Home 2014 August (Page 4)

Month: August 2014

Fallon Health Appoints
 Jack Dill to Board of Directors

By
Daily News

WORCESTER — 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. He 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.

Jeffrey LaValley Joins Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — 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. With nearly 20 years of experience working in higher education and healthcare settings, LaValley brings a great depth of experience to Habitat for Humanity, including a background in public relations, marketing, event and program management, as well as knowledge of annual fund and major-gift strategies, volunteer management and board development, and strategic planning.

Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity is a housing ministry dedicated to strengthening communities by empowering low-income families to change their lives and the lives of future generations through home ownership and home-preservation opportunities. This is accomplished by working in partnership with diverse people, from all walks of life, to build and repair simple, decent, affordable housing. Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity has helped 58 local families (54 with home ownership and four with home preservation), as well as over 90 international families, realize their dream of home ownership over the past 27 years.

Kim Goulette Takes Helm at Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — 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 replaces 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.”

Added Sarah Corrigan, Red Cross Pioneer Valley Chapter board chair, “as we open this new chapter in the life of the organization, we are certain that Kim is the right person to lead us forward. Kim has a proven ability to create clarity, drive growth, and deliver results, and her passion for helping others will ensure that the Pioneer Valley Chapter continues to save and impact lives here in our local 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 am 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.

Business Confidence Index Climbs in July

By
Daily News

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.”

Roundtable Seminar Slated on Affordable Care Act

By
Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — 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.

On Sept. 11, 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.

Elizabeth Hart Named to Gray House Board

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Gray House inducted Elizabeth Hart to a three-year term on its board of directors at a recent board meeting.

Hart has been a cash-management associate at PeoplesBank since 2012. She was previously a neuroscience Ph.D. student at the University of Colorado at Denver. She left to pursue a career that enabled her to balance work with volunteerism. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Simmons College in Boston.

The Gray House is a small, neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Its mission is to help its neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment.

UMass Amherst Ranked Second-best in Campus Food

By
Daily News

AMHERST — The UMass Amherst Dining Services, profiled in a cover piece in BusinessWest in May, has moved up one notch in the ranking of campus food nationwide, according to the Princeton Review. UMass, which had ranked third in the publication’s three previous compilations, came in behind only Virginia Tech in the 2015 edition of “The Best 379 Colleges,” which was released Monday.

“We’re thrilled with the ranking,” said Ken Toong, executive director of Auxiliary Enterprises at UMass, in a prepared statement. “Thanks to the support of our students — they are the best customers in the world. We love them, and they are the cheerleaders of our program.”

Mass. Medical Society Offers Information
 on Advance Care Planning

By
Daily News

WALTHAM — The Mass. Medical Society is offering free information on advance care planning, the term that describes the planning people are encouraged to do as their health becomes more complicated and as they approach the end of life.

“Planning Ahead: What Are Your Choices?” is a publication produced by physicians of the society’s Committee on Geriatric Medicine and is designed to create awareness about the need for end-of-life planning and provide resources for patients to plan appropriately. It is available online at www.massmed.org/advancecareplanning.

“While a physician’s first duty to patients is to promote wellness and cure and heal,” said Dr. Eric Reines, committee chair and a geriatrician with Element Care in Lynn, “we must acknowledge that death will come, and physicians are increasingly recognizing the value of advance care planning. By creating more awareness and understanding, we hope people will take that important first step in starting a conversation that many people find difficult to begin or avoid entirely.”

The pamphlet, appropriate for everyone over age 18, briefly covers topics such as the healthcare proxy, a document indicating who can make healthcare decisions for someone who is unable to do so, and the MOLST (medical orders for life-sustaining treatment) form, which outlines a person’s preferences for medical care and treatments in the last year of life. Also included is a short description of palliative care, specialized medical attention for those with serious health problems. The brochure is rich with additional resources, as it lists 14 websites, covering various aspects of advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice care.

Kimball Farms Earns Fourth Deficiency-free Survey

By
Daily News

LENOX — After the state Department of Public Health completed its annual survey at Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center, it issued a report that is rare in Massachusetts: deficiency-free, for the fourth time in recent history.

