 for members, $15 for non-members.
Sept. 11: 2014 Workshop: “Introduction to Google Docs,” 9-11 a.m. at Pioneer Training, 139B Damon Road, Northampton. The class includes an introductory section on Google Drive, the online storage location for Google Docs. Participants will learn how to set up a local Google Drive folder, create new documents in the Google Docs format, and convert Word documents to the Google Docs format. The class will focus on basic formatting and editing techniques in Google Docs, but will also cover best practices for using Google Docs. Pre-registration is required, and space is limited. Tickets are $20 for members, $25 for non-members. To register, e-mail [email protected].
GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.westfieldbiz.org
(413) 568-1618
Sept. 8: Chamber Open House, 4-7 p.m., at the Greater Westfield Chamber, 16 North Elm St., Westfield. Help us celebrate our new location by stopping in to see our new office. We’ve relocated to better serve our members and communities. Refreshments will be served.
Sept. 9: Lunch & Lecture Series 1, presented by Tim Flynn, AAMS, Edward Jones Investments, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m., at Noble Hospital, Conference Room A, Westfield. Topic: “Retirement and Investments for Business.” Cost: free to chamber members, $25 for non-members, or $60 for all three in the series. For more information, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
Sept. 10: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Sponsored by Advanced Medical Consulting and Billing. Great connection opportunities. Complimentary refreshments provided. Walk-ins are welcome. Cost is $10 for members, $15 for non-members (cash at the door). To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
Sept. 15: Speaker Series, part 1 of 3. “Legal Issues Affecting Business,” presented by Royal LLP, 8-9:15 a.m., at the Genesis Spiritual Life & Conference Center, Westfield. Cost: free to chamber members, $25 for non-members, or $60 for all three in the series. For more information, call Pam at the chamber office, (413) 568-1618.
Sept. 19: September Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the 104th Fighter Wing ANG, 175 Falcon Dr., Westfield. Sponsors: Platinum, Westfield Bank; Gold, Savage Arms; Silver, Prolamina and Wealth Technology Group. Speaker: Dr. Alan Robinson, co-author of The Idea-Driven Organization. Cost is $25 for members, $30 for non-members. To register, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618. Consider donating a raffle prize to the event.
Sept. 30: 17th Annual Table Top Showcase, 4:30-7 p.m., at the Castle of Knights, Chicopee. Cost: $5 in advance through the chamber or $10 at the door. Opportunities available for sponsorships and exhibitor tables. For more information, call Pam at the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.
PROFESSIONAL WOMEN’S CHAMBER
www.professionalwomenschamber.com
(413) 755-1310
Sept. 17: PWC Headline Luncheon, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St., Holyoke. The speaker will be Jane Iredale, president and founder of Jane Iredale Skin Care. Tickets are $25 for members, $35 for general admission.
SOUTH HADLEY GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.shgchamber.com
(413) 532-6451
Sept. 16: “What’s Your Granby Business?” Open House, 5 p.m., hosted by the new Granby Free Public Library, 297 East State St., Granby. Mingle with South Hadley and Granby business people and check out the beautiful new Granby library. Finger food and beverages. Tickets are $5 for chamber members, $10 for non-members, unless you are a Granby business owner — then it’s free.
WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
www.ourwrc.com
(413) 568-1618
Sept. 3: Wicked Wednesday, 5-7 p.m., at E.B’s Restaurant, 385 Walnut St Ext., Agawam.
Sept. 8: Open House, 4-7 p.m. The Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its new office at 16 North Elm St. in Westfield. Join us for an open house.
Sept. 17: Networking Lunch, noon to 1:30 p.m. at Kaptain Jimmy’s, 916 Suffield St, Agawam. Network with fellow chamber members over lunch. Each member will get approximately one minute to offer a brief pitch about their company. E-mail [email protected] to register.
Schools See Value in Swapping ‘School’ for ‘University’
Bay Path President Carol Leary
It began as Bay Path Institute, when it was located in downtown Springfield and focused on training men and women for roles in business and accounting, she noted, adding that it became Bay Path Secretarial School in 1945 after it relocated to Longmeadow and focused on training women to become executive secretaries; most of the region’s prominent CEOs had a “Bay Path secretary,” said Leary. In the ’60s, the institution became Bay Path Junior College as it expanded into other areas of study with a liberal-arts base, and then Bay Path College in 1988, when it became a four-year institution.
Those changes were not about semantics, said Leary, the school’s president since 1995, but, rather, reflections about what the school had evolved into.
And that is the case with this latest change in the signage as well.
“A quarter-century later, we’re in a whole different way of educating,” she explained. “We educate on the ground, we educate online, we are educating 12 months of the year, and we’re educating 24/7. That word ‘university’ reflects the complexity of what we have evolved into, what we have become.”
Indeed, the school not only meets the state’s revised requirements for what constitutes a university — graduate programs in four or more distinct fields of study (more on this later) — but, more importantly, it has the look and feel of a university, not merely the accepted definition of one, said Leary.
It has five campuses — the main location in Longmeadow, as well as sites in Springfield, East Longmeadow, Burlington, and Sturbridge-Charlton — and several colleges within the institution itself, including the American Women’s College, featuring online undergraduate degrees, the One-Day-a-Week College, and 19 graduate programs. And it has ambitious plans to soon establish its first doctorate program.
