Year: 2015

NORTHAMPTON — Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen recently provided a used vehicle to the Northampton Fire Department for rescue training.

Firefighters spend countless hours training and honing their skills to ensure they are prepared for any emergency. The vehicle will be put to work in upcoming training exercises in which firefighters will utilize their extrication equipment on the vehicles, also known as the Hurst Tool or the Jaws of Life.

“Ensuring firefighters have the latest training is critical to the safety of this community,” said Carla Cosenzi, president of Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen, two dealerships in the TommyCar Auto Group chain. “We’re proud to be able to help in such a meaningful way, knowing so many people will ultimately benefit.”

Added Bill Schuetze, captain and training officer for the Northampton Fire Department, “we really want to thank Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen for the generous contribution. We will get a lot of use out of this car to train our firefighters on rescue efforts.”

Country Hyundai and Northampton Volkswagen hope to have an ongoing relationship with the Northampton Fire Department and be able to offer more vehicles in the future.

SPRINGFIELD — The Foundation for TJO Animals will host the seventh annual “Ride Like an Animal” Motorcycle Ride and Poker Run to benefit the animals at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center. All proceeds from this event will provide much-needed medical care and training to the many animals that call the adoption center their temporary home.

The event takes place Saturday, Aug. 15, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Pre-registration and kick off festivities — at the Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, 627 Cottage St., Springfield — will include special guests Jonathan Hall and his famous cat, Toto the Tornado Kitten.

Registration opens at 8 a.m., with kickstands up at 10:15 a.m. and the ride leaving at 10:30 a.m. About 300 bikes are expected to depart the shelter for a scenic ride through Western Mass., ending at the Ludlow Elks Lodge, 69 Chapin St., Ludlow. Riders and guests will enjoy a post-ride party featuring food, live music by the Varlets, raffles, and more.

Registration is $25 per adult rider and free for children under 7. For those individuals who would like to attend the after party only, post-ride party tickets are available for $15 per person.

The event is sponsored by Chicopee Savings Bank, Colonial Tire and Brake Center, Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Florence Bank, Freedom Credit Union, Performance Kars Unlimited, Southampton Harley Davidson, Teddy Bear Pools and Spas, Thrivent Financial, Wizard Auto Body, and the Foundation for TJO Animals board of directors. Special thanks to the members of the Iron Order International Motorcycle Club for their help organizing this event.

The Foundation for TJO Animals is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports and enhances medical services and enrichment programs for the animals at Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center. For more information about the foundation, call (413) 306-5161 or e-mail [email protected].

HOLYOKE — Kingdom Master Jewelers, is a family-run business operated by Gabriel Serrano and Idoel Ortiz Jr., opened its doors today at 2020 Northampton St. in Holyoke.

Previously a Hadley-based business since 2012, Serrano and Ortiz have become specialists in buying precious metals such as gold, diamonds, and silver, and have more tham 25 years of experience in custom-making one-of-a-kind pieces of jewelry. Kingdom Master Jewelers formally ran jewelry gallery repair shops for Kay, Hannoush, Jared, and many other jewelers in the area.

Business hours are Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. economy added 215,000 jobs in July after economists surveyed by CNNMoney predicted the economy would add 216,000 jobs. Anything above 200,000 is considered very solid. The unemployment rate stayed the same at 5.3%, which is its lowest point since April 2008.

Wage growth — the missing piece to America’s economic progress — remained sluggish in July, the report notes. Average hourly earnings only rose 2.1% compared to the prior year. Wage growth is the reason many Americans haven’t felt the benefits of the economy’s recovery. The Federal Reserve wants to see annual wage growth closer to 3.5%.

The jobs report is especially important now because the Fed is close to raising its key interest rate for the first time in over nine years. The Fed has said it will hike rates only if it believes the economy is healthy enough, especially for workers. A rate increase would be a good sign for how far the economy’s health has come since the recession ended.

Although the Fed wants to see better wage growth before raising rates, wage growth isn’t a requirement. The Fed raised its key interest rate in June 2004 when average weekly earnings were 1.7% compared to the prior year. Average weekly earnings in July were 2.4%.

