Year: 2015

LEE — The Lee Chamber of Commerce recently held its annual meeting and awards banquet at Greenock Country Club, with a dinner catered by Fiddleheads Grille. In addition to electing board members, the chamber also honored businesses and individuals that have contributed significantly to the business community in Lee.

Returning board members elected to serve three-year terms are: Gloria Friedman (Applegate Inn); Wayne Harris, board treasurer (Trustco Bank); Paula Gangell-Miller (Lee Bank); and Joey Scapin (Lee Hardware). New board members are Jennifer O’Neil (Greylock Federal Credit Union) and Bart Collins (Southern States Auto Sales).

During the awards ceremony, Onyx Specialty Papers was honored as Corporate Citizen of the Year; the 2015 Distinguished Service Award was given to Ray Murray Inc.; and the chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to RWs Towing/B-Safe Storage. Recognized as Volunteer of the Year was Bruce Singer of Devonfield Country Inn for his work with the chamber’s annual Golf Open and as parade committee chair for Lee Founders Weekend.

Merchants, NUVO Finalize Merger

SPRINGFIELD — Merchants Bancshares Inc. announced the completion of the merger with Springfield-based NUVO Bank & Trust Co. NUVO’s banking business will be operated as a division of Merchants Bank, a wholly owned subsidiary of Merchants.

Total compensation paid by Merchants for NUVO’s outstanding stock comprises approximately 517,100 shares of common stock and $5.1 million in cash. Merchants also paid an aggregate of approximately $878,000 to cash out NUVO stock options and a portion of its common-stock warrants and issued replacement warrants to purchase Merchants common stock on adjusted terms.

With completion of the merger, Merchants Bancshares now has consolidated assets of approximately $2.0 billion and 33 banking locations, including the new office in Springfield.

“We are pleased to welcome NUVO’s clients, employees, and shareholders to our bank,” said Geoffrey Hesslink, Merchants Bank president and CEO. “We are excited to expand our footprint beyond Vermont and entering the Springfield and Greater Western Massachusetts commercial banking market. We look forward to providing our new customers with Merchants’ exceptional service and banking products, supported by our growing team that now includes NUVO’s banking professionals.”

Donald Chase, chair of NUVO’s board of directors, will join the boards of directors of Merchants Bancshares and Merchants Bank. Joining Merchants Bank’s management team are M. Dale Janes, NUVO’s CEO, who will serve as Merchants Bank’s regional president, Western Mass.; and Jeffrey Sattler, NUVO’s president and chief loan officer, who will serve as Merchants Bank’s managing director for Western Mass.

“The board and management of Merchants are delighted to have successfully completed this strategic acquisition and welcome Don Chase to the board,” said Merchants Bancshares President and CEO Michael Tuttle.

John Peculis Appointed to Nichols College Board of Advisors

GLASTONBURY, Conn. — United Bank announced that John Peculis, vice president and commercial real estate banking officer covering the Central Mass. and Metrowest markets, was appointed to Nichols College’s board of advisors.

Peculis, who is based at United’s 33 Waldo St. location in Worcester, joins a group of fellow alumni and others in participating in semi-annual board of advisor meetings, attending alumni events, and volunteering to help advance the college’s overall mission.

In addition, Peculis will serve as an ambassador for Nichols and use his personal and professional networks to promote the college, its students and alumni while increasing its profile in the region’s marketplace. He was appointed to this leadership role by the college’s vice president of Advancement.

Peculis joined United Bank in December 2014 and attended Nichols College from 1997 to 2001, where he graduated with a bachelor’s degree in management.

Look Memorial Park Celebrates Season with Santa’s Trains

FLORENCE — 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.

Country Bank Announces Employee Promotions

WARE — Country Bank has promoted several employees in recognition for their dedication and professionalism while serving customers and the community.

Team members who were promoted include Lisa DiMarzio, vice president, compliance; Dale Mazanec, vice president, asset mitigation; Bob Olivier, vice president, retail lending; Linda Haley, commercial operations officer; Erin Mascroft, human resources and administrative services officer; Kendra Radner, credit officer; and Tracey Wrzesien, regional business development officer.

“Our staff works hard to ensure we’re delivering the best banking experience to our customers,” said Paul Scully, president and CEO of Country Bank. “When our team members excel in their roles, as these individuals have, we are committed to encouraging their growth. We’re proud of their contributions to the bank’s success.”

New England Unemployment Rate Unchanged in October

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

The New England unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.6% in October. One year ago, the New England jobless rate was higher, at 5.6%. The U.S. jobless rate was essentially unchanged from September (5.0%).

Three New England states posted jobless rates that were significantly different from the U.S. rate, as New Hampshire (3.3%), Vermont (3.7%), and Maine (4.3%) recorded lower-than-average unemployment rates.

Over the last year, five New England states recorded statistically significant unemployment rate decreases, with declines ranging from 1.7% in Rhode Island to 0.5% in Vermont. In fact, Rhode Island had the largest jobless-rate decline nationwide.

Greater Chicopee Chamber Presents ‘Mornings with the Mayor’

CHICOPEE — Chicopee Industrial Contractors at 107 North Chicopee St. will host “Mornings with the Mayor” on Thursday, Dec. 17 from 8 to 9 a.m.

Coffee and light refreshments will be served while Mayor Richard Kos shares important updates on what’s happening in the city of Chicopee, including the revitalization efforts and the Police Department’s initiatives. The event is also an opportunity for questions and open dialogue.

This event is for Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce members only and is free, but registration is required so that the host business knows how many will be attending. Register online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

‘Santa Cares’ at Holyoke Mall Caters to Children with Special Needs

HOLYOKE — Holyoke Mall will host “Santa Cares” on Sunday, Dec. 6 from 9 to 11 a.m., allowing children with special needs to be welcomed into a photo environment designed to support their sensory, physical, and developmental needs.

The event is a result of a joint partnership between AbilityPath.org, a national online resource hub and special-needs community, and the Noerr Programs, a leading marketing and digital-imaging company providing the Santa and Easter Bunny photo experience at malls nationwide.

“Every family of children with special needs has probably had at least one mall photo moment that was less than ideal. A traditionally heartwarming experience can become overwhelming, and, as a result, many special-needs families opt not to partake in this tradition,” said Sheryl Young, CEO of AbilityPath.org. “With the help of Holyoke Mall, we are changing that. We have worked together to lessen potential triggers, by having the event occur during private mall hours and making other slight adjustments that provide a calmer, sensory-friendly environment for all children to enjoy.”

Lisa Wray, director of Marketing at Holyoke Mall, noted that “we are thrilled to be the venue for this incredible event. Santa Cares brings joy to children with special needs in our community, and it is truly an honor to be involved in this program.”

Added Judy Noerr, CEO of the Noerr Programs, “Santa Cares fulfills our dream of providing a comforting and physically accommodating experience for families with children that have special needs. We appreciate the participation of Holyoke Mall in expanding this program, allowing more families to share the magic and tradition of the holidays.”

The event kicks off at 9 a.m. and continues until 11 a.m. in Café Square at Holyoke Mall. Families are encouraged to RSVP prior to the event at www.abilitypath.org.

State Treasurer Releases Report on Financial Literacy in Massachusetts

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.

Governor Signs Legislation Establishing Workforce Investment Board

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker signed legislation yesterday establishing the Massachusetts Workforce Investment Board to improve the public workforce system and enhance regional economies around the Commonwealth by focusing on employers’ growing need for skilled workers.

“With changes to the federal workforce-investment laws, we now have an opportunity as a state to redefine and reimagine how we create skill-building programs,” Baker said. “Creating strong regional economies by designing programs that meet the demands of workers and businesses in each region is important to driving economic growth and new job opportunities for our residents.”

Required by federal law and currently defined by state statute, the Massachusetts Workforce Development Board advises the governor and the secretary of Labor and Workforce Development with the mission to build a strong workforce system aligned with state education policies and economic-development goals.

“To help people find good jobs, we are flipping the model to be demand-driven for employers, which, in turn, will help more people find jobs that suit their skill sets,” Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Ronald Walker II said. “We need to create a system that better meets the needs of employers who struggle to find talented workers.”

The legislation, “An Act Establishing a State Workforce Development Board,” is based on a bill introduced Baker in June reconstituting the state’s Workforce Investment Board, reducing its membership from 65 members to 33, and ensuring the makeup of its membership continues to comply with federal requirements under the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA). WIOA was signed into law by President Obama on July 22, 2014, reauthorizing the Workforce Investment Act of 1998 after more than a decade to transform the nation’s workforce system, and to invest in a skilled workforce.

The Workforce Development Board is charged with developing plans and policies, which are approved by the governor, to coordinate services through one-stop career centers and workforce boards. The board also issues policy recommendations to align the public workforce system and improve performance accountability, and will develop strategies to promote workforce participation of women, people of color, veterans, and people with disabilities across industry sectors.

Ramon Torrecilha Approved as Westfield State University President

WESTFIELD — The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education formally approved Ramon Torrecilha, a lifelong educator, as the 20th president of Westfield State University (WSU). A lifelong educator, he is currently a professor of sociology at California State University Dominguez Hills.

“I am delighted by the appointment of Dr. Ramon Torrecilha as the new president of Westfield State and look forward to working with him,” said Carlos Santiago, state commissioner of Higher Education. “I want to thank the Westfield board of trustees and the search committee for delivering an exceptional pool of quality candidates, and congratulate them on an outstanding selection.”

Torrecilha will be the first Latino to serve as president in the university’s 176-year history. He is scheduled to begin his term on Jan. 25.

Westfield State’s presidential search process officially launched in January 2015, with a search committee comprising 13 members of the campus community. The pool of candidates was narrowed to a semi-finalist group of 13 in August, and on Sept. 29, the presidential search advisory committee announced three finalists: Torrecilha; Damian Fernandez, CEO and head of school at Ethical Culture Fieldston School; and Linda Vaden-Goad, provost and vice president for Academic Affairs at Framingham State University.

On Oct. 28, the WSU trustees voted to recommend Torrecilha as the final candidate, and the state Board of Higher Education approved the choice this week.

Previous to his current role at California State University Dominguez Hills, he served as provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, where he designed and implemented a cohort-based, first-year initiative to increase student retention and graduation rates. As provost, he invested in student research and supported more than 200 undergraduate research projects. He provided leadership and support to secure more than $16 million in grants and contracts and $600,000 to support faculty research and creative activity.

Torrecilha also served as executive vice president of Mills College in Oakland, Calif., during which time he served as acting president on two separate occasions. His many accomplishments at Mills include the design, implementation, and successful achievement of a capital campaign that raised more than $130 million dollars on behalf of women’s education. He also led a successful campus reaccreditation process resulting in an eight-year renewal from the Western Assoc. of Schools and Colleges and increased the alumnae participation rate by 10%.

Torrecilha earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in sociology from Portland State University and his Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Wisconsin Madison.

Berkshire Bank Launches ‘Season of Giving’ Campaign

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.

Business Confidence Up, but Manufacturing Faces Headwinds

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.

Kenneth Albano Honored for Service to Behavioral Health Network

SPRINGFIELD — Bacon Wilson, P.C. announced that attorney Kenneth Albano was recently honored with the Esteemed Service Award from Behavioral Health Network Inc. (BHN). Albano was presented with the award during BHN’s annual meeting, in recognition of his 20-plus years as a member of BHN’s board of directors and his related board service.

“I am grateful to BHN for this recognition,” Albano said. “The services BHN provides are essential to the wellness of so many in our community who may be struggling with addiction or other life crises. I am honored by this award, and it has been my honor to serve this excellent organization for so many years.”

Behavioral Health Network is a growing non-profit, community behavioral-health service organization, and has served the needs of children, adults, families, and communities in Western Mass. since 1938, offering tools and treatments for those with mental illness, substance-use disorders, or intellectual disabilities.

Albano is a senior partner with Bacon Wilson and a member of the firm’s corporate, commercial, and municipal practice groups. In addition to his work with BHN, he has worked with the American Cancer Society, Make-A-Wish, and the ALS Assoc., and he serves as board chair of the March of Dimes Western MA Division and on the board of the New England Chapter of the March of Dimes. In June, Albano was honored with the Mass. Bar Assoc. Community Service Award in recognition of his exceptional volunteer work.

Baystate Rug & Flooring Joins Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen for Food Drive

CHICOPEE — Baystate Rug & Flooring announced it will be joining Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen & Pantry for its annual “Fill a Truck to Feed the Hungry” food drive. This year, the food drive will take place Saturday, Dec. 5 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Stop & Shop on Memorial Drive in Chicopee.

This holiday season, Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen has developed a wish list to collect foods for families in need, which helps the food pantry collect a variety of foods that are needed for holiday meal preparation. During the food drive, volunteers will distribute the wish list and collect food and monetary donations.

“This is one of the most important charitable events that we participate in throughout the year,” said Joseph Montemagni, president of Baystate Rug & Flooring. “We have a great team of volunteers here that donate their time to make this food drive possible, which is important because so many families go without during the holiday season.”

Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen said 40 to 50 families, on average, are supported by the pantry daily.
“Lorraine’s is very excited that Baystate Rug will be teaming up with us for this food drive; the donations that we receive from this food drive help so many families in need during the holiday season,” said Andrea Marion, executive director of Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen and Pantry. “We are also proud to report that almost 90% of donations to Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen go directly to benefit people in need.”

For more information, contact Lorraine’s Soup Kitchen at (413) 592-9528.

Country Bank Promotes Eric Devine to First Vice President, IT

WARE — Country Bank President and CEO Paul Scully announced that Eric Devine has been promoted to first vice president, Information Technology. Devine has been with Country Bank since 2006 in the IT Department, working most recently as the Information Technology Services officer.

“Eric is a dedicated and driven member of our team. I am pleased to have the opportunity to recognize him for his outstanding leadership over the last few years,” Scully said.

Devine studied at Sacred Heart University with a concentration in information technology and graduated from New England School for Financial Studies in 2012. He is very active in the community, serving on the program advisory committee for Porter and Chester Institute, working on the annual SIDS Road Race committee, and supporting the Griffin’s Friends Children’s Cancer Fund as a runner and charity fund-raiser. In addition, he served as the 2015 Springfield grand parade marshal for the annual St. Patricks Day Parade in Holyoke. He was elected to BusinessWest’s 40 under Forty in 2015.

More Than 140 to Become U.S. Citizens at UMass Center at Springfield

SPRINGFIELD — U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) will present more than 140 candidates for naturalization to the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts today.

U.S. Magistrate Judge Katherine Robertson will administer the Oath of Allegiance to America’s newest citizens during a naturalization ceremony at the UMass Center at Springfield at 1 p.m. Guests and speakers include Robertson; Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno; Daniel Montagna, director of Operations at the UMass Center at Springfield; and Luis Chaves, director of the USCIS Lawrence Field Office.

The citizenship candidates originate from the following 44 countries: Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bhutan, Brazil, Canada, China, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Estonia, Germany, Ghana, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Iraq, Israel, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Lithuania, Moldova, Morocco, Nepal, New Zealand, Nigeria, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Somalia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Sweden, Tanzania, Trinidad and Tobago, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, and Vietnam.

For more information on USCIS and its programs, visit www.uscis.gov.

