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Daily News

HOLYOKE — The Sisters of Providence Health System (SPHS) announced that three physicians have been named to expanded leadership roles for Mercy Behavioral Health Care and Providence Behavioral Health Hospital (PBHH) in Holyoke. The appointments are effective Jan. 1.

Maria Russo-Appel, MD, who has served as the chief medical officer of PBHH for the past year, has been appointed to the position of vice president of Mercy Behavioral Health Care. In this role, Russo-Appel will lead the psychiatric care and behavioral health service lines, including PBHH, for SPHS.

Also, Robert Roose, MD, MPH, who has been serving as chief medical officer of Addiction Services of SPHS for the past the two and a half years, will have expanded responsibilities in a dual role as CMO/vice president of Addiction and Recovery Services, Mercy Behavioral Health Care, and will assume both medical and administrative leadership responsibilities for all addiction treatment and recovery service lines. And Gaurav Chawla, MD, CPE, who has been serving as chief of Psychiatry, will assume the role of chief medical officer, Mercy Behavioral Health Care, and lead new SPHS initiatives in behavioral health such as integration of behavioral health in both primary care and integration into population health management.

As one of the largest providers of behavioral health services in western Massachusetts, Mercy Behavioral Health Care provides access to an entire continuum of high-quality inpatient and outpatient care for people of all ages, from children and adolescents to adults and seniors. Mercy Behavioral Health Care includes both the continuums of Addiction and Recovery Services, from Acute Treatment Services to Outpatient and Opioid Treatment Programs, and Behavioral Health, from inpatient psychiatric treatment to the programs within Brightside for Families and Children.

Opinion

Mike Balise

Mike Balise

A few months before he succumbed to cancer, ESPN anchor Stuart Scott stood at the podium at the ESPY Awards to accept the Jim Valvano Award for Perseverance.

In his moving remarks, Scott, in essence, told those assembled that when someone’s cancer fight ends, we should refrain from saying that he or she “lost their battle.” That fight is often won, he went on, because the individual confronted the disease with courage, the conviction to live their life to their fullest, and determination not to let cancer dictate whatever time they had left.

Those words certainly rang true recently with the news that Mike Balise, co-owner of Balise Motor Sales, passed away at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute roughly 15 months after being diagnosed with incurable stomach cancer at the age of 50.

There is certainly no debate about who won this fight — Mike did.

He battled the disease with his indomitable humor, determination to continue, for as his long as he could, his work not only with the company, but within the community as well — efforts that ranged from raising awareness of the need for more cancer-treatment facilities in this region (and money to build those facilities), to buying winter coats for area young people in need.

Last September, BusinessWest talked with Mike and some members of his family about his fight, and his determination and courage certainly came through. So much so that one could easily make the argument that no story the magazine has published in its 32-year history resonated more with readers.

Indeed, there were countless calls and e-mails from individuals conveying the message that they were greatly inspired by Mike’s ability to battle a death sentence with poise, dignity, and a desire to focus not on his plight, but on how he could do even more to help others.

A common refrain from those who reached out was “I’ve never met Mike, but reading this, I wish I could.’’

Those comments, as well as Mike’s long track record of philanthropy and community involvement, resonated with the decision-makers at BusinessWest this fall when they convened to decide whom to honor with the magazine’s Difference Maker award next spring.

They considered and then chose to honor Mike knowing fully well that it was very likely that his seat would be empty at the gala in March. But he will honored along with the others who will be announced next month, because he has been, and remains, an inspiration in so many ways, and is thus clearly worthy of that title Difference Maker, and always will be.

And when his name is introduced to those gathered at the Log Cabin in March, it will not be through use of the past tense — because he isn’t done being a Difference Maker. His inspirational life — not simply those last 15 months or so — will ensure that this is the case.

As for that cancer fight — from the minute Mike was diagnosed, everyone knew how it would end. All those who knew Mike could also predict how the battle would be waged; with courage and conviction. And that’s why we shouldn’t say the fight was lost.

Because it wasn’t.

Opinion

Mike Balise

Mike Balise

A few months before he succumbed to cancer, ESPN anchor Stuart Scott stood at the podium at the ESPY Awards to accept the Jim Valvano Award for Perseverance.

In his moving remarks, Scott, in essence, told those assembled that when someone’s cancer fight ends, we should refrain from saying that he or she “lost their battle.” That fight is often won, he went on, because the individual confronted the disease with courage, the conviction to live their life to their fullest, and determination not to let cancer dictate whatever time they had left.

Those words certainly rang true recently with the news that Mike Balise, co-owner of Balise Motor Sales, passed away at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute roughly 15 months after being diagnosed with incurable stomach cancer at the age of 50.

There is certainly no debate about who won this fight — Mike did.

He battled the disease with his indomitable humor, determination to continue, for as his long as he could, his work not only with the company, but within the community as well — efforts that ranged from raising awareness of the need for more cancer-treatment facilities in this region (and money to build those facilities), to buying winter coats for area young people in need.

Last September, BusinessWest talked with Mike and some members of his family about his fight, and his determination and courage certainly came through. So much so that one could easily make the argument that no story the magazine has published in its 32-year history resonated more with readers.

Indeed, there were countless calls and e-mails from individuals conveying the message that they were greatly inspired by Mike’s ability to battle a death sentence with poise, dignity, and a desire to focus not on his plight, but on how he could do even more to help others.

A common refrain from those who reached out was “I’ve never met Mike, but reading this, I wish I could.’’

Those comments, as well as Mike’s long track record of philanthropy and community involvement, resonated with the decision-makers at BusinessWest this fall when they convened to decide whom to honor with the magazine’s Difference Maker award next spring.

They considered and then chose to honor Mike knowing fully well that it was very likely that his seat would be empty at the gala in March. But he will honored along with the others who will be announced next month, because he has been, and remains, an inspiration in so many ways, and is thus clearly worthy of that title Difference Maker, and always will be.

And when his name is introduced to those gathered at the Log Cabin in March, it will not be through use of the past tense — because he isn’t done being a Difference Maker. His inspirational life — not simply those last 15 months or so — will ensure that this is the case.

As for that cancer fight — from the minute Mike was diagnosed, everyone knew how it would end. All those who knew Mike could also predict how the battle would be waged; with courage and conviction. And that’s why we shouldn’t say the fight was lost.

Because it wasn’t.

Daily News

BusinessWest Magazine has set Feb. 12 as the deadline for receiving nominations for the 40 Under Forty Class of 2016, the 10th class to be honored by the magazine.

The program recognizes rising stars within the Western Mass. community, which includes Berkshire, Franklin, Hampden, and Hampshire Counties.

This year’s group of 40 will be profiled in the magazine’s April 18 edition, then toasted at the June 16 gala at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke.

The nomination form can be found online at businesswest.com — request basic information, and can be supported with other material, such as a résumé, testimonials, and even press clippings highlighting an individual’s achievements in their profession or service to their community.

Opinion

Mike Balise

Mike Balise

A few months before he succumbed to cancer, ESPN anchor Stuart Scott stood at the podium at the ESPY Awards to accept the Jim Valvano Award for Perseverance.

In his moving remarks, Scott, in essence, told those assembled that when someone’s cancer fight ends, we should refrain from saying that he or she “lost their battle.” That fight is often won, he went on, because the individual confronted the disease with courage, the conviction to live their life to their fullest, and determination not to let cancer dictate whatever time they had left.

Those words certainly rang true recently with the news that Mike Balise, co-owner of Balise Motor Sales, passed away at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute roughly 15 months after being diagnosed with incurable stomach cancer at the age of 50.

There is certainly no debate about who won this fight — Mike did.

He battled the disease with his indomitable humor, determination to continue, for as his long as he could, his work not only with the company, but within the community as well — efforts that ranged from raising awareness of the need for more cancer-treatment facilities in this region (and money to build those facilities), to buying winter coats for area young people in need.

Last September, BusinessWest talked with Mike and some members of his family about his fight, and his determination and courage certainly came through. So much so that one could easily make the argument that no story the magazine has published in its 32-year history resonated more with readers.

Indeed, there were countless calls and e-mails from individuals conveying the message that they were greatly inspired by Mike’s ability to battle a death sentence with poise, dignity, and a desire to focus not on his plight, but on how he could do even more to help others.

A common refrain from those who reached out was “I’ve never met Mike, but reading this, I wish I could.’’

Those comments, as well as Mike’s long track record of philanthropy and community involvement, resonated with the decision-makers at BusinessWest this fall when they convened to decide whom to honor with the magazine’s Difference Maker award next spring.

They considered and then chose to honor Mike knowing fully well that it was very likely that his seat would be empty at the gala in March. But he will honored along with the others who will be announced next month, because he has been, and remains, an inspiration in so many ways, and is thus clearly worthy of that title Difference Maker, and always will be.

And when his name is introduced to those gathered at the Log Cabin in March, it will not be through use of the past tense — because he isn’t done being a Difference Maker. His inspirational life — not simply those last 15 months or so — will ensure that this is the case.

As for that cancer fight — from the minute Mike was diagnosed, everyone knew how it would end. All those who knew Mike could also predict how the battle would be waged; with courage and conviction. And that’s why we shouldn’t say the fight was lost.

Because it wasn’t.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Freedom Credit Union board of directors recently elected Glenn Welch as the new president and CEO, effective Jan. 4. Welch will succeed Barry Crosby, who has served as president and CEO of the state-chartered credit union since 2003. This past summer, Crosby notified the board of his intent to retire in early 2016.

“After conducting an extensive search that identified several superbly qualified candidates, we have decided that Glenn Welch is our choice to lead Freedom,” said Lawrence Bouley, chairman of the board. “Throughout the process, it was extremely important to us that the new president could build on the strong foundation already in place at Freedom. And to that point, we are grateful for the leadership that Barry Crosby has provided over the past 12 years.”