Economic growth has been solid this year, though weaker than in 2014. Last year, the economy added 240,000 jobs a month on average between January and July. This year, that figure is 178,000. However, CNNMoney reports, many experts believe the current jobs report is strong enough to justify the Fed’s first rate hike taking place in September.

SPRINGFIELD — OnBoard, a Springfield-based nonprofit organization that matches qualified individuals and area boards of directors, is inviting local organizations and businesses to participate or become a sponsor in the “Get On Board!” event in October.

The event, to be held Thursday, Oct. 8 from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame, will connect local organizations with individuals looking to increase their community involvement.

OnBoard was founded in the mid-’90s by attorney Ellen Freyman of Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C. The group’s mission is to help organizations expand their governance diversity by enlisting women, people of color, and other under-represented populations to their boards of directors/trustees, committees, and advisory groups. OnBoard has been connecting qualified people in the Greater Springfield area with organizations seeking leadership that reflects the diversity of the region.

“Our goal with ‘Get On Board!’ is to facilitate an introduction of new talent and organizations around Greater Springfield,” said Freyman. “Diversifying your board of directors by recruiting members of under-represented populations can provide you with insight into different ways to engage with the community at large. Our goal is to create new relationships for both the individuals and the organizations who will benefit from each other’s resources and experience.”

The cost for organizations to register to participate in the event is $100 before Aug. 31 and $125 if submitted after Aug. 31.

As a nonprofit organization itself, OnBoard relies on the support of local businesses in order to hold ‘Get On Board.’ A number of funding options are available to local businesses who are interested in contributing to the event, including a $500 community-partner sponsorship and a $1,000 general-sponsorship opportunity.

“We encourage local nonprofits and businesses to help us make this a successful networking and recruiting event,” said Freyman. “We have a history of connecting qualified people in the Greater Springfield area with organizations seeking leadership that reflects our region’s diversity, but we wouldn’t be able to do so without our supporting sponsors.”

To register or become a business sponsor, visit www.diversityonboard.org.

SPRINGFIELD — One of the region’s largest nonprofit providers of early learning and family services, Square One, announced the addition of two senior-level individuals to its leadership team.

Joining the organization as vice president of Development is Kristine Allard. Allard will oversee the nearly $10 million organization’s fund raising, communications, and program development. She comes to Square One from the YMCA of Greater Springfield, where she led the fund-development and communications team, as well as family-center operations. In addition to fund raising, grant writing, and special-event planning, she has an extensive background in marketing and media relations. Allard is active on a number of community boards and committees, including Leadership Pioneer Valley and the Baystate Academy Charter School.

“We are very pleased to welcome Kris to Square One,” said Joan Kagan, president and CEO. “She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and talent to our organization. Her enthusiasm, positive energy, and team spirit are contagious, making her a great addition to our team. Kris is a true asset to Square One, and we are fortunate that she has joined us.”

Also joining the Square One team is Frank Tate III. As food-service director, Tate will develop menus and oversee daily food preparation for the organization’s 400 preschool and after-school program participants, assuring compliance with government regulations and Square One’s commitment to encouraging a healthy lifestyle. Tate comes to Square One following senior-level positions at YSET Academy in Springfield and the Early Childhood Centers of Greater Springfield.

“We know that proper nutrition is a critical part of every child’s ability to succeed academically, physically, emotionally, and socially,” said Kagan. “Frank’s extensive experience and expertise make him a perfect fit to help fulfill our mission. Not only does he bring knowledge, creativity, and a diversity of nutritious food to our kitchen, but also a cheerful disposition that our staff and families have come to embrace.”

BOSTON — The Massachusetts Gaming Commission, receptive to arguments regarding the impact of a major highway reconstruction on I-91, agreed to allow MGM Springfield to push the opening of its $800 million resort casino to September 2018. It was originally expected to open in the fall of 2017.

MGM Springfield officials said the state’s reconstruction of the I-91 viaduct through downtown Springfield — a project expected to begin this year and end by August 2018, although financial incentives to finish by 2017 are in play — must be complete before MGM Springfield can open.

