Month: May 2015

PITTSFIELD — The Berkshire Museum will host the Berkshire Region Museum Institute for Teaching Science (MITS) summer session, July 6 to 10, for middle- and high-school teachers.

This year’s theme is “Going with the Flow: Using Inquiry Methods to Teach Watershed Science.” The Berkshire Museum is the lead educational partner for MITS in the Berkshires. The program is presented with instructing partners Housatonic Valley Assoc., Flying Cloud Institute, and American Rivers.

This exciting professional-development program will focus on the ecology and history of local rivers and watersheds. Participants will learn from experts about what is affecting water quality in the rivers that flow through area communities and how scientists effectively measure watershed health using principles of ecology, engineering, and robotics. The week-long institute includes outside exploration of local rivers and time indoors at the museum for hands-on, inquiry-based projects.

Institute participants will build and use a SeaPerch underwater remotely operated vehicle (ROV) and then take it back to their classrooms. The SeaPerch ROV is used to take videos of underwater ecosystems and collect water samples. SeaPerch curriculum serves as an introduction to basics in engineering, ship and submarine design, and an exploration of ways that engineers have been able to explore places that are too dangerous or unreachable for humans to visit.

The educators will explore a variety of methods to test water quality. They also will build miniature urban landscapes to prototype methods for remediating runoff in an exploration of low-impact-development solutions to non-point source pollution. Participants will learn from experts about the science and politics of dam removal that have been affecting New England rivers, and they will hear the story of PCB pollution and removal in the Housatonic River watershed and examine issues surrounding urban and agricultural runoff into rivers and aquifers.

Throughout the course, participating educators will try out, develop, and implement inquiry-based approaches and project ideas for use in the classroom that amplify the concepts covered in the course and that will encourage students to become critical, inquisitive thinkers. Throughout the institute, the educators will be working with proven methods of assessing student learning.

Educators who complete the institute earn professional development points and/or graduate credits from either Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts or Cambridge College, based on a teacher’s chosen level of participation. All activities will be linked to Massachusetts Common Core state standards and STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) initiatives. All teachers from grades 5 to 12 are welcome to attend.

Online registration for the institute is available at www.mits.org. There will be an orientation on June 20 before the July 6-10 session. The deadline to guarantee a spot is June 1; late sign-ups will be accepted based on space availability. The registration fee, which includes the cost of the SeaPerch kit, is $400 for individual participants and $375 for two or more participants from same school district.

Meghan Bone, Berkshire Museum’s School and Teacher Program specialist, can answer questions about the program; she can be reached at (413) 443-7171, ext. 332, or [email protected].

Dakin Offers Discounted Fees at Spay/Neuter Clinic Through August

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society has announced discounts on its already-low spay/neuter fees for cats and dogs. From now through Aug. 31, there will be a $20 discount for dog spay/neuter surgery and a $10 discount for cat spay/neuter surgery for people who mention code SN1020 when booking their appointment. In addition, all dogs and cats will receive a complimentary nail trim.

With the summer season approaching, the importance of spaying and neutering pets intensifies, according to Dakin Executive Director Leslie Harris. “Mother Nature puts pet population in overdrive in the late spring and summer,” she said, “and it’s very easy to have one mishap result in an unwanted litter of kittens or puppies. Plus, having your pet spayed or neutered prevents several types of cancers that affect reproductive organs, and makes your pet’s behavior much more manageable … and enjoyable.

“Our clinic is staffed with professional veterinarians and technical assistants, and we have performed more than 58,000 spay and neuter surgeries since we opened nearly six years ago,” Harris continued. “We stand ready to help people take this incredibly important step by providing top-notch medical services for any budget.”

To book an appointment, call the clinic at (413) 781-4019, and mention code SN1020.

Dakin Humane Society provides shelter, education, advocacy, and assistance for animals and people in need from its two locations in Springfield and Leverett. The organization shelters nearly 6,000 animals every year and provides low-cost spay/neuter surgery and vaccinations to 12,000 more. Dakin is a local, nonprofit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community.

AIC Breaks Ground for New Dining Commons

SPRINGFIELD — After a winter for the record books, American International College (AIC) recently celebrated spring and the future of dining in style with a groundbreaking ceremony in anticipation of the college’s $8 million renovation to its dining commons.

The new, state-of-the-art facility will expand upon the existing dining-commons space and include a wider variety of seating along with a more abundant variety of food options and services, including customized food preparation, an open-concept kitchen complete with a Mongolian grill, a wood-fired pizza oven, and more, all presented in a contemporary, open setting.

Guests and speakers at the event included AIC graduate U.S. Rep. Richard Neal, Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno (who also attended AIC), college board of trustee members, and AIC President Vincent Maniaci, who said, “the dining commons is the heart of social interaction between and among students, faculty, and staff. This new dining commons will greatly benefit our current students by providing a spectacular dining experience and meeting center for social engagement.”

Compass Foodservice CEO Steve Sweeney donated $1,500 to the local food pantry on behalf of its subsidiary, Chartwells, the leading higher-education food-service company in the world and provider for AIC.

Speaking on behalf of the 1,700 undergraduate students at AIC, Student Government Assoc. representative and sophomore Rebecca Gray said, “it’s long overdue, and we’re very much ready for the new programming space and the new dining facilities, and it’s going to be a lot more modern and a lot more comfortable. I am so excited. Being only in my second year, it is really nice to see the school making so much change.”

While there was a cosmetic remodel of the dining room in 2007, the last complete renovation of the college’s dining commons was in 1966, nearly 50 years ago. Construction currently involves seven local Massachusetts companies working on the project. The project is expected to be completed in time for the beginning of the fall semester.

State Awards $100,000 in Workplace-safety Grants

BOSTON — Seven Massachusetts employers — including one in Western Mass. — were awarded grants, totaling more than $100,000, to train 552 workers to prevent workplace injuries, illnesses, and deaths, Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II announced.

The Department of Industrial Accidents Office of Safety administers and manages the Workplace Safety Training and Education Grant program to promote safe, healthy workplace conditions through training, education, and other preventative programs for employers and employees covered by the Massachusetts Workers’ Compensation Law.

North Adams-based Berkshire Family & Individual Resources, a nonprofit, human-service organization providing support services for adults and children with disabilities, autism, and traumatic brain injuries, was awarded $10,165. Other grants were awarded to organizations in Lawrence, Dorchester, Roxbury, Boston, Wellesley, and Pepperell.

“It’s not just employers and workers who pay the price for occupational fatalities, injuries, and illness. Society often bears the indirect costs of medical treatments and lost wages and productivity,” Gov. Charles Baker said.

Added Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, “making employers and workers aware of workplace hazards and developing safety precautions and protocols can go a long way in reducing the costs of workplace tragedies.”

With $800,000 budgeted annually for the safety grant program, the Department of Industrial Accidents (DIA) has funded hundreds of programs that have educated thousands of employers and workers in the Commonwealth. The new round of grants will be the last given out this fiscal year.

“These grants have made Massachusetts workplaces safer and healthier for thousands of employees and simultaneously created opportunities for trained workers to move into new or higher-paying jobs,” Walker said.

Grant recipients can be awarded up to $25,000 per entity each fiscal year. Employers were awarded training grants through a competitive application process through DIA.

Royal LLP Presents Seminar May 21 on Changes in Employment Law

NORTHAMPTON — Due to the high volume of interest, Royal LLP will present an encore of its seminar pertaining to three major changes in employment law that every employer needs to be aware of for 2015. The event will take place Thursday, May 21 from 8 to 9 a.m. at Royal LLP, 270 Pleasant St., Northampton.

This informative roundtable, led by founding partner Amy Royal, will focus on the topics of sick leave, domestic-violence leave, and paternity leave. It will also touch on the Affordable Care Act relating to healthcare reimbursement, as well as minimum wage.

The cost is $30 per person. Mail your payment, and make your check payable, to Royal LLP, 270 Pleasant St., Northampton, MA 01060. Advance registration is required, and seating will be limited. E-mail Ann-Marie Marcil at [email protected] to register or with any questions about this seminar.

Discussion on Transportation Equity in Springfield Slated for May 12

SPRINGFIELD — Transportation is a crucial link to ensure opportunity for all, connecting people to jobs, schools, housing, healthcare, and grocery stores. But millions of poor people and people of color live in communities where quality transportation options are unaffordable, unreliable, or nonexistent. Federal transportation policy choices can address this inequity — and have an enormous impact on the economy, climate, and health.

The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and LiveWell Springfield will present a discussion on Tuesday, May 12 on advocating for transportation policies that advance economic and social equity in Springfield and the region. The event will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. at the UMass Center at Springfield, 1500 Main St. (Tower Square). Parking is available in the Tower Square parking garage and will be reimbursed. The site is also easily accessible by major bus lines.

The guest speaker will be Beverly Scott, a national transportation leader who most recently served as general manager of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. From 2007 to 2011, she was the CEO of Atlanta’s Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority system. In 2012, President Obama named Scott a Transportation Innovator of Change for her record of exemplary leadership and service in the transit industry. A catered reception will follow Scott’s talk.

For additional information, contact Catherine Ratté, PVPC principal planner, at (413) 285-1174 or [email protected]. This event is funded through a Leadership Conference Education Fund and PolicyLink to advance affordable, accessible transportation policy. The Pioneer Valley Planning Commission, on behalf of LiveWell Springfield, is one of just six organizations across the country to receive this award.

New England Unemployment Numbers Mixed in Recent Report

BOSTON — The New England Information Office of the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has released New England unemployment numbers for March 2015. These data are supplied by the Local Area Unemployment Statistics program, which produces monthly and annual employment, unemployment, and labor-force data for census regions and divisions, states, counties, metropolitan areas, and many cities.

Among the report highlights, the New England unemployment rate was essentially unchanged at 5.2% in March. One year ago, the New England jobless rate was higher, at 6.2%. Five New England states posted jobless rates that were significantly different from the U.S. rate of 5.5%; Vermont (3.8%), New Hampshire (3.9%), and Maine (4.8%) recorded lower-than-average unemployment rates, while Connecticut (6.4%) and Rhode Island (6.3%) had jobless rates that were significantly higher than the national average in March. Massachusetts tracked closest to the national rate.

Meanwhile, over the last year, four New England states recorded statistically significant unemployment-rate decreases, with declines ranging from 1.9% in Rhode Island to 0.6% in New Hampshire.

Baker-Polito Administration Announces Solar Milestone for State

WORCESTER — Energy and Environmental Affairs (EEA) Secretary Matthew Beaton announced that Massachusetts has installed more than 841 megawatts of solar electricity, bringing the Commonwealth more than halfway to the Baker-Polito administration’s goal of 1,600 megawatts by 2020.

“Today’s announcement further supports the Baker-Polito administration’s commitment to a vibrant clean-energy sector that creates jobs and economic prosperity for the Commonwealth,” Beaton said. “Continuing to diversify Massachusetts’ energy portfolio through the development of solar generation will work to strengthen the state’s growing clean-energy economy while supporting new, innovative technologies.”

The 841 megawatts of installed solar electricity is enough to power more than 128,000 average Massachusetts homes, and is responsible for reducing greenhouse-gas emissions equal to taking over 73,000 cars off the road.

“Under the Baker-Polito Administration, Massachusetts will continue to harness solar power to protect the environment, save on energy costs, and create jobs,” said Department of Energy Resources Commissioner Judith Judson. “This is an exciting milestone toward the year when we meet our solar goal of 1,600 megawatts and generate 3% to 4% of today’s electric demands with local, available solar power.”

According to the Solar Foundation, Massachusetts ranks second in the U.S. for solar jobs, while every dollar invested in solar in the Commonwealth creates $1.20 in economic benefits to the local economy, according to the Dukakis Center for Urban and Regional Policy at Northeastern University. Last year, solar electricity capacity installed was the fourth-highest in the country.

“Solar energy is an economic driver here in Massachusetts, employing more than 12,000 workers in high-quality clean-energy jobs,” said Massachusetts Clean Energy Center CEO Alicia Barton. “Working together across government and in partnership with industry and communities, we’re well on our way to meeting our goal.”

There are solar installations in 350 of Massachusetts’ 351 cities and towns, with at least 175 local communities hosting projects that directly benefit the municipality. There are more than 25 megawatts of solar at over 180 schools across Massachusetts, 30 megawatts on farms, and eight megawatts on state buildings and land.

Springfield Police Commissioner to Present Year in Review to ACCGS

SPRINGFIELD — Since taking his post last June, Springfield Police Commissioner John Barbieri has focused his efforts on a collaborative, community-oriented approach to public safety through five priority objectives. Barbieri first addressed these objectives at the Affiliated Chambers of Commerce of Greater Springfield’s (ACCGS) Pastries, Politics and Policy in May 2014. He will return for an update on his first year as commissioner at the ACCGS Pastries, Politics and Policy on May 26 from 8 to 9 a.m. at the TD Bank Conference Center, 1441 Main St., Springfield.

When he first was sworn in, Barbieri said he would strive to “re-engineer police services to positively impact crime, quality of life, and fear-of-crime issues, and improve quality of service and stakeholder satisfaction” through becoming more proactive, improving response times, increasing levels of service, building relationships with stakeholders, and developing and measuring feedback processes.

He has launched an expanded Counter Criminal Continuum (C-3) policing model to the North End, the Hollywood section of the South End, the area around Mason Square, and the Belmont Avenue/Oakland Street section of Forest Park; introduced an innovative, web-based neighborhood-watch program; and continues to conduct successful law-enforcement sweeps across the city, concentrating on quality-of-life issues.

The cost of the May 26 event are $15 for members, $25 for general admission, and includes continental breakfast. Reservations may be made online at www.myonlinechamber.com or by e-mailing Sarah Mazzaferro at [email protected].

Smith & Wesson to Host Second Annual Celebration of Heroes

SPRINGFIELD — Smith & Wesson Corp. announced it will present its second annual “Celebration of Heroes.” The company invites the community to join it in honoring those who have served their country by attending the event on Monday, May 25 from 11 a.m. until 4 p.m. on the grounds of Smith & Wesson, 2100 Roosevelt Ave., Springfield.

At 11:45 a.m., the Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno, along with James Debney, president and CEO of Smith & Wesson, will preside over a program to honor local heroes and our country. Eight-year-old Shea Braceland of Westfield will deliver the national anthem. Following the program, the Celebration of Heroes will commence.

There is no admission fee, and proceeds from the sale of food and items at the event will benefit the Friends of Ward 8 and the Friends of the Springfield Vet Center, two local veterans’ organizations supported by Smith & Wesson. Activities will include live stage performances by local bands including Lower Level, Maxxtone, and more. A kids’ tent will feature interactive musical performances by Rachel Hiller of Music Together, a photo booth, activities run by the YMCA of Greater Springfield, and other free activities. Bottled water will be provided free of charge by Big Y.

In 2014, Smith & Wesson was honored to restore Springfield’s Veterans War Monument, which had been destroyed by the impact of weather and time. On Memorial Day 2014, a rededication ceremony and the first annual Celebration of Heroes was held to reveal the restored monument and to honor local veterans, active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces, and military families. Proceeds benefited the Friends of the Springfield Vet Center, which offers social, recreational, and educational programs to combat veterans and their families, as well as the Friends of Ward 8, a nonprofit organization that supports the Veterans of Ward 8 at the VA Medical Center in Leeds. Ward 8 veterans suffer from combat PTSD and benefit from a six week in-treatment program to learn how to better cope with the condition.

During the 2015 Celebration of Heroes, funds will be raised for these two deserving organizations through ticket sales for fare from area food trucks and a beer and sangria tent courtesy of Commercial Distributing and Log Rolling. Event T-shirts will be available for a minimal fee. Military personnel (with military ID) will receive a free event shirt.

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/celebrationofheroes, call Elaine Stellato at (413) 747-3371, or e-mail [email protected].

Local Attorneys to Review Developments Affecting Employer Policies

SPRINGFIELD — Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C., a leading labor and employment-law firm serving the Greater Springfield area, announced that partners Susan Fentin and Timothy Murphy will present a Breakfast Briefing on Friday, May 15 at Sheraton Springfield, One Monarch Place.