“We are a university,” said Leary. “This represents who we are and how we have evolved and grown; I can’t verify it with numbers, but I believe Bay Path is the fastest-growing women’s college in the country, and the change to ‘university’ reflects all of that.”
It also reflects what could be considered a minor yet intriguing trend in higher education over the past several years. A number of schools across the country and several in the Bay State, including Bentley, Leslie, Western New England College, Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, and six of the nine state schools, have made a similar change. Others, like Springfield College, have thought about it and decided not to do so, mostly because it considers that word ‘college’ part of its brand and culture. Meanwhile, other schools are still thinking about it.
There are several reasons why schools might make such an adjustment, with perception being at or near the top of the list. In many foreign countries, for example, the word ‘college’ denotes an institution similar to or just above a high school, said Richard Wagner, who researched the matter for Western New England, which he serves as director of Institutional Research & Planning, as part of a strategic planning initiative undertaken in 2008.
He noted that, since WNEC became WNEU in 2011, the number of international students on campus has risen considerably, from 33 in the fall of 2011, the first semester as a university, to 81 just two years later, with more expected next month. There are several factors that may have contributed to this increase, he said, but he has little doubt that the name change has been one of them.
Meanwhile, the word ‘university’ may also help with recruiting in this country, he went on, adding that, with some schools, having ‘college’ in the name can be a competitive disadvantage.
“The word ‘university’ is meant to convey a certain breadth and depth of programs,” he explained. “Legally speaking, it has different meanings in different places; for us, it was a question largely of the fact that we were already structured to be how a university would expect to be structured, and ‘university’ was a better moniker for us and more representative of what we are. The administration here would be firmly convinced that this was a positive move for us to make.”
For this issue and its focus on education, BusinessWest takes an in-depth look at why there are now several universities in Western Mass., and why the change in terminology represents more than a new name and logo on T-shirts for those who have taken this step.
New-school Thinking
Tracing the steps that took Bay Path from a college to a university, Leary said that, while the matter had been discussed rather informally for several years, things started heating up in late 2011 when a graduate of the original Bay Path Institute, then-92-year-old trustee Bernard Mussman, spoke up at one of the panel’s sessions not long before he passed away.
“He raised his hand near the end of the meeting and said, ‘I’ve been on this board for 12 years; we’re now very complex, and we should become a university,’” she recalled. “And everyone sort of just stopped. No one immediately responded to Bernie, but here was a 92-year-old Bay Path Institute alum suggesting that we were a university and no longer a college.”
Nothing really happened with Mussman’s suggestion until roughly a year later, she went on, noting that, as part of something called Planning Vision 2016, the latest in a series of three-year strategic plans undertaken by the school, one of five cross-functional teams comprised of faculty and staff came forward with the recommendation that the school consider becoming a university.
Such a transition was made possible a few years earlier, and not long after the state Legislature voted to change the names of six state colleges, including Westfield State, to universities in a move that reflected what was becoming a nationwide trend. (Three of the schools, Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts in North Adams, Massachusetts Maritime Academy in Buzzards Bay, and Massachusetts College of Art and Design in Boston, chose to maintain the status quo.)
In making the change, the state also lowered the bar when it came to the prerequisites for university status. The old standard was two distinct doctoral programs, while the new measure was four distinct graduate programs, a threshold the state schools easily met.
Fearing that this change might give the state’s many private schools a competitive disadvantage, some of them lobbied — through the Assoc.of Independent Colleges and Universities in Massachusetts (AICUM), which represents 60 private schools in the Commonwealth — for essentially the same privilege.
“Our argument with the Board of Higher Education was that, from a consumer-clarity perspective, the state shouldn’t have a public institution just renamed a ‘university’ by the Legislature, and have a private college that may in fact have many more master’s-degree or graduate-degree offerings be hamstrung by the previous regulations, and they agreed with that,” AICUM President Richard Doherty told BusinessWest. “The argument we made was that, whatever policy the state decided on, it should apply equally to public and private schools.”
Doherty noted, as Wagner did, that there is little, if any, technical difference, definition-wise, between a college and a university, and that many institutions with ‘college’ in their names are, in fact, universities. But he noted that the latter word could easily be perceived as a school with a larger breadth and depth of programs.
Defining Moments
In the wake of the recommendation to at least study the feasibility of becoming a university — one of many action steps in that strategic plan, eventually named “Evolution to Revolution” — Bay Path began an extensive period of research, said Leary, noting that school leaders looked at a number of institutions, especially women’s colleges, that had made the change from ‘college’ to ‘university.’ That list included Chatham University in Pittsburgh and Trinity Washington University in the nation’s capital.
“We looked at why they became a university,” she noted, “and at what they had to do to become a university, because each state is different.”
That research revealed that the change hasn’t negatively impacted the schools, and has probably yielded some benefits, said Leary.
“They said it was very positive,” she noted, “and that it gave them more to talk about internationally because of the word ‘university.’”
Meanwhile, Bay Path officials also listened to their own students, one of whom suggested at an open forum that ‘university’ would carry more weight with potential employers looking at the lines on a résumé.
“I had never thought of that,” Leary went on. “She was defining ‘university’ by the worth of the name, which was interesting, because we were looking at it mostly from the standpoint that we were already operating as a university, and a change would only verify that.”
Despite those positive sentiments, Bay Path alumni and some of those working at the school had some concerns that needed to be addressed, said Leary.