The highway project includes ramp closures next to the casino site, and severe traffic congestion would keep visitors away and inconvenience those who do show up, said MGM officials, who still need the city’s approval to push back the opening date.

SPRINGFIELD — Moriarty & Primack, P.C. announced several promotions and additions to the firm.

The new hires include Dahimeli Mercado, associate; Jonathan Normand, associate; and Laurie Bonano, associate.

Meanwhile, Timothy Provost has been promoted to manager, and Daniel Duncan has been promoted to senior associate.

NORTHAMPTON — The UMass Amherst Family Business Center will present a dinner forum on Wednesday, Sept. 16 from 5 to 8:30 p.m. at the Clarion Hotel and Conference Center in Northampton. The program is called “Effective Business Decision Making in the Fast-changing Environment of the 21st Century.”

How many decisions do you make in the course of each business day? How often are they based on a gut feeling, versus measurable, relevant data? How accurate is your gut, and how well can you really tune into it? And how do you know which data is accurate, not to mention relevant? How can you be sure you’re considering all the consequences? Are you reaching for solutions that worked before, not sure they’re what is needed for more complex dilemmas? Are you influenced by biases you’re not even aware of? This presentation could help you, by exploring the practical aspects of the latest research on effective decision making and how family and closely held businesses are using it to create success.

Presenters include Vana Nespor, chief learning officer and dean of Online and Adult Studies at Bay Path University, and Tom Loper, associate provost and dean of Bay Path’s graduate Business program.

Call Ira Bryck, Family Business Center director, at (413) 545-4545 for more information.

GREENFIELD — The Connecticut River Watershed Council’s (CRWC) 19th annual Source to Sea Cleanup will be held Friday and Saturday, Sept. 25 and 26.

The annual, two-day event is coordinated by CRWC in all four states of the 410-mile Connecticut River basin. Each fall, thousands of volunteers of all ages and abilities head out to clean the Connecticut River and its tributaries on foot or by boat. Volunteers remove trash along rivers, streams, parks, boat launches, trails, and more.

“Source to Sea Cleanup volunteers have worked hard to combat litter and illegally dumped trash,” said Alicea Charamut, CRWC river steward and organizer of the cleanup. “Their hard work and dedication is impressive and inspiring.”

In 2014, more than 2,000 volunteers hauled over 47 tons of trash from riverbanks and waterways in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Connecticut. Volunteers use human power and sometimes heavy equipment to pull out everything from recyclables, fishing equipment, and food waste to tires, televisions, refrigerators, and junk cars. To date, volunteers have prevented more than 897 tons of trash from polluting area rivers.

There are three ways to get involved in the cleanup: report a trash site in need of cleaning, find a cleanup group near you to join, or organize and register your own local cleanup group. For more information or to register for the event, visit www.ctriver.org/cleanup.

“If your group wants to get involved but needs a cleanup site, contact us to learn about reported trash sites that may be near you,” said Charamut. Anyone with questions or trash tips can contact Charamut at [email protected] or (860) 704-0057.

“Generous financial support from lead sponsors — NRG’s Middletown Generating Station, Pratt & Whitney, and TransCanada — enables us to organize the thousands of volunteers who participate in the cleanup, and to take on complex projects that require the use of heavy equipment, scuba divers, and other professionals to get those really trashed places cleaned up,” said CRWC Executive Director Andrew Fisk. CRWC plans to continue efforts on cleaning up the tire dump along the Deerfield River in Greenfield, as well as removing an abandoned exposed pipe in the Connecticut River in Holyoke and a number of fuel tanks in various rivers in New Hampshire and Vermont.

The Connecticut River Watershed Council works to protect the watershed from source to sea. To learn more about CRWC, or to join the effort and help protect local rivers, visit www.ctriver.org.

CHICOPEE — The Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation announced the beneficiaries of its ninth annual scholarship award program. The program awarded seven scholarships, each in the amount of $3,000, to eligible high-school students attending participating high schools within the bank’s market area.