Upon learning of his appointment, Welch said, “I am grateful to serve as Freedom’s new president and to continue the organization’s 93-year tradition of serving the members, families, businesses, and communities of the Pioneer Valley. Also, I want to thank the board of directors for their confidence in me and their support.”

Added Crosby, “I am proud of my tenure at Freedom and enjoyed working with the board of directors, officers, and staff. During this time, the credit union grew from one branch into a network of 10 branches throughout the Pioneer Valley and an Operations Center in Springfield. Under Glenn’s leadership, I am confident that Freedom will continue that growth and our membership will value his knowledge and expertise.”

Most recently, Welch was executive vice president of Berkshire Bank following its acquisition of Hampden Bank. Prior to that, he was president and CEO of Hampden Bank for two years before the Berkshire Bank acquisition. During his 17-year tenure at Hampden, he held various positions, including president and COO, executive vice president, and senior vice president of Business Banking. Before joining Hampden, he served as vice president, Middle Market Banking Group at Fleet Bank.

Daily News

WEST SPRINGFIELDModern Salon has named the 2015 class of Excellence in Education honorees in its sixth annual program recognizing leadership and best practices among cosmetology schools. DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology was chosen to represent excellence in the category of Community Involvement, Marketing Innovation, School Culture.

“We received applications from cosmetology schools across the country and look forward to celebrating all the 2015 Excellence in Education honorees and sharing their stories. It is truly a great time to pursue a beauty education and career, and the program at DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology exemplifies that fact,” said Modern Salon Editorial Director Michele Musgrove.

Paul DiGrigoli, president and CEO of the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology, added, “I’m so grateful to have such a stellar faculty and team. They have supported and created an environment of positivity and energy that constantly and continuously helps take our students’ minds and careers to another altitude. I am proud to say that the future professionals who graduate from the DiGrigoli School of Cosmetology have received jobs from some of the best salons in our area. We will continue to reach for greater heights to provide all of our students with higher education, and we are so honored to be receiving this prestigious award for the fourth year in a row.”

Daily News

SOUTH HADLEY — Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding and Windows had the honor of replacing a roof for the Boy Scouts of America at the Moses Scout Reservation in Russell.

Once the summer home of Horace Moses, the Manor House and the 1,200 acres of property were donated to the Boy Scouts of America Western Massachusetts Council in 1945, after its previous campsite was destroyed by a hurricane. The building is about 100 years old and is one of many buildings on the property.

“The Manor House has not been used in about eight years,” said David Kruse, scout executive and CEO. “Thanks to Adam Quenneville and his team, we are excited to get it back up and running for this year’s summer camp.”

The Manor House is just one of the many buildings on the Boy Scout property in need of repairs. With the help of community and volunteer donations for supplies, Quenneville — owner of Adam Quenneville Roofing, Siding, and Windows — was able to do his part by donating the labor to replace the roof.

“As a father of three, two of which are young boys, this project was very important to me,” he said. “The Boy Scouts teach boys self-confidence, ethics, and leadership skills, which I believe are the foundation for great leaders.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Museum School at the Springfield Museums is currently offering classes and experiential learning opportunities for both children and adults. Spaces are still available for fall courses and trips. Gift certificates are also available.

All classes are led by experienced and supportive instructors in topics tied to the Museums’ collections and special traveling exhibits. Winter classes for young people include explorations of health science, engineering, and the chemistry behind baking, plus an exciting look into a dog’s world with a course tied to the upcoming special exhibit, “Wolf to Woof.” Age ranges for each class vary; check springfieldmuseums.org under ‘programs,’ then ‘classes’ for more information.

Offerings for adults during the winter session include lectures in the art and history of cheese making, an inside look at the Botanic Gardens of Smith College, as well as classes in sculpting, drawing, and painting (oil and watercolor). Many classes are one-day offerings, allowing even the busiest adults to participate.

Adult travel opportunities are also being planned, including excursions to see the ancient ruins of Peru, the national parks of the Old West, and the French Riviera and Provence. Information sessions for those multi-day trips are taking place on January — day trips to museums in Boston and New York City — are also available.

For complete class descriptions, travel itineraries, fees, or to register, visit springfieldmusuems.org or call (413) 263-6800, ext. 377 or 382.

Daily News

WILBRAHAM — Jules Gaudreau, president of the Gaudreau Group in Wilbraham, was recently inducted as president of his industry’s national trade organization, the National Assoc. of Insurance and Financial Advisors (NAIFA).

“It will be a great privilege and responsibility to lead an association of over 42,000 professionals who help American families achieve financial security,” Gaudreau said. “I look forward to advocating on their behalf in Washington and throughout the country as I have done for over 25 years here in Massachusetts.”

One of the nation’s oldest and largest associations representing the interests of insurance professionals and financial advisors, NAIFA is the only organization that serves and represents insurance and financial advisors regardless of the products they sell or the focus of their practice. Members include insurance agents, financial advisors, multi-line agents, and health-insurance and employee-benefits specialists. NAIFA’s mission is to advocate for a positive legislative and regulatory environment, enhance business and professional skills, and promote the ethical conduct of its members.

The Gaudreau Group, founded in 1921, is one of the largest independently owned insurance agencies in the Northeast, serving more than 6,000 families and businesses across 14 states with a broad range of insurance and financial products. A perpetual Super 60 winner, it was recently honored in the Reader Raves awards from the Republican as the region’s best insurance agency. The Gaudreau Group and its affiliated wealth-management firm, Gaudreau-Wealth New England, employs 30 professionals.

“In my position, I am able to help individuals when they are most vulnerable, many times suffering a business or personal loss,” Gaudreau said. “It is in our enlightened self-interest to make our area a better place to work and live.”

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts is receiving national recognition with the help of the Westfield News Group, LLC, which collected more than 200 pairs of shoes as part of Dress for Success’ #GivingShoesDay event. The collection earned Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts the number-two spot in the world for donations from a single donor, and eighth in the country for total donations that day.

The event was part of a national movement to “shoe their best” as the nonprofit organization once again turned #GivingTuesday into #GivingShoesDay on Dec. 1. For the fourth year in a row, #GivingShoesDay encouraged women to donate their professional shoes to one of more than 140 Dress for Success affiliates across the world, including Dress for Success of Western Massachusetts.

In addition to Westfield News, participating companies in Western Mass. included Insurance Center of New England, Renaissance, BusinessWest, MassLive, Printing Solutions, the Springfield Central Cultural District, the O’Connell Companies, and Eastfield Mall.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — A video posted on Facebook recently has already received over 13,000 views and helped raise more than $16,000 for Baystate Children’s Hospital.

The short video follows a group of local children who wanted to bring some holiday cheer to the patients of Baystate Children’s Hospital. When the kids learned how some families couldn’t be home for the holidays, they figured they could bring the spirit of the season to them.

Robert Charles Photography and Ryan James Videography teamed up to help capture the visit. The resulting video has helped raise $16,173 for Baystate Children’s Hospital. The video debuted live on air with the Kellogg Krew at 94.7 WMAS on Dec. 16. The response was immediate. Before the interview was over, hundreds of people had already logged on to watch the video and begin making comments.

Robert Charles Photography, a portrait and commercial studio, holds an annual fund-raiser for Baystate Children’s Hospital. To date, it has been able to donate more than $80,000. The company hopes the video will help its get its total above $100,000 by the end of 2015.

The studio offers a special holiday package in exchange for a $79 donation; 100% of the proceeds benefit Baystate Children’s Hospital. The package includes a portrait session (to be photographed in 2016), an 8×10 signature print, and social-media images. The retail value is more than $300. For those looking to make a donation of a different amount, a link associated with the video allows viewers to make donations of any value.

“This time of year is about coming together as a community and helping those in need. Our hope is that the video will inspire viewers to consider making a small donation to help support the families of Baystate Children’s Hospital during the holiday season,” said Edward Zemba, president of Robert Charles Photography.

To view the video, visit www.rcpfamilies.com. For more information about the fund-raiser, call (413) 525-4263.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — Engineering students from Western New England University (WNEU) traveled to the campus of the University del Valle in Cali, Colombia, in late November to complete construction of team PANAMASS’ 800-square-foot, fully solar-powered home, as part of the inaugural Solar Decathlon Latin America and Caribbean 2015 competition.

Team PANAMASS’ entry is called the SMART house, which is based on five characteristics in its design: sustainable, modular, recyclable, aesthetic, and tropical. After 10 days of intense evaluation by a several panels of judges, the SMART house was awarded first place in Energy Efficiency and third place in Energy Balance.

This competition, sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Colombian government, challenges university student teams around the world to design and build sustainable houses based on innovation and clean-energy technologies. Team PANAMASS is a partnership made up of students and faculty from Western New England University and Universidad Tecnológica de Panamá. There were 15 teams representing nine countries, including Panama, Peru, Mexico, Colombia, Uruguay, Spain, Germany, England, and the U.S. WNEU was the only participant representing the U.S.

Five Western New England University students and Engineering Professor Kenneth Lee were in Colombia for the construction phase of the house. Students include civil engineering senior Andres Otero and juniors Brian Wodecki, Jhonatan Escobar, Gabby Fosdick, and Katrina DiGloria. This competition provided the students with a unique international experience to work alongside with faculty and students from Tecnológica de Panamá and to experience Colombian culture for two weeks.

This solar decathlon embraced a theme of social-justice housing and encouraged designs built for tropical climates in high-density urban locations, and the use of recycled materials, affordability, optimal energy production, and maximum efficiency. The SMART house is built with recycled shipping containers and includes three bedrooms and one bathroom.

Daily News

LEE — Lee Premium Outlets announced that popular luggage retailer Samsonite — a leader in travel bags, luggage, and accessories — has opened at the center.

In addition, Lee Premium Outlets welcomed Destination Maternity Outlet, a leading retailer of women’s maternity clothing, through Dec. 31, as well as Anugraha Brows, a locally owned business that offers eyebrow threading and henna tattoos.

