Month: May 2016

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

Anderholm, Martin G.
Anderholm, Rebecca A.
230 Dana Road
Orange, MA 01364
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/16

Andrews, Harold
Andrews, Stephanie
134 Stevenson Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/16

Ayers, Tammy
9 Baldwinville Road
Royalston, MA 01368
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/16

Barnes, Anna L.
79 Shawinigan Dr.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/16

Baron, Mark A.
Baron, JoAnn T.
50 West School St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/20/16

Belben, Michael Charles
148 Rollins St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/16

Boivin, Donald J.
Boivin, Paulette A.
59 Christopher St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/25/16

Bourassa, George J.
Bourassa, Amanda
a/k/a Brassard, Amanda
132 Columbia St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/16

Clayton-Jones, Mary Catherine
617 Hoosac Road
Conway, MA 01341
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Cleaning with Care
Jones, Robert H.
Jones, Cathleen J.
241 Osbourne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Coe, Stephen G.
53 Yarmouth St.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/16

Collins, Ashley Ann
38 Chilson St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/21/16

Crilley, Patrick
1680 Pendleton Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01022
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/16

Davison, Kenneth A.
Davison, Gloria J.
P.O. Box 184
West Warren, MA 01092
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/28/16

Dominick, Lawrence S.
Dominick, Carole A.
50 Cardinal Dr., Apt 11
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/21/16

Eames, Susan L.
114 Cosgrove Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Figueroa, Carmen
127 Dewitt St.
Springfield, MA 01129
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/16

Fortin, Charles V.
PO Box 445
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Fredette, Jr., Francis E.
160 Eagle St., Apt. 2A
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/22/16

Gelevoyda, Vitaliy N.
99 Pine St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/16

Gigliotti, Jr., Paul A.
7 Columbia St.
Adams, MA 01220
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/21/16

Huertas, Angel
10 Pemaquid St.
Indian Orchard, MA 01151
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/21/16

Kids Corner Consultation
Swimm, Jamie R.
Aubuchon-Swimm, Leeann M.
17 Lakeshore Dr.
Monson, MA 01057
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Kocal, Kenneth W.
236 North Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Krause, Kristiaan S.
Krause, Sherry A. S.
63 Edbert Dr.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/16

LaPlant, Michelle Holly
6 Hawthorne Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Lugo, Marlyn
132 Melha Ave.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/21/16

McLean, Rita M.
9 Henry St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Michaels, William C.
125 Country Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/30/16

Norrie, Robert E.
Norrie, Carol A.
12 Cottage St.
Southwick, MA 01077
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/20/16

Pena, Juan C.
136 Drexel St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Piziali, Aaron A.
Swaim, Kathryn Virginia
120 Bridge Road
Florence, MA 01062
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/22/16

Pouliot, Danielle E.
97 Oakwood St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/20/16

R. & A Bertolino, Inc.
Bertolino, Robert M.
Bertolino, Amber L.
13 Springside Ave.
Pittsfield, MA 01201
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/16

Robles, Edwin A.
Robles, Elizabeth
1114 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/16/16

Scott, Timothy
70 Amore Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Chapter: 13
Filing Date: 04/29/16

SD Custom Designs
Desroches, David E.
1 Charles St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/16

Searles, Richard W.
420 Mountain Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/16

Shaner, Barbara G.
1 Canal St.
Ware, MA 01082
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/20/16

Sopet, Debra L.
104 Bradford Dr.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/27/16

Unglaub, Charles Phillip
172 Colemore St.
Feeding Hills, MA 01030
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/26/16

Velazquez, Betsy
25 Hanover St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/19/16

Walsh, Edmund Joseph
Walsh, Tracy Marie
24 David St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/29/16

Wentz, Edward Joseph
Wentz, Karen Dorene
53 Montgomery St.
North Adams, MA 01247
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/18/16

Wilson, George
Wilson, Sherri
PO Box 120
Warren, MA 01083
Chapter: 7
Filing Date: 04/25/16

Buying Local Matters

Opinion

By Nancy Urbschat

Several weeks ago, I received notification that my agency had not been selected for final consideration for a rebranding project for this region. I knew that all of the area’s agencies had been invited to participate, and therefore I assumed one of my fine competitors would eventually win the business.

Not so. And that is not only disappointing, but also quite puzzling.

The organization heading the project, the Economic Development Council of Western Mass. (EDC), chose Cubit, an agency from Tulsa, Okla. Naturally, the EDC had no obligation to choose a local agency. Or did it?

I don’t think I am alone in believing that an agency that puts the phrases ‘economic development’ and ‘Western Massachusetts’ on its letterhead has, or should have, as the case may be, an obligation to try and keep the branding of the region in the region.

My intention in writing this piece is to drive home the strength of the region’s creative community and implore the EDC and other companies to think about the message the EDC’s action reinforces. And that is, if you want something great, you have to look somewhere else; you won’t find it here. Coincidentally, some of the EDC’s members — including those in healthcare, higher education, and manufacturing, among other sectors — fight this same battle.

Since it was created roughly 20 years ago, the EDC’s mission has been to essentially sell to others this region’s strengths, abilities, and potential. Shouldn’t the EDC make a point of trying to buy locally?

Let’s start with the strength of the region’s creative community. On May 19, the Ad Club of Western Mass. held its Creative Awards show. The region’s creative community submitted its work for judging by two award-winning creatives from New York City. They were impressed with the region’s talent.

The judging was tough but fair. Receiving an award — any award — felt like a significant accomplishment. But we went home feeling satisfied knowing the region’s creative community is alive and well.

On May 20, the EDC’s director, Rick Sullivan, and 50 business leaders met with Massachusetts House Speaker Robert DeLeo regarding how to grow the region’s economy and finally put an end to the economic disparity between Boston and the western part of the state. Speaker DeLeo wants the Bay State’s businesses that are searching for products and services to look in Massachusetts first. This is not a new concept. Just take a look at what’s happening in Northeastern Ohio. Major employers in Cleveland are building a robust regional economy, in large part, by doing business regionally.

The EDC has indicated that a local agency will be selected to partner with Cubit. But given the scope of the work outlined in the request for proposal and the announced budget of $80,000, I question just how much of a role the local agency will have.

In the RFP, The EDC mentions Michigan’s “Pure Michigan” campaign as a model. This is a robust, overarching brand for the entire state. The EDC’s objective is limited to branding the region.

To the EDC’s credit, it is thinking big. That said, I don’t believe they had to go outside Western Mass. to hire talented branding resources. Local talent would have brought a little extra: a willingness to go to the mat to make sure this brand gets done right.

After all, this is where we all live and work. As the region goes, so go our businesses. It’s critically important this brand truly captures the region’s essence and its impressive features that go beyond the usual talking points.

There are a number of local firms that could have gotten the job done.

Nancy Urbschat is president of Springfield-based TSM Design.

Picture This

Departments Picture This

Email ‘Picture This’ photos with a caption and contact information to [email protected]

Pleasant Encounters

The Greater Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau honored 11 individuals from the region’s hospitality sector on May 16 at the 21st annual Howdy Awards for Hospitality Excellence. They are, in alphabetical order: Monique Ball, desk clerk, Hampton Inn & Suites, Greenfield (category of accommodations); Silvana Cardaropoli, server, Palazzo Café, Springfield (food – casual); Andrew Demers, server, Bertucci’s, West Springfield (food – tableside); Michael Gabis, merchandise manager, Springfield Falcons (attractions); Carmine Manzi, bartender, Villa Napoletana, East Longmeadow (People’s Choice winner); Alicia Ralph, Visitors Center associate, Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce (public service); James Saul, motorcoach operator, Peter Pan Bus Lines, Springfield (transportation); Tom Savage, sales associate, Yankee Candle Village, South Deerfield (business/retail); the Springfield Armory National Historic Site (Spotlight winner); Gina Stevens, bartender, Atlas Pub, Chicopee (beverage); and Rebecca Whiteford, event planner, the Log Cabin, Holyoke (banquet and meetings).

Appreciating the Military

In conjunction with National Military Appreciation Month in May, Lee Premium Outlets unveiled two reserved veteran/military parking spaces with a ribbon-cutting ceremony on May 20. Front row, from left: State Rep. William Pignatelli, VFW Post #448 Commander Arnie Perras, American Legion Post #68 Commander Bernie LaFramboise, U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Aaron Pierce, and Lee Premium Outlets General Manager Carolyn Edwards.

Wild Success

“Make. Believe.” was the theme of the Advertising Club of Western Massachusetts’ Creative Awards, the club’s annual recognition of creative excellence. The event was held May 19 at Open Square in Holyoke, and the judges included Kevin Grady, global head of design and communication for brand strategy firm Siegel + Gale, and Nikita Prokhorov, a freelance designer, author, and professor based in Brooklyn, N.Y. Among the winners was Wild Apple Design Group, which won a bronze award for designing and building the website for the 2015 Western Mass. Business Expo, the annual event presented by BusinessWest.

Walk This Way

Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito visited the ongoing Ludlow Mills development on May 24 to announce a $429,500 MassWorks grant to the Ludlow Mills Riverwalk project, located behind the mill complex. The funding will boost pedestrian safety and education on the 3,500-foot trail along the Chicopee River, including lighting, benches, signage educating walkers about the history of Ludlow’s mills, and other improvements. The Riverwalk — funded initially with $600,000 from HealthSouth Rehabilitation Hospital and Westmass Area Development Corp. — opened up a previously inaccessible area of the riverfront with a paved walkway. Westmass bought the 170-acre Ludlow Mills complex five years ago with the intention of developing a mixed-use complex in the old mills, including Mill 8 with its iconic clock tower (pictured). It has since attracted $75 million in public and private investment, including the $26 million HealthSouth facility and a $24.5 million, 75-unit senior housing project by WinnDevelopment. Ludlow Selectman William Rooney (pictured bottom, with Polito and State Rep. Thomas Petrolati) praised the partnerships forged between the town, state agencies, and private interests in building momentum at Ludlow Mills. “Because of these partnerships, the future of Ludlow, especially the downtown area, are bright.”

Up for the Challenge

The BusinessWest News Challenge is a program designed to engage students in the world of business, communication, journalism, and media. It was created by Westfield State University (WSU) Professor Janine Fondon and judged by BusinessWest Editor George O’Brien, who recently visited Fondon’s “Writing for the Media” class to announce the winners as well as lecture on the topic of journalism and news writing. Pictured, from left, are Fondon, Tom Lyon (honorable mention), Ian Flannery (third place), Meaghan Jablonski (second place), and Nate Barnes (first place).

Father, Son Innovators Put the Pedal to the Mettle

Cover Story

Entrepreneurial Drive

Kevin, left, and Devin Murray, the father-and-son co-founders of better.bike.

It was born out of a blend of need and desire. Nevin Murrary wanted something that would get him to high school in a manner that would by healthy, environmentally friendly — and cool. He and his father, Kevin, came up with the PEBL, described as a bridge between a bike and a car. But beyond becoming an effective means for the younger Murray to commute, it is evolving into a business concept with recognized potential.

When Nevin Murray arrives at Greenfield Community College in September, he’ll do so with most of the usual questions and anxieties that most all entering freshmen have. Well … maybe not; he certainly has a lot of poise and confidence for an 18-year-old, and with good reason, as we’ll see in a bit.

One thing’s for certain, though. His arrival will be totally unique in one aspect: he’ll be driving something no one else on that campus (or any other campus, for that matter) has — a PEBL.

That’s technically still an acronym (it stands for Pedal Electric Bike Lifestyle), but Nevin and his father, Kevin, who together conceptualized, designed, built, and soon plan to manufacture this vehicle, consider it more of a model name than anything else.

PEBL from GCAi on Vimeo.

As one discusses it, the word ‘vehicle’ is certainly the safest term you can use. But it’s not a car, although it looks like one (sort of, anyway), especially the tiny Smart cars now gaining traction in this country. And it is not technically a bicycle in the strictest sense of the word, although the name the Murrays have chosen for their enterprise is better.bike, which uses the tag line ‘Solutions in Transportation,’ which is quite effective and totally accurate (more on why later).

No, this product is a ‘velomobile.’ That’s a technical term in transportation circles, and one that’s been around for a least a century, by most estimates. It is used to describe, well, a bicycle/car, or a bicycle that is enclosed for aerodynamic advantage and protection from the weather. In those respects, the PEBL is not really unique. But in many others, it certainly is — from the material used to make the body (it’s actually a hemp-and-soy composite, rather than fiberglass) to the lithium-ion battery-powered motor.

In other words, the PEBL is both eco-friendly and human-friendly, said Kevin, an acupuncturist by trade, noting that, in his estimation, fiberglass is one of the most toxic substances used in manufacturing today.

“One of my passions is looking after people’s health,” he said, adding that this mindset explains many aspects of the PEBL, from its conception to the component materials used in making it.

The Murrays say their vehicle was born from need and desire — for a four-season velomobile that could handle the rigors of a Western Mass. winter — and came together over three years of searching junkyards for parts, trial and error, and the maturation of an innovative streak that both men possess.

The same goes for another trait — entrepreneurship, although the two acknowledged they had a lot to learn about the difficult process of transforming an idea into a business. With that in mind, they applied to become part of Valley Venture Mentors’ second accelerator class, and were accepted.

They didn’t make the list of finalists — honored at ceremonies last week — and thus didn’t win one of the larger monetary prizes distributed to those chosen 12. They both say they came away with something inherently more important, though — invaluable insight into maneuvering the many forms of whitewater facing startups, from identifying potential markets to raising the capital needed to advance the concept.

For this issue, BusinessWest continues its recent efforts to spotlight emerging startups across the region by talking with the Murrays about their concept and why they believe it can be a vehicle for business success, figuratively and quite literally.

Putting the Wheels in Motion

The senior class at Amherst Regional High School recently voted on a number of the usual honors presented at this time of year — to individuals of both sexes deemed the most popular, most likely to succeed, best dressed … the list goes on.

There’s one for ‘best car’ as well. One young woman earned the prize for the Mercedes she parks every morning, while Nevin Murray took the honor with his red PEBL, the second prototype built by the father/son team, which he has been driving for about a year now, and with a purpose.

“I’ve been testing every possible aspect of it,” he explained, “to make sure that we’ve covered everything we need to cover.”

He knows this is technically not a car, but he’s not about to give his award back; he’s rather proud of it. But he and his father are soon hoping their concept will win much more — specifically the attention of the buying public, or at least a decent-sized component of it.

This would be the segment (or segments) that care about the environment, and themselves, and want a healthy alternative, or solution (there’s that word again), for their transportation needs.

Right now, though, the Murrays are also hoping to win some financial support. Indeed, a Kickstarter campaign is being planned — one that seeks to net at least $50,000 for a mold and tools that will help get production of the vehicles off the ground.

Kevin told BusinessWest that the company is currently searching for manufacturing space, preferably in the Deerfield area, and needs about 2,000 square feet to get started. It took months to build each of the first few prototypes, he went on, but the process has been refined and formalized, and a team can now assemble one in a day or two. They expect that people who want a PEBL can get one as soon as this fall.

Before looking toward the immediate and long-term future, though, this would be a good time to go backward — something else the PEBL can do that a bike can’t — and look at how we arrived here.

Our story begins in the summer of 2013, said Kevin, who started by noting that, while his career has been in healthcare, he minored in engineering in college and has always enjoyed working with his hands and building things — character traits passed down to Nevin.

“Since he could pick up Legos, he’s been a builder,” he said of Nevin, adding that the two have collaborated on many initiatives. “We’ve been in science fairs and all kinds of projects, each one more complex.”

When Nevin turned 15, he went on, conversations within the family began to include talk about how the then-high-school student could, or should, get around. “We didn’t want to get a third car — we’re a very environmentally conscious family, and Nevin is even more so — so we started hunting around for a different kind of alternative vehicle for him that would hopefully include bicycling.”

The two saw some things online that caught their attention, but nothing effectively checked all the boxes they wanted to check. So they decided to design and build something that would.

“We wanted something he could use all year-round,” Kevin explained, “and also something where he wouldn’t be all sweaty when he got to school — we live seven miles from the high school — and that looked cool.”

The process of coming up with something that did all that started with visits to the nearest Home Depot and several area junkyards, said Nevin, adding that, as the concept starting coming together, they eventually realized it had potential as a marketable product, and this realization prompted a far more serious approach to their R&D.

“After we built the first prototype, we realized that to refine it enough to be a product wouldn’t take much more work,” he explained. “From there, it was a year of materials research and figuring out what goes where.”

What they pieced together — quite literally — is something that bridges the gap between a bike and a car. It has a 750-watt motor, powered by a 48-volt, 16-amp lithium-ion battery that on flat roads provides up to 30 miles of continuous riding without using the pedals. (Users can buy additional batteries for longer trips.)

The Murrays say that is all goes well, consumers should be able to get their own PEBL this fall.

As for those pedals, PEBL owners can use them for short stretches, but the vehicle weighs 200 pounds or so, meaning one wouldn’t want to pedal uphill or very far. There’s an electric heater to keep the user warm in winter, and the doors come off to create air flow in the summer. The PEBL (sticker price $6,000) can accomodate a rider well over six feet tall, and even has the ability to tow a bicycle.

A license is not required to drive one, and the vehicles themselves are not registered, said Kevin, adding that he keeps expecting to get pulled over by the police while he’s out driving in his PEBL, the first prototype, but hasn’t yet.

While many of those features listed above are unique to one level or another, what makes the PEBL stand alone among vehicles like it is the materials used to assemble it.

“We spent hundreds of hours experimenting and researching different materials,” said Kevin. “We finally developed a combination of hemp cloth, instead of fiberglass cloth, combined with a non-toxic epoxy that’s made from soy and peanut oil.”

These materials, as he noted earlier, are safer for those doing the assembly — one doesn’t need to wear a respirator. But they are also more practical. “We feel they make for a better body for the vehicle,” he explained. “It’s not as brittle as traditional fiberglass.”

Getting Up to Speed

As one reads the list of standard features on the PEBL, one would think it might be for a Honda Civic or even one of the myriad crossovers now flooding the market: ‘expandable cargo space,’ ‘cruise control,’ ‘standard rear suspension, ‘great visibility,’ among others.

It’s the lines at the top of that list, though, that make it readily apparent that this is not a car, or anything else currently on the road: ‘zero emissions,’ ‘pedal and electric,’ ‘hemp-and-soy composite body,’ ‘20 miles per hour top speed,’ ‘removable and stowable doors.’

It is the sum of all the items on that list that the Murrays believe will propel them to success with their venture — a vehicle that is in many ways practical, but also environmentally friendly and, if you get some pedaling in, good exercise.

They believe this product will play in cities and regions populated with individuals who value such things — and that have what they would consider a PEBL-friendly infrastructure. That would largely rule out New York, said Kevin, noting that residents would still have to find parking, which is always a struggle.

But he listed mid-sized, spacious cities such as Portland, Ore., Seattle (especially the sprawling tech-industry campuses there like Microsoft and Amazon), Denver, Austin, San Antonio, and others, as well as most all rural regions, as ideal for their concept. He believes there would be a strong market in Europe, where gas is very expensive, as well.

With an eye toward sharpening their focus on a target audience — and the many other aspects of making their PEBL company a reality — the Murrays sought to become members of VVM’s second accelerator class, were accepted, and found the experience invaluable.

It included use of the so-called ‘Lean Canvas’ to form a business plan, a one-pager that entrepreneurs can use to identify everything from the specific problem they’re trying to solve with their product or service to its unique value proposition; from channels for getting the product to consumers to a list of customer segments.

In the case of those customers, the team at better.bike identified several, including retired individuals, those with physical or fitness limitations, tech-loving Millenials, a parent with one or two small children, and commuters who want to ride in all seasons and all weather. Similarly, for early adopters of this concept, they identified these groups: those who care about the environment, individuals who want to get exercise, those who want to commute or ride in “something that is fun and looks cool,” and people put off by the expenses associated with using a car.

As they talked about the VVM experience, the Murrays used language similar to other participants.

“It was a real kick in the pants,” said Kevin. “It really moved us — it forced us to move quickly and focus. It put us in touch with reality.

‘From the beginning, they said, ‘don’t focus on the prize money, focus on the information and the connections that you’re going to get out of this,’” he went on, adding that they’ve done just that.

Nevin agreed, noting that the process of moving from product conceptualization to starting a company to market that product has been a learning experience on many levels.

“Getting the company going was definitely the most stressful part of this, but it’s also the one I’ve most enjoyed,” he said, adding that the experience has provided lessons in not only business, but life.

“As a teenager, I’ve been growing up as this has been happening,” he explained. “This has definitely shaped my perspective, especially on how I approach things and how I’m going to approach college. This experience has given me a better picture of how an idea transforms into an actual thing. And you can apply that to other things.”

The Ride Stuff

Nevin Murray, who plans to build one of those so-called ‘tiny houses,’ find a plot of land to put it on in Montague, and commute from there to GCC, told BusinessWest that he’s not sure where he’s going to park his PEBL on campus.

He said the school has a few spaces equipped with charging stations, but he’s not sure he wants to — or is even qualified to — take one of those. Wherever it’s parked, though, his velomobile is sure to turn some heads, as it has everywhere else it has appeared.

Whether it evolves into a decent-selling product that becomes part of the landscape in this region or those cities listed earlier remains to be seen. But what is certain is that this father-son team has no shortage of entrepreneurial drive, which should, like the PEBL itself, take them where they want to go.

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

Greater Chicopee Chamber to Host Champions of Chicopee Race, Walk

CHICOPEE — The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce will host its second annual Champions of Chicopee 5K Road Race and 2 Mile Walk on Saturday, June 18. The race will begin at 9:30 a.m., with registration beginning at 7:45 a.m. at the Portuguese American Club, 149 Exchange St., Chicopee. All are welcome.

The $25 price ($15 for children age 12 and under) includes the race fee with timed chip bib, T-shirt, lunch at Munich Haus Biergarten after the race, and goodie bag. Part of the proceeds will benefit the Boys & Girls Club of Chicopee summer camps. Walkers or runners can register online at www.accu-specracing.com. Individuals may also call the chamber office at (413) 594-2101 to sign up or if they have additional questions.

Presenting the Second Annual Continued Excellence Award Finalists

Features

Elite Eight

It’s a crowded field of nominees for this year’s Continued Excellence Award.

After a panel of independent judges considered dozens of submitted nominations and scored each one, a logjam for the final slot pushed the field of finalists past the planned five. Now, they’ll meet to discuss the merits of all eight finalists and choose an ultimate winner for the second annual crowning next month.

BusinessWest launched the Continued Excellence Award last year to recognize past 40 Under Forty honorees who have built on the business success and civic commitment that initially earned them that honor, Associate Publisher Kate Campiti explained.

“We wanted to single out for recognition those who have built upon their strong records of service in business, within the community, and as regional leaders. And, like last year’s finalists, these eight individuals have certainly done that.”

The winner of the second annual Continued Excellence Award will be announced at this year’s 40 Under Forty Gala, slated for June 16 at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke.

The finalists, as determined by scores submitted by three judges — James Barrett, managing partner of Meyers Brothers Kalicka, P.C.; Delcie Bean, president of Paragus Strategic IT and last year’s Continued Excellence Award winner; and Janine Fondon, president and CEO of UnityFirst.com — are, in alphabetical order:

Dr. Jonathan Bayuk

Bayuk, president of Allergy and Immunology Associates of Western Mass. and chief of Allergy and Immunology at Baystate Medical Center, was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2008 after establishing himself as a strong advocate for families dealing with food allergies, creating the Western Mass. Food Allergy Network. He has also served on the boards of the New England Allergy Society and the Mass. Allergy and Asthma Society, and is currently president-elect of both.

But he has since dedicated a tremendous amount of time and philanthropic support to other causes as well, including Homeward Vets, an organization that helps homeless veterans transition to self-sufficiency, and Team Henry, a group that promotes childhood wellness through exercise and nutrition. He also continues to coach several sports, serve on the board of Northampton Little League, teach medical students and residents, and organize events to help the region’s homeless.

Michael Fenton

When Fenton was named to the 40 Under Forty in 2012, he was serving his second term on Springfield’s City Council and preparing to graduate from law school. He was also a trustee at his alma mater, Cathedral High School, where he dedicated countless hours to help rebuild the school following the 2011 tornado.

Today, Fenton is City Council president and an associate at Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C., practicing in the areas of business planning, commercial real estate, estate planning, and elder law. He received an ‘Excellence in the Law’ honor from Massachusetts Lawyers Weekly and was named a Super Lawyers Rising Star in 2014. Meanwhile, in the community, he is a founding member of Suit Up Springfield, a corporator with Mason Wright Foundation, a volunteer teacher at Junior Achievement, a member of the East Springfield and Hungry Hill neighborhood councils, and an advisory board member at Roca Inc., which helps high-risk young people transform their lives.

Jeff Fialky

Another member of the 40 Under Forty Class of 2008, Fialky was recognized an an associate attorney at Bacon Wilson in Springfield and for his volunteer work with numerous area organizations. He has since added a number of lines to that résumé. For starters, in 2012, he was named a partner at Bacon Wilson, and is active in leadership capacities with the firm. But he has also become a leader within the Greater Springfield business community.

Former president of the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, Fialky currently serves as chair of the Springfield Chamber of Commerce, and is also on the board of trustees of the Springfield Museums. In his capacity with the chamber, he has spent the past several years working with city officials and community organizations to foster economic development in the city and advance a 10-year economic strategic plan for Springfield.

Dena Hall

Hall was an inaugural Forty Under 40 honoree in 2007, two years after joining the senior management team at United Bank, leading its marketing and public-relations team as well as investor relations for United Financial Bancorp Inc.

Since then, she has been promoted at United seversal times, first to senior vice president during a series of acquisitions that significantly expanded the bank’s footprint. Her role expanded further in 2013 when the bank merged with Rockville Bank and she was promoted to executive vice president and chief marketing officer for the now-$5 billion organization. Today, she is regional president for the Western Mass. area and continues to serve as president of the United Bank Foundation for Massachusetts and Connecticut, overseeing more than $10 million in assets and helping distribute $1 million monthly to nonprofits in the two states. Meanwhile, she continues to volunteer with numerous nonprofit boards and civic organizations.