The event, “Your 2015 Handbook: New Developments That Employers Must Understand,” will highlight recent legal developments that have affected policies in the workplace, including the Domestic Violence Leave Act, the Parental Leave Act, the Earned Sick Leave Law, and the March memorandum from the general counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) regarding impermissible handbook language.

“This has been quite a year for employers in Massachusetts. Beginning last August, there have been three new statutes impacting employment policies,” said Fentin. “The Earned Sick Leave Law, passed by referendum in November, is slated to go into effect on July 1, and the attorney general’s regulations on that statute were issued in April. The Breakfast Briefing will cover the statute and those regulations and their potential impact on your obligations under the law.”

In addition, Murphy noted, “the National Labor Relations Board has had employee handbooks under a microscope, finding certain, common policies to be unfair labor practices that subject an employer to liability, even if none of the employer’s workers are unionized.”

The Breakfast Briefing will focus on these new developments and will cover the policy changes required by the new laws and the NLRB. Attendees will review the handbook provisions that may need to be changed under the Earned Sick Leave Law, as well as those that have been ruled to be violations under the National Labor Relations Act. “If a handbook review is in your future — and we think it should be — you won’t want to miss this important Breakfast Briefing,” said Fentin.

The continental breakfast and registration begin at 8 a.m. The program begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m. The cost of the event is $25. For more information or to register, visit www.skoler-abbott.com.

Westfield Financial Reports Q1 Results, Declares Quarterly Dividend

WESTFIELD — Westfield Financial Inc., the holding company for Westfield Bank, reported net income of $1.3 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to $1.6 million, or $0.09 per diluted share, for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. Selected financial highlights for first quarter 2015 include:

• Total loans increased $82.2 million, or 12.7%, to $730.4 million at March 31, 2015 compared to $648.2 million at March 31, 2014. This was primarily due to increases in residential loans of $38.9 million, commercial and industrial loans of $29.8 million, and commercial real-estate loans of $13.0 million. On a sequential-quarter basis, total loans increased $5.7 million, or 0.8%, from $724.7 million at Dec. 31, 2014. This was due to an increase in commercial real-estate loans of $8.7 million, offset by a decrease in commercial and industrial loans of $2.8 million, primarily due to normal loan payoffs and paydowns.

• Securities declined $26.3 million, or 4.9%, to $515.2 million at March 31, 2015, compared to $541.5 million at March 31, 2014. On a sequential-quarter basis, securities increased by $6.4 million, or 1.3%, at March 31, 2015, compared to $508.8 million at Dec. 31, 2014.

• Net interest and dividend income decreased $65,000 to $7.6 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 compared to $7.7 million for the comparable 2014 period. On a sequential-quarter basis, net interest and dividend income decreased $288,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2014. The fourth quarter 2014 included $88,000 in deferred fee income recognized upon the payoff of a relationship.

• The bank prepaid a repurchase agreement in the amount of $10.0 million with a rate of 2.65% and incurred a pre-payment expense of $593,000 for the first quarter 2015 in order to eliminate a higher-cost liability.

• Non-interest expense was $6.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015 and $6.5 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2014. On a sequential-quarter basis, non-interest expense increased by $215,000 for the quarter ended March 31, 2015, compared to $6.5 million for the quarter ended Dec. 31, 2014. The increase on a sequential-quarter basis was due in part to an increase in salaries and benefits of $178,000. Of this amount, $51,000 is attributable to salary-related taxes, which are typically higher in the first quarter of each year.

“During the first quarter, harsh winter weather slowed economic activity, and therefore loan demand, particularly commercial construction projects,” said Westfield Bank President and CEO James Hagan. “We continue to cultivate new and existing customer relationships in Western Massachusetts and Northern Connecticut, and our outlook for growth remains positive for 2015. We have an experienced, disciplined, regional leadership team prepared to take advantage of continued opportunities for organic growth and expansion into demographically attractive markets.”

Hagan continued, “the customer response to our strategic initiatives has been very positive. Our Enfield branch, which opened in November 2014, and our Granby branch, which opened in June 2013, have combined deposits of over $23.0 million. We currently have both a commercial lender and a residential lender based in the Connecticut market, and we anticipate adding another commercial lender in 2015. In addition, we relocated a commercial-loan team to downtown Springfield in 2014, which provides proximity to the I-91 corridor and better access to the borrowers and centers of influence in the Greater Springfield area and Northern Connecticut. We have taken action to strategically expand our market reach, and while this initially has increased non-interest expense, we feel this will create opportunities to grow our franchise and generate higher revenue.”

State Business Confidence Hits Pothole in April

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts Business Confidence Index dropped 1.1 points in April to 59.1, backing off from its post-recession high.

“In April, the snow finally melted, the sunlight got stronger, and Massachusetts employers were a bit more positive about current business conditions — but other concerns weighed more heavily,” said Raymond Torto, chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors (BEA) and lecturer at the Harvard Graduate School of Design. “The index’s decline is attributable to lower confidence among the state’s manufacturers, who confront both weak growth domestically and challenges in global markets due to the stronger dollar.”

As in 2014, Torto noted, the index performed well through a weak first quarter for the U.S. economy, which recorded a 0.2% growth rate.

“We think AIM members have confidence in the fundamental stability of business conditions,” he said. “Slow growth has caused survey respondents to temper their expectations, but they continue to foresee improving conditions ahead. The AIM Index is up 6.1 points from last April and 9.6 points over two years, reflecting a significantly better business climate in Massachusetts and nationally.”

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

Most of the sub-indices based on selected questions or categories of respondent declined from March to April, but all were up from a year before. The Massachusetts Index, assessing business conditions within the Commonwealth, shed 2.2 points on the month to 58.6, and the U.S. Index of national business conditions lost 1.7 points to 53.8.

“Despite the weak first quarter, the U.S. Index been above 50 for five consecutive months, and seems at last to be established in positive territory,” said Alan Clayton-Matthews, professor at the School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs at Northeastern University, a BEA member. “The Massachusetts Index continues to lead its national counterpart, and the latest MassBenchmarks Economic Index shows that the state’s economy has outperformed the nation’s so far this year.”

Springfield Issues Permits to Utilities for Casino Site Work

SPRINGFIELD — Following months of design reviews and coordination meetings, the city is preparing for a significant amount of utility construction work to begin in and around the casino resort area in downtown Springfield. Beginning in the next few weeks, utility upgrades, expansions, and relocation work will begin on roadways surrounding the footprint for the casino resort, specifically Main Street, Union Street, East Columbus Avenue, and State Street.

The work is required to terminate existing utilities that currently serve buildings that are slated for demolition; reconstruct, upgrade, and relocate utilities surrounding the MGM Springfield development area to support the size and scale of the project; and perform necessary maintenance on the aged infrastructure to extend its life expectancy into the future to support the casino development and additional growth.

The Springfield DPW has issued numerous permits for utility disconnections and installation of project fencing. However, the department is preparing for a significant ramping up of construction activities through the spring and summer.

Christopher Cignoli, DPW director, noted that, “based upon our meeting with the MGM Springfield development team, its contractors, and all of the area utility companies, there will be a significant amount of work occurring in the next four to six months in and along Main Street, Union Street, East Columbus Avenue, and State Street. Our job is to coordinate all of the requests for work and attempt to minimize the impact to parking and traffic and to notify the public as much in advance as possible to seek alternate routes, if necessary. We also have to coordinate this utility work with any work proposed for the I-91 viaduct project, which is also scheduled to begin in the next few months.”

In order to provide the public with as much information as possible on the construction of the entire casino complex and associated construction work, the city will be launching an MGM Springfield casino-construction website, which will list all the permits issued by the city as well as issue weekly construction updates to notify residents and businesses of potential impacts.

Holyoke Merry-Go-Round Launches New Website

HOLYOKE — The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round, the region’s prized carousel with a storied history that dates back to the early 1900s, announced the launch of a new website, holyokemerrygoround.org. Site upgrades include a new layout with enhancements for secure payments, easy-to-use forms and downloadable contracts, plus updated historical and photo pages to relive the magic, and more.

“Today, more and more people turn to their mobile devices to search the Internet. We wanted a website that would provide them the best, most secure web experience on any device,” said Angela Wright, executive director. “This new site includes easy access to our party and private rental, reservation, donation, and events pages; online store; and forms, all on an easy-to-navigate platform.”

The Holyoke Merry-Go-Round is located in Holyoke’s Heritage State Park, which is managed by the state Department of Conservation and Recreation. The carousel includes 48 horses hand-carved by the Philadelphia Toboggan Co., 56 original scenic panels, 864 brightly colored lights, and 98 beveled mirrors.

Through the merry-go-round’s new website, users are able to book birthday or private parties and can share their own memories of the carousel’s history from Mountain Park to today. Additionally, secure payment options are available for the merry-go-round’s online store and donation pages.

“As a nonprofit organization, we rely heavily on the generosity of the public, many of whom prefer to donate quickly and easily through our website,” Wright said. “With secure payments using PayPal, our supporters can make their tax-deductible donation online with peace of mind.”

Residence Inn by Marriott in Chicopee Wins Prestigious Gold Award

CHICOPEE — The Residence Inn by Marriott in Chicopee recently received a prestigious Gold Award at Marriott International’s 2015 CRFST General Managers Conference in Washington D.C.

The awards event honored specific properties in the Residence Inn brand for their achievements in customer service, breakfast quality, and social activities. The Residence Inn Chicopee is ranked in the top 10% of Residence Inn hotels nationwide, earning the prestigious Gold Award. This award is based on the hotel’s overall guest-satisfaction ratings and financial success during the year. Recipients of the Gold Award are also eligible to submit a nomination for Hotel of the Year. The 115-room Residence Inn Chicopee is owned by Satya Enterprises.

“Each member of the outstanding Chicopee team played a key role in earning these recognitions,” said Karen Warren, general manager of the hotel. “This group will go to great lengths for their guests, and we are honored to have been recognized by Marriott in this way.”

2015 Restaurant Guide

Taste for Success

Center Square Grill’s Partners Celebrate an Eventful First Year

Winning Recipe

The Alvah Stone Creates Cuisine for Every Palate

On the Menu

Our Detailed Guide to Restaurants in Western Mass.

Taste for Success

Center Square Grill’s Partners Celebrate an Eventful First Year

Michael Sakey, left, and Bill Collins say the lively tap room turns regulars into friends.

Michael Sakey said restaurants often conduct a soft open with family and friends to work the kinks out before opening the doors to the public.

In the case of Center Square Grill, the East Longmeadow eatery he and business partner Bill Collins launched last spring, the soft opening got a little out of hand. Of the 600 or so people they invited, only 250 said they would come — but 450 showed up.

“By 8 o’clock, we were out of vegetables; then we ran out of proteins,” Sakey said.

Yet, they were enthused by the response to the food that was served — and they’re still excited a year later.

“Sometimes I have to pinch myself,” Collins said. “It’s been a great ride. We’re psyched with our numbers, and the reviews have been great — four and a half stars on Yelp.”

The pair partially credits their success to their chemistry in the kitchen and business, forged over a 15-year friendship, during which they worked for Claudio Guerra, the serial restaurateur behind Spoleto and a broad array of other establishments.

“Not only have we been great friends for a decade, but in business, we both bring different things to the table,” Collins said, recalling how a chance conversation over glasses of wine about 18 months ago turned into a plan to launch their own enterprise. “When we started talking about doing this, it just snowballed.”

Their success in getting off the ground startled them, but also gave them confidence, he added. “We raised the money to buy the place in two and a half weeks. Once we got a ‘yes’ from one investor, we were more comfortable in the next meeting, and the next. By the last meeting, we were like, ‘are you kidding me? Why wouldn’t you invest in our business?”

Opening the doors was a leap into the unknown, but entrepreneurship has suited them so far.

“When we were first talking about a concept we liked,” Collins said, “we thought, ‘wouldn’t it be great if we opened this place, and it didn’t go out of business? That would be really cool. Then, once we got a little more secure, we started to think we’d actually make it. It’s been a ride, going from being salaried employees, getting a paycheck every week, to making sure everyone else gets their paycheck every week.”

For its annual Restaurant Guide, BusinessWest sat down with Sakey and Collins to talk about wine, local produce, restaurant reviews, and the mentor they both credit with giving them the confidence to succeed on their own.

Career Moves

“I always joke that I was an accidental restaurateur,” said Sakey, adding that he studied theater in college. Even then, though, he was a restaurant veteran, having worked at pizza, sub, and coffee shops from age 14. In early 2000, he took a job with Guerra, who was opening Spoleto Express at the time.

“I went in thinking, ‘it’s just going to be for now, until I figure out what’s next.’ Over the next 12 years, it spiraled into spearheading the catering division, helping open many restaurants for Claudio, and becoming really good friends with Bill.”

He was also starting to sense a connection between food and his other passion. “Restaurants can be theatrical,” he said. “It’s kind of like throwing a party every night. If you can make them all happy, that’s something really unique, not like any other industry I can think of.”

Collins knew at a younger age where his career was headed. “I’m an un-accidental restaurateur,” he said. “I joke that I wish being a doctor ran in my family, but, no, my family owned restaurants and hotels in New York.”

He started working in those businesses from a young age and rose through the ranks. “I was the youngest restaurant manager ever hired by Applebee’s,” he told BusinessWest. “The head of HR met with me, tapped me on the shoulder, and said, ‘please don’t tell anyone you’re under 21; I might lose my job.’”

Local art — fitting for the fare served up at Center Square Grill — livens up the restaurant’s interior.

Collins met Guerra in 1999, when he was 19. While holding down his managerial job at Applebee’s, he worked as a waiter at Spoleto, just to get his foot in the door in a company he had long admired. He eventually became director of operations. “I wound up opening six concepts with him — and we closed some concepts, too. I got to see the good, the bad, and the ugly. He’s been my mentor in the business.”

Sakey recalls how one location Guerra owned morphed from a fine-dining restaurant to something with a pub feel, then to what is now his flagship Spoleto location. “To have three different concepts in one location and still come out on top … it really does take a unique individual to weather the storms of this industry and know when to change and admit to himself that, even though he liked a concept, it wasn’t working as a business.”

As for Center Square Grill, the partners have broken away from the Italian fare Guerra specializes in. “We call ourselves a creative American grill, but we pull from South America, classic French cooking, New Orleans, Jamaica — we even had some Asian dishes,” Sakey said. “We try to do many things well.”

Collins noted that there are about a dozen Italian restaurants in a 10-mile radius, and families tend to go to their favorite. So he and Sakey wanted to bring more variety to the table.

“My favorite thing about the menu is, if you want to come in and get a cheeseburger and an IPA, you can do that,” Sakey said. “If you want to take your wife out and have oysters and a filet topped with crab Oscar, you can do that, too. The menu runs the gamut, and the atmosphere does, too.”

Indeed, the restaurant features a few different dining areas, from a formal dining room to a small room for private events to a lively bar area. “The tap room is where we meet the regulars; they’re actually friends now,” Sakey said, recalling how one regular and her mother were sitting at the bar, talking about making homemade ravioli, and he joked that they should bring him a couple. “The next day, they brought in two platters — one for each of us — and said, ‘dinner’s on us tonight.’”

Guerra himself has visited the restaurant on several occasions, and the partners said he has been supportive of their new venture. “He taught me the culinary side,” Sakey said. “I made my first roux working with him — ‘no, you’re browning it too much, you want that nutty smell’ — but he also taught me front of house. For a guy in chef whites to be just as good in front, that’s incredible.”

Collins agreed. “The guy doesn’t miss a detail in front of house. He burned a lot of that into us.”

The employees have picked up on that sense of pride, Sakey added. “I can’t speak more highly about the staff. Front of the house, back of the house — they take such ownership of what they’re doing. It’s unique and amazing.”

On the Menu

Collins said that Center Square Grill has stayed true to its original core of steak, seafood, and pasta, but the menu offers many iterations on dishes in those categories, and others.