A deficiency-free result in the state’s rigorous annual examination is one of the top indications of excellence for nursing facilities. Nursing facilities are thoroughly surveyed and rated on core criteria, including quality care, safety, administration, food service, nursing care, and patient rights. The unannounced inspections by representatives from the DPH are conducted annually, nine to 15 months following the prior survey. This evaluation, conducted by a team consisting of at least one registered nurse and social worker, includes a review of residents’ and patients’ clinical records, a tour of the facility, and interviews with residents, patients, family members, and staff members.

This honor is the most recent in a series of outstanding accomplishments by Kimball Farms that includes the Gold – Excellence in Quality National Quality Award, presented by the American Health Care Assoc. and National Center for Assisted Living, based on the criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program. Other recent accolades include designation as a five-star organization by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and scores in the top 1% in the nation for customer and workforce satisfaction, as measured by My InnerView and National Research Corp.

“Our Kimball Farms team members dedicate themselves daily to excellence and compassion, and to improving the quality of life for our residents,” said Administrator Bill Kittler. “Our teamwork supports the highest degree of service and care for our residents. It is an honor to have the Department of Public Health recognize the staff for their efforts and acknowledge their hard work and commitment.”

Kimball Farms Nursing Care Center, a member of Berkshire Healthcare, specializes in short-term rehabilitation, long-term care, skilled nursing, and respite care. For more information, visit www.kimballfarms.org.

Gray House Announces Urgent Need at Food Pantry

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Shelves at the Gray House Food Pantry are getting very bare, according to Dena Calvanese, executive director.

“As quickly as food gets put on the shelves, it gets distributed to families in need. It’s a struggle to keep up,” said Calvanese. “Summertime is a slow time for donations, but the need still exists. Hunger doesn’t take a summer vacation.”



The Gray House is primarily looking for pantry staples such as beans, tuna or canned chicken, peanut butter, soup, pasta, sauce, cereal, canned fruit, and boxed milk. It would also welcome any fresh produce that people have from their gardens.


The Gray House is a small, neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Its mission is to help its neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment in the North End.

The food pantry provides emergency food to nearly 8,000 people a year, most of them families with children. Donations can be dropped off on Mondays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. or by appointment by calling (413) 734-6696. For more information about the Gray House, visit www.grayhouse.org, or call Calvanese at (413) 734-6696.

Baystate Ob/Gyn Earns Sixth Consecutive Accreditation

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The physicians of Baystate Ob/Gyn Group Inc. announced that it has been awarded its sixth consecutive accreditation by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine. A practice must reapply for accreditation every three years.

Baystate Ob/Gyn Group achieved this recognition by meeting rigorous voluntary guidelines set by the diagnostic-ultrasound profession. During the accreditation process, all facets of the ultrasound department were assessed, including the training and qualifications of physicians and sonographers, ultrasound equipment maintenance, documentation and record-keeping practices, quality-assurance methods, as well as the thoroughness, technical quality, and interpretation of the sonograms the practice performs.

“AIUM accreditation is an important indication of our commitment to providing comprehensive, high-quality healthcare that is accessible and convenient for the patient,” said Dr. Charlene Case, director of the Ultrasound Department at Baystate Ob/Gyn Group. “When necessary, our state-of-the-art ultrasound technology provides us with detailed images right in our own office that we can use as a component in the care of our patients. This technology, including 3-D and 4-D capabilities, is an irreplaceable clinical tool for our practitioners.”

Ludlow Mills Riverwalk Project Moves Forward

By
Daily News

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.

North Adams Commons Receives National Award for Quality Care

By
Daily News

NORTH ADAMS — The American Health Care Assoc. and the National Center for Assisted Living (AHCA/NCAL) recently announced the selection of North Adams Commons Nursing & Rehabilitation Center as a 2014 recipient of the Silver Achievement in Quality award for its outstanding performance in the healthcare profession. North Adams Commons was the only organization in Massachusetts to win the Silver Award this year, and one of only 77 facilities nationwide.