“They didn’t want to lose the personal touch, and we said that would always be a hallmark of Bay Path,” she explained. “They were worried that on the main campus, class sizes would get bigger for traditional students; we said, ‘that can’t happen because we don’t have large classrooms — the largest one seats 60.’ They were worried that we were going to charge so much more, and we told them tuition would remain the same.
“And they were really worried that we were going to go co-ed,” she went on. “But we assured them that we would stay all women.”
The matter eventually went to the board of trustees, which voted to seek approval for the transition to university status from the Mass. Department of Higher Education. The change became official, and Bay Path became the first women’s university in the Commonwealth, on July 1.
When asked how, in five years, the school might be able to quantify the results of the transition, Leary noted that this was a good, if difficult-to-answer, question, adding that it will likely be easier to qualify the benefits.
“I think that, if we have more students from around the country and around the world, we’ll certainly be able to quantify that,” she said. “But will those students be coming just because we’re a university? That might be hard to determine.
“The bottom line is that ‘university’ makes it clearer to us and our prospective students who we are — it just makes more sense,” she went on. “And we’re very proud of who we are.”
Marsha Marotta, interim vice president of Academic Affairs at Westfield State University, echoed those sentiments. She said the term ‘university’ more accurately portrays what the school has become, and it has also helped improve perceptions of the institution, both externally and internally.
“The tangible impacts of the name change were obvious; it reflected our reality in terms of what we already were doing,” she said, listing everything from comprehensive undergraduate programs to graduate and online programs; from high expectations for faculty to research agendas supported by federal and other grants, such as a National Science Foundation grant for innovative approaches to teaching math as part of the liberal arts. “The name ‘university’ also more accurately reflects who we are in a global context, since the international understanding of college equates with a high-school level of education.
“The name change is also about aspirations and identity,” she went on. “The name ‘university’ makes us more mindful of what we do and more accurately captures the way we are — which in turn changes how we think about ourselves. This was an unexpected consequence, and allows us to think more expansively about the institution. Saying it out loud changes how we think about the institution, which becomes a catalyst for new things.”
Name of the Game
Richard Wagner says the word ‘college’ can become a competitive disadvantage.
“For us, I think ‘college’ was primarily a disadvantage because it didn’t really convey what the campus represented,” he said. “‘University’ allows us to better represent who we are an as an institution.
“For some schools that have very well-known reputations, like Dartmouth or Boston College, it’s not much of an issue,” he went on. “But for schools that don’t have international name recognition, ‘college’ can be disadvantageous.”
Overall, he considers the change one of many factors that has enabled Western New England to ride out what has been a challenging post-recession period.
“The university status, in association with some of the other things we’ve done over the past few years, such as starting the School of Pharmacy, have allowed us to weather the prolonged recession in a relatively good way,” he explained. “Although we’ve been stressed, like a lot of other tuition-driven institutions, we’ve been able to continue building, adding programs, and so on. I think of it as being one element in our ability to get through some rather difficult times.”
Perhaps the most visible impact has come in the number of foreign students now enrolled at the school. There were only nine international students at WNEC in 2009, he noted, adding that the nearly ten-fold increase still represents a very small portion of the overall student body of roughly 3,800. Still, the surge is significant, and for many reasons.
The first is the cultural diversity gained through having students from around the globe, he told BusinessWest, adding that another is a greater ability to withstand domestic economic downturns, and a third is the fact that foreign students are much more likely to pay full tuition rather than relying on financial aid.
“One of the things about internationalization is that, when things might not necessarily be good economically in the United States, they may be better overseas, and vice versa,” he noted.
Over the past few years, Wagner said, there’s been what he called a “follow-the-leader mentality” when it comes to changing ‘college’ to ‘university,’ with more schools making the change perhaps out of a feeling of necessity.
“I think there’s a certain amount of pressure on some institutions to do it,” he explained, “because it’s been done in so many other places.” But some schools, including Springfield College, apparently aren’t feeling that pressure.
“The leadership at Springfield College has, in the past, considered a name change to a university,” said Steve Roulier, a spokesperson for the school. “But given the reputation of our mission and current academic strengths, we have decided to remain Springfield College. The college consistently ranks in the top tier of the U.S. News “Best Colleges” list as a leader in providing a broad and balanced educational experience. We are proud to be known as Springfield College.”
Sign of the Times
Bay Path has a rather intriguing tradition for the start of the new school year, and its students have to get up pretty early in the morning to take part.
It’s called the Awakening, and it gets underway at 5:30 a.m. Participants light candles and celebrate the school’s history and tradition. They walk together down Longmeadow Street to the school’s circle, where there are a few speeches, followed by breakfast. This year, there will be an additional twist — unveiling new signage that features that word ‘university.’
One could say it’s the start of a new era, said Leary, adding that there is a great deal of excitement accompanying the name change. But in reality, that new era started some time ago.
The word ‘university,’ as she said, only puts an exclamation point on it.
George O’Brien can be reached at [email protected]
WARE — Country Bank surprised 29 local schools that participate in the bank’s Savings Makes Sense School Banking Program with $500 gift cards to Staples. Each school received the donation to help cover the cost of back-to-school supplies.
“We know how difficult it is for the schools to have the supplies they need when budgets become tight,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, financial education officer for Country Bank. “They are truly so grateful and appreciative of this gift.” It is reported that teachers annually spend about $250 of their own money to purchase items for their classrooms. Country Bank wanted to help teachers who do so much for their students.