“We’ve tried to change the menu seasonally,” he added. “Most restaurants, out of the gate, don’t change the menu often, but we wanted to change with the season, and use local produce when it’s available, local meat when it’s available. We bought a whole lamb from a farm recently and used every single piece of it.”

Changing the menu also keeps people coming back to try new things, he added. But the regulars do have their favorites, including a crispy duck confit with house-made tomato jam, butternut squash risotto, and seasonal vegetables; seared Maine diver scallops over asparagus risotto and finished with a lemon thyme beurre blanc; Jamaican jerk chicken thighs marinated in a Caribbean rub and served over dirty rice with black bean corn salsa and chiptle aioli; and a slow-braised lamb shank with creamy polenta and seasonal veggies, finished with a twice-reduced port wine demi-glace.

Collins has been on a mission to create lamb converts with the latter dish, arguing that people who say they don’t like lamb are thinking of their grandmother’s gamy-tasting lamb topped with mint jelly. So he created a lamb-based amuse-bouche to give reluctant diners a taste. “I’ve converted every single one of them. I have people who said ‘I don’t like lamb’ ordering the lamb shank.”

Sakey takes particular pride in the restaurant’s impressive — and affordable — array of wine, beer, and cocktails.

“I think our wine program is one of the things that makes us unique. Bill and I know what wine costs, and when we go out and see a bottle of wine being sold for five times the cost, it’s hard to take the leap,” he told BusinessWest, noting that some restaurants mark up the price three or four times what he does. “We want people to be able to try more than the house wine and not worry about getting taken.”

Added Collins, “it’s a matter of inventory — do I want to sell wine, or do I really want to sell wine? It’s no benefit for me to sit on one case of wine for years.”

Warmer weather means ideal conditions to enjoy a meal or drinks on the restaurant’s outdoor patio.

To make sure the food keeps bringing people back, the restaurant recent hired Andrew Brow as head chef. “He was chef at a French bistro in North Carolina, but had moved up here to be closer to his family,” Collins said.

Brow took a job as director of operations for Rachael’s Smoked Fish, a division of J. Polep in Chicopee. But his passion for the chef’s life eventually took over. “We wanted him to come in one or two nights, to keep his hand in it, and eventually he left Rachael’s and came here full-time. We’re fortunate — he’s been in the food business all his life.”

Collins characterized himself and Sakey as foodies, noting that they visit other restaurants regularly, keeping abreast of what’s happening in their industry. That passion for food, however, is balanced by what they call a refreshing lack of ego. “It’s collaborative; if Mike has the better idea for a dish, it goes on the menu. If I have a better idea, or if Andrew has a better idea, that goes on the menu.

“I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a little ego, but it’s ego about getting the best product on the menu,” he went on. “It’s a full-on collaboration. It’s a great process, and it keeps us all energetic about finding new ideas. You don’t want to be the one guy at the table without an idea.”

Star Struck

It has been, by any measure, a strong first year at Center Square Grill. “I don’t think we’re just lucky,” Collins said. “It’s taken a lot of hard work. But we’re fortunate in the way the outcome has turned out.”

As for that four-and-a-half-star Yelp rating, Sakey likes it just where it is, noting that it’s a reminder that he, Collins, and Brow can always aim just a bit higher. “Nothing’s ever perfect,” he said, “but we can be really good.”

Collins disagrees, saying he wants that extra half-star.

“The drive for five fuels my passion for food,” he said, saying it’s a constant obsession. One day, he was telling a friend about a conversation he had with his fiancée, Julia, while lying in bed, telling her about an idea for a new dish.

“Someone overheard me talking about that, and they said, ‘that’s your pillow talk?’ But I’m always thinking about what I’m going to do next, what’s going to be on the table the next day.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Winning Recipe

The Alvah Stone Creates Cuisine for Every Palate

Howard Wein says attention to detail has led to the success of the Alvah Stone.

Howard Wein is sitting at a copper-topped table positioned directly above the Saw Mill River in the Alvah Stone restaurant in Montague. The view of the waterfall rushing over a rocky surface below is mesmerizing, and the blues music that echoes softly throughout the historic, carefully apportioned structure was carefully chosen by him to enhance the atmosphere.

“We want this to become known as a community-based neighborhood restaurant that is also the best restaurant in the Valley,” said Wein, who opened his eatery a year ago. “But it’s not a special-occasion place. It’s very casual and very comfortable, and we are providing a service and resource to the community that didn’t exist. We are focused on appealing to different people for different reasons at different times of the week, which is why we have such a flexible menu.”

The restaurant is only one of Wein’s undertakings (more about that later). But it brings together everything he has learned in his career, which includes extensive experience in some of the most competitive markets in the restaurant and hospitality arenas.

“I’ve always wanted a brick-and-mortar business in the community, and this is my dream space,” he said. “You could put this restaurant anywhere in the world, and people would find the setting absolutely spectacular. It’s the most unique location within an hour in any direction.”

Preserving the Past

Wein conducted an in-depth study of the building’s history before renovating the interior, as he felt it was important to retain its character. It is one of several establishments in the historic Montague Mill, including the Montague Bookmill and the Sawmill River Arts Gallery.

“Many different things happened in this building,” Wein told BusinessWest. “In addition to being a grist mill, the logo for Louisville Slugger bats used to be stamped on them here, and it was once home to Martin Machine Shop. But the mill was built in 1834 by Alvah Stone, so I took his name for my restaurant.”

He also kept original machinery related to the gristmill’s operation, some of which is still embedded in the floor, and added a few other historic pieces. But he also injected a modern flair into the space, which can be seen in details such as the citron color of the drink menu, which was created to match the hue of the overhead light fixtures.

Wein also built a bar that serves fine wines and draft beer, including Alvah Stone Ale, made for the restaurant by Lefty’s Brewery in Greenfield, as well as a full stock of liquor.

The Alvah Stone was designed to appeal to a wide audience, and its menus include the best meat and produce that can be found in the region, Wein said. “We are very focused on using local ingredients that are produced close to us. Sustainable agriculture is very important to me,” he noted, adding that he doesn’t limit his business to farms labeled ‘organic’ because he knows the certification process is costly and there are many “very small, talented local growers in the area.”

The Alvah Stone’s outdoor patio is set above the scenic Saw Mill River.

However, he takes great care with the menu, grouping the selections into several categories. People can stop in at the bar and get a homemade pretzel and a beer or hot dog on a brioche bun, share a few items with friends, or order a full meal prepared with ingredients grown in the area.

For example, the restaurant serves Wagyu sirloin, which is the American version of the renowned Japanese Kobe beef known throughout the world for its quality. “We get it from Royalton Farms in Vermont. They are the only producer east of the Mississippi that breeds this beef. It’s very, very rare,” said Executive Chef Dave Schrier, adding that the farm also raises highly sought-after Berkshire and Mangalitsa pork.

Schrier loves all types of food, and although the menu is strongly influenced by Southern and American dishes, there are also items with a bold Asian influence, such as soba noodles and bok choy. “We don’t label ourselves farm to table, but 95% of what we use comes from local farms,” he said, adding that the menu changes frequently.

Wein said local ingredients, including fresh juices, are used in many of the cocktails, and herbs such as sumac and pepper are infused into vodka and other spirits.

“We give everything we do here a lot of thought. The Alvah Stone is not about me; it’s about the experience people have here and the team who serves guests from the moment they enter,” he said. “It’s also about the colors we use, the music we play, and the way tea is served. Every single detail, including every word on the menu, matters.”

To that end, even the menus are in distinct colors: black and white for the food and citron for the cocktail selection. New drinks are created frequently with names that reference the area’s history, such as the Machine, Scotch Shagger, Old to Alvah, and Gristmill Grog.

Fusion of Knowledge

Wein’s illustrious career has come full circle at the Alvah Stone. He chose to leave a high-profile position in New York City four years ago to move his family to Leverett, which is a six-minute drive from where he established Howard Wein Hospitality LLC in 2011.

Everything on the menu at the Alvah Stone is made at the restaurant, including the sausages, hot dogs, breads, hot pretzels, and pastries.

He met his wife, Jennifer, in 1993 when they were both students at Hampshire College, and after Wein graduated with a degree in culinary arts and business, he stayed in the area while she finished her studies. “I was cooking at Sienna Restaurant in South Deerfield and was also the executive director for food and beverage at Jacob’s Pillow,” he told BusinessWest.

But he wanted to own his own business, so he returned to school and earned an MBA from the Cornell University School of Hotel Administration, which launched him on an ambitious career path. “I took a job at the corporate office of Starwood Hotels and Resorts in White Plains, New York, and was responsible for 400 hotels doing $2 million of revenue in food and beverages alone,” he said.

His next stint was chief operating officer of Starr Restaurants in Philadelphia, where he grew the company from a $40 million operation with eight locations in the City of Brotherly Love to a $120 million business with 16 locations in three cities. “It was amazing, but it was also exhausting. I was working seven days and at least 120 hours every week,” he recalled.

Four years later, Wein took a job as senior vice president of restaurants, bars, and entertainment for the Morgan Hotel Group in New York City. He commuted back and forth from Philadelphia each day and traveled frequently, as the group has hotels in London, Las Vegas, New York, Miami, San Francisco, and Los Angeles.

But after his daughter was born, he and Jennifer decided it was time to move back to Western Mass., where they wanted to bring her up, so they left and bought a home in Leverett.

“My wife and I grow all of our produce and like being surrounded by an agricultural community,” Wein said. “This is a very liberal, intellectually-minded area, and people here are content with what they do and what they have.”

Shortly after, he opened Howard Wein Hospitality LLC, in the Montague Mill. He said the business has been very successful, with clients including Iron Chefs Geoffrey Zakarian and Scott Conant, who both regularly appear on the Food Network show Chopped.

But when the restaurant space next door became available, Wein was finally able to realize his dream of owning a restaurant business he cares deeply about.

Broad Audience

Wein is active in the community and serves on the Hampshire College board of directors. The institution was one of his clients before he became a board member, however, and he worked to connect the college’s food service with local farms.

As it has grown in popularity, the Alvah Stone expanded from a six- to seven-day operation. “This area is my home, and the restaurant is a big part of that. It’s an amazing place to work at every day, and we have built an amazing team and an amazing brand,” he said.

His statement is backed by positive reviews from both critics and patrons.

“This is a phenomenal place. It’s very calming and conducive to a fine dining experience,” said Nina Pollard from Hadley as she sat outside on a recent weekend and looked at the river rushing by.

Her dining companion agreed. “It’s a real retreat. The sights and sounds make it a moving oasis and work together to create a special ambience,” said Ann Kenny from Merrimack, N.H.

Wein is glad that people are enjoying his eatery and hopes it will grow and became a significant fixture in the Montague Mill’s history.

“We are trying to build something that will still be here in 50 years,” he said. “We are really committed to this, and everything we do is with a long-term vision in mind.”

Value Proposition

Banking and Financial Services Sections

Berkshire Bank Acquisition of Hampden Bank Becomes Official

Mike Daly says the affiliation of Berkshire Bank and Hampden Bank is a marriage of similar cultures.

Berkshire Bank’s acquisition of Hampden Bank, which closed in April, will position the Pittsfield-based institution as the fifth-largest bank in the region in deposit market share. But Michael Daly said it’s more than a growth opportunity; it’s a marriage of cultures.

“We’re careful in selecting partners; we don’t acquire just to do acquisitions,” said Daly, Berkshire Bank’s president and CEO. “We have a set of core competencies here, and we look to develop relationships with companies that have the same core competencies and beliefs. We want to determine whether or not we can, as partners, make a bigger impact with what we do.”

Earlier this year, Berkshire Hills Bancorp and Hampden Bancorp signed a definitive merger agreement under which Berkshire acquires Hampden in an all-stock transaction valued at approximately $109 million. The deal, which recently received all necessary regulatory approvals, increases Berkshire’s total assets to $7.1 billion, including the $706 million in acquired Hampden assets.

Daly said the in-market merger will create efficiencies while expanding Berkshire’s market share, particularly in the Springfield area. “It’s always easier when you partner with someone in a market where you already operate, where you already know the lay of the land and have some commonality with the customer base and commercial lenders; those things are always very important,” Daly told BusinessWest, adding that the merger complements the bank’s recent expansion initiatives in Central Massachusetts and Hartford.

“Our acquisition growth is a result, not a cause,” he added. “When we do well organizationally in communities where we have a presence, and the bank continues to do well, we become a viable partner with other companies all around New England and New York who are looking for a cultural fit like the one we provide. We continue to operate on a day-to-day basis and do the best we can in our communities, and when an opportunity to partner with somebody arises and the cultural fit is good, we’ll act on that.”

Making Change

Berkshire’s acquisition of Springfield-based Hampden Bank means that, for the first time in generations, no bank will be headquartered in the City of Homes. But Berkshire leaders say customers and the community will both benefit from the merger.

Specifically, Hampden operates 10 branches in the Greater Springfield area and reported $508 million in net loans and $490 million in deposits as of Sept. 30, 2014. Berkshire operates 11 branches with $627 million in deposits in the same market area. Three branches — 977 Boston Road, Springfield; Tower Square, Springfield; and 475 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow — will close due to overlapping footprints.

“We have increased our branch count in the area to 18, and that starts to become the type of density that you need in order to serve an area. Increasing the number of branches is important,” Daly said. “Yes, we will have some overlapping branches, and three branches will close. But taking care of employees is one of the most important, if not the most important, thing for us. So we’ve actually been able to ensure that 100% of the people in those branches will have jobs in the company.”

When the merger was announced last fall, Hampden had 126 employees, and Sean Gray, Berkshire Bank’s vice president of retail sales, told BusinessWest that the organization’s priority was to make sure they all kept their jobs or similar positions, citing the bank’s acquisition of Legacy Bancorp in 2010, when it was able to do the same with the vast majority of that institution’s employees.

“People like to find fault with a bigger company,” Daly said. “But that’s one of the benefits of a bigger company — we have a lot of opportunities.”

Meanwhile, he hopes Hampden customers see very little impact on their day-to-day interactions with the bank, both now and when new signage and branding starts to emerge next month.

“Hopefully, as we’ve seen in other successful partnerships, there will be a positive impact on customers. They will see little change in who they deal with; they’ll still see the same faces in the branches they visit,” he noted, adding that they will enjoy what amounts to their current set of services “on steroids.”

“We’ll be able to bring a significantly more diverse and broader product set than the one they had when dealing with Hampden, in areas like insurance, wealth management, mortgage products, and consumer loan programs,” he said. “The only impact on customers ought to be a positive one.”

Allie O’Rourke, Berkshire’s vice president of investor relations, told BusinessWest that conversions to expanded product offerings are ongoing. “We’re working to introduce new products and service offerings, and enhance the customer experience, even though most of the branding won’t happen until June.”

Daly added that, while Hampden has done a “great job” in the commercial-lending arena, larger loans have sometimes proven difficult. “This gives them an opportunity to play in a bigger space.”

Specifically, he added, “as we talk about our commercial presence in the area, we’re now the number-one SBA lender in Western Massachusetts. We continue to push that hard and provide opportunities in the Springfield area, where small-business lending is so critical.”

Helping small businesses grow, he went on, is important to a city on the rebound — and he believes Springfield is certainly that. “A lot of people don’t believe Springfield can come back to where it was at one point. I’m not one of those people. I believe it can, and I want to be a part of what’s happening. There are issues in the Springfield area, but if everyone pulls in the same direction, Springfield could become an economic hub again.”

Size and Scope

While recognizing the value of community banks in Western Mass., Daly also makes an argument for banks with size and reach — and believes Berkshire can be both.

“The industry will continue to see consolidation because smaller banks have a more difficult time dealing with the additional costs that have come to bear in order to stay in business,” he said, noting that regulatory oversight, and the resources necessary to meet new reporting mandates, have both grown significantly since the financial crisis of 2008.

But he also emphasized Berkshire’s civic role, noting that Berkshire, like Hampden, boasts a culture of community involvement through both donations — $269,852 since 2013 — and employee volunteerism. Ray Smith, Berkshire’s assistant vice president of marketing, said “decisions about which local organizations to support, through grants and sponsorships, will be made by local committtees.”