These additions, as well as upgrades around the center that include recent renovations to Maidenform and Sunglass Hut, aim to provide visitors with an improved shopping experience this holiday season. For details on holiday-shopping hours, visit premiumoutlets.com/lee.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — At its annual Holiday Gala on Dec. 3, the Springfield Museums announced a major naming gift made by Noel and Carol Leary. Carol Leary is president of Bay Path University, while Noel Leary is a retired real-estate association executive and consultant to not-for-profit organizations.

In recognition of their contribution, the Impressionist Art Gallery in the Michele and Donald D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts will now be named the Carol and Noel Leary Gallery of Impressionist Art. The gallery houses paintings by such major artists as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, Auguste Renoir, and Paul Gauguin.

The Learys made their gift as part of the Museums’ capital campaign, titled “Seuss in Springfield: Building a Better Quadrangle.” The $7 million campaign will fund major improvements to the Springfield Museums campus and the creation of a new museum honoring Springfield native Theodor Geisel, a.k.a. Dr. Seuss.

“Carol and I wanted to help guarantee that this world-class museum complex will continue to be the crown jewel of Springfield,” Noel said. “Our financial advisor showed us how to combine current giving with a legacy commitment to achieve far more than we had ever considered.”

Added Carol, “we hope that our gift will serve as an inspiration to our colleagues and friends that something similar is indeed possible with a bit of planning.”

Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson noted that “Noel and Carol are long-standing and dedicated advocates for the Museums. We are truly honored by their display of generosity and for their leadership in bolstering our capital campaign.”

Daily News

WESTFIELD — The board of directors of the Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce elected new officers and directors at its recent annual meeting. They include Dan Burack, president; Dawn Thomas, first vice president and treasurer; Kevin O’Connor, second vice president; and Cindy Lacoste, secretary.

Burack is the owner of Tekoa Country Club as well as a real-estate developer. Thomas is a vice president and chief financial officer at Instrument Technology Inc. O’Connor is vice president of retail banking and marketing at Westfield Bank. Lacoste is a senior paralegal at Mestek Inc.

The new directors ratified include Andrea Allard, CEO of the Westfield YMCA; Calvin Annino Jr., managing partner of Annino, Draper & Moore, P.C.; Lt. Col. Brenda Hendricksen, 104th Wing executive officer at Barnes Air National Guard Base; Jay Kline, business and finance manager at Westfield Gas & Electric; and Ann Woodson, property owner of George’s Jewelers.

The remaining board of directors includes Ron Bryant, president of Baystate Noble Hospital; Todd Brown, vice president at Tighe & Bond; Vincent Carbone, vice president of operations at Savage Arms; Anne Faunce, branch manager at First Niagara Bank; Kenneth Magarian, director of advancement and college relations at Westfield State University; Kim Rexford, owner of Betts Plumbing & Heating; Ali Salehi, senior vice president of engineering and plant operations at Columbia Manufacturing Inc.; and Alfonso Santaniello, president and CEO of the Creative Strategy Agency Inc.

“Our board has never been stronger,” said chamber Executive Director Kate Phelon. “We make every effort to add diversity to our board that includes not only specific industry sectors, but all business sizes ranging from small to large. Our board is committed to implementing our strategic goals and to growing the chamber with their plethora of talent, experience, and skill sets.”

For more information about the chamber, visit www.westfieldbiz.org.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — PeoplesBank announced the appointments of Natalie Jimenez, John Peterson, Kathy Caputo, and Victor Rodriguez Sr. as mortgage consultants. They join Lisa Baltronis and Beverly Orloski on the PeoplesBank mortgage team.

Jimenez joined PeoplesBank in 2012 and most recently worked in its Elmwood office, serving as head teller. She also has nine years of customer-service experience. She will be representing the Chicopee area and surrounding towns, and is a member of the Buy Chicopee Now program.

Peterson joined PeoplesBank in 2002, has seven years of loan origination experience, and most recently served as an assistant branch manager in our West Springfield office. He will be representing West Springfield and the surrounding area. He is a member of the West of the River Chamber of Commerce and a board member and co-secretary of the Kiwanis Club of West Springfield and Agawam.

Caputo is new to PeoplesBank and brings several years of lending experience to this position. She is well-versed in a wide variety of lending programs and will be covering the Northampton area and surrounding towns.

Rodriguez is also new to PeoplesBank and has more than 13 years of banking experience, serving in a supervisory capacity, most recently as a branch officer. He will be covering the areas of Holyoke and Springfield. He will represent PeoplesBank on the Buy Springfield Now and Buy Holyoke Now boards.

“Natalie, John, Kathy, and Victor bring a wealth of banking experience to their new positions as mortgage consultants,” stated James Sherbo, senior vice president of Consumer Lending at PeoplesBank. “Each of them values customer service as their top priority, and they are valuable additions to the PeoplesBank lending team.”

Daily News

MONSON — For the sixth year in a row, Monson Savings Bank is asking the community to help plan the bank’s community-giving activities by inviting people to vote for the organizations they would like the bank to support during 2016.

“Every year we donate over $100,000 to organizations doing important work in the communities we serve,” said Steve Lowell, president of Monson Savings. “For several years now, we’ve been asking the community for input on which groups they’d like us to support, and we’ve been so pleased by how many people participate. We have learned of new organizations through this process, and we also just like the idea of asking our community for input. As a community bank, we think that’s important.”

To cast their vote, people can visit monsonsavings.com/in-the-community.html. On that page, they will find a list of organizations that the bank has already supported in 2015 and may provide up to three names of groups they’d like the bank to support in 2016. The only requirement is that the organizations be nonprofit and provide services in Hampden, Monson, Wilbraham, or Ware.

The voting ends at 3 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 15. The bank pledges to support the top 10 vote getters and will announce who they are by the end of January.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — DevelopSpringfield recently awarded several façade-improvement grants through the Corridor Storefront Improvement Program (CSIP), which provides grants of up to $10,000 per storefront for exterior improvements to first-floor businesses located on State and Main streets in Springfield.

A grant of $30,000 was provided to Boynton Property Group for work related to its rehabilitation of the shopping plaza located at 666 State St. in the city’s Mason Square area. Funds provided were allocated toward new signage, enhanced lighting, and new windows to the plaza, home to a restaurant and beauty salon.

Silverbrick Group has been making major renovations to the former Morgan Square property at 1593-1607 Main St. The project includes redevelopment of the apartments, creating Silverbrick Lofts as well as renovations to first-floor commercial space. A grant of $60,000 was provided to support installation of new, energy-efficient windows and doors for six units on the ground floor. This contribution augmented the substantial investment by the project’s developers which, in addition to the newly refurbished apartments, also includes major repairs to masonry work on the upper stories of the property. Silverbrick is located in Springfield’s downtown Innovation District, a priority redevelopment area.

Finally, as a part of Nadim’s Mediterranean Grill’s recent redesign, DevelopSpringfield provided a $10,000 grant to aid in the façade enhancement, including new windows, signage, and awning. The restaurant, located at 1380-1390 Main St., has undergone a major redesign inside and out. Nadim’s made further investments to improve the inside dining room as well as the patio dining experience.

“DevelopSpringfield is pleased to support these Springfield businesses in their efforts to make lasting improvements, which impact not only their own activities, but also benefit neighboring businesses as well,” said Jay Minkarah, president and CEO of DevelopSpringfield. “We are proud to be among the partners working to support and strengthen longtime and new business ventures in our city.”

DevelopSpringfield’s Corridor Storefront Improvement Program was established in 2009 with the support of the city of Springfield and other private funders, to enhance the visual appeal of State and Main streets while providing assistance to businesses making investments in these two key corridors within the city. For more information on CSIP, visit www.developspringfield.com and click on ‘programs,’ or contact Minkarah at (413) 209-8808 or [email protected].

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield announced it has received its final state license approval from the Mass. Gaming Commission (MGC), clearing the way to begin construction. The MGC specifically found that all feasible measures have been taken to avoid or minimize impacts of the project and damage to the environment.

“We are grateful to the MGC commissioners for their detailed deliberations and patience with this process,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “This comprehensive review has helped MGM Springfield evolve into the most community-facing and integrated property MGM Resorts has ever built.”

Separately, the proposed design changes must still be approved by the city and the MGC. Updated MGM Springfield design plans were made public in September, and company executives appeared at a public presentation in Springfield in November to outline the design plan, highlighting changes that allowed for both design and cost efficiencies, as well as to provide a new project cost estimate of more than $950 million.

“This approval has been a year in the making,” Mathis said. “We are eager to bring this back to Springfield and work with the city to get final signoff for impactful demolition and construction.”

The Springfield City Council is expected to discuss and vote on a casino overlay district on Monday, Dec. 21. MGM Springfield representatives will be at the meeting.

The new year will be busy for MGM with the commencement of active construction. MGM Springfield construction-management representatives will host ongoing information sessions with interested minority-, women-, and veteran-owned businesses, and the opening of the relocated MGM Springfield Community Office.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Gray House recently inducted five new board members to three-year terms.

• Jan Rodriguez Denney is director of Elder Affairs for the city of Springfield. She holds a bachelor’s degree in early childhood education from UMass and a master’s degree in human resources development from American International College. She serves on the board of Partners for a Healthier Community, Springfield Food Policy Council, Regional Employment Board, YWCA, Incorporated Emerson Wright Foundation, Greater Senior Services Inc., and Springfield College Board.

• Sean Ditto is a project executive with Consigli Construction Co. in Hartford, Conn. He has a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering from Norwich University.

• Karen Garcia is a family specialist with the New England Farm Workers Council. She works with the homeless to help them address their issues so they are able to sustain affordable housing.

• Sr. Catherine Homrok is one of the founders of the Gray House. She entered the Sisters of St. Joseph in 1959 after graduation from St. Jerome High School in Holyoke. She received her bachelor’s degree from Elms College and her master’s degree from Emerson College. Currently, she serves the Roman Catholic Diocese of Springfield as its director of Pastoral Ministries.