Country Bank serves Central and Western Mass. with 15 offices in Ware, Palmer, Brimfield, Belchertown, Ludlow, Wilbraham, Paxton, Charlton, Leicester, and West Brookfield.
The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of August 2014.
HOLYOKE
Dominos Pizza
1534 Dwight St.
Chris MacPherson
Dream Décor Inc.
369 High St.
Abdul S. Chaudhry
Highland Non-stop Cuts
1375 Dwight St.
Carlos Fonseca
Holyoke Pizza
213 South St.
Hasan Kuruca
Mastercuts
50 Holyoke St.
Alison Pearce
LUDLOW
Chameleon Painting
58 Chapin Circle
Brian Foster
Cluett’s
433 Center St.
Mark Swett
Fancy Nails
207 Winsor St.
Minh Dang
NORTHAMPTON
Dependable Drywall Inc.
98 Birchwood Dr.
Lukas Rosou
Fairfield Inn & Suites
115 Conz St.
Mansour Ghalibaf
Fore
122 State St.
Matthew Bader
Juneberry Bags
181 Main St.
Natalie Goodale
Matusko Fire Protection
972 Park Hill Road
David Matusko
Milltown Productions
120 Williams St.
Zachary MacDonald
PALMER
Acropolis Pizza
1240 Park St.
Dimitrios Athanasiadis
American Independent
15 Knox St.
Scott Ingleman
ANC Building Construction, LLC
9 Harvey St.
Jocelyne Bolduc
Budget Blinds
80 Laurel Road
Robert Poulin
Depot Auto Sales Inc.
1221 Thorndike St.
Edward Wurszt
Gil’s Gum & Racquet Health Club
159 Wilbraham St.
Glen Gilmore
Kszepka Insurance
2376 Main St.
Paul Kszepka
Lamb Contracting
1430 Park St.
Stanley Lamb
The Private Practice Consultant
63 Belanger St.
Jason Brooks
SOUTHWICK
Crossover Fitness, LLC
208 College Highway
Nathania Consolini
Mark’s Welding
15 Fred Jackson Road
Mark Muniak
SPRINGFIELD
JM HVAC Solutions
112 Wallace St.
Javier Martinez
Jessie’s
70 Massasoit St.
Efrain Vazques
K Cookies
58 Eckington St.
Narelle Thomas
Kumasi African Market
159 Boston Road
Ernestina Kumah-Num
Love Lee Virgin Hair
95 Johnson St.
Larry J. Lee
Media Group International
26 Hanson Dr.
Vadim Vatnikov
Mike’s Boutique
112 State St.
Marsha Simpson
Mirels Beads
125 Greene St.
Aida L. DeJesus
Miss Teen Horizonte Massa
24 Warriner Ave.
Maria R. Lozada
Mitchell Landscaping
81 Cambridge St.
Brian Mitchell
Northstar Landscaping
89 Guion St.
Despina A. Costa
Oldies from the Estate
45 Parker St.
William D. Wallace
Panda House
1675 Main St.
Yong H. Chen
Phat Dat Seafood
103 Euclid Ave.
Phat Tran
Quality Cleaning Services
141 Wollaston St.
Yesenia Rodriguez
S & B Distributor
503 Newbury St.
Santiago Rondon
Salome Fashion
2662 Main St.
Luz Flores
Santiago & Sanchez Rent
9 Massasoit Place
Angel M. Santiago
Showcase Barbershop
701 Sumner Ave.
Esteban Vazquez
The Best Deals
318 Bay St.
Jesus Ortiz
The Lioness Group
396 Canon Circle
Natasha Z. Clark
Turn of the Century
30 Maplewood Terrace
Matthew Forte
Tuttis Desserts
1003 St. James Ave.
Madeleine Loyola
Upper Room Films
100 Whittier St.
Samuel Bradley
Wingate at Springfield
215 Bicentennial Highway
SRC Springfield Inc.
XClusive Auto Club
306 Liberty St.
Jamie Lopez
WESTFIELD
Psychic Bridges
56 Ridgecrest Circle
David Moquin
WEST SPRINGFIELD
Bourque Real Estate
1233 Westfield St.
Bourque Group Inc.