The competitive award program highlights select centers across the nation that serve as models of excellence in providing high-quality long-term care. Implemented by AHCA/NCAL in 1996, the National Quality Award Program is centered on the core values and criteria of the Baldrige Performance Excellence Program, which assists providers of long-term and post-acute-care services in achieving their performance excellence goals.

“I am proud that North Adams Commons is standing among the ranks of other centers that are delivering quality care,” said Mark Parkinson, president and CEO of AHCA/NCAL. “Our profession is stronger through the work and dedication of these centers.”

The program has three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. Facilities begin the quality-improvement process at the Bronze level and must receive an award at each level before proceeding to the next.

“We are proud to have received the Silver Award, and we’re pleased that an independent panel of examiners saw the high value we place on quality care and service excellence,” said Robert Post, administrator at North Adams Commons. “Our focus at North Adams Commons has always been on people. We want to continue to evolve our quality care and service to even greater heights.”

As a recipient of the Silver Achievement in Quality award, North Adams Commons has demonstrated systematic advancements in quality, plans for continual improvement, and sustainable organizational goals. The award will be presented to North Adams Commons during AHCA/NCAL’s 65th annual convention and exposition in October in Washington, D.C.

Baystate Mary Lane Seeks Community Health Initiative Proposals

By
Daily News

WARE — Baystate Mary Lane Hospital (BMLH) has released a request for proposals (RFP) for community health initiatives from area not-for-profit organizations that can offer innovative approaches to addressing unmet health needs in the Quaboag Hills Region of Hampshire, Hampden, and Worcester counties.

The hospital’s Community Benefit Advisory Council, which includes area educators, health and human-service providers, and others who are actively engaged in community health-improvement efforts, worked together with hospital staff to prioritize unmet health needs identified in the hospital’s community health needs assessment that was completed in the spring of 2013. BMLH has approved up to $50,000 of these funds to be awarded in 2014 for the purpose of addressing priority health needs.

A total of $150,000 in funding, to be spent over three to five years, for BMLH community health initiatives was made available by Baystate Medical Center (BMC) as part of the state Department of Public Health’s determination-of-need process related to capital expenditures for BMC’s new Emergency Department in Springfield.

To qualify, grant proposals must address one of the following BMLH priority health needs: diet and exercise-related diseases and mortality; high rates of alcohol, tobacco, and drug use; or lack of access to mental-health services and poor mental-health status. The deadline for grant proposals is Tuesday, Sept. 30. Selected grantees will be notified no later than Wednesday, Oct. 22.

An informational session will be held in the Main Conference Room at BMLH on Friday, Sept. 5 beginning at 9:30 a.m. For more information or for an application package, contact Kimberly Duquette at [email protected], or call (413) 967-2179.

Massachusetts Life Sciences Center Seeks to Fund Projects

By
Daily News

WALTHAM — The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center announced the launch of the fourth round of an open solicitation for life-sciences-related capital projects. The solicitation covers capital projects for academic/research institutions (including two- and four-year colleges), business incubators, and other not-for-profit organizations in the Commonwealth.

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will invest in high-potential economic-development projects across the state that promise to create jobs and make a significant contribution to the state’s life-sciences ecosystem. The MLSC has allocated up to $35 million in capital dollars for this solicitation.

The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center will manage the capital program solicitation through a two-phased approach. In phase one, applicants will submit a short, online application and one-page summary of the proposed project. Applicants selected for phase two will be asked to submit a full proposal for evaluation. For-profit organizations, municipalities, and other governmental entities are not eligible for capital funding through this solicitation. Applications must be submitted online, and more information about the program may be accessed via the MLSC’s website.

“The Life Sciences Center has invested or committed over $370 million, literally from Cape Cod to the Berkshires, in support of life-sciences capital projects,” said Susan Windham-Bannister, president and CEO of the MLSC. “Through these investments, we are creating unique resources to strengthen our life-sciences ecosystem, expand our workforce, create new jobs, and cement Massachusetts’ position as the global leader in life sciences. We look forward to receiving additional innovative proposals through this year’s solicitation.”