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

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

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

41 Dartmouth St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Stephanie Wynne
Seller: Nicholas J. Marchetti
Date: 10/28/15

58 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $267,500
Buyer: Jeffrey A. Pokorny
Seller: Evans, Ernest D., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

110 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Chester M. Clark
Seller: Sepanek, Maxine D., (Estate)
Date: 10/28/15

174 Edgewater Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Vicki Benson
Seller: Michael P. Sullivan
Date: 10/23/15

25 Farmington Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Buyer: Vincenzo Tirone
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/26/15

15 Keller Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: John H. Houle
Seller: Robert C. Anziano
Date: 10/29/15

228 Leonard St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: John A. Jedziniak
Seller: Geoffrey Nichols
Date: 10/29/15

110 Meadow St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Justin Barber
Seller: Robert R. Rossmeisl
Date: 10/23/15

580 North St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Aden Ismail
Seller: Adrienne B. Alvigini
Date: 10/26/15

1149 North St. Ext
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Blerina Bacaj
Seller: Arthur E. Howe
Date: 10/23/15

535 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Christian Ellsworth
Seller: Brian K. Dutton
Date: 10/22/15

1057 North Westfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Kathleen J. Hanson
Seller: Cindy L. Foote
Date: 10/27/15

521 River Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Rayonia Motors LLC
Seller: William H. Douglas
Date: 10/29/15

16 Scherpa St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $145,000
Buyer: Xueling L. Tang
Seller: Jeffrey R. Plante
Date: 10/21/15

379 Southwick St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: John T. Leydon
Seller: Remillard, Aime J., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

959-967 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $3,700,000
Buyer: Coyote Realty LLC
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/30/15

975 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $3,700,000
Buyer: Coyote Realty LLC
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/30/15

1154-1156 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $3,700,000
Buyer: Coyote Realty LLC
Seller: Hillside Development Corp.
Date: 10/30/15

106 Valentine St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Bajrush Hasani
Seller: Woods, Michael G., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

333-339 Walnut St. Ext.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Tres Chic Realty LLC
Seller: Lawrence A. White
Date: 10/29/15

15 Walter Way
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Todd P. Rowley
Seller: Janis Oles
Date: 10/30/15

6 Yorkshire Lane
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Robert C. Anziano
Seller: Qianyun Ye
Date: 10/29/15

BLANDFORD

31 North St.
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $1,200,000
Buyer: Susan Bynack-Bolduc
Seller: Steven M. Zayac
Date: 10/19/15

BRIMFIELD

111 5 Bridge Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Walter K. Twarowski
Seller: Thomas F. Curry
Date: 10/22/15

1141 Dunhamtown Brimfield Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Michael A. Fuller RET
Seller: Judith A. Stearns
Date: 10/23/15

193 Palmer Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Dennis M. Moynahan
Seller: Alice J. Benoit
Date: 10/27/15

148 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $170,088
Buyer: FNLM
Seller: Kerri M. Chalmers
Date: 10/28/15

CHESTER

6 Main St.
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $134,317
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Debra G. Salvhus
Date: 10/23/15

24 Middlefield Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Joey Saalfrank
Seller: Marc J. Civitarese
Date: 10/23/15

180 Route 20
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $120,100
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Richard J. Laurie
Date: 10/30/15

CHICOPEE

39 Baltimore Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Khalid N. Khalid
Seller: Patricia A. Tessier
Date: 10/21/15

5 Bourbeau St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $145,353
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Jamie T. Kasulinous
Date: 10/22/15

275 Britton St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Pioneer Housing LLC
Seller: Daniel R. Roy
Date: 10/30/15

108 Casino Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Robert E. Watson
Seller: Cinq-Mars, Lawrence, (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

162 Cochran St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Paul C. Ethier
Seller: Jeffrey E. Goss
Date: 10/30/15

259 Dale St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $174,500
Buyer: Nancy Hernandez
Seller: Riverbend 2 Properties
Date: 10/26/15

60 Francis St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Lucjan Dzierzgowski
Seller: Denise M. Moroney
Date: 10/30/15

1245 Granby Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $5,630,000
Buyer: Townhouse Court Apts. LLC
Seller: Townhouse Court LP
Date: 10/30/15

247 Langevin St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,500
Buyer: Megan A. Grygorcewicz
Seller: Janina Chung
Date: 10/30/15

175 Montcalm St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Jennifer M. Watson
Seller: Scott R. Sanderson
Date: 10/20/15

31 Pearl St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $223,000
Buyer: Jose D. Ramirez
Seller: Patricia E. Ryan
Date: 10/21/15

514 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: John R. Flynn
Seller: Waycon Inc.
Date: 10/28/15

85 Quartus St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Jaren A. Lutenegger
Seller: Kathleen Jackson
Date: 10/30/15

18 Saint Anthony St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Brian M. Butterfield
Seller: Mirta I. Diamond
Date: 10/29/15

25 Scott Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Robert Liston
Seller: Irene L. Lavalley
Date: 10/30/15

93 Shepherd St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Alexander Houle
Seller: Sandra A. Kos
Date: 10/30/15

448 Sheridan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Ambiorix A. Quezada
Seller: Hal R. Cooney
Date: 10/28/15

78 Summit Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $117,000
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Vilma O. Ortiz
Date: 10/27/15

110 Sunflower Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Anthony M. Rigali
Seller: Brian W. Scott
Date: 10/30/15

35 Walsh St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Alyson E. Reid
Seller: Thomas F. Kane
Date: 10/22/15

44 White Birch Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Tammy Fydenkevez
Seller: Gary S. Pelter
Date: 10/29/15

EAST LONGMEADOW

29 Allen St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $344,900
Buyer: Charles P. Drago
Seller: Bedrock Financial LLC
Date: 10/30/15

35 Dorset St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $122,900
Buyer: Anthony Santaniello
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/22/15

99 Gates Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Donna M. Santaniello
Seller: Paul A. Rosati
Date: 10/28/15

82 Lee St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $342,500
Buyer: Glenn E. Provencher
Seller: Michael F. Torcia
Date: 10/30/15

26 Mayfair St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $284,900
Buyer: Julie M. Olmos
Seller: Jeffrey P. Crum
Date: 10/23/15

71 Old Farm Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $518,000
Buyer: Elizabeth C. Rappaport
Seller: Jane K. Gallagher
Date: 10/30/15

185 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $191,000
Buyer: Gisell Guidara
Seller: Bouvher, Lorraine C., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

167 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Sara Nunez
Seller: Michael V. Pellegrino
Date: 10/27/15

17 Savoy Ave.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Sandra L. Berte
Seller: Michelle C. McNamara
Date: 10/23/15

298 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $226,000
Buyer: Richard C. Hottin
Seller: F. A. Sincere
Date: 10/27/15

820 Somers Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: Melissa Karwoski
Seller: Mondoux, Norman P., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

10 Windham Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $391,000
Buyer: Michael V. Pellegrino
Seller: Neil J. Ripston
Date: 10/27/15

HAMPDEN

357 Glendale Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $271,000
Buyer: Christopher W. Biron
Seller: Domingos Lamas
Date: 10/23/15

412 Main St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Martin P. Kollar
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/29/15

100 Raymond Dr.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Tara L. Dias
Seller: Virginia Y. Accardo
Date: 10/23/15

252 Scantic Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $535,000
Seller: Joanne M. Bongiorni
Date: 10/20/15

222 Somers Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Bedard
Seller: William E. Crowley
Date: 10/22/15

17 Wehr Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Jeremy B. Hill
Seller: David H. Damours
Date: 10/21/15

HOLLAND

5 Big Tree Lane
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Evan R. Turkington
Seller: Jamie A. Batista
Date: 10/28/15

11 Lakeshore Dr.
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $297,000
Buyer: Jamie A. Batista
Seller: Harold A. Keller
Date: 10/28/15

221 Mashapaug Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Richard W. Wijangco
Seller: Tracy L. Libretto
Date: 10/23/15

97 Sandy Beach Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $245,900
Buyer: Michael S. Melville
Seller: Richard Brodeur
Date: 10/30/15

HOLYOKE

200 Apremont Hwy.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Sean P. Cahill
Seller: Lucy T. Katz
Date: 10/23/15

123-125 Beech St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Rolf N. Nazario
Seller: Demaris R. Torres
Date: 10/21/15

36 Fairfield Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: Tara A. Moser
Seller: John A. Egelhofer
Date: 10/30/15

49 Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Megan E. Porter
Seller: Sonia C. Barrera
Date: 10/30/15

29 Laura Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Chelsey M. Craig
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 10/30/15

85 Lincoln St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kyle Chambers
Seller: Thomas M. Cadigan
Date: 10/30/15

24 Longfellow Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $455,000
Buyer: Joseph B. McMahon
Seller: Brian G. Duke
Date: 10/27/15

2133 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Adam J. Braunschweig
Seller: Debbie-Jo Wiley
Date: 10/30/15

313 Pleasant St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michelle R. Stegall
Seller: Kenneth E. Becker
Date: 10/19/15

9 View St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $142,500
Buyer: Marisela Diaz
Seller: Anthony M. Rigali
Date: 10/30/15

20 View St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Ignacio Cotto
Seller: Gary Goubout
Date: 10/21/15

54 West Glen St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jill M. Beyer
Seller: Patrick C. Barnes
Date: 10/30/15

3 Wayne Court
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $224,000
Buyer: Amy E. Anselment
Seller: Donald N. Dietrich
Date: 10/30/15

LONGMEADOW

101 Barbara Lane
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Matthew T. Smith
Seller: Richard S. Pelosi
Date: 10/28/15

87 Barclay St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Scott J. Ganhao
Seller: Jeannette M. Ensor
Date: 10/27/15

17 Barrington Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Nora K. Mackay
Seller: Gary Millas
Date: 10/28/15

111 Colton Place
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Sophie A. Sadosky
Seller: Jeffrey R. Kirkpatrick
Date: 10/29/15

133 Elmwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Paul S. Szulak
Seller: Eric C. Fistler
Date: 10/30/15

94 Farmington Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $385,000
Buyer: Jason C. Jacob
Seller: Robert Aronson
Date: 10/30/15

192 Franklin Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $327,500
Buyer: Marc A. Strange
Seller: John F. Shallbetter
Date: 10/30/15

95 Greenmeadow Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: George A. Petrakis
Seller: Horvath, Szilvia, (Estate)
Date: 10/21/15

80 Primrose Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Jeffrey N. Schneider
Seller: Leigh A. Lloyd
Date: 10/29/15

LUDLOW

267 Cady St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $181,250
Buyer: Neri D. Teo
Seller: Michelle Evanich
Date: 10/30/15

27 Eden St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $187,500
Buyer: Danielle Bailly
Seller: Edwin W. Lewicki
Date: 10/28/15

111 Fox Run Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $372,500
Buyer: Jason P. Hewes
Seller: Stanley P. Ryczek
Date: 10/23/15

61 Greenwich St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $179,150
Buyer: Jhon R. Wielblad
Seller: Nadia Grushetskiy
Date: 10/27/15

57 Kirkland Ave.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $189,900
Buyer: Kathleen D. Goller
Seller: Bout&Mart LLC
Date: 10/30/15

54 Nash Hill Road
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $259,000
Buyer: Kaitlin M. Lalor
Seller: Sherry A. Bessette
Date: 10/23/15

Parker Lane
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jeffrey B. O’Connor
Seller: Whitetail Wreks LLC
Date: 10/23/15

178 Reynolds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Lee Roque
Seller: Scott A. Thomas
Date: 10/23/15

23 Salli Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $335,000
Buyer: Matthew A. Malave
Seller: David Fernandes
Date: 10/28/15

161 Stivens Terrace
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Anthony P. Serra
Seller: Jettie C. McCollough
Date: 10/23/15

43 Winsor St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Allie T. Paquette
Seller: Philip A. Brousseau
Date: 10/30/15

37 Wyndermere Place
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Dodge
Seller: Adelia Pedro
Date: 10/28/15

MONSON

84 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Planpow Realty Corp.
Seller: Ann L. Fenton-Clough
Date: 10/22/15

191 Stafford Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Gregory D. Crowley
Seller: Robert G. Simpkiss
Date: 10/23/15

22 Washington St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Wegiel
Seller: Robert H. Keith
Date: 10/21/15

PALMER

1 Aspen Circle
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $390,000
Buyer: Jocelyne Bolduc
Seller: James R. Paull
Date: 10/19/15

56 Burlingame Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $154,189
Buyer: FNLM
Seller: Adam Lachance
Date: 10/30/15

3 Fieldstone Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Stephen C. Connors
Seller: Rory D. Miller
Date: 10/30/15

20 Flynt St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Joseph Verallis
Seller: Robert J. Ring
Date: 10/30/15

45 French Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $149,000
Buyer: Corey H. Lomas
Seller: David S. Desroches
Date: 10/29/15

66 Mason St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Kenneth Towsley
Seller: Louis F. Valley
Date: 10/23/15

2146 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: BJC RT
Seller: Triangle Casting Inc.
Date: 10/29/15

2186-2188 Palmer Road
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Whitney M. Russo
Seller: Jennifer K. Duda
Date: 10/30/15

2020 Pine St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $146,000
Buyer: Robert A. Motyka
Seller: Jason A. Rogers
Date: 10/28/15

133 Springfield St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $164,750
Buyer: Max H. Kaplan
Seller: Brian P. Mcnally
Date: 10/30/15

1403 Ware St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $184,500
Buyer: Karen Bouffard
Seller: Eric M. Brothers
Date: 10/23/15

RUSSELL

124 Highland Ave.
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $185,900
Buyer: Robert J. Holmes
Seller: Herbert L. Disanto
Date: 10/30/15

275 Woodland Way
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $268,000
Buyer: Beverly J. Wilander
Seller: Cynthia J. Valliere
Date: 10/30/15

SOUTHWICK

2 Arcadia Lane
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $192,000
Buyer: Wesley Dittrich
Seller: Arthur G. King
Date: 10/28/15

151 Fred Jackson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $470,000
Buyer: Jacquelyn R. Kimball
Seller: Alla Chesky
Date: 10/23/15

22 Grove St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Tyler D. Seibert
Seller: Scott D. Cowles
Date: 10/20/15

15 North Pond Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Evergreen Way Realty LLC
Seller: Margaret L. Hart
Date: 10/30/15
SPRINGFIELD

349 Albany St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Albany Casco LLC
Seller: B&M Realty Corp.
Date: 10/28/15

969 Allen St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Steve Minichiello
Seller: Kerry M. Jackson
Date: 10/27/15

3 Alvin St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $312,000
Buyer: Maurice Baker
Seller: Grahams Construction Inc.
Date: 10/30/15

53 Barrison St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $136,000
Buyer: Borgy LLC
Seller: Kevin Czaplicki
Date: 10/23/15

30 Bellevue Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Tracy W. Chappel
Seller: William W. Bowdren
Date: 10/19/15

890 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $127,500
Buyer: Carlos A. Aviles
Seller: Suzanne M. Collins
Date: 10/29/15

21 Bruce St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $115,353
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Andrew Martin
Date: 10/30/15

59 Burton St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Canise C. Atkinson
Seller: Global Homes Properties
Date: 10/26/15

76-78 Cobb St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Timothy G. Williams
Seller: Jean M. Leduc
Date: 10/22/15

62 Cuff Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Eddy Correa
Seller: Jose Ortiz
Date: 10/30/15

126 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jimmy Arias
Seller: Alice G. Poirier
Date: 10/19/15

389 Dwight Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Melissa L. Curtis
Seller: Lisa I. Robie
Date: 10/20/15

24 Elwood Dr.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $168,800
Buyer: Adam L. Oyola
Seller: Thomas M. Quinn
Date: 10/30/15

8 Emerson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Louis F. Valley
Seller: Carl A. Nelson
Date: 10/30/15

158 Forest Park Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $219,000
Buyer: Peter P. Michaels
Seller: Henry W. Putnum
Date: 10/26/15

17 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Darryl Cole
Seller: David J. Szpakowski
Date: 10/20/15

43 Gillette Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $137,500
Buyer: Janet B. Takishita
Seller: Jonathan W. Zanetti
Date: 10/30/15

28-30 Governor St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $139,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Vasquez
Seller: Jose B. Rodriguez
Date: 10/27/15

138 Hadley St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $179,500
Buyer: Juan Veguilla
Seller: Robert R. Lynch
Date: 10/20/15

128 Hancock St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Saw Construction LLC
Seller: City View Property Services
Date: 10/26/15

96 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $134,379
Buyer: USA VA
Seller: Timothy M. Belliveau
Date: 10/23/15

325 Island Pond Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $118,050
Buyer: Katie E. Kalinko
Seller: Nadia R. Garvey
Date: 10/23/15

193 Jewett St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Vineecia A. Harvey
Seller: Demetria E. Walter
Date: 10/30/15

17 Kenwood Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: JJJ 17 LLC
Seller: Joseph Eadie
Date: 10/27/15

14 Lancashire Road
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $117,235
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Stacey M. Bond
Date: 10/23/15

27-29 Laurel St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Date: 10/22/15

9-11 Los Angeles St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Cristina Cintron
Seller: Gertrude, Lillian, (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

38 Lyndale St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Elena S. Borges
Seller: Victor M. Knust-Graichen
Date: 10/30/15

180 Marion St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Yellowbrick Property LLC
Seller: Yellow Brick Property LLC
Date: 10/20/15

77 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Virginia Accardo
Seller: Sandra L. Berte
Date: 10/23/15

107 Mayflower Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $141,900
Buyer: Herman C. Frick
Seller: Ellen L. Rosner
Date: 10/19/15

31 Moore St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $133,000
Buyer: Cynthia E. Ramos
Seller: Roberto Chacon
Date: 10/26/15

153 Moss Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $117,500
Buyer: Tien Q. Huynh
Seller: MHFA
Date: 10/30/15

151 Newton Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Nicholas J. Tranghese
Seller: Jacqueline A. Pashko
Date: 10/29/15

17 Old Brook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,550
Buyer: Luke A. Perry
Seller: Clara Y. Gonzalez
Date: 10/19/15

110 Palo Alto Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Arthur E. Howe
Seller: Richard J. Iwanicki
Date: 10/19/15

10 Ridgeway Circle
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Sonia E. Dinnall
Seller: Robert A. Brennan
Date: 10/19/15

421 Roosevelt Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Colin J. Hetzko
Seller: James J. Damour
Date: 10/22/15

579-589 State St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Onota Realty LLC
Seller: Horrigan, Thomas G., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

1350 South Branch Pkwy.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $257,500
Buyer: Michael Cote
Seller: Jonathon A. Godbout
Date: 10/30/15

232 Slater Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Shameika Moore
Seller: Bailey, Bernice L., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

161 Starling Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Kevin MaClellan
Seller: Charles C. Baldwin
Date: 10/26/15

8-12 Stearns Sq
Springfield, MA 01103
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Massachusetts Dev Finance
Seller: International Communion Holy Christ
Date: 10/30/15

291 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $167,500
Buyer: Liane Ledger
Seller: Jane E. Jordan
Date: 10/29/15

22 Wendell Place
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $275,725
Buyer: Wilmington Trust
Seller: Luis Arroyo
Date: 10/21/15

109 Westminster St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $147,382
Buyer: FNLM
Seller: Doris A. Chapman
Date: 10/29/15

137 Wildwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Angel M. Narvaez
Seller: James Guzman
Date: 10/23/15

172 Winterset Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Kristen M. Gates
Seller: Nikki R. Stoia
Date: 10/30/15

107 Wollaston St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Richard B. James
Seller: Richard C. Hottin
Date: 10/27/15