William Wagner, president of Chicopee Savings Bank Charitable Foundation, presented six general scholarship awards during a ceremony at the Munich Haus Restaurant on July 23 to Krystian Jurkowski, graduate of Chicopee High School; Samantha Cross, graduate of Cathedral High School; Emily Doiron, graduate of Chicopee Comprehensive High School; Emily Sevigne, graduate of Ludlow High School; Taylor Guertin, graduate of South Hadley High School; and Mihaela Sousa, graduate of Ware Junior/Senior High School; and presented the business-major scholarship award to Julianna Vadnais, graduate of Ware Junior/Senior High School.

SPRINGFIELD — Come celebrate the 90th anniversary of Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield at the sixth annual Walk for Love Walkathon and Barbecue on Saturday, Sept. 12.

This easy, three-mile walk begins at the hospital and continues through Van Horn Park and back to the hospital for a barbecue. The day of family fun includes Shrine clowns, Zoo on the Go, K-9s for Kids, face painting, a photo booth, music, food, and more.

Registration begins at 9 a.m., and the walk begins at 10 a.m.The barbecue and entertainment run from 11 a.m. to 1:30 
p.m. The event will be held rain or shine.

Registration fee for walkers and non-walkers alike is $25 per person,
$5 for children 12 and under, and $40 per family. A waiver must be signed to participate in the walkathon. No pets are allowed, except for service animals. Free parking will be available at the Boys and Girls Club located directly across from Shriners Hospital on Carew Street.
 All proceeds from this event benefit Shriners Hospitals for Children in Springfield.

Register online at www.walkforlove.org. Forms will also be available on the day of the walk. For additional information, contact Lee Roberts, the hospital’s public relations specialist, at (413) 755-2307 or [email protected].

SPRINGFIELD — Dress For Success (DFS) Western Massachusetts is holding its annual pop-up tag sale, featuring new and gently used professional clothing and accessories, at the Eastfield Mall the week of Aug. 27-31 during mall operating hours. The public is invited to fill a bag for just $25.

According to Dawn Creighton, Dress for Success president, “this event is important in so many ways. Thanks to generous donation of a retail store by Eastfield Mall management, we will be able to raise awareness of our work in the community and raise much-needed funds. Naturally, we will need many dozens of volunteers to make this event successful.”

Volunteers will be needed to stock and straighten shelves and racks throughout the event. The public is also invited to take advantage of the opportunity to do some closet cleaning; Dress for Success will accept donations of new clothing to be included in the sale.

For more information about volunteering for the pop-up tag sale or to make a donation, contact Creighton at (413) 233-9850 or [email protected].

AGAWAM — Cleveland-based Applied Industrial Technologies announced it has acquired Atlantic Fasteners, a distributor of C-class consumables located in Agawam. Terms of the sale were not disclosed.

“Atlantic Fasteners provides the market presence, products, and capabilities to further enhance our applied maintenance supplies and solutions (applied MSSSM) offering to a broad array of industrial customers,” said Neil Schrimsher, president and CEO of Applied. “They are an ideal fit with our business strategy and growth plans.”

Founded in 1981, Atlantic Fasteners and its 48 associates serve the New England region with industrial fasteners and related industrial supplies. The company also specializes in vendor-managed inventory systems.

Added Todd Barlett, Applied’s vice president, Acquisitions and Global Business Development, “we are pleased to welcome Atlantic Fasteners to Applied and are excited about the opportunities and success we can realize together.”

Founded in 1923, Applied Industrial Technologies is a leading industrial distributor that offers more than 5 million parts to serve the needs of MRO and OEM customers in virtually every industry. In addition, Applied provides engineering, design, and systems integration for industrial and fluid power applications, as well as customized mechanical, fabricated rubber, and fluid power shop services. Applied also offers maintenance-training and inventory-management solutions that provide added value to its customers. For more information, visit www.applied.com.

LUDLOW — Michael’s Party Rentals of Ludlow announced the recent acquisition of Yankee Tents of Montague. This purchase adds inventory to the company’s already-diverse roster and helps grow its customer base to the north, along the 91 corridor into Southern Vermont.