• Tina-Marie Quagliato is director of disaster recovery and compliance for the city of Springfield. She has been employed by the city for almost 11 years, with varying roles in housing, community development, and neighborhood stabilization. She is on the board of trustees for the Martin Luther King Jr. Charter School of Excellence in Springfield and the board of directors for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, Emergency Food and Shelter Program. She has volunteered with Keep Springfield Beautiful, Habitat for Humanity, Open Pantry, and the Mattoon Street Arts Festival.

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

Daily News

GREENFIELD — Richard Venne, president and CEO of Community Enterprises Inc., announced the appointment of Gary Daniele as director of Greenfield Community Employment and Training Programs. He is responsible for the effective management of all aspects of employment and training services in Greenfield, and will implement the organization’s mission and values by supporting individuals to make positive changes in their lives.

Daniele was previously employed by the state of Oregon as a branch manager for vocational rehabilitation. He has more than 25 years of experience in employment, vocational, and residential supports for individuals with disabilities, and was awarded the Department of Human Services Director’s Excellence Award in 2014. He received his bachelor’s degree in psychology from Roger Williams University.

Community Enterprises is a human-service organization that provides employment, education, housing supports, and day supports for people with disabilities. Headquartered in Northampton, it maintains 27 service locations throughout Massachusetts, Connecticut, New York, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Kentucky. The Massachusetts offices include Springfield, Holyoke, Pittsfield, Greenfield, Worcester, Salem, Gloucester, and Somerville. The nonprofit organization, which started as a small program at Northampton State Hospital, has grown to a $22.5 million business.

Daily News

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito announced that the final economic trigger was met in order to lower the state’s income tax from 5.15% to 5.10%. The income-tax cut for all Massachusetts residents will become effective on Jan. 1.

“Meeting the requirements needed to reduce the income-tax rate is a sign that the Massachusetts economy remains strong,” Baker said. “Allowing citizens across the Commonwealth to keep more money in their pockets will allow the state’s economy to continue growing in 2016.”

Added Polito, “the will of the voters has persevered. It’s been 15 years since the voters first made this decision, and every chance we get to provide more discretionary income is a good day for the Commonwealth and the taxpayers.”

Kristen Lepore, secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, noted that “the fiscal year 2016 budget revenue assumed effects of the lower tax rate to 5.10% and has been accounted for in the balance sheet. This is good news for the taxpayers with no new impact on the state’s fiscal outlook.”

A ballot initiative passed in 2000 called for the state’s income tax to be reduced to 5% over time. Legislation was passed in 2002 that tied reducing the tax rate by 0.05% each tax year (until the Part B income tax rate is 5%) to certain economic triggers. First, the inflation adjusted growth in baseline tax revenues for the preceding fiscal year has to exceed 2.5%. The second trigger, completed on the 15th of each month between September and December, certifies that the inflation-adjusted growth in baseline tax revenues over the previous three months of the current calendar year compared to the same periods of the prior calendar year is greater than zero. Once the statutory triggers are met, the rate is lowered by 0.05% until it reaches 5% percent.

The charitable deduction will be restored the year after the tax rate is lowered to 5%. The last time all growth thresholds were met was in 2014.

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — John Bissell, the new president and CEO of Greylock Federal Credit Union, is the first chief executive in Berkshire County to sign on to CEOs Against Stigma, the statewide workplace campaign created by the state chapter of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI Mass). Bissell says he is committed to helping eliminate workplace stigma in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, starting with his 257 employees.

“Every one of us has a friend or family member who has struggled with mental-health issues,” Bissell said. “It is time to demonstrate that we care about them, and that we support them in meeting their mental-health challenges.”

Mental-health disorders affect one in five adults and are the leading cause of workplace disability. But they are often not discussed in the workplace because of the stigma that surrounds them. CEOs Against Stigma is designed to create a stigma-free workplace by changing misconceptions about mental illness so people can speak freely about the conditions that affect them and their families. That change starts at the top.

“I believe bringing these issues and challenges out in the open, free from stigma and stereotype, is a vital step to helping all of our employees and colleagues to lead full and productive lives,” Bissell said.

By signing the pledge, he promises to promote a stigma-free environment by encouraging more dialogue about mental-health conditions, providing information to both managers and employees to keep them better informed, and bringing NAMI’s In Our Own Voice presentations into the workplace. Recognized by a leading national mental-health researcher as the most effective anti-stigma program in America, IOOV features two people sharing their personal stories of recovery. These presentations are an important component of the campaign.

“CEOs Against Stigma is moving full steam ahead to change work environments across the state,” said NAMI Berkshire County Executive Director Brenda Carpenter. “We are proud to have Mr. Bissell and Greylock Federal Credit Union as the first in Berkshire County to join our team.”

CEOs Against Stigma is working to sign 250 executives to the campaign and reach a half-million employees. Any Massachusetts company with at least 50 employees can join. For more information about CEOs Against Stigma, visit ceos.namimass.org.

Daily News

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall announced a special holiday performance of Dan Kane’s Rising Stars. They have provided entertainment for holiday shoppers at Holyoke Mall for the last 10 years and will be performing once again on Saturday, Dec. 19 from 1 to 4 p.m, near the Guest Services Center located on the lower level near Sears Court. They will perform holiday classics along with some pop favorites.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums have announced a slate of activities for the upcoming holiday vacation week. Visitors can enjoy a combination of fun activities, planetarium shows, and performances by some of the region’s best family performers, as well as the popular Seussian Holiday gingerbread exhibit at the Springfield Science Museum.

“Week of Wonder” events kick off on Saturday, Dec. 26 with all four Springfield Museums open regular hours, plus activities at the Hasbro Games Art Discovery Center and shows at the Seymour Planetarium. On Sunday, Dec. 27, the activities and events shift into high gear with a lively, interactive performance by Otha Day titled “Drum to the Beat” from 2 to 3 p.m. in SIS Hall, Wood Museum of Springfield History.

Performances on subsequent days will include:

• Mon., Dec. 28, 11 a.m.: Magician Scott Jameson (Davis Auditorium, D’Amour Museum). Marvel as umbrellas are plucked from thin air, drawings are brought to life, and basketballs are juggled.

• Tue., Dec. 29, 11 a.m.: Toe Jam Puppet Band performs “Toe Jam in Outer Space” (Davis Auditorium, D’Amour Museum). The show includes a spacey dress-up puppet show, some anti-gravity dancing, and original songs from the CD Toe Jam In Outer Space!

• Wed., Dec. 30, 11 a.m.: Interactive comedy magic and juggling. Join Robert Clarke for a charming and hysterical show featuring slight of hand, gravity-defying tricks, and comedy.

Other activities include:

• Seymour Planetarium Shows, 11:15 a.m., noon, 1 p.m., 2 p.m., Science Museum;

• Art Discovery Center, Noon to 4 p.m., GWVS Art Museum;

• Art Activities (Dec. 27-30 only), 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Science Museum, science workshop; and

• Family Science Adventures (Dec. 27-30 only), 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Science Museum.

“Week of Wonder” is part of the Museums’ Family Fun series. MassMutual is the 2015-16 premier sponsor of the Springfield Museums.

Admission is $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $9.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3 and museum members. General admission is free for Springfield residents with proof of address. Regular hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Sundays, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Museums are also open Monday, Dec. 29 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, visit springfieldmuseums.org.

Daily News

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank announced that Kathryn Dube has joined the bank as first vice president and wealth business development leader.

Dube brings more than 30 years of banking and financial-management experience to her new role. She has held progressively responsible positions in retail banking and wealth management in the Western Mass. and Connecticut markets. Prior to joining Berkshire Bank, she served as senior vice president of private banking at TD Bank, where she was responsible for sales of wealth products and services and generating new assets. She served as senior vice president, regional retail market manager for TD Bank as well, managing a network of 35 stores and $2 billion in deposits.

Dube holds Series 7 and 66 FINRA licenses. She attended the University of Connecticut, New England College of Finance, and Bryant College. Involved in numerous community endeavors, she is the current chair of the United Way Women’s Leadership Council in the Pioneer Valley, a member of the organization’s board of directors, and co-chair of the Endowment Committee for the United Way. Having previously served as chair and vice chair for the United Way of Pioneer Valley, she was selected as the organization’s Volunteer of the Year in 2014.

Daily News

CHICOPEE — Chicopee Savings Bank recently welcomed Christopher Casale to its Financial Services Center as an investment services sales associate.

Casale has been advising clients on investments and insurance as a registered representative for more than 30 years. In 1982, he started his career with E.F. Hutton & Co. and most recently worked at United Bank, where he served as a personal banker and assistant vice president of investments.

Casale has earned his Series 7, 63, and Investment Advisor Representative designation through LPL Financial as well as his license in life, accident, and health insurance. He graduated in 1982 from American International College with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.

Daily News

SPRINGFIELD — The Springfield Museums recently created an entirely new, mobile-friendly website highlighted by new and expanded information on the museums’ combined collections. The site uses the same URL address as the previous website, springfieldmuseums.org.

The website was created through the combined efforts of Merideth Ross, design and website manager for the Museums, and Joseph Casciano, the Museums’ administrative and social-media associate. Additional development assistance was provided by Noah Kuhn of Pilotmade in Amherst.

The Museums’ new website is optimized for mobile browsing, a critical feature in an age where more website visitors are using tablets and smartphones than ever before. The site has also been reorganized based on feedback gathered from a ‘card sort’ survey of site users, creating a more intuitive navigation. Other useful features include an easy-to-use portal for online donations and enhanced functionality to house additional content like videos and a new blog.