28 Wood End Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Juan J. Cabrera
Seller: Mary E. Warwick
Date: 10/30/15

TOLLAND

1448 Burt Hill Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $277,000
Buyer: Dean W. Winters
Seller: Ruth E. Strattman
Date: 10/19/15

462 East Otis Road
Tolland, MA 01034
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Claire S. Riley
Seller: CVK & Associates LLC
Date: 10/21/15

WALES

86 Haynes Hill Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $319,000
Buyer: Andrea Spohr
Seller: Debra A. Gagner
Date: 10/28/15

116 Union Road
Wales, MA 01081
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: David C. Dumas
Seller: Charles R. Letendre
Date: 10/26/15

WESTFIELD

31 Bristol St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Robert L. Brueno
Seller: Paul E. Romani
Date: 10/30/15

81 Carroll Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Deborah J. Margarites
Seller: Valerie K. Dulude
Date: 10/30/15

554 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $219,900
Buyer: Angelo N. Tangredi
Seller: Vincent T. Bovino
Date: 10/23/15

1725 East Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $278,000
Buyer: Elouise M. Moore
Seller: Susan M. Czuchra
Date: 10/30/15

172 Elizabeth Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Christopher J. Consedine
Seller: Mark E. Slayton
Date: 10/23/15

297 Falley Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Anthony E. Breglio
Seller: FNMA
Date: 10/26/15

22 Feeding Hills Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $525,000
Buyer: Louisa Vanoostveen RET
Seller: Oostveen, Gerrit V., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

93 George St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: Brian Duggan
Seller: Robert G. Tessier
Date: 10/22/15

69 Janis Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $349,900
Buyer: Janis R. Oles
Seller: Cardinal Homes Inc.
Date: 10/29/15

27 Pinehurst St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Craig V. Whittaker
Seller: Adrianne Johnson
Date: 10/27/15

50 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $384,900
Buyer: James E. Fallon
Seller: Christopher M. Wilkie
Date: 10/27/15

55 Rachael Terrace
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Elizabeth C. Wheelock
Seller: Timothy J. Bolduc
Date: 10/30/15

16 Saint Dennis St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Nar Darjee
Seller: Leblanc, Frances L., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

2 Sylvan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Cheryl A. Denardo
Seller: Louise Cook
Date: 10/30/15

11 Victoria Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $351,000
Buyer: Philip J. Naworski
Seller: Corey J. Mackey
Date: 10/30/15

42 Westwood Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $251,000
Buyer: Ronald Pioggia
Seller: Arthur T. Lichtenberger
Date: 10/30/15

WILBRAHAM

15 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $452,846
Buyer: Sally R. Benninger
Seller: AC Homebuilding LLC
Date: 10/26/15

436 Dipping Hole Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Kevin C. Johnson
Seller: Heidi L. Gregoire
Date: 10/23/15

150 East Longmeadow Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Cornelius W. Phillips
Seller: Smail, Patricia A., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

28 Lake Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $197,000
Buyer: Danielle G. Paige
Seller: Dennis Quinn
Date: 10/26/15

8 Maiden Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Jorge R. Figueroa
Seller: Manomednet LLC
Date: 10/26/15

375 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Nicholas R. Barone
Seller: Susan M. Barone
Date: 10/20/15

9 Rice Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Stanislaw Wos
Seller: Gina L. Pelkey
Date: 10/30/15

9 Squire Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Brian A. Pryor
Seller: Sean D. Halbrook
Date: 10/26/15

WEST SPRINGFIELD

257 Bear Hole Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Kelly L. Company
Seller: Jonathan B. Carter
Date: 10/30/15

79 Bear Hole Road
Amount: $292,900
Buyer: William Lyons
Seller: James E. Fallon
Date: 10/27/15

137 Christopher Terrace
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Anthony A. Hannoush
Seller: Robert R. Simpson
Date: 10/30/15

31 Exeter St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Samija Omerovic
Seller: USA VA
Date: 10/26/15

17 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Kara M. Zolendziewski
Seller: Gregory E. Gebo
Date: 10/30/15

55 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Tek Gautam
Seller: Til B. Chuwan
Date: 10/19/15

10 Houston Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Joseph Shea
Seller: Michelle M. Ducharme
Date: 10/29/15

36 Houston Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Samantha J. Landry
Seller: Catherine A. Moretti
Date: 10/30/15

58 Kerry Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Mostafa Noury
Seller: Rose Remavich
Date: 10/29/15

401 Kings Hwy.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $229,900
Buyer: Margaret E. Caplette
Seller: Jason Rivera
Date: 10/30/15

1072 Piper Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Ravshan Agayev
Seller: Amy L. Mickel
Date: 10/23/15

62 Prince Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $222,500
Buyer: Alison S. Danalis
Seller: Joseph C. Kelley
Date: 10/30/15

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

24 Applewood Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Alec R. Nelson
Seller: Linda S. Bartis
Date: 10/26/15

20 Bridle Path
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $337,500
Buyer: Shawn M. Fortin
Seller: Christopher Eveleigh
Date: 10/29/15

24 Dennis Dr.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Matthew B. Dalton
Seller: Martin J. Broga
Date: 10/23/15

11 Indian Pipe Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $439,050
Buyer: Stuart Fiedel
Seller: Iris Greene
Date: 10/30/15

9 McClure St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Judith Rathbone
Seller: Little, Elyria R., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

373 Northampton Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $950,000
Buyer: Autozone Parts Inc.
Seller: F. L. Roberts & Co. Inc.
Date: 10/22/15

BELCHERTOWN

10 Brandywine Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $237,500
Buyer: Nicholas W. Pucel
Seller: John E. Monast
Date: 10/29/15

7 Cadwell Lane
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $259,900
Buyer: Amy S. Wagaman
Seller: Renate C. Robinson
Date: 10/29/15

41 Doe Hollow
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Lee J. Robinson
Seller: Kenneth J. Riley
Date: 10/29/15

Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $445,000
Buyer: S&M Equipment LLC
Seller: Northborough Realty Holdings
Date: 10/30/15

479 Franklin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: Kara F. Kirchherr
Seller: Roxanne J. Tubolino
Date: 10/19/15

21 Hickory Hill
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $364,000
Buyer: Eric M. Brothers
Seller: J. N. Duquette & Son Construction
Date: 10/23/15

20 Jensen St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $279,000
Buyer: David H. Axton
Seller: Christopher M. Uliana
Date: 10/26/15

13 Juckett Hill Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $349,000
Seller: Andrew K. Carey
Date: 10/28/15

4 Metacomet Circle
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Miguel Turgeon
Seller: Paul W. Witherell
Date: 10/28/15

39 North St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $189,500
Buyer: Randy M. Thomas
Seller: Andrea Dibenedetto
Date: 10/29/15

371 North Liberty St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $365,000
Buyer: Paul Keyes
Seller: Jeffrey M. Almeida
Date: 10/30/15

160 Sabin St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $333,000
Buyer: Debra M. Strempek
Seller: Richard W. Goldstein
Date: 10/30/15

15 Shaw St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joshua J. Deforge
Seller: Craig Lassiter
Date: 10/30/15

EASTHAMPTON

22-24 Arlington St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $189,000
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Joseph B. Murphy
Date: 10/20/15

14 Broad St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Brian J. Campedelli
Seller: Kapinos, Julian E., (Estate)
Date: 10/27/15

54 Campbell Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $270,500
Buyer: Cathie A. Schweitzer
Seller: Vincent E. Perrotta
Date: 10/28/15

21 Clark St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Jason L. Litto
Seller: Anne M. Bourbeau
Date: 10/19/15

4 Garfield Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Brett I. Constantine
Seller: Zbiginiew J. Kosior
Date: 10/30/15

28 East Green St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sabina Lerch
Seller: Andrew M. Dunn
Date: 10/21/15

89 Ferry St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $126,000
Buyer: Linda J. Berry
Seller: US Bank
Date: 10/23/15

258 Main St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $246,500
Buyer: Samuel Scheiner
Seller: Barbara N. Tessier
Date: 10/30/15

5 Monska Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Cory A. Staples
Seller: Ronald J. Mondok
Date: 10/28/15

15 Pomeroy St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Zachary D. Quirk
Seller: Richard W. Venne
Date: 10/19/15

5 Robin Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Kelly F. Brown
Seller: Thomas W. Brown
Date: 10/21/15

36 Torrey St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Barbara K. Sprague
Seller: Robert A. Canon
Date: 10/21/15

9 Williams St.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Morganne R. Crouser
Seller: Jeanine R. Montgomery
Date: 10/23/15

16 Zabek Dr.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $195,700
Buyer: Alan E. Taylor
Seller: Thomas W. Gallenstein
Date: 10/30/15

GOSHEN

116 Spruce Corner Road
Goshen, MA 01032
Amount: $264,888
Buyer: Jennifer L. Thomas
Seller: Eric Light
Date: 10/30/15

143 West St.
Goshen, MA 01026
Amount: $420,000
Buyer: Mark C. George
Seller: Jennifer L. Thomas
Date: 10/30/15

GRANBY

164 Batchelor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $162,500
Buyer: Edward Gavel
Seller: Scribner, William R., (Estate)
Date: 10/30/15

161 Burnett St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $438,125
Buyer: S. R. SaVille
Seller: Russell H. Ducharme
Date: 10/27/15

14 Pinebrook Circle
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Scott A. McCray
Seller: Brian W. Parent
Date: 10/29/15

169 Taylor St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Gwendolyn Heaner
Seller: Jason P. Hewes
Date: 10/23/15

HATFIELD

1 Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Anna M. Holhut
Seller: Mary C. Proulx
Date: 10/29/15

120 Main St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Adam C. Sullivan
Seller: E. P. Ghazey-Bates
Date: 10/30/15

112 Old Stage Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Rebecca L. Gazzillo
Seller: Phillips, Patrick E., (Estate)
Date: 10/20/15

HUNTINGTON

41 Allen Coit Road
Huntington, MA 01050
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Adam R. Platt
Seller: Robert A. & A. L. Heath IRT
Date: 10/20/15

MIDDLEFIELD

14 Arthur Pease Road Ext.
Middlefield, MA 01243
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Lynn Farrar
Seller: Charles H. Winn
Date: 10/26/15

NORTHAMPTON

260 Acrebrook Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: Kerry Braman
Seller: Lydia E. Rivera
Date: 10/23/15

6 Allison St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $263,000
Buyer: George & Dolores Houck LT
Seller: Thomas J. Gleason
Date: 10/30/15

38 Barrett St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Peter J. Feitner Funding TR
Seller: Sara Elkins
Date: 10/22/15

263 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Kyaw N. Thu
Seller: Basamania, Paul W., (Estate)
Date: 10/23/15

771 Bridge Road
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $269,000
Buyer: Frank R. Julian
Seller: Miriam W. Esber
Date: 10/20/15

8 Crestview Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $159,448
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Deana M. Williams
Date: 10/27/15

1006 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Gregory C. Marotta
Seller: Matthias Kaindl
Date: 10/19/15

228 Florence Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Joseph E. Brooks
Seller: Robert E. Watson
Date: 10/23/15

39 Golden Dr.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Frederick A. Johnson
Seller: Annmarie Osowski
Date: 10/29/15

23 Highland Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Douglas Thayer
Seller: Mary E. Cove
Date: 10/23/15

121 Hinckley St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Thomas H. Friedman
Seller: Goodin, Adelard J. Jr., (Estate)
Date: 10/26/15

68 Laurel Park
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Sarah M. Warren
Seller: Donald S. Bianchi
Date: 10/29/15

N/A
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Kristopher T. Pease
Seller: Richard J. Tremaine
Date: 10/30/15

239 North St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Mark J. Tenekjian
Seller: Brian R. Boyer
Date: 10/30/15

51 Phillips Place
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $379,000
Buyer: Adam C. Miller
Seller: Phillips Place LLC
Date: 10/23/15

342 Pleasant St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Jay Fleitman
Seller: Wendell Pennell
Date: 10/19/15

210 State St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Nili Simhai
Seller: Mary L. Connor
Date: 10/19/15

93 Vernon St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Cheryl J. Cross
Seller: Debra B. Truskinoff
Date: 10/22/15

22 West Center St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $395,000
Buyer: Scott M. Brown
Seller: Alexander M. Simon
Date: 10/19/15

PELHAM

13 Enfield Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Brion C. Dulac
Seller: Richard R. Sawicki
Date: 10/30/15

PLAINFIELD

100 North Union St.
Plainfield, MA 01070
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Loredana Homes
Seller: David L. Matusko
Date: 10/29/15

SOUTH HADLEY

2 Chatham Way
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $415,000
Buyer: Courtney T. Mattingly
Seller: Stephen Doyle
Date: 10/22/15

61 Columbia St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $212,000
Buyer: Bryan A. Russell
Seller: Kelly L. Company
Date: 10/30/15

110 East St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $330,000
Buyer: Thomas W. Wortelboer
Seller: Charles D. Carroll
Date: 10/29/15

15 Edison Dr.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Colin J. Lacey
Seller: Kenneth J. McKenna
Date: 10/29/15

6 Gaylord St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Mount Tom Properties LLC
Seller: David A. Weise
Date: 10/20/15

7 Helm St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $184,000
Buyer: Kathryn Blanchard
Seller: Marion, Diane M., (Estate)
Date: 10/29/15

43 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Pamela A. Bourgeois
Seller: Carol A. Roberts
Date: 10/30/15

78 Laurie Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $193,500
Buyer: Oleg Topic
Seller: Elizabeth A. Murphy
Date: 10/27/15

8 Paul St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $261,000
Buyer: Allen G. Croteau
Seller: Joseph A. Karam
Date: 10/30/15

15 Richview Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Melissa M. Croteau
Seller: Stephen A. Foster
Date: 10/30/15

164 Woodbridge St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Jill Swartwout
Seller: William McClelland
Date: 10/20/15

SOUTHAMPTON

College Hwy. #1
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Christ Community Of Hampshire County
Seller: Andrew W. Skorupski
Date: 10/23/15

85 Glendale Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $370,000
Buyer: Jeremy Powers
Seller: Cathleen C. Grady
Date: 10/27/15

4 Nicholas Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $488,900
Buyer: Thomas A. Bergan
Seller: James F. Boyle
Date: 10/22/15

170 Pomeroy Meadow Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $243,000
Buyer: Leakhena Som
Seller: Edward L. Howard
Date: 10/21/15

WARE

45 Babcock Tavern Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $320,000
Buyer: John Rivera
Seller: Joseph H. Desantis
Date: 10/29/15

81 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $250,321
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Patricia Norman-Simpson
Date: 10/29/15

15 Kingsberry Lane
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Molly A. Pulchtopek
Seller: Bonnie Mastroianni
Date: 10/26/15

39 Marjorie St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $140,000
Buyer: Melissa K. Donahue
Seller: Jason S. Qualkenbush
Date: 10/30/15

49 Old Gilbertville Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $267,000
Buyer: Johnathan R. Dedon
Seller: Joseph H. Longtin
Date: 10/26/15

61 Old Poor Farm Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Michael R. Rebeiro
Seller: Vision Investment Properties
Date: 10/23/15

94 Shoreline Dr.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $308,000
Buyer: Douglas J. Swanson
Seller: Bruce A. Chelkonas
Date: 10/27/15

Available Commercial Properties November 2015

Commercial Real Estate Sections

A listing of available commercial properties for sale and lease

Go HERE to download the PDF of listings

Employers Struggle with Fine Print of Medical-marijuana Law

Joint Venture

HempDesk

The statute legalizing marijuana for medical purposes in Massachusetts presents a confounding dilemma when comes to the workplace. On one hand, the law states that any person who meets the requirements for medical marijuana may not be penalized or “denied any right or privilege” for such activity. On the other hand, employers aren’t required to accommodate marijuana use in the workplace. But what if an employee is fired for using the drug after hours, then failing a drug test? On issues like that, the statute is frustratingly vague, but cases winding their way through the system may soon provide some clarity.

Advantage Sales and Marketing never wanted to be a test case for medical marijuana, but that’s exactly what the Foxborough company has become.

It likely won’t be the only battleground, either.

The issue began when Cristina Barbuto, who suffers from Crohn’s disease and is prescribed marijuana to deal with painful flareups, applied for a job at Advantage.

“She told them, even before the pre-hire drug screening, that she was going to test positive,” said Timothy Murphy, an attorney with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. in Springfield, noting that her marijuana use, typically during the evening, was a doctor-directed strategy to deal with her condition.

She was hired. Then fired the next day.

“They brought her on, but when they got the test result, they said they had a zero-tolerance policy, and she had tested positive,” Murphy said. When Barbuto, who is now suing Advantage, reminded the company she had been upfront about her marijuana use, he went on, “they said, ‘sorry, but this is our policy.”

This type of confusion, he explained, is due to what seems to be conflicting language in the statute that legalized marijuana for medical reasons after Massachusetts voters approved it in a November 2012 ballot question.

On one hand, the law states that any person who meets the requirements for medical marijuana — which include suffering from a qualifying medical condition (such as cancer, glaucoma, HIV/AIDS, Crohn’s, Parkinson’s, multiple sclerosis, and others) and being prescribed the drug by a physician — may not be penalized under state law or “denied any right or privilege” for such activity.

On the other hand, nothing in the statute requires employers to accommodate marijuana use in the workplace or requires health-insurance reimbursement for its use.