In addition, “Berkshire Bank pays its employees for two full days of volunteer work in the community,” O’Rourke said, a figure that totaled 50,000 volunteer hours last year alone. “Hampden Bank employees will have that now.”

It’s one more example, Daly said, of how the two organizations match in terms of values and culture.

“They are a company that cares very deeply about its employees, cares very deeply about the communities that they’re in. They do everything they can to provide a high level of customer service. Those things are attractive to us — they are things that we also concentrate on. They are right up our alley.

“People ask us whether our shareholders believe the deals we do are good deals,” Daly went on. “I always say, if we deal with companies that share the values we do, companies that make a commitment to the community, our shareholders always benefit. This is one of those deals, and we’re excited about it.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

On the Move

Banking and Financial Services Sections

Merchants Bank to Acquire NUVO Bank & Trust Co.

M. Dale Janes says customers won’t feel any impact when NUVO Bank & Trust becomes a subsidiary of Merchants Bank later this year — no negative impacts, anyway.

“From our point of view, this is an outstanding marriage, for us and Merchants,” Janes said of the agreement announced last week, in which Merchants plans to acquire Springfield-based NUVO for about $21.8 million in stock and cash, representing $7.15 per share.

“We’re a good bank; we’re growing, and we’re doing well,” said Janes, NUVO’s CEO, who will become regional president under the deal. “But Merchants has a wider array of products for businesses and consumers, like a trust division with investment-management options.

“But, most importantly, we’re a small-business, mid-market lender, and this allows us to bring more capital and more loans to the community, and approach larger businesses,” he told BusinessWest. “Our legal lending limit is $3 million, and our in-house limit is $2.5 million. Their comfort level is around $20 million. That’s a big, big difference for us. They’re a great-performing bank, and they’re really good folks who understand community banking, and they want to be in Springfield and Western Mass.”

NUVO, which launched eight years ago, focuses on providing business loans, deposits, and cash-management services to small and medium-sized businesses and individuals in Western Mass. On Dec. 31, 2014, NUVO reported approximately $153 million in assets, $139 million in loans, and $134 million in deposits. Merchants had approximately $1.7 billion in total assets as of Dec. 31, 2014.

“Merchants is a 166-year-old community bank, and NUVO is not quite that old,” Geoffrey Hesslink, Merchants’ president and CEO, told BusinessWest, with more than a bit of understatement. “But it’s a very similar business. It’s a commercially oriented business, and we were impressed with their track record, impressed with their management team, and what they’ve done over the past eight years, while going through a tough economic cycle.”

When leaders of Vermont-headquartered Merchants and NUVO’s leaders, including Janes and President and Chief Loan Officer Jeffrey Sattler, sat down to discuss a possible partnership, “it occurred to us that, by joining forces, we could make NUVO, this great bank, even better, and grow it even faster in its core commercial business, but also add some ancillary business,” Hesslink continued. “It was really a cultural fit, and the management expertise was a major attractor for us — and, of course, the Springfield market has a breadth and depth that appeals to us.”

Michael Tuttle, president and CEO of Merchants Bancshares, added that the market has witnessed a great deal of change recently, but he too is impressed with the NUVO team and the growth opportunity presented by the bank’s market. “We plan to invest in and grow the NUVO team and business. While operational areas will be combined, the value created in this merger will be more attributable to revenue growth than expense reduction.”

The agreement has been approved by both institutions’ boards of directors. The closing is anticipated to occur during the fourth quarter of 2015, subject to approval by NUVO shareholders, receipt of required regulatory approvals, and other customary closing conditions.

NUVO’s chairman, Donald Chase, is expected to join the board of directors of Merchants Bank. In addition, Merchants has entered into employment agreements with Janes and Sattler. NUVO will remain a distinct brand and operate as a division of Merchants Bank.

“There is tremendous opportunity in our market, and we believe that we can best capitalize on it by leveraging the liquidity, expanded lending limits, lower-cost deposit base, and broader product range of a strong partner like Merchants,” Chase said. “Additionally, Merchants’ publicly traded stock and dividends will be attractive to our shareholders. We have admired Merchants for some time, and getting to know their team better has reinforced the fact that we share common values and a similar operating philosophy.”

While Janes becomes regional president, Sattler will be managing director and remain the bank’s chief lender in the Greater Springfield market. “But neither of us is concerned about titles,” Janes told BusinessWest. “All we’re concerned about is being able to continue to grow at a better pace, and we’re excited about that.

“There aren’t any negatives for customers,” he reiterated. “The lending team is staying in place, the leadership team is staying, and almost all the employees will be here. This is not a slash-and-burn acquisition; this is about growth.”

— Joseph Bednar

Star Search

Employment Sections

United Personnel Engages in Professional Matchmaking

Jennifer Atwater says partnerships are at the foundation of United Personnel’s 30-year history of success.

“We don’t just put bodies in jobs; we do much more than that. We take a proactive role and partner with our customers so both they and our job seekers can meet their goals,” said the company’s vice president of operations. “Employers often tell us they need a candidate who can hit the ground running, while job candidates can be so anxious to find employment, they say they are willing to take whatever we have available.

“But it’s important for us to talk to the employer in depth to get to the bottom of what they really need,” she continued, noting that these meetings often reveal that the position the customer wants to fill entails responsibilities not included in the job title or description. “It’s also important for us to extrapolate a job candidate’s strengths from their résumé, pare them down, and make sure the work environment will be a good fit for their personality and what they want to do.”

In 1984, Mary Ellen Scott and her late husband, Jay Canavan, opened the job-placement agency in Hartford, under the moniker United Temporary Professional and Industrial Staffing. Five years later, they moved to Springfield, where they quickly were recognized for their ability to provide local companies with staffing and employment solutions. Today, the business operates in three locations — the others are in Easthampton and Pittsfield — and continues to be run by family members.

Although Jay is deceased and Mary Ellen has retired (she serves as chairman emerita of the board), their daughter Patricia is president, and daughter Andrea also sits on the board of directors.

The company’s professional job-matching service has led to a bevy of long-time and new clients who include sole proprietors that need someone part-time, manufacturers in need of temporary employees throughout the year, and businesses seeking to fill permanent positions. And United has done well despite the ebb and flow of the economy over the past three decades. Business is currently booming in its offices, which employ a total of 30 people.

“As the economy improves and things pick up, many of our customers find they need an extra pair of hands, but are not yet ready to commit to a full-time employee,” Atwater told BusinessWest, adding that, over the past year or two, the number of companies using United to fill full-time positions has risen. Overall, the company placed and paid 2,700 employees last year, and 303 were hired full-time by the businesses where they were placed.

She noted that many companies don’t have a job recruiter, and the responsibilities of advertising, sifting through résumés, and interviewing job candidates often interfere with efficient operations when added to a busy employee’s schedule.

“It can also be difficult for businesses that need temporary employees to keep pace with ever-changing employment laws,” she said, noting that United’s commitment to staying knowledgeable and keeping clients informed about changing legislation sets them apart from other job-placement agencies.

Atwater cited progressive discipline as an example, and said firing temporary employees is not as simple as it was years ago.

“The mentality toward temporary staffing has changed. In the past, if the employer didn’t like a temporary worker, they could demand that the agency find someone else. But today, more goes into the equation; we don’t want to run into a situation where an employee feels they have been treated unfairly,” she told BusinessWest, noting that United makes sure laws are followed to avoid accusations or lawsuits claiming discrimination.

Complex Formula

United Personnel has grown considerably since its early beginnings.

The agency opened a second office in Northampton in 1994, then moved to Easthampton when it outgrew its space there. However, that branch will soon move back to Northampton in a building the company purchased on Brewster Court to accommodate its increasing client load.

A third office also opened in Pittsfield three years ago after Canavan contacted area business owners and determined there was a need for their services in Berkshire County.

In addition to finding temporary workers for employers who need to fill a position for a pre-determined period of time, the agency also does ‘temp-to-hire’ placements in which they put people in temporary jobs that can lead to full-time positions.

“It gives the person a foot in the door so they can see what the climate of the company is like, and lets the employer assess the person’s skills and see whether they can fulfill the duties they need them to accomplish,” Atwater said.

United also provides direct hires, which range from administrative assistants to executive positions such as human resource managers, chief financial officers, and sales directors. “We do all the vetting and have a wide database of candidates to choose from,” she noted. “We advertise for the positions through our website, MassLive, and social media.”

However, after a preset, limited number of candidates are selected, the customer typically conducts its own interviews and makes the final determination as to who will get the job.

And United spends a considerable amount of time with each client before they search their database to find a qualified applicant. Atwater said company representatives visit customers and speak with them at length, as well as view the environment the new employee will be working in. “It’s important because not everyone wants to be in a cubicle or at a company with more than 20 people.”

The firm also delves deeply into what the employee will need to do on a daily basis. “Companies have called us saying they need someone to answer the phone, but when we meet with them, we discover the person also needs to be able to work with Excel and Outlook. We spend a long time at their business so we can fine-tune exactly what they are looking for,” she continued.

The selection process for job candidates begins when they fill out an application. After it is reviewed, they are contacted by phone, and if United feels they can help them find employment, an interview is scheduled at one of its branches to get more information about what the person does best, their job history, and what they are seeking.

“We also look for skills that are transferable because they may be able to transition into a new industry,” said Atwater. “For example, United has had great in-house success hiring people with sales backgrounds, as our jobs are fast-paced and customer-oriented.”

After a placement is made, United continues to solicit feedback from the customer to ensure things are going well, which can be especially important in manufacturing, where a diverse range of skills can be required.

Atwater said it’s reassuring for customers to know that United’s phones are manned 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to handle any problems that might arise. A staff member is available until 9 p.m., and after that, a live answering service takes over. If a temporary employee calls in sick, they are expected to call in and notify United as well as the firm they are working for.

Atwater added that it’s important for both the employer and employee to be happy. “If someone is going to spend eight to 12 hours a day in a position, they need to like what they are doing.”

Careful Screening

The partnerships United Personnel forms extend into the community. Indeed, its employees are actively involved in nonprofit organizations, and many serve as ambassadors at their local chambers of commerce or are members of Northampton Young Professionals or the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield.

“Every employee also has a professional-development plan which they draw up with their manager. It insures that they continue their training,” said Atwater, adding that it is critical for them to keep up with changes in employment law, such as the Right to Know Act for temporary workers, which was passed last year and requires employers to give industrial job candidates specifics in writing that include their rate of pay, work location, and job duties.

Canavan is active in at least 11 local nonprofits, and the combined efforts of her employees allow the agency to stay in tune with local workforce needs while networking and solidifying relationships.

The agency also supports organizations including Girls Inc., the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts, and the Berkshire Community Foundation, and has sponsored events and nonprofits including the Outlook Legislative Luncheon, Go Red for Women, Dakin Humane Society, Springfield Bright Nights, Dress for Success, DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Public Forum, and more.

Although the groups United Personnel works with have changed over the course of three decades, its services have always been in demand.

“When the economy is poor and our customers have to lay people off, they need temporary help because they still have to produce the same amount of product,” Atwater said.

Once the economy shifts into a higher gear, however, temporary employees may be able to transition into full-time jobs. “Our job is to work with customers, figure out their needs and provide them with the most qualified job candidates,” she continued. “We want everyone we serve to be happy.”

Which involves a very specialized type of matchmaking that requires knowledge and insight far beyond the skills listed on a résumé.

Meet the Judges

Features

Panel will decide for the Continued Excellence Award winner

Carol Campbell

Eric Gouvin

Kirk Smith

With nominations now being accepted for BusinessWest’s Contined Excellence Award, three judges — Carol Campbell, Eric Gouvin, and Kirk Smith — have been chosen to study the entries and determine an inaugural winner.

The new award, sponsored by Northwestern Mutual, is an offshoot of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty program, which recognizes young professionals for their career accomplishments and civic involvement. The Continued Excellence Award will be presented annually to one former 40 Under Forty honoree who, in the eyes of the judges, has most impressively continued and built upon the track record of accomplishment that earned them 40 Under Forty status.

The award will be presented at this year’s 40 Under Forty Gala on June 18 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. All 40 Under Forty winners from 2007 through 2014 are eligible. Nomination forms are available at businesswest.com and due by 5 p.m. on May 22.

For each application, the judges have been asked to consider how the candidate has built upon his or her success in business or service to a nonprofit; built upon his or her record of service within the community; become even more of a leader in Western Mass.; contributed to efforts to make this region an attractive place to live, work, and do business; and inspired others through his or her work.

The judges will first narrow the field of nominees to five candidates, who will be informed that they are finalists for the coveted honor — an accomplishment in itself. They will then choose a winner, the identity of whom will not be known to anyone but the judges until the night of the event.

The judges are:

• Carol Campbell, the founder, president, and CEO of Chicopee Industrial Contractors Inc. (CIC), an industrial contracting company established in 1992, specializing in providing quality services in plant relocation, machinery installations and riggers, millwrighting, and industrial construction.

Campbell serves on the boards of Associated Industries of Massachusetts, the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Health New England, Westmass Area Development Corp., and the Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts. In 2014, she was honored as Woman of the Year by the Professional Women’s Chamber, and in 2002, CIC was honored by the Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce as Business of the Year. She was a judge of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2009.

• Eric Gouvin, dean of the Western New England University School of Law. A faculty member since 1991, he teaches in the areas of corporate and commercial law. He has published numerous law-review articles, has taught and presented papers around the world, and is a co-author of the treatises Blumberg on Corporate Groups and The Law of Corporate Groups: Jurisdiction, Practice and Procedure.

Gouvin is the founder of both the law school’s Small Business Clinic and the university’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship. He has been involved in the Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Committee of the Economic Development Council of Western Massachusetts. He sits on the advisory board of the Entrepreneurial Initiative of the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation and on the Kauffman Foundation’s eLaw website editorial board. He served as a judge of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2011.

• Kirk Smith, president and CEO of the YMCA of Greater Springfield. Smith grew up in a single-parent home with seven siblings in the largest ghetto in Cincinnati, a community that was crime-, drug-, and alcohol-infested. To stay out of trouble, he played sports at the Boy’s Club. Today, he helps other young people stay out of trouble and achieve success.

In addition to his role at the YMCA, Smith is an ordained minister and motivational speaker. He has been featured on several national and local television shows and in news publications and magazines discussing YMCA work in urban communities and professional staff development. He served as a judge of BusinessWest’s 40 Under Forty Class of 2012.

Opinion

Sections

Embracing the New Science of Medicine

By JACK COCHRAN and CHARLES KENNEY

Is healthcare in the United States entering a big-chill era?

Is it losing its warmth and humanity? Patients and physicians worry that computer screens wall them off from one another, thus transforming the flesh-and-blood patient into a digital construct as data override empathy.

While this point of view is not entirely unfounded, we believe it is a potential obstacle to medical progress in the digital age. Our country is in the midst of an awkward transition from the industrial age of healthcare to the math-based information age. While the transition will continue to be disruptive, the end result is greater access, quality, equity, and, perhaps most urgently, affordability.

The current transition period will also lead to another breakthrough era when data, technology, and artificial intelligence — thanks to the growing importance of mathematics as a foundational element in the healing arts — will advance patient care to a new level.

It is clear — though perhaps counterintuitive — that data and technology are leading to more personalized care than ever, liberating physicians from non-doctor work while enabling them to focus on more complex patients. Surgeon and author Atul Gawande observed some years ago that technology, “oddly enough, may be holistic medicine’s best friend’’ as it frees physicians “to embrace the humanistic dimension of care.’’

The data/technology combination covers both ends of the spectrum: enabling more comprehensive care for large populations of patients with chronic conditions while simultaneously facilitating more personalized care to individual patients’ unique needs.

Managing populations of patients with a particular condition such as diabetes can improve quality and length of life. Population management is limited by its broad brushstroke application of similar approaches to all patients. Data now enable physicians to target the individual needs of each patient within a population.