A major new element of the redesigned site is the presence of high-quality photos and background information on many spotlight objects from the Museums’ combined collections. This new feature will allow the Museums to reach an even wider audience with information about their signature collections, from antique Asian and Islamic art to scientific and anthropological specimens; from rare cars and motorcycles to Currier & Ives prints. Visitors to the site can browse these items by category or tag, and can search the collections using any keyword. As with other major museums, digitization and online access of images and catalog data will be a major focus for the Springfield Museums in the coming years.

“We are very excited to introduce this new website, which will allow us to share information on the unique breadth and quality of our collections, events, and exhibits in a way that is flexible and easy to access,” said Springfield Museums President Kay Simpson.

The site will continue to expand in the future to include more collections data, an online store, and articles offering a look at the people and stories behind the Museums’ exhibits and events.

Daily News

NORTHAMPTON — Corina Belle-Isle has joined Gage-Wiley & Co. Inc. in a dual role, serving as a financial advisor and also holding a new position the investment firm recently created: director of business development.

In her leadership position, Belle-Isle will work with President Christopher Milne to set firm and wide objectives and identify methods to reach these goals. She also will have a responsibility to develop, coordinate, and implement plans designed to increase existing business and capture new opportunities.

“Creating this new leadership position represents one more incremental step in our long-term goal of advancing Gage-Wiley as a comprehensive boutique wealth-management firm mand ensuring we are well-positioned to support the growing and complex needs of our clients,” Milne said.

Belle-Isle’s varied background includes experience in financial services, real estate, corporate sales and marketing, small-business ownership, and nonprofit development. Rounding out her business knowledge and experience are her creative pursuits; last year, she served as the principal and curator of the Quinn Marin Gallery Project in Rockport.

“The common thread among all her experiences is a demonstrated success in business development and building strong relationships,” Milne said.

Sections Travel and Tourism

Plane Speaking

Janice Webb

Janice Webb says that the strong dollar, coupled with a desire among Baby Boomers to see the world, is the prevailing force when it comes to travel in 2016.

Janice Webb says three area couples put down their deposit for a trip to Paris for next April on the morning of Nov. 13, just hours before news of the terrorist attacks across the City of Light first broke on CNN.

Webb, owner of Emerald City Travel in Springfield, circled back with the group the next day to see if they had any questions or concerns — or intentions to change their travel plans.

They had some of the former, certainly, but none of the latter, she told BusinessWest, adding that the prevailing attitude was that, while the attacks that killed 130 people were alarming, they were not enough to prompt cancellation of a trip, which would continue with a river cruise to Amsterdam, that those involved have been looking forward to for most of their lives.

“They all e-mailed back and said, ‘let’s do this and hope for the best,’ and that appears to be the common sentiment,” said Webb, a 30-year industry veteran who noted that the various forms of turmoil in Europe are colliding head on with a potent package — a weak euro combined with a powerful desire among retiring Baby Boomers and others to get out and see the world, or at least the homes of their ancestors.

The latter is, by and large, the much stronger force at the moment.

“People want to travel, and they’re not going to let this stop them,” she said, using ‘this’ to describe the sum of the international and domestic turmoil. “They’re going to be more cautious, certainly, but they’re still going to travel.”

Paul O’Meara agreed. He’s the business development manager for the Globus family of travel brands, which includes Avalon Waterways, Cosmos, and Monograms. He told BusinessWest that, since 9/11, and even moreso in recent years, international travelers have adapted to what he called a “new norm.”

Roughly translated, this equates to expectations — for longer lines and tighter security at airports, armed soldiers at many popular tourist destinations in Europe, and, yes, possible incidents involving terrorism.

“People are more experienced now, they know what to expect, and they’re more aware of their safety and more aware of their surroundings,” he said, adding that such travelers would certainly take notice of the recent global travel alert issued by the U.S. State Department (in effect until February), but they would not be intimidated or frozen by it. “This is not 1985 or 1965; travelers are more sophisticated now, and they’ve adjusted to this new norm.”

As for the attacks in France’s capital city and their impact on travel there, he summed things up with a line he would utter more than a few times.

“Paris is Paris — there’s a reason why 30 million people go there every year,” he said, adding that his company books more visits to that city than any other except Rome. “We have about 500,000 people booked on various trips to Paris, and fewer than a dozen have cancelled.”

But an attitude of defiance when it comes to not letting terrorism get in the way of a long-planned, long-dreamed-about trip to Europe also extends to Berlin, London, Venice, Belgium (despite the fact that Brussels was locked down for several days last month), and, to a lesser extent, Istanbul, although some cruise lines and travel companies are changing some itineraries in Turkey.

“The knee-jerk reaction to what happened in Paris or in Brussels is that people aren’t going to travel there,” said O’Meara. “But that’s not what’s happening.”

For this issue and its focus on travel and tourism, BusinessWest looks at how recent events are spawning concern, but they’re not keeping travelers from reaching their destination — whatever that might be.

Cruise Control

As he talked about travel to Europe and why he doesn’t expect it to be seriously dented by the attacks in Paris and other terrorist actions in that part of the world, O’Meara started his explanation by detailing one of his company’s current offerings.

It’s a package known as ‘Italian Vista,’ and it features eight days with stops in cities like Rome, Florence, Milan, and Venice, and includes hotel stays, meals, and guided tours. The price this fall was an already-attractive $1,999, and for next year, it’s a jaw-dropping $1,449.

“That’s all due to the weak euro and the attractive exchange rates,” he told BusinessWest, adding that such sticker prices on trips across the continent help explain why bookings for 2016 are running roughly 13% ahead of the pace for last year, despite the attacks in Paris, the bomb that brought down a Russian airliner, the refugee crisis, and other forms of turmoil.

“This is the time to book, and people are doing it,” he said. “The prices are attractive, the dollar is strong … these are great opportunities, and people don’t want to miss out on them.”

the City of Light

The terrorist attacks in Paris were unnerving, but thus far, they do not appear to be a deterrent for those making plans to visit the City of Light.

That’s not to say that the terrorist attacks in Paris are not having an impact in that city or others. Indeed, the general manager of the Palace Hotel Park Hyatt Paris-Vendome and Park Hyatt’s vice president for France recently told The New York Times, “Naturally, occupancy is drastically decreasing in the wake of the attacks … we noticed a lot of cancellations right after the attacks for the following days and weeks, with the decrease more significant on bookings from the leisure traveler segment than the business one.”

But overall, O’Meara says travelers are simply pausing before traveling to Paris and other destinations, and the sentiment within the travel industry is that they won’t be pausing for long, unless there are more incidents.

Webb agreed. She said fall is the time when travel companies put out deals designed to fill cruise ships and hotels for the coming season, and thus far, travelers have not been shy about snapping them up.

“They offer these deals, which include airfare sales, percentage discounts, and past-passenger discounts, to get the product rolling,” she said, adding that these discounts are typical of what’s been offered the past several years. “And I’ve had a lot of people make reservations starting the first week in October; it’s been steady since, and it’s mostly European product.”

She said there are many factors at play when it comes to the ongoing surge in international travel — and travel in general. They include the strong dollar, which is now worth almost as much as a euro, when three years ago the rate was almost 1.4 dollars to the euro.

But there’s more to the equation. Bad winters, especially the one in 2015, have promoted many to conclude that, to endure such punishment, they need to break it up with a week or 10 days someplace warm, usually coinciding with February school vacation.

Adventure-packed destinations are still very much in vogue, which means Costa Rica is still hot, said Webb, adding quickly that many people young and old have already been there and done that, and now, most are just looking for a good deal and a good beach.

Then there are the aging Baby Boomers, many of them with disposable income, and others as well, who want to visit places they’ve heard about or the country their family calls home.

For many in this region, that means Italy or Ireland. “It seems like there’s lots of Irish and Italians in the Springfield area,” said Webb, who is booking lots of trips to both countries.

But there is still another factor in all this, she went on, noting that, overall, events like those that took place in Paris have only a temporary impact on travel — if other conditions are favorable, such as the economy — and usually not a deep impact.

An exception to that rule was 9/11, Webb added quickly, noting that the industry suffered greatly as business was frozen by uncertainty. But even then, there were groups and individuals who were undaunted and determined to seize opportunities.

“People were generally fearful at first,” she said of the days and weeks following 9/11. “But there’s one contingent of people who travel right away because they know the prices are going to be low, and they’re going to book the bargains. And then, a second contingent of people come right behind them, because they’re just tired of not doing what they want to do, and at that point, they perceive the risk to be worth taking to see what they want to see or live the way they want to live.”

Whether this pattern continues in the wake of this tumultuous fall remains to be seen, but all indications are that it will.

But while travelers will be undaunted, for the most part, they will also be more cautious, Webb predicted. She predicted that some may opt to travel with a group rather than visiting a city or region on their own, which is good for cruise-ship lines and tour operators.

Meanwhile, others may seek out destinations deemed to be safe, or at least safer.

“Sometimes a travel warning like this will push people to cruising,” Webb explained, “because if a port is deemed unsafe, the cruise line won’t go there; they’ll just substitute another port, and so people feel confident that, if the cruise lines go there, it’s a safe place to go.”

Not Tripped Up

Even within the confines of that ‘new norm’ O’Meara described, the terrorist attacks in Paris were certainly unsettling — for travelers and the travel industry.

Thus far, though, it appears that the package of attractive fares, a strong dollar, a desire among Boomers to see the world, and ‘Paris being Paris’ is creating opportunities well worth the sum of the risks involved.

Like those three local couples bound for Paris next spring, people are booking, and hoping for the best.