The grey area — what about employees who use medical marijuana at home, then come to work the next day? — is proving to be vexing for employers worried about crafting drug-use policies that protect their rights under the law. Because the law, so far, is largely silent on the matter.

“When it comes to this language, no one knows what it means,” Murphy said. “A registered user can’t be denied any rights or privileges, and [Advantage] is going to be a test case.”

While the medical-marijuana law says employers don’t have to accept marijuana use in the workplace, “that’s not really the question,” said Karina Schrengohst, an attorney with Royal LLP in Northampton. “The question is whether you can make employee decisions based on marijuana use outside the workplace and whether you need to make a reasonable accommodation.”

Barbuto seems to have some standing based on the federal Americans with Disabilities Act, which prohibits workplace discrimination based on a disability and requires employers to make a “reasonable accommodation” for that employee if it would not pose an “undue hardship” on the operation of the business, as long as the employee can perform the essential functions of the job.

“We have our own state anti-discrimination law which largely tracks the federal ADA,” Murphy said. “Under that law, discrimination against disabled employees is unlawful, and employers can’t take any negative actions against employees because of a disability.”

But Massachusetts employers have rights as well, and medical marijuana isn’t even legal under federal law, and … well, it’s easy to see why confusion reigns right now.

On the wording of the Bay State’s medical-marijuana statute regarding rights and privileges, “does that mean medical-marijuana use is protected, and employers can’t take any adverse action against employees who use it?” Murphy asked. “Nobody is entirely sure.”

However, cases like Barbuto v. Advantage Sales and Marketing and others winding their way through the Massachusetts courts should begin to add clarity to the issue. That clarity, Murphy said, can’t come soon enough.

A Question of Safety

The law does seem clearer, he noted, when the position in question involves issues of safety — say, truck drivers and forklift operators.

“Obviously, it’s an employer’s responsibility to ensure a safe workplace for all employees, and that’s important. The use of marijuana can impact an employee’s job. It’s a legitimate concern for employers … similar to alcohol use.”

Employers have a dilemma, he said. On one hand, Murphy said, “they probably want to be empathetic and understanding to medical marijuana users because they’ve been dealt a bad hand; they’re not in a good place with their health. Most employers tend in that direction, but at the same time, they’ve got to maintain safety for everyone.”

On-the-job impairment, regardless of the cause — whether it’s marijuana, other prescription drugs, alcohol, or illegal narcotics — and workplace safety should be the central piece of any substance-abuse policy, he said.

However, Schrengohst noted, many positions don’t involve issues of safety.

“Often this question comes up when employers are balancing workplace safety against this new law. On the issue of workplace safety, preventing workplace injuries, for people like factory workers and forklift operators, I’m going to advise clients to require drug tests because of a legitimate safety interest,” she told BusinessWest. “But in an office setting, there’s more confusion. Obviously, you don’t want your receptionist, as a face of the business, to be under the influence, but the safety issue is the clearer one.”

And what constitutes ‘under the influence?’ The argument Barbuto makes, Murphy said, is that her nighttime use of marijuana does not affect her daytime performance. “She’s saying, ‘I have this disability, and you have a responsibility to accommodate my situation, as long as I’m not impaired at work.”

In short, he went on, “does an employer in Massachusetts have to accommodate an employee who is a medical-marijuana user? That’s the question.”

It’s a question other states are dealing with as well. In Coats v. Dish Network in Colorado, the plaintiff is a quadriplegic who used medical marijuana outside working hours, a registered user who took the drug in a manner according to the state statute authorizing medical-marijuana use.

Yet, the Colorado Supreme Court upheld his firing earlier this year because marijuana is classified as a schedule 1 drug, illegal under federal law. In other words, he couldn’t be arrested for using medical marijuana, but he could be fired.

“The court said the termination did not violate the employee’s rights. That’s really been the trend throughout the country,” Murphy said, citing two California cases: James v. City of Costa Mesa, in which the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that the ADA doesn’t offer job protections for medical marijuana, and Ross vs. RagingWire Telecommunications, which held that the state’s medical-marijuana law does not require an employer to accommodate the use of otherwise illegal drugs for chronic back pain.

Those cases date back several years, however, and are no indication of how Massachusetts courts will view similar complaints, Murphy said.

“We need more regulations as well as more guidance through case law,” Schrengohst said. “The cases I’ve looked at in other states inform this, but they’re not binding in Massachusetts. Those cases have ruled in favor of employers, but the bottom line is, our statute and regulations don’t actually address all the issues, so I’m going to deal with it on a case-by-case basis — whether workplace safety is an issue, what the risks are going to be, and how we think a court might look at it. It’s a hard question right now.”

“In the context of workplace safety,” she went on, “employers really struggle to balance a safe workplace with this new legislation that doesn’t provide clear guidance. The explicit statement that you don’t have to accommodate it in the workplace at first seems great, and then it’s not, really.”

That’s partly because of the potential for dishonesty.

“When you drug test someone, it’s not like when you do a breathalyzer when someone is drinking,” she said. “With a positive drug test, everyone is going to say, ‘weeks ago’ or ‘after hours.’ No employee is ever going to say, ‘that was during my shift yesterday.’ I think employers are concerned, and obviously they’re worried that they’re going to be faced with litigation. It’s new, and we don’t know what to expect. It’s a really interesting topic.”

Changing Times

Murphy noted that the medical-marijuana statute makes an effort to protect employers, even if some of the specifics get blurry.

“It’s now well-understood that employers don’t have to excuse employees from performing the essential functions of their jobs, and don’t have to exclude employees from following their other types of policies, whether attendance-related or other standards of conduct,” he said.

As for drug testing, Schrengohst said companies with well-understood safety concerns are on firmer ground.

“I want to know what the facts of the situation are, what the industry is. If you want to have a drug policy and you want to drug test, why? What are the reasons behind this? Like I said, it’s a lot clearer when you have employees where safety is really important — someone who’s driving or operating equipment, and they have to be focused.”

Meanwhile, Massachusetts also faces the possibility of changing winds on the federal side, a question that vexes many physicians concerned about prescribing patients a drug that is technically illegal.

“Marijuana use remains illegal under federal law, but Obama’s administration has basically said, ‘we have bigger fish to fry, and we’re not going to be enforcing our medical marijuana and drug laws; we’re not going to punish marijuana users,’” Murphy said. “But that could change. There’s obviously going to be a change in the White House. Is the next president going to take a different view that could impact things? Or will the federal law be changed to allow for medical-marijuana use? That’s probably far less likely than state-by-state changes in laws.”

Massachusetts has progressed in this issue like many states, gradually changing its marijuana laws, Murphy noted. In 2008, the law was changed to decriminalize very small amounts of the drug. In 2012, voters ushered in the era of medical marijuana in the Bay State. In 2016, could full legalization follow, as Washington and Colorado have done?

“I expect there to be further efforts next year to liberalize our marijuana laws, and with each legislative step, maybe the picture gets clearer for employers,” Murphy said. “Advocates have tried to get the Legislature to pass it, but there doesn’t seem to be much appetite in the Legislature to do that. And, often, when the Legislature won’t act on things, people feel, ‘well, we’ve got no choice but to bring it to the voters.’”

Which would lay a whole new set of questions at the feet of employers already struggling to balance their employees’ rights and privileges with their own.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Law Supports Transgender Choice in Workplace Bathrooms

Going Concern

By MARYLOU FABBO, Esq.

Marylou Fabbo

Massachusetts specifically recognizes ‘gender identity’ as a protected classification, providing transgender employees with certain rights, including the right to be treated in the same manner as their co-workers in the workplace.

So, what exactly does ‘transgender’ actually mean? ‘Sex’ is a term used to describe someone’s biological assignment at birth. ‘Gender’ is the sex with which an individual identifies. Gender is an individual’s sense of being ‘male’ or ‘female’ and is often, but not always, expressed through clothing, hair, or other means.

‘Transgender’ is the term used to refer to people who do not identify with the sex they were assigned at birth or with society’s expectations about female and male gender roles. ‘Trans’ is often used when referring to a transgender individual. Trans people may be male-to-female (MTF) or female-to-male (FTM). Whether someone is transgender does not turn on whether the individual has had surgery to reflect his or her gender identity.

There have been many issues surrounding transgender employees, but perhaps the most frequent one that arises for employers is the use of workplace bathrooms. A transgender employee may feel entirely comfortable using the restroom of the gender with which he or she identifies, but the employee’s co-workers may be opposed to sharing a bathroom with the employee.

Co-workers may complain that they feel that their privacy is invaded or that transgenderism offends their religious beliefs. In some situations, trans employees may feel harassed when using the facility that corresponds with their gender identity. Employers often do not know what to do when faced with competing complaints.

In 2011, Massachusetts employment and housing laws were amended to specifically include transgender employees as a protected group, and Executive Order 526 extended Massachusetts equal-rights protections to gender identity and expression. As of Aug. 1, 2015, surgery is no longer a prerequisite to obtaining a new birth certificate in Massachusetts. Legislation has been proposed in Massachusetts that would prohibit discrimination against trans individuals in places of public accommodation, such as public bathrooms.

Similarly, federal courts and agencies such as the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) have held that Title VII of the Civil Rights Act’s prohibition against sex discrimination applies to those who do not act according to sex stereotypes, such as the expectation that only those whose sex is female should wear a dress. In 2015, both courts and federal agencies made their position on bathroom accessibility clear: transgender employees should be permitted to use the restroom with which they identify.

In April of this year, the EEOC ruled that a transgender employee cannot be denied access to common restrooms used by other employees of the same gender identity, regardless of whether the transgender employee has had any medical procedure or whether other employees may have negative reactions to allowing the employee to do so. In May, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) announced an alliance with the National Center for Transgender Equality to promote the safety and health of transgender workers, and in June, OSHA issued a four-page “Guide to Restroom Access for Transgender Workers.”

As most employers are aware, OSHA requires that employers provide employees with sanitary and available toilet facilities so that employees will not suffer adverse health effects that can result when such toilets are not available when employees need them. In its guide, OSHA has made it clear that all employees should be permitted to use the facility that corresponds with their gender identity.

Regardless of an individual’s personal beliefs regarding gender-identity issues, employers should make it clear that all employees are entitled to be treated with dignity and respect in the workplace. Employers must consider restroom modifications that provide options for transgender employees and for co-workers who are not comfortable sharing facilities. Where possible, an employer should consider offering a single-occupancy, gender-neutral bathroom in an equally convenient location. The transgender employee may not be required to use that facility, but it would remain an option for whomever is uncomfortable with the situation — whether it be the transgender employee or a co-worker.

If a single-occupancy facility is not available, employers should have multi-occupant, gender-neutral restroom facilities with lockable stalls available. Employers should also let all employees know that the presence of a transgender employee in the restroom is not per se harassment and that reports of inappropriate behavior or comments in the restroom will be addressed regardless of whether they are asserted against someone who is transgender or not.

Marylou Fabbo is a partner and head of the litigation team at Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. She provides counsel to management on taking proactive steps to reduce the risk of legal liability that may be imposed as the result of illegal employment practices, and defends employers who are faced with lawsuits and administrative charges filed by current and former employees; (413) 737-4753; [email protected]

Doing Business as Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

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

AGAWAM

Beautiful Treasures
270 Main St.
Rosemary Woods

Mega Nutrients
503 Silver St.
Tatiana DiDonato

JCD Designs
86 Roberta Circle
Diana Goodman

CHICOPEE

A Cut Above Florist
1193 Memorial Dr.
Timothy Cummings

Boost Construction
52 Dillon St.
Vyacheslav Paliy

Champion Overhead Doors
244 Fairview Ave.
Clifton Hall

Chicopee Scrap & Auto Recycling
2 Mill St.
Hemant Patel

Maxx Vapors
1519 Memorial Dr.
Jeffrey Dean

GREENFIELD

Old Deerfield Productions
102 Highland Ave.
Linda McInnery

The Bridal and Tux Boutique
281 Main St.
Danielle Hagen

The Country Granola Company
401 Chapman St.
Shammah White

Western Mass. Radio Group
81 Woodland Road
Samuel Bust

Yankee Realty
74 Mohawk Trail
Cheryl Ingersoll

Yankee Self Storage & Moving
160 Laurel St.
Cheryl Ingersoll

HOLYOKE

Dock’s Classics
31 Jackson St.
James Perry

Great Clips
98 Lower Westfield Road
Inpachevian Vithanathan

Honeyland Farms
636 Main St.
Wahab Bari

Neighborhood
328 Appleton St.
Reda Shabanet

Royal Barbers
50 Holyoke St.
Dominico Rega

Shamma’s Pizza
172 Sargeant St.
Jose Lopez

Valley Clippers, LLC
98 Lower Westfield Road
Edward Barowsky

LUDLOW

Balance Professional
77 East St.
Lori Miller

International Produce, LLC
4 White St.
Haci Bayran

Lavoie Family Chiropractic
733 Chapin St.
Christopher Lavoie

Mastermind Hair Studio
8 Chestnut St.
Shanna Smith

RCS Diesel Services Inc.
566 Holyoke St.
Ronald Chiasson

Santos Family Hair Center
350 East St.
Joseph Santos

Seamlessly Krafty
5 Sewall St.
Melissa Moquin

SPRINGFIELD

15 Taylor Fashion Jewelry
1607 Main St.
Colleen Monroe

2 Curls 1 Mission
7 Bucholz St.
Dynasty Harris

Advanced Vein Care Center
3640 Main St.
Kihan Lee

Affordable Drain Cleaning
290 Page Blvd.
Ramon Rivera

All Waste Management, LLC
181 Chestnut St.
Talal Sofan

Auto Glass Hero, LLC
11 Merwin St.
Wilson Rosario

Bari Family Inc.
393 Belmont Ave.
Waham Bari

Baystate Dyno
160 Rocust St.
Harry Nieves

Beacon Hospice
815 Worcester St.
Celeste Peiffer

Bentley’s Barbershop
1142 Berkshire Ave.
Evan R. Nyman

BQ Courier Service
50 Bulat Dr.
William Quinn

Bridge Street Mini Mart
468 Bridge St.
Davone Mullen

Cabo Fashion Footwear
795 Liberty St.
Juan L. Bermudez

Chapin Center
200 Kendall St.
Northeast Health

Cindy’s Bath
24 Sara Lynn Dr.
Cynthia A. Parenteau

Cost Cutters
370 Cooley St.
Regis Corporation

Crossfit Gridlock
29 First St.
Jisselle Assad

Dee’s Food Mart
760 Boston Road
Dipen Nandu

Denis LaBonte Construction
867 Chestnut St.
Denis LaBonte

Eden’s Sweet Temptation
143 Dwight St.
Milvisette Figueroa

El Caribeno Restaurant
858 State St.
Cesar A. Mejia

Empire Auto
47 Colton St.
Elezer Garcia

Epic Health Services
2095 Roosevelt Ave.
Adventure Inc.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Balise Kia
603 Riverdale St.
James Balise

Becker Mechanical Service
203 Circuit Ave.
Anthony Becker

Device Doctor
1639 Riverdale St.
Cellore, LLC

Eastern Electronics
540 Main St.
Richard Porfilio

MP Consulting Inc.
311 Elm St.
Michael Price

Pavel Water Filtration
70 Windsor St.
Henry Pavel

Shri Ghanshyam Subway, LLC
346 Memorial Ave.
Navin Patel

Titan U.S.A.
140 Baldwin St.
Ralph Colby

Smiles & Faces
232 Park St.
Robert Matthews

State Mulls a Bold Strategy Against Opioid Abuse

Health Care Sections

Tough Pill to Swallow

Causing 1,200 overdose deaths per year, the opioid-abuse problem in Massachusetts has reached crisis levels, to hear some doctors and lawmakers describe it. While the goals of those two groups are similar, their strategies for tackling the epidemic can differ. Take, for example, Gov. Charlie Baker’s recently announced bill, which seeks to sharply limit the length of opioid prescriptions and allow for the involuntary hospitalization of substance abusers deemed to be in immediate danger, to name two controversial provisions. Doctors may quibble over the details, but Baker argues that a tough problem requires equally tough solutions.

Gov. Charlie Baker knew his bill would ruffle a few feathers. That was the point.

He said as much when he reminded lawmakers last month that Massachusetts doctors, in 2014, wrote more than 4.4 million prescriptions for Schedule II and Schedule III drugs — defined as medications with high to moderate potential for dependency and abuse — totaling more than 240 million pills.

“I should remind everybody that we only have six and a half million people in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts,” Baker said. “In the same year, over 1,200 people died of opioid overdoses. Simply put, the status quo is unacceptable, and it needs to be disrupted.”

Baker was testifying before the Joint Committee on Mental Health and Substance Abuse, alongside Boston Mayor Martin Walsh and Christopher Barry-Smith, the state’s first assistant attorney general, in support of “An Act Relative to Substance Use Treatment, Education and Prevention,” a bill the governor filed in mid-October to address an opioid epidemic in Massachusetts that claims the lives of nearly four residents every day, on average.

Dr. Robert Roose, chief medical officer of Addiction Services for the Sisters of Providence Health System, was part of a 16-member working group Baker assembled earlier this year to craft a plan to combat what medical professionals have been calling a statewide crisis, and said the bill’s components — including a 72-hour limit for new opioid prescriptions and involuntary hospitalization of patients who might pose a danger to themselves or others — originated from that group.