A burgeoning number of technology companies — ranging from tiny startups in Silicon Valley to IBM and GE — promise to turbocharge this work. Omada Health in San Francisco exemplifies many technology companies that are helping clinicians manage chronic conditions among large populations of patients. Ingestible sensors from Proteus Digital Health in the U.S. and Britain allow uninterrupted monitoring of patients’ medication levels 24/7.

Watson, the IBM supercomputer, has been developed as a cognitive system with advanced textual, image-processing, and visual-reasoning abilities that is able to gather information from across an enterprise and identify important elements in the data to help clinicians make decisions more quickly and effectively. In less than three seconds, Watson sifts through 200 million pages of research and provides a response at the point of care. Watson processed nearly 700 pages of medical records and images for a cancer patient at Memorial Sloane Kettering and, within seconds, recommended a drug treatment drawn from a two-week old article in an Israeli medical journal — an article the physicians might never have heard about.

When we look broadly at the imprint of this mathematical age of medicine, we are exhilarated by the power of data leveraged by aggregation and analysis. We see routine use of big data for risk stratification, decision support, and shared decision making. We see mathematical modeling augmented by genomic information.

The current transition period is difficult, but the medical community will maneuver through its challenges — sometimes awkwardly — to a new era when data and technology will support better population and individual care than ever before.

Dr. Jack Cochran is executive director of the Permanente Federation. Charles Kenney is author of several books on healthcare innovation. Dr. Paul Grundy, global director of healthcare transformation at IBM, and Dr. John Merenich, medical director of clinical informatics at Kaiser Permanente Colorado, also contributed to this article.

Editorial

Opinion

The Focus Should Be on the Talent Pool

The authors of the recent 10-year update of the region’s Plan for Progress (see story, page 6) are right to put a hard focus on the region’s talent pool and the obvious need to make sure it is large and deep enough for businesses large and small to thrive in the years and decades to come.

The update, released by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission this week after more than 16 months of research and deliberations, lists a host of opportunities, challenges, and goals for the next decade, and improving the talent pool falls into all three categories.

It’s clearly a goal and certainly the most important one for this region moving forward. It’s an opportunity, because every state, every region, and every city will be facing the same burden over the next decade, and those which can tackle it successfully will have a huge competitive advantage over those who don’t. And those who fail to tackle it, well, they are going to be left behind.

And it is a stern challenge because the Baby Boomer generation is huge, and it will soon be leaving the workforce. In fact, many of its members have already departed. Replacing these individuals will be a stern test, not just with regard to sheer numbers, but also when it comes to the skill sets the next generation of workers must possess.

As we’ve noted on many occasions, members of previous generations could fairly easily earn a decent living and support a family without a college education and, quite often, even without a high school diploma. That will certainly not be the case moving forward.

But efforts to ensure a large, deep talent pool are not just about replacing retiring Baby Boomers — although that’s a big part of it. It’s about fueling the economic growth we anticipate that this region will experience over the next few decades, and, even more to the point, it’s about making sure that growth can occur.

As we’ve noted in recent months, there is in fact an entrepreneurial renaissance taking place in this region. Supported by groups like Valley Venture Mentors and inspired by the region’s colleges and universities, many young people are deciding that business ownership is an attractive career option.

The fledgling businesses and next-stage ventures now populating the Valley will need many things to succeed beyond a viable product or service. They’ll need capital, technical support, and mentoring to help ensure they don’t make the mistakes that derail so many new businesses.

But eventually, they’ll need talented employees. And without them, they won’t get very far.

There’s a theory that people will always go where the jobs are, and to a certain extent that’s true — Boston and Silicon Valley are perfect examples of this. But Greater Springfield is a very long way from being in that category.

Thus, this region most develop a workforce the hard way, by cultivating it. And as the updated Plan for Progress states, this must be a multi-pronged effort that includes everything from early childhood education (and making sure everyone has access to it) to introducing college students to career opportunities in this region in hopes that they will stay in this area code rather than start their career elsewhere.

Also, there must be targeted training programs such as those developed by the Training Workforce Options program to address needs within specific industries.

Getting this job done will not be easy, but for that reason, this matter of talent-pool development simply must have the region’s full attention.

The stakes are way too high, and failure simply is not an option. v

Community Spotlight: West Springfield

Community Spotlight Features

West Springfield Focuses on Memorial Avenue

Standard Plating on Main Street was devastated during the 2011 tornado, and Mayor Ed Sullivan says the city is working to clean up the property and market it.

West Springfield is a city on the move, Mayor Edward Sullivan says, and the Memorial Avenue corridor is exhibit A.

“We’re excited about the work that will be done and think there will be some great multi-purpose opportunities along the corridor,” he told BusinessWest. “It has needed work for years, and the redesign we’re planning will make it a pretty special place to own a business. It’s close to major highways, and the MGM casino in Springfield will increase traffic.”

Indeed, an increase in vehicular traffic is expected when the casino opens in Springfield’s South End, right across the Connecticut River, in 2017. While that’s not why the work is being undertaken, the casino has changed the scope of what will be needed, since pedestrian and bicycle travel are also expected to rise.

And one of the major projects is already underway. The rotary on the West Springfield side of Memorial Bridge, which contains two overpasses of Route 5 to the north and south, is being reconstructed by the state Department of Transportation under its Accelerated Bridge Program.

The rotary bridges were found to be structurally deficient several years ago (but still safe to drive on), and crews have been working since March to relocate major utility lines and perform other preliminary work. Phase 2 of the project will take place from May 29 to June 2, and officials anticipate the third phase will be completed over another long weekend, June 19-23.

“The bridges are being prefabricated offsite and will be handicapped-accessible. It’s important because some [pedestrians] have complained they can get on the bridge in Springfield but can’t get off it in West Springfield,” Sullivan said.

In fact, the project has been designed in accordance with the state’s Complete Streets program, with the goal of expanding mobility for all types of traffic, including pedestrians and bicyclists, while supporting a healthier environment and creating a stronger community.

Department of Public Works Director Robert Colson told BusinessWest that the state staged two public meetings in advance of the work, and its final design reflects concerns expressed by people who attended the sessions.

“MassDOT has taken the existing footprint of the rotary into account, and the new bridges will have protective curbing to delineate motorists from pedestrians and cyclists, very similar to what is on the Memorial Bridge,” said the mayor, adding that the sidewalks curving around the rotary will be eight to nine feet wide. “It’s important, especially during the Big E, because the fair generates a lot of foot traffic.”

The design includes flashing lights that pedestrians will be able to activate with the press of a button to alert motorists they will be crossing one of the junctions in the rotary that lead to Route 5, Memorial Drive, and Riverdale Street.

The rotary marks the gateway to the Memorial Avenue corridor from Springfield, while the gateway from Agawam lies at the other end of the roadway, and the entire 1.7-mile strip will be revamped. To meet that goal, the city signed a contract several weeks ago with Greenman-Pederson Inc. to create a design that will incorporate principles in the Complete Streets program. It will be paid for with $280,000 from the city’s capital-budget funding, which was set aside in previous years for the project, and $665,000 received from MGM as part of a compensation agreement to deal with the expected increase in traffic.

When the design for the corridor is finished, Sullivan said, the city will seek grant money from MassDOT and MassWorks to pay for work that will need to be done, which will include infrastructure improvements, such as new pavement and replacement of underground utility lines.

City officials hope they will be awarded funding for the project, but Sullivan said he met with the director and staff of MassWorks on April 15 and was told the grants are very competitive and they could not guarantee anything. However, Colson is cautiously optimistic that the project will be given a high-priority status.

“Normally, we would wait 10 years for a project of this magnitude to get on the list,” he said. “But we are very hopeful that the design by GPI will become a high priority because of the casino and the increase it will bring in traffic. We can’t just fix the pipes and pavement. We have to turn Memorial Avenue into a Complete Streets corridor; otherwise it could present a significant safety hazard.”

Sullivan explained that residents in the Merrick and Memorial neighborhoods in West Springfield will be closer to MGM than people in neighborhoods in Springfield, and those who get jobs at the gaming establishment may choose to walk to work, which would be an easy commute over the Memorial Bridge.

“Plus, the Big E is the number-one tourist attraction in New England, and the casino will be at the other end of the bridge,” he added. “There will be two main attractions at either end of Memorial Avenue, so we expect a real increase in pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular traffic.”

Continued Progress

Although Memorial Avenue is built out, Sullivan said it’s possible to “take old space, rehab it, and make it new, and West Springfield will serve as an example of how it can be done.”

To that end, the city is working with the owner of Standard Plating to clean up the property that was demolished by the 2011 tornado, take ownership of it, then market and sell the site.

The city received $750,000 from the Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery program to remove contamination at the brownfields site and raze the building, which sits on 964 Main St., within walking distance of the Memorial Avenue rotary.

“We’re in the process of studying the environmental hazards and coordinating efforts with the Department of Environmental Protection,” said Joe Laplante, director of Community Development. “We hope to have all of the work done by the end of the year and have a vacant lot available for development. It’s not only a good spot for a business, it’s an important part of the [Memorial Avenue] strip aesthetically as visitors come into West Springfield.”

Although the Memorial redesign has not begun, change is already occurring, and Sullivan believes infrastructure and aesthetic improvements will spur growth in the future. Footit Health Care Store is getting a facelift, and Fathers and Sons plans to demolish a number of its buildings and construct a new $3 million Audi showroom and service center along the thoroughfare.

Plans are also in place for the former St. Ann’s Church site that Colvest-West Springfield LLC purchased from the Diocese of Springfield. Sullivan said the developer hopes to build two retail storefronts and a bank with an ATM on the property, and its proposal has advanced through the site-planning review process and will be voted on during the second City Council meeting in May.

Special efforts are also being made to help new Americans in the Memorial-Merrick neighborhoods who want to start businesses, and SCORE of Western Massachusetts, which provides free services to entrepreneurs, has been working in conjunction with Tara Gehring, the city’s economic development coordinator and assistant planner, to facilitate their needs.

In addition, a collaborative effort is taking place between SCORE, the city, and Ascentria Care Alliance, which also provides services to help people who own or want to start small businesses. “We are working together to host a seminar on what it takes to open a business in West Springfield,” Sullivan explained. “We will guide participants through the permitting process required by the Health Department, Building Department, Planning Department, and License Commission so they know the steps they will need to take to obtain a certificate of occupancy and open the doors to a business. It will be an amazing event, and we will have interpreters to bridge language barriers.”

Meanwhile, the Community Development office and police substation recently moved into a 3,000-square-foot building at 389 Front St. that was purchased last year with $775,000 in Community Block Grant funds. The offices had been housed in rented space on Front Street, and the new location will double their space. “We are thrilled about our new home. It’s right next door to Alice Corson Playground, which is the only full-fledged playground in the neighborhood, and since it’s twice the size of our old facility, it’s a perfect place to share with the community,” Laplante said.

The building, which most recently served as a daycare facility for Sunshine Village, had been vacant for several years, and the owner approached the city when he was ready to sell it. “We thought it was a really good match for what we needed,” Laplante added.

The Parks and Recreation Department will have a satellite office and community room in the back of the building, and the community policing station will face the playground. The mayor said the interior has been completely renovated, thanks in part to in-kind donations from Home Depot. The city also plans to install new sidewalks and conduct targeted rehabilitation work on lower-income housing in the neighborhood.

Other renewal ideas will come to fruition in the second phase of the Merrick-Memorial Avenue Study, completed last year by the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and reviewed by the Redevelopment Authority. It will serve as the master plan for Memorial Avenue, with suggestions including the enhancement of the River Street area by redeveloping the empty lot that formerly housed the Medallion Motel.

“The idea is to build a professional building there,” the mayor said, noting that the study proposes construction of a mixed-used structure with retail shops on the first floor and office space or apartments on the second floor that could help fill the need for multi-family housing in the city.

Bright Outlook

The MGM casino will not be completed for several years, but officials believe it will benefit businesses on Memorial Avenue. However, the city is determined to maintain the quality of life in neighborhoods that will be in close proximity to the gaming establishment. To that end, an overlay district was approved last July that prohibits the establishment of a wide range of businesses, including adult book stores, adult clubs that display live nudity, adult motion-picture theaters, check-cashing and pawn shops, hourly-rental hotels, and similar operations.

“It’s important to maintain and improve the quality of life for our residents and keep unwanted businesses out,” Sullivan said, noting that the district is bordered by the Westfield River to the west and south, the Agawam town line to the southeast, the Connecticut River to the east, and Park Street and Park Avenue to the north.

Plans are also being made to improve other areas of the city, and the state Interagency Permitting Board recently voted to accept portions of Front Street as a “priority development site,” including the former Southworth Paper Co. mill. Consultants have suggested using the main building, which contains most of the available space, for mixed-use development, and officials say having that area of Front Street designated as a priority development site will increase the likelihood of obtaining grant money and guarantee local permitting within 180 days, along with help from the state in marketing the site.

Sullivan said efforts are also being made to streamline the city’s permitting process via software that will allow people to do business online. “It will be in place by the end of the year, and we plan to open a kiosk in Town Hall where people can fill out applications for large projects and pay with a credit card.”

In addition, the Morgan Sullivan Bridge, which spans the Westfield River and leads from West Springfield into Agawam, is slated for reconstruction in 2017 and will also be redesigned according to the Complete Streets program.

“The projects we have planned are big and will take a few years to finish, but we are anticipating change,” the mayor said. “The potential is unlimited, and as we move forward into the 21st century, we believe Memorial Avenue will become even more vibrant than it is today.”

West Springfield at a glance

Year Incorporated: 1774
Population: 28,391
Area: 17.5 square miles 
County: Hampden
Residential Tax Rate: $16.99
Commercial Tax Rate: $33.19
Median Household Income: $54,434
Family Household Income: $63,940
Type of Government: Mayor, City Council
largest employers: Home Depot; Interim Health Care; Mercy Home Care; Northeast Utilities

* Latest information available

On The Menu

A region-by-region look at dining options in Western Mass.

Click HERE to download the PDF list

Compelling Viewpoints

Smith College Conference Center Offers a Slice of Paradise

Addie MacDonald was offering a quick tour of the Smith College Conference Center.

He started in the front lobby and quickly moved on to the main meeting room, ticking off its various amenities — including a host of seating possibilities, state-of-the-art audio-visual systems, ample parking, and a slew of catering options — as he walked.

“And then … there’s that,” he said, gesturing out the huge windows covering one side of room.

‘That,’ of course, is Paradise Pond and the many views of it and the surrounding grounds that are perhaps the best selling point of this relatively new entry into the highly competitive local market for meetings and conventions.

Intriguing even in winter, the pond area is exceptionally beautiful in the spring and fall, said MacDonald, manager of the conference center, adding that the views — from the Paradise Room, as that aforementioned main meeting facility is called, to the deck nearby and many of the other rooms in this complex — certainly help explain why this facility has become an attractive option for groups of several sizes since it opened to the public only four years ago.

But there is more to this venue than what’s visible out the windows, or experienced up close if one chooses to venture outside during a break in the proceedings in question — which almost everyone does, said MacDonald.

There’s the location — downtown Northampton and, more specifically, the Smith campus, which boasts everything from century-old buildings to its famous botanical garden (designed by the firm headed by Frederick Law Olmstead, who also conceptualized Central Park), to the pond and its waterfall — which is something decidedly different among meeting venues. There are also the many catering options available, said MacDonald, adding that the facility’s kitchens have been used by many of the city’s renowned restaurants to prepare meals for clients.

Addie MacDonald says the Smith College Conference Center is off to a good start because of its mix of scenery and amenities.

Addie MacDonald says the Smith College Conference Center is off to a good start because of its mix of scenery and amenities.
[/caption]Until very recently, these views and amenities could be enjoyed only by Smith faculty and invited guests. Indeed, the conference center, or at least the main building in the complex, was once the Faculty Club and then the College Club, said MacDonald, meaning it was open only to faculty and staff and was, as he put it, the “social epicenter for the academic mission of Smith.”