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

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Horizons Engineering Inc. v. Chicopee Inn Inc., d/b/a Econo Lodge and Dinesh Patel
Allegation: Non-payment for services rendered: $16,350.50
Filed: 9/30/15

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

West County Equipment Rentals, LLC v. Sugarloaf Nurseries and David and Charlotte Smith
Allegation: Breach of agreement for rental agreement: $7,771.88
Filed: 10/5/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Ciocca Construction Corp. v. Baystate Co. d/b/a Columbia Gas
Allegation: Negligence causing massive explosion, personal injury, and property damage: $590,000+
Filed: 10/7/15

Coyote Realty, LLC v. Total Wellness Center, d/b/a CleanSlate
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $220,000
Filed: 10/9/15

Earl and Stacy Lannon v. Kadant Black Clawson Inc.
Allegation: Product liability causing permanent personal injury: $286,743.16
Filed: 10/28/15

Kate Dunne, PPA Tara Dunne and Michael Dunne v. Baystate Ob-Gyn Inc., Debra J. Junnila, M.D. and Julie M. Bell, C.N.M.
Allegation: Medical malpractice: $1,100,000+
Filed: 10/5/15

New England Family Dentistry, P.C. v. Supreeth Veevanna and Children’s Dentistry of Chicopee, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract: $60,000+
Filed: 10/14/15

Pablo Torres v. The Silverbrick Group and 15 Taylor, LLC
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $25,000+
Filed: 11/2/15

 

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Brett Fongemie v. Champion Steel, LLC,  Mark E. Gervais, and Bruce B. Bouchard
Allegation: Non-payment of wages: $25,000
Filed: 9/22/15

Miriam Rivera v. Joe Dias d/b/a Care Improvement Inc.
Allegation: Breach of contract for home-improvement services: $10/13/15

Perkins Paper LLC v. Fiore’s Bakery, LLC
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $8,986.25
Filed: 10/20/15

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the months of November and December 2015.

AGAWAM

Circle Hypnotherapy
2 South Bridge St.
Jeanne Romansky

Friendly Ride Transportation
17 McRinley St.
Brian Savlick

Red Thread
604 South West St.
Elena Melnikov

Snap On Tools
142 Autumn St.
Ivan Aguilar

CHICOPEE

Anko Logistics
470 Memorial Dr.
Franklin Ankdmah

Associates of Nutrition and Professionals
114 Beauregard Terrace
Amy Desroches

Auto Damage Appraisals
257 Hampden St.
Ricardo Azevedo

Rivest Hairstyling
104 Lawler Terrace
Kimberly Rivest

The Matchbox
1512 Memorial Dr.
Jocelyn Poirier

University Driving School
161 Grove St.
David Marino

GREENFIELD

Foot Care by Nurses
63 French King Highway
Mary Clayton-Jones

Karen’s Dance Studio
49 Bank Row
Karen Fritz-Ohare

Pristine Orientals
16 Butternut St.
Tyler Ward

Pure Current Therapeutics
158 Main St.
Alexa Williamson

Sigda Flower Shop
284 High St.
Richard Sigda

Two Fathers Restorations & Design
367 Federal St.
Brian Artherton

Wisdom Why Self Storage
303 Wisdom Way
James Wood

HOLYOKE

Peerless Auto Sales
604 Main St.
Richard Ryll

Schermerhorn’s Seafood
224 Westfield Road
Michael Fitzgerald

Sevinc Corporation
50 Holyoke St.
Osman Bakhriyev

Sofrito Depot
329 Main St.
Janet Santana

Solutions
6 Radcliffe St.
Kenneth A. Hebert

Sports Zone
50 Holyoke St.
James M. Dent

Thomas Poetry
24 Old Jarvis Ave.
Thomas Kennedy

LUDLOW

Esteem Skin Care, LLC
733 Chapin St.
Carol Santini

JR Butcher Shop
274 East St.
Paulo Dias

Jump Strategy
679 West St.
Stacy Falconer

Legacy Fine Woodworking
1240 Center St.
Michael Jodoin

Sam’s Natural Farm
153 Chapin St.
Joseph Kozicki

Western Mass. Educational Advocacy Services
151 East St.
Karen Mowry

SPRINGFIELD

Expresso Mini Market
904 State St.
Israel Lopez

Forever Moore
193 Marion St.
Brandi A. Moore

G & A Landscaping
55 Wentworth St.
Micky Colon

Gentle Family Dentistry
1206 Boston Road
David Chou

Higuey Mini Market
2987 Hancock St.
Andres Guerrero

Honor Capital
1 Monarch Place
Founders Finance

JM’s Homelife
51 Oxford St.
Jodi Manning

Junny’s Auto Repair
638 Worthington St.
Candido Borges

L.L.D. Services
50 James St.
Luis E. Dejesus

Magic Dreams
23 Humburg St.
Ada Ceteno

Main St. Convenience
469 Main St.
Davone Markease

Medina’s Supermarket
2705 Main St.
Ismael Medina

Mobile, LLC
267 Allen St.
Scott R. Caron

My Little Ones
35 Brookline Ave.
Zoraida Guzman

No Sleep Productions
115 State St.
Lorenzo Guzman

R & N Food Corporation
17 Knox St.
Reda Shabaneh

Restore Skin Care Center
3640 Main St.
Kihan Francis

Sandra Home Improvement
604 Page Blvd.
Sandra Perdomo

Sincyr Designs
302 Gifford St.
Jason M. Cyr

Sunny Nails
801 Belmont Ave.
Van Nguyen

Surgery Center of New England
55 St. George Road
Musine, LLC

T&T Nail Bar
340 Cooley St.
Vinh Nguyen

The Toys Gallery
62 Winter St.
Luis Rivera

United Business Partners
1350 Main St.
Keon Simpson

Vinh Chau Restaurant
409 Dickerson St.
Phuong Nguyen

Western Mass. Tree Care
189 Woodlawn St.
David W. Murphy

Yuzhen’s Beauty Salon
460 Main St.
Panran Qiu

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Battista Property Management
849 Amostown Road
Brian Battista

Infinity Auto Rental
52 Baldwin St.
Joseph Gallo

JDM Towing
47 Irving St.
Teyfur Teyfurlov

Liquori’s Pizza Inc.
639 Westfield St.
Antonio Liquori

Medallion Motel
13 River St.
Elise Rodenhiser

Olympia Ice Center
125 Capital Dr.
Corporation Massachusetts

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]

40 Under Forty Reunion

Springfield Country Club hosted the most recent 40 Under Forty reunion on Dec. 2, as honorees from the past nine years came out to mingle, network, and enjoy the season.

Amanda Huston

Left to right: Amanda Huston (class of 2010) and Sean Wandrei (’10).


Jeremy Casey

Left to right: Jeremy Casey (’13), Michelle Desmarais, and Gregg Desmarais (’15).


Kristi Reale

Left to right: Kristi Reale (’09), Alfonso Santaniello (’14), and Bill Trudeau (’08).


Jeremy Leap

Left to right: Jeremy Leap (’13), Samalid Hogan (’13), Michael Gove (’07), and BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien.


Jeff Fialky


Left to right: Jeff Fialky (’08), Liz Rappaport (’14), and Sarah Tsitso (’07).

Date with Destiny

FSBEllen

Continuing a tradition of celebrating local talent in its marketing and community-outreach efforts, Florence Bank invited the public to meet renowned artist/photographer Ellen Augarten at a reception on Dec. 4 at the bank’s main branch in Florence. Augarten is a Northampton photographer and artist whose career spans more than three decades and whose body of work includes children and family portraits, and compelling Pioneer Valley images shown through the prism of double-exposure photography to add a dramatic look to each scene. Her work appears throughout each month in the bank’s 2016 calendars, which will be available shortly at each of the Florence Bank branches.

Another Exciting Chapter

Link to Libraries

The Link to Libraries Business Book Link program has a new sponsor at the Coburn School in West Springfield. Steve Mitus, executive vice president and chief financial officer at Balise Auto Group, and his wife, Moira, are sponsoring and reading to grade 4 students. Link to Libraries donates books to more than 400 sites in Western Mass. and Connecticut each year. More than 79,000 new books were distributed this fiscal year. For more information, visit www.linktolibraries.org.

Agenda Departments

Santa’s Trains at Look Park

Through Dec. 24: This holiday season, Look Memorial Park is celebrating with a selection of running model trains whirling by displays of a whimsical wonderland of Christmas favorites and village landscapes. The Garden House, transformed into a Victorian-style train station, offers sights and sounds of the holiday season. Chat with authentic engineers, view themed holiday trees, and visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus before relaxing with a holiday cookie and hot chocolate. Each evening features a special guest conductor and station master from the community. Santa’s helpers will be happy to deliver your letter to Santa personally and let him know you are ready to visit him. Santa’s Trains at Look Park is open to the public daily from Dec. 10 to Dec. 23 from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Dec. 24 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. This holiday event is free for all ages. Visit www.lookpark.org for information. Also, during Santa’s Trains at Look Park, step aboard the park’s train and take a one-mile ride on the Look Park Holiday Express to view more than 50 holiday light displays made by the park’s grounds and maintenance staff. The cost is $5. The train departs nightly every 20 minutes beginning at 4:20 p.m. The last departure is at 7:40 p.m. More than 20,000 visitors annually visit the park during the holiday season to visit Santa’s Trains, view the light displays, and share holiday dreams with Santa.

‘Firearms of Famous People’ at Museum

Through April 24: “Firearms of Famous People: From Target Shooters to Presidents,” a temporary exhibit of extraordinary firearms and memorabilia owned by well-known politicians, presidents, and celebrities, is now on view at the Lyman and Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History. The exhibit, which was organized in cooperation with the Smith & Wesson Collectors Assoc., is on display through April 24, 2016 in a space adjacent to the Smith & Wesson Gallery of Historic Firearms. The exhibit includes three presidential pistols, including a .44 double-action Smith & Wesson revolver owned by Teddy Roosevelt, along with a belt knife used by Teddy’s Rough Riders during the Spanish-American War. Also featured is a .32 safety hammerless Smith & Wesson acquired by Franklin Delano Roosevelt when he was employed as an attorney in New York in the 1920s. The third presidential weapon is a .357 Magnum made especially for John F. Kennedy, featuring the handiwork of master engraver Alvin White. The revolver is fully engraved and inlaid with gold and silver, and bears the Great Seal of the U.S. on the side plate. This exhibit also includes three guns owned or used by movie stars, including a .32 caliber Smith & Wesson belonging to George Montgomery, well-known for his career as a film actor in many westerns. Clint Walker, best-known as the star of the Cheyenne TV series, owned a Smith & Wesson Model 3 that is on view. Also on display is a prop gun designed to look like a .45 caliber U.S. Army automatic pistol, used by Lee Marvin in the film Delta Force in 1986. Probably the two most famous gunmakers in the history of this country are Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson, and this exhibit features firearms connected to both of these innovators. Other firearms featured in this exhibit were owned by FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Theodor Robert Geisel (the father of Dr. Seuss), and Christina Nilsson, one of the opera stars of the 19th century. Admission prices are $18 for adults, $12 for seniors and college students, $9.50 for children 3-17, and free for children under 3 and museum members. The fee provides access to all four museums. General admission is free for Springfield residents with proof of address.