“We took our responsibility seriously, to come up with interventions and strategies to address the epidemic in a bold way,” Roose told BusinessWest. “The premise we were operating from was that this epidemic is unlike any we’ve seen before, both in magnitude and breadth of who is impacted, and knowing the strategies we’ve attempted in the past likely would prove insufficient, we wanted to come up with bold, new strategies.

“Governor Baker’s bill does exactly that,” he went on. “These are provocative and bold ideas that have generated some discussion, if not controversy, throughout the medical community and healthcare systems, as well as, perhaps, with patients themselves and treatment advocates.”

Certainly, Dr. Dennis Dimitri is well-versed in the opioid issue, as president of the Mass. Medical Society (MMS), which has come up with its own broad series of strategies to combat the problem. He cited a recent poll by the Harvard School of Public Health showing that nearly four in 10 Massachusetts residents personally know someone who has abused prescription pain medications.

Therefore, he thanked the governor and lawmakers for their multi-pronged approach to addressing the crisis, including significantly increased funding for addiction services, insurance coverage, and enhancements to the state’s Prescription Drug Monitoring Program. “We strongly support these and other measures,” Dimitri said.

Still, not every detail of the bill — the logistics of which still need to be hammered out — will necessarily go down easy with the state’s physician community.

Drawing a Line

Take, for example, a provision in the bill limiting patients to a 72-hour supply the first time they are prescribed an opioid or when they are prescribed an opioid from a new doctor.

“Looking back over the past 20 years,” Roose said, “we have overprescribed for pain and done an insufficient job of educating patients in the community about potential risks of opioids. The medical community has been engaged with this issue increasingly over the past several years, but, clearly, what has been done is not enough.”

Dr. Robert Roose says the governor’s working group on opioid abuse recognized that bold strategies were needed to combat a growing crisis.

As a member not only of the governor’s working group but the Mass. Hospital Assoc. (MHA) Substance Use Disorder Prevention and Treatment Task Force, Roose has been heavily involved in discussions of prescription limits. While the limits themselves aren’t controversial, the details are a point of contention. While Baker seeks a four-day limit in his bill, the MHA prefers a five-day limit, while the Mass. Medical Society seeks a seven-day limit, calling four days simply too onerous for many patients.

“A patient with acute pain beyond the proposed initial 72-hour treatment period would have to return to their physician’s office, obtain a paper prescription, bring it to the pharmacy, and wait for it to be filled,” Dimitri said. “An elderly or disabled or poor patient, especially one without a helping caregiver or transportation, could be left to suffer.”

Dimitri understands the rationale behind limits. Citing statistics from the Centers for Disease Control, he noted that more than 80% of people who misuse prescription pain medications are using drugs prescribed to someone else. That’s why the MMS proposed a seven-day limit last spring, which includes a sunset provision to take effect when the crisis abates, allowing prescribers to care for their patients on an individual basis.

Dimitri also encouraged lawmakers to consider allowing ‘partial-fill’ prescriptions, which, he said, would help patients “balance the need to relieve pain with an adequate supply of pain medications by only filling part of their prescription, with the ability to later go back if necessary to fill the rest.”

On the federal level, current Drug Enforcement Administration regulations prohibit partial-fill prescriptions, but the MMS has supported an effort by U.S. Rep Katherine Clark, who represents Massachusetts’ 5th District, to urge the DEA to change the partial-fill rules.

“We continue to support incorporation of clinical judgment,” Dimitri added, “fully understanding the severity of the significant challenges confronting the Commonwealth and our patients.”

Roose admitted many providers are leery about a prescribing limit as short as 72 hours, but also conceded that it might be an effective tool.

“A lot of work has been done by the medical community to recognize the risk of overprescribing or having excessive medications left around, but where do you draw the line?” he said. “On the face of it, physicians don’t want to be regulated; they don’t want to have their behavior dictated into statute. But, at this point, I think we have evidence suggesting that measures need to be taken to protect the community and the public health. We do want to reduce the availability of unused medications in the home.”

Barry-Smith agreed. “We’re confident that the Department of Public Health will work with the medical community to implement and, if necessary, refine that 72-hour limit,” he told the legislative committee, “but, as a general matter, there can be no doubt that additional safeguards on opioid prescribing are necessary.”

Added Walsh, “help means prevention, and I agree with the governor. A common-sense limit on first-time opioid prescriptions would provide an effective checkpoint to limit the flow of addictive narcotics into our homes and our communities.”

Against Their Will

Perhaps more controversially, Baker’s bill would grant medical professionals the authority to involuntarily commit an individual with a substance-abuse disorder for treatment for 72 hours if they pose a danger to themselves or others. Currently, such people can be held for treatment only through a court order — and the court system isn’t always available when a patient needs protection.

“We already have, in Massachusetts, a process of involuntary commitment for individuals in danger of substance abuse,” Roose said, noting that Baker’s proposed statute would streamline the process, recognizing that the critical moments of a substance-abuse episode can happen at any hour of the day, 365 days a year.

“Treatment is often delayed through other, voluntary routes. This could provide an avenue where individuals in immediate danger are transported to a facility, at least for evaluation by a medical professional,” he explained, adding that such a process would in no way replace or minimize the importance of available avenues for individuals and families to seek voluntary treatment.

“But it does take into consideration the fact that addiction is a disease that fundamentally impairs somebody’s control and judgment,” he went on. “While we need to, in my view, move toward decriminalizing substance abuse and offering treatment as opposed to punishment, we also need to provide treatment on demand when people need it, where they need it, and at the right level of care. This could provide another avenue for people in immediate danger to be stabilized and evaluated. That could save countless lives.”

However, Dimitri argued, addiction-medicine specialists have raised concerns that such commitment won’t work without access to more treatment resources and post-hospitalization care.

“There is a paucity of evidence that forcing hospitalization on patients not ready to make a change will be successful, and there is evidence that addicted patients released from hospitalization with no plans to pursue after-care are at higher risk for opioid overdose,” he told lawmakers. “My colleagues in emergency medicine and hospital leadership are concerned that this proposal could create a new standard of care requiring all patients who are suspected of having the potential to overdose to be involuntarily hospitalized. This will result in new demands on hospital medical and psychiatric beds that are already severely strained.”

Roose noted that increasing involuntary hospitalization could be an additional impetus for increasing additional capacity and treatment services in the state — a process that is ongoing, with dozens, if not hundreds, of new inpatient beds soon to be available in Massachusetts, including the four counties of in Western Mass.

Also, “requests for new programs have been released by the Department of Public Health in recent weeks,” he added. “I believe that the Department of Public Health and the administration recognizes capacity is insufficient and are making strides in response to that.”

Dimitri agreed, but said involuntary hospitalization might be putting the cart before the horse. “The Commonwealth has spent a tremendous amount of time and resources in trying to resolve the issue of emergency-department overcrowding, boarding, and diversion. This could further exacerbate that problem without actually benefiting patients. New funding has become available to expand capacity; let’s see what progress we can make before adding more stress to our system.”

While the concept might be controversial to some, Roose said, the devil is in the details.

“We need to answer questions about the logitistics, our capacity for treatment, how this will end up being implemented, and potential risks to providers who choose to — or choose not to — utilize this statute,” he said. “We know right now we don’t have adequate substance-abuse treatment in this state, but that should not be a reason, in my view, to not be creative in how we treat patients.”

Watchful Eye

Other elements of Baker’s bill aren’t as controversial. For example, practitioners would be required to check the state’s Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) prior to prescribing an opioid to a patient, and would be required to fulfill five hours of training on pain management and addiction every two years.

“Monitoring is an extremely useful tool for providers,” Roose said, noting that it’s a tool to determine what prescriptions a patient has received and prevent duplicate prescriptions through different doctors at different pharmacies.

Dimitri noted, however, the Legislature’s recent law mandating the use of the PMP the first time an opioid or benzodiazepine is prescribed. “We believe it would be prudent to keep the existing law in place without modification at this time,” he said. “As improvements are realized with the new PMP, we can better determine optimal use.”

He also suggested enabling the PMP to ‘push’ information to physicians, indicating how their prescribing patterns compare to their peers. “Programs such as this have successfully reduced opioid prescribing in other states, and we welcome the opportunity to work with you on developing language to allow for these concepts.”

Dimitri also used his testimony to remind the committee that the MMS launched multiple efforts of its own last spring to combat the opioid epidemic. Among them are new prescribing guidelines since adopted by the Massachusetts Board of Registration of Medicine and disseminated to every practicing physician in the Commonwealth; free continuing-medical-education programs on opioids and pain management available to all prescribers in the state; and a collaboration with the commissioner of Public Health and the secretary of Health and Human Services to bring together the deans of the state’s medical schools in developing a first-in-the-nation set of core competencies for medical students in the prevention and management of prescription drug misuse.

Still, Barry-Smith said Baker’s bill is a strong additional step in the right direction.

“The bill is bold, it’s innovative, and, as the governor already stated, it makes crystal clear that the status quo will not suffice,” he argued. “Changes need to occur, and the first of those changes concerns prescribing practices.”

He cited a statistic that the U.S. has less than 5% of the world’s population but consumes 80% of the world’s opiate supply. “To address that problem, this bill puts in place education requirements for prescribers, seeks to increase the use of the Prescription Monitoring Program, and sets a general limit on most opioid prescriptions.”

Boston’s mayor testified that he supports the bill because “I know from personal experience that, to get people the help they need, we have to meet them where they are, whether it’s on the streets, in the hospitals, at home, at work, or at school.”

Walsh added, however, that healthy communities start with education, not just regulation. “This bill provides a tool to help educate parents and children about the dangers of misusing opioids.”

Stay Tuned

Roose also believes fighting the opioid crisis requires a multi-faceted, collaborative effort.

“The medical community is actively working with the administration and the Department of Public Health, addressing this issue,” he told BusinessWest. “Certainly education is a big piece of this, and this bill, as well as efforts from the Mass. Medical Society and the Mass. Hospital Assoc., will increase provider education on appropriate prescribing, addiction, and how it can be treated.”

Dimitri said the state’s physicians stand ready to aid in the effort, no matter what the outcome of Baker’s bill.

“Addiction is a chronic disease that is difficult to overcome,” he said. “Reversing this epidemic will not be easy, but I am committed, as is the medical society, to do everything necessary to continue our efforts and increase our outreach for the benefit of our patients.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Taylor Street Dental Revitalizes Historic Stacy Building

Commercial Real Estate Sections

Reason to Smile

Stacy Building

The new logo for Taylor Street Dental doesn’t picture anything, well, dental. No mouth, no teeth, no dental chair or examination equipment.

It’s a building. An important building, said Dr. David Peck.

“We wanted to meld this old, historic building with our dental practice — meld them together, old and new,” he said of the logo, but also of his practice itself, which for 30 years had been known simply as David I. Peck, DMD and been housed in a storefront on Worthington Street, in downtown Springfield’s club district.

But he was looking to move, and became intrigued by the Stacy Building a block away — its striking architecture, solid bones, and storied history, but also its proximity to where he had been treating patients for three decades.

“I knew I wanted to move the practice into another building, to expand and gain more space,” Peck told BusinessWest. “I started looking in the city. I could have gone to the suburbs — Longmeadow, East Longmeadow, Wilbraham — but I’ve been downtown 30 years, and I really believe my success is due to the city of Springfield — due to all my patients, past and present, who had no problem coming to downtown Springfield. I felt like it was time to pay it forward by building them an office where they’re comfortable and happy and feel great about the surroundings.”

He found it in the Stacy Building on Taylor Street, which he bought in 2013 from Plotkin Associates and now houses 3,700 square feet of dental space on the fourth floor — a striking top-level office boasting plenty of exposed brick, chestnut beams and columns, skylights, and barn-style sliding doors.

“We wanted to keep all the old parts of the building that are so beautiful — the large windows, the wood beams and columns,” he explained. “Construction always takes longer than you expect, but we finally moved in this past August.”

One aspect of the project that caused delays was making sure the building was completely handicapped-accessible, including installation of a new, larger elevator cab that opens to both the lobby of the building and at ground level; previously, the lobby was accessible by stairs only.

“We wanted to make sure all my patients, young and old, could get from the ground floor to the fourth-floor office,” Peck said. “We now have handicapped accessibility to all four floors.”

Dr. David Peck, owner of Taylor Street Dental and, now, the Stacy Building that houses it.

That’s just one element that pleases him about the building, which still houses NAI Plotkin on the first floor and two marketing agencies on the second. The third floor has 2,500 square feet of space yet to be leased, in addition to some conference space for Taylor Street Dental.

“The building looks as good as it does because of the hard work of Laplante Construction in East Longmeadow,” Peck said. “They were pivotal in the design and construction and successful outcome of this building. We owe them a debt of gratitude for doing such an amazing job.”

Old and New

The Stacy Building is best-known as the place where brothers Charles and Frank Duryea built the first American gasoline-powered car in 1893. Within a few years, they were making 13 cars a year there.

“The building was in good condition, but I knew I wanted the dental office on the fourth floor, which was small offices, so we demoed the third and fourth floor, modernized it, sandblasted the brick to keep the aesthetics of the brick, kept the beams and the wood columns, and cleaned up the molding around the large windows.”

The space now boasts nine treatment areas, up from five on Worthington Street, and Peck is looking to add staff — he currently employs 11, including two other dentists — to make use of the additional space.

“We renovated all new — we didn’t even bring any of our existing equipment over,” he said, referring to state-of-the-art devices like CT scanners, medical lasers for treatment of soft tissue, and movie-projecting goggles for patients to wear during their procedures. “We wanted all brand-new equipment.”

The construction work isn’t totally complete, however, as exterior façade work will continue in the spring. But the Stacy Building has taken a big step into the 21st century, with a new, more efficient HVAC system, a new fire-alarm system, and new lighting.

“We totally converted the entire building to LED lighting. My daughter, a civil engineer, said, ‘Dad, you’ve got to go LED and be as green as you can.’ So, as a tribute to my daughter, I changed out all the fluorescent lights in the whole building.”

Peck’s patients have already expressed approval of the new office.

“Let me tell you — when patients come here, their mouths drop open. They love it. They say, ‘as comfortable as I felt with you in the other office, Dr. Peck, I’m so much more comfortable here in the new office.’ They say when they come in, they feel even more relaxed, more comfortable, more at peace. When you go to the dentist, you’re nervous, but they feel like they’ve come into a spa environment; their anxiety and nervousness is at a much lower level. They come in and say, ‘it’s just like a spa. I want to sit here and never leave.’”

Those are compliments he relishes.

“It’s just a nice feeling. That’s what I want to do. With any business establishment, you want to provide the very best for your patrons, customers, patients,” he said, adding, “my wife, Susan, was very much involved in helping me design this. We have a partnership; we’ve been married for 35 years, and we just love designing together. I thank my wife for helping me make this place such a success, and something that’s so beautiful for my patients.”

Dr. David Peck wanted to keep the exposed brick and beam features of the Stacy Building.

Those patients visit Peck for a full range of general, cosmetic, and implant dentistry, he explained, adding that he designed his practice as a one-stop site for dental needs — and, now, a coffee bar with USB chargers.

Those are the sort of funky touches that appeal to a downtown Springfield clientele, one that doesn’t necessarily need a storefront window to draw them in. Parking is plentiful, he added, from validation at a neighboring parking garage to on-street spaces to a small lot dedicated to Taylor Street Dental. “We try to give patients every reason to come to us.

“I bought this place because I wanted to stay in Springfield,” he went on. “It’s a gorgeous building. Just look at it from the outside — I love the way the building looks in springtime, when the trees bloom. It is an absolutely gorgeous building, and with the architecture, the way the brick is laid, the façade, and even the windows, I fell in love with the building.”

Positive Story

Peck’s clear affection for his location explains the logo. “This melding of the dental practice with the historic building creates — as corny as it sounds — a marriage made in heaven,” he told BusinessWest. “It feels great when I come in here. It’s amazing, the beauty they were able to build into it back then, without the heavy machinery we have now. I love coming in here every day.”

The Duryea Historical Society sent Peck a plaque for the office, and when he schedules a grand-opening celebration, he’s going to try to get some Duryea descendants to join in, if only to celebrate another success story in a city seeing more of them these days.

“There’s a perception that Springfield is unsafe. But I’ve been here 30 years; I’ve walked out at 12, 1 in the morning. I’ve never had a problem,” he said. “I love Springfield, and Springfield loves us. I think about times when people felt more positive about the city they work and live in, but they should appreciate what they have here in Springfield. We have museums at the Quadrangle, the Basketball Hall of Fame, MGM wants to come in … these are all positive things. It’s a beautiful city, so let’s start appreciating what we have and stop bashing it.”

That’s why he refuses to discount the City of Homes, but rather continue to support it — with a highly visible investment in the future of its downtown.

“I’ve seen other business around downtown Springfield that had no interest in staying, but not Taylor Street Dental,” he said. “We’re here to stay for the long term.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

MGM Is Waging a Unique Battle

Opinion

Editorial

When the battle lines for the Western Mass. casino license were being drawn three years ago, Springfield became ground zero. And for many reasons.

The city was on major transportation arteries; it was close to the Connecticut border; it had sites that looked practical for building a casino; it was seeing better times but was still in many ways down and out, and a casino company could win some style points for becoming part of a revitalization effort; a tornado had plowed through just a year earlier, making the city a sympathetic location.