“For years, there is where faculty would come to wine and dine and entertain lecturers who would come from out of town, or interview potential candidates,” he explained, adding that the conference center is comprised of two buildings — the 1950s-era former Faculty Club, and a century-old building eventually acquired by the college that was believed to be the home of a buggy-whip manufacturing facility. “And this was ultimately a place where they could freely speak, exchange ideas, develop coursework, and invite other professors from local colleges.

“Over the years, it became more and more popular, and the college decided to open it up to the Northampton general public — and then well beyond,” he continued.

Mostly through word-of-mouth referrals, it quickly became the site for a wide array of functions — from weddings to corporate retreats; from holiday parties to meetings of the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

“They do retreats, and once or twice a year they might meet here to discuss policy — I think they like looking at our pond because they can identify the various ducks that are coming and going from there,” MacDonald joked, referencing the fish and wildlife agency.

He told BusinessWest that Smith has become more aggressive in its marketing of the conference center in recent months, and it can certainly no longer be considered a hidden gem or best-kept secret.

It now stages more than 25 weddings a year, and the calendar, especially for those warmer months, fills up quickly.

“In many respects, this is like a classic startup business with a great infrastructure behind it,” he said of the venture. “And it’s gone well — we’ve picked up business even faster than we anticipated; the location has really attracted a number of people.”

For this issue and its focus on meetings and conventions, BusinessWest takes in the views at the Smith College Conference Center and examines why it has quickly become a venue of choice for many different types of groups.

Setting the Stage

MacDonald brings an intriguing background to his role as manager of the conference center.

Indeed, the Vermont native eventually settled in New York City, where he worked for years for the Directors Guild of America, handling a number of screenings and movie premieres in Gotham.

“It was the classic New York job in many ways — a lot of late nights and meeting many interesting people,” he explained, adding that there were several factors that motivated him to come back to New England and get this startup successfully off the ground.

The deck, with its views of Paradise Pond and the many forms of wildlife that inhabit it, has become a popular spot at the Smith College Conference Center.

“New England is in my blood, and my wife and I really knew that we wanted to find a place to settle down and find a community,” he explained. “We found all that in Northampton and Smith.”

But there are still quite a few of those late nights that he was in many ways hoping to leave behind, he went on, adding quickly that this is a good thing because it’s a clear sign that the conference center is off to a strong start in its bid to become a player in the region’s meeting and conventions market.

“We hit the ground running, because part of my charge here was to bring in new business, and people from Northampton and beyond, across Western Massachusetts, have always been eager to come to campus, utilize our facilities, and take advantage of the many resources we have here — and, quite frankly, impress their clients, because the view and this location are unparalleled.”

As MacDonald mentioned, the conference center, which was given a facelift in early 2014 — one that opened up the lobby area and gave it a new façade — is more than one room with a great view. Offering a more elaborate tour, he and Merrilyn Lewis, associate director of the Events Management Office at Smith, stopped at a number of smaller rooms that are appropriate for a number of different types of events.

There’s the Oak Room, which can accommodate 75 for a reception, 100 for theater-style seating, and 55 for a seated dinner. There’s the adjacent lounge, which can host 50 for a reception, said Lewis, adding that clients can book both rooms for a slightly larger event.

There’s also the so-called Directors Room, which can seat 15 for meetings, and Meeting Rooms B and C, which can accommodate six and 15 people, respectively. Meanwhile, the lobby and adjoining deck, which can accommodate 75 for a reception, has become a popular alternative, in part because it brings guests even closer to the beautiful surroundings and allows more of the senses to get some exercise.

“Everyone likes it out here, and it’s part of the attraction; not many venues have an outdoor location that’s this convenient,” said MacDonald as he stepped onto the deck, noting that various forms of wildlife often come into view, including some otters that recently established residence nearby and have put on some good shows for guests.

Addie MacDonald says the conference center at Smith is much more than a room with a view.

The venue is a natural for weddings because of the facilities and surroundings, said MacDonald, adding that the center has booked several, some involving individuals, especially students, who have connections to Smith, but also many others who don’t.

And already, a number of businesses, nonprofit groups, and even government agencies have discovered the conference center, said Lewis, noting that Yankee Candle, headquartered in nearby Deerfield, has hosted a number of events there, as has Baystate Health, the Northampton School District, United Way of Hampshire County, and others. Some of those groups are based a few blocks or a few miles from the campus, but many others are headquartered in Springfield and points further south and east.

“Sometimes, when you’re staging a company retreat, it’s nice to hold it away from the office in a completely different setting, which frees up thinking,” Lewis explained. “And that sentiment has brought a lot of people here.”

And while the spring, summer, and early fall are easily the busiest months, the center books a number of corporate outings and annual meetings in the winter, and the venue has hosted a number of smaller holiday parties as well.

View to the Future

Looking ahead, the conference center’s obvious goal is to add more events to its calendar, said MacDonald, who told BusinessWest that he expects this will happen as more individuals and groups come to the facility for the first time.

This will lead to more word-of-mouth referrals, he noted, as well as repeat business — and there has already been a good amount of that.

“We’ve been very fortunate to have a number of repeat clients because of the convenience, location, and simplicity of it all,” he said, adding that a number of businesses and nonprofits have returned several times.

They obviously liked what they saw — both literally and figuratively.

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

A Meaty Subject

Entrepreneur Resurrects Chicopee’s Fabled Kielbasa Festival

In the event’s revitalized form — as it was in the ’70s and ’80s — kielbasa is king at the K-Fest.

Rich Kos says it was sometime in the early ’80s; he doesn’t remember the specific year.

What he does remember is meeting the professional wrestler Ivan Putski — known then, and probably still, as the “Polish Power” and “Polish Hammer” — as he made the rounds during Chicopee’s annual Kielbasa Festival.

“He was quite the hit as he walked around the grounds — kids, and grown-ups, kept running up to him,” said Kos, who was city solicitor then, and is now in his second go-around as mayor. “That’s just one of many memories I have from the old days.”

Seemingly everyone from Chicopee has a mental photo album crammed with snapshots from the festival and those ‘old days,’ meaning the ’70s and ’80s, when the K-Fest, as it was called, would draw north of 80,000 people to the rear parking lot of the old Fairfield Mall for its annual four-day run in September.

License plates from states half a continent away would dot the parking lot, and national and even international acts, including some of polka’s greatest legends, would entertain the throngs. There were rides, attractions, and the ‘world’s largest kielbasa’ contest, with the winner weighing in at several hundred pounds.

Alas, the old days eventually became solely the stuff of memories, as the K-Fest succumbed to many ills (more on all that later) in the mid-’90s and was discontinued.

And it might have remained a part of the city’s past if Tom Kielbania Jr. didn’t set about to create some new old days more than 18 months ago.

That’s when this serial entrepreneur of sorts — he’s been involved with everything from music (as drummer for the ’80s dance band Orange Crush) to real estate — decided the K-Fest could be revived, and it could succeed as a for-profit venture, even if there was no shortage of people telling him that was flawed thinking.

“There were a lot of doubters — some people told me I was crazy,” he told BusinessWest as he recalled how he brought back the festival roughly a year ago at Szot Park. He believes more than 16,000 attended that rain-bothered event, which did well enough in his estimation to convince him that he had made the right decision.

Year two of the ‘new’ Kielbasa Festival is set for Memorial Day weekend. Kielbania is expecting perhaps 40,000 people if the weather cooperates. They’ll be treated to a wide array of entertainment, including a host of polka banks and, yes, Orange Crush. There will be a wide assortment of kielbasa, Polish food, barbecue, and other menu options, as well as rides and other attractions.

“This will be a family event, like it was all those years ago,” he said, adding that now, as it was then, the K-fest will be a celebration of Chicopee as much as it is a celebration of Polish food and traditions.

For this issue, BusinessWest talked at length with Kielbania about why and how he resurrected this event once synonymous with Chicopee, and with others about what it all means for this community.

Spicing Things Up

The ‘new’ Kielbasa Festival, or K-Fest, as it’s called locally, drew solid crowds its first year, despite some inclement weather.

Steve Jendrysik is considered Chicopee’s unofficial historian. Thus, the retired social-studies supervisor at Chicopee Comprehensive High School can easily recite the life and times of the K-Fest, and has done so in many ways, including a regular column on Chicopee history he has written for the Republican since 1998 and as a major contributor to several of the Arcadia Publishing books on the city.

He told BusinessWest that, ironically, the festival was started not by a member of the city’s large Polish population, but rather by an Irishman, Neil O’Leary.

He owned a dry-cleaning business down the street from the main entrance to Westover Air Reserve Base, said Jendrysik, adding that it was O’Leary’s idea to create a community event centered around what was arguably Chicopee’s signature product. There were several shops producing kielbasa at that time, including Chicopee Provision Co., makers of the Blue Seal label for more than a century.

He pitched the idea to the Chamber of Commerce, and it eventually became the purview of that agency’s fund-raising arms, known as the Fireball Club (a men’s group) and the Super Cs (for women).

“This was a product of that era — in the ’70s, festivals were very big,” said Jendrysik, citing Wilbraham’s Peach Festival and the myriad ‘Tastes’ that became popular in the ’80s as other examples.

The festival started small, as a larger version of an event run by St. Stanislaus’ parish, he said, but eventually gained momentum — and much larger crowds — through the participation of big-name polka bands from around the country — including Jimmy Sturr’s Orchestra, Lenny Gomulka and the Chicago Push, and others.

The K-Fest, staged the week before the Big E and often featuring many of the same rides and attractions as the fair, enjoyed a mostly healthy 20-year-run, said Jendrysik, adding that there were several factors that eventually led to its demise in 1994.

Chief among them was simply fatigue on the part of organizers, he noted, adding that this was a volunteer-led effort, and there was quite a workload. But rising insurance costs also played a part, as did a lawsuit (one that threatened to push those rates considerably higher) stemming from an altercation during the festival and near one of its parking areas.

Over the ensuing years, there were some minor efforts to resuscitate the festival and some much smaller events launched in its wake, including something known as the Festiv-All. But there were seemingly too many obstacles standing in the way of a comeback.

Enter Kielbania, who by that time was looking for a new, additional outlet for his considerable entrepreneurial energy.

Orange Crush, which started performing as an R.E.M. tribute band in 1996, was and still is immensely popular — it has played at more than 250 colleges and in more than 20 states, and a few years ago it released an original album — but music is a difficult business and, in this case, not as lucrative as it once was.

Tom Kielbania says the K-Fest has a great legacy in Chicopee, and he fully expects that the event will return to its past glory.

A Chicopee native, Kielbana knew of the K-Fest’s history and success decades ago, and began talking with friends and people in the promotions business about turning back the clock, figuratively speaking.

As he mentioned, the idea met with skepticism from those who knew of the event, its rise and fall, and with question marks from those who understood none of the above.

“My wife is from Northfield,” he noted. “When I got the rights to the festival, I was ecstatic — I knew about all the possibilities; I knew what it could be as a business — but she didn’t get it, because she didn’t know the history.”

Music to His Ears

After several long and quite stressful months of planning — Kielbania says he lost 30 pounds while putting it all together — the inaugural version of the reinvented festival was staged the week before Memorial Day to avoid the considerable competition that dominates the summer weekends.

Attendance was roughly 12,000 paid — young children are admitted free, he said, adding that the four-day festival itself was profitable, and the year-round venture as a whole broke even, a solid performance for events of this kind.

“For a new event, usually it takes five years to become profitable,” he said. “The fact that my event was profitable in the first year … no one expected that; all my promoter friends told me I was going to lose or, at best, break even. We did way better than break even.”

He’s taken that first year’s success and the momentum it generated to create a show for 2015 that will be bigger in every respect, in large part because that first year convinced people that Kielbania was serious and, more importantly, capable of pulling off an event worthy of its name.

“I had a lot of people who didn’t think it was going to happen, and I had a lot of people who didn’t think this was going to work, because they remember the old days,” he said, adding that many didn’t believe he could properly honor the event’s legacy. “They didn’t realize that there’s new blood in the mix. We’re a different generation; we get things done, and we can get it done.”

That first year’s performance has also led to more support from some of the players in the business community — an outcome resulting in part from Kielbania’s efforts to convince business owners that, despite the event’s for-profit nature, it gives back to the community.

“This year, I’m hoping to put $20,000 back into the schools’ coffers, to the PTOs, and several nonprofits,” he said, adding that, as in those often-mentioned old days, those groups are involved with the operation of the event.

“I’m not trying to push the event or stress why people should go to it,” he said in reference to his formal and informal marketing efforts. “Instead, I’m focused on how we can benefit the city and how we can get the city to help run it, using the nonprofit organizations.”

Chicopee Savings Bank is one of those businesses that has stepped up to sponsor the event. Its president, Bill Wagner, remembers the old days, and believes Kielbania has shown that he can potentially replicate them.

“It rained for two days last year, and they still had a lot of people there — I was surprised at how well they did,” Wagner said, adding that the bank has gone to a higher sponsorship level this year. “I never thought he’d make it work, but he did, and you’ve got to give credit where credit’s due.”

Kos, who regained the corner office a few months before the 2014 event, agreed. He said Kielbania talked with him about his plans and impressed him with his resolve.

“We talked about how this was quite an endeavor, and he said he was up for it,” the mayor recalled. “He showed that he was.”

Ivan Putski will not be making an appearance at this year’s K-Fest, but there will be plenty of star power in other forms. The entertainment list includes a host of polka bands, including the Chardon Polka Band from Ohio and the Chris & Ronnie Polka Band from New Jersey, as well as many other acts, from A Ray of Elvis to a slew of tribute bands.

Meanwhile, Kielbania says he’s addressed the three main complaints from last year — lack of a dance floor, a shortage of Polish food, and not enough options when it came to kielbasa — and especially that last one.

“I have my own ‘Tour of Kielbasa’ tent, where I’m bringing in different kielbasas from Poland, Chicago, Minnesota, New Jersey, New York, and lots of local guys,” he told BusinessWest. “I’m making it a kielbasa festival — I’m celebrating kielbasa.”

Food for Thought

Looking down the road, and not far down, Kielbania expects to take this business — meaning the staging of festivals and like events — to the next level.

He’s talking with a potential partner and is already mulling options for more events in Chicopee and well beyond, including a Kielbasa festival in the Berkshires and maybe another on the Cape.

At the moment, though, most of his energy is focused on bringing an end, or at least a sharp reduction, to talk about the old days and heightening attention on the present day.

And he’s already well on his way to doing just that.

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

Marcotte Ford Breaks Ground on $3.5M Commercial Truck Center

HOLYOKE — Marcotte Ford will celebrate the groundbreaking of its new commercial truck-repair facility on Monday, May 11 at 11 a.m.

Marcotte Ford acquired the property at 933 Main St. in the fall of 2014 and will construct a 16-bay, state-of-the-art truck-repair facility to accommodate the service and repair of all light, medium, and heavy-duty trucks. This project will add six to 10 new jobs in Holyoke.

“We believe in the Ford tradition of quality and service and want to deliver the best in product and service to our customers,” said Michael Marcotte, president of Marcotte Ford Sales. “We feel that this is an ideal time for a new commercial repair facility in light of the strong business momentum in the industry.”

Marcotte Ford a third-generation Ford franchise that gives back to the local community through involvement with the Holyoke Boys & Girls Club, Kate’s Kitchen, and Margaret’s Pantry, as well as the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.

The new commercial building is located adjacent to Marcotte Ford at 933 Main St. and is scheduled to open this fall.

Attorney General Maura Healey to Keynote Women’s Fund Event

EASTHAMPTON — The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts (WFWM) will host “Women Lead Change: A Celebration of the Leadership Institute for Political and Public Impact (LIPPI) Class of 2015” at the Log Cabin in Holyoke on Thursday, May 28 from 6 to 8 p.m.

More than 200 participants are expected to attend, including local and state elected officials. The keynote speaker is Attorney General Maura Healey, who began her term in January. She has led groundbreaking cases for civil rights, fair lending and housing, and litigation supporting access to reproductive health care for women. The Women’s Fund will honor her achievements with a “She Changes the World” award at the event.