‘Look Good…Feel Better’

Jan. 28: The Baystate Regional Cancer Program at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital and the American Cancer Society will present “Look Good…Feel Better,” a free program for area women from 10 a.m. to noon. The program teaches beauty techniques to women who are undergoing cancer treatment. The session offers support, information, and an enjoyable first step toward renewed self-esteem, self-confidence, and emotional recovery for cancer patients undergoing radiation or chemotherapy. Deb Rozzen, volunteer cosmetologist with the “Look Good…Feel Better” program, will be on hand to work with each woman and help them learn how to enhance their appearance using makeup techniques. Wig care, scarf and hat use, skin care, and nail care will all be discussed, and all participants will receive a free makeup kit. Sessions are limited to 12 people, are open to any woman undergoing cancer treatment in the area, and will be held at the hospital in Ware. Pre-registration by Tuesday, Dec. 22 is required by calling Camille St. Onge, oncology social worker at Baystate Mary Lane Hospital, at (413) 967-2245.

Difference Makers

March 31: The eighth annual Difference Makers award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House. Details on the event will be published in upcoming issues of the magazine. Difference Makers is a program, launched in 2009, that recognizes groups and individuals that are, as the name suggests, making a difference in this region. The magazine’s editor and publishers have chosen this year’s class, which will be profiled in the Jan. 25 issue.

Company Notebook Departments

STCC, United Way Open Financial Success Center

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Technical Community College (STCC) opened Springfield’s first Thrive Financial Success Center on Dec. 3, with a ceremony in the President’s Conference Room in Garvey Hall. Thrive is a collaborative effort between United Way of Pioneer Valley and STCC to provide financial education and support services to students and community residents. It is supported by PeoplesBank, MassMutual, the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the United Way of Pioneer Valley, and the STCC Foundation. “After the success of the Thrive Financial Success Centers at Holyoke Community College and in downtown Holyoke, we are thrilled to open a third Thrive Center at Springfield Technical Community College,” said United Way of Pioneer Valley President and CEO Dora Robinson. “At the United Way of Pioneer Valley, we believe basic financial literacy should be a key aspect of everyone’s education. No career goal or life’s ambition should be hindered because a person doesn’t know how to balance their checkbook or maintain a good credit rating.” Thrive @ STCC anticipates it will serve 400 individuals in its first year of operation. Program offerings include confidential benefits screening and enrollment, a money-skills class, individual financial coaching sessions, free income-tax prepatration through the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, links to workforce-development and training workshops, and LifeBridge, MassMutual’s free life-insurance program. Thrive Centers currently operate in partnership with the United Way at Holyoke Community College and at the Picknelly Adult and Family Education Center in downtown Holyoke. “Building financial awareness and planning skills is essential to our students’ and our community’s economic prosperity,” said STCC President Ira Rubenzahl. “Many of our students are overburdened with outside financial struggles. Coupling career guidance with access to financial coaching will assist Thrive participants to make informed decisions that will make their lives easier, allow them to remain focused on their studies, and prepare them for future employment.”

Berkshire Bank Launches ‘Season of Giving’ Effort

PITTSFIELD — Berkshire Bank has launched its fourth annual “Season of Giving” campaign, which runs through the end of the holiday season. Through the campaign, bank employees will complete a variety of community-service projects throughout cities and towns that Berkshire Bank serves. Berkshire Bank employees are also inviting the public to join with them to support local children and families in need during this holiday season to further expand the collective impact. More than 200 Berkshire Bank employees will participate in the effort, with all of the service projects benefiting nonprofit organizations and families across Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and Vermont. In addition to these local efforts, Berkshire Bank has teamed up with the American Red Cross to participate in their annual Mail for Heroes program, through which bank employees will send holiday cards to service men, women, and veterans who cannot be with their families during the holidays. In the Pioneer Valley, all Berkshire Bank branches and Berkshire Insurance Group offices have teamed up with the state Department of Children & Families to collect gifts for local families in need. Donations are being accepted at any Berkshire Bank location in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties. The public is invited to stop by their local office to see which items are needed from the ‘giving tree.’ Bank employees will also volunteer their time with a variety of local nonprofit organizations during the holiday season, including Wreathes Across America and the Salvation Army. Berkshire Bank Foundation, the charitable arm of Berkshire Bank, also plans to contribute grants to local nonprofit organizations.

WNEU Offers Free Small-business Legal Assistance

SPRINGFIELD — The Western New England University Small Business Legal Clinic is now accepting applications from entrepreneurs and small-business owners seeking legal assistance for the spring 2016 semester. Under faculty supervision, law students assist clients with legal issues including choice of entity, employment policies, contract drafting, regulatory compliance, and intellectual-property issues relating to trademark applications and copyright. This is a free service available to local businesses. The Small Business Clinic at Western New England School of Law has assisted more than 300 small businesses, and is a solid resource for entrepreneurs who lack the finances to retain an attorney. By using the clinic’s services, businesses can avoid problems by getting legal issues addressed early and correctly. It also provides students with an opportunity to gain real-world experience. The Small Business Legal Clinic asks small-business owners to submit their applications by Thursday, Dec. 31. Applications received after that date will be considered if additional resources are available. Students will begin providing services in mid-January. For more information, call the clinic at (413) 782-1469 or e-mail [email protected].

Briefcase Departments

Business Confidence Up, Manufacturing Challenged

BOSTON — The Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) Business Confidence Index rose 1.3 points in November to 56.9, almost exactly where it stood a year before (56.8). “The story here is less the monthly gain than the longer-term pattern,” said Raymond Torto, Chair of AIM’s Board of Economic Advisors and lecturer at Harvard Graduate School of Design. “Over the past year, the index rose nicely for five months and then started a fitful decline back to where it was last November. The hidden trend behind that pattern is a divergence in confidence levels between manufacturers and other employers.” He added that “our state’s manufacturing sector, which relies heavily upon international demand for its world-class products, is up against a strong dollar and weak conditions in all its major export markets — China, Japan, Canada, and Western Europe. Domestic demand is down as well because of global conditions and large inventories. In March, manufacturers were almost as confident as other employers, but the confidence gap has grown significantly since then.” Torto noted that the manufacturing sector is overrepresented in AIM’s survey, but that it plays a vital part in the Massachusetts economy. “If the sector continues to struggle in 2016, other sectors will feel the repercussions, especially in regions of the state with concentrations of manufacturing industries.” AIM’s Business Confidence Index has been issued monthly since July 1991 under the oversight of the Board of Economic Advisors. Presented on a 100-point scale on which 50 is neutral, the index attained a historical high of 68.5 in 1997 and 1998; its all-time low was 33.3 in February 2009.

State Issues Financial-literacy Report

BOSTON — State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, accompanied by her Financial Literacy Task Force, released their statewide report on the status of financial education in the Commonwealth. “I have always understood the responsibilities of the Treasurer’s office include insuring economic stability within our state,” Goldberg said. “This means building a robust financial-literacy program, which is a critical step toward strengthening economic security for everyone in Massachusetts.” The task force, under the direction of the Treasurer’s Office of Economic Empowerment, launched a comprehensive research effort in April. The diverse group of policymakers, educators, bankers, and advocates convened for six months. Their goal was to develop a road map to resources that will empower every Massachusetts resident with the skills they need to manage their money, plan for college, save for retirement, and better understand the impact of their economic decisions. “Implementing the recommendations of this task force will make a difference in the quality of the lives of Massachusetts citizens of all ages and backgrounds,” said former Undersecretary of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation Barbara Anthony, who chaired the task force. “The task force work presents the vital road map for the future of financial literacy in our state.” Some initiatives within the report include increasing accessibility to all financial education activities and programs throughout the state, promoting a public financial-education awareness campaign, communicating the family-dynamic principle to stakeholders, and incorporating it in all financial-literacy programming within the Office of Economic Empowerment. The 31 task force members identified three key demographic groups — K-12 students, college students, and adults — for the largest scope of fiscal impact on the state. The task force’s final report serves as an action plan for Goldberg and the Economic Empowerment Trust Fund Board. “Though we are keenly aware all adults can benefit from financial services, the adult subcommittee of Treasurer Goldberg’s Financial Literacy Task Force determined low-to-moderate income families, first-generation immigrants, women, seniors, and veterans are particularly vulnerable, and have set forth recommendations to ensure their financial well-being throughout their lifetime,” said Sylvia de Haas Phillips, subcommittee co-chair and senior vice president of United Way.

Standard & Poor’s Affirms State’s AA+ Bond Rating

BOSTON — In a communication to the Commonwealth, Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services shared that it has affirmed Massachusetts’ AA+ credit rating on its general obligation bonds, while also providing notice that it is changing the Commonwealth’s outlook to ‘negative’ due to concerns about a multi-year trend on spending and the use of reserve funds. “While we have retained our current AA+ rating, we recognize and acknowledge the areas of concern raised today by Standard & Poor’s revised outlook,” Treasurer Deb Goldberg said. “I will continue to emphasize the importance of building our reserves, and I look forward to working with the administration and Legislature to establish the path to a healthier, stronger reserve balance for Massachusetts.”