Yes, it quickly became clear that, while there were some other contenders in the mix at various points — Palmer, Holyoke, West Springfield — Springfield was the frontrunner in this competition and the seemingly perfect place to spend $800 million or so on a casino.

Things can change quickly in three years, and they have, especially with regard to Connecticut and its decision to not sit back and watch a Springfield casino wreak more havoc on that state’s already-embattled casino industry.

Indeed, the state is essentially parterning with two Native American tribes — those that operate Foxwoods and Mohegan Sun — to open a casino just south of the border with Massachusetts. It is an unprecedented alliance, and its plans completely alter the equation when it comes to a Western Mass. casino and the plans to build one in Springfield.

And that’s why MGM is being ultra-aggressive in its efforts to stop this proposal in its tracks.

It has hired the Washington-based law firm led by former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder to wage a legal battle, essentially challenging the constitutionality of the state of Connecticut’s recent granting of exclusive right to the tribes to open the casino near the border. And it is unleashing an army of lobbyists in advance of debate on the tribal plan in the Connecticiut General Assembly early next year.

The size and intensity of this fight shows just how much the plan changes the dynamic of the Springfield casino, and it also helps explain why MGM has seemed at least distracted when it comes to moving ahead with its now-$900 million plan.

It should be distracted. What Connecticut is proposing is historic and landscape-altering, and it certainly changes the perspective of Springfield as the perfect place to launch the Western Mass. casino.

In this fight, MGM is clearly in, and it needs to be. n

Agenda

Agenda Departments

Lectures, Tours at Springfield Museums

December: The Springfield Museums’ monthly tour and lecture schedule continues in December with the popular Museums à la Carte lectures, which take place each Thursday at 12:15 p.m. in the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts. Admission is $4 ($2 for members of the Springfield Museums); visitors are invited to bring a bag lunch (cookies and coffee are provided). For more information about Museums à la Carte, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 488. This month’s lectures include “Secrets of Leonardo da Vinci’s Virgin of the Rocks Revealed” (Dec. 3), in which Andrew Linnell, author and lecturer from the University of Michigan, unlocks the riddles of da Vinci’s two mysterious paintings of the Virgin Mary; “Cabinets of Curiosity: Historical and Contemporary Interpretations” (Dec. 10), in which Heather Haskell, director of the D’Amour Museum of Fine Arts and the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum, provides historical context for the current exhibit at the George Walter; and “The Star of Bethlehem: Investigating an Ancient Mystery” (Dec. 17), in which Richard Sanderson, curator of Physical Science, Springfield Science Museum, and Jack Megas, planetarium educator, Springfield Science Museum, explore one of history’s most enduring mysteries. No à la Carte lectures will be held on Dec. 24 or Dec. 31. As part of the Museums’ members-only Continuing Conversations series, museum docents Deena Maniscalchi and Pat McCarthy will also lead a guided gallery discussion at the George Walter Vincent Smith Art Museum following the Dec. 10 lecture. On Friday, Dec. 4, the Springfield Science Museum’s large rooftop telescope will be open for public skygazing at 7:30 p.m. as part of the Stars Over Springfield observatory series. These programs are organized by the museum and the Springfield Stars Club, and take place on the first Friday of each month. Each event features an introductory talk on topics such as space exploration, seasonal sights of the night sky, current astronomical research, or upcoming events like eclipses or comet appearances. This month’s featured speaker will be Alan Rifkin, Springfield Stars Club president, whose talk is titled, “Astronomy Gifts: All I Want for Christmas or Chanukah Is…” Stars Over Springfield programs are best suited for families with children ages 8 and older; however, younger children are also welcome. Admission is $3 for adults and $2 for children 17 and under. These programs are held rain or shine. If it is cloudy, a planetarium show will be presented in place of telescope viewing. For information about astronomy programs at the museum, call (413) 263-6800, ext. 318.

Affordable Care Act Breakfast Seminar

Dec. 3: Insurance Center of New England (ICNE) will host a breakfast seminar covering a range of financial topics related to the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare. The seminar will be held at the Delaney House, 3 Country Club Road, Holyoke. Registration begins at 8 a.m., and the seminar gets underway at 8:30 a.m. This event is free and open to the public, and a hot breakfast will be served. RSVP for the seminar by Monday, Nov. 23 by calling (413) 750-7150 or e-mailing Erika Noble at [email protected]. Keynote speakers for the seminar include Peter Whalen, regional manager for CheckWriters Payroll, who will be discussing IRS Forms 1094 and 1095, and Shemeka Browne-Pohlman, ACA compliance specialist with Insurance Center of New England, who will be discussing the so-called ‘Cadillac tax.’ “For 2016, another level of implementation is taking place with the Affordable Care Act, so it’s important for individuals, families, and business owners to stay informed of their rights and responsibilities under the act,” said William Trudeau, president and CEO of ICNE. “This seminar is another example of our commitment to serving as an information resource regarding the often-complex world of insurance.”

Amnesty Day for Computer Parts

Dec. 12: Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley will hold an Amnesty Day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at each of its eight retail stores in Hampden and Hampshire counties, as well as at the corporate office located at 570 Cottage St. in Springfield. Visit www.ourgoodwill.org for individual store information. Any brand of computer or computer components will be accepted at no charge to the donor through a partnership with Dell. This free program promotes responsible recycling while diverting e-waste from landfills. Dell Reconnect, as the partnership is called, makes getting rid of old technology easy as well as free. Make sure to remove your personal data from hard drives or other storage media before donating to Goodwill. Bring monitors, scanners, mice, printers, keyboards, speakers, cords, and cables. Television sets will not be accepted, however. “Dell has come up with an innovative way to reduce e-waste and recycle old computers,” said Steve Mundahl, Goodwill Industries president and CEO. “Previously, we had to charge consumers for each piece of electronics they wished to donate, as we were unable to find a suitable vendor. Partnering with Dell means this is now free to the consumer. And all donations help us forward our mission of helping people with disabilities and other barriers to employment get jobs.” In addition to its retail stores, Goodwill Industries of the Pioneer Valley offers employment and training programs, adult foster care, and community-based day services.

Limits Needed in World of Fantasy Sports

Opinion

Editorial

Some might be tempted to call Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey’s proposed rules, or limits, for daily sports businesses half a loaf.

The full loaf, of course, would be what New York, Nevada, and other states have done, and that’s declare that operations like DraftKings, FanDuel, and others like them are gambling houses — which they are — and thus need to be banned or licensed.

Healey’s not going that far, and is instead proposing regulations, such as a ban on players under 21, measures to prevent sophisticated contestants (the so-called ‘sharks’) from dominating games, and changes in these companies’ advertising practices.

We’re not sure why she won’t go further — perhaps because DraftKings is based in Boston and is one of the state’s most intriguing technology startups, or because Gov. Charlie Baker is a fan of these sites, or because Patriots owner Robert Kraft is a huge investor in DraftKings, and is also partnering with Healey in a joint initiative to raise awareness about domestic violence and sexual assault.

Whatever the reason, we have half a loaf — but half, as they say, is better than none, and something certainly needs to be done to regulate this industry. That’s not just because everyone is totally numb to those endless radio and TV commercials, with more than two months of the NFL season still to be played.

Indeed, most people are getting quite tired of hearing how people have invested only $20 or $30 in the one-day competitions and won millions with only a few mouse clicks. But obviously misleading ads are only a small part of the fantasy-sports story now.

The bigger story is the movement by states who are viewing these sites as gambling operations, and responding accordingly by either moving to ban them (because gambling is illegal in said states) or licensing them, because gambling operations require licensing. That latter step is tantamount to shutting down the sites in those states, because the owners would rather not do business in them than admit that their operations are gambling and get a license.

The controversy stems in large part from two points of argument — only, there really isn’t an argument in either case. First, does fantasy sports constitute gambling? And, second, should individual states be trying to regulate or license such activity?

The answer is a ridiculously obvious ‘yes’ in both cases.

The argument proffered by DraftKings and FanDuel is that fantasy sports isn’t gambling because it’s a game of skill. While there is some skill involved, obviously, there are always huge amounts of luck at play as well (after all, Drew Brees might get hurt in the first quarter and not play the rest of the game). And even if you buy into that argument, the fact that this is mostly skill does not mean it’s not gambling. Where do those millions in payouts come from, the DraftKings scholarship fund? Of course not — they come from the money put down by others who think they’ve got the best fantasy lineup for that week. It seems ‘put down’ is not the same as ‘gamble’ or ‘risk.’

As for states wanting to regulate or license this? Some equate such actions to a giant shakedown, a ‘you-can-run-your-business-but-we-want a cut’ mentality. Others say states like Nevada and others are simply trying to stem the flow of money away from their lotteries and casinos and into the pockets of the fantasy-sports operations.

Both assessments are right on the money, figuratively as well as literally, but those states can’t, or shouldn’t, be blamed for adopting such stances.

Yes, fantasy sports is free enterprise. But every free enterprise — whether it’s in financial services, healthcare, or construction — has to play by some rules when it comes to regulations and licensing, and this industry should not be an exception.

Healey is proposing regulations, and we would certainly welcome them. The TV ads are misleading, to say the least; we don’t need college students devoting limited time and money to putting together fantasy lineups; the sharks should be kept in deep water, perhaps competing only with each other; and other steps, such as a $1,000-per-month deposit limit and a ban on college sports contests, also make sense.

Moving to regulate or license fantasy sports sites is not an anti-business step, nor is it necessarily anti-gambling — although Healey has campaigned as someone opposed to gambling.

Instead, it would be a simple, common-sense step, one she should go ahead and take.

Yes, fantasy sports are fun. But that doesn’t mean that this industry shouldn’t be regulated.

Court Dockets

Court Dockets Departments

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

CHICOPEE DISTRICT COURT

Lucky Se7ens Carpet v. LLC Valley Opportunity Council Inc.
Allegation: Fraud, unfair and deceptive acts, breach of contract: $25,000
Filed 10/30/15

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Boston Baking Inc. v. East Baking Company Inc. and Nuvo Bank
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $46,262.35
Filed: 10-30-15

Country Development Corp. v. Visual Changes Inc.
Allegation: Failure to pay rent and other obligations: $83,781.63
Filed: 10/27/15

Mark Ogoley v. Town of Hampden
Allegation: Negligent containment of road salt causing contamination on abutting property: $66,200
Filed: 10-30-15

Matthew Vitantonio v. Allure Med-Spa, LLC and Mary Jo Devlin, a/k/a Mary Jo Carruthers
Allegation: Breach of promissory note and fraud: $69,460.37
Filed: 10/27/15

Regina Burns v. Samuel’s Tavern
Allegation: Negligence and careless conduct of an employee causing serious and permanent injury: $188,893
Filed: 10/30/15

Robert Ferrier, et al v. Comcast Corp. of MA
Allegation: Failure to provide services: $75,000
Filed: 10/29/15

Schletter Inc. v. Bach Towing Inc., James E. Lawrence, and Leonard Eremento
Allegation: Breach of contract for services, labor, and materials: $100,000+
Filed: 10/23/15

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Domingo Diaz v. Vesuvio, LLC, Mark Laramee, and Lisa Mackenzie
Allegation: Non-payment of wages: $3,190
Filed: 9/18/15

Bankruptcies

Bankruptcies Departments

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

Agiato, Frank C.
87 Whittier St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/15

Archibald, Timothy J.
2653 Boston Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Arpin, Paul G.
Arpin, Peggylee M.
42 Independence Road
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/19/15

Ayende, Mirta
40 Lynwood Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Bargalla, Brenda E.
47 Shearer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/19/15

Beaupre, William
Beaupre, Lisa
2258 West St.
Barre, MA 01005
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/24/15

Boudreau, Marciano Talula
123 East St.
Hadley, MA 01035
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/30/15

Britt, Sharon E.
158 Highland Ave.
Athol, MA 01331
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/15

Dearing, Mark E.
Dearing, Carrie S.
PO Box 62
East Otis, MA 01029
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Diodonet, William
275 Allen Park Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/20/15

Dupre, Jason J.
132 East Main St., Apt. 1
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Eckert, John R.
153 Porter Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/15

Eldridge, Michelle
9 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/17/15

Finch, Kristin Leigh
a/k/a Belmore, Kristin Leigh
87 South Silver Lane
Sunderland, MA 01375
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/19/15

Fitzemeyer, Timothy E.
PO Box 182
West Springfield, MA 01090
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/15

Gaudette, Gary M.
154 Packard Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/19/15

Gelzinis, Joseph M.
P.O. Box 160
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/15

Gray, James M.
6 Cypress Lane
Lake Onota Village
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Hartley, Andrew T.
238 Prospect St. Ext.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Kosnicki, Shawne P.
111 Cosgrove Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Lafromboise, Marilyn A.
138 Mountain Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/22/15

Landrie, Jeannie L.
145 Beacon Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/15

Leonard, Thomas J.
88 Willimanset St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/19/15

Levesque, Lynn Ann
25 Stowell Road
P.O. Box 532
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/19/15

Maguire, Mary J.
1926 Barre Road
Gilbertville, MA 01031
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/21/15

Martin, Rebecca D.
22 North Longyard Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/15

Martin, Winifred M.
a/k/a Atwell, Winifred
a/k/a Otwell, Winifred N.
16 Stuart St
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/15

McCoy, Robert T.
59 King St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/27/15

Mogelinski, Steven C.
27 Frederick Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/15

Monette, Stephen A.
Monette, Christina M.
208 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/22/15

Monte, Scott Louis
Monte, Carol Ann
58 Hunt St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Morales, Yelitza
31 Hall St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/21/15

Parker, Erica L.
P.O. Box 105
Wales, MA 01081
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Percival, Philip Chad
18 Wright St., Apt. 1F
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/15

Porchelli, Aaron M.
Porchelli, Elizabeth M.
638 Glendale Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/26/15

Poreda, Michael J.
Poreda, Vivian A.
137 Oak St
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Powers, Judith A.
31 South Cross Road
Gill, MA 01354
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/15

Priestley, Curtis J.
Legrand-Priestley, Tammy J.
15 West Myrtle St.
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/18/15

Robare, John D.
Robare, Sherry
133 Brandon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/20/15

Robbins, Rita A.
358 Grattan St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Rosa, Nilton D.
Rosa, Lauren S.
a/k/a Lavoie, Lauren S.
154 Blanan Dr.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Santos, Jamie Marie
1 Hall Place
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/23/15

Self, Gary
Self, Jennifer
45 Larch Meadow Dr.
Conway, MA 01341
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/29/15

Sheridan, Philip James
Sheridan, Sherry Anne
97 Daniel Shays Highway
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/23/15

Soto Garcia, Jose M.
a/k/a Garcia, Jose M.
166 Marsden St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/15

Templeton, Marie Sheta
60 Nonotuck St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/30/15

Thouin, Deborah L.
8 Lussier Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/21/15

Ventrice, Renzo S.
Ventrice, Betsy L.
20 Easthampton Road
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/19/15

Wiersma, Michael L.
64 Colonial Ave.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/15

Woodbury, Susan M.
118 Clairmont Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 10/21/15

Woodruff, Amy L.
a/k/a McAlary, Amy
11 Ains Manor Road
Palmer, MA 01069
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/23/15

Wyman, Donna Jeannette
a/k/a Wesson, Donna Jeannette
10 Bates St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 10/26/15

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 that would not otherwise have the resources to obtain these types of services.

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].

Resist the Temptation to Fire First and Ask Questions Later

Lessons from the ‘Blind Barber Case’

By PETER VICKERY

Peter Vickery

A mixture of sympathy and surprise best describes the tone of the news stories about the recent decision from the Mass. Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD) in what headline writers dubbed the “blind barber case.”

According to media interviews with satisfied customers, Joel Nixon is a fine young barber. But upon losing his job, he fell into debt, faced foreclosure on the family home, and had to go on food stamps, all while his wife was pregnant with their first child. This explains the sympathy. He is also legally blind, and to the extent we ever thought about the subject at all, many of us may have assumed that barbershop owners could lawfully require that their employees be sighted. Hence the surprise.

These are the basic facts of Nixon v. Tony’s Barber Shop: Nixon suffers from the degenerative eye disease retinitis pigmentosa, has a certificate of blindness from the Mass. Commission for the Blind, and had to surrender his driver’s license in 2004. In November 2011, he applied for a job at the newly opened Tony’s Barber Shop in his hometown of Norton. The owner, Caesar Antonio Morales, hired him.

Four months later (after Nixon had tripped over a customer’s legs, a chair, and a ladder), Morales fired him. Blindness is a disability, so the MCAD decided that, by firing Nixon because of his blindness, Tony’s Barber Shop had discriminated against him, thereby violating the Massachusetts anti-discrimination law (Chapter 151B). The MCAD ordered Morales to pay Nixon $100,000, of which a sizeable sum, $20,000, was to compensate Nixon for emotional distress.

At this point, readers may be wondering, at the risk of seeming insensitive, whether those in the tonsorial business are legally entitled to require that the barbers they employ can see. After all, although the term ‘blind barber’ may not trigger the same degree of trepidation as the words ‘blind brain surgeon’ or ‘blind airline pilot,’ the occupation does entail the use of sharp scissors and, from time to time, cut-throat razors.