Yankee Tents’ previous owner, Jane Arvidson, is retiring after 38 years and is excited that her previous customers “will have even more inventory to accommodate all their rental needs.”

Michael Linton was only 17 in 2000 when he and his 15-year old brother, Ryan, started a rental business with one small tent. Michael was planning to run the operation part-time while in college at STCC, figuring it was more fun than his previous part-time job as an assistant septic-tank pumper.

In 2003, Michael bought his brother’s half of the business, renamed it Michael’s Party Rentals, and expanded the inventory and equipment options. What started with one tent in a garage has grown to a 9,000-square-foot warehouse, which holds more than 100 tents, tables, chairs, a dance floor, staging, lighting, and an extensive array of rental equipment. The company currently employs just shy of two dozen individuals and records annual sales of just over $1 million. It is the only company in the Greater Springfield area with a certified event rental professional on staff.

Michael Linton said he enjoys the diversity of his job. “I’m always doing something different — putting up tents, sales calls, accounting, driving a truck, filling propane; I’ve even been seen with a plunger fixing a clog.”

For more information, visit www.michaelspartyrentals.com.

WESTFIELD — Westfield Financial Inc., the holding company for Westfield Bank, reported net income of $1.4 million, or $0.08 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, compared to $1.3 million, or $0.07 per diluted share, for the quarter ended June 30, 2014. For the six months ended June 30, 2015, net income was $2.7 million, or $0.15 per diluted share, compared to $3.0 million, or $0.16 per diluted share, for the same period in 2014.

Among other selected financial highlights for second quarter of 2015:

• Total loans increased $73.3 million, or 10.7%, to $759.4 million at June 30, 2015 compared to $686.1 million at June 30, 2014. This was primarily due to increases in residential loans of $47.3 million, commercial and industrial loans of $23.4 million, and commercial real-estate loans of $2.1 million.

• Securities increased $20.7 million, or 4.2%, to $516.7 million at June 30, 2015, compared to $496.0 million at June 30, 2014. On a sequential-quarter basis, securities were relatively flat at June 30, 2015, compared to $515.2 million at March 31, 2015.

• Net interest and dividend income increased $78,000 to $7.8 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 compared to $7.7 million for the comparable 2014 period. On a sequential-quarter basis, net interest and dividend income increased $189,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, compared to the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

• The bank prepaid $10 million in Federal Home Loan Bank borrowings with a weighted average rate of 2.77% and incurred a pre-payment expense of $278,000 in the second quarter of 2015 in order to eliminate a higher-cost liability. Net gains on the sales of securities of $276,000 were used to partially offset the pre-payment expense.

• Non-interest expense increased $334,000 to $6.9 million for the quarter ended June 30, 2015 compared to the second quarter of 2014. On a sequential-quarter basis, non-interest expense increased by $154,000 for the quarter ended June 30, 2015, compared to $6.7 million for the quarter ended March 31, 2015. The efficiency ratio, excluding non-core items, was 76.1% for the second quarter of 2015, compared to 78.1% for the quarter ended March 31, 2015.

“Over the past twelve months, we have seen significant momentum in our efforts to grow both the loan portfolio and our deposit base,” said President and CEO James Hagan. “With loans increasing 10.7% year over year, we are demonstrating our commitment to growing our core customer franchise.

“We are also pleased to announce that Christopher Fager, assistant vice president, Commercial Lending, has recently joined Westfield Bank’s commercial team,” Hagan added. “Christopher brings more than six years of banking experience and is based in our commercial-lending office in downtown Springfield, which was established in August 2014.”

Finally, Hagan noted, “we continue to see success in Westfield Bank’s recent market expansion into Northern Connecticut. Our two Connecticut offices now have over $36.6 million in deposits. The Granby, Connecticut office has been open just over two years, and Enfield, Connecticut opened in November 2014. The customer base in the Connecticut market is very receptive to our brand of banking, and our objective is to continue to develop loan and deposit relationships.”