Bankruptcies Departments

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

AMC Childcare
HOGHT
Betts, Jacqueline Simmons
799 Sumner Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/15

Bamber, Marcia G.
74 Chapin Greene Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/15

Bielawa, Holly A.
50 Tyrone St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/11/15

Bruce, George A.
74 Wrenwood St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/15

Bulger, Emily Jane
174 Wallingford Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/15

Bulger, John William
10 Gardner Falls Road
Shelburne Falls, MA 01370
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/15

Carr, Tiffany M.
145 Harvard St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/05/15

Chabot, Stacy
DeCosta, Pamela
573 Pequoig Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/02/15

Choquette, Diane
85 Eagle St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/15

Dansereau, Patricia R.
50 Schoolhouse Road
Phillipston, MA 01331
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/13/15

Dick, John T.
133 Saint Kolbe Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/14/15

Fitzgerald, Karen A.
45 Holyoke St., Apt. B
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/15

Grandchamp, James Michael
160 Point Grove Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/15

Grant, Alisha C.
7 Powder Mill Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/02/15

Green, Consuela D.
31 Daytona St., No. 1
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/15

Guay, Alice J.
54 Gates St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/15

Hancock, Donna Kay
33 Kellog Ave., Apt. 19
Amherst, MA 01002
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/31/15

Hill, Wendy M.
768 Belmont Ave., Unit 5B
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/15

Igartua, Wilma
P.O. Box 1833
Springfield, MA 01101
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/15

Lamere, Tanya Marie
41 Maple St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/15

Lowney, Matthew T.
10 Chestnut St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/15

Marrero, Carmelo R.
46 Sumner Terrace #2
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/05/15

Maynard, Raymond P.
77 Heggie Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/13/15

McCarthy, Richard Carl
31 Mill St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/15

Mena, Oscar Antonio
951 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/06/15

Mendez, Teresa
a/k/a Mendez, Ruperto Teresa
68 Cabot St, Apt. 503
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/13/15

O’Donnell, James Francis
14 Longview Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/15

Osier, Bethanie
136 Linden St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/08/15

Pasterczyk, Pamela A.
P.O. Box 261
Chicopee, MA 01014
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/15

Rosado, John A.
2004 Wilbraham Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/07/15

Salgado, Maya
a/k/a Salgado, Wanda
1 Hill Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/15

Schoenberg, Matthew
15 Tamarack Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/03/15

Shackett, John F.
73 Whittier St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/15

Sullivan, Sean Eugene
99 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/12/15

Thorng, Kimsour
93 Davenport St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 11/10/15

Vizcaya, Christian
a/k/a Vizcaya Lopez, Christian
3006 Main St., Apt. 2
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/06/15

Vizcaya, Vanessa
a/k/a Herrera, Vanessa
3006 Main St., Apt. 2
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/06/15

Ward, Brittany Rae
121 Montague City Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/15

Warren, Kelly Ann
27 Leonard St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/10/15

Williams, Edward
Williams, Elizabeth
17 Francis St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/03/15

Zercher, Gary J.
Zercher, Jean C.
16 Monroe St.
Apartment 5
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 11/09/15

Departments Incorporations

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

AGAWAM

Sow Inc., 1185 Suffield St., Agawam, MA 01001. Andrew Osgood, same. Sale and installation of window treatments.

Wiktor Transport Inc., 195 Leonard St., Agawam, MA 01001. Vladimir Stebenkov, same. Trucking.

AMHERST

Roger L. Wallace Excellence in Teaching Award Foundation Inc., 64 Carriage Lane, Amherst, MA 01002. Patricia Romney, same. Charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes to encourage excellence in teaching among Amherst elementary school educators or other school systems under operation of the same superintendent; annual award includes onetime stipend from Ann Ualaward will.

Woodside Daycare Center Inc., 155 Woodside Ave., Amherst, MA 01102. Catherine Epstein, 90 Spring St., Amherst, MA 01002. Charitable and educational purposes to provide day care, nursery, child care, and related educational services in the Greater Amherst area.

BELCHERTOWN

RT’s Welding, Fabrication & Auto Repair Inc., 120 Federal St., Bays 3 and 4, Belchertown, MA 01007. Randy Letourneau, 570 Amherst Road, Belchertown, MA 01007. Welding, fabrication, and auto repairs.

CHICOPEE

CJC Mobile Homes Inc., 246 Murphy Lane, Chicopee, MA 01020. Jennifer Picard, same. Purchase and sale of mobile homes.

Viktant Transport Inc., 36 Melvin St., Chicopee, MA 01013. Victor Antonov, same. Trucking.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Talbot Home Services Corp, 526 Parker St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Elizabeth Ann Talbot, same. Home Services and maintenance.

GREAT BARRINGTON

Van Buren Legacy Inc., 4 Knob Hill Road, Great Barrington, MA 01230. Dan Ruderman, same. Media company.

GREENFIELD

New 2 U Dog Rescue Inc., 22 Conway Dr., Greenfield, MA 01301. Dawn-Marie Conway, same. Provide shelter and rehabilitation and find adoptive homes for canines.

HADLEY

Edward Hopkins Educational Foundation Inc., 438 River Dr., Hadley, MA 01035. Kathleen Tudryn, same. Charitable and educational purposes for enriching the educational experiences of students in the Hadley, Massachusetts Public Schools.

HOLYOKE

Holyoke Deli and Butcher Inc., 502 Westfield Road, Holyoke, MA 01040. Matt Frazier, 63 Squawfield Road, Westfield, MA 01085. Delicatessen and butcher shop.

Virk’s International Inc., 8-10 Green St., Holyoke, MA 01060. Saadatza Virk MR., 1029 Elm St. Apt # 3B, West Springfield, MA 01089. Retail Convenience.

NORTHAMPTON

Royal Talens North America Inc., 30 Industrial Dr., Northampton, MA 01060. Roelof Buldo Benning, Sophlalaan 46, P.O. Box 7300AA, Apaldoorn, The Netherlands. Sale of artistic paint, brushes, canvasses, color pencils, and stationary.

Sew Rite Inc., 137D Damon Road, Northampton, MA 01060. Kichun Park, same. Alteration store.

PITTSFIELD

Linden St. Gas Station Corp., 185 Linden St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jitendra Patel, 34 Green Place, Brockton, MA 02301. Gas station and convenience store.

SPRINGFIELD

Alfred Powell Construction Corporation, 11 Preston St., Springfield, MA 01109. Alfred Powell, same. Light construction.
JEPMAC Springfield MA Inc., 436 Parker Street, Springfield, MA 01129. Jean Pierre-Victor, 8232 S Christiana Ave., Chicago, IL 60652. Buffett restaurant, catering SVC.

Ministerio Vencedores Para Cristo Inc., 843 Beacon Circle, Springfield, MA 01119. Sylkia Rivera, same. Non-profit organization spreading the word of God in the area; feeding hungry and bring hope to needy.

Re-Anagen Inc., 76 Florida St., Springfield, MA 01109. Jerome Jason Whittington, same. Fund and pursue cure and reversal of hair loss through scientific research.

Smithfield Packaged Meat Sales Corp., 20 Carando Dr., Springfield, MA 01104. Sales.

Springfield Vietnamese Cultural Association Inc., 1 Lyndale St., Springfield, MA 01108. Anton Cai, same. Charitable, religious, educational, and scientific purposes to promote and raise funds for Vietnamese community cultural events; preserve history of Vietnamese population, language, music, and traditions.

Team Zolo Auto Club Inc., 116 Michon St., Springfield, MA 0115. Anthony Baez, 464 Dickinson St., Springfield, MA 01108. Uphold car show events to raise money for different non-profit organizations.

The Ecumenical Church, 32 Hampden St., Springfield, MA 01103. Reverend Timothy Paul, same. Charitable, religious, and religious-educational purposes.

WESTFIELD

Reliable Motion Inc., 27B Sycamore St., Westfield, MA 01085. Volodymyr Pylypiv, same. Transportation of motor vehicles.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Balise K2 Inc., 122 Doty Circle, West Springfield, MA 01089. James Balise Jr., same. Automobile sales and service.

Technocare Inc., 12 Royce CT Apt. E6, West Springfield, MA 01089. Hetal Vaidya, same. Computer services and web designing.

US1 Express Inc., 533 Main St., West Springfield, MA 01089. Dildar Usmanov, same. Trucking.

WILBRAHAM

2ND2NoneBall Inc., 3 Sylvan Dr., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Anthony Bergeron, same. Basketball training, camps, clinics, programs.

Wilbraham Amisha Corporation, 461-465 Main St., Wilbraham, MA 01095. Sushilaben Patel, same. Convenience store.

WILLIAMSTOWM

American Land Partners Inc., 665 Simonds Road, Williamstown, MA 01267. Harry Patten, same. Manage real estate holdings of NLP Finance, LLC.

Daily News

CHICOPEE — Phillips Insurance Agency Inc. announced that account executive Sam Fortsch has earned the prestigious accredited adviser in insurance (AAI) designation. This degree was earned after he successfully completed the Liberty Mutual Commercial Lines Producers School, an intensive, six-month training program that included multiple classes and nine exams.

Fortsch joined Phillips Insurance in July 2014 after four years of active-duty service in the U.S. Army. He left the Army as a captain after two tours of duty in Afghanistan with the 101st Airborne. He holds a bachelor’s degree from UMass.

Fortsch has developed a strong expertise in the energy, automotive, technology, and craft-brewing industries in a short time, said Joseph Phillips, president of Phillips Insurance. “The same level of commitment that he brought to serving his country, he has brought to serving his clients.”

Fortsch is servicing existing clients and cultivating new business opportunities throughout New England.

Phillips Insurance Agency, established in 1953, is a full-service risk-management firm with a staff of 23 professionals. The agency handles the personal and commercial insurance needs for thousands of individuals and businesses throughout New England.