Holyoke Mayor Alex Morse will welcome guests, and Emily McLaughlin, deputy director of the Massachusetts Treasury’s department on Economic Empowerment, will also give remarks. The event is open to the public. Tickets are $50 and can be purchased online until Sunday, May 24 at www.womensfund.net.

“We are thrilled to host our distinguished speakers as we welcome 38 highly qualified women into our LIPPI ranks,” said WFWM CEO Elizabeth Barajas-Román. “Our LIPPI program has trained more than 200 women in Western Massachusetts to run for elected office, 20% of whom have run their first race, with a 60% success rate. We know LIPPI women run, and LIPPI women win.”

LIPPI is a 10-month program, the only one of its kind in Massachusetts, designed to respond to the shortage of women stepping into leadership at all levels. Focusing on areas such as public speaking, community organizing, the legislative process and policy making, fund-raising and campaigning, collaborative and cooperative working models, and board service, LIPPI gives women the tools and confidence they need to become more involved as civic leaders in their communities and to impact policy on the local, state, and national levels.

Representing 40% women of color, LIPPI graduates comprise a wide spectrum of backgrounds, ethnic groups, and ages. They also represent all four Western Mass. counties, and their achievements range from running for office to managing campaigns; from fund-raising for female candidates to entering the Yale Women’s Campaign School. Two graduates are currently running for mayor in Pittsfield and Greenfield. Together, graduates form a strong cohort of like-minded women who support each other when they run for office, meet with policy makers, form coalitions, and conduct get-out-the-vote efforts.

The Women’s Fund of Western Massachusetts is a public foundation that invests in local women and girls through strategic grant making and leadership development. Since 1997, the Women’s Fund has awarded more than $2 million in grants to nearly 100 organizations in Western Mass.

Steve Wozniak, Steve Vinter Visit Tech Foundry

SPRINGFIELD — Tech Foundry was recently visited by two luminaries in the tech world. Steve Vinter, director of Google Cambridge, toured the facility on Thursday, and Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak stopped by before his sold-out event at the MassMutual Center.

Founded by Paragus Strategic IT CEO Delcie Bean, Tech Foundry is a nonprofit education and job-placement program for high-school students looking to work in the world of information technology.

“It’s very inspiring for our students to have up-close access to individuals who’ve been so wildly successful in this field,” Bean said. “It drives home the message we’re trying to send that anything is possible. It also speaks to the commitment of Mr. Vinter and Mr. Wozniak and their passion for the next generation of IT innovators.”

Tech Foundry aims to create a homegrown workforce for the many area businesses looking for tech professionals. Upon completing the program and graduating high school, the goal is to place students in an entry-level IT job in the $30,000-$40,000 range.

In the long term, Tech Foundry aims to turn Western Mass. into a technology hub, attracting companies such as Amazon and Google to open satellite offices the area.

EANE, FIT Staffing Launch New IT Roundtable Series May 19

AGAWAM — The Employers Association of the NorthEast (EANE) and FIT Staffing are partnering to offer a new IT Roundtable Series. The first event will take place on Tuesday, May 19 at 8:30 a.m. at the EANE offices in Agawam, and will feature an interactive discussion on the top trends and issues facing CIOs and IT managers in today’s changing business climate.

Topics like information security, big-data management, and BYOD (bring your own device) are posing critical challenges for businesses across a wide array of industries. IT leaders from regional businesses are welcome attend and bring their unique challenges to the group for discussion about best practices and solutions. For more information, contact Allison Ebner at FIT Staffing at [email protected] or (413) 355-5125.

Picture This

Departments Picture This

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

Entrepreneurial Spirit

From top to bottom: Laura Whiteley, a Holyoke Community College student, took first place at the elevator-pitch competition at the annual awards ceremony and banquet for the Harold Grinspoon Charitable Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, held at the Log Cabin in Holyoke. She pitched the Scorpion, a small wallet with the ability to protect itself with thumbprint recognition and tracking capabilities. The evening also honored 75 area college students for launching businesses or well-developed business concepts, such as UMass Amherst student Erun Fernando with U-Pro Test Prep, and Amherst College students Sarah Jordan, Meghan McDonough, and Khalil Flemming with Pioneer Creative Filmmaking; Grinspoon (third from left) recognizes the work of Bay Path University student entrepreneurs and their adviser; Lauren Way (second from right), with Entrepreneurial Spirit Awards; Aaron St. John, CEO of HitPoint Studios, delivered the night’s keynote address.

Court Dockets

Court Dockets Departments

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

FRANKLIN SUPERIOR COURT
Christian Antunes v. City of Greenfield
Allegation: Plaintiff’s home was flooded with sewage backflow when town employees attempted to repair a main sewer line: $48,179
Filed: 3/11/15

Multimedia Center Inc. v. Lange Chiropractic Inc. and Kimberly Lange
Allegation: Non-payment of promissory note: $58,000
Filed: 2/25/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT
Cosale Inc. v. NiSource Inc. and Baystate Gas Co. d/b/a Columbia Gas of MA
Allegation: Employees of Columbia negligently ruptured a pipe causing a massive explosion, property damage, and lost revenue: $301,066.59
Filed: 3/13/15

PALMER DISTRICT COURT
Jordan Quitero v. Boston Road Auto Mall and Platte River Insurance Co.
Allegation: Breach of contract and odometer fraud: $12,650
Filed: 3/25/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT
Security Credit Services, LLC v. Silks Auto Service Inc.
Allegation: Non-payment on business credit account: $58,063.19
Filed: 3/20/15

Tamaro Ako-Brew v. Graham’s Package Store Inc. and 1655 Main St., LLC
Allegation: Negligent maintenance of property causing slip and fall: $1,634
Filed: 3/19/15

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

ASHFIELD

57 Bronson Ave.
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $135,800
Buyer: Eleanor Dodson
Seller: Peter H. Wiitanen
Date: 03/31/15

1601 West Road
Ashfield, MA 01330
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Robert J. Wigmore
Seller: Steven R. Greenberg
Date: 03/31/15

BERNARDSTON

10 Gill Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Donald S. Fraser
Seller: Dylan F. James
Date: 04/01/15

16 Shaw Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Valerie K. Deane
Seller: Galen A. Stearns
Date: 03/30/15

25 Shedd Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Lorena R. Norwood
Seller: Florence Savings Bank
Date: 03/27/15

BUCKLAND

45 Conway St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $1,300,000
Buyer: John Madocks
Seller: Lamson & Goodnow Manufacturing Co.
Date: 03/25/15

CONWAY

151 South Deerfield Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Alan E. Greenfield
Seller: Ellen D. Zanetti
Date: 03/30/15

173 Whately Road
Conway, MA 01341
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Emmet P. Drische
Seller: Diane Poland
Date: 04/01/15

470 Wilder Hill Road
Conway, MA 01370
Amount: $208,702
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Rebecca E. Snow
Date: 03/26/15

DEERFIELD

7 Memorial St.
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $1,150,000
Buyer: Freccia LLC
Seller: Linda C. McInerney
Date: 03/23/15

ERVING

8 West High St.
Erving, MA 01344
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Jagla
Seller: Michael A. Letourneau
Date: 03/27/15

GREENFIELD

43 Freeman Dr.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Arthur J. Hannan
Seller: John D. Bergeron
Date: 03/26/15

20 Hancock Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $210,587
Buyer: Wilmington TR
Seller: Andrew W. Candler
Date: 03/30/15

59 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $296,000
Buyer: Roy J. Balaconis
Seller: Stacy, Marilyn, (Estate)
Date: 03/25/15

102 Highland Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: Christopher M. McInerney
Seller: Diane D. Peterson
Date: 03/23/15

38 Shattuck St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Amanda S. Abramson
Seller: Peter Szemere
Date: 03/31/15

194 Wells St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Hassan A. Peters
Seller: Wilk, Richard P., (Estate)
Date: 03/31/15

65 Wildwood Ave.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: James R. Lord
Seller: Lawrence E. Diluzio
Date: 04/01/15

MONTAGUE

48 Broadway
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Maureen B. Mooney
Seller: Barbara E. Turner-Delisle
Date: 03/27/15

9 Chestnut St.
Montague, MA 01351
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Thomas J. Smith
Seller: Turners Falls RT
Date: 04/01/15

NORTHFIELD

42 Ashuelot Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Owen B. Davidson
Seller: Jane Southworth
Date: 03/23/15

46 Warwick Road
Northfield, MA 01360
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Laura H. Fries
Seller: Wayne A. Decatur
Date: 03/26/15

ORANGE

36 Rogers Ave.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jane Whelton-Wallace
Seller: Kimball, Marilyn H., (Estate)
Date: 03/30/15

218 South Main St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $132,673
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Peter Parker
Date: 03/23/15

SHELBURNE

106-108 Bridge St.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Melanie C. Dreher
Seller: FHLM
Date: 04/03/15

Memorial Dr.
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: T&T Property LLC
Seller: J. Gaulin Properties LLC
Date: 04/02/15

WARWICK

65 Royalston Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Seth D. Wright
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/27/15

WHATELY

25 Grey Oak Lane
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Oliver G. Rich
Seller: Scapes Builders & Excavation
Date: 03/31/15

239 State Road
Whately, MA 01373
Amount: $254,000
Buyer: Jordan M. Bean
Seller: John H. Zieminski
Date: 03/31/15

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

24 Broz Terrace
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $158,000
Buyer: Paul F. Broz
Seller: Eleanor G. Broz
Date: 03/24/15

17 Liswell Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $360,045
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Jennifer M. Hall-Cotto
Date: 04/01/15

201 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Jeremy S. Abrahamson
Seller: James E. Scliopou
Date: 04/01/15

775 Niorth West St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: John G. Kudlic
Seller: Crane, Robert F., (Estate)
Date: 04/03/15

BRIMFIELD

29 Crestwood Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $323,707
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Cosmo J. Casamassa
Date: 03/31/15

13 Main St.
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $425,000
Buyer: Shiv Krupa RT
Seller: Kevin F. Spencer
Date: 04/02/15

146 Tower Hill Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $388,000
Buyer: Dmitry Voloshinov
Seller: Ronald A. Wagner
Date: 04/01/15

CHICOPEE

22 Arlmont St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: David F. Crumb
Seller: FHLM
Date: 03/27/15

54 Berger St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: MNH Sub 1 LLC
Seller: Donna M. Deschenes
Date: 04/01/15

150 Empire St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Jessica Ojeda
Seller: Luis Builders Inc.
Date: 04/02/15

150 Empire St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $206,000
Buyer: Nadezhda Sycheva
Seller: Jessica Ojeda
Date: 03/26/15

44 Eton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Steven J. Ross RET
Seller: Stanley W. Sawa
Date: 04/02/15

32 Luther St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: James Louis
Seller: Kazimierz F. Irzyk
Date: 03/27/15

22 Marguerite St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $253,000
Buyer: Joseph N. Lavigne
Seller: Carol O. Josefek
Date: 03/27/15

452 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Joanna D. Pagan
Seller: Cheryl A. Salvador
Date: 04/01/15

861 Prospect St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Wrona
Seller: 1580 Ocean Avenue LLC
Date: 04/03/15

30 Rimmon Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Marcel A. Lacen
Seller: Harbor Investment Group
Date: 04/01/15

59 Sullivan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $134,900
Buyer: David K. Pernell
Seller: George J. Fontaine
Date: 03/23/15

95 Thaddeus St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: John Valerio
Seller: Raymond L. Cloutier
Date: 04/02/15

39 Thomas St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Vernon T. Jones
Seller: Arclair Development LLC
Date: 03/26/15

58 White Birch Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Dana M. Hoover
Seller: Keith W. Bradway
Date: 03/31/15

51 Willow St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Stacy Tassone
Seller: Ronald J. Pete
Date: 03/27/15

219 Woodcrest Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Cinoe F. Cortes
Seller: James T. Russell
Date: 04/01/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

1 Apple Blossom Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $27,203,112
Buyer: SNR 24 Bluebird Estates Owner
Seller: East Longmeadow Retirement
Date: 04/01/15

47 Avery St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Philip M. Payer
Seller: John Czupryna
Date: 03/24/15

8 Day Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Amy M. Pawle
Seller: James G. Kantany
Date: 03/31/15

253 Maple St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $188,063
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Robert H. Johnson
Date: 03/23/15

102 Meadow Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Dean McKeever
Seller: Westcott G. Clarke
Date: 03/24/15

665 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Passive Realty LLC
Seller: City Line Development Corp.
Date: 03/31/15

671 North Main St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Passive Realty LLC
Seller: City Line Development Corp.
Date: 03/31/15

Parker St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $27,203,112
Buyer: SNR 24 Bluebird Estates Owner
Seller: East Longmeadow Retirement
Date: 04/01/15

322 Prospect St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Alicia Gamelli
Seller: Karen M. Hand
Date: 04/03/15

HAMPDEN

152 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $269,022
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Jacob Garcia
Date: 04/01/15

118 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $276,094
Buyer: Bank Of America
Seller: Vincent A. Bortolussi
Date: 04/02/15

70 Rock A. Dundee Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $629,000
Buyer: Micheal S. McGovern
Seller: Oscar L. Elguero
Date: 04/01/15

303 Wilbraham Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $171,850
Buyer: Joseph Sullivan
Seller: Roger F. Dialessi
Date: 03/26/15

HOLYOKE

359 Chestnut St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Marque Sheppard
Seller: Greater Springfield Habit
Date: 03/31/15

11 Claren Dr.
Amount: $185,005
Buyer: Kristen A. Amos
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 04/03/15

407 Hillside Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Marilyn Thomas
Seller: CDM Properties LLC
Date: 03/27/15

135 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Bet J. Alwin
Seller: Mary B. Agostino
Date: 03/26/15

17 Mason Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $173,900
Buyer: Ryan P. Neveu
Seller: Mary D. Moriarty
Date: 03/31/15

491 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Nicholas R. Ryder
Seller: Jon Deblase
Date: 03/25/15

79-81 Taylor St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Godek
Seller: Maria E. Pabon
Date: 03/27/15

LONGMEADOW

28 Edson St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Eric P. Lesser
Seller: Michael J. Russell
Date: 04/01/15

140 Field Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Tracey M. Arcelli
Seller: Paul R. Lopardo
Date: 04/02/15

118 King Philip Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Alexander M. Payes
Seller: Margaret B. Jenkins TR
Date: 04/01/15

190 Knollwood Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Marielle J. Morgan
Seller: George R. Sullivan
Date: 04/01/15

6 Meadow Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Tracy B. Jeanis
Seller: John Lanucha
Date: 04/02/15

82 Merriweather Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $317,500
Buyer: Allan R. Shendell
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/02/15

15 S. Park Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $341,000
Buyer: Kaitlyn E. Wong
Seller: Michael A. Siciliano
Date: 04/01/15

488 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $217,500
Buyer: Casja Jarry
Seller: Tracy B. Jeanis
Date: 03/31/15

LUDLOW

1388 Center St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Steven A. Prior
Seller: Wendell M. Prior
Date: 03/26/15

32 Fairway Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Fernando Barroso
Seller: Isabel G. Martins
Date: 03/26/15

72 Highland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $145,800
Buyer: Patrick J. Hurtado
Seller: Edite J. Freitas
Date: 04/03/15

203 Pondview Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Daniel O. Stebbins
Seller: Margaret G. Daigle
Date: 03/31/15

32 White St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $166,498
Buyer: Webster First Federal Credit Union
Seller: Daniel D. Larrow
Date: 03/30/15

MONSON

110 Bumstead Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Theresa A. Bodak
Seller: Frederick McDonald
Date: 03/30/15

35 Elm St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $194,758
Buyer: Bayview Loan Servicing
Seller: Charles M. Woodcock
Date: 03/27/15

24 Robbins Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Amber L. Letendre
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/27/15

MONTGOMERY

16 Birch Bluff Road
Montgomery, MA 01085
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Oleg Stupak
Seller: Annemarie Brahm
Date: 03/31/15

PALMER

229 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $168,600
Buyer: John Bell
Seller: James N. Athearn
Date: 03/24/15

225 Old Warren Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: James M. Hensley
Seller: Alexander Dorjets
Date: 03/26/15

2 Pioneer Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $346,000
Buyer: Dustin T. Hermann
Seller: Karl Haywood
Date: 03/27/15