Some potential customers, decent people with no bias against the visually impaired, might be a tad wary of a barber who has a certificate of blindness. Does the law let Morales take this possible loss of customer confidence into account, or would that constitute prejudice by proxy? And would Morales (after Nixon tripped over the legs, the chair, and the ladder) have been allowed to fire Nixon if the young man was not visually impaired, but merely clumsy? Clumsiness is not, to date, a recognized disability, so the clumsy are not a protected class.

The narrow question is not whether current social mores favor Morales giving Nixon a fair shake, but whether state law compels him — on pain of a close encounter with the MCAD followed by a penalty of the six-figure kind — to continue employing Nixon even after the young man’s series of stumbles. A definitive answer to the question depends on this case, or one like it, making its way to the appellate courts. In the meantime, here is what we know:

Chapter 151B prohibits discrimination quite comprehensively, and Section 9 of the statute mandates that the courts construe the law liberally for the accomplishment of its purposes, which they certainly do. But it does have an out. It allows an employer to discriminate on the basis of disability if, and only if, the disability renders the employee unable to meet a bona fide occupational qualification (BFOQ).

Judges have read this statutory proviso as creating an affirmative defense, meaning the employer always bears the burden of proving it. Further, in its regulations, the MCAD interprets the BFOQ as the “narrowest of exceptions,” an interpretation the judiciary has endorsed. So, although the employee bears the burden of proving discrimination, it is for the employer to squeeze into the narrow BFOQ exception by persuading the MCAD that the discrimination was justifiable — a significant challenge.

Federal law contains a similar affirmative defense, which the delivery company UPS was able to deploy with partial success when the Equal Employment Opportunities Commission (EEOC) charged it with discriminating against would-be drivers who had failed the company’s eyesight test. UPS claimed that it was entitled to discriminate against those visually impaired people who could not meet the company’s vision protocol, pointing to the safety-of-others exception written into the federal Fair Employment and Housing Act.

Under the statute, an employer secures the protection of the safety-of-others exception if it can prove that, even with reasonable accommodations, the disability in question would prevent the employee from performing the job’s essential functions in a manner that would not endanger the health and safety of others. UPS contended that it imposed the eyesight test because — of all things — it did not want its drivers running down small children who might suddenly dart into the street.

Nevertheless, in 1997 the EEOC commenced an action in California against UPS for violating the rights of job applicants who were monocular, i.e. with sight in just one eye. Eight years later, the Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit held that UPS did, indeed, have the benefit of the safety-of-others defense because “peripheral vision plays an important role in avoiding accidents” and monocular drivers would have “less opportunity to see a child … darting from the impaired side.”

As a result of the case EEOC v. UPS, it is now reasonably well-established that, under federal law, peripheral vision contributes to safer driving (in California, at any rate).

So, in keeping with the spirit of the safety-of-others exception, did the MCAD consider the possibility that visual acuity might constitute a BFOQ for barbering, given the sharp scissors and cut-throat razors? No, it did not.

This brings us to perhaps the most noteworthy fact about Nixon v. Tony’s Barber Shop: the employer defaulted. At the hearing, there was nobody to advocate for Tony’s Barber Shop, and the only witness was the complainant himself, Nixon.

One piece of evidence, it turns out, was crucial to the MCAD’s ruling that Tony’s Barber Shop discriminated against Nixon on the basis of his blindness, namely Nixon’s own account of what Morales said to him in the barber shop at the time of his discharge. According to Nixon, Morales used profane comments that referred to his blindness, e.g. “you blind f___,” comments the hearing officer found to reveal “gross insensitivity” and “discriminatory animus.”

With no attorney present at the hearing to cross-examine Nixon or to elicit Morales’s (possibly different) version of the conversation, Nixon’s account stood unchallenged and unrebutted. And, without defense counsel, there was nobody to raise, let alone prove, the BFOQ affirmative defense.

The first lesson for employers? Show up. An adjudicatory hearing is an adversarial process, and if the adjudicator — here the MCAD, the same agency that investigated the complaint and found probable cause — hears from only one side, the result should surprise no one.

The second lesson? Resist the temptation to fire first and ask questions later. Upon learning that an employee has a disability and wants an accommodation of some kind, the employer has a duty to initiate an interactive dialogue to find out whether reasonable accommodations will allow the employee to perform the job.

Remember, although it is the employee’s responsibility to request an accommodation, the onus is on the employer to start the series of two-way conversations so as to determine whether an accommodation is reasonable. And when making that determination, think back to Tony’s Barber Shop and ahead to your own looming discrimination case and assess whether you will be able to prove, by a preponderance of the evidence, the affirmative defense of BFOQ.

Peter Vickery practices employment law in Amherst; (413) 549-9933; www.petervickery.com

Road to Recovery Volunteers Are Passionate About Their Purpose

Health Care Sections

Steering Committee

Al Parrow enjoys driving for the Road to Recovery program so much that he bakes cookies for patients and the people who work in the chemotherapy and radiation units.

When Al Parrow retired from his job at ADT Security Systems, he never imagined that, a year later, he would spend his days driving people he didn’t know to and from doctor’s appointments.

But the 70-year-old has become part of a team of dedicated volunteers who make a profound difference in people’s lives through the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery program. The initiative provides free transportation to people who have no other way to get to cancer treatments, and volunteers say the gratitude those patients express is more than enough payment for using their own vehicles and gas.

Parrow signed up as a Road to Recovery volunteer four and a half years ago after he began to get bored with retirement, and says he has been behind the wheel constantly ever since.

“I seldom say ‘no’ if they call me; I’ll drive five days a week if someone is without a ride,” he told BusinessWest as he spoke about the intangible rewards of the position. “Everyone is so appreciative, and they always thank you.”

Gary Watson drives two to three days a week for the Road to Recovery program and has taken people as far as Boston for cancer treatments.

“I drove one man to his daily radiation treatments, and he didn’t speak English, so we couldn’t converse, but each time I picked him up, his wife stood in their front window and bowed to me,” he went on. “On the day of his final treatment, she came running out and gave me a big hug, then they stood together and bowed in the rain while I drove away. It is the highest sign of respect. Little things like this mean so much, and volunteering is uplifting because everyone you meet is so grateful. The rewards are phenomenal, and it’s worth every trip every day.”

Gary Watson could not agree more.

He’s been a Road to Recovery driver for more than six years, and enjoys it so much that, when he was unable to drive after surgery, he worked from home as a program coordinator. But once he regained his strength, he got behind the wheel again, because he finds the personal interaction very satisfying.

“I started doing this because I wanted to do something after I retired that would be rewarding and allow me to meet wonderful people,” said the 73-year-old, explaining that, when he saw an item in the newspaper seeking drivers for the program, he knew it would be a good fit, because he has known many people with cancer and is a good driver.

Although the majority of volunteers take people only to appointments at local hospitals, sometimes a patient needs to go to Boston for a second opinion or specialized treatment or procedure, and Watson is always willing to go the distance.

“I knew there was a need for long-distance drivers, and it was something I was willing to do,” he said.

Several years ago, the Springfield resident was recognized with a Driver of the Year Award, but he told BusinessWest to downplay the honor. “I’m just so glad there is a program that offers a service like this for folks who truly need transportation. They’re very grateful,” he said.

Indeed, that’s exactly how Betty Swanson feels. “I don’t have any family whatsoever, and I wouldn’t be able to get to my treatments without this program,” said the 78-year-old. “I’m a widow, we never had children, and I don’t have any siblings. I do have a car, but haven’t been able to drive since I had surgery last December.”

Parrow has given her many rides, and she enjoys his sense of humor. “He is such a nice man and keeps me in stitches all the way to my appointments. When we arrive, he gets out of the car, opens the door, and comes into the building with me. I tell him he doesn’t have to do it, but he takes my mind off of things,” she said.

Driving Force

Karen Mernoff , Road to Recovery coordinator for Hampden and Franklin counties and the South Shore of Massachusetts, says comments like Swanson’s are typical.

Drivers in this program often ease people’s troubles simply by their willingness to help, she noted.

“We can’t cure people’s cancer, but we can make their life easier during treatment,” said Mernoff. “Most of them don’t have family in the area, and many elderly people have stopped driving.”

It is for these reasons and many others that the Road to Recovery program, which has been operational for many years, is currently in dire need of volunteers who are able and willing to transport people to chemotherapy and radiation treatments or procedures.

“We recently had to turn people away who were desperate for a ride, and some had to miss their cancer treatments as a result,” Mernoff explained.

Michele Dilley urges people who are interested in volunteering to call the American Cancer Society at (800) 227-2345. “I truly believe this is a life-saving program for people who don’t have family nearby,” said the ACS program manager for mission delivery in the Bay State.

Background checks are conducted on all potential drivers. But anyone who is 18 to 85 with a clean driving record, a reliable and insured vehicle, and a desire to help is welcome.

Referrals come from social workers or patients who call the ACS, and Mernoff said she does her best to match drivers with people who live near them to reduce the time they are on the road.

She told BusinessWest about an elderly patient who was taking two buses to get to chemotherapy, and added that it hurts to have to tell people there is no one who can give them a ride. And since many volunteers are seniors and go south during the winter, the need for help increases at this time of year.

Volunteers are free to drive as little or as often as they want, and if someone is having a hectic week, it’s perfectly acceptable to say they aren’t available.

“There are no penalties, and people can take breaks or vacations whenever they want,” said Mernoff. “We are very flexible, and if something comes up and someone can’t drive or has to take time off for a personal matter, it’s fine.”

Joe Audette says volunteers for the Road to Recovery program perform a valuable service in the community.

In most cases, volunteers take someone to an appointment, bring them home, and are able to return to their own home within an hour.

“Sometimes the person just needs to go for blood work. But if they didn’t have the ride, they couldn’t get it done, which is why our program is so critical,” she continued. “But we don’t expect people to go out in a snowstorm or really bad weather.”

Still, some drivers are so dedicated, they will do their best to get patients the care they need, even in inclement weather.

Joe Audette is one of them. After retiring from a 42-year career with the U.S. Postal Service and thinking about volunteering at a hospital, he discovered the Road to Recovery program.

“I like to drive, like meeting new people, and wanted to give back to the community,” said the 69-year-old.

He has driven patients to and from appointments for the past three years.

“I’ll drive anytime unless the weather is so bad that they cancel everything; some people are in treatment every day or every other day, and the ACS tells you how long the appointment is likely to be,” he went on. “It’s interesting, and you meet some really nice people. I’m not much of a talker, but I try to cheer them up by keeping the conversation light and commenting on the weather or the way people in cars around us are driving. I stay in the office once we arrive because they might get done early or need an extended amount of time. And it feels so good when they thank me.”

The Ride Stuff

Audette has also gone above and beyond for some people. For example, a man he drove was upset because his prescription wasn’t ready at the pharmacy when they arrived after his appointment. So, although Audette knew it wasn’t part of his job, he offered to pick it up later. “I wanted to ease his worries,” he said.

In another instance, a woman accompanied her husband to the treatment, but told Audette there was no need for him to stay while her spouse had a procedure.

“But she changed her mind, and when it was over, she told me she was glad I was there. She would have sat in the waiting room for several hours by herself, and you never know what’s going to happen or what’s going on in someone’s mind,” Audette said. “I’ve had surgeries and always had family members or someone there to pick me up. I knew I wasn’t alone, and don’t want anyone else to feel that way.”

He has been invited into people’s homes, and at least one family has offered him something to eat. But that rarely happens and is not something he’s comfortable with. But he loves the interaction that occurs while he drives.

“One lady was Russian and didn’t speak any English. So we used hand signals to communicate, and when we got to the hospital, we were laughing,” he recalled.

He added that, although some of the people he has transported have their own cars, they can’t drive because of medication they are taking, and often don’t want to take a bus because their immune systems are compromised.

Occasionally volunteers and patients get to know one another well enough that the patient requests that particular driver when they need a ride again. “But it’s not necessary to form relationships with the people you transport, and we don’t expect it to happen,” Mernoff said.

Parrow is extremely outgoing, and has laughed and joked with patients.

“I’m a cribbage fanatic, and since I usually wait for the patients, when I found a lady who also liked the game, we played during her chemotherapy treatments,” he told BusinessWest.

Parrow has also encouraged people to continue with their treatments when they tell him they are discouraged and feel like stopping.

“And because I like to cook, I bake cookies and give them to the patients and people who work in the radiation and oncology units,” he continued. “Not everyone has to do as much as I do, but I lost my mother to cancer more than 30 years ago, and if she was still alive and sick, I hope someone like me who enjoys driving would give her rides.”

Worthy Cause

In addition to losing his mother to cancer, Parrow has also lost a brother, sister-in-law, and niece. He finds the volunteer work meaningful and brings different types of music on CDs to suit the tastes of those he’s driving. “Everyone doesn’t have to do these things,” he said. “But I really enjoy this.”

Audette expressed similar feelings. “I feel good about doing something useful for someone else, and hope I give each person a few minutes of happiness,” he said, explaining that they often laugh together.

But, enjoyment aside, this volunteer work makes a profound difference.

“I can’t tell you enough how important this is,” Swanson said. “I have no other way to get to my appointments and no one else I can count on. This program is a lifesaver, and I appreciate it so much.”

Chamber Corners: Upcoming Events

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com
(413) 253-0700

• Dec. 2: Ribbon cutting and grand opening, noon, at Advanced Auto Parts, 346 Russell St., Hadley. The chamber will welcome one of its newest members. Advance Auto Parts will offer 10% off for its grand opening.

• Dec. 4: Merry Maple, 3-6:30 p.m., Amherst Town Common. Serving hot chocolate provided by the Works as well as a face- painting station. There will be arts and crafts in the Town Room at Town Hall, as well as cider doughnuts and hot apple cider served on the common. The Amherst Middle School chorus will perform on the front step, tree lighting, and the UMass marching band will escort Santa in a fire truck.

• Dec. 9: Holiday Party, 5-7 p.m., at PeoplesBank, 56 Amity St., Amherst. Join the chamber and enjoy appetizers and beverages with colleagues.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.chicopeechamber.org
(413) 594-2101

• Dec. 3: Holiday Party, 4:30-6:30 p.m., at the Collegian Court Restaurant, 89 Park St., Chicopee. This event is free for members.

• Dec. 16: Salute Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at the Castle of Knights, 1599 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Sign up online at www.chicopeechamber.org.

• Dec. 17: Mornings with the Mayor, 8-9 a.m., at Chicopee Industrial Contractors, 107 North St., Chicopee. This event is free for members.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org
(413) 527-9414

• Dec. 3: Holiday tree lighting and visit from Santa, 6:30-8 p.m., at Pulaski Park, Easthampton.

• Dec. 4: Greater Easthampton Chamber Snow Ball, 6-11 p.m., at the Garden House, Look Park. An old-fashioned, elegant, holiday affair. Sit-down dinner featuring Meyers Catering, live music, and dancing featuring Maxxtone. Dress in style, black tie optional.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.holyokechamber.com
(413) 534-3376

• Dec. 9: Holiday Business Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at the Delaney House, One Country Club Road, Holyoke. Sponsored by Holyoke Gas & Electric, Health New England, United Bank, and the Republican-El Pueblo Latino-MassLive. Business networking and salutes while enjoying a hearty buffet breakfast. Cost: $22 for members in advance, $28 for non-members and at the door. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or online at holyokechamber.com to sign up.

• Dec. 16: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., hosted and Sponsored by the Delaney House, One Country Club Road, Holyoke. Business networking event includes a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and money (scratch ticket) wreath. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for the public. Call the chamber at (413) 534-3376 or visit holyokechamber.com to sign up.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com
(413) 584-1900

• Dec. 2: December Arrive @ 5, 5-7 p.m., at Hampshire Council of Governments, Northampton. Sponsored by Applied Mortgage. Cost: $10 for members.

Don’t Overlook Deductible Childcare Expenses

Columns Sections

Finance

By RACHEL CURRY

With year-end fast approaching, taxpayers are looking for any deduction available in order to minimize their personal income taxes. If you have young children, childcare may be one of the highest deductible expenses you will encounter.

Most individuals have a requirement to file a tax return annually, and if you have young children, the likelihood is that you have paid some form of child-care expense throughout the year. If this applies to you, then you may be eligible to enroll in an employer-sponsored cafeteria plan (also known as a Section 125 plan), or you may receive a federal tax credit against your federal tax owed at the end of the year. In order to decide which benefit would be the best option for your situation, you need to know all the details. With either option, it is important to note that, if you are married, both spouses need earned income, and the child must be 12 years old or younger and your dependent.

A cafeteria plan is a benefit that may be provided by your employer. This would allow you to contribute up to $5,000 per year of pretax earnings into a specific, employer-controlled account. This account would then be used to reimburse you for any dependent-care expenses. A cafeteria plan allows you to reduce your gross income, which in turn reduces the amount you pay in federal, Social Security, and some state taxes.

Unless your employer specifically states otherwise, the money in your cafeteria account at the end of the year will be lost. This is an important factor to think about when deciding how much to contribute into this specified account. Another consideration is the cash-flow effect. Your salary is reduced, but you must provide proof of payment of daycare expenses to receive the reimbursement. You want the total amount contributed to not exceed the expenses you pay out throughout the year. This way, you are maximizing the benefits of having this type of plan.

Since the amount you contribute to the cafeteria plan is not included in your wages, you will see a separate line item on Form W-2, Box 10 that states ‘Café 125.’ You would report the W-2 wages as seen on the form, and since you already received a pre-tax benefit from being enrolled in this plan, you may not be eligible to also receive an additional credit on your taxes for the expenses paid through this plan. You are required to file a Form 2441, which is explained later in this article.