Amanda Huston Garcia

When she was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2010, Huston Garcia was vice president of operations for Junior Achievement (JA) of Western Mass. Meanwhile, she was active in myriad community organizations, including various chambers of commerce, the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield, and various boards at Elms College and Springfield High School of Science and Technology.

In 2011, she left her position with JA — but still plays numerous roles in the organization — and became a full-time professor at Elms, where her passion for teaching young people about entrepreneurship and financial literacy remains strong. In addition to helping create the Elms MBA program, she developed a partnership between Elms and JA, recruiting more than 60 college students each year to teach JA programs. She also forged a classroom partnership between Elms and Putnam Vocational Technical Academy and is working on a program to help Putnam students earn college credits.

Amy Jamrog

Another member of the inaugural 40 Under Forty class of 2007, Jamrog was honored as owner of the Jamrog Group, ranking among Northwestern Mutual’s top 3% of all financial advisors; she had also been recognized twice with Northwestern Mutual’s Community Service Award for her business success and community involvement.

Since then, the Jamrog Group has grown substantially, now advising more than 500 families and businesses while sponsoring a number of community organizations. Jamrog also teaches workshops and speaks at conferences about connecting money and values. She’s also a trustee of the Community Foundation of Western Mass. and chairs its philanthropic services committee. She helped secure several major gifts to the foundation through her financial planning with clients, served on a task force to determine the organization’s future direction, and helped promote Valley Gives. She has also been heavily involved, with the Women’s Fund of Western Mass., including a stint as board chair.

Alex Morse

Morse’s story is well-known, being elected Holyoke’s youngest mayor at age 22 in 2012 — reason enough to be named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2014. He’s since then won re-election twice, time enough to put his leadership in perspective.

On his watch, investments in downtown Holyoke total more than $30 million. He has overseen more than $2 million in streetscape improvements, new and renovated parks, ongoing rehabilitation of the mill buildings, a partnership with the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce to launch the SPARK entrepreneurship program, and several new development projects, including the Canal Walk, new apartments in the former Holyoke Catholic building, and the new train platform in downtown Holyoke. During his terms, community policing strategies have led to drops in crime, property values have gone up, and the unemployment rate has dropped. As a result, the Popular Mechanics recently named Holyoke the sixth-best ‘startup city’ in the nation.

Meghan Rothschild

Rothschild, then development and marketing manager for the Food Bank of Western Mass., was named to the 40 Under Forty class of 2011 mainly for her tireless work in melanoma awareness. A survivor herself, she began organizing local events to raise funds for the fight against this common killer, and launched a website, SurvivingSkin.org, and TV show, Skin Talk, that brought wider attention to her work.

Since then, Rothschild has been exceptionally busy, transitioning from a board seat with the Melanoma Foundation of New England to a job as marking and PR manager, where she’s the face of the organization’s “Your Skin Is In” campaign. She has testified in Boston and Washington, D.C. in support of laws restricting tanning beds. Meanwhile, she hosts a community talk show, “The 413,” on 94.3 FM, and co-founded chikmedia, a marketing firm that specializes in nonprofits and fund-raisers — all while supporting a raft of area nonprofit organizations with her time and resources.

Time Is Now for Economic Strategy

Opinion

Editorial

It’s called FutureCity 2026.

It used to be called FutureCity 2025, and, according to some of those who helped put it together, the first number on the title was 2022. That’s how long people have been working to pull together a comprehensive economic strategy for the city of Springfield. And we’re glad they persevered.

Because the city needs one.

This might not have been immediately apparent to those stakeholders assembled at CityStage last week to hear representatives of Newark Grubb Knight Frank, the global corporate-services company hired to create the report, deliver a synopsis. But by the end of the night, it should have been.

Indeed, while those presenting the Readers Digest version of the 300-page report certainly told those in attendance a lot of things they already knew — including the observations that Bradley Airport and I-91 are strategic assets for the city, and public-safety issues and the high cost of energy in Massachusetts are challenges and even liabilities — they also told them many things they probably didn’t know.

These include everything from the opinion of those at the Newark Group that this region should be aggressive in its pursuit of certain industry groups — from food and beverage manufacturers to backroom operations for financial-services companies — to the fact that maybe the biggest thing holding Springfield back right now is a shyness when it comes to loudly announcing its presence and its virtues.

“You can’t be humble,” Robert Hess, executive managing director of consulting for the Newark Group, told those assembled, a group comprised of city and regional economic-development leaders, businesses owners, and individuals interviewed by the plan’s creators during their many visits here.

And the city has been humble for way too long, but mostly for a very good reason, or several of them; it’s pretty easy for a city that a decade ago fell into receivership, has a downtown that, until very recently, hadn’t seen significant new construction in more than 30 years, and has been mostly stagnant since the early ’80s to be humble.

But not anymore. The city has, or soon will have, a $950 million casino, a revitalized century-old train station, an international company building subway cars, growing vibrancy downtown, and a healthy supply of new entrepreneurial energy, and it should no longer be shy about presenting its case to companies and site selectors across the company and around the world.

That’s one of the major recommendations in the report, but there are others, involving everything from sharpening the focus on workforce (or talent) development to downtown revitalization; from supporting and strengthening the small-business infrastructure to breaking down the silos erected by those working in economic development.

Moving forward on these recommendations will take many things, especially time, money, and, perhaps most importantly, commitment, but none of these should be allowed to become an obstacle.

That’s because, while the city has certainly come a long way in the past decade, it still has a long way to go, and instead of simply adding up the dollar figures from the projects in various stages of development and putting them up on a screen, it should be looking forward — and with a solid plan as it does so.

A plan is important because just about every city in the country is looking for the same things these days — vibrancy, young people, industry sectors to attract, and, above all else, jobs.

Most of these cities — although not as many from the Northeast, according to those at the Newark Group — are being very aggressive, proactive, and organized as they pursue all these things.

Springfield must develop these traits as well. And that’s why an economic-development strategy is so important.

Steel Partners Recognizes OMG Inc. for Operational Excellence

AGAWAM — Three kaizen teams from OMG Inc. have been recognized as 2016 Steel Partners Business System Hall of Fame winners. The announcement was made by Jeff Svoboda, president and CEO of Handy & Harman, a Steel Partners subsidiary.

The Steel Partners Business System uses lean principles and tools, including kaizens, to increase sales, improve business processes, and reduce and eliminate waste and variation. Kaizen is a strategic activity where employees at every level of a company get together to work on a targeted improvement project. In manufacturing in particular, kaizens often demonstrate that big changes come from many small changes made over time.

Kaizens are focused three- to five-day events that generally include defining a problem or goal, documenting the current state, brainstorming and developing a future state, implementing change, developing a follow-up plan and measurement metrics, presenting results, and celebrating success.

“We complete over 40 kaizens a year, each involving on average a team of five, so for these three teams to be recognized by our parent companies is certainly a high honor for which we are very proud,” said Hubert McGovern, president and CEO of OMG Inc.

A total of 19 employees participated in the three winning kaizens. Two of the kaizens were held at OMG’s headquarters location in Agawam, and one was held in the company’s Asheville, N.C. facility.

“OMG is committed to lean manufacturing, and kaizens are just one of the tools we use to drive significant improvement to our overall effectiveness as a company,” said McGovern. “As a result of our lean initiatives, we’ve seen great progress throughout the company, including gains in reducing waste, improving product quality, and bringing value to our customers.”

Some of the more significant results for these winning kaizens include a 66% increase in drain-assembly output; a 250% reduction in the need for overtime; a $10,000-per-day increase in sellable units assembled by a packaging team and a related $36,000 annual labor savings; and a $100,000 annual cost reduction related to quality improvement.

Headquartered in Agawam, OMG Inc. is North America’s largest supplier of specialty fasteners and products for commercial and residential construction applications. The company operates two business units: OMG Roofing Products (www.omgroofing.com) and FastenMaster (www.fastenmaster.com). OMG is a subsidiary of Handy & Harman Group Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of Handy & Harman Ltd.

Agenda

Agenda Departments

Beer and Wine Tasting

June 5: The Junior League of Greater Springfield will present its second annual Beer and Wine Tasting fund-raising event on Sunday, June 5 from 3 to 6 p.m. at the Holyoke Canoe Club. The event will include a silent auction, live music by Berkshire Hill Music Academy, and hors d’oeuvres by Lattitude. Proceeds from the event will support the Junior League’s scholarship fund. Every year, the Junior League awards a scholarship to a graduating high-school female who has exhibited exemplary leadership and community service. “There are many young women who demonstrate strong leadership skills and dedication to volunteerism,” said Shana Wilson, president of the Junior League of Greater Springfield. “We are proud to recognize one of them with a scholarship, and this event ensures that we can continue to support young female leaders for years to come.” The event is open to the public and sponsored by Sarat Ford Lincoln of Agawam and Commonwealth Packaging Corp. of Chicopee. Tickets cost $30 and can be purchased at www.jlgs.org/wine–beer-tasting-2016.html. “This event will help highlight the vitally important work the Junior League of Greater Springfield provides to the local community as well as reward a graduating high-school female for her hard work and service,” Wilson added.

‘Archetypes at Work’

June 7: The owner of both Cultivate and Nest and Beloved Earth will offer a free workshop geared toward the small-business owner or freelancer who wants to learn how to take his or her business to the next level. Terra Missildine will offer “Archetypes at Work” from 5 to 7 p.m. at Cultivate and Nest, 2 Bay Road, Suite 100, Hadley. The workshop will focus on discovering participants’ personality archetypes and exploring how they can use that knowledge more effectively in their branding and in attracting their ideal clients. “Participants will have fun and have a chance to be introspective while digging deep to discover who they really are in business and, more importantly, how they are perceived in the marketplace,” Missildine said. An experienced entrepreneur, she and her husband, David, launched Beloved Earth, a ‘green’ cleaning business, 10 years ago, and she founded Cultivate and Nest, a membership-based co-office space that incorporates a child-care component, in January. The workshop is free, but seats are limited. E-mail [email protected] to reserve a spot. For more information, visit cultivateandnest.com or contact Missildine at (413) 345-2400.

Cybersecurity Luncheon

June 8: Peritus Security Partners, Gaudreau Group Insurance Agency, and CMD Technology Group will present a cybersecurity luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Center Square Grill, 84 Center Square, East Longmeadow. The event — designed for small to medium-sized businesses faced with threats to client and employee data — will present three key elements to building a solid foundation for managing cyber risk. Peritus Security Partners will discuss the importance of building proper policies, procedures, and controls to manage cyber risk and compliance. The Gaudreau Group will discuss the importance of using cyber insurance as a tool to manage risk that cannot be practically controlled through policy or technical controls. CMD Technology Group will focus on some practical technology solutions that help reduce the risks of a cyber attack. The event will culminate with a practical discussion on current and emerging threats and how businesses can use these three strategies to protect against a data breach. Reservations are required. To register, call (413) 525-0023 or e-mail [email protected].

Charles’ Angels Walk for Diabetes Education

June 11: Three years ago, Clara Thatcher, a Hampshire Regional High School student, organized an annual walk in memory of her father, who passed away from complications with diabetes. The fourth annual Charles’ Angels Walk for Diabetes Education will take place from 8:30 a.m. to noon at Hampshire Regional High School, rain or shine. Proceeds from the walk will benefit the Cooley Dickinson Medical Group Diabetes Center, a program of Cooley Dickinson Health Care. Clara’s father, Charles Thatcher, died in 2009. In his memory, Clara, her sister, Kayla Thatcher, and their mother, Mandy Caputo, established the first Charles’ Angels Walk for Diabetes Education fund-raiser in 2013. All proceeds support diabetes education through the Diabetes Center, which teaches those living with diabetes how to best manage their health through exercise, nutrition, medications, and follow-up care. For more information, visit charlesangels.weebly.com or e-mail [email protected].

Northampton Garden Tour

June 11: Come visit eight gardens on display for the 2016 Northampton Garden Tour, a fund-raiser for Friends of Forbes Library Inc. The event will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., rain or shine. The Garden Tour aims to inspire and educate everyday gardeners with plantings in a variety of appealing and unique landscaping styles and creative use of hardscape. In contrast to the 2015 tour that was localized in the center of Northampton, this year’s tour takes participants on a scenic and varied 18-mile route to the outer reaches of the community. Tickets come with directions to this self-guided tour of gardens within easy driving distance of the library. There is no obvious, easiest route, but suggestions will be available to make the tour both safe and expedient. At each garden, there are descriptions of the plantings, and garden guides will be on hand to answer questions. The terrain of this year’s tour broadly circles Northampton, making gardens accessible by car or a bicycle ride for the recreational peddler comfortable with 20-plus miles. Tickets for the tour are $15 in advance at Forbes Library, Bay State Perennial Farm, Cooper’s Corner, Hadley Garden Center, North Country Landscapes, and State Street Fruit Store. The cost is $20 on the day of the tour at the library only. The Garden Tour also includes a raffle to win organic compost, gift certificates, garden supplies, a landscape consultation, and more. Raffle tickets are available at Forbes Library through the day before the tour as well as at one of the gardens on the day of the tour. All event proceeds benefit Friends of Forbes Library to support programs, events, and projects for the library that could not otherwise be funded. For details: on the organization, visit www.forbeslibrary.org. For more information about the Garden Tour, call Lyn Heady at (413) 584-7041.

‘Leverage Technology to Do More with Less’

June 15: Comcast Business will present “How to Leverage Technology to Do More With Less,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, at the Lyman & Merrie Wood Museum of Springfield History, 21 Edward St., Springfield. Registration will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m. The panelists — influential minds in the IT field — will discuss issues that every business IT department is being forced to deal with, including rising demands to make changes to existing systems, increasing efficiency and improving security, and how budget restrictions impact IT. Panelists include Michael Feld, CEO, VertitechIT, and interim CTO, Baystate Health and Lancaster General Hospital; Frank Vincentelli, chief technology officer, Integrated IT Solutions; and Patrick Streck, director, IT Services, Baystate Health / Information & Technology. Admission is free, but pre-registration is required by June 7. To register, go HERE or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

40 Under Forty

June 16: The 10th annual 40 Under Forty award program, staged by BusinessWest, will be held at the Log Cabin Banquet & Meeting House in Holyoke, honoring 40 of the region’s rising stars under 40 years old. An independent panel of judges chose the winners, and their stories were told in the pages of the April 18 issue. The event is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual and Paragus Strategic IT (presenting sponsors), EMA Dental, Health New England, Isenberg School of Management at UMass Amherst, Moriarty & Primack, United Bank, and the Young Professional Society of Greater Springfield. The event is sold out.

Sunbeam Social Club

June 20: Sunshine Village is introducing its Sunbeam Social Club, designed for people with memory loss and their family members. Sunshine Village has a long history of providing innovative programming for people with cognitive disabilities. Sunbeam Social Club will provide a safe, supportive, and engaging environment for people who often have fewer opportunities for socializing and fun. The debut of Sunbeam Social Club coincides with Alzheimer’s Awareness Day on Monday, June 20, the longest day of the year. The day is designed to shine a light on the millions of people living with memory disorders. The gathering will be held from 10 to 11:30 a.m. in the Community Room at the Emily Partyka Central Library at 449 Front St. in Chicopee. Group and individualized activities are planned, and refreshments will be served. Volunteers from Sunshine Village’s Community Based Day Program will be on hand, as well as local professional resources. “We are thrilled to introduce the Sunbeam Social Club,” said Sunshine Village Executive Director Gina Kos. “This program is intended to provide joy to both people with memory disorders and their care partners. People with vascular dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, and other memory disorders are all invited to attend with their family members.” For more information or to register for the June gathering of the Sunbeam Social Club, call Sunshine Village at (413) 592-6142.

‘Building Your Exit’

June 22, 23: The Vann Group and Epstein Financial Services will present “Building Your Exit: The Owner Succession Planning Process Defined,” part of the BusinessWest/HCN Lecture Series, on Wednesday, June 22 at the Student Prince/the Fort in Springfield, and Thursday, June 23 at Hadley Farms Meeting House in Hadley. Registration both days will begin at 7:15 a.m., followed by breakfast and a panel discussion from 7:30 to 9 a.m. One of the largest challenges facing business owners today is the question of how to get out of their business. These seminars will present a step-by-step breakdown of the succession-planning process and what to expect along the way, including the many benefits to transitioning business ownership. Panelists include Kevin Vann and Michael Vann of the Vann Group and Charlie Epstein of Epstein Financial Services and Epstein Financial Group. Admission is free, but RSVP is requested by June 14 for the first seminar and by June 15 for the second. To register, go HERE or call (413) 781-8600 for more information.

Briefcase

Briefcase Departments

Tishman Construction, Fontaine Brothers Win MGM Garage Contract

SPRINGFIELD — MGM Springfield, the urban announced it has awarded a construction contract to Tishman Construction, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AECOM, in partnership with Springfield-based construction manager Fontaine Brothers Inc. Together these companies will be responsible for erecting the seven-level, 3,400-space parking garage structure. Construction is set to begin this month and be completed in approximately 20 months. “We are delighted about our continuous progress toward building MGM Springfield. Today’s announcement is yet another example of how we are engaging top global companies and local businesses to develop this tremendous project,” said Michael Mathis, president and COO, MGM Springfield. “We are excited to see construction on the garage move forward as the foundation is poured and we watch this structure rise out of the ground over the coming months.” MGM Springfield is expected to open in fall 2018, and is currently the largest construction project under development in Western Mass. The resort will feature a luxury hotel and a variety of entertainment offerings, including dining, shopping, gaming, and amusements, expected to attract millions of visitors and locals to downtown Springfield. “We are thrilled to be part of another iconic MGM Resorts development and excited to continue our work with the city of Springfield, Pioneer Valley Building Trades, and Fontaine Brothers Inc. to bring the vision of MGM Springfield to life,” said Edward Cettina, COO of AECOM’s building construction group. MGM Springfield is committed to engaging the community and maintaining diversity across its workforce, partners, and supply chain. In alignment with this commitment, Tishman Construction will host information sessions for diverse companies interested in working as subcontractors on the project. Tishman is partnering with Fontaine Brothers to manage the parking-garage project, including solicitation of subcontractors and other procurement efforts. Fontaine Brothers is a local, fourth-generation, family-owned construction firm. In Springfield, Fontaine is best-known for its work on major construction and renovation projects including Symphony Hall, the MassMutual Center, Hilton Garden Inn, and dozens of educational institutions. “Fontaine Brothers is elated to partner with Tishman Construction and MGM Springfield on this exciting project,” said David Fontaine Jr., vice president, Fontaine Bros. “We are thrilled to join this world-class team and to play an active role in the continuing revitalization of the city we call home. We look forward to working with Tishman to manage the construction effort while continuing to help the team connect and partner with talented contractors based here in Western Massachusetts.”

Business Leaders Purchase South Hadley Plaza

SOUTH HADLEY — South Hadley Plaza, located at 501 Newton St., is officially under new ownership. The new owners are a triumvirate of local business leaders: Rocco Falcone of Rocky’s Hardware, Peter Picknelly of Peter Pan Bus Lines, and the Yee Family, whose other South Hadley businesses include Johnny’s Bar and Grille, Johnny’s Taproom, and IYA Sushi & Noodle Kitchen. The plaza is home to Rocky’s Hardware, Friendly’s, Dunkin’ Donuts, General Cleaners, and Mandarin Gourmet. There are currently vacancies in the former Movie Gallery and Big Y locations. That is due to change under the new ownership. “We’re in a great position to attract a mix of local and national businesses,” Falcone said. “This is a vibrant community, and we want to deliver some exciting options and breathe new life into South Hadley Plaza. The former Big Y site in particular, with its 60,000 square feet of space, is a unique offering that we’re exploring some interesting ideas for.” The new owners bring the resources and pedigree to draw new business and connect with the South Hadley community. Rocky’s Hardware has 31 stores in New England and four in Florida. Meanwhile, this will be the second collaboration for Picknelly and the Yee Family, who purchased and revitalized Springfield’s historic Student Prince restaurant in 2014. “It’s essentially three family businesses coming together — big families with big businesses, but families all the same,” Falcone said. “We look forward to expanding the horizons of this space and being a great resource for the community.”

State Unemployment Drops to 4.2% in April

BOSTON — The state’s unemployment rate dropped to 4.2% in April from the March rate of 4.4%, the Executive Office of Labor and Workforce Development announced. The preliminary job estimates from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicate Massachusetts continues to gain jobs, with 13,900 added in April. The April gain follows March’s revised gain of 6,600 jobs. From December 2015 to April 2016, Massachusetts has added 35,600 jobs. In April, over-the-month job gains occurred in the professional, scientific, and business services; leisure and hospitality; trade, transportation, and utilities; education and health services; other services; information; financial activities; and manufacturing sectors. The April state unemployment rate remains lower than the national rate of 5.0% reported by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. “We see continued strong job gains in many of the traditional economic drivers for the state,” Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Ronald Walker II said. “The strong job gains in April are on the heels of 6,600 jobs added in March and 13,900 jobs added in February.” The labor force increased by 15,400 from 3,581,500 in March, as 19,000 more residents were employed and 3,500 fewer residents were unemployed over the month. Over the year, the state’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped 0.8% from 5.0% in April 2015. There were 27,100 fewer unemployed people and 404,000 more employed people over the year compared to April 2015. 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 — increased 0.3% to 65% over the month. The labor-force participation rate over the year has decreased 0.3% compared to April 2015. Over the year, the largest private-sector percentage job gains were in construction; professional, scientific, and business services; other services; information; and education and health services.

State Launches Campaign for Good Samaritan Law

BOSTON — Gov. Charlie Baker and Attorney General Maura Healey announced a new public-information campaign to encourage people to call 911 for emergency medical services at the first signs of a drug overdose. Along with Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders, Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, and members of the law-enforcement community, state officials launched the $250,000 Make the Right Call campaign to promote the Massachusetts 911 Good Samaritan Law. This law provides protection to individuals seeking medical assistance for themselves or someone else experiencing a drug-related overdose, including opioid-related overdoses, without the risk of charges of possession of a controlled substance. “Today we’re proud to announce, along with the attorney general, a partnership for a $250,000 campaign to encourage people to call 911 at the first sign of a drug overdose,” Baker said. Added Healey, “what the Good Samaritan Law says is that, if you see someone overdosing, or if you’re with someone who is overdosing, call 911. Get them help. And if you do call 911 to save that person’s, life you will not be prosecuted for drug use or possession.” Sudders noted that addiction is a disease, and “just like if we saw someone on the side of the street who had collapsed from a heart attack, we would stop, and we would call 911, and that is what this campaign is about.” Baker added that “this 911 Good Samaritan Law, will reinforce to bystanders and first responders alike that the most important step to take when someone is having an overdose is to save their life, and that someone shouldn’t face legal consequences for taking that step.”

New Tanning-bed Law Aims to Stem Tide of Skin Cancer

Business of Aging Sections

Into the Light

Dr. Katherine White says tanning can be a difficult habit to break, due to the way it makes people look and feel.

In recent years, many teens have turned to tanning beds to enhance their looks on prom night and graduation day. But that practice is no longer possible, due to a new state law that Gov. Charlie Baker signed in February that bans anyone under the age of 18 from using a tanning bed.

Prior to passage of this measure, Massachusetts allowed teenagers between the ages of 14 and 17 to visit tanning salons with consent from a parent or legal guardian, and those under age 14 to tan if a parent or guardian was present.

However, research by the American Academy of Dermatology, the Melanoma Research Foundation, the American Assoc. for Cancer Research, and other prestigious groups have led to legislation in 42 states prohibiting young people from using tanning beds due to studies that prove exposure to artificial ultraviolet light before the age of 35 increases the risk of melanoma by up to 75%.

Melanoma is not only the deadliest form of skin cancer, it is the most common form of cancer in young adults 25 to 29 years old, and the second-most common form in young people 15 to 29 years old. It is also the leading cause of cancer death in women aged 25 to 30 and the second-leading cause of death in women between the ages of 30 and 35. In addition, ultraviolet radiation emitted by tanning beds can lead to basal-cell and squamous-cell cancer and cause wrinkles, lax skin, brown spots, and other signs of premature aging.

Dr. Catherine White, a dermatologist and founder of Hampshire Dermatology and Skin Health Center in Northampton, said dermatologists have been advocating for changes in the law for years, and herald the newly passed legislation, as well as the fact that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration proposed two new rules last year regarding tanning beds. The first would not only restrict use of sunlamps in salons to individuals 18 and older, but also mandate that users sign a certificate before their first tanning session and every six months thereafter acknowledging they have been informed of the risks to their health.

The second proposal would require sunlamp manufacturers and tanning facilities to take additional measures to improve the overall safety of their devices. Suggestions include improving eye safety by limiting the amount of visible light allowed through protective eyewear; improving labeling on replacement bulbs to ensure tanning facility operators are using the correct bulbs, which would reduce the risk of accidental burns; preventing the installation of stronger bulbs without recertifying and re-identifying a device with the FDA; and requiring all sunlamp products to have an emergency shut-off switch that users can easily find and identify by touch or sight.

Artificial tanning has become a $2.5 billion industry, so these measures are deemed critical to people’s safety. Approximately 7.8 million adult women and 1.9 million adult men in the U.S. tan indoors, and reports show that 35% of American adults, 59% of college students, and 17% of teens have used a tanning bed.

White acknowledges that most tanning salons are small businesses that are often owned by women and add vibrancy to local communities, and says it’s important to recognize that fact, but agrees with other experts that medical information regarding tanning beds must be transmitted to clients in a clear way that outlines the risks.

“The World Health Organization has said that ultraviolet light is a known human carcinogen,” she told BusinessWest. “Using a tanning bed is a dangerous activity and increases the risk of developing basal-cell cancer, squamous-cell cancer, and potentially life-threatening melanoma.”

Overcoming Obstacles

Dr. Richard Arenas, chief of Surgical Oncology at Baystate Medical Center, has seen patients in their early 20s with melanoma, and says researchers believe the intensity and type of ultraviolet radiation emitted by tanning beds may be forcing changes at an accumulated rate in cells. Environmental factors may also be at play, and some people may be more sensitive to UV light than others and have family histories that could predispose them to getting skin cancer.