Main Street Hospitality Group Announces Leadership Team

By
Daily News

STOCKBRIDGE — Main Street Hospitality Group has announced several appointments to its leadership team. The company, formed in January 2014, owns and operates out of the Red Lion Inn in Stockbridge. The group also manages the Porches Inn at MASS MoCA in North Adams, the Williams Inn in Williamstown, and a new, 45-room property, Hotel on North, in Pittsfield, which is planned to open in 2015.

“We are very excited to offer our talented staff expanded leadership opportunities,” said Nancy Fitzpatrick, Main Street Hospitality Group owner and chairman. “This lays the groundwork for an exciting period of growth for our company.”

• In January, as part of the group’s founding, Sarah Eustis was named CEO. Part-owner of Main Street Hospitality Group, she joined the Red Lion Inn in 2012 to build strategic growth for the company. As Fitzpatrick’s stepdaughter, she continues the Fitzpatrick family ownership.

• Bruce Finn was named chief operating officer. In 2003, he came on as general manager of the Red Lion Inn and the Porches Inn at MASS MoCA. He is responsible for all property operations and implementation of strategies and services.

• Andre Huppe has been named chief financial officer. He joined the Red Lion Inn in 2010 and continues to oversee all accounting and fiscal activity.

• Brian Alberg has been named vice president of food and beverage operations. He will retain his role as executive chef at the Red Lion Inn. He joined the Red Lion Inn in 2004 and is a leader in the sustainable-food culture in the Berkshires and Hudson Valley.

• Brian Butterworth has been named vice president of sales. He joined the Red Lion Inn in 2002 and continues his leadership role in the tourism industry and the community.

• Michele Kotek has been named vice president of lodging operations. She will retain her role as innkeeper of the Red Lion Inn. Michele joined the Red Lion Inn 1998, sits on the board of the Berkshire Visitor’s Bureau, and is president of the Stockbridge Chamber of Commerce.

• Anne Curtin-Nardi has been named vice president of human resources. She joined the Red Lion Inn in 2006. Prior to that, she worked at Country Curtains for 22 years in a variety of roles, including overseeing compensation and benefits, human resources, and training.

• Stephanie Gravalese-Wood has been named director of marketing and communications. She joined the Red Lion Inn in 2011 and was recently appointed to the Tourism Commission for the city of Pittsfield.

• Bonita Wilson has taken on the role of training coordinator. In addition to her responsibilities as executive administrator, she is responsible for all aspects of ongoing hospitality training at the properties.

• Carla Child has been named project manager. She joined the Red Lion Inn in 1990 and will play a key role in the design development of new properties. She will retain her role as philanthropy coordinator.

“It is exciting to pursue our vision of developing independent and unique properties within the Berkshire region and beyond,” Eustis said. “We have a talented team with deep roots and experience in hospitality, and we are poised for growth.”

Main Street Hospitality Group has also launched a new website, designed by Moho Designs of Great Barrington. For more information, visit www.mainstreethospitalitygroup.com.

Jazz & Roots Festival Musical Acts Announced

By
Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Organizers of the free Jazz & Roots Festival on August 9, from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. in Court Square have announced the lineup of musical acts. The purpose of the festival is to celebrate the emergence of Springfield’s Cultural District,and promote an arts driven, community oriented, and sustainable revitalization of the city. Organizers are striving for an inclusive event with a variety of performers, which include:

• Phil Woods: A Springfield native, Woods has established himself as one of the most brilliant alto saxophonists in jazz. He devoted himself to the alto saxophone since the age of 12 and was a student of the Julliard Conservatory. Although he did not copy Charlie “Bird” Parker, bop’s greatest saxophonist, he was known as the New Bird.

• Charles Neville: The second oldest brother and saxophonist of New Orleans’ first family of funk. The Neville Brothers, a collective of four talented brothers and powerfully unique personalities who have thrived on an explosive fusion of diversity and unity, have represented the heart and soul of New Orleans for decades.

• Matthew Curry: (sponsored by MGM Springfield): Curry has played with the greats since the start, jamming regularly with Tommy Castro, Bernard Allison, Bryan Lee, and Ronnie Baker Brooks. He was one of five international finalists in Ampeg’s “Straight-Up Tone” competition. He has played major summer festivals including the Mississippi Valley Blues Festival and the Chicago Blues Festival. Matthew Curry is a 2013 inductee into the prestigious Brotherhood of the Guitar sponsored by Guitar Center, Ernie Ball, and Fender. Blues Blast Magazine nominated Matthew Curry in 2011 for an unprecedented three awards: Best Debut CD, Sean Costello Rising Star, and Best Blues song.