If your employer does not offer a cafeteria plan, there is another dependent-care option available in the form of a personal federal tax credit. Similar to the cafeteria plan, this credit has specific guidelines that need to be met in order to receive the total credit. As mentioned above, you must have earned income, which includes wages, salaries or tips, and self-employment income. If you are filing a joint tax return, your spouse must also have earned income. If you are out of work for a period of time but are actively looking for a job, you may still be eligible for the credit.

If you believe the credit may apply, you should provide your tax professional with a list of all applicable expenses. Be sure to note that expenses may include day care or education costs below kindergarten. These expenses are for the care of the child. The credit is equal to 20% to 35% of the total qualified expenses. The percentage of the total expenses that you can deduct depends on your adjusted gross income. The maximum amount of qualified expenses you’re allowed to use to calculate the credit is $3,000 for one qualifying person and $6,000 for two or more qualifying persons. To claim this credit on your tax return, you must complete Form 2441: Child and Dependent Care Expenses and attach it to your Form 1040. On this form you must disclose the name, address, and taxpayer identification number of the individual or organization that is providing the care. It is important to keep supporting documentation in your records in case of an IRS inquiry. If the information is incorrect or incomplete, your credit may not be allowed.

In conclusion, taxpayers with taxable income that is taxed at a rate higher than 20% (married filing joint $74,900, single $37,450) are more likely to obtain greater benefit from a cafeteria plan than taking the tax credit. Another additional benefit of the cafeteria plan is the Social Security tax savings on the amount contributed to the plan. When you receive a credit on your tax return, this also means you are reducing your tax, not receiving an actual refund.

When you are enrolled in a cafeteria plan, you are getting the benefit of reducing your taxable wages before you even begin to prepare your tax return.

If you have any questions, be sure to contact your tax professional.

Rachel Curry is a tax associate with the Holyoke-based public accounting firm Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; (413) 322-3488; [email protected]

Early Returns Prompt Optimism About Holiday Shopping Season

Holiday Gift Guide Sections

Beating the Crowds

Louis and Kathy White say holiday shopping started early at A.O. White, and they have boxes and bags filled with items that have been gift-wrapped and are waiting to be picked up.

’Tis the season to be shopping, and local retailers say consumers began their annual holiday shopping for friends, family, and loved ones — and themselves — right after Halloween.

“Shoppers aren’t waiting until the last minute anymore,” said Nicole Sweeney, marketing manager for Eastfield Mall, adding that it seems that people are buying a few things each week after they get their paycheck.

“The old metric of measuring sales from Black Friday to Christmas is no longer accurate, and retailers have responded to the growing trend of people shopping early. Old Navy has had a sale almost every day since late October, and most of the national chain stores offered pre-Black Friday sales,” she told BusinessWest.

Lisa Wray agrees. The marketing director for Holyoke and Hampshire malls said their unofficial season kickoff took place on Veterans’ Day, as many people had the day off. “We’ve definitely seen an uptick in traffic since then, and a lot of stores started holding sales early, rather than waiting for Black Friday,” she said.

Louis White of A.O. White in East Longmeadow believes shoppers may have been inspired by the fact that the big-box stores put up Christmas decorations in October and held pre-holiday promotions in October. “It’s one thing we can thank them for,” he said. “People have been buying gifts here for weeks, and we have boxes and bags filled with items that we gift-wrapped and are waiting to be picked up and taken home.”

Kathy White agreed. “We’re seeing a lot of positive energy, and I think it will be a good year for specialty stores because of the service we provide and the uniqueness of our merchandise,” said Louis’s wife and business partner. “People are looking for novelty this year more than ever.”

Indeed, all signs point toward a very healthy sales season. The National Retail Foundation (NRF) expects sales in November and December (excluding autos, gas, and restaurants) to total $630.5 billion, which equates to an increase of 3.7, significantly higher than the 10-year average of 2.5%. Average spending per person is expected to reach $805, and surveys show that nearly 57% of people celebrating the holidays started buying gifts in early November.

“The window between Thanksgiving and Christmas is shorter this year, so retailers are offering really good deals,” said Carolyn Edwards, general manager for Lee Premium Outlets. “Our sales have been very promotion-driven. They started before Black Friday and will continue throughout the holiday season.”

Catering to Customers

Joy Leavitt, who owns KiddlyWinks in Longmeadow, says the store held two special events long before Black Friday to kick off the holiday season. The children’s toy store sent 12,500 catalogs to customers on a mailing list and invited them to attend an Adult Shopping Night that included hors d’oeuvres and raffles. More than 100 guests showed up and enjoyed the evening; and it was followed by a Wake Up with KiddlyWinks morning that attracted 50 shoppers who received discounts and free gift wrapping, along with coffee and donuts.

Joy Leavitt says the holiday season is off to a great start at Kiddly Winks, and the response to two November sales promotions was fantastic.

“Our store is ready to go, and the shelves are stacked to the top. We had a nice, brisk beginning to the season and are really thrilled that people chose to shop here,” Leavitt said. “We’re starting our 30th year in business, and children who once received gifts from us are now parents or grandparents buying toys for their children.”

Louis White said A.O. White also offered incentives to its good customers. “We want to reward them around the holidays, but we are not sales-driven,” he noted. “We have generations of people who have shopped here and we really like to think we are a destination for special things.”

Edwards said footwear and apparel account for a significant portion of the gifts purchased during the holiday season at Lee Premium Outlets. “And we are anticipating a large sale of gift cards. They’re always our number-one seller, and as we get closer to Christmas, we always see an uptick in demand for them,” she told BusinessWest, explaining that they make an ideal gift, as the shopping season doesn’t officially end until Jan. 1, and many people crowd stores the day after Christmas to take advantage of post-holiday sales.

Wray said electronics are expected to be the winner this year when it comes to gifts. “People are buying tablets, iPhones, and mobile devices. We don’t have the actual data yet for sales, but they seem to be the hot gifts.”

Although the NRF says Americans plan to do almost half of their holiday shopping online this year, and one in five will use a smartphone to purchase holiday merchandise, local retailers say the joy of holiday shopping is an experience that can’t be duplicated by ordering remotely.

“Every single business has been affected by online shopping; it has changed the world. But we hope people make some of their purchases at local businesses and family-owned stores. We are the tapestry of the community and are so appreciative of the business,” Leavitt said, adding that KiddlyWinks looks for the hottest and best toys for children from February until September in advance of the holiday season, and when people shop locally, the tax dollars stay in the community.

Edwards believes people often go online to find what they want to purchase and compare pricing. “But nothing compares to seeing something, trying it on, and feeling the merchandise, so I don’t think online shopping will ever replace the experience of shopping in a store,” she said, adding that, when people are buying for others in a retail store, they often purchase something for themselves.

Indeed, the NRF says 54% of shoppers treat themselves during the holiday season. “People often come in with a shopping list and leave with a few things for themselves,” Louis White noted.

Optimistic Predictions

Although it’s too early to determine exactly how much people will spend this holiday season, the owners of local stores have done all they can to attract the growing number of people shopping early, as well as those who wait until the last minute. Weather can affect business and prevent people from going to their stores, but it has been an unseasonably warm fall, and they are optimistic about the 2015 holiday season.

“We’re thrilled, energized, and excited about this season,” Leavitt said. “I can’t predict anything yet, but I have a feeling it will be a very, very positive year.”

Louis White concurred. “We are off to a good start at ground level,” he said. “We merchandised and planned for an increase in sales, and since our biggest nightmare is that we will run out of items, we continue to reorder until the week before Christmas.”

Edwards said last holiday season proved to be a very good one at Lee Premium Outlets, and this one looks equally bright. “We have had a very busy fall, and we expect the momentum to continue.”

And Wray expects stores in the Holyoke and Hampshire malls to meet the NRF’s prediction of an increase of 3.7%.

All of which should add up to a very merry season for retailers and shoppers beginning their annual quest to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list.

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

MGM Springfield Outlines Evolving Plans for Casino Design

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Resorts recently detailed how and why the MGM Springfield design has evolved over the last four months. In a public presentation at CityStage in downtown Springfield, MGM executives, led by President Bill Hornbuckle, walked hundreds of attendees through the enhanced design plan, highlighting changes that allow for both design and operational efficiencies. The late-afternoon forum was hosted by Mayor Domenic Sarno and his economic-development team, led by Chief Development Officer Kevin Kennedy. “We are very proud of MGM Springfield’s improved design,” Hornbuckle said. “Our commitment to the city of Springfield, the region, and the Commonwealth has never wavered. Today, I am hopeful that people will see it has only gotten stronger. We are as ready as we have ever been to help return downtown Springfield to its glory days.” The MGM team presented a detailed comparison of commitments in the May 2013 host-community agreement and the new design plan, with an amenity layout resulting in a less than 1% adjustment in square footage to be experienced by customers. While some amenities, such as the child-care facility and retail, have grown in size, other operational and back-of-the-house spaces were reduced through design efficiencies. A redesign was made public earlier this fall when MGM Springfield announced it was moving the 250-room hotel along Main Street and market-rate apartments off-site. With the changes, MGM hopes to further engage Main Street while promoting ancillary development opportunities with off-site market-rate apartments. MGM is currently negotiating the purchase of 195 State St., the former Springfield School Department headquarters, to move forward with a housing redevelopment at that property. Brian Packer, MGM’s vice president of construction and development, joined Hornbuckle on stage, giving a construction update. Packer said that the company already has spent more than $23 million on MGM Springfield construction and employed 675 construction workers. Many of those workers were involved in the renovation of the new Mission on Mill Street, providing an updated, secure facility that will house a rehabilitation program, giveaway center, and business offices. Additionally, Packer laid out a sequence of construction events that will lead up to the September 2018 opening. The company estimates it will now cost more than $950 million to open MGM Springfield. Original estimates were expected to exceed $860 million, including capitalized interest and land-related costs. “MGM Springfield is not only the largest development project Western Massachusetts has ever seen, it is starting to rival the investment of the most-talked-about about development projects in the Commonwealth,” said Michael Mathis, MGM Springfield president. “We developed this presentation to provide transparency on our process. The people of Western Massachusetts want to be excited about the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that is MGM Springfield. We know maintaining a level of positive energy is our responsibility. Major demolition, large contract awards, and exciting opportunities to get involved are all part of the next phase, which will start very soon.” MGM is scheduled to present a comprehensive cost and design analysis to the Mass. Gaming Commission on Dec. 3. The mayor and City Council must still approve the updated site plans before MGM can go forward with its design-approval process.

Massachusetts Gains 11,000 Jobs in October

BOSTON — The state’s total unemployment rate remained at 4.6% in October, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced Thursday. The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts added 11,000 jobs in October. The largest over-the-month job gains occurred in the education and health services; professional, scientific, and business services; and other services sectors. Year-to-date, Massachusetts has added 62,800 jobs. The Bureau of Labor Statistics also revised preliminary job estimates for September that originally indicated Massachusetts lost 7,100 jobs. BLS revised estimates for September show the state lost 2,200 jobs. The October preliminary estimates show 3,396,900 Massachusetts residents were employed during the month, and 164,000 were unemployed, for a total labor force of 3,560,900. The labor force decreased by 8,700 from 3,569,600 in September, as 9,600 fewer residents were employed and 900 more residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell 0.9% from 5.5% in October 2014. There were 32,000 fewer unemployed persons over the year compared to October 2014. The October state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 5.0% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “Massachusetts continues to add jobs, and the labor market is strong. We frequently hear from employers that they have jobs to fill, which is a good position for the state to be in,” Labor and Workforce Development Secretary Ronald Walker II said. The state’s labor-force-participation rate — the total number of residents 16 or older who worked or were unemployed and actively sought work in the last four weeks — decreased 0.2% point to 64.7% over the month. The labor-force-participation rate over the year has decreased 0.8% compared to October 2014. The largest private-sector percentage job gains over the year were in professional, scientific, and business services; construction; other services; leisure and hospitality; and education and health services.

Incorporations

Departments Incorporations

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

CHICOPEE

Jimbuddys Inc., 1271 Memorial Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020. James M. Robinson, 30 Vadnais St., Chicopee, MA 01020. Nicotine delivery services.

EAST LONGMEADOW

Accurate Real Estate Appraisals Inc., 2 Athens St., East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Christopher Bertelli, same. Real estate appraisal.

Mario’s Café Ambiance Inc., 60 Shaker Road, East Longmeadow, MA 01028. Carol Bernazki, 102 Ondrick Dr., Chicopee, MA 01020. Restaurant.

HOLYOKE

Moore Realty Development Corp., 11 Hampshire St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Shadeed Mahdi, same. Real estate development and management.

Neighborhood Mart Inc., 328 Appleton St., Holyoke, MA 01040. Reda Shabaneh, 34 Webber St., Springfield, MA 01108. Convenience store, no gas.

NORTHFIELD

The Moody Center Inc., 231 Main St., Northfield, MA 01360. Kevin Belmonte, 3 Snowshoe Spring Road, York, ME 03909. Charitable organization.

Tree Fellers Timber Harvesting Inc., 703 Gulf Road, Northfield, MA 01360. Eric P. Remillard, same. Logging.

PITTSFIELD

Philadelphia Bus Inc., 10 Wendell Ave. Ext. 2FL Suite 2, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Yun Zhou Wu, 1025 Kerper St., Philadelphia, PA 19111. Bus charters for vacation.

The Herbal Way Inc., 82 Wendell Ave., Suite 100, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Kim Granatell, 206 Strokes Farm Road, Franklin, N.J. 07417. Non-profit organization.

SOUTH HADLEY

LaLiberte Builders Inc., 11 Berwyn St. Ext., South Hadley, MA 01075. Jamie LaLiberte, same. General construction.

Marino Enterprises Inc., 31A Hillcrest Park, South Hadley, MA 01075. David S. Marino, same. Driving educational school.

SPRINGFIELD

JNK International Travel & Tours Inc., 99A Mill St., Suite #91J, Springfield, MA 01108. Ya Zhen Chen, same. Travel and tours.

Levesque Chiropractic, P.C., 916 Belmont Ave., Springfield, MA 01108. Norman Levesque, 144 Senator St., Springfield, MA 01129. Chiropractic services.

WESTFIELD

Victory Transportation Inc., 8 Fowler St., Westfield, MA 01085. Victoria Kostenko, same. Trucking company.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

G.V.C. Transportation Inc., 203 Circuit Ave., Office 131, West Springfield, MA 01089. Guan Hua Chen, same. Transportation.

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

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

CHICOPEE

Authier Inc.
12 Dalliere Ave.
$6,500 — Exterior renovations

Chicopee Auto Farm Inc.
980 East Main St.
$16,000 — Addition to existing building

Electric Light Department
725 Front St.
$25,000 — Strip and re-roof

F.L. Roberts and Company
520 Montgomery St.
$60,500 — Build 20-x-22 addition for car wash

Homestyle Cafe
1780 Westover Road
$10,000 — Install kitchen exhaust fan

Our Lady of the Elms College
291 Springfield St.
$33,000 — Office remodel

Paul Langlois
627 Memorial Dr.
$3,500 — Exterior repairs

Reesg Properties, LLC
1600 Memorial Dr.
$630,000 — Expand existing Price Rite

WMDC
227 Lonczak Dr.
$42,000 — Install pre-fab modular office

GREENFIELD

Argotec Inc.
46 Greenfield St.
$21,000 — Relocate exterior safety storage building

Haddleton Associates
37 Butternut St.
$20,000 — Replace antennas

Indoor Action
1385 Bernardston Road
$264,000 — Install new fabric structure and cable system

Northeast Biodiesel Company
179 Silvio O Conte Dr.
$498,000 — Interior renovations

Rosenberg Property, LLC
311 Wells St.
$45,000 — Subdivide existing space into office area

Salvation Army
72 Chapman St.
$113,000 — Interior renovations

Sander Greenfield, LLC
367 Federal St.
$51,000 — Install new sprinkler system

Sandri Realty, Inc.
295 Federal St.
$403,000 — Remodel gas station addition

Sore, LTD
192-200 Main St.
$5,000 — Replace leaking section of roof

LUDLOW

Burger King
419 Center St.
$100,000 — Alterations

Ludlow Self Storage
148 Carmelinas Circle
$149,000 — New commercial construction

Riverside Dental
433 Center St.
$101,000 — Alteration

SPRINGFIELD

Bridge Hillman, LLC
289 & 293 Bridge St.
$298,000 — Alterations of first and second floor for new tenant

Derrick Hatwood
50 Chapel St.
$40,000 — Add three antennas

Dwight Station, LLC
95 Frank B. Murray St.
$1,250,000 — Renovate facade and construct new interior partitions for new office spaces

Guidewire
551 Columbus Ave.
$3,000 — Create storage room

Isla Associates I, LLC
21 Bancroft St.
$20,000 — Replace 62 windows

Lion’s Den
40 Front St.
$8,000 — Handicap restroom

Peter Martins
1190 Boston Road
$122,000 — Renovate building

Pierre St. Paul
716 Belmont Ave.
$6,000 — Exterior renovations

Winn Companies
259 Fernbank Road
$14,000 — New roof

Union Gets Second Bite of the Apple Over Technicality