Dr. Richard Arenas says the incidence of melanoma, which is a life-threatening cancer, is on the rise in young people.

“But the biggest challenge is determining at what age a person is capable of making a decision to acknowledge the potential risk of using a tanning bed,” he explained, adding that there has not been enough publicity about the dangers and the fact that the rate of melanoma is on the rise, especially in young Caucasian women.

White concurs, and says education needs to be ongoing, especially since tanning is part of youth culture; college students often rent limos and go tanning as a group, and she has heard of cheerleading coaches who bring their teams to a tanning salon prior to a meet.

“The light and warmth may feel good, and there may be social benefits, but the fact is, when ultraviolet light hits the skin, it damages genetic material,” she noted. “A tan is an emblem of injury, and is the body’s last-ditch effort to prevent DNA damage and protect against damage to the cells. Sometimes the body can repair the damage, but it’s not always possible.”

Still, most human beings love the sun, and the reasons for visiting tanning salons are complex and include societal reinforcements — people often tell others with a tan they look great — and many women consider going to a tanning salon a way to pamper themselves.

But the dangers that have come to light are clear, and the Commonwealth’s new legislation mirrors similar laws in California, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, Louisiana, Minnesota, Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Oregon, Texas, and Vermont that ban the use of tanning beds for all minors under 18.

However, experts say tanning not only is it a difficult habit to break, it can be addictive, which was documented in studies released in 2013 that show ultraviolet light increases the release of endorphins or feel-good chemicals that relieve pain and generate feelings of well-being.

“People like to tan. It’s calming, relaxing, and something that they may regard almost like a treat. And although most adults know it’s not a good thing to do, they have the right to visit a tanning salon. But they need information about the risks spelled out clearly,” White said, adding that dermatologists hope the FDA’s proposal to have adults sign consent forms acknowledging the risks of tanning beds will be adopted nationwide.

As for the addictive nature of the habit, researchers often compare tanning to cigarette smoking. “Both industries can injure customers, and it is to their benefit to start people young before they are able to make informed decisions. And both have an addictive quality which make them difficult to break,” White told BusinessWest.

Misconceptions also exist that range from benefits associated with ultraviolet light and vitamin D — experts say taking supplements is safer — to the fact that some people believe it’s a good idea to get a base tan in the winter before going to a sunny locale such as Florida or the Caribbean.

But that is indeed a myth. “There is nothing protective in going to a tanning salon before a trip, because each exposure increases the risk of developing skin cancer, especially in young people,” White said. “We know that intense ultraviolet exposure is more dangerous early in life than it is later on, and people with a history of childhood sunburns are at greater risk for cancer.”

Prevention is Key

Ultraviolet radiation is made of UVA and UVB wavelengths, or rays. UVA rays cause aging of the skin, while UVB rays are short, more powerful, and can lead to cancer.

The sun delivers both, but Arenas says tanning beds deliver a more significant dose of both UVA and UVB.

“The damage caused at a young age can carry forward for the rest of a person’s life. Tanning beds are an unnatural source of UV radiation and are dangerous,” he noted, adding that the propensity for problems may be exacerbated if people are fair-skinned, sport red hair, or have a lot of moles. In addition, the fact that people are living longer means they will have more exposure to the sun, so putting oneself in harm’s way at a young age is even more dangerous than it may have been generations ago.

Arenas urges people to be their own advocates when it comes to skin cancer, and said everyone should get a full skin checkup each year.

“Insist that your doctor examine your entire body, including the cracks and crevices,” he told BusinessWest, explaining that skin cancer can occur on the palms of the hands and bottoms of the feet, as well as in the genital and anal areas. “You really need to have respect for your skin. We can’t avoid the sun, but people need to appreciate the fact that it causes changes that could lead to skin cancer.”

White says people who love the look of a tan can achieve the same result with spray tans, bronzers, and gradual self-tanners, and since many salons offer spray tans, clients who have purchased tanning packages should ask to have their sessions converted to spray tans. She also advises people using tanning as a means of pampering themselves to think of other ways to reward themselves that they find equally relaxing.

“The bottom line is that skin cancer can be prevented, and the new laws will help,” Arenas said. “All it takes is good judgment.”

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.

AMHERST

Corporate Automobiles Inc., 398 Northampton Road, Amherst, MA 01002. Luke Zbylut, same. Sales of pre-owned automobiles.

Pilotmade Inc., 17 Pray St., Amherst, MA 01002. Noah Brooks Kuhn, 9 Newell Court, Amherst, MA 01002. Website design.

CHICOPEE

K & M Youth and Family Services Inc., 71 Roosevelt Ave., Chicopee, MA 01013. Madeline Colon, same. Non-profit agency designed to help support youth development and social growth through as well as supporting women dealing with domestic abuse issues.

GREENFIELD

Four Corners Fine Wine & Spirits Inc., 402 Federal St., Greenfield, MA 01301. Steven Schecterle, 36 Hoe Shop Road, Gill, MA 01354. Liquor store.

PITTSFIELD

D & D Transportation Inc., 1450 East. St., Suite C-6, Pittsfield, MA 01201. Yohanny Mercado, 14 Plantation St., Worcester, MA 01604. Door-to-door transportation services.

New England Basset Hound Rescue Inc., 34 Dexter St., Pittsfield, MA 01201. Jillian Bamford, same. Non-profit organization to care for and protect Bassett Hounds by rescuing them, relocating them, providing them with veterinary services and educating the public about breed rescue.

SOUTH DEERFIELD

New England Meetinghouse Design Inc., 55B North Main St., South Deerfield, MA 01373. David Satkowski, 392 Greenfield Road, Deerfield, MA 01342. Retail and wholesale sales of building supplies.

SOUTH HADLEY

Music and Art South Hadley Inc., 100 Morgan St., South Hadley, MA 01075. Ira Brezinsky, 93 Woodbridge St., South Hadley, MA 01075.

SOUTHAMPTON

Michael J. McKenna Inc., 209 Pomeroy Meadow Road, Southampton, MA 01073. Michael J. McKenna, same. Masonry services.

SOUTHWICK

Johnson Management Company, 35A Tannery Road, Southwick, MA 01077-9735. Robert Johnson, same. Management, consulting, and advisory services.

SPRINGFIELD

DS Markets Inc., 1182 Main St., Springfield, MA 01103. Armando Feliciane, same. Retail sales of food and other products.

DTG Solutions Corp., 343 Tiffany St., Springfield, MA 01108. Daniel Gondek, same. Software development and services.

Dynasty Lin Inc., 5 Locust St., Springfield, MA 01108. Ying Lin, same. Chinese restaurant.

Fit Staffing Inc., 25 Bremen St., Springfield, MA 01108. Jacqueline Fallon, same. Staffing agencies.

Hope and Dreams Inc., 120 Federal St., Springfield, MA 01105. Alsia Lopez-Buchanan, same.

Mejia Professional Painting Corp., 1563 Dwight St., Springfield, MA 01107. Rafael Mejia, same. Professional painting services.

North Edge Dental Laboratory Inc., 1795 Main St., Suite 115, Springfield, MA 01103. Majed Baki, same. Dental laboratory.

Palate Inc., 8-11 Temby Road, Springfield, MA 01119. Jose Hernandez, Jr., 21 Garvey Dr., Springfield, MA 01119. Restaurant and sports bar.

WEST SPRINGFIELD

Digicomct Inc., 2460 Main St., West Springfield, MA, 01107. Jatinder Lamba, 119-12 Rockaway Blvd., Queens, NY 11420. Cell phone sublicensee.

WEST STOCKBRIDGE

Fearless Innovations Inc. 148 Cross Road, West Stockbridge, MA 01266. Tereza Hubkova, same. Manufacturing, medical apparel and cosmetics.

People on the Move

Departments People on the Move

Michael Moran

Michael Moran has been appointed president and chief administrative officer of Baystate Health’s Eastern Region. He had been serving in this role in an interim capacity since Jan. 29. “Since January, Mike has been deeply engaged with community members, seeking input as the Eastern Region evolves to meet the contemporary needs of patients in Ware, Palmer, and surrounding communities,” said Nancy Shendell-Falik, senior vice president, Hospital Operations, Baystate Health. “He is working with Baystate Health colleagues to bring more primary care and specialty care to the Eastern Region, has ensured the current level of emergency care in Ware will continue, and is building relationships with Eastern Region team members, local leaders, community groups, the region’s EMS services, and many others.”
Moran came to the Eastern Region from a health-system role as vice president for Clinical, Facilities & Guest Services. In his 14 years at Baystate Health, he has had a vast scope of responsibility, at one point overseeing 13 departments and more than 1,300 team members throughout the system. He has been responsible for a broad spectrum of services including cancer, behavioral health, neurosciences and rehabilitation, food and nutrition, facilities, and more. He is known for building high-performing teams, fostering engagement, and serving as executive leader for Baystate Medical Center’s complex cardiovascular and emergency-room facilities-improvement projects. He led the building of the orthopedic surgery and cancer centers in Springfield and the surgical center under construction at Baystate Franklin Medical Center. He has co-led the health system’s largest and most complex Lean project, which improved patient flow at Baystate Medical Center and resulted in efficiencies of more than $5 million. The Baystate Health board of trustees and board members for the Eastern Region voted unanimously to make Moran’s appointment permanent. “Michael brings 27 years of experience in multiple industries, including the military, recreation, hospitality, education, and healthcare,” said Shendell-Falik. “His community involvement includes service to several boards and committees throughout Western Massachusetts. His skills and experiences are well-suited to fulfill the leadership needs of the Eastern Region.”

•••••

Robert Kleine III

Robert Kleine III has been named Dean of the Western New England University (WNEU) College of Business, effective July 1. He succeeds Dean Julie Siciliano, who is retiring after 30 years at WNEU. Linda Jones, WNEU provost and vice president for Academic Affairs, announced the appointment, citing Kleine’s academic accomplishments and strong record of institutional leadership. “I am pleased to welcome Dr. Kleine as our new dean, and I look forward to working closely with him as we continue to develop new academic programs and to advance the College of Business and the university,” she said. Kleine was previously associate dean and James F. Dicke professor of Marketing at Ohio Northern University, where he served for 14 years. While there, he collaboratively led the creation of several programs, including a whole-campus entrepreneurial mindset initiative; the pharmaceutical business major, for which he served as coordinator for several years; and, more recently, a risk management & insurance major. Prior to that, he served as marketing faculty, with graduate faculty status, at Arizona State University, and served as a marketing consultant to the U.S. Army Recruiting Command. He earned a PhD in marketing from the University of Cincinnati and a bachelor’s degree in business administration from the University of New Hampshire. Kleine’s research, published in top marketing journals including the Journal of Consumer Research, Psychology & Marketing, and the Journal of Personal Selling & Sales Management, is widely cited and influential. He received the Ferber Award for best interdisciplinary article based on a dissertation published in the Journal of Consumer Research. The Marketing Science Institute recognizes his work as “essential reading in marketing.” Kleine is an accomplished educator and certified master teacher. In 2012, he received the Instructional Innovation Award, recognizing his innovative experiential curricular-development efforts. He is a member of Alpha Mu Alpha, Beta Alpha Psi, Beta Gamma Sigma, Gamma Theta Upsilon, and Phi Kappa Phi. “Western New England University generally, and the College of Business specifically, presents a great opportunity,” Kleine said. “The university is blessed with strong leadership, and the College of Business has an abundance of talented faculty and staff. As dean, I look forward to building on the college’s strengths, working collaboratively across the university campus to strengthen existing programs, and to identifying unique, high-value, differentiated new-program opportunities in ways that positively impact the college’s enrollment and reputation.”

•••••

Thomas McDowell

Springfield Bishop Mitchell Rozanski has appointed Thomas McDowell Interim Head of School for Pope Francis High School. He will begin his position in late July or early August. Meanwhile, a national search for a permanent head of school has been undertaken. McDowell is a retired school superintendent, having served most recently as interim superintendent in Wethersfield, Watertown, and Tolland, Conn. He also has served as superintendent of schools in Plymouth, Conn., and in Westfield. He said he looks forward to the new interim position at Pope Francis High School. “It’s exciting, building something new,” he said. “I like the idea of having one school as a superintendent, with a smaller group of kids.” He said the advantage of serving a smaller group of students will be the opportunity for more communication and more presence in the school community. “What I miss most about being a superintendent is being close to students.” McDowell will oversee day-to-day school operations while Paul Gagliarducci remains on as executive director of the Pope Francis High School project, focusing on construction of a new facility as well as other elements regarding the creation of this new Catholic secondary school. In September, the students and staff of Holyoke Catholic High School in Chicopee and Cathedral High School in Springfield will officially merge, becoming Pope Francis High School in its temporary location on the present Holyoke Catholic campus. Construction of the new Pope Francis High School building on Wendover Road in Springfield is expected to begin later this year, with an anticipated completion date in 2018.

•••••

Jynai McDonald was recently hired as Regional Manager of the Training Resources of America Inc. (TRA) Western Mass. offices located in Holyoke and Springfield. McDonald holds a bachelor’s degree in digital marketing and social-media management, an associate’s degree in business administration, and a paralegal program certificate in legal studies, all from Bay Path University. She brings significant leadership, supervisory, and job-development experience to her new position. Training Resources of America, headquartered in Worcester, is a private, nonprofit organization that has been providing quality education, employment, and training services in Massachusetts since 1975. Over the years, its efforts have enabled thousands of educationally and economically disadvantaged youth and adults to improve their quality of life by learning new skills, developing self-confidence, and finding pathways to self-sufficiency through education, employment, and training. It has training sites in Brockton, Fitchburg, Holyoke, New Bedford, Quincy, Salem, Springfield, and Worcester.

•••••

John Mieczkowski

The Hampshire Mall management team recently welcomed Operations Manager John Mieczkowski. John has more than 20 years of both commercial and industrial construction experience. He is the longtime owner and operator of Arc Welding and has served as a firefighter for over 20 years, currently as a lieutenant with the Hadley Fire Department. He continues to reside in Hadley where he was born and raised, and is a member of the PTO, Young Men’s Club, and Firemen’s Assoc. “We are excited to have John join our team at Hampshire Mall. With his vast experience in construction and project management, he will be a valuable asset to us,” said General Manager Lynn Gray.

Chamber Corners

www.chicopeechamber.org

Chamber Corners Departments

AMHERST AREA CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.amherstarea.com

(413) 253-0700

• June 8: New-member reception, 5-7 p.m. at the Courtyard by Marriott, 423 Russell St., Hadley. This is an opportunity to showcase your own business, learn from new members, and network with a variety of individuals from other businesses. Enjoy an evening with music, light fare, and cheer while you get acquainted with more than 60 new members. Tickets: free for new members who joined between January and June 2016, $10 for other members, $15 for non-members.

• June 16-19: Taste of Amherst, on the Amherst Common, Thursday, 5-9 p.m.; Friday, 5-10 p.m.; Saturday, noon-10 p.m.; and Sunday, noon-4 p.m. This is a wonderful way to showcase your restaurant or business. Come join in the fun with more than 20,000 attendees throughout the weekend.  For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 253-0700 or [email protected].

• July 18: 13th annual Golf Tournament, at Hickory Ridge Golf Course, Pomeroy Lane, Amherst. Schedule: 10 a.m.: full-swing pro clinic; 10:30 a.m.: registration, putting contest, light lunch; noon: shotgun start, scramble format; 5 p.m.: social hour, cash bar; 6 p.m.: dinner, awards ceremony, live auction. Hole-in-one, longest drive, closest-to-pin contests. Cost: $135 per player, $540 per foursome.

GREATER CHICOPEE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

(413) 594-2101

• June 3: Lunch & Learn: Protecting Your Data, 11:45 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Residence Inn by Marriott, 500 Memorial Dr., Chicopee. Have some lunch from Hamel’s Catering and learn about protecting your data. Patrick Lostaglia, owner of Data Safe Guard, will discuss backup disaster recovery plans, why your data should be encrypted, what is PCI and why you should be compliant, basic law and compliance for the data you use, why anti-virus is not enough, and how to avoid cybercriminals. Cost: $15 for members, $20 for non-members.

• June 22: Three-chamber Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce will host “A Networking Night in the Tropics,” featuring island/beach music by Rum & Steel. Taste the food of the islands. Cost: $15 for members, $20 cash for non-members. For more information, call the chamber at (413) 594-2101.

GREATER EASTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.easthamptonchamber.org

(413) 527-9414

• June 6: Move the Mountain networking event, 5-7 p.m., at Holyoke Country Club, Country Club Road, Holyoke. Networking collaboration between the Greater Easthampton and Greater Holyoke chambers. Refreshments and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members in advance, $15 for non-members and walk-ins. Tickets are available through the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce at 33 Union St., Easthampton, (413) 527-9414 (or register online at easthamptonchamber.org); or the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at 177 High St., Holyoke; (413) 534-3376.

• June 17: Second annual Speaker Breakfast, 7:30-9 a.m., at Williston Northampton School, 19 Payson Place, Easthampton. The keynote speaker is U.S. Rep. Richard Neal. How are your local business concerns being discussed at the federal level? Register online at easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 527-9414

• July 14: Networking By Night, 5-7 p.m., at the Oxbow Marina Sports Center, Old Springfield Road, Northampton. Register online at easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber at (413) 572-9414.

• July 29: 32nd annual Golf Tournament at Southampton Country Club, 329 College Highway. Shotgun start at 9 a.m. Sign up early and save. Register online at easthamptonchamber.org or call the chamber (413) 527-9414.

GREATER HOLYOKE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

holyokechamber.com

(413) 534-3376

• June 3: Holyoke Chamber Day with the Valley Blue Sox, Mackenzie Stadium, Beech Street, Holyoke. Stop by the chamber office at 177 High St., Holyoke to pick up complimentary tickets.

• June 6: Move the Mountain networking event, 5-7 p.m., at Holyoke Country Club, Country Club Road, Holyoke. Networking collaboration between the Greater Easthampton and Greater Holyoke chambers. Refreshments and door prizes. Cost: $10 for members in advance, $15 for non-members and walk-ins. Tickets are available through the Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce at 177 High St., Holyoke, (413) 534-3376; or the Greater Easthampton Chamber of Commerce at 33 Union St., Easthampton, (413) 527-9414.

• June 8: Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Business Person of the Year Awards, 5:30-9 p.m., at the Yankee Pedlar, 1866 Northampton St., Holyoke. Board elections, networking, food stations, announcement of 2016 Business Person of the Year and the Volunteer Award winner, and celebration of local legacy businesses. Cost: $35 for members, $40 for non-member guests. The public is invited to attend. Register online at holyokechamber.com.

• June 15: Chamber After Hours, 5-7 p.m., at the Renaissance Manor on Cabot, 279 Cabot St., Holyoke. Mix and mingle with your friends and colleagues at this casual networking event. Refreshments and 50/50 raffle. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members and walk-ins. Sign up at holyokechamber.com.

• July 13: Chamber Coffee Buzz Morning Networking, 7:30-8:30 a.m., at Ruwac Inc., 54 Winter St., Holyoke. Jump-start the day with this opportunity to meet business and community leaders while enjoying coffee and a light breakfast at this respected world leader in industrial vacuum systems. This event is free to members of the business community and is sponsored by Lyon & Fitzpatrick LLP.

GREATER NORTHAMPTON CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.explorenorthampton.com

(413) 584-1900

• June 1: June Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at Fort Hill Brewery. Sponsors: Advanced Restoration Group, Czelusniak Funeral Home, Delap Real Estate, Lia Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram of Northampton, New England Public Radio.

• June 3: “Microsoft Excel: Tips, Tricks & Shortcuts” workshop, 9-11 a.m., at Greenfield Savings Bank, 325A King St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. Cost: $35 for chamber members, $45 for non-members.

• June 9: “QuickBooks 101” workshop, 9-11 a.m., at Greater Northampton Chamber of Commerce, 99 Pleasant St., Northampton. Presented by Pioneer Training. Reservations: Cost: $25 for members; $35 for non-members.

• July 13: July Arrive@5, 5-7 p.m., at Cooley Dickinson Hospital. Joint event with Northampton Area Young Professionals. Sponsors: Brain Analysis & Neurodevelopment Center, Highview of Northampton, the Healing ZONE Therapeutic Massage.

GREATER WESTFIELD CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.westfieldbiz.org

(413) 568-1618

• June 2: “Everyday Ways to Protect Your Body from Disease” workshop, 8:30-10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Presented by John Hoime, owner-practitioner, Alternative Health, Southwick. Refreshments will be served. Cost: free to chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• June 6: Mayor’s Coffee Hour with Mayor Brian Sullivan, 8-9 a.m., at Tekoa Country Club, 459 Russell Road, Westfield. This event is free and open to the public. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• June 8: After 5 Connection, 5-7 p.m., at Westfield Bank, 141 Elm St., Westfield. Don’t miss out on this great opportunity to network, and bring your business cards. Refreshments will be served. Cost: $10 for members, $15 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• June 13: “Wage & Hour Law Compliance” workshop, at Holiday Inn Express, 39 Southampton Road, Westfield. Registration/networking, 8:30 a.m.; workshop, 9-10 a.m. Presented by Karina Schrengohst, attorney with Royal, P.C. Refreshments will be served. Cost: free to chamber members, $30 for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• June 17: June Chamber Breakfast, at the the Ranch Golf Club, 100 Ranch Club Road, Southwick. Registration, 7 a.m.; breakfast, 7:20, a.m.; program begins, 7:50 a.m. Keynote Speaker: Hampden County District Attorney Anthony Guilluni. Platinum sponsor: Mestek Inc.; gold sponsor: Berkshire Bank; silver sponsor: First Niagara Bank; coffee bar sponsor: Spherion Staffing. Golf Special: chamber members who are registered for the breakfast can golf for $45 with a cart following the breakfast. Call the golf shop to reserve your spot and mention that you are a chamber member. 50/50 raffle to support two Citizen’s Scholarships. Tickets: $25 for members, $30 in advance for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

• June 22: Three-chamber Networking Event, 5-7 p.m., at Hadley Farms Meeting House, 41 Russell St., Hadley. The Greater Chicopee Chamber of Commerce, Greater Westfield Chamber of Commerce, and South Hadley & Granby Chamber of Commerce will host “A Networking Night in the Tropics,” featuring island/beach music by Rum & Steel. Taste the food of the islands. Cost: $15 for members, $20 cash for non-members. To register, call the chamber office at (413) 568-1618.

SOUTH HADLEY & GRANBY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

shgchamber.com

(413) 532-6451

SPRINGFIELD REGIONAL CHAMBER

www.myonlinechamber.com

(413) 787-1555

• June 1: Business@Breakfast, 7:15-9 a.m., at Springfield College, Flynn Campus Union, 263 Alden St., Springfield. Honoring the 2016 Richard J. Moriarty Citizen of the Year, Patrick Leary. Featuring motivational speaker Norm Bossio. Celebrating the successes of the Springfield Regional Chamber’s 2015-16 year and electing chamber board of directors. Sponsored by MGM Springfield and United Personnel. Coffee bar sponsor: Wolf & Co., P.C. Cost: $20 for members in advance ($25 at the door), $30 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• June 28: Springfield Regional Chamber Lunch ‘n’ Learn, 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., hosted by Lattitude, 1388 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. “The New Overtime Rule — What Is It, and How Will It Impact Me?” Guest Speaker: Timothy Murphy, attorney with Skoler, Abbott & Presser, P.C. Cost: $25 for members, $35 for general admission. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

• July 28: Chamber Golf Tournament, at the Ranch Golf Club, 65 Sunnyside Road, Southwick. Registration/course-side lunch: 11 a.m. to noon; shotgun start: 12:30 p.m.; dinner immediately following. Sponsored by Columbia Gas of Massachusetts, Florence Bank, Chicopee Savings Bank, and the MassMutual Center. Cost: $600 per foursome, $160 per individual golfer. Reservations may be made online at www.springfieldregionalchamber.com.

WEST OF THE RIVER CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

www.ourwrc.com

(413) 426-3880

• June 1: Wicked Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 p.m., at Storrowton Tavern, 1305 Memorial Ave., West Springfield. Free for chamber members, $10 for non-members. Event is open to the public; non-members must pay at the door. Wicked Wednesdays are monthly social events, hosted by various businesses and restaurants, that bring members and non-members together to network in a laid-back atmosphere. For more information, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

• June 23: Annual Meeting, 7-9 a.m., at Chez Josef, Agawam. The event will kick off with the welcoming of new chairman Brian Houle and the incoming WRC board of directors. Guest speaker: Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito. Cost: $35 for chamber members, $40 for non-members. For more information and for tickets, contact the chamber office at (413) 426-3880 or e-mail [email protected].

Luxury Retreats Tout the Benefits of Workforce Wellness

Luxury Living Sections

Healthy Meetings

Spa

By Jaclyn C. Stevenson

There’s a new movement afoot in resorts across the country. Meditation techniques are offered alongside manicures. Lessons in stretching appropriate for the workplace precede a soak in the hot tub, and sessions of tai chi join cups of chai tea in the spa’s quietest corners.

Indeed, luxury resorts are offering a greater number of health and wellness opportunities to guests of all types, but there’s a particular focus of late on corporate groups. According to the “Global Spa & Wellness Trends Forecast” published by Spafinder Wellness Inc., for the 13th time, workplace wellness is one of the top 10 trends in the spa industry for 2016.

The study suggests that this is a direct response to a growing number of businesses across the country taking the well-being of their employees more seriously, for the health of both their teams and their companies’ bottom lines.

Go HERE for a list of area Day Spas

For instance, it found that, if businesses want their employees to engage in, and stick to, new behaviors, they are well-served to introduce a broad range of wellness activities that go beyond a traditional gym membership. That’s a niche resorts that offer wellness services can fill, and gradually businesses are identifying ways to combine stress reduction, fitness, healthy eating habits, and more into their company meetings and retreats.

There’s the Rub

That’s not to say it’s always an easy sell. Christine Mariconti, spa director at Cranwell Spa and Golf Resort, said she and her team have made a concerted effort in recent years to highlight relaxation and wellness offerings to corporate groups, and she’s seeing an overall uptick in spa services during meetings. But all-inclusive packages are still scantily booked, and it falls to Cranwell’s team to identify each group’s specific needs and desires, as well as what their schedules and budgets will allow.