• Greg Caputo: He’s toured with the big bands of Count Basie, Harry James, Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman, Nelson Riddle, Lionel Hampton, Cab Calloway and Sammy Kay. Greg has also performed with, Benny Waters, Joe Wilder, Phil Woods, Patti Page, Grover Mitchell, Claude Williams, Sheila Jordan, Don Cornell, Barry Harris and Sammy Davis Jr.

• Charmaine Neville: As the daughter of Charles Neville, she is heir to a rich New Orleans musical legacy but has succeeded in placing her own stamp on this musical heritage. Neville and her band dish out a spicy mix of blues to some V-8-driven R & B.

• Grace Kelly: You’ve heard the name before from the movies but perhaps you haven’t heard of this 22-year old Korean American singer/songwriter/saxophonist/composer. She wrote her first song when she was 7 years old, recorded her first out of eight independently released CDs at 12, and orchestrated, arranged and performed an original composition with the Boston Pops Orchestra at 14.

• Chuchito Valdés: Following in the footsteps of his famed father Chucho Valdés and grandfather Bebo Valdés, continues the legacy of great piano players from Cuba.

• Jim Argiro Quintet: At first glance, the Argiro Quintet appears as an extension of the famous George Shearing Quintet. And while retaining the essence of that revered ensemble, the musical approach is much more adventurous, creating lively, highly original versions of American standards and intricately woven originals.

• Jessica Freeman: A vocalist who studied at Berklee College of Music. She also plays classical violin and has performed with the Brooklyn Symphony. She currently lives in Holyoke and is headed into the Holyoke Community College Radiology Technology program. She hopes to travel the world singing, dancing, and playing violin.

• Alex Snydman: He made a surprising yet decisive switch from guitar to drums during his Senior year at Hampshire College. Since that time in 2003, Alex has fervently sought out a veritable who’s who in modern jazz to study with. This list includes Eric Harland, Gregory Hutchinson, John Riley, Bob Gullotti, Joe La Barbera, and Damion Reid, among others.

• Mikata: Performs a full repertoire of hard-hitting Salsa, Merengue, Bachata, Bolero, Cha-cha and Latin Jazz. The band is renowned for their contemporary arrangements of the great classics of Mambo and Salsa from the1950’s, 60’s and 70’s — an era when the dynamic, percussive quality of Latin music reigned supreme.
Blues to Green, a non-profit organization using music and art to celebrate community and culture, build shared purpose, and catalyze social and environmental change, working in partnership with the City of Springfield and the Springfield Business Improvement District is presenting the Springfield Jazz & Roots Festival as its first event in the area of many to come. Attendees can also enjoy theater, art, dance, poetry and community as the festival is partnering with these community organizations: The Performance Project, Bing Arts Center, and Community Music School. In addition, Mercy Medical Center will be collecting new socks as a part of the Healthcare for the Homeless program. There will also be music workshops at the Community Music School beginning at noon with Charmaine Neville and Grace Kelly.
This event is a unique opportunity to promote Springfield as Western Massachusetts’ largest urban center and a sought out artistic/cultural destination. The festival aims to bring people from Springfield and the surrounding region together to foster connection, stimulate the local economy, and highlight positive initiatives contributing to the betterment of Springfield’s residents and uniting the city with the rest of the Pioneer Valley. There will be an Opening Party at the Bing Arts Center, Sumner Avenue, Springfield on August 8 at 8 p.m. with Jeremy Turgeon & Bonded.
This event was made possible in part by the support of MassMutual Financial Group, MGM Springfield, NAI Plotkin/One Financial Plaza, and Mercy Medical Center. For more information log on to www.SpringfieldJazzFest.com.

IG Report: Dobelle ‘Violated the Public’s Trust’

By
Daily News

WESTFIELD — A long-awaited report from the state inspector general’s office claims that former Westfield State University President Evan Dobelle improperly used hundreds of thousands of dollars from school accounts to pay for personal expenses, including a number of trips, and then covered these actions by filing false reports.