5 Sibley St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Selina A. Ammann
Seller: Fervest LLC
Date: 03/30/15

359 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $341,000
Buyer: Victor C. Lopez
Seller: Manuel Duarte
Date: 03/30/15

SPRINGFIELD

Albany St.
Springfield, MA 01101
Amount: $1,905,000
Buyer: Buckeye Terminals LLC
Seller: ExxonMobil Oil Corp.
Date: 04/02/15

670 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Gosselin
Seller: Nicole A. Ciavola
Date: 03/30/15

3-7 Audubon St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Passive Realty LLC
Seller: City Line Development Corp.
Date: 03/31/15

5 Audubon St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Passive Realty LLC
Seller: City Line Development Corp.
Date: 03/31/15

7 Audubon St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Passive Realty LLC
Seller: City Line Development Corp.
Date: 03/31/15

65 Bartels St.
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Matthew P. Dibiaso
Seller: Jason S. Maynard
Date: 03/24/15

736 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Christiaan X. Vandamme
Seller: Robert G. Ferron
Date: 03/25/15

104 Belvidere St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Rebecca L. Mckeever
Seller: Deluca Development Corp.
Date: 04/02/15

36 Bennington St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $134,500
Buyer: Yanitza I. Lebron
Seller: Paul J. Sears
Date: 03/23/15

15 Berard Circle
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $162,000
Buyer: Cindy A. Wodecki
Seller: Joseph E. Pelletier
Date: 04/02/15

179 Bridle Path Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Crosno
Seller: Brenda J. Thompson
Date: 03/30/15

328-330 Chapin Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: FAB Holdings LLC
Seller: Peter P. Hoontis
Date: 04/01/15

174 Denver St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Jose M. Garcia
Seller: Nelson Garcia
Date: 03/27/15

Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Redempter I. Isiaho
Seller: Bousquet, Virginia V., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

99 Fisher St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jose L. Ortiz
Seller: Delson F. Nunez
Date: 03/31/15

212 Garnet St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Odessa Torres
Seller: Karen E. Torres
Date: 04/03/15

170 Goodwin St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Jose A. Rodriguez
Seller: Helder F. Nunes
Date: 03/23/15

15 Gourley Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Vincent L. Ashton
Seller: Beth A. Conway
Date: 03/26/15

63 Governor St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Dwayne Brown
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 03/31/15

136 Kerry Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $146,500
Buyer: Erica Etchells
Seller: Edward J. Haluch
Date: 03/24/15

14 Lafayette St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Dionne Real Estate LLC
Seller: Wells Fargo Bank
Date: 03/30/15

368 Longhill St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $417,000
Buyer: Pierre W. Joseph
Seller: Jennifer A. Thorn
Date: 03/25/15

72 Lumae St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Susan C. Young
Seller: Lee J. Dufault
Date: 03/31/15

65 Mallowhill Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $122,000
Buyer: Luz E. Cotto
Seller: Deutsche Bank
Date: 03/30/15

206 Pine Acre Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Lisa M. Zunis
Seller: Leonor Depina
Date: 03/23/15

162 Redlands St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Judith A. Hurston
Seller: Scott, Beverly V., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

125 Squire Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $147,000
Buyer: Jason F. Hyde
Seller: Ceislak, Edward S., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

15 Sorrento St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Terry Streeter
Seller: Adeleke Thomas
Date: 04/01/15

259 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Geoffrey M. Schmidt
Seller: Douglas M. Campbell
Date: 03/30/15

116-118 Victoria St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Shao T. Ma
Seller: Kalena Alston-Griffin
Date: 04/01/15

116 White Birch Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Shane M. Manning
Seller: Dennis M. Maleshefski
Date: 04/03/15

540-542 White St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jorge Santana
Seller: Sergey Savonin
Date: 04/01/15

78 Wilmington St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $198,108
Buyer: Flagstar Bank
Seller: Orlando Palacios
Date: 03/23/15

34 Winding Lane
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: James M. Plushner
Seller: Andrew J. Lucia
Date: 03/31/15

SOUTHWICK

150 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Phillip Milidantri
Seller: Nancy R. Mackinney
Date: 04/03/15

391 College Hwy.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Daniel A. Storrs
Seller: Samuel C. Chevalier
Date: 04/03/15

19 Feeding Hills Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Sharon King
Seller: Welch, Sylvia N., (Estate)
Date: 03/31/15

36 Grove St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $447,000
Buyer: Mary Troy
Seller: Brendan T. Gunther
Date: 03/30/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

258 Belmont Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $242,500
Buyer: Katherine Zielinski
Seller: Patricia M. Kocor
Date: 03/27/15

59 Boulevard Place
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $185,000
Seller: Edouard Devarennes
Date: 03/26/15

106 Buckingham Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Rachel L. Dionne
Seller: Stephen P. Bail
Date: 03/27/15

116 Cedar Woods Glen
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Stephen P. Bail
Seller: Anthony J. Wheeler
Date: 03/27/15

21 Dale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $173,465
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Linda Shaw
Date: 03/27/15

71 Elmwood Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $122,472
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Albert F. Borzomato

871 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $465,000
Buyer: Dmitriy Kaplyuk
Seller: Nadezhda Sychev
Date: 03/26/15

56 Squassick Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $271,750
Buyer: Eric J. Early
Seller: Anne C. Beauregard
Date: 03/27/15

44 Stone Path Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Danielle S. Petraitis
Seller: Petraitis, Edward S., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

1290 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $134,000
Buyer: Carlos H. Melendez
Seller: Andreoli, Anthony J., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

WESTFIELD

90 Big Wood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Vanessa E. Beattie
Seller: William P. Farrell
Date: 03/31/15

48 Claremont St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Olga V. Kravets
Seller: Burrage, Rosemarie, (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

31 Dug Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Zane B. Skerry
Seller: Deborah C. Woodford
Date: 03/26/15

1087 East Mountain Road
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Allen C. Therrien
Seller: Anil K. Mallavarapu
Date: 03/31/15

9 Gladwin Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: S&C Homebuyers LLC
Seller: Retained Realty Inc.
Date: 03/24/15

19 High St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Nathaniel L. Nunez
Seller: Kara Adamites-Grant
Date: 03/27/15

12 Kellogg St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Rocki Fleming
Seller: Douglas R. Peters
Date: 03/31/15

265 Montgomery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Vladimir Carmona
Seller: James J. Vadnais
Date: 03/25/15

110 Old Stage Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Brian Brown
Seller: Mark G. Lawrence
Date: 03/31/15

551 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Paul Coughlin
Seller: Gordon F. Durphey
Date: 03/27/15

161 Tannery Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Ivan Kirpichev
Seller: Mallory K. Dazelle
Date: 03/27/15

WILBRAHAM

9 Branch Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Katie L. Knodler
Seller: Eileen M. Nicoli
Date: 03/31/15

13 Craigwood Terrace
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Mark A. Edgar
Seller: Tinamarie Talenda
Date: 04/03/15

10 Daniele Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $369,900
Buyer: Mark D. Davis
Seller: Custom Homes Development Group
Date: 03/31/15

8 Opal St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $141,500
Buyer: Eileen M. Nicoli
Seller: Carol A. McFarlin
Date: 03/31/15

14 Woodside Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Brian P. Normoyle
Seller: William J. Aguilar
Date: 04/02/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

1279 Bay Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: Elana M. Kleiman
Seller: Joanne E. Tebaldi
Date: 04/01/15

35 Elf Hill Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $357,500
Buyer: Hanna Spinosa
Seller: Reed F. Perkins
Date: 04/03/15

236 Harkness Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Chelsea E. Grybko
Seller: Gordon S. Kramer
Date: 03/31/15

289 Pelham Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Rocky Hill Road Partners
Seller: Thomas C. Thornton
Date: 04/02/15

136 Pomeroy Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $392,888
Buyer: Sheldon F. Finlay
Seller: Cheryl B. Wilson
Date: 03/27/15

345 Strong St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Joan West
Seller: Rongheng Lin
Date: 04/01/15

30 Sunrise Ave.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Yeshi Gyaltsen
Seller: FNMA
Date: 03/30/15

15 Teaberry Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $393,000
Buyer: Terry S. Johnson
Seller: Milly Butera FT
Date: 03/31/15

15 Trillium Way
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Jonghyun Lee
Seller: Robert S. Bergquist
Date: 03/31/15

115 Van Meter Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Abbigail T. Chickering
Seller: Bailey, Leeta L., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

170 Wildflower Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Lackner
Seller: Anthony M. Pellegrino
Date: 04/03/15

BELCHERTOWN

49 Azalea Way
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: William D. Porter
Seller: Brian J. Sullivan
Date: 03/27/15

24 Brandywine Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $282,000
Buyer: Robert E. Bergendahl
Seller: Cathy A. Dow-Royer
Date: 03/23/15

28 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Changli He
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 03/30/15

261 South Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Rudolf Pauls
Seller: Constance M. Loftus
Date: 04/02/15

255 West St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Mitchell T. Halon
Seller: US Bank
Date: 04/01/15

CHESTERFIELD

27 Indian Hollow Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Richard W. Pytko
Seller: Wilburn G. Dawson
Date: 04/01/15

237 Ireland St.
Chesterfield, MA 01084
Amount: $377,100
Buyer: Gregory E. Meister
Seller: David B. Kielson
Date: 03/27/15

EASTHAMPTON

35 Beyer Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Laura M. Mangones
Seller: Kathleen Thomas
Date: 03/26/15

401 East St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Paul J. Laliberte
Seller: James J. Laliberte
Date: 03/23/15

9 Elliot St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $120,967
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: William R. Pereira
Date: 03/25/15

15 Kingsberry Way
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $363,500
Buyer: Dipan L. Patel
Seller: Crown Meadow Corp.
Date: 03/27/15

274 Loudville Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Mylo Kushner
Seller: Paul A. & Cecile A. Blais IRT
Date: 03/31/15

369 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Louise F. Vera
Seller: Paul J. Duda
Date: 03/30/15

22 Morin Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $214,000
Buyer: Edward Harvey
Seller: Kristopher B. Wiemer
Date: 03/27/15

231 Park St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Albert T. Baer
Seller: Worthington Group LLC
Date: 03/31/15

66 Taft Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $281,350
Buyer: Ian J. Ybarra
Seller: Zaik, Chester F., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

33 West St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Michael A. Pusch
Seller: Elizabeth Crawford
Date: 03/31/15

GRANBY

133 Cold Hill
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $262,500
Buyer: Hollis D. Haley
Seller: Peter W. Dewitt
Date: 04/01/15

20 Ferry Hill Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Nicholas J. Desroches
Seller: Andrew J. Grogan
Date: 03/23/15

34 Greenmeadow Lane
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Melissa Sulikowski
Seller: Whote, Lincoln E., (Estate)
Date: 03/27/15

23 New Ludlow Road
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $138,000
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Goodale
Seller: Beaudry, Raymond T., (Estate)
Date: 04/01/15

HADLEY

231 River Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Green Tree Family LP
Seller: Jennifer R. Gwozdzik
Date: 03/24/15

104 Rocky Hill Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $268,600
Buyer: Luis O. Hernandez-Munez
Seller: Lobsang Dolma
Date: 03/26/15

270 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $900,000
Buyer: To Your Health LLC
Seller: Paul J. Ciaglo
Date: 03/31/15

272 Russell St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $1,025,000
Buyer: TDC LLC
Seller: Valhalla Property Ent. LLC
Date: 03/31/15

42 Stockbridge Road
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Michael S. MacDonald
Seller: Bednarz, Barbara A., (Estate)
Date: 03/30/15

8 Wampanoag Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: James W. Deloge
Seller: Quentin S. Amrani
Date: 03/25/15

HATFIELD

27 Prospect St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Carl G. Burwick
Seller: Emily M. Rich
Date: 03/31/15

HUNTINGTON

Sampson Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $203,500
Buyer: Dept. Of Conservation & Recreation
Seller: Charles M. MacDonald
Date: 03/23/15

NORTHAMPTON

115 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Sunwood Development Corp.
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 03/26/15

145 Emerson Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Rosemund LLC
Seller: Emerson Way LLC
Date: 03/23/15

49 Lyman Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $517,000
Buyer: Peter O. Zierlein
Seller: Earl T. Billingsley
Date: 04/01/15

89 Marian St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $369,000
Buyer: Steven Moga
Seller: David Ruderman
Date: 03/31/15

87 Nonotuck St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Andrew E. Morehouse
Seller: Rudzenski, Alice, (Estate)
Date: 04/01/15

208 Rocky Hill Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $196,000
Buyer: Ashley S. Guerin
Seller: Lucille H. Barbour
Date: 03/27/15

963 Ryan Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $185,500
Buyer: Ryan Road Partners LLC
Seller: Mark B. Hoover
Date: 04/02/15

PELHAM

29 Butterhill Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $520,000
Buyer: Barbara M. Masley
Seller: Claudia P. Brown
Date: 03/26/15

SOUTH HADLEY

504 Amherst Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $161,500
Buyer: Ryan Lafond
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/03/15

15 Ashfield Lane
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Carolyn P. Collette
Seller: Helping Hands Support Inc.
Date: 03/23/15

15 Chapel Hill Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Nicholas Kranz
Seller: Claire Carter RET
Date: 03/30/15

9 Enterprise St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Virginia L. Traub
Seller: George W. Lafley
Date: 03/27/15

15 Lois Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Matthew D. Relihan
Seller: Philip P. Karwoski
Date: 03/27/15

40 Park Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $150,500
Buyer: Quentin S. Amrani
Seller: Susan M. Bishop
Date: 03/25/15

SOUTHAMPTON

75 Middle Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Marcia Touchette
Seller: John P. Sheehan
Date: 03/26/15

7 Old County Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $327,000
Buyer: Adriana Marcinowska
Seller: Robert J. Archbald
Date: 03/31/15

WARE

31 Mountainview Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: William Deschamps
Seller: FHLM
Date: 03/24/15

160 North Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Joly
Seller: Michael A. Labelle
Date: 04/01/15

108 River Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Joshua T. Ellis
Seller: Daniel P. Fama
Date: 03/27/15

WESTHAMPTON

Easthampton Road
Westhampton, MA 01027
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Judith G. Steinberg
Seller: Karen S. Alexander
Date: 03/27/15

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of April 2015.

AGAWAM

LRB Realty Trust
1804 Main St.
$18,000 — Upgrade antenna panels

CHICOPEE

Ames Privilege Apts.
1 Springfield St.
$24,000 — Exterior renovations to bring guard rails up to code

BJ Wholesale Club
150 Memorial Dr.
$254,000 — Reconstruct the tire center for more retail space

Chapin School Veterans Housing, LLC
40 Meadow St.
$5,661,000 — Convert school to 43 housing units

Chicopee Street Association
714 Chicopee St.
$50,000 — Repairs in basement

SOUTH HADLEY

Crossroads Realty Holdings, LLC
84 Willimansett St.
$7,000 — Renovations

Town of South Hadley
267 Granby Road
$17,000 — Install sprinkler system

SOUTHWICK

Haftman & Sons
249 College Highway
$15,000 — Construct new addition

SPRINGFIELD

Israel Calderon
650-652 Chestnut St.
$6,000 — Interior renovation

Maraline Development Corporation
370 Pine St.
$841,000 — Convert first floor to classrooms and construct a handicap ramp

SIS Center Inc.
1441 Main St.
$42,500 — Renovation for new tenant

Tom Maeur
153 Plainfield St.
$367,000 — Renovate existing building to new business layout

WESTFIELD

City of Westfield
100 Elm St.
$17,000 — Install beams to support generator

Susana Baltazar
480 Southampton Road
$15,000 — Partitions for two new offices

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Calabrese LLC
54 Park St.
$10,000 — New counters and serving area in convenience store

Eastern States
1305 Memorial Ave.
$11,000 — New computer room

Taco Bell
25 Morgan Road
$536,000 — Construction of a new Taco Bell Restaurant

Verizon Wireless
Toccoa Lane
$30,000 — Upgrade antennas

Come Together

A chart of area meeting and convention facilities

Click HERE to download the PDF listing

Sky-high Expectations