“We truly believe these types of services are important to offer to employees, but the biggest problem is they just don’t have enough time,” said Mariconti. “Typically, corporate groups are booked right through dinner, and I see very few businesses that can devote part of their budget to an entire day of downtime for their employees.”

To help address that issue, Mariconti said Cranwell has developed a suite of services for guests pressed for time, including 22-minute facials and massages or express manicures and pedicures. She said corporate groups have begun working these breaks into their agendas more often — after lunch and before the afternoon session, for example — to offer a unique incentive as well as a moment of respite in a jam-packed schedule.

“It offers an opportunity to break away for a moment, to clear the mind, and exhale,” she said. “Guests don’t need to feel like they’re holding their breath all day. Plus, they return to their meetings refreshed and ready to go.”

Canyon Ranch in Lenox welcomes executives to its facilities for corporate retreats, then works with them to create individualized plans for each guest to implement at home and work.

Conversely, Mariconti noted that Cranwell also offers spa allowances that give employees the opportunity to spend a full day using its facilities, often as a goal-setting reward.

“It’s such a positive thing,” said Mariconti. “We work with companies to book those services and sometimes, a group of coworkers will even come together. That is such off-the-map activity for most people, and also very important for the health of their team.”

Dawn Ramsey-Jacobsson, director of sales with Canyon Ranch in Lenox, which specializes in wellness-based services, agreed that the trend toward holistic services and programs for members of corporate groups is picking up slowly, growing little by little as the definition of ‘healthy meetings’ continues to widen.

“The demand is not as high as we’d like, but ‘health and wellness’ has definitely become a buzz term, and more and more we’re seeing companies taking a closer look at how they run their meetings and really trying to make them healthier,” she said, noting that the resort typically welcomes C-suite executives to its facilities for extended board meetings and corporate retreats, and works with these groups to create individualized plans for each guest that can be implemented upon return home — and to work.

“This is the perfect environment to focus on wellness objectives and personal goals in the health realm. We can present all we have to offer to guests to try hands-on, and they can work a plan through before they leave.”

All Canyon Ranch visitors complete a confidential health and lifestyle questionnaire prior to arriving and reside in an alcohol-free environment for the length of their stay. Nurse educators and ‘lifestyle concierges’ are always on hand, and chefs and dietitians work in tandem to develop all of the resort’s meals, which are typically low-sodium and locally sourced.

Its most inclusive — and, in another way of speaking, exclusive — option is the Executive Health Program, an integrated plan that includes a full physical and diagnostic testing; nutrition consultations; an exercise physiology consultation with a personalized exercise prescription; private training in yoga, tai chi, qi gong, or meditation; and more.

“There is definitely a strong instructional piece incorporated into the customized agendas we create for all of our groups, and more companies in general are looking for these types of classes,” said Ramsey-Jacobsson. “In fact, nearly all of our groups take some sort of class now.”

Give Me Your Tired…

In terms of corporate guests, this often translates to solving some of the key stressors members of the American workforce suffer. For instance, 55% employees who responded to the SpaFinder Wellness study reported that the top obstacle to work productivity was overall fatigue. Job stress was a close second at 52%, followed by lack of time to accomplish tasks (47%) and poor sleep (45%).

The survey also found that roughly nine in 10 employees who tried a new fitness or wellness activity felt inspired to continue it on a consistent basis, and 38% said they were more productive and happier at work.

Those new activities could be as simple as replacing donuts and coffee with fruit and bottled water, or going a few steps further and taking a class in chair yoga, or attending private lectures covering stress management or the importance of sleep.

“The objective has become teaching people to live longer, healthier lives,” said Ramsey-Jacobsson, “and corporate meetings are just one place we can start. Business gets done, healthier decisions are made, and companies are giving their employees a real gift by investing in their health.”

Real Estate Transactions

Departments Real Estate

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

FRANKLIN COUNTY

BERNARDSTON

241 Couch Brook Road
Bernardston, MA 01337
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Darin S. Grant-Wolf
Seller: Dale V. Saunders
Date: 04/27/16

BUCKLAND

2 Sears St.
Buckland, MA 01338
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Town Of Buckland
Seller: Mayhew Steel Products Inc.
Date: 04/22/16

COLRAIN

299 Jacksonville Road
Colrain, MA 01340
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Sara J. Guidaboni
Seller: Judith A. Slowinski
Date: 04/22/16

DEERFIELD

73 Mill Village Road
Deerfield, MA 01373
Amount: $291,438
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: George A. Petroff
Date: 04/28/16

383 River Road
Deerfield, MA 01342
Amount: $175,500
Buyer: Alan D. Aaron
Seller: Lawrence I. Berger
Date: 04/26/16

GREENFIELD

78 Beech St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $122,713
Buyer: USA HUD
Seller: Eric Trudeau
Date: 04/22/16

83 Crescent St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Jamie B. Pottern
Seller: Arthur J. Hannan
Date: 04/22/16

64 East Cleveland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: James H. Geisman
Seller: Barbara C. Mroz
Date: 04/26/16

90 High St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $171,000
Buyer: Mirinda L. Scappace
Seller: Frank R. Stumpo
Date: 04/27/16

Lampblack Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Dylan A. Lucas
Seller: Susan B. Riggsby
Date: 04/19/16

37 Mary Potter Lane
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: David Howe
Seller: Dennis L. Skoglund
Date: 04/28/16

146 Oakland St.
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Matthew Weeden
Seller: Kim A. Cole
Date: 04/21/16

163 South Shelburne Road
Greenfield, MA 01301
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Faythe H. Petrin
Seller: Kanti D. Patidar
Date: 04/22/16

MONTAGUE

18 Franklin St.
Montague, MA 01349
Amount: $127,000
Buyer: Charon Hill-Natle
Seller: Robert D. Roberts
Date: 04/22/16

68 Oakman St.
Montague, MA 01376
Amount: $198,000
Buyer: Christina M. Couture
Seller: Donald H. Clark
Date: 04/29/16

ORANGE

109 Pleasant St.
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $133,500
Buyer: Peter C. True
Seller: Reuben, Anne, (Estate)
Date: 04/22/16

241 Walnut Hill Road
Orange, MA 01364
Amount: $192,500
Buyer: Jason A. Zanga
Date: 04/29/16

ROWE

4 Stone Hill Road
Rowe, MA 01367
Amount: $310,000
Buyer: Edward J. Silva
Seller: ASC T
Date: 04/29/16

SHELBURNE

360 Patten Road
Shelburne, MA 01370
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Colin K. Garland
Seller: Patten Hill Farm TR
Date: 04/22/16

SHUTESBURY

14 Old Egypt Road
Shutesbury, MA 01072
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Phillip W. Leab
Seller: Barbara L. Franck
Date: 04/20/16

SUNDERLAND

145 Plumtree Road
Sunderland, MA 01375
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Paul Stavropulos
Seller: Christopher L. Barnes
Date: 04/26/16

WARWICK

569 Orange Road
Warwick, MA 01378
Amount: $384,000
Buyer: Dereck G. Dowler
Seller: George A. Mexcur
Date: 04/29/16

WHATELY

Masterson Road
Whately, MA 01093
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: DNPL LLC
Seller: FS RT
Date: 04/20/16

HAMPDEN COUNTY

AGAWAM

404 Adams St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: Thomas F. Cusack
Seller: Douglas E. Glenn
Date: 04/29/16

8-C Castle Hill Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $176,000
Buyer: Caroline T. Smith
Seller: Paul D. Work
Date: 04/29/16

40 Dartmouth St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $176,500
Buyer: Patrick T. Bowen
Seller: Nicholas W. Thibault
Date: 04/29/16

138 Elmar Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Robert Reyome
Seller: Gina G. Daniele
Date: 04/22/16

95 Forest Road
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Jennifer Newton
Seller: Anna M. Szymanska
Date: 04/28/16

17 Liswell Dr.
Agawam, MA 01030
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Keith D. Poirier
Seller: FNMA
Date: 04/29/16

940 Main St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $199,900
Buyer: David R. Missildine
Seller: Michael J. Fournier
Date: 04/27/16

114 Mallard Circle
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $284,000
Buyer: Barry P. Ward
Seller: David J. Vanderboom
Date: 04/29/16

21 Senator Ave.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $222,000
Buyer: Diane L. Dow
Seller: Alexei Cricun
Date: 04/20/16

4 Sherwood Dr.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Christopher P. Pisano
Seller: Keith E. Weppler
Date: 04/28/16

277 Silver St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $835,000
Buyer: Wejjal LLC
Seller: SFM Realty Partnership
Date: 04/19/16

355-357 Springfield St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $149,000
Seller: Paula E. Provost
Date: 04/21/16

55-57 Walnut St.
Agawam, MA 01001
Amount: $181,220
Buyer: David C. McCutchen
Seller: Maryia V. Hancharonak
Date: 04/22/16

BLANDFORD

Crooks Road
Blandford, MA 01008
Amount: $540,000
Buyer: Gregoire Girard
Seller: Donna M. Gamble
Date: 04/22/16

BRIMFIELD

21 Warren Road
Brimfield, MA 01010
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: John S. Artruc
Seller: Leodore H. Gelineau
Date: 04/25/16

CHESTER

275 Goss Hill Road
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Deane R. Messeck
Seller: Michael W. Crochiere
Date: 04/29/16

147 Skyline Trail
Chester, MA 01011
Amount: $273,000
Buyer: Karl M. Hirschegger
Seller: Douglas G. Balch
Date: 04/21/16

CHICOPEE

190 Blanchard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Jonathan Dejesus
Seller: Luis Builders Inc.
Date: 04/29/16

36 Catherine St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: R. Rodriguez-Almodovar
Seller: US Bank
Date: 04/28/16

25 Fairview Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Anthony Eichstaedt
Seller: Michael Hebb
Date: 04/29/16

259 Fletcher Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Brandon J. Francis
Seller: Sindler Nina, (Estate)
Date: 04/19/16

90 Goodhue Ave.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Brian J. Millett
Seller: Michael T. Baker
Date: 04/21/16

93 Lombard St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Thomas Fregeau
Seller: Joseph R. Wysk
Date: 04/29/16

118 Lukasik St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $117,587
Buyer: Bonnie L. Bresette
Seller: USA HUD
Date: 04/27/16

68 Mandalay Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Kenneth J. Vieu
Seller: Alyssa M. Os
Date: 04/29/16

24 Marion St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $116,822
Buyer: Citifinancial Servicing
Seller: James C. Villemaire
Date: 04/20/16

30 Mary St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Michael Parnell
Seller: Katherine L. Martins
Date: 04/22/16

18 Morgan Circle
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $310,300
Buyer: Donald J. Blanchard
Seller: CRA Holdings Inc.
Date: 04/21/16

49 Norman St.
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $166,000
Buyer: Veronica Perez
Seller: Jack P. Roy
Date: 04/29/16

449 Oldfield Road
Chicopee, MA 01013
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Michael C. Clemente
Seller: Linda L. Zebrowski
Date: 04/29/16

52 Sampson St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $139,500
Buyer: Paul J. Kelly
Seller: Terese I. Clapp
Date: 04/26/16

25 Stewart St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $142,000
Buyer: Jose M. Astacio
Seller: Shawn Keeley
Date: 04/29/16

75 Warwick Road
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Rhonda-Marie E. Haska
Seller: Danasko, Charles E., (Estate)
Date: 04/29/16

1974 Westover Road
Chicopee, MA 01022
Amount: $810,000
Buyer: Guidewire Inc.
Seller: LSHD Advertising Inc.
Date: 04/27/16

53 William St.
Chicopee, MA 01020
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Richard G. Brisebois
Seller: Daniel D. Block
Date: 04/19/16

EAST LONGMEADOW

23 Barnum St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Damaris Ossers
Seller: JJB Builders Corp.
Date: 04/29/16

195 Canterbury Circle
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Karen E. Murphy
Seller: Dan Roulier & Associates
Date: 04/29/16

12 Chadwyck Lane
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $280,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Sweeney
Seller: Michael Lavelle
Date: 04/29/16

12 Dale St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: David Drozdowski
Seller: Debora A. Lavelli
Date: 04/19/16

28 Edmund St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $314,900
Buyer: William R. Notartomaso
Seller: Nu-Way Homes Inc.
Date: 04/29/16

41 Fields Dr.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $414,000
Buyer: Celeste C. Benoit
Seller: DR Chestnut LLC
Date: 04/22/16

18 Merriam St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $250,900
Buyer: Sean N. Hammond
Seller: Veronica O’Neil
Date: 04/29/16

300 Pease Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $324,900
Buyer: Cassandra J. Terry
Seller: Ann M. Basiel
Date: 04/19/16

181 Pleasant St.
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $154,500
Buyer: Gordon T. Daponte-Burson
Seller: Greg A. Slachta
Date: 04/25/16

550 Shaker Road
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Vitaliy Voznyuk
Seller: Rydell, Richard A., (Estate)
Date: 04/28/16

54 Sutton Place
East Longmeadow, MA 01028
Amount: $363,000
Buyer: Jose F. Diaz
Seller: John Mickiewicz
Date: 04/19/16

HAMPDEN

166 Allen St.
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Nathan R. Plumb
Seller: Thomas Petzold
Date: 04/28/16

12 Old Coach Circle
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $256,000
Buyer: Michael J. Bagge
Seller: Lauria A. Thiesse
Date: 04/20/16

47 Old Coach Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: George C. Sarkis
Seller: Random Properties Acquisition Corp. 3
Date: 04/19/16

122 Stony Hill Road
Hampden, MA 01036
Buyer: Kathryn E. O’Sullivan
Seller: Carole W. Bunnell
Date: 04/27/16

HOLLAND

14 Brimfield Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $170,000
Buyer: Jillian M. Jakson
Seller: Teema R. Boies
Date: 04/28/16

19 Island Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Paul J. Les
Seller: John W. Phelps
Date: 04/22/16

101 Sandy Beach Road
Holland, MA 01521
Amount: $230,000
Buyer: Michael Viens
Seller: Stephen Moreau
Date: 04/27/16

HOLYOKE

397 Apremont Hwy.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Charles C. Paulson
Seller: Justin Laliberte
Date: 04/28/16

25 Belvidere Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $149,175
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Keith J. Czerwiec
Date: 04/25/16

86 Brookline Ave.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Jessenia Gerena
Seller: Lyndsay Pisano
Date: 04/28/16

14 Field St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $216,000
Buyer: Christopher S. Savino
Seller: Steven Reno
Date: 04/29/16

3 Hawthorne Lane
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $345,100
Buyer: Elizabeth L. Atkins
Seller: Scott F. Defelice
Date: 04/29/16

Kelly Way
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: RS Holyoke 3 LLC
Seller: Kelly Way LLC
Date: 04/20/16

97 Martin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Laura E. Matta
Seller: Kai Lantz
Date: 04/28/16

1208 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $172,000
Buyer: Matthew S. Cronin
Seller: Heidi Silverman
Date: 04/21/16

579 Northampton St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $175,056
Buyer: Nistha LLC
Seller: Sudhir Patel
Date: 04/20/16

619 South Summer St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Maria Bermudez
Seller: Filibert Bermudez-Alicea
Date: 04/28/16

195 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $124,500
Buyer: Matthew V. Abelli
Seller: Donald R. Todd
Date: 04/29/16

37 Sycamore St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $151,500
Buyer: Luis A. Torres
Seller: Dorene A. Archambault
Date: 04/29/16

344 West Franklin St.
Holyoke, MA 01040
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Anne C. Pratt
Seller: Hsiu-Li C. Kelley
Date: 04/19/16

LONGMEADOW

206 Bel Air Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Robert Gevanthor
Seller: Christina Rinaldi
Date: 04/22/16

62 Bliss Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $207,000
Buyer: Trisha Butterworth
Seller: Corinne Ewing
Date: 04/29/16

18 Blokland Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Venkatrao Medarametla
Seller: William T. McCarry
Date: 04/20/16

90 Chiswick St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Angela Liebel
Seller: Mohammad J. Ashraf
Date: 04/22/16

81 Concord Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $357,000
Buyer: Mark U. Chan
Seller: Donna M. Polverini
Date: 04/19/16

68 Lawnwood Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $197,500
Buyer: Jabob Youso
Seller: David M. Skowron
Date: 04/29/16

100 Salem Road
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $422,500
Seller: Dennis L. Dewrance
Date: 04/21/16

83 Shady Knoll Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $264,000
Buyer: Jennifer L. Neil
Seller: Rudolf W. Haagsma
Date: 04/29/16

54 Sheffield Ave.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $200,000
Buyer: Glenn A. Mellis
Seller: Joseph J. Frangie
Date: 04/27/16

181 Twin Hills Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $650,000
Buyer: Celso E. Dias
Seller: Zaheer Karim
Date: 04/28/16

1231 Williams St.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $545,000
Buyer: Bryan Adams
Seller: Michael E. Chagnon
Date: 04/21/16

78 Wimbleton Dr.
Longmeadow, MA 01106
Amount: $399,000
Buyer: Ali O. Koseoglu
Seller: Robert E. Gevanthor
Date: 04/22/16

LUDLOW

3 Auburn St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Sergey Kulyak
Seller: Bank New York
Date: 04/22/16

19 Carmelinas Circle
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $187,500
Seller: John Chelo
Date: 04/29/16

372 Holyoke St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Michael Napolitano
Seller: Doris M. Roberts
Date: 04/29/16

66 John St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Barbara Beckwith
Date: 04/27/16

242 Kendall St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $325,000
Buyer: Zaida M. Watts
Seller: Morais Enterprises LLC
Date: 04/29/16

260 Prospect St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Bryan J. Forbes
Seller: Krista L. Ouimette
Date: 04/28/16

147 Reynolds St.
Ludlow, MA 01056
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Brendan J. Hurst
Seller: Sapphire Property Dev. LLC
Date: 04/27/16

MONSON

4 Country Club Lane
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Thomas S. Ngan
Seller: Peter D. Hull
Date: 04/22/16

296 Main St.
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Therese D. Arbour
Seller: Mary J. Russell
Date: 04/27/16

172 Palmer Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $159,500
Buyer: Marie Dyer
Seller: Richard A. Matzko
Date: 04/25/16

108 Town Farm Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Robert F. Arbour
Seller: Therese D. Arbour
Date: 04/22/16

122 Town Farm Road
Monson, MA 01057
Amount: $240,000
Buyer: Gregory J. Feldman
Seller: Richard P. Roman
Date: 04/27/16

PALMER

5 Anderson St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $120,700
Buyer: Natasha M. Bleau
Seller: Darlene D. Daniels
Date: 04/22/16

2029 Central St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $119,163
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Lawrence S. Allard
Date: 04/20/16

4 Cheney St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $185,000
Buyer: Richard Theriault
Seller: Raymond L. Tenczar
Date: 04/28/16

2025 Cross St.
Palmer, MA 01080
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Dennis S. Doyle
Seller: Elaine C. Hodgman
Date: 04/29/16

43 French Dr.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Daniel J. Mackenzie
Seller: Holly Olson
Date: 04/28/16

4048 Main St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Gabriel Cordeiro
Seller: Ronald F. Paul
Date: 04/19/16

N/A
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $255,000
Buyer: Lawrence E. Akers
Seller: Timothy W. Irving
Date: 04/27/16

1064 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $220,000
Buyer: Scott Stuckenbruck
Seller: Sligo Realty Co. LLC
Date: 04/29/16

1313 Park St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Stephen Stathis
Seller: Rejean StAmand
Date: 04/28/16

31 Summer St.
Palmer, MA 01069
Amount: $159,000
Buyer: Sebastian E. Lamoureux
Seller: Marie E. Henderson
Date: 04/22/16

RUSSELL

372 Pine Hill Road
Russell, MA 01071
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Thomas M. Skrodzki
Seller: Jerald L. Reinford
Date: 04/21/16

SOUTHWICK

100 Berkshire Ave.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $360,000
Buyer: Norman W. Cheever
Seller: William H. Wilson
Date: 04/29/16

12 Foster Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $217,000
Buyer: Ashley Davis
Seller: Ruthine A. Williams-Baron
Date: 04/26/16

167 Fred Jackson Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $318,000
Buyer: Dale S. Griffin
Seller: Denise L. Kane-Peterson
Date: 04/29/16

6 Gloria Dr.
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $227,000
Buyer: Melissa D. Sharpe
Seller: Walter E. Drenen
Date: 04/29/16

55 Honey Pot Road
Southwick, MA 01077
Amount: $309,000
Buyer: Lynne R. Mulligan
Seller: Deberlee Rice
Date: 04/27/16

SPRINGFIELD

129 Acrebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Tia N. Godette
Seller: Kenneth Norris
Date: 04/22/16

63 Agnes St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $163,000
Buyer: Luis Sostre
Seller: Rosa L. Amaro
Date: 04/29/16

14 Annies Way
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Erin E. Mahar
Seller: Bretta Construction LLC
Date: 04/21/16

95 Bairdcrest Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $149,900
Buyer: Daniel Scagliarini
Seller: Michael P. Cremonini
Date: 04/22/16

82-84 Beaumont St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Eveline Cherident
Seller: Leon Hutt
Date: 04/29/16

742 Belmont Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $200,500
Buyer: Shawn M. Summers
Seller: Robert G. Ferron
Date: 04/19/16

1243 Berkshire Ave.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $157,309
Buyer: US Bank
Seller: Kenneth B. Jekot
Date: 04/27/16

32-34 Berkshire St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $173,000
Buyer: Carlos Rosario
Seller: Patrick I. Phillips
Date: 04/29/16

333 Boston Road
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $600,000
Buyer: Boston Road RT
Seller: Boston Road Alliance LLC
Date: 04/19/16

43 Brandon Ave.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $156,346
Buyer: Wilmington Savings Fund Society
Seller: Jade Belle-Isle
Date: 04/22/16

115 Bronson Terrace
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $144,000
Buyer: Miguel Zapata
Seller: Next Level Real Estate Solutions
Date: 04/26/16

190 Brookdale Dr.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: AJD Brookdale LLC
Seller: Fastenal Co.
Date: 04/25/16

28-30 Bryant St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Kalpesh Patel
Seller: Leon Hutt
Date: 04/28/16

126 Bulat Dr.
Springfield, MA 01129
Amount: $160,000
Buyer: Julie M. Lavallee
Seller: Angel R. Ruiz
Date: 04/25/16

69 Carew Terrace
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Catherine Torres
Seller: Charles Sotiropoulos
Date: 04/29/16

1157-1159 Carew St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Buyer: Yartiza M. Rodriguez
Seller: Myriam Rivera
Date: 04/22/16

378 Central St.
Springfield, MA 01105
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: Maria S. Ware
Seller: North End Housing Initiative
Date: 04/28/16

17 Chase Ave.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Tara A. Frater
Seller: Diversified Real Estate LLC
Date: 04/19/16

230-232 College St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Olmstead RT
Seller: Hallerin Realty LLP
Date: 04/27/16

249 College St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $125,000
Buyer: Jeremy Rivera
Seller: Larry P. Borden
Date: 04/26/16

75 Deepfield Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Michael A. Rodriguez
Seller: Edward J. Haluch
Date: 04/19/16

849 Dickinson St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $155,500
Buyer: Matthew R. Dintzner
Seller: Richard F. Dintzner
Date: 04/21/16

235 Dorset St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $118,000
Buyer: Rudolph W. Haagsma
Seller: Peter A. Bernard
Date: 04/29/16

60 Embassy Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $169,000
Buyer: Nicolino Iavicoli
Seller: Borgy LLC
Date: 04/19/16

90 Fairfield St.
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $129,000
Buyer: Lamont R. Lewis
Seller: J&M Property & Dev. LLC
Date: 04/25/16

33-35 Gold St.
Springfield, MA 01107
Amount: $186,000
Buyer: Angela Burton-Mason
Seller: R2R LLC
Date: 04/20/16

40 Harkness Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $179,900
Buyer: Zoe R. McCaskill
Seller: Diane L. Dow
Date: 04/20/16

200 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: F. A. Miranda-Rodriguez
Seller: Colette M. Sergey
Date: 04/29/16

224 Jeffrey Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $152,000
Buyer: Neycha Diaz
Seller: David Drozdowski
Date: 04/19/16

69 Jenness St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $118,800
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Emilio Narvaez
Date: 04/22/16

199 Laurelton St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $127,900
Buyer: Pedro J. Martinez
Seller: Anthony Carnevale
Date: 04/22/16

80 Leitch St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $115,000
Buyer: Miguel A. Lopez
Seller: William C. Foucher
Date: 04/29/16

37 Lynebrook Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $143,766
Buyer: Wilmington Trust
Seller: Mildred Colon
Date: 04/20/16

264 Newhouse St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Stephanie E. Moore
Seller: Thomas F. Connors
Date: 04/22/16

103 Northway Dr.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Joseph J. Griffin
Seller: Segismund Sharpe
Date: 04/26/16

269 Oak Hollow Road
Springfield, MA 01128
Amount: $188,000
Buyer: George Vasquez
Seller: Eric J. Blair
Date: 04/29/16

24 Pine Hill Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $151,000
Buyer: Scott D. Silloway
Seller: Ellen M. Brennan
Date: 04/29/16

1082 Plumtree Road
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $213,081
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Aurora Pumarejo
Date: 04/22/16

46-48 Quebec St.
Springfield, MA 01151
Amount: $194,011
Buyer: Wells Fargo Bank
Seller: Joe C. Silva
Date: 04/26/16

87 Quincy St.
Springfield, MA 01109
Amount: $197,683
Buyer: Deutsche Bank
Seller: Othoniel Rosario
Date: 04/19/16

80 Redden St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $161,300
Buyer: Mary A. Dinoia
Seller: Alfonso Dimaio
Date: 04/27/16

85 Redden St.
Springfield, MA 01119
Amount: $159,900
Buyer: Briana Butler
Seller: Allan A. Dimaio
Date: 04/27/16

68 Rockland St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $148,500
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: Martha M. Aldrich
Date: 04/29/16

127 Sawmill Road
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $210,000
Buyer: Gregory P. Webster
Seller: William M. Herchuck
Date: 04/29/16

17 Sunridge Dr.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $119,000
Buyer: Jean K. Alban
Seller: Omar Alban
Date: 04/28/16

425 Trafton Road
Springfield, MA 01108
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Sean C. Hemingway
Seller: Lauren E. Fiorentino
Date: 04/20/16

92 Upton St.
Springfield, MA 01104
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Juan J. Taveras
Seller: Peter K. Sacuta
Date: 04/29/16

64 Vail St.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $128,000
Buyer: Sheneil J. Duncan
Seller: Adam D. Nowakowski
Date: 04/22/16

186 Wildwood Ave.
Springfield, MA 01118
Amount: $194,000
Buyer: Rodney A. Shively
Seller: Justin L. Kent
Date: 04/27/16

WESTFIELD

79 Birch Bluffs Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $209,900
Buyer: Anthony P. Galcenski
Seller: Troy C. Collins
Date: 04/21/16

12 Denise Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $175,400
Buyer: Jacqueline L. Gelgut
Seller: Frances M. Walas
Date: 04/29/16

82 East Silver St.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $250,500
Buyer: Henry Zayas
Seller: Scott E. Mulligan
Date: 04/27/16

268 Granville Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $303,000
Buyer: Thomas Stewart
Seller: Anthony P. Galcenski
Date: 04/21/16

28 Green Pine Lane
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $239,500
Buyer: Benjamin J. Leclair
Seller: Joanne M. Hennessey
Date: 04/29/16

71 Lindbergh Blvd.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $155,000
Buyer: Timothy J. Collins
Seller: Maureen E. Fitzgerald
Date: 04/29/16

60 Old Stage Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $245,000
Buyer: Pavlo Shmyglya
Seller: Christopher M. Robare
Date: 04/28/16

143 Southwick Road
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $290,000
Buyer: John K. Grater
Seller: Paul E. Fritz
Date: 04/28/16

2 Sylvan Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $224,900
Buyer: Kevin W. Rowe
Seller: Cheryl A. Denardo
Date: 04/25/16

37 Violet Circle
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $375,000
Buyer: Matthew G. Schulte
Seller: Kopatz Construction Inc.
Date: 04/29/16

2 Walker Ave.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: David J. Bishop
Seller: FHLM
Date: 04/26/16

Zephyr Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Colleen M. Dell
Seller: Jack H. Klaubert
Date: 04/19/16

25 Zephyr Dr.
Westfield, MA 01085
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Colleen M. Dell
Seller: Jack H. Klaubert
Date: 04/19/16

WILBRAHAM

48 Brainard Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $301,000
Buyer: Scott M. Gierlich
Seller: Lee K. Garvey
Date: 04/20/16

10 Briar Cliff Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Rhae A. Kennedy
Seller: Raymond L. Belden
Date: 04/29/16

21 Carla Lane
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $435,000
Buyer: Wonhong Lee
Seller: Custom Homes Dev. Group
Date: 04/29/16

23 Leemond St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Tonya L. Basch
Seller: Francis J. Flanagan
Date: 04/28/16

6 Longview Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $275,000
Buyer: Donald F. Bready
Seller: William G. Baker
Date: 04/29/16

560 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Michael W. Rita
Seller: Catherine J. Olson
Date: 04/29/16

911 Main St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $123,000
Buyer: Sherry A. Marchessault
Seller: Marilyn E. Spears
Date: 04/22/16

65 Monson Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $485,000
Buyer: Kathleen McEvoy
Seller: John M. Kirwan
Date: 04/25/16

4 Pomeroy St.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $250,000
Buyer: Luc Petit
Seller: Mary A. Dinoia
Date: 04/27/16

2 Soule Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Richard L. Lodigiani
Seller: Raymond L. Roy
Date: 04/25/16

916 Stony Hill Road
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $270,000
Buyer: Joseph M. Varney
Seller: Richard W. Gheen
Date: 04/29/16

7 Wilbraview Dr.
Wilbraham, MA 01095
Amount: $239,000
Buyer: Barbara I. Ekstrom
Seller: Eduardo H. Vela
Date: 04/29/16

WEST SPRINGFIELD

45 Bayberry Lane
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $355,000
Buyer: Mazin Mahdi
Seller: Michael Laverdiere
Date: 04/29/16

30 Burke Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jamie L. Drollett
Seller: Ernest J. Labranche
Date: 04/27/16

40 Churchill Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Sarah M. Greenway
Seller: Bauer, Virginia M., (Estate)
Date: 04/29/16

496 Dewey St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $214,900
Buyer: William Gallacher
Seller: Shelley S. Armstrong
Date: 04/29/16

186 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: National Equity Inc.
Seller: Kevin Wolk
Date: 04/22/16

244 Greystone Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $228,000
Buyer: Stephen P. Burke
Seller: Louise S. Black
Date: 04/26/16

307 Hillcrest Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $178,000
Buyer: Erin J. Saunders
Seller: Mark A. Vincze
Date: 04/26/16

83 Labelle St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $149,800
Buyer: FNMA
Seller: Barbara E. Bligh
Date: 04/21/16

216 Lancaster Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $139,500
Buyer: Jeffrey D. Paquin
Seller: Judith Stokowski
Date: 04/26/16

1010 Morgan Road
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $175,000
Buyer: Jacob R. Larivee
Seller: Daniel A. Gallagher
Date: 04/28/16

109 Morton St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $117,900
Buyer: Nationstar Mortgage LLC
Seller: Dominic F. Zucco
Date: 04/29/16

1457 Riverdale St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $840,000
Buyer: 1457 Riverdale Street LLC
Seller: Aardvark Property Holdings
Date: 04/29/16

28 Sheridan Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $168,000
Buyer: Jenifer L. Laposta
Seller: Barry P. Ward
Date: 04/22/16

188 Sibley Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $248,000
Buyer: Andrey A. Mozolevskiy
Seller: Dennis F. Douglas
Date: 04/29/16

186 Sikes Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $135,000
Buyer: CIG 2 LLC
Seller: MHFA
Date: 04/19/16

181 Wayside Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: SSG Holdings LLC
Seller: Wayside West LLC
Date: 04/29/16

1662 Westfield St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $177,000
Buyer: Wilfredo Ortiz
Date: 04/22/16

62 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Adam Delvalle
Seller: Paul L. Gil
Date: 04/28/16

100 Wolcott Ave.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $215,900
Buyer: Troy Collins
Seller: Robert R. Lover
Date: 04/21/16

318 Woodmont St.
West Springfield, MA 01089
Amount: $180,000
Buyer: Raymond M. Brainard
Seller: Croken, Edward D., (Estate)
Date: 04/22/16

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY

AMHERST

111 Dana St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $374,500
Buyer: Yufeng Xiao
Seller: Dorothy A. Hartman
Date: 04/26/16

11 Duxbury Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $234,000
Buyer: Michael Famighette
Seller: Scott M. Auerbach
Date: 04/22/16

16 McClellan St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $213,000
Buyer: Historic Renovations
Seller: Mary R. Mazzei
Date: 04/26/16

50 Meadow St.
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $134,500
Buyer: Ying Liu
Seller: Yang Zhang
Date: 04/29/16

355 Montague Road
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $235,400
Buyer: Linda A. Arsenault
Seller: Hawes, Sarah L., (Estate)
Date: 04/20/16

55 Pokeberry Ridge
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $515,000
Buyer: Sharon G. Teitelbaum
Seller: Henry E. Whitlock
Date: 04/25/16

Teawaddle Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $450,000
Buyer: Laura B. Sayre
Seller: Coddington LLP
Date: 04/21/16

26 Whippletree Lane
Amherst, MA 01002
Amount: $345,000
Buyer: David M. Fay
Seller: Patricia A. Mercaitis
Date: 04/29/16

BELCHERTOWN

490 Bardwell St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $274,000
Buyer: Alison M. Gedney
Seller: Kimberly A. McCoubrey
Date: 04/22/16

396 Michael Sears Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $257,000
Buyer: Christopher A. Rivers
Seller: Gary F. Labak
Date: 04/27/16

N/A
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $190,000
Buyer: Seiha Krouch
Seller: Kresna Krouch
Date: 04/20/16

12 Oakwood Dr.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $241,000
Buyer: Kevin J. Fitzgerald
Seller: Eric J. Fitzgerald
Date: 04/22/16

41 Oasis St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $469,000
Buyer: Melissa A. Madden
Seller: Tiffani T. Huynh
Date: 04/19/16

61 South Washington St.
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $362,000
Buyer: Frederick B. Allen
Seller: Carriage Town Homes LLC
Date: 04/27/16

90 Turkey Hill Road
Belchertown, MA 01007
Amount: $130,000
Buyer: Daniela Speas
Seller: FHLM
Date: 04/21/16

CHESTERFIELD

369 Main Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $120,500
Buyer: Kevin McCarthy
Seller: Samuel W. Crompton
Date: 04/25/16

31 Smith Road
Chesterfield, MA 01012
Amount: $182,000
Buyer: Daniel C. White
Seller: Arnold Skolnick

EASTHAMPTON

5 Ely Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $262,102
Buyer: Bank of America
Seller: Roy J. Ginter
Date: 04/27/16

57 Florence Road
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $234,500
Buyer: Michael M. Dunphy
Seller: Kimberly A. Morse
Date: 04/29/16

4 Louise Ave.
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $339,000
Buyer: Alexander R. Barron
Seller: Richard D. Pitcher
Date: 04/29/16

21 Willow Circle
Easthampton, MA 01027
Amount: $356,000
Buyer: Justin A. Laliberte
Seller: Crown Meadow Corp.
Date: 04/22/16

GRANBY

76 Chicopee St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $195,000
Buyer: Scott W. Peacey
Seller: Howard L. Weston
Date: 04/29/16

501 East State St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $278,500
Buyer: Adam M. Carmody
Seller: Grenier FT
Date: 04/21/16

158 Kendall St.
Granby, MA 01033
Amount: $235,000
Buyer: Jonathan F. Chiarizio
Seller: David A. Strycharz
Date: 04/19/16

HADLEY

5 Aloha Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $291,000
Buyer: Jonathan Schneider
Seller: Judith A. Berger
Date: 04/27/16

12 Indian Pipe Dr.
Hadley, MA 01035
Amount: $850,000
Buyer: Eagle Pine Holdings LLC
Seller: Bercume Construction LLC
Date: 04/20/16

HATFIELD

31-B Elm St.
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $404,678
Buyer: Margo Rice
Seller: Northeast Ent. Realty Partnership
Date: 04/27/16

205 Linseed Road
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $259,500
Buyer: Nancy L. Suniewick
Seller: Stephen M. Curtis
Date: 04/29/16

43 Straits Road
Hatfield, MA 01038
Amount: $404,600
Buyer: Paul M. Kelly
Seller: Sharon L. Crow
Date: 04/28/16

134 West St.
Hatfield, MA 01088
Amount: $258,000
Buyer: Kimberly Judd
Seller: Mullins, Janet F., (Estate)
Date: 04/20/16

NORTHAMPTON

556 Burts Pit Road
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $350,000
Buyer: Kevin L. Young
Seller: Timothy A. Reilly
Date: 04/19/16

40 Center St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $479,000
Buyer: Everyday Mindfulness LLC
Seller: Bowen RET
Date: 04/19/16

71 Columbus Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $535,000
Buyer: Heather R. Pon-Barry
Seller: Robert L. Parfet
Date: 04/28/16

8 Edwards Square
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $285,000
Buyer: Edward L. McGuire
Seller: Saint Valentine Polish
Date: 04/19/16

57 Ford Xing
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $460,533
Buyer: Josee S. Goldin
Seller: Kent Pecoy & Sons Construction
Date: 04/29/16

Grove Ave.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: Emily H. Sparkle
Seller: John F. Skibiski Realty
Date: 04/27/16

8 Hancock St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $459,000
Buyer: Denise Orenstein
Seller: Donald E. Joseph
Date: 04/29/16

9 Mountain St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Natasha R. Tauscher
Seller: Bernard Sherman IRT
Date: 04/20/16

504 North King St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $300,000
Buyer: Shweta D. Patel
Seller: Vinu V. Patel
Date: 04/29/16

410 North Main St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $205,000
Buyer: Seth J. Mias
Seller: Michael F. Cronin
Date: 04/25/16

109 North Maple St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $225,000
Buyer: Anthony Kitchen
Seller: Gagnon, Marion E., (Estate)
Date: 04/19/16

223 Prospect St.
Northampton, MA 01060
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Meghan E. Smith
Seller: Ann E. Barker
Date: 04/26/16

36 Sovereign Way
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $478,000
Buyer: John Curran
Seller: Shelley Lake
Date: 04/26/16

54 Whittier St.
Northampton, MA 01062
Amount: $400,000
Buyer: Elhafid Assab
Seller: Paul & Shirley Authier TR
Date: 04/28/16

PELHAM

130 Harkness Road
Pelham, MA 01002
Amount: $550,000
Buyer: Tyrone A. Parham
Seller: Harry N. Seymour
Date: 04/28/16

SOUTH HADLEY

51 Bolton St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $174,900
Buyer: Meghan E. Curto
Seller: Adam M. Carmody
Date: 04/20/16

63 Judd Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $212,500
Buyer: Dan W. Malone
Seller: Matthew J. O’Brien
Date: 04/22/16

102 Mountain View St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $295,000
Buyer: Alyssa M. Os
Seller: Joan M. Os
Date: 04/29/16

137 Old Lyman Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $143,000
Buyer: Robert A. Mann
Seller: USA VA
Date: 04/19/16

63 Pearl St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $315,000
Buyer: Greg R. Quimby
Seller: Lawrence M. Goodyear
Date: 04/25/16

99 Richview Ave.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $168,500
Buyer: Mary I. Richi
Seller: Ezekiel W. Kimball
Date: 04/26/16

8 Riverlodge Road
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $389,000
Buyer: David D. Dybski
Seller: Patrick J. Spring
Date: 04/22/16

10 Spring St.
South Hadley, MA 01075
Amount: $119,900
Buyer: 4 Seasons Prop. Maintenance
Seller: US Bank
Date: 04/22/16

SOUTHAMPTON

100 Crooked Ledge Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $500,000
Buyer: David M. Johndrow
Seller: Daniel Pellegrini
Date: 04/28/16

4 Manhan Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $260,000
Buyer: Joseph B. Cyr
Seller: Jens M. Michaelsen
Date: 04/20/16

9 Old Harvest Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $480,000
Buyer: Christopher Lawler
Seller: L. P. Audette Builders Inc.
Date: 04/26/16

119 Pleasant St.
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $311,250
Buyer: Elizabeth A. Ryan
Seller: Anthony J. Szumowski
Date: 04/22/16

12 Russellville Road
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $120,000
Buyer: Justin T. Skoronski
Seller: David J. Flood
Date: 04/29/16

3 Sara Lane
Southampton, MA 01073
Amount: $128,500
Buyer: Bellinger Construction
Seller: Edward H. Gwinner
Date: 04/29/16

WARE

63 Babcock Tavern Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $265,000
Buyer: James D. O’Hara
Seller: Michael J. Riordan
Date: 04/29/16

89 Church St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $150,000
Buyer: William P. Koetsch
Seller: Robert Sorel
Date: 04/28/16

182 Monson Turnpike Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $187,000
Buyer: George Stockdale
Seller: Anthony Eichstaedt
Date: 04/29/16

37 Moriarty Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $193,000
Buyer: Kenneth E. Creigle
Seller: Nancy A. Ackerman
Date: 04/22/16

288 Osborne Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $316,900
Buyer: Anthony Naglieri
Seller: Joel Harder
Date: 04/29/16

347 Palmer Road
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $165,000
Buyer: Emily N. Peddle
Seller: Kirk A. Letendre
Date: 04/28/16

18 Sherwin St.
Ware, MA 01082
Amount: $144,900
Buyer: Erin Reynolds
Seller: Peggy L. Vershon
Date: 04/29/16

WILLIAMSBURG

40 Adams Road
Williamsburg, MA 01039
Amount: $177,500
Buyer: Kenneth E. Botnick
Seller: Jose R. Garcia
Date: 04/28/16

9 Kingsley Ave.
Williamsburg, MA 01060
Amount: $215,000
Buyer: Suzanne N. Goodwin
Seller: Robert C. Genova
Date: 04/29/16

43 Village Hill Road
Williamsburg, MA 01096
Buyer: Mark J. Larareo
Seller: Mary K. Kruzel NT
Date: 04/26/16

Cultural Investments Spark North Adams

Community Spotlight Features

Community Spotlight

Mayor Richard Alcombright says recent developments like the expansion of Mass MoCA are raising North Adams’ profile as a destination.

Mayor Richard Alcombright says North Adams used to be a little mill town that people had to drive through to get to Stockbridge, Williamstown, or popular spots in Southern Vermont.

“But over the last decade, we’ve become a place to stop and are really finding our way to becoming a destination,” he told BusinessWest, adding that there are many projects in various stages of completion that will only enhance the city’s growing popularity.

The $65 million, third-phase expansion of the Massachusetts Museum of Contemporary Art (Mass MoCA), which will double its footprint, adding 130,000 square feet of gallery space and enhancing the outdoor courtyard space, is expected to be finished next year. The work is taking place on the south end of the campus of the former Sprague Electric factory, whose 16 acres of grounds and 26 buildings with an elaborate system of interlocking courtyards and passages was transformed into the museum in 1999. When the renovations are complete, the North Adams museum will be the largest of its kind in the country.

Mass MoCA has had a regional economic impact of $24 million annually, and drew more than 160,000 visitors last year alone. The numbers are expected to increase, especially since the $100 million renovation and expansion of the Francine and Sterling Clark Art Institute two years ago in nearby Williamstown continue to grow and have helped strengthen North Adams’s position as a destination for arts and culture.

Alcombright calls the two institutions “cultural bookends,” and said the expansions have boosted confidence in the city and inspired private investments on a scale not seen in decades.

Indeed, Salvatore Perry and Karla Rothstein of Latent Productions in New York City had no plans to invest in North Adams until they drove through the town two years ago to pick up their daughter from a New Hampshire camp.

They had never been to the Berkshires and planned to visit the Clark, as it’s called, but when they spotted the Cariddi Mill (originally known as the Greylock Mill) that stretches 700 feet along Route 2 in North Adams on 7.8 acres, their plans underwent an abrupt change.

The couple has focused on developing properties with unrealized potential in Manhattan and Brooklyn, but seeing the former cotton mill that was for sale led them to scrap plans to see a concert at Mass MoCA that night.

Instead, they did some research, met with the owner and broker the next day, and purchased the 240,000-square-foot property for $750,000. “The building is a magnificent structure, and as architects, the potential was immediately apparent to us,” Perry said.

The next year was spent conducting research to determine the best potential use for the property and list any challenges that would be involved in rehabbing the site.

The couple formed a new limited-liability company called Greylock Works, which reclaimed the property, and work began last October in an area known as the Weave Shed. The goal was to transform it into a 32,000-square-foot event space, and although it was not finished, it was introduced to the public via a New Year’s Eve Party that attracted 600 guests.

Site foreman Joe Boucher said the space will be complete in July, and pointed out the newly installed wall-to-wall windows facing the street and the unusual sawtooth construction which floods the space with light.

“It will hold 1,000 people and is a resource that doesn’t exist in the region,” Perry noted.

The next phase of the project will involve the renovation of an adjacent, 32,000-square-foot area that will be turned into a retail food hub or artisanal food incubator, with a butcher shop, bakery, cheesemakers, and a restaurant situated off of a main interior corridor. Each business will have a small area for retail operations and also have room to conduct wholesale operations to help sustain a flow of year-round revenue.

“The focus is to bring activity, great jobs, events, and fantastic food production to this portion of the site,” Perry said, adding that renovating the event space and food incubator will cost between $5 million and $6 million.

When that portion of the mill is finished, plans will be implemented to build a hotel, amenities for it, residential condos, and a park on the rest of the property.

Renewed Interest

In addition to cultural offerings, North Adams has an endless panorama of hiking trails, and the Hoosic River, which runs directly through the city’s downtown, is one of few area waterways that supports wild brown trout.

Alcombright said other draws include the Massachusetts College of Liberal Arts, and the fact that North Adams and Williamstown, which is home to the Clark and Williams College, are linked by Route 2 has led the communities to piggyback on projects whenever they can.

Another project based on private investment between the two has begun at the site of the former Redwood Motel on 915 State Road in North Adams. It was built in the ’60s and was in a state of disrepair until it was purchased last April for $350,000 by a group that includes Boston developers, a Brooklyn publisher, and a musician from the band Wilco.

Project Manager Eric Kerns said the group formed an LLC called Beyond Place for the project, and initially planned a creative renovation of the 18-room motel. But the vision has grown, and the parties have assembled nearly 50 acres of property, including the 65,000-square-foot Blackinton Mill site north of the motel and 45 acres of former industrial land contiguous to it. The plan is to connect the properties and build a resort that will appeal to Millennials and young families in Brooklyn, Boston, and other communities.

“They’re primed to discover the Berkshires as a tourist destination,” Kerns said of the younger demographic. “Although the area has a lot for them, including music, art, and outdoor recreation, most hospitality properties are still targeting a much older demographic.

“We want to create a home for the next generation of Berkshire visitors,” she went on, “and plan to take a familiar site and reorient it back from the road toward the river and prioritize what new generations are looking for.”

A house that sits on the motel property will be renovated and turned into a central lodge, and an old farmhouse to the east on the newly purchased grounds will also be reimagined.

“This project is moving forward at an accelerated rate, and the goal is to have all 47 rooms completed a year from now when Mass MoCA completes its third phase of renovation; we feel that an economic renaissance is happening between North Adams and Williamstown, and we are at the center of it,” he continued, adding that a profound confluence of the Appalachian Trail, the Mohawk Trail, and the Hoosic River can be found on the property.

Thomas Krens, who once directed the Guggenheim Museum in New York and its overseas satellites, and was one of the driving forces behind the establishment of Mass MoCA, has proposed another project for North Adams: a $20 million model-railroading and architecture museum in Western Gateway Heritage State Park that has a footpath directly across from Mass MoCA’s south gate.

“The idea has been very, very well received by the state, the community, and the private sector,” Alcombright said, adding that the museum — which would be twice as large as the Miniatur Wunderland, a model-railway attraction in Hamburg, Germany that is presently the largest of its kind in the world — is expected to bring another 200,000 to 300,000 visitors to North Adams each year.

The Hoosic River Revival is another endeavor that promises to enhance North Adams and bring new life downtown by a radical revision of the existing flood-control system. A plan has been designed that will protect the city while making the waterway a focal point and promoting recreation along it that will enhance the city’s cultural and economic vitality.

The existing flood-protection system was built in the ’50s. It is bordered by a chain-link fence, runs through two and a half miles of the downtown area, and contains 45-foot-wide, three-sided concrete panels that are 10 to 15 feet high, which make it impossible for fish to live in that section of the river.

The project was spearheaded by resident Judy Grinnell in 2008, and since that time a dedicated coalition, which formed a nonprofit three years ago, has raised a total of $800,000 (including $575,000 from the state) for the revival.

“The river is an integral part of our downtown,” Grinnell noted, explaining that two branches bisect and merge at the end of the last building on the Mass MoCA complex.

The importance of the project was driven home when Hurricane Irene hit in 2011 and the river rose within two feet of the floodwalls.

“It was opportunistic that we started this project when we did because the system is aging. It is not going to flood any time soon, but three of the 20-foot panels have fallen in over the past 15 years, and six are leaning,” Grinnell noted, adding that officials are working with the Army Corps of Engineers, and a plan has been created that will include community gardens, a bike path, and other amenities designed to bring people downtown.

Last year the state Legislature appropriated $8.75 million for the project as part of an environmental and energy bond bill, and the nonprofit received $500,000 to design a half-mile section as a pilot project, which is in the approval process.

“The Hoosic River revival is an ecological project, but it’s also an economic-development project,” Grinnell said, citing other cities such as Providence, R.I., and San Antonio, Texas, where access to the riverfront has helped spur revitalization and create vibrant downtowns.

Changing Landscape

When Alcombright took office in 2010, North Adams had a $2.3 million budget deficit with $100,000 in reserve. Today, the city is in a much different position, and for the last two years has had a balanced budget with $1.6 million in reserve.

The mayor said taxpayers bore the brunt of the problem, but thanks to new projects underway, the city’s future is on a fast track to success.

A $30 million renovation of the former Silvio O. Conte Middle School that transformed it into Colgrove Park Elementary School was completed last winter, and the building opened in January. Nearly 80% of the cost is being reimbursed by the state, and the new school will add to the city’s appeal.

“We managed to sustain ourselves through the bad times, have built our way back up, and are starting to see growth; we’re on the upside of the hill and are starting to feel some excitement,” the mayor noted as he spoke about Mass MoCA and the private investments taking place.

Perry agreed. “North Adams is at a turning point,” he said. “When we decided to invest here, the regional hospital was shutting its doors, and now, almost two years later, it’s phenomenal to see the optimism and investments private developers are planning alongside major institutional achievements by places such as Mass MoCA and Williams College.”

North Adams at a Glance

Year Incorporated: 1878
Population: 13,354 (2014)
Area: 20.6 square miles
County: Berkshire
Residential Tax Rate: $17.39
Commercial Tax Rate: $37.93
Median Household Income: $41,531 (2013)
Family Household Income: $52,202 (2013)
Type of government: Mayor; City Council
Largest Employers: Crane & Co.; Northern Adams Regional Hospital; BFAIR Inc.
* Latest information available

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

Arnold’s & Eddie’s Foods Inc. v. Papps Bar & Grill and John P. Slattery
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $1,568.05
Filed: 4/15/16

GREENFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Kathleen Tomaus Catering v. J.S. Builders and Jereck Smith
Allegation: Breach of contract for services: $7,000
Filed: 3/31/16

Robert Dash, in his capacity as President of Commons of Deerfield Condominiums v. Staelen’s Masonry and David Staelens
Allegation: Negligence in installment of sidewalk: $4,450
Filed: 3/25/16

HAMPDEN SUPERIOR COURT

Ernest Mungen v. Federal National Mortgage Assoc.
Allegation: Breach of contract: $40,000
Filed: 4/5/16

Kristina Pieczara v. CVS Health Corp.
Allegation: Failure to maintain safe environment for customers: $32,500
Filed: 4/12/16

Ryder Transportation Services v. Richard Kikule d/b/a Faith Tech Sound
Allegation: Breach of lease agreement: $19,493.65
Filed: 4/18/16

PALMER DISTRICT COURT

Christopher P. Shallow d/b/a Country Homes Construction Co. v. Joe Roth Contracting
Allegation: Non-payment for supplies and services: $5,154.50
Filed: 4/25/16

SPRINGFIELD DISTRICT COURT

Amica Mutual Insurance Co. v. CDA Roofing & Siding Contractors, LLC
Allegation: Breach of contract and cost of roof replacement: $9,500
Filed: 3/31/16

Pride Convenience Inc. v. Lansal Inc. d/b/a Hot Mama’s Inc. and Matthew D. Morse
Allegation: Non-payment of goods sold and delivered: $8,901.91
Filed: 4/4/16

Doing Business As Certificates

DBA Certificates Departments

The following Business Certificates and Trade Names were issued or renewed during the month of May 2016.

AGAWAM

Cost Cutters
856 Suffield St.
Abigail Allen

DelMar Home Decor
96 Bradford Dr.
Pamela Madison

Doug’s Window
39 Hunting Lane
Douglas LeBlanc

General Clean Company
30 Joanne Circle
Dominik Dasilva

The Style Cottage
674 Springfield St.
Marybeth Degen

GREENFIELD

Earthsaver
172 Highland Ave.
John Bailey

Essence Holistic Skincare
278 Main St.
Rachel Arnold

Magical Child
134 Main St.
Jessica Mullins

Retouch Pros
327 Chapman St.
Linda Mullaney

The Root Cellar
10 Fiske Ave.
Jacob W. Rheinheimer

Wicked Owl Coffee
82 School St.
Ioanis D. Triov

HOLYOKE

EZ Storage
623 South Summer St.
Javier Gonzalez

LA Lechonera
24 Jones Ferry Road
Eduardo Cumba

M & M Mini Mart
46 Franklin St.
Naz Naji

New York Nails
778 Homestead Ave.
Karen Spear

Red Robin
27 Holyoke St.
Alta Butler

LUDLOW

Avid Auto Sales
148 Carmelinas Circle
Amy Fields

KB Carpentry
38 Lyon St.
Kenneth Butts

The Chiropractic Center
488 Center St.
Mark Czerniak

PALMER

K & B Construction
214 Palmer St.
Bernard Croteau

Nesco Sales Inc.
89 State St.
Kevin Comstock

Palmer Antique Co-Op Center
1239 Main St.
Jane Vau Tour

Salon Trendz
1005 Church St.
Wendy Fullam

SPRINGFIELD

Hands for Hire
158 Davis St.
Kevin A. Doherty

Ignite Real Estate
32 Hampden St.
Daisy Sanchez

Ingy Cons
90 Buckingham St.
Hector Grullon

Jonathan Weibel
87 Lakevilla Ave.
Jonathan Weibel

Kassy Mart
604 Page Blvd.
Sandy Rodriguez

Kennedy Fried Chicken
1003 Saint James Ave.
Ali Baki

MS Zela & Daughters
43 Pearl St.
Rhonda Jones

Oriental Market
405 Dickinson St.
Ali Huynh

Parkes Property Services
85 West Allen Road
Krista M. Parkes

Professional General Business
207 Westford Ave.
Cherrille Robinson

South End Convenience
679 Main St.
Raja Akbar

Sprout House Clothing
182 Daviston St.
Chris Howard

Style Staging
55 Bryant St.
Alice Kempf

Sweet Transportation
241 Slater Ave.
Lilliam Cruz

Tropical Produce
577 Armory St.
Lorenzo Ramirez

Xtreme Hats
131 Dwight St.
Luis Santiago

WESTFIELD

Good Choice Home Improvement
21 Paper St.
Igor Khomichuk

John Clark Construction
621 West Road
John Clark

JSF Enterprise
441 Noble St.
Jonathan Flagg

Paisley Street
4 Elm St.
James Pettengill

The Wright Pet Sitter
85 City View Blvd.
William Wright

WEST SPRINGFIELD

A-1 American Eagle Oil
20 Roanoke Ave.
Bay State Fuel Oil

Acumen Data Systems Inc.
2223 Westfield St.
Edward W. Squires

AM Gutter & Awning
188 Sibley Ave.
Andrey Mozolevsky

Bay State Fuel Oil
20 Roanoke Ave.
Bay State Fuel Oil

Central Chevrolet Inc.
811 Memorial Ave.
Garrett O’Keefe

Christmas Witch, LLC
110 Bridle Path
Theresa Pelegano

Coastal Rally Movement
1349 Piper Road
Cody Griffin

Cross Fit Omnes, LLC
161 Doty Circle
Michelle Cooper

Dedicated Duffers
53 Old Barn Road
Debra Cheetham

Boat Dealers Navigate Challenges to Post Strong Sales

Luxury Living Sections

Rising Tide

Oxbow Marina in Northampton

A boat is, for most buyers, a true luxury item, and price tags can get high. Yet, boat sales have remained steady over the decades, and even the Great Recession posed only a blip for the industry, which has posted steady gains for the past several years. The bigger challenge, sellers say, is generational — specifically, drawing young people into the activity who will then share the passion with their own children.

Diane Bassett Zable calls it “water therapy.”

“You go away on a Friday night, spend a couple days and nights on a boat, and come back refreshed — you feel like you’ve been away even longer than that,” said Bassett Zable, co-owner of Bassett Boat, whose family business has been in Springfield for 73 years.

“You might not get your kids to sit still in your 29-foot living room, but on a 29-foot boat, away from video games or TV — unless you choose to have a TV — they’ll start playing cards again with the family,” she went on. “It’s a wonderful family activity. You’ll find a lot of families that boat also snow ski together, and vice versa; they want that family unity. Boating really does give that to you.”

Maritime enthusiasts across the U.S. echo that passion, and boat sales nationally have remained healthy over the past few years, with steady improvement each year the norm, according to Boating Industry.

In fact, following a solid 2015, this sector is expecting an even stronger year in 2016, Thom Dammrich, president of the National Marine Manufacturers Assoc., told the publication, noting that the broader economic indicators that affect sales are healthy. “The economy, while not robustly strong, is still positive. Fuel prices remain low. Interest rates remain low. There’s nothing negative happening to adversely affect boat sales in the coming year that we can see today.”

Chuck Burke, who co-owns Action Marine in Holyoke with Paul Robillard, notes that the inverse is also true. “When you get high gas prices, when interest rates go up and the economy is shaky, we see a direct drop on sales,” he said.

Not lately, however. Through mid-May, Action has seen a 16% increase in business over this time last year, but Robillard said that number may be a bit deceptive. Last year, a longer, colder winter meant a later start on sales, which was followed by a very strong June. This year’s mild winter weather got sales ramped up earlier, but a mediocre June would bring the numbers in line with 2015, so the jury is still out. But the partners are confident that brisk business will continue through the spring and into summer.

Mick Duda, owner of Oxbow Marina in Northampton, which has long sold a wide range of boats alongside its slip-rental, service, and supply business, agreed.

“Business has stayed strong,” he told BusinessWest. “The only slow year was about seven years ago, in the recession. People didn’t have the discretionary income, so they didn’t buy boats, or they were buying repossessed boats.”

In a healthy economy, it’s a different story.

“The people we primarily sell to have the capacity to buy these things. We’re not selling small sports-store-type products. Our cheapest new boat starts off around $20,000, but some go up to a half-million. That’s the niche I want to be in.”

Diane Bassett Zable says a passion for boating is often passed down from parents to children, so it’s important to get young families interested in the activity.

In a recent Boating Industry reader survey — including boat dealers, manufacturers, marina owners, and others working in the industry — 77% said they expect their revenue to increase this year. More than half expect revenue to increase by more than 10% for 2016, while only 4% expect their revenue to decrease. That would be an improvement over 2015, a year when 71% said their revenue increased, 13% reported a decline, and 16% said business was flat.

Duda said his team at Oxbow — which includes his children, Clay Duda and Shelley Anderson — has been recording strong sales at regional boating expositions. “We go in with a positive attitude, and our shows are always really strong. We have top-notch products because we’ve been in it so long, and we get clientele who can well afford to buy a boat.”

Behind the Numbers

Still, nearly half the respondents in the Boating Industry survey said they are ‘very concerned’ about the challenge affordability poses to the industry, with 96% saying they were at least ‘somewhat concerned’ about the issue.

But Bassett Zable said many are looking at raw numbers instead of the monthly cost — banks will accept 15-year terms on new boats up to $50,000 and 20 years for pricier models — while too many look to buy used, not realizing that new boats bring warranties and lower interest rates.

“A lot of people might not realize how affordable a new boat is,” she said. “When they’re new to the sport, they say, ‘oh, what do you have used?’ I chuckle at that. If you’re new to something, why do you want someone else’s headaches?”

Instead, Bassett deals almost exclusively in new craft, backed up with long warranties and a service culture — the staff answers their phones even after hours and on weekends — that have ranked the business second nationally on the industry’s Customer Satisfaction Index. After all, she said, a negative experience will chase newcomers away much more quickly than the price of a new boat.

As for a boat’s value, if it has a sleeping area, she said, that can become a second-home writeoff. “A lot of people don’t realize that. It’s direct waterfront property. You can wake up with a cup of coffee and a seagull. You can finance that for $100,000 and pay $599 a month. That’s the cost of a fancy hotel room for one night. It’s really affordable, but I don’t think that message has reached everyone.”

Mild winter weather with minimal snow, as the region enjoyed this past winter, can help raise the profile of boating come spring, Burke said. “You’re not getting bogged down in shoveling snow, and when the shows start in January, February, and March, that kind of gets the ball rolling. February is more like mid-March, business-wise, because of the lack of snow.”

In addition, he recalled, the last few years have seen rainy springs that raised water levels and kept marinas and boat owners from opening their docks early. “This year, the weather was more consistent, which was conducive to early boating.”

Duda doesn’t have an issue at Oxbow, whose slips are protected from swells and heavy flooding. “On the river proper, you never know what’s going to happen, but here, there’s no current whatsoever,” he said, adding that the slips are secured by a network of underwater cables, keeping everything in place.

He said the marina benefits greatly from its visibility from Interstate 91, but he doesn’t wait for business to come to him, taking part in shows throughout the Northeast and delivering product from New Jersey up to Canada. But plenty of customers visit the spacious showroom, lined with Crownline fiberglass vessels, Bennington pontoons, and other models.

“You can’t beat the exposure from the interstate. This is the crossroads of the Northeast, the junction of 90 and 91,” he said. “And people with this kind of money want to see what they’re buying; they don’t want to look at a catalog. They want to come inside a nice showroom and look at the boats displayed.”

The property, celebrating its 50th anniversary with a series of events this year, has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Duda was a dairy farmer in Easthampton when he came across some property for sale along the Connecticut River. He bought it with the intention of farming, but started to consider boating as a potential business opportunity. So he bought more land neighboring the first parcel — where hundreds of boats are now moored — and launched a marina. Today, he owns more than 200 acres, which is home to not only the marina, but two soccer fields and the headquarters of a waterski team.

“When I met with the neighbors, they were happy because it was a mess over here,” he said, recalling that the property was a popular site for nighttime parties before he began buying up the land — a good investment, it turned out, considering that waterfront property has become so expensive that many dealers can afford only small parcels with smaller showrooms. “But Oxbow has grown so much. We’re busy.”

Living Large

Sellers of large boats are experiencing a resurgence in business. Specifically, boats over 40 feet, hit hard during the recession, posted some of their strongest numbers, Dammrich noted, especially in the offshore fishing market.

Buyers who can work a larger boat into their monthly budget have more than one reason to do so, Bassett Zable said, including ease of operation. Twin-engine boats above 30 feet long can be fitted with a joystick and steered like a video game — in other words, much easier than a smaller boat.

However, many factors go into choosing the right vessel, Duda said. “A boat has to meet the needs of the family and what its desire is. If it’s just fishing, they want an offshore fishing-type boat. If they’re interested in cruising, overnights, that’s something different. If you can fit the family to the right model boat and price, then they’ll be happy. If not, they won’t be happy.”

Paul Robillard, left, and Chuck Burke say a robust service business buoys the bottom line at Action Marine no matter what kind of sales year it’s been.

Still, despite the positive signs, Boating Industry reported that a decline in entry-level boaters remains an issue for the industry in 2016, which is reflected in the continuing decline in sales in the ‘runabout,’ or small motorboat, market.

“Back in the ’80s, young people were getting into boating, but fewer are now,” said Burke, a 50-year industry veteran who opened Action with Robillard 26 years ago. That’s why attending boat shows is important. “It gets the boating season going and allows people to see what’s out there, what’s new.”

Action specializes in fishing boats — alumimum vessels between $10,000 and $20,000, and some offshore fiberglass fishing boats in the $20,000 to $40,000 range. “Our strong suit is fishing. What we’ve got, our niche, we’re sticking with that.”

But fishing is just one way to enjoy the water, Duda said. “Boating is certainly very popular, and it’s a true family form of recreation, which everyone in a family can enjoy at the same time.”

Bassett Zable understands the family appeal, but knows it’s a constant challenge to attract families who have never experienced boat ownership.

“Boating is here to stay, and once people understand how great it is, they love it. It’s such a fabulous family memory. And if their children grow up with it, they’ll want to stay part of it, so we have to make sure it stays affordable.”

To that end, her goal is to make boat shopping a pleasurable experience, and stress service after the sale. “Dealers look like equals, but we’re not,” she said. “Not all manufacturers are equal, and neither are dealers. What’s their reputation? If they say they’re going to do something, do they do it? If you buy a boat from Bassett, you’re joining my Bassett Boat family — and I take that seriously.”

She recalled someone who called, panicked, on a Sunday evening. He needed to clean up a spill in the cabin of his 34-foot boat before his wife saw it, but couldn’t find the central vacuum. “He was so happy that I answered the phone and helped him. I was in a supermarket in Florida, but I took the call.”

Bassett Boat, which overlooks Lake Massasoit in Springfield and boasts a second location in Old Saybrook, Conn., also offers learn-to-boat programs to turn novices into capable captains.

“I want to deal only with quality products that bring quality customers, and then turn around and give them quality service,” Bassett Zable said. “When you can stick with that strategy, that’s a winning combination.”

Continued Growth

Speaking of service, Burke said that side of the business is what insulates Action from recessions like the one that struck eight years ago. “If the economy goes down, people tend to put their money into repairs to keep what they have going. Either way, it kind of balances out for us because we have a strong service background, and people bring their boats to us for service. In fact, that’s what keeps the door open. Sales are nice, but secondary.”

Duda also stressed the value of taking care of customers, and said many employees have stayed with Oxbow for decades and know the business well.

“Work is what I live for, and I’m still working at my age,” he said. “I still wake up at 3:30 to plan the day.”

With his children doing most of the selling these days, Duda can devote part of his time to growing vegetables on some of Oxbow’s acreage. Last year saw squash, and this year he’ll be growing sweet corn.

“After all,” he said, “I’m still a farmer” — one who, 50 years ago, saw a future in the boat business and took the plunge.

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Vet Air Takes Flight in a Meaningful Way

Business of Aging Sections

Giving a Lift to Those Who Served

Jesus Pereira founded Vet Air to enable veterans to “fly first class” to appointments at VA hospitals.

Dave Shields remembers that first flight being more than a little bumpy. And the plane’s cabin was even smaller than he’d imagined, and took a while to get used to.

Such sentiments, clearly not meant to convey dissatisfaction or disappointment, were to be expected, though. After all, while Shields was certainly no stranger to flying, his 21 years in the Air Force were mostly spent in and around the giant C-130 Hercules transport plane. In fact, the majority of his time serving in Vietnam was spent at Tan Son Nhut Air Base, just outside Saigon, training South Vietnamese crews in how to maintain the workhorse aircraft, which has now been in continuous use by the Air Force for more than 60 years.

It was his time in the service, which also included a lengthy stint at what is now Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee, that explains why Shields found himself in that tiny Cessna 172 just over a year ago. Well, that’s where the story starts.

As a veteran, Shields is entitled to receive care for service-related medical issues at the many Veterans Administration (VA) hospitals around the country (such as the one in Leeds) and healthcare providers affiliated with them, such as Yale-New Haven Hospital.

Diagnosed with cancer in his ear, Shields would eventually receive care at both the VA center in White River Junction, Vt., and Yale-New Haven. Getting to either place from his home in Greenfield, while certainly doable, was logistically difficult and quite time-consuming.

Or not, as things turned out, because of a unique nonprofit organization, based in Holyoke, that had just taken flight, quite literally. Called Vet Air, it recruits volunteer pilots to ferry vets like Shields to VA facilities along the Northeast corridor.

Jesus Pereira, founder, a veteran himself (Army Guard, with a 10-month deployment to Kuwait on his résumé), and one of those pilots, explains its basic mission and the many rewards for those who make it happen.

“These people served our country,” he explained. “This is something we can do for them to make things easier and less stressful for them and treat them like first-class, first-rate flyers. I love doing it, and all the pilots feel the same way.”

Pereira, who learned to fly at a tiny airfield in Turners Falls a dozen years ago, said that, to date, Vet Air is averaging maybe two or three flights per month, and has arranged maybe 60 in all. He has piloted roughly a quarter of them, and has taken Shields to several of his appointments.

He noted that, while the pilots are the ones who actually transport veterans to their respective destinations, it takes, well, an army of supporters, including area residents who support its various fund-raisers, to enable the agency to carry out its mission.

For this issue, BusinessWest took to the air with Pereira to gain some insight into Vet Air and its work, which is uplifting, in every sense of that word.

Plane Speaking

To call the flight from Northampton Airport to the even smaller field in Turner Falls a ‘short hop’ would be to greatly understate matters.

It’s 10 minutes door to door, or runway apron to runway apron, as the case may be. But Pereira, who flew BusinessWest to that small town just east of Greenfield to meet Shields — he was already doing some flying that Saturday afternoon and volunteered to do a little more — made the most of that time as he talked about Vet Air, its mission, and the challenges to meeting it.

Indeed, in between frequent bits of routine discourse with officials at both airports during the flights out and back, he explained that this agency is off to what all of those involved consider a very solid start.

Indeed, while only in business, if you will, for 18 months or so, Vet Air has already helped script a number of poignant success stories.

Jesus Pereira, left, with frequent passenger Dave Shields.

For example, there’s ‘Karen,’ an Army interrogator, who was severely injured when a prisoner she was questioning struck her with his handcuffs, breaking her jaw and causing damage to her eyes as well. Vet Air flew her to an appointment at a balance center, where she received specialized care in order to help her with her vision and balance.

Then, there’s Ben Bauman, a Marine from the Bay State who hadn’t been home to see his family in more than two years for personal and financial reasons; Vet Air took him on the last leg of an emotional journey home last Christmas.

To write such stories, Vet Air relies on volunteer pilots, said Pereira, noting that there is a small cadre of them who have made most of the flights to date, usually to the VA facilities in White River Junction and West Haven, Conn., although there have been other destinations as well.

There are three or four Western Mass. area pilots who take part, as well as a colorful individual from Maine who flies a pontoon-equipped plane nicknamed ‘the Moose,’ and handles a number of assignments in Northern New England.

“A lot of them do it because they have the time and means to just go flying,” he said. “But mostly they do it because they recognize the importance of what we’re doing and want to be part if it.”

In many cases, those being transported are veterans in the process of trying to determine if health matters are, indeed, service-related, he explained, adding that this process usually requires several visits to VA doctors, which explains why most Vet Air clients have used the service on multiple occasions.

Many of the servicemen and women who have found Vet Air are veterans of Desert Storm or post-9/11 campaigns in Iraq and Afghanistan, said Pereira, but some, like Shields, served in Vietnam.

Clients simply have to get to the airport closest to where they live, and Vet Air essentially takes it (or them, to be more precise) from there, he told BusinessWest, adding that it arranges ground transportation from the destination airport to the provider in question — usually in the form of a vehicle loaned by one of the airport’s fixed-base operators (FBOs).

There are certainly other means to take such vets to appointments at various providers, Pereira went on, adding that shuttles run between the VA hospitals to take individuals for specialized care at facilities where such services are provided.

“But taking the shuttle can often make a half-hour appointment take all or most of the day,” he explained, noting that a shuttle will make at least a few stops along its route to pick up additional veterans bound for the same destination. And it won’t return home until all those aboard are done with their respective visits.

A flight aboard the Cessna he usually pilots — it belongs to a friend, a flight instructor who lets him take it when he needs it — can cut the trip down to an hour or two.

“We took a woman from White River Junction’s VA who had to go to the Traumatic Brain Injury Center on Long Island,” he noted, citing an example of Vet Air’s primary reason for being. “To drive from Northern Vermont to Long Island is quite a trip. Her appointment was six hours long, and to drive home after that — I don’t think most people could that, so now this becomes an overnight, with all those additional expenses.

“We flew her there and back the same day,” he went on, “and it cost them nothing.”

Soar Subject

This ability to chop several hours off a potentially day-killing visit caught the attention of Shields, whose first involvement with Vet Air centered on bringing it to the attention of other veterans, not securing a ride himself.

“I saw a quick news story about it on one of the local stations,” he explained, adding that his first reaction was to help create awareness. He did so by helping to secure the agency a presence at the annual camping and outdoor show at the Big E in the spring of 2015.

A few months later, though, Shields was diagnosed with cancer and had need for Vet Air himself.

He said there were other alternatives for getting him to the facilities where he was treated, but they involved far more time and logistics.

“This was the easiest way,” he explained. “The [VA] shuttle goes to West Haven, but it doesn’t go to Yale; with Vet Air, there was a courtesy car at the airport that took me right there. It’s a great service.”

Shields hasn’t had to dial Vet Air’s number in several months now, but the nonprofit isn’t far from his thoughts. In fact, he’s become an ardent supporter who has referred a number of veterans to the agency.

And it needs such assistance.

Indeed, as Pereira noted, it takes the help of many people to get that plane in the air and then get the client to the VA facility, said Vet Air’s founder, adding that, while the flyer’s time is donated, there are flight-related expenses — roughly $80 to $120 per hour in the air, depending on the plane used — that have to be covered.

There are other costs as well, he said, listing everything from the landing fees charged by some airports to the modest marketing efforts to bring attention to the agency.

Fortunately, Vet Air’s mission resonates with many individuals and businesses, he went on, citing, as just one example, the FBOs that will often donate a courtesy car, like the one Shields rode in, to get a veteran from the airport to a healthcare provider.

“Once they see what we’re doing and what the mission is, they want to be part of it,” he explained, adding that, moving forward, Vet Air needs more people to become part of its story.

The agency stages fund-raising events such as the recent Mother’s Day Bazaar at the Moose Lodge in Chicopee and a similar gathering coming up for Father’s Day, said Pereira, and also sells T-shirts bearing its logo on its website.

As awareness of the agency grows and need for its services escalates, fund-raising will become an ever-more-important focus, he explained, noting that those who want more information on the agency or wish to help can visit www.vetair.org.

Landing Lights

Like the plane Pereira was flying, Vet Air is certainly small in size as nonprofit agencies go, with a budget that extends to only five figures.

But it is having a big impact on the lives it has entered. That means everyone from the vets sitting in the back seat of that Cessna to the individual flying the Moose; from the families of those veterans to the individuals and related nonprofits who have helped make these flights possible.

Thanks to Pereira’s vision and the help of countless contributors, veterans in need of care are now flying first-class — even if the plane’s cabin is only four feet wide.

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

MGM, Surging Downtown Boost Prospects for Meetings, Conventions

Meetings & Conventions Sections

Meeting Expectations

Mary Kay Wydra

As news circulates concerning construction of MGM’s $950 million casino in Springfield’s South End, the region is finding itself a player in many more of the spirited competitions taking place to host meetings and conventions. That’s no coincidence, said area tourism officials, as well as those who plan such events. Because of the casino and other visible forms of progress, they note, the city is now in a different, higher bracket for such gatherings.

The planned gathering of the Independent Insurance Agents and Brokers of America — the so-called ‘Big I’ — in August 2018 certainly won’t be the biggest convention ever to come to Greater Springfield.

In fact, with 600 to 800 members of that group expected, this event will be roughly one-sixth the size of the 64th National Square Dance Convention, staged in the City of Homes in 2015. It won’t be a hugely visible group, either — again, unlike those square dancers.

Resplendent in their colorful, often handmade outfits, the dancers were easy to spot as they walked to and from various downtown venues. Dressed in civilian clothes, the insurance agents will blend in; most people visiting or working in the downtown won’t even know they’re here, unless they’re wearing nametags.

Still, the announcement that the insurance agents are coming to Springfield was a significant one for this region and its tourism industry as they enter what would have to be called the ‘casino era’ —for many reasons. They range from the list of cities Springfield beat out for the honor — tier-one stalwarts such as Atlanta, New Orleans, and Austin, as well as neighboring rival Hartford — to the comments made by those who compiled a list of finalists and eventually chose Springfield.

Indeed, consider these remarks made to BusinessWest by Jeff Etzkin, an event planner hired by the Big I to scout and then recommend sites for the 2018 show.

“The casino was definitely a factor in this decision — in fact, if it wasn’t for the casino, Springfield would not have been a consideration,” said Etzkin, president of Etzkin Events, adding that there was sentiment to bring the 2018 event to the Northeast, and Springfield emerged as the best, most reasonable option.

There was more from Etzkin. “It’s not just the casino, though,” he explained. “It really helps that Springfield is changing certain aspects of its downtown to be more amenable to events like this. It’s the restaurants, the tourist activities … the whole package.”

Go HERE for a list of Meeting & Convention Facilities in Western Mass.

And there was still more. “We looked at this as an opportunity to get there before everyone discovers Springfield and the prices go up,” said Etzkin, adding that, while there was a tinge of humor in his voice, he was dead serious with that comment.

When — and even whether — event planners really start discovering Springfield and the prices do start to rise in dramatic fashion remains to be seen. But there are some strong signs that Springfield is emerging as a more desirable destination for gatherings of various types and sizes — from jugglers to Scrabble players; rowing coaches to women Indian Motorcycle riders (all scheduled to come here over the next 24 months), and that news of the city’s progress, not just with the casino, will prompt more groups to put Springfield and this region in the mix.

“I think people are going to be giving Springfield a harder look given the fact that we’re going to have this massive new attraction right smack in the middle of downtown that’s getting a lot of press, be it the parking garage going up or the Gaming Commission coming to town, or churches being moved,” said Mary Kay Wydra, director of the Greater Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau (GSCVB). “The press is shedding a lot of light on the city, and as these groups make decisions, many are going to be saying, ‘this is a really cool city to check out now.’”

MGM’s planned opening in the summer of 2018 played a key role in the decision of ‘Big I’ officials to bring their convention to Springfield.

Wydra said this region has always had — and always sold — what the bureau calls the three ‘A’s. These would be ‘affordability,’ ‘accessibility,’ and either ‘abundant attractions’ or ‘all those attractions,’ depending on who’s doing the talking. Now, it can add a ‘C’ for MGM’s $950 million casino and perhaps a ‘V’ for vibrancy.

And all those letters should put the city in a different bracket when it comes to competing for events.

“We usually compete against Des Moines or Little Rock or other third-tier cities if we’re talking about a national search,” she explained. “Now, we’re going head-to-head with Chicago and Atlanta; how great is that?”

For this issue and its focus on meetings and conventions, BusinessWest takes a look at some of those events on the books for Greater Springfield, and also at why all signs are pointing to much more of the same.

Show Time

Mike Sullivan says the International Jugglers’ Assoc. (IJA), which he currently serves as a site consultant, generally has no problem finding cities that have the various facilities and amenities it requires for its annual festival, including a large performance venue — the group prefers grand, Vaudeville-era halls, like the historic, 90-year-old Plaza Theatre in El Paso, site of this year’s festival. Likewise, it can easily find cities that would fit the broad description of ‘affordable.’

What is has long struggled with, however, is finding locales that can effectively check both boxes. But Springfield can, and that pretty much sums up why between 500 and 750 jugglers — professionals and hobbyists alike — will be descending on the City of Homes on July 18, 2018, although there is certainly more to the story.

Indeed, instead of the jugglers finding Greater Springfield, this region (and, in this case, the GSCVB) essentially found the jugglers. It did so as part of a broader effort to bring more sports-related groups and events to the area. (That initiative also explains why the U.S. Rowing Convention is coming to Springfield in December.)

As Sullivan relates the story, the IJA, as a member of the National Assoc. of Sports Commissions, posted its festival requirements to that group’s website. Sullivan also staged a webinar, during which he explained what it would take for a city to host the festival. Among those who took it in was Alicia Szenda, director of sales for the GSCVB, who quickly noted that Springfield fit the bill; she crafted a proposal that eventually became the winning bid.

But while strong outreach helped prompt the jugglers and rowing coaches to sign on the dotted line, it’s clear that more groups are discovering Greater Springfield — through referrals, hard research, news coverage, or some of those all-important local connections.

There were more than a few of the latter involved with the Big I and its decision, said Wydra, noting, in the interest of full disclosure, that Joseph Leahy, a principal with Springfield-based Leahy & Brown Insurance and Realty, is slated to be sworn in as chairman of the national organization at that 2018 convention.

But Leahy & Brown’s Allen Street address was certainly not enough by itself to tip the scales in favor of Springfield, said Etzkin, who returned to that ‘package’ he mentioned earlier, the broader Western Mass. region, one that offers attractive options for members who bring their families — and there are many of those.

Alicia Szenda says many forms of progress in Springfield — from Union Station to new restaurants downtown — are making the city a more viable option for meetings and conventions.

Springfield’s ongoing efforts to revitalize its downtown helped bring the city into a discussion that usually involves much larger cities — including Chicago (where the convention will be held this year and next) and previous locations New Orleans, San Antonio, and Minneapolis — although smaller destinations, such as Savannah for 2019, have also been chosen.

But he made it clear that the casino was a huge factor in the decision, as evidenced by those earlier comments as well as his unique insight into the probable schedule for the casino’s opening (nothing approaching what would be considered official has been announced), which is very close to the chosen date for the start of the 2018 convention.

“There’s been talk of a soft opening and also a date for a hard opening,” he said, adding that all indications are the casino will be open when the Big I arrives on Aug. 22. “They were talking about September, but from what I understand, everything is moving along a little quicker.”

It Wasn’t a Toss-up

The casino did not play any significant role in the IJA’s decision to come to Springfield, said Sullivan, adding that, while his group was aware the city was soon to be home to such a facility and that it might be ready by the time they arrived, it did not really enter into the decision-making process.

What did, however, were some or all of those 3 ‘A’s Wydra mentioned, and especially the one that stands for affordability.

“No one gets paid to go to a juggling convention — everyone is spending their own money,” he explained. “We’re looking for very reasonable hotel-room rates, and we’re looking for rental rates on performance venues that would also be reasonable. A lot of cities that would be perfect for us, that have perfect facilities, and are very reachable by air, would also be perfect for lots of other groups, which means they’re busy, their rates are high, and we can’t afford them.

“We’re happiest when we’re in small cities where there’s a nice, small downtown with all the ingredients,” he went on, adding that, while the festival has been to large cities such Portland, Ore., Quebec City, and even Los Angeles, the IJA clearly prefers smaller communities such as Winston-Salem, N.C.

But the facilities certainly played a role in the decision, noted Sullivan, adding that Springfield Symphony Hall, similar in age and size to El Paso’s Plaza Theatre, fits the bill for the Las Vegas-style shows that are staged nightly during the festival/convention and are a big part of the gathering.

There are also seminars, open juggling 24 hours a day, competitions (attendees vie for the coveted gold medal and the accompanying $10,000 prize), and workshops, at which beginners and so-called hobbyists can learn from some of the most celebrated names in this entertainment genre.

“It would be like going to basketball camp and getting tips on your jump shot from Michael Jordan and Larry Bird,” said Sullivan, who has been attending the festival for a quarter-century now, adding that there are typically more than 100 of these workshops during the course of the event, some running several hours in length.

Wydra noted that the combination of attractive venues and affordability is a potent mix, one that, with the addition of the casino, should help Springfield turn more heads, especially those on event planners and convention schedulers looking to bring an event to the Northeast.

Both Sullivan and Etzkin said the groups they represented were definitely leaning in that direction, and as they mulled options in that geographic quadrant, Springfield emerged as an attractive option.

“We like to work the event into a location that’s convenient for people who want to attend the conference from a particular volunteer’s location,” said Etzkin, referring, in this case, to Leahy.

“Boston is a very expensive location, and Hartford, while it’s good from a flight perspective, it’s not exactly a great site for a conference,” he went on, using language that certainly bodes well for this region moving forward.

The Latest Word

Melissa Brown acknowledged that Scrabble is not exactly a spectator sport.

“It’s kind of like watching paint dry — some people will sit in on a match for a little while, but then they’ll get bored and leave,” she said, speaking, quite obviously, from experience gathered as a participant in events staged by the World Game Players Organization (WGPA).

The group will be taking its so-called Word Cup (yes, that is indeed a play on words) to Springfield in roughly 13 months, and while there won’t be many on hand at the Sheraton Springfield to watch, the competition, involving an anticipated 100 players, will be keen.

As was, in many ways, the contest for the right to stage this event, said Brown, a long-time member of that group and its current member liaison, who relocated to Wilbraham from the Midwest several years ago and was part of the team that chose Springfield to join cities such as Reno, Denver, and Phoenix (this year) as hosts for the event.

She said organizers were looking for some specific amenities — quiet spaces for the games and playing areas close to restrooms, because every minute counts (yes, players are on the clock for these games). But mostly, it was looking for a site in the Northeast as a way to help build membership there, and a location that was reasonably priced.

“We’ve had some smaller events in the Northeast, but this is the first time we’ve taken the Word Cup there,” she said, adding that she was the one who compiled the research given to those who made the final decision and chose Springfield over Detroit, Charlotte, and other contenders.

When asked what put the city over the top, she said it was a combination of factors, including everything from the cooperation of the GSCVB to the amenities at the Sheraton. “All around, it just seemed like the best option.”
It is the unofficial goal of the bureau to convince more groups to think in those terms, said Szenda, adding that a variety of forces are coming together to make this task easier.

These include more hotel rooms — new facilities have opened in Springfield and Northampton recently, pushing the number of ‘room nights,’ as they’re called, to 1,125 in Springfield and 4,000 in the region— as well as the casino and recognized progress in the region.

Together, these forces are getting Greater Springfield more looks, as they say in this business.

“The insurance group said they might not have looked at Springfield five years ago, and they’re not alone in that sentiment,” she said. “But because of what’s happening, not just with the casino, but with Union Station and the Chinese subway-car manufacturer and other things that happening, they are looking.”

Etzkin confirmed those observations, noting that, while Springfield still has a ways to go when it comes to having an A-list reputation within the galaxy of meeting and convention planners, perceptions of the city and region are certainly changing for the better.

“I was serious about getting there before the area gets too well-known and the prices go up,” he told BusinessWest. “That part of Massachusetts is beautiful, and people are going to want to go there.”

Staying Power

Despite Etzkin’s expectation that prices in Springfield may soon start to rise, Wydra believes that, for the foreseeable future, anyway, the city and region will be able to boast all three of those aforementioned ‘A’s.

And with the addition of MGM’s casino and growing vibrancy in Springfield’s downtown, the package that attracted insurance agents, jugglers, and Scrabble players should appeal to more of those who plan and stage events.

It won’t happen overnight, but it appears certain there will be, well, more overnights in the area’s future. And that means a new day is dawning for the region and its tourism and hospitality sectors.

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

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Report Cites HCC-UMass Relationship as Successful Transfer Pathway

HOLYOKE — The relationship between Holyoke Community College and UMass Amherst is highlighted in a national report as a model of a successful transfer partnership other colleges would do well to emulate. HCC and UMass were selected as one of only six pairs of ‘high-performing’ community colleges and partner universities in “The Transfer Playbook: Essential Practices for Two- and Four-Year Colleges” from the Aspen Institute and the Community College Research Center at Columbia University’s Teachers College. “We analyzed the practices at partnerships of community colleges and four-year institutions with high rates of transfer-student success,” said Davis Jenkins, senior researcher at CCRC and co-author of the report released Tuesday. “This report presents the evidence-based strategies that community colleges and university leaders can use to improve outcomes on their own campuses.” The free report is available online at as.pn/transfer1. It praises HCC for its “culture of commitment to transfer” and “the institution’s goal of improving transfer rates,” and cites President Bill Messner for regularly communicating “the importance of clear transfer pathways with UMass Amherst leaders.” The report cites collaborative grants that align degree pathways and support student success for HCC students who transfer to UMass; HCC’s learning-community courses that “provide the sort of rich and rigorous learning experiences that will prepare students for four-year college coursework”; the HCC Honors program, including a new transfer pact between HCC and the Commonwealth Honors College at UMass; the emphasis on dual enrollment for high-school students taking college classes; and regular visits to HCC from UMass transfer representatives. The report also notes the general expectation among faculty, staff, and advisors that students at HCC will transfer after earning a certificate or degree. “Everyone asks, ‘where are you going next?’” an HCC student quoted in the report remarks. Each year, UMass Amherst accepts and enrolls more transfer students from HCC than from any other community college in Massachusetts. For the fall 2015 and spring 2016 semesters, a total of 203 HCC students transferred to UMass Amherst.

90 Meat Outlet Opens Expansion on Avocado Street

SPRINGFIELD — Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno joined officials from 90 Meat Outlet recently to celebrate the completion of its 15,000-square-foot expansion at 90 Avocado St. in the North End. Latino Food Distributors, an affiliate of 90 Meat Outlet, built the expansion and moved its headquarters to the Avocado Street site. The move relocated eight jobs from a temporary leased site in West Springfield. Under the five-year tax-increment financing agreement, the company invested approximately $1.5 million into the project, including renovations and equipment, and will create seven new jobs. The business will continue to pay current taxes on the 90 Meat Outlet building, and received an exemption on the new construction, beginning at a full exemption during the first year, and down to 20% by the fifth year. The exemptions result in a savings of approximately $45,600 for the company over a five-year period, and a gain of $30,400 in taxes for the city of Springfield. 90 Meat Outlet owner Jim Vallides has also pledged to donate $1,000 to fund the ShotSpotter public-safety initiative that covers the North End area of Springfield to the Chicopee line.

Center for EcoTechnology Wins Environmental Award

NORTHAMPTON — The Center for EcoTechnology was recognized recently at the 2016 Environmental Merit Awards ceremony of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) New England regional office. The Center for EcoTechnology was among three dozen recipients across New England honored for helping to improve New England’s environment. “I could not be more proud of the efforts of the Center for EcoTechnology in conjunction with our partners,” said President John Majercak. “We decided to make an active effort to reduce food waste, and it’s tremendous to see the impact that focus has had.” The Center for EcoTechnology was noted for being a leader and pioneer in food recovery in Massachusetts, most recently through its partnership with the state Department of Environmental Protection to offer RecyclingWorks MA. Wasted food makes up the largest component of our country’s municipal solid waste and accounts for the largest portion of its methane emissions, making wasted food a significant environmental issue. In addition, reducing food losses by just 15% could feed more than 25 million Americans each year, according to the National Resources Defense Council. Each year since 1970, EPA New England has recognized individuals and groups in the six New England states who have worked to protect or improve the region’s environment in distinct ways. “We’re proud to honor those citizens, businesses, and organizations who have gone the extra mile to help protect and preserve our region’s natural resources,” said Curt Spalding, regional administrator of EPA’s New England office. “These New England award winners are committed to making our towns, cities, and countryside of New England healthy, vibrant places with clean air, land, and water.” The Center for EcoTechnology, along with RecyclingWorks, has spearheaded collaborative efforts to address and divert wasted food by helping hundreds of food-waste processors, recovery agencies, haulers, and thousands of businesses divert wasted food and build a strong industry to comply with the state’s food-waste disposal ban. The center recently expanded its work to Connecticut to replicate strategies tested in Massachusetts. Since 2012, the Center for EcoTechnology has helped businesses divert 20,389 tons of wasted organics, including wasted food, annually.

ATC Audio Video Lighting Celebrates 30th Year

WEST SPRINGFIELD — ATC Audio Video Lighting recently celebrated its 30th anniversary. In 1986, the company started in a basement workshop. Due to a lack of space, it moved to its first brick-and-mortar retail location, which was a meager 400 square feet. After moving to three larger locations, ATC now resides in its 8,000-square-foot location on Myron Street. The company offers professional/commercial audio, video, and lighting installation, integration, design, and sales. ATC’s clients are in a wide range of industries, such as corporate, colleges and universities, public and private schools, government, hospitals, casinos, technology centers, houses of worship, theaters, sport facilities, DJs, musicians, and any organization that utilizes AV technology. ATC’s Myron St. location also houses one of the only walk-in retail stores of its kind in New England. The retail store offers over-the-counter sales and service of audio, video, and lighting equipment. Another major part of the company’s business is its rental and production inventory, giving the customer the ability to rent anything from simple items like a microphone up to major audio- and video-production equipment and technician services. “I remember working solo in the first store on White Street in Springfield,” said Tony Caliento, ATC owner and president. “We had 400 square feet, no air conditioning and heat that barely worked, but we didn’t care at the time; we just loved what we were doing. Once we were known to clients, we stocked more equipment, offered more services, and the 400-square-foot space filled quickly. Reflecting on the company’s growth since then, Caliento added, “our staff enjoys working for ATC and loves what we do for our clients.”

HUB International New England Awards Scholarships

EAST LONGMEADOW — HUB International New England, a division of HUB International Limited, a leading insurance brokerage firm, announced it will award scholarships to local graduating high-school seniors planning to attend an accredited college, university, junior college, or community college. The students must plan to continue their study of business and enter college the same year as their graduation from high school.
“There is such a wide range of young talent right here in Western Mass.,” said Timm Marini, president of HUB International New England. “We are delighted to recognize these students for their high achievements, hard work, and dedication to continuing their studies and pursuing their dreams.” HUB International has been providing scholarships to high-school seniors for 29 years. Scholarships are awarded based on the high school’s recommendation. Winners will be announced in the coming weeks.

Dizziness Is Often Caused by Treatable Inner-ear Malfunction

Business of Aging Sections

A Sense of Motion

Dr. M. Zubair Kareem says BPPV can be managed, but it is a permanent condition, and symptoms can reoccur at any time.

Some 90 million Americans will experience a sudden onset of dizziness at least once, and about 50% of those may have a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. While it’s a permanent malfunction, symptoms can be treated and managed, which is why doctors say it’s important to educate patients about the condition.

About four years ago, Jeanne Tardit got up one night and suddenly became so dizzy, she couldn’t make it to the bathroom.

“It was really scary. Everything was spinning, and I felt as if I had no control over my body,” the 86-year-old recalled. “It was something I couldn’t live with.”

Tardit numbers among an estimated 90 million Americans who will experience dizziness at least once in their lifetime. It can be frightening, and the causes can vary, so it’s important to get an accurate diagnosis.

About 50% of people, including Tardit, who experience a sudden onset of dizziness have a condition called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, referred to as BPPV or BPV.

Dr. M. Zubair Kareem, vascular neurologist and medical director of Holyoke Medical Center’s award-winning stroke program, said the symptoms can be treated and managed, but once BPPV occurs, it can return, because it is a permanent mechanical malfunction of a part of the internal ear.

It is diagnosed by taking a good history and examining the patient; tests including a CT scan or MRI of the brain are not required. BVVP is not life-threatening or something that can be resolved with surgery or medication. However, many patients get quite nervous when an attack occurs, and sometimes require an anti-anxiety medicine at least for a short period of time.

“It’s important to educate people about what BPPV is and how it can be managed,” said Kareem, adding that, although most people associate only hearing with the ear, the organ also serves as sensor for the coordination system of the body. Since the head weighs 10 to15 pounds, people could fall forward due to the change in the center of gravity when the head bends forward, and the brain makes appropriate adjustments, which include causing the back of the neck muscles to stiffen. The inner ear is part of the body’s balance system and helps with that adjustment.

BPPV results in a false sense of motion, or vertigo, due to inaccurate signals sent to the brain, which result in dizziness or spinning that can be accompanied by nausea, loss of balance, and blurry vision due to rapid jerking movement of the eyes.

It does not make a person confused or cause any paralysis, disorientation, pain, or speech or language problem, but some patients experience significant anxiety, which can be disabling. Symptoms may vary in each person, and they are typically brought on by changing the position of the body or head position, and often occur when a person looks up, bends down, rolls over, or gets out of bed.

About 2% to 4% of people experience BPPV in their lifetime, and the Mayo Clinic reports it is the cause of approximately 50% of dizziness in the elderly population.

Caitlin Eckhoff demonstrates one of four sequential head positions used in the Epley maneuver, which was designed to reduce vertigo.

Although it can be extremely uncomfortable and disrupt a person’s work and social life, the problem is usually treatable and can be helped with specific, easy-to-learn exercises that patients do whenever a dizzy spell begins. Kareem, along with other doctors and physical therapists trained in vestibular rehabilation therapy, often teach their patients to do these exercises.

In addition, Kareem employs something called the Epley maneuver, which was developed by and named after Dr. John Epley in 1980 and consists of a series of carefully orchestrated head movements. However, for the Epley maneuver to be successful, it is important to have a precise diagnosis and know the exact location of the malfunction.

Kareem does not recommend this maneuver to patients of advanced age or with neck arthritis. Patients unable to do the day-to-day exercises themselves may benefit from sessions with a therapist trained to administer vestibular therapy and the Epley maneuver, which can help keep vertigo from reoccurring or at least minimize the symptoms.

Mechanical Problem

Kareem says understanding BPPV involves a brief lesson in physics, and he frequently provides one to his patients using a detailed diagram.

“Basically, we have sensors in each ear that can detect our head’s movement or position,” he explained. “It’s important for the brain to know where the head is in space.”

Each ear has three sensors in the shape of tiny, semicircular canals that are filled with a jelly-like substance. One end of each tube is dilated, and its floor is lined with tiny hair cells topped by thousands of minuscule calcium carbonate crystals that are suspended in the gel, like a cloud hovering over them. When a person moves his head to the side, the weight of the crystals creates a ripple in the jelly, which causes the hair cells to move and initiates nerve impulses that are passed along the vestibular nerve to the brain to tell it the head is moving. When the brain receives this signal, it sends commands to the eyes, muscles, and the rest of the body that allow the person to maintain balance.

The system works well when people are young, unless there is a trauma to the head, but once people reach age 50, a significant number develop a problem because some of the tiny crystals break off, become loose, and settle on the floor of one of the ear canals. If that happens and the person moves their head in a certain way, the floating crystals send a false signal to the brain, which it reads as motion even though there is none. Normal signals transmitted by the moving hair follicles are subtle, but Kareem says signals from loose crystals are very strong, and the result can be a sudden onset of severe dizziness.

“It usually happens when a person gets up in the middle of the night or upon waking,” he noted, adding that BPPV typically occurs in one canal of either ear, although in some cases it can occur in both ears.

The brain is able to counter the false signal within seconds or a minute, but the vertigo, which can be severe enough to make the person feel like they are about to fall, can cause acute anxiety that can continue long after the spinning feeling stops.

Obtaining an accurate diagnosis is critical because dizziness can be caused by a number of other things. Kareem says a diagnosis of BPPV involves taking the patient’s history and administering a test called the Dix-Hallpike maneuver, which involves moving the head in a position that causes vertigo. This test can help localize the problem, but it may not be positive in every patient with BPPV.

Although no one wants to be diagnosed with a condition that can’t be cured, the good news is that the exercise, combined with the Epley maneuver, can move the loose particles into a part of the ear where they stop causing symptoms, which resolves the problem, at least temporarily, for about 90% of people.

“Once people understand the problem and know that it is not a serious, life-threatening illness, they feel comfortable managing it. With the daily exercise regimen, they feel significantly better,” said Kareem.

Tardif’s physician sent her to Attain Therapy and Fitness in Wilbraham, where she received vestibular rehabilitation. Her vertigo went away after a few sessions, and when she had another dizzy spell 18 months ago, additional treatments resolved the problem again.

Quality of Life

Lisa Blain, a certified vestibular therapist at Weldon Rehabilitation Hospital in Springfield, says many people suffer with BPPV for years because they don’t know it can be remedied.

Lisa Blain says tiny floating particles in the ear canal can lead to sudden bouts of dizziness when their motion is misinterpreted by the brain.

“The people I see have often been treated with medication or tried other things that didn’t work, and restrict their activity level because they fear moving too much will cause them to become dizzy,” she told BusinessWest.

“BPPV can be aggravating, irritating, and frightening, and a lot of people are unaware there is a treatment for it that works, but it’s important to have it correctly diagnosed,” she continued, mirroring Kareem’s statement and adding that different types of vestibular rehabilitation can be used for vertigo problems that result from concussions, stroke, or following long periods of immobilization.

She explained that the vestibular system, which is responsible for maintaining balance, consists of three parts: the central nervous system, the inner ear, and vision, which all need to communicate and work together seamlessly.

Blain advises people being treated for BPPV to bring someone with them and not plan on returning to work after a treatment because the Epley maneuver is designed to bring on dizziness, and the person may feel off balance after a session, even though the induced vertigo quickly passes. “It works well, but it can be uncomfortable in the short term,” she noted.

Caitlin Eckhoff, a physical therapist from Attain Therapy and Fitness who treated Tardif and specializes in vestibular rehabilitation, agrees, and says people often become anxious about the treatment.

She said it’s critically important for the therapist to know which ear and which canal is affected. “But 80% to 90% of patients have their symptoms resolved within two to six visits.”

Researchers do not know what causes the crystals in the ear to break off, and it can be difficult for people with BPPV to pinpoint what movements cause the onset of dizziness.

“For some, just going to the grocery store and moving their head around to find something on a shelf can cause a problem,” Eckhoff said, adding that doing exercises at home speeds the recovery process. “It’s a difficult issue for people, and a lot of people think they have to live with it. But it’s very rewarding to treat, as it’s the closest to an instant fix that I can offer someone.”

Indeed, in a day and age where people want problems resolved as quickly as possible, exercises and vestibular therapy can seemingly work small miracles.

Development Associates Broadens Its Portfolio

Commercial Real Estate Sections

Building Momentum

Ken Vincunas stands near the bulldozer that will soon take down the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, which will become the site of additional office facilities.

Over the years, Agawam-based Development Associates has steadily grown its portfolio to more than 2 million square feet of space under management. Behind those numbers are some intriguing new projects, including additional development just off I-91 in Northampton at the former Clarion Hotel & Conference Center property.

The walls of Ken Vincunas’ office in Agawam Crossing, the property his company built on Silver Street, are covered with photos that he and his daughter have taken in Italy, Spain, and other travel destinations over the past several years.

The front lobby of that space is another matter. The photos there feature landmarks of a different kind, specifically some of the properties Development Associates has built over the years and now manages. There’s one of the Greenfield Corporate Center, for example, as well as 8 Atwood Dr. in Northampton, one of two 40,000-square-foot buildings at that site, known collectively as the Northampton/I-91 Professional Center.

The list of properties, and collection of photos, has grown steadily over the years, said Vincunas, adding that the goal has always been to achieve smart growth when it comes to the portfolio — and thus cover more wall space — through new ventures with sound potential.

And if things go as planned, Development Associates may need to buy some more frames in the months and years to come.

Indeed, the company, which currently has roughly 2.1 million square feet under management in Western Mass. and Connecticut, is mulling additional opportunities at the Atwood Drive complex, if you will, including the former Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, which is set to be demolished.

Permitting has been obtained for 120,000 square feet of new buildings on the north side of the property, across from the two existing 40,000-square-foot structures — 8 and 22 Atwood Dr., respectively, said Vincunas.

But depending on how, and what type, of demand emerges, plans could change, and the site might instead be used for two 60,000-square-foot business facilities.

“We have something permitted, but there is a lot of flexibility with that site, and a number of potential uses,” he said, adding that the picture will likely come into focus over the next several months.

Located just off the junction of Route 291 and the Mass Pike, the former Dow Jones warehouse is now part of the Development Associates portfolio.

Meanwhile, Development Associates recently acquired the 80,000-square-foot former warehouse property operated by Dow Jones on First Avenue in Chicopee. Located just a few hundred yards from where the Mass Pike and Route 291 come together, the site is easily accessible and well-suited for distribution and manufacturing uses, said Vincunas, adding that there has already been significant interest expressed in the site from a variety of potential users. The company also completed a purchase/leaseback of two buildings at Westover owned by Ethos Energy.

For this issue and its focus on commercial real estate, BusinessWest talked with Vincunas about his company and its ongoing efforts to expand its portfolio of properties — and opportunities.

Success Stories

As he talked with BusinessWest at the Clarion site — just a few feet from the then-idle bulldozer poised to start tearing down the long-time Northampton landmark, which was home to the restaurant Page’s Loft and many other names over the years — Vincunas pointed in a few different directions on the parcel as he talked about what could happen there next.

Click HERE for a listing of available commercial properties

He said the property, owned by Atwood Partners, an entity whose partners include members of both the O’Leary and Shumway families (the latter has owned or developed a number of hotels in the Amherst/Northampton area), has a variety of possible uses, and a tentative plan has emerged.

It calls for a smaller hotel, a restaurant, and a four-story, 80,000-square-feet office facility slated to be built on the site of famous (or infamous) domed pool on the Clarion footprint. A sign now appears in front on the property announcing that the space is for lease.

But the hotel market is becoming more crowded, he said, noting a number of recent additions, including a new facility less than a mile away on Conz Street. So a hotel may not be in the cards.

Additional office space — an expansion of the professional center complex — certainly is, though.

The planned 80,000-square-foot structure is being described as ‘professional and medical space’ — there are plenty of both types of businesses at 8 and 22 Atwood Dr. — with spaces from 2,500 square feet all the way up to 70,000 (essentially the entire building) available. It would be built on a parcel that would make it very visible from I-91, and just a few hundred yards from exit 18 off that highway.

“It would be pretty much a landmark right off the highway when it’s done,” Vincunas noted.

But development of such large properties hinges on signing one or more large, or anchor, tenants early enough in the process to justify construction, he noted, adding that the days of spec building are long over in this market. (Clinical & Support Options is an anchor at 8 Atwood Dr., while Cooley Dickinson Hospital is an anchor in both existing structures).

“In order to move forward with a venture of that magnitude, you need to have some pre-leasing on a major scale,” he explained. “And there just aren’t that many of those anchor tenants out there — they’re getting harder to find.”

He is conducting an ongoing hard search at the moment, and already has a few solid leads.

If enough demand materializes, the plans for the site may be altered to feature two 60,000-square-foot buildings, he told BusinessWest, adding that there is ample parking on the site to support such development.

While efforts to secure anchor tenants for the planned Northampton development continues, the company continues work to add tenants to existing properties, said Vincunas.

Agawam Crossing, now home to an eclectic mix of businesses, is at full occupancy.

And there are many of them, scattered across Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin counties and into Northern Conn. The portfolio is diverse, and includes everything from what’s described as ‘industrial/flex/technology space’ in South Deerfield, now available for leasing, to ‘flexible automotive space’ at property on Palomba Drive in Enfield, Conn. — 8,000 square feet of space is available — to the 145,000-square-foot Greenfield Corporate Center, home to a number of businesses and agencies.

One of them is the Greenfield District Court, which is scheduled to relocate soon to new space downtown and become part of ongoing revitalization efforts in that central business district. That will leave Development Associates with a large vacancy to fill; however, Vincunas is confident that, with the momentum now evident in Franklin County’s largest community, the building will gain new tenants.

“This is an excellent office park setting, and we have a great deal of flexibility with the property,” he said, adding that the space is ideal for a call center, medical facility, education, and other uses.

Meanwhile, the Chicopee property represents an intriguing addition to the portfolio, he said, adding that the property has been underutilized, and could be an attractive option for businesses across several sectors of the economy, given its strategic location.

“With such a great location and a good quality building, we could either take on multiple tenants or try to get a single tenant for the whole building,” he noted. “We’re entertaining a number of proposals to try and maximize the use of that building.”

Bottom Line

Development Associates recently moved into its own new space in the Agawam Crossing building, joining Comcast Spotlight and physicians affiliated with Mercy Medical Center as recent tenants.

The company has about 2,000 square feet, with a number of private offices, a large business hub, and a sizable front entranceway that has plenty of wall space.

That’s a commodity that will surely be put to use as this company continues to expand its portfolio with new properties that are suitable for a variety of tenants — and for framing as well.

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

Hadley Farms Meeting House Aims to Create Memorable Events

Meetings & Conventions Sections

Thinking Outside the Box

Hadley Farms Meeting House
After-5 events, those ubiquitous get-togethers sponsored by area chambers of commerce, can get a little stale, Brenda Lee said.

“You go, and everyone eats, drinks, and talks a little, then everyone leaves,” said Lee, sales manager at Pioneer Valley Hotel Group, by way of explaining why one of the group’s properties, Hadley Farms Meeting House, is hosting a slightly different After-5 with the Greater Chicopee, Greater Westfield, and South Hadley & Granby chambers.

It’s called “A Networking Night in the Tropics,” and attendees on June 22 will enjoy theme-appropriate food like tropical beef empanadas, fried plantains stuffed with vegetables, coconut shrimp and Jamaican jerk chicken skewers, and mango avocado salad. The local steel-drum band Rum & Steel will be on hand to provide music.

“We’re telling everyone to wear luau attire; we’re going to make it fun,” said Lee, adding that she’s also looking to set up a beach scene with Adirondack chairs where chamber members can take photos with their tropical drinks.

It’s just one event, but it typifies how Lee and her team at Hadley Farms is trying to make a name for the three-year-old banquet and meeting spot by thinking outside the box.

Take, for example, Margarita Madness in March, sponsored by the Amherst Area Chamber of Commerce, which drew close to 500 people to sample local companies’ margarita creations. Or the Western Mass. Mineral, Jewelry & Fossil Show in April, sponsored by the Connecticut Valley Mineral Club.

Then there’s Hadley Farms’ second annual Taste of the Valley bridal show in September — the first drew about 200 brides, and Lee is hoping for more this year — which will feature plenty of food to sample and a diamond-sapphire ring giveaway from Northampton Jewelers; and a chili cookoff in February open to anyone who wants to bring the heat to attendees, with proceeds benefiting a local nonprofit.

One key element for bringing attention to any facility, Lee said, is to mix things up — to pepper unique and signature events into the usual mix of weddings, holiday parties, and business meetings. And that’s especially crucial for a less than three-year-old banquet hall playing in a fiercely competitive field in the Valley.

Brenda Lee says the facility’s size, flexibility, and indoor and outdoor amenities make it an ideal space for many different functions.

“The biggest thing is always thinking outside the box — what hasn’t been done?” she said. “You don’t want to oversaturate the area with the same, boring things; you want different ideas.”

Those ideas, plus an ambitious effort to market the facility in myriad ways, from wedding expos to chamber of commerce connections, is helping Hadley Farms build a name in the region, and positive memories for its clients.

Meeting a Need

Hadley Farms opened in September 2013 in the Hadley Village Barn Shops on Route 9, right next to Hampton Inn, owned by the Pioneer Valley Hotel Group (PVHG), whose other area properties include Comfort Inn in Hadley, La Quinta Inn & Suites in Springfield, and Holiday Inn Express in Ludlow.

Built on the site of a former Yankee Candle store, it was a direct response to demand for meeting space from people patronizing the Hampton Inn and other PVHG properties, Lee explained.

“They were getting multiple phone calls looking for venue space, meeting space, and we don’t have anything at Hampton. There is space at Comfort Inn, but smaller space —a meeting room for maybe 40 people. So they looked around Franklin County and Hampshire County, saw there wasn’t a big venue, and decided to build a big venue to facilitate larger events.”

Capacity, in fact, is a major draw for Hadley Farms, which features a 4,000-square-foot ballroom that can be trisected into smaller meeting spaces, in addition to a cozy lounge. If an event — say, a wedding party — wants to utilize the outdoor patio space as well, the facility can accommodate around 750 guests. “It gives us an advantage, especially when people are looking for a larger event with larger space, because there’s not a heck of a lot of that in this area.”

Hadley Farms hosts myriad types of events, including weddings, jack and jills, bridal and baby showers, engagement parties, fund-raisers, and business meetings. Clients range from big corporations like Yankee Candle and Baystate Health to small nonprofits.

One of the changes Lee suggested when she came on board was the establishment of on-site food service instead of the outside caterers being used exclusively at first. Today, about 90% of parties choose the in-house chef. “We have tesimonials come through on a daily basis about our facility, the staff, the food, and the events running smoothly.”

Hadley Farms Meeting House boasts spaces ranging from a grand ballroom holding hundreds of people to intimate lounge areas.

Lee knows something about event planning, having been a DJ for the past 24 years — including 13 at Chez Josef in Agawam — and worked at weddings up and down the Eastern Seaboard. She amassed plenty of contacts with vendors over those years, which she calls on to help clients at Hadley Farms plan their events.

“I work with a lot of vendors when it comes to weddings — DJs, florists, photographers, officiants,” she said. “I try to help the wedding planning go smoothly.”

After all, all brides want a minimum of hassles on the way to their big day.

“Weddings need 100% of your focus,” she told BusinessWest. “They’re constantly e-mailing, asking questions, and you have to be on top of it. We have more than 30 weddings booked over the next year, so we’re starting to get known. People come in, see the venue, and think it’s beautiful. They love the facility, the big, bright windows, and the patio.”

Lee has been busy raising the facility’s profile at four regional wedding shows, and once she has a bride’s attention, she tries to craft something special for what they want to spend. Depending on the client’s budget, different reception packages range from a buffet to food stations to a formal plated dinner.

“Weddings are becoming huge here,” she went on. “We have outdoor space for them to have their ceremony, and we also have Hampton Inn, where we give the bride and groom an overnight stay, plus offer their guests room blocks at a discounted rate.”

This is also Hadley Farms’ biggest year yet for proms — Lee is already booking 2017 parties. Meanwhile, repeat business of all kinds is proving substantial. Take New England Public Radio’s vintage holiday event last December, featuring an orchestra and Sinatra-style music. “They rebooked with us again this year. We also did Rock 102’s Valentine party in February, and they’re booking with us for next year as well.”

Constant Contact

Lee says the success she and her team have had in building Hadley Farms’ roster of events is “all about communication,” which includes attending chamber events every week and keeping in contact with their members, both in person and through e-mail blasts.

Keeping the meeting rooms filled requires both flexibility and creativity. For example, since the cold months tend to be quieter when it comes to weddings, Hadley Farms is running a ‘winter wonderland’ wedding-package special from mid-December through mid-March, which offers brides amenities they would pay more for during June or July.

And to complement its growing holiday schedule, Hadley Farms will host what it’s calling a Big-Little Holiday Party on Dec. 9, a large gathering of small businesses that gives such companies the trappings of a big bash on a small budget. “We decided to put that together so small businesses that don’t have space to go for the holidays can come here and enjoy entertainment, appetizers, a nice buffet dinner, and dancing.”

Whatever the event, Lee said, “I enjoy meeting new people and creating a fun-filled event for them — just making people happy. I think that’s the biggest thing, making sure we’re there for them 24/7. If someone sends me an e-mail, I e-mail right back. If I don’t get back to them, they’re calling the next venue. So follow-up is really important, as is meeting with them several times before the event, making sure they’re getting what they want, helping them with creative ideas.”

Not that she does it herself. “We all work together as a team. I think being a DJ for so many years, helping to create so many events over the years, gave me a passion to be in charge of a banquet facility like this and create the events we have here.”

Joseph Bednar can be reached at [email protected]

Bowl for Kids’ Sake Raises $75,792 for Area Youth

SPRINGFIELD — Through a diverse combination of corporate sponsorships, business teams, and individual donations, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County (BBBSHC) raised $75,792 through its 2016 Bowl for Kids’ Sake fund-raising event this spring. The total exceeded the agency’s goal of $75,000, making 2016 the strongest year to date for the annual bowl-a-thon.

“We are so grateful to everyone who made the event such a success,” said BBBSHC Executive Director David Beturne, “including our top sponsors, Mercy Medical Center, St. Germain Investment Management, Wolf & Company, P.C., and Yankee Candle Company, as well as the dozens of enthusiastic company teams from businesses throughout Hampden County. We’re especially grateful to the hundreds of individuals, including many of our own ‘bigs’ and ‘littles,’ who came out to have some fun for a good cause. We look forward to putting 100% of those funds to good use doing what we do best: changing young lives for the better, right here in Hampden County.”

Funds raised will be used to support the agency’s youth-mentoring programs that match at-risk Hampden County youth one-to-one with caring adult volunteer mentors. Nearly 300 people participated in the event, which spanned multiple weekends in April and May at Shaker Bowl in East Longmeadow.

Founded in 1967, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Hampden County has provided one-to-one mentoring services to at-risk youth, primarily from single-parent, low-income families in Hampden County, plus the towns of South Hadley and Granby. The nonprofit agency is a full member agency of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America.

FutureCity 2026 Presents Economic-development Strategy

SPRINGFIELD — An executive summary of the FutureCity 2026 economic-development strategy was presented to about 120 business and community leaders and stakeholders at CityStage last week.

FutureCity is a joint initiative by DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber of Commerce, and the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development. Its purpose is to build on the strategies identified in earlier studies such at the Urban Land Institute study of 2006 and the Rebuild Springfield Plan of 2012 — both of which identified tangible goals that continue to be the focus of public and private economic-development strategy in Springfield. Both plans recommended the importance of developing a long-term strategy for economic growth in the city that would ultimately benefit the entire region.

“The goal of this project was to pinpoint and leverage the city’s attributes, including geographic location, infrastructure, workforce, and industries, and align these existing characteristics, assets, and conditions with pillars of realistic current and prospective market opportunities,” said Jeff Fialky, an attorney with Bacon Wilson and co-chair of the FutureCity initiative. “The objective was to develop an approach based upon realistic market opportunities that is obtainable rather than merely aspirational.”

The FutureCity strategy was prepared by the nationally recognized real-estate and economic-development consulting firm Newmark Grubb Knight Frank, guided by a steering committee representing a broad spectrum of businesses and organizations over the course of a nine-month period. The consultants were charged with an ambitious scope of work which took place over nine months to include the following: assess existing conditions, analyze target industries, assess logistics and supply-chain capabilities, assess talent-development strategies, develop a list of recruitment opportunities for target industries, and identify strategic initiatives and an implementation plan with measurable deliverables.

Newmark conducted over 100 interviews, which included city and state leaders, economic-development agencies, large employers, young professionals, elected officials, nonprofits, workforce-development organizations, real-estate and creative-economy experts, and more, in addition to deep dives into relevant data, peer-city comparisons, and several site visits to Springfield.

Major themes emerging from the study include site and space readiness, centralization of small-business resources, development of a multi-generational workforce plan, development of a unified marketing and messaging plan, fostering collaboration and connectivity, strategically unifying economic-development efforts, collaboration, and a focus on Springfield’s unique strengths.

“This was a very pragmatic exercise that shows there are many more pros than cons as we continue to market Springfield,” said Mayor Domenic Sarno. “As we have done with the Urban Land Institute and our Rebuild Springfield plans, we will follow through with this one, too. Now is our time. We will continue to capitalize on the synergy of our public and private collaborations and keep the momentum going as the ‘can-do city.’”

Added Jay Minkarah, DevelopSpringfield president and CEO and co-chair of the FutureCity initiative, “the FutureCity economic-development strategy is designed to be a guide to action, not simply a plan to sit on a shelf. The plan includes over 170 specific recommendations along with metrics for measuring success, estimated costs, potential impact, and priorities, and identifies the parties responsible for implementation.”

Funding was provided by the Irene E. and George A. Davis Foundation, the Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts, the U.S. Economic Development Agency, the Springfield Regional Chamber, Smith and Wesson, and DevelopSpringfield.

A link to the presentation can be found at www.developspringfield.com. Over the next few weeks, an executive summary and detailed report will be made available through DevelopSpringfield, the Springfield Regional Chamber, and the city of Springfield’s Office of Planning and Economic Development.

Building Permits

Building Permits Departments

The following building permits were issued during the month of May 2016.

AMHERST

Jill Hathaway
13 Railroad St.
$39,000 — Install 30 solar panels on roof

CHICOPEE

Big Y Foods
650 Memorial Dr.
$21,000 — Renovations

City of Chicopee
110 Church St.
$75,000 — Renovate existing space to accommodate report writing area

Essentially Pourous Technologies
2255 Westover Road
$42,000 — Renovations

Reesg Properties, LLC
1600 Memorial Dr.
$7,500 — Renovate front of building

SMOC
11 Springfield St.
$188,000 — Bathroom renovations

GREENFIELD

Friendly’s
200 Mohawk Trail
$31,000 — Install new drive-thru window

Rosenberg Properties, LLC
311 Wells St.
$170,000 — Construct second-floor mezzanine in fermentation room and expand office space

Shred Vinayak Inc.
125 Mohawk Trail
$100,000 — Replace roof

Walter Tompkins Jr. Trustee
121 Wells St.
$18,000 — Replace shingles

LUDLOW

Kleeburg Mechanical Services
65 Westover Road
$134,000 — New roof

Ludlow Mill Housing
100 State St.
$17,000,000 — New construction

NORTHAMPTON

Emerald City Partners
17 New South St.
$116,000 — Add walls to create four offices

Joe-Mae Realty Associates
151 Main St.
$50,000 — Exterior renovations

Pun Family, LLC
176 Pine St.
$40,000 — Interior renovations

Smith College
8 Bedford Terrace
$21,000 — Install new roof

Sullivan & Sons, Inc.
82 North St.
$18,000 — Remodel 1,400 square feet of office space

PALMER

North Brookfield Saving Bank
1 Beacon Dr.
$25,000 — Refinishing teller line

SOUTH HADLEY

Center for Redevelopment
29 College St.
$20,500 – Renovate existing commercial offices

SPRINGFIELD

Baystate Health
759 Chestnut St.
$14,000 – Build alcove to accommodate scrub machine

Kaitlin O’Hara
100 Brookdale Dr.
$400,000 – Exterior renovations

Newport Development
379 Allen St.
$163,400 –Interior fit up for new tenant

Ronald McDonald House
34 Chapin Terrace
$67,000 – Renovate office, bathroom, and bedroom

Super Worcester, LLC
800 Worcester St.
$1,212,000 – Construction of a 9,975 SF addition

Virgiglio Property
91 Bartlett St.
$8,000 – Exterior renovations

Woodruff Realty
90Fiske Ave.
$36,000 – Convert warehouse to meeting/training room

Tighe & Bond Promotes F. Adam Yanulis to Vice President

WESTFIELD — Following the firm’s recent stockholder’s meeting, Tighe & Bond announced the promotion of F. Adam Yanulis to vice president of Business Development. Since joining the firm two and a half years ago, he has strengthened the delivery of the firm’s engineering services throughout New England.

With more than 30 years providing leadership to the public-sector engineering community, many in the region know Yanulis well. Over the years, he has worked closely with numerous municipalities to facilitate engineering and environmental solutions for water-resource, stormwater, environmental, and other infrastructure challenges. Although he works primarily out of Tighe & Bond’s Westwood office, his involvement is region-wide.

“We are delighted to announce that Adam has been promoted to vice president. A widely recognized expert in our profession, he consistently keeps our clients’ best interests in mind. Since joining our firm, he has had a significant impact on our Eastern Massachusetts expansion, and regularly represents Tighe & Bond in a number of professional organizations,” said David Pinsky, president and CEO of Tighe & Bond.

Yanulis serves as a commissioner for the New England Interstate Water Pollution Control Commission, and sits on the board of directors of the Waterworks Museum in Chestnut Hill and the New England Water Works Assoc. He also is on the New England Water Innovation Network’s advisory committee, and a member of the Massachusetts Water Infrastructure Finance Commission steering committee. In addition, he is finishing his term on the board of directors of the American Water Works Assoc.

Bay Path to Host Interactive Learning Experience for Women June 10

LONGMEADOW — Have you ever had an idea for a new product or service and wanted to know what to do next to transform your idea into a reality? Bay Path University’s “Entrepreneurial Adventure,” on Friday, June 10 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Philip H. Ryan Health Science Center, 1 Denslow Road, East Longmeadow, will give attendees tips and tools to bring those ideas to life.

Studies show that women business owners are among the happiest professionals in America. According to the 2013 Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) U.S. Report, established female entrepreneurs ranked their well-being more than twice as high as non-business owners. “Entrepreneurial Adventure” brings highly successful entrepreneurs to motivate attendees to actualize their business goals, helping them to join the likes of those happy female business leaders. This day-long, interactive event will explore the journeys women take as they seek to solve today’s problems through innovative business concepts.

Speakers include Kim Miles, entrepreneur and expert in networking for women, who will teach attendees how to “get past hello” and work a room “the Kim Miles way” in her entertaining and interactive session; Holly Hurd, Venture Mom author and entrepreneur, who will share what she has learned about moms who launch new ventures from the comfort of their home; and Bay Path Professor Stephen Brand, who will facilitate an engaging, fast-paced, and skills-building game where participants will work in teams to design new businesses. Their tips and strategies for maximizing individual strengths and managing risks will give participants an edge for success as future business leaders and innovators.

The cost to attend “Entrepreneurial Adventure” is $95 per person and includes lunch. Registration is required by clicking here.

Greenfield Cooperative Bank Announces Six Promotions

GREENFIELD — Greenfield Cooperative Bank (GCB) announced six promotions last week. The new assignments are: Mary Rawls, vice president – compliance; Adam Baker, commercial loan officer; Chelsea Depault; commercial loan officer; Christine Gagnon, residential mortgage originator for the Hampshire County marketplace; Janet Rosenkranz, loan analyst; and Kari Welch, branch Manager at the 67 King St. location of the bank’s Northampton Cooperative division.

Rawls has more than 22 years of experience in banking, and is responsible for ensuring bank compliance with the numerous banking and consumer laws and regulations. She also coordinates various regulatory and compliance examinations for the bank.

Baker has more than eight years of experience in banking, primarily in commercial lending. He is based in the King Street, Northampton Cooperative division of the bank, and is responsible for developing new commercial-loan business in the bank’s market area, with a focus in Hampshire County.

Depault is based at the 62 Federal St. location of Greenfield Cooperative Bank and is responsible for developing new commercial business in the bank’s market area, with a focus in Franklin County. She has more than seven years banking experience with GCB, most recently as a senior credit analyst.

Gagnon’s new duties will complement in her current position of assistant vice president at the Northampton Cooperative division of GSB. She will be responsible for assisting consumers looking to buy or refinance their home and to develop mortgage business through ongoing relationships with local realtors. She has more than 18 years of experience in banking with Northampton Cooperative Bank.

Rosenkranz has been in banking for the past 20 years, starting with Vanguard Bank and the former Springfield Institution for Savings. She will be based in the King Street, Northampton office and is responsible for monitoring commercial credits and will assist in managing the overall bank-loan portfolio.

Welch has been with the bank for more than five years. She will be responsible for overall management of the King Street branch and its staff and operations.

Celia Grace Wins $50,000 at VVM Accelerator Awards

SPRINGFIELD — Twelve area startups won a total of $252,000 at last night’s Valley Venture Mentors (VVM) Accelerator Awards, led by Celia Grace, whose founder, Marcelia Muehlke, calls her company a fair-trade, ethical wedding-dress seller that gives back and empowers women around the world.

Muehlke, who won $50,000 at the ceremony at the MassMutual Center, launched the company several years ago after searching, fruitlessly, for a maker of fair-trade wedding dresses. Sensing both a need and an opportunity, she set about creating such a company. She traveled to Asia and set up a supply chain that could create high-quality garments that she and her clients could feel good about. She then began working with a group of women in a sewing group in Cambodia, contracted with a designer in New York, and got her business — and her dream — up and running.

Today, Celia Grace sells dresses across the country and in Europe. The VVM award is just one in a long line of accolades, including a Grinspoon Entrepreneurial Success Spirit Award in 2011, a finish in the money at the UMass Pitch Competition in 2012, and a second-place finish at Valley Venture Mentors’ pitch contest during the Western Mass. Business Expo in 2012.

The other 11 winners of VVM Accelerator Awards, and their prize money, include:

• Homebody Holistics ($45,000), a maker of all-natural, hand-crafted, herbal cleaning solutions using no harsh chemicals or additives;

• Scout Curated Wears ($32,000), a designer, curator, and producer of thoughtful women’s accessories;

• DaVinci Arms ($21,000), a designer and manufacturer of firearms suppressors and accessories for mission-critical applications;

• Treaty ($21,000), a nanotechnology company whose flagship product is FogKicker, a biodegradable anti-fog solution made from nanocellulose;

• Prophit Insight ($19,000), a software company that helps healthcare providers identify and acquire unique sources of physician referrals;

• Livingua ($18,000), an app that connects travelers to locals who know the language and culture wherever and whenever they want;

• Name Net Worth ($15,000), a connective platform that leverages trusted relationships to measure and strengthen a user’s personal and professional networks;

• iRollie ($9,000), a niche-market phone-case manufacturer and online retailer featuring the rolling tray phone case;

• Need/Done Inc. ($9,000), instant help for kids at home from people their parents trust;

• Sumu ($7,000), which works with property managers and landlords to post fee-free apartments to help users find their next home; and

• AnyCafé ($6,000), a developer of hot beverage solutions for the future, including the Travel Brewer.

About 550 people attended last night’s ceremony. For a detailed look at the VVM accelerator program, click here.

GCC to Host Massachusetts Colleges Online Conference June 2

GREENFIELD — How can colleges support student success in online courses? That is just one topic to be discussed at Greenfield Community College on June 2 when more than 220 educators from Massachusetts public community colleges and universities gather for the 11th annual Conference on eLearning.

“Sharing Best Practices,” the theme of the conference sponsored by