Frank’s Auto Repair
25 Sumner St.
A.F. Demaio
J & V Painting
697 Elm St.
Vanessa Horsman
Luxe Consignment
85 George St.
Natalia Dumanetskaya
Quality Construction
85 Benedict St.
Jerzy Cebula
Spices of Asia
3 Central St.
Toralben Patel
Baystate Wins Approval for Three Determination-of-need Requests
BOSTON — The Mass. Public Health Council approved three determination-of-need (DON) requests to support Baystate Health’s efforts to modernize its facilities and improve access to, and quality and value of, healthcare for patients in Western Mass. The approved requests relate to the transfer of ownership of Wing Memorial Hospital and Medical Centers to Baystate Health from UMass Memorial Health Care of Worcester; construction of new operating rooms at Baystate Franklin Medical Center to replace aging facilities; and construction of a new inpatient pharmacy in shell space in the MassMutual Wing at Baystate Medical Center. “We’re very pleased to receive the approval of the Public Health Council for three initiatives that we expect to have a major positive impact on quality, access, and affordability of healthcare in Western Mass., and on our ability to continue to provide outstanding, high-value care for our patients close to where they live,” said Dr. Mark Keroack, president and CEO of Baystate Health. With the council’s approval in place, the transfer of ownership of Wing, announced prospectively in December 2013, is now expected to be complete in September. Wing will become an affiliate of Baystate Health, and its approximately 800 employees will join Baystate. Baystate officials expect that Wing’s proximity to Baystate’s Western Mass. network will mean improved access to doctors, cost savings, better coordination of care, and better alignment with local public-health efforts for patients in the Palmer/Quaboag region. Wing and Baystate Mary Lane Hospital in Ware will operate in close coordination with each other and with other local healthcare providers, and patients’ current options for choosing providers will not be affected. The Surgery Modernization Project at Baystate Franklin Medical Center (BFMC) in Greenfield addresses a need for contemporary facilities to replace the current ORs built in 1974, which will be renovated to relocate endoscopy services. The project, expected to begin this fall, will allow Franklin County and North Quabbin area residents to receive more healthcare services close to home, while also aiding in Baystate’s efforts to recruit additional physicians to the region. Moving the inpatient pharmacy at Baystate Medical Center (BMC) enables pharmacists to meet patients’ growing needs in a state-of-the-art, safe, and secure facility in the newest wing of the Springfield teaching and research hospital. The BFMC and BMC projects come with new community-benefit contributions from Baystate Health. BFMC’s Surgery Modernization Project will generate $228,921 per year for five years for community health-improvement projects in the Franklin County/North Quabbin region. The pharmacy at BMC comes with a community-benefit contribution of $342,146, which brings the total community benefit under the entire determination of need for the expansion of Baystate Medical Center to $13,144,765. Baystate’s Health’s community-benefit work at all of its hospitals is conducted in partnership with a wide array of community stakeholders to achieve the most inclusive process and effective outcomes possible.
Freedom Credit Union Announces $2.2 Million Springfield Expansion
SPRINGFIELD — Freedom Credit Union (FCU) President and CEO Barry Crosby announced a $2.2 million expansion of the company’s Springfield headquarters on Tuesday. Freedom will expand its facilities at 1976 Main St. to a building at 77 Boylston St., directly behind Freedom. Crosby said the company plans to relocate 26 Springfield employees to that location, along with 16 employees from Feeding Hills, and hire an additional 13 employees to staff the new building. FCU has had a presence in downtown Springfield since 1922, when it was known as the Western Massachusetts Telephone Workers Credit Union. Renovations of the Bolyston Street property, most recently home to Hampden County Physician Associates, are expected to be completed next January or February.
United Financial Shareholders Approve Executive Compensation
GLASTONBURY — United Financial Bancorp Inc., the holding company for United Bank, announced that an overwhelming majority of its shareholders voted in favor of key proposals presented at its 2014 annual meeting held on Aug. 5, including the executive compensation plan and the re-election of three key United Financial Board members. The proposal to ratify its executive-compensation plan, or say-on-pay, received 93% of the vote by shareholders. The company’s executive-compensation plan is market-based, tied to performance and aligned with shareholders’ interests. They also voted overwhelmingly (94%) to re-elect three members of the board of directors to four-year terms: William Crawford IV, CEO of United Financial Bancorp Inc. and United Bank; Michael Crowley; and Raymond Lefurge Jr., vice chairman of the board. Since the proposals required only 50% of shares outstanding to vote in favor of the proposals to pass, both vote counts underscored the tremendous support shareholders have in the company, its leadership team, and bank employees. In addition to executive compensation and re-election of board members, a proposal to approve the appointment of Wolf & Co., P.C. as United’s independent auditor received 98% shareholder approval.
Gleason Johndrow Landscaping Makes Top 100 List for Snow Removal
NORTHAMPTON — Gleason Johndrow Landscaping, a Northampton-based snow-removal and landscaping contractor, has landed a spot among the top 100 snow-removal contractors nationwide as determined by SNOW magazine, an industry publication that bestows this honor every summer based on the previous year’s revenues. Mike Zawacki, editor of SNOW, views the list as “a reflection of those contractors’ operational excellence.” “We’re thrilled to be included,” said Tony Gleason, a partner in Gleason Johndrow. “We pride ourselves each and every year on logistical process and customer satisfaction. We’re very honored and grateful to be numbered among the best contractors in the country by our peers.” SNOW has been compiling this list (to be released in an article in September’s issue) for the past 10 years and focuses on revenues and operations for contractors submitting their yearly revenues. “It’s a pleasure to see contractors on this list keep growing. It’s a testament to their continued focus on improving their operation every year,” said Zawacki, adding that “2013 was a good year for snow. It was tougher to get on this list this year because so many contractors had a great year.” Gleason and Dave Johndrow have been providing landscaping and snow-removal services since 2002, with commercial and residential clients throughout Western Mass. and Northern Conn.
Ludlow Riverwalk Moves Forward
LUDLOW — The Westmass Area Development Corp. has announced that it is seeking bids for phase one of the Riverwalk project, part of the approved Ludlow Mills Preservation and Redevelopment Master Plan, and has advertised for bids from contractors. Bids will be opened on Aug. 21, with construction expected to begin in the fall. The Riverwalk is one of the early commitments that Westmass made to the town of Ludlow and its residents, and is being funded through a partnership between HealthSouth and Westmass. The Riverwalk will offer public space for foot traffic and passive recreation, opening up the Chicopee River to Ludlow Mills businesses and residents of Ludlow. This phase of the project will start near Center Street, just east of the town common, run along the river toward the new HealthSouth Hospital, and then return through the proposed future park and reconnect with the recently installed municipal sidewalk system on State Street. This initial phase of construction is expected to cost more than $500,000. “The solicitation of bids to construct the Ludlow Mills Riverwalk represents another important development as the project begins to realize its potential as a significant mixed-use economic resource for Ludlow and for all of Western Mass.,” said Kenn Delude, president and CEO of Westmass. He noted that the Ludlow Mills project would not have been possible without the support of the Western Mass. legislative delegation, particularly the efforts of state Rep. Tom Petrolati and state Sen. Gail Candaras. Together, the proposed Riverwalk and future public park will cover approximately 52 acres, or roughly one-third of the Ludlow Mills project site. Westmass intends to convey that entire area to the town so that it will remain in public use. These open spaces and recreational areas are intended to integrate the Ludlow Mills project into the neighborhood and community, said Delude, and also support the many existing and new businesses that are attracted by the vibrancy of the Ludlow Mills. Redevelopment of the Ludlow Mills complex over the next 15 to 20 years will create and retain more than 2,000 jobs and stimulate up to $300 million in private investment, he said, adding that the initiative is a mixed-use project with a primary focus on commercial and industrial development.
Business Confidence Index Climbs in July
BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index showed further strength in July, adding 2.5 points to 56.2. “Business confidence in Massachusetts, after sliding into the neutral range for more than a year, has climbed back to within a point of its post-recession high of 57.1 in April 2012,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. The index was up 3.7 points compared to July 2013. Last year, Torto noted, uncertainty arising from political deadlock in Washington and the threat of financial crisis in Europe, plus fiscal drag from tax increases and unsteady economic growth in the U.S. and globally, held down confidence. “However, this year, we have seen rising business confidence and, not coincidentally, more robust job creation,” he went on. “The biggest year-to-year gainers among our sub-indices are those tracking general business conditions in the state and nation, which appears to reflect a growing sense among employers that they are operating in something like a normal economy.” AIM’s Business Confidence Index has been issued monthly since July 1991 under the oversight of the Board of Economic Advisors. Presented on a 100-point scale on which 50 is neutral, its historical high was 68.5, attained in 1997 and 1998; its all-time low was 33.3 in February 2009. All but one of the sub-indices based on selected questions or respondent characteristics were up from June to July, and all were above their levels of a year before. The Current Index, tracking employers’ assessment of existing business conditions, added three points from June to 55.8, while the Future Index, measuring expectations for the next six months, rose two points to 56.6. “Since its stumble in the first quarter, the economy has rebounded well, and employment has been trending up,” remarked BEA member Michael Tyler, chief investment officer at Eastern Bank Wealth Management. “It is gratifying to see more people returning to the workforce and finding jobs. If this trend continues to gain momentum, the Federal Reserve will need to rein in overly optimistic expectations by raising interest rates sometime next year.” The U.S. Index of business conditions prevailing nationally rose 3.7 points in July to 51.9, and the Massachusetts Index of conditions within the Commonwealth gained 4.9 to 55.8. Compared to last July, these sub-indices were up 5.9 and 6.4, respectively. “The state indicator is higher and has risen more, but was at this level as recently as April 2012,” said Tyler. “The U.S. Index, by contrast, has not been this high since August 2007, or above 50 since October 2007, before the recession. The national economy faced something of a stress test in the first quarter of this year, and passed it.” The Company Index, which measures survey respondents’ overall confidence in the situations of their own operations, rose 1.5 points in July to 58.0. The Employment Index added 1.4 points to 56.0, and the Sales Index edged up three-tenths to 57.9. Each was up between two and three points on the year. “Many Massachusetts employers added staff in the first half of the year, with additions outweighing reductions by almost three to one (34% to 12%), and expectations for the next six months are similar,” said Sara Johnson, senior research director of Global Economics at IHS Global Insight, a BEA member. “Greater confidence in the stability of the economy is at last making employers more willing to hire.” Confidence was up in July among manufacturers (+5.1 to 56.6) and off slightly among other employers (-0.8 to 56.0). There was a similar small difference in confidence levels between employers outside Greater Boston (56.6, +3.8) and those within the metropolitan area (56.0, +1.8). Large employers were somewhat more confident than small ones, but all size groupings were on the positive side. “We have been seeing greater consistency in our survey responses across sector, geography, and size for several months, and that continued in July,” Johnson noted. “In Massachusetts, as in the country as a whole, some regions and industries came back from the recession much more quickly than others, but as time goes on, the differences are evening out, or at least becoming less stark.”
Attorney General Files Suit Against Evan Dobelle
WESTFIELD — Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley filed a lawsuit against former Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle on Thursday, alleging that he improperly spent nearly $100,000 in university resources on personal expenses. Filed in Suffolk Superior Court, the suit alleges that Dobelle, who resigned his position in November 2013 amid searing controversy about his lavish spending, filed false reports to Westfield State to justify $59,000 in personal expenses and $39,000 in personal travel. The suit said Dobelle claimed to be attending conferences, raising money, or doing other university business when he was primarily there on personal business. “We allege the former president of the university blatently misued public funds for trips that were nothing but week-long vacations with family and friends,” said Coakley in a statement. “This pattern of inappropriate spending of state funds is unacceptable, as leaders of public schools should be enforcing their policies instead of knowingly violating them for their own personal benefit.”
State Labor Secretary Visits Tech Foundry
SPRINGFIELD — Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Rachel Kaprielian recently sat in on the first class of students at Tech Foundry, a new workforce-development program that will recruit, train, and place urban high-school students, unemployed college graduates, and veterans in jobs within the high-tech industry in the Pioneer Valley. Tech Foundry is just one of a number of organizations participating in the Commonwealth’s YouthWorks program, which subsidized jobs and training for more than 4,800 at-risk teens and young adults in 31 communities this summer. “This is the kind of innovative use of YouthWorks funding that the Patrick Administration would like to see replicated across the state,” said Kaprielian. “Tech Foundry partnered with the Hampden Regional Employment Board (REB) and New England Farm Workers’ Council, which operates the YouthWorks program in Springfield, to introduce these students to in-demand careers and fill the shortage of computer-science professionals in Western Mass.” Kaprielian shadowed 17-year-old Arian Richardson, one of 22 students in the inaugural class who is taking classes and earning ‘badges’ in hard and soft skills to set them up for entry-level jobs in the tech industry. The high-school students are learning how to dress professionally and interview, as well as basic computer science like scripting and network management. In between classes, the students intern at local tech firms. “I know that successful business leaders have to know much more about technology than ever before to be competitive in their industry,” said Richardson. “I want to learn technology so that I can be a better leader down the road.” Added Delcie Bean, president of Tech Foundry and owner of Paragus Strategic IT, “we believe our approach to badge-based learning combined with a curriculum that is 100% driven by regional employers is a unique model that is not only going to someday make Springfield a large employer of IT talent in the country, but also serve as a model for other industries. We are incredibly grateful to have such a great relationship with the REB and Farm Workers’ Council.” David Cruise, executive director of the Hampden Regional Employment Board, noted that “Tech Foundry represents an innovative opportunity for students to experience a summer of work and learning that exposes them to educational and career pathways in a high-demand industry. The REB is excited about this partnership with Tech Foundry and looks forward to expanding its partnership going forward.”
Patrick Signs Bill to Stimulate Growth
BOSTON — Gov. Deval Patrick has signed H.4377, “An Act to Promote Economic Growth in the Commonwealth,” building on his administration’s economic-development strategy of investing in education, innovation, and infrastructure. The economic-development package provides new tools and training to ensure the Massachusetts workforce meets the needs of employers, invests in Gateway Cities to promote development across the entire state, and provides incentives to create jobs and stimulate the economy. Patrick also refiled legislation that limits the use of non-compete agreements and adopts the Uniform Trade Secrets Act to ensure that government acts to retain talented entrepreneurs, supports individual career growth, and encourages the development of new, innovative businesses to drive future economic growth. The legislation also includes a provision to give local governments across Massachusetts control over the number of liquor licenses in their jurisdiction. Placing the authority to approve liquor licenses in the hands of municipal officials will allow local communities to make responsible decisions regarding their economic development and growth, helping to free the Legislature from time-consuming local issues. “In important ways, this legislation improves existing tools and provides a few new ones to continue our strong job growth, and I thank the Legislature for being so responsive,” said Patrick. “At the same time, we have unfinished business, so I am filing further legislation today to give innovators and municipalities all the tools they need to grow jobs and opportunity.” The act bolsters the economic revitalization of the Commonwealth’s Gateway Cities with $15 million for the Gateway Cities Transformative Development Fund and encourages the reuse of brownfields in economically distressed areas of Massachusetts with $10 million in funding. “This legislation makes many targeted investments in our emerging industries, like big data and advanced manufacturing, that are necessary to create a competitive environment here in Massachusetts and grow our status as a leader in the world economy,” said Senate President Therese Murray. “By capitalizing on our state’s existing and developing industries, as well as investing in a strong, educated workforce, we are outlining a path to success for our residents and promoting economic development throughout the entire Commonwealth.” Added House Speaker Robert DeLeo, “this comprehensive bill will help ensure that residents, businesses, and communities are able to compete and excel in a dynamic economy. We’ve made substantial gains in strengthening our economy and must now focus on broadening the circle of prosperity beyond Greater Boston to all regions of the Commonwealth. This bill does just that while preparing future leaders through provisions like MassCAN, a computer-science-education partnership, and the Talent Pipeline Initiative.” In the area of workforce development and training, the act includes $12 million for the Middle Skills Job Training Grant Fund to support advanced manufacturing, mechanical and technical skills at vocational-technical schools, and community colleges. Also, the Workforce Competitiveness Trust Fund will receive $1.5 million to prepare Massachuse tts residents for new jobs in high-demand occupations, helping close the middle-skills gap and creating a seamless pathway to employment. The economic-development legislation also includes a number of initiatives to expand the Commonwealth’s world-class innovation economy, including $2 million for a Big Data Innovation and Workforce Fund to promote the use of big data, open data, and analytics, and $2 million for the Innovation Institute Fund at the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative. The legislation also creates a $1 million talent-pipeline program that will provide matching grants aimed at increasing technology and innovation internships, and another $1 million for a startup mentoring program to connect early-stage entrepreneurs, technology startups, and small business with experienced business enterprises and capital financing.
Berkshire Museum Wins Energy-incentive Grants
PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Museum has been awarded energy-incentive grants totaling $83,600 from Berkshire Gas and Western Massachusetts Electric Company (WMECo) in partial funding for a project to incorporate energy-efficiency measures into the museum’s heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) building systems. Berkshire Gas awarded $50,000, and WMECo provided $33,600 for an innovative solution to control humidity, which is necessary to protect the museum’s collections of art, historical objects, and natural specimens. The design innovation recycles the heat byproduct from a new high-efficiency chiller, thereby saving energy while providing humidity control. The HVAC improvements were implemented over the past year as part of the museum’s 21st Century Energy project, which included changes to the building envelope and lighting systems, also with the aim of reducing energy consumption. An engineering study determined that the museum will reduce both electricity and gas use for an annual savings of $60,000 at current prices. Lead funding for the museum’s 21st Century Energy project was provided by a $1 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory in September 2012. “We are thrilled to have contributed in this way to the important mission of the Berkshire Museum,” said Berkshire Gas President Karen Zink. “Innovative energy-management technologies and practices will allow visitors to experience the treasures of the past and present well into the future.” Berkshire Museum Executive Director Van Shields said that “the representatives from WMECo and Berkshire Gas played a critical role in helping us sort through different approaches to control temperature and humidity, while improving energy conservation. Having their expertise on the design team from the very beginning helped us create the innovative solution to meet our needs. We are very grateful to our energy providers for their proactive participation in helping design systems to conserve energy, and for the grants that helped us implement our plans.” Located at 39 South St. in downtown Pittsfield, Berkshire Museum is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission is $13 for adults, $6 for children, and free for members and children age 3 and under. For more information, visit www.berkshiremuseum.org or call (413) 443-7171.
The following business incorporations were recorded in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and are the latest available. They are listed by community.
ADAMS
Adams Police Association Inc., 4 School St., Adams, MA 01220. Joshua Baker, same. To receive gifts, contributions, and grants for money or property from individuals, private organizations, public sources and any agency of the town of Adams, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, and to apply, pay over, or disburse those gifts, contributions and grants or their proceeds for the benefit of the people residing in the town of Adams, with this objective to be furthered by funding, assisting, or undertaking programs and activities designed to strengthen the services, organization, performance, competence, and professionalism of the police department of the town of Adams (the “police department”) and its officers and members.
AMHERST
Cross the Waters Institute for Cultural Exchange Inc., 33 Kellogg Ave., #2, Amherst, MA 01002. Ingrid Claudia Askew, same.
CHICOPEE
A Child’s Potential Inc., 47 Royal St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Gabrielle Morgan, same. Education for families, professionals, and the public on increasing social, play, and communication skills for children on the autism spectrum. The focus will be to help all families, but especially those who may have more limited resources, develop strategies to help their children become more active participants in family and community life.
AGS Floors Inc., 49 Dakota Dr., Chicopee, MA 01013. Nikita Zhuk, same. Flooring sales and installation.
EAST LONGMEADOW
CrossFit Iron Will Inc., 288 Somers Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. David Heath Speckman, same. Exercise and physical training programs and services.
HOLYOKE
A 3 Petroleum Corp. USA, 636 Main St., Holyoke, MA 01085. Adeeba Abdul Rehman, 14 Arnold St., Westfield, MA 01085. Gas station and convenience store
B.O.S.S. Prostaffing Inc., 3 Valley Mill Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Tyler Fernandez, 24 Kenmore Dr., Bloomfield, CT 06002. Business of recruiting and staffing of personnel for employment on both a temporary and permanent basis, and shall engage in other business activities lawfully conducted by a corporation in Massachusetts.
Brick Stone Tavern Inc., 330 Whitney Ave., Suite 440 Holyoke, MA 01040. William Cunningham Sr., 71 Exeter Ave., Longmeadow, MA 01106. Restaurant.
ES Pleasant Street Car Wash Inc., 47 Jackson St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Eric Suher, 28 Jefferson St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Car wash.
LUDLOW
Bocage Inc., 247 Cady St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Arlindo R. Alves, 247 Cady St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Bar.
CLF Holdings Inc., 30 River St., Ludlow, MA 01056. Carlos Figueiredo, same. Distribution of bakery products.
PITTSFIELD
Berkshire Electric Transmission Consulting Corp., 47 Greenings Ave., Pittsfield, MA 01201. George Gela, same. Consulting services.
Big City Trails Inc., 10 Wendell Ave., Ext. Suite One, 2nd Floor, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Franklin Pena, 626 Mercer St., Albany, N.Y. 12208. Transportation of passengers in a motor coach.
Center for Chiropractic Care Inc., 510 North St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Christian Loidice, 126 Mountain View Dr., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Chiropractic services.
SPRINGFIELD
Bowles Realty Inc., 281 State St., Springfield, MA 01103. Stephen Reilly Jr., same. Real estate sales.
Dunn-Wright Recovery Network Inc., 151 Prouty St., Springfield, MA 01119. Luz Mejia, same. Recover assets for creditors.
THREE RIVERS
EMC Masonry Inc., 19 Bourne St., Three Rivers, MA 01080. Eric Przybycien, same. Masonry and construction services.
WEST SPRINGFIELD
A & E Transporation Inc., 76 Ashley St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Elshad Hasanzade, same.
WESTFIELD
And Inc., 4 Russell Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Mubeen Ishtiaq, 25 New Ludlow Road, Chicopee, MA 01020.
Davenport Flooring & Remodeling Inc., 97 Fairfield Ave., Westfield, MA 01085. Michael Davenport, same. Flooring installation and home remodeling.
EFE & Omercan Inc., 57 Southwick Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Nurcan Cayan, same. Pizza restaurant.