“Dobelle knowingly disregarded university policies, misled the WSU Board of Trustees, abused his authority, and exploited public funds for personal benefit, Inspector General Glenn Cunha wrote in his scathing, 60-page report, released Thursday. “Dobelle’s self-characterization as a ‘visionary’ does not absolve him from the obligation to follow the rules. … Dobelle violated the public trust.”

The report detailed dozens of incidents where Dobelle charged personal expenses to university credit cards, including more than $63,000 for 17 trips to San Francisco where, he told school officials, he was meeting potential donors and tech-sector business executives. However, the IG’s report found he was mostly attending social events. Dobelle resigned from the university in November 2013 amid a firestorm of criticism concerning his lavish spending.

On Friday, the Boston Globe reported that Cunha’s report raises the prospect that Dobelle could face criminal investigation. The paper quotes a spokesperson for Attorney General Martha Coakley saying “this report raises serious concerns and allegations about the use of Westfield State resources by its former president. We have been conducting our own investigation into this matter and anticipate additional action soon.”

In a prepared statement, WSU Interim President Elizabeth Hall Preston said, “while this has been a difficult period for all of us, the faculty and staff at the university have persevered and focused on the work of providing our students with an outstanding education. We approach the start of our new academic year with a sense of excitement and new momentum.”

CPA Firm Whittlesey & Hadley Expands Into Western Massachusetts

By
Daily News

HARTFORD, Conn. – Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C., one of the area’s largest regional CPA firms, announced its plan to diversify geographically and grow in size, services and staff, beginning with a merger with Lester Halpern & Company, P.C., of Holyoke, a leading regional CPA firm providing a broad range of accounting, audit, tax and management consulting services to closely held business, nonprofit and governmental sectors of Western Mass. and throughout New England. The merger is effective August 1. Whittlesey & Hadley provides accounting, audit, tax, technology and business consulting services to clients primarily throughout the northeast, with access to a worldwide network of resources through PKF North America. For more than 50 years, the firm has served closely held businesses, including manufacturing, construction and distribution, real estate, financial institutions, healthcare, government and technology industries, as well as the nonprofit sector, the firm’s largest niche focus. The firm has 100 professional and administrative staff located in downtown Hartford. “We moved to a larger office space in downtown Hartford, providing us with the resources to begin our future growth,” said Drew Andrews, managing partner of Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C. “It is a common vision, philosophy and dedication to provide a superior client experience that we are seeking when merging with CPA firms. Lester Halpern & Company brought that to the table. This merger represents our first step in an aggressive plan to grow our services and staff throughout the northeast, while retaining our valued reputation as having the expertise of a national firm but the responsiveness of a local firm that clients expect and deserve from its professional services partner.” Established in 1959, Lester Halpern & Company’s 25 employees will continue to serve their client base out of the Holyoke office, while acquiring the Whittlesey & Hadley brand. “Whittlesey & Hadley, P.C.’s presence and extensive resources offer an opportunity for Lester Halpern & Company to greatly expand the services available to our clients,” said Thomas Terry, the managing partner of Lester Halpern & Company, P.C. “Integrating our abilities and our experiences will result in a stronger base for future growth.”

Easthampton Savings Bank Posts Solid Quarter

By
Daily News

EASTHAMPTON — Easthampton Savings Bank staged its quarterly directors meeting on July 16. President & CEO Matthew S. Sosik reported the completion of another successful quarter for the bank. “This past year represents yet another in a long string of excellent financial performances at Easthampton Savings,” stated Sosik. Total assets were up $41.6 million from a year ago, an increase of 4.3%, while total loans increased 9% or $63.5 million.” Total loans now stand at $747.8 million. The bank’s deposit growth was $38.3 million or 5% from this time last year, with total deposits now at $840.2 million. “These continue to be challenging economic times for our region and interest rates remain very low as a result,” said Sosik. “In spite of those conditions, the bank continues to outperform the industry. At the same time, we have continued to invest heavily in the communities that we serve through direct charitable donations and many, many hours of community service by our staff and our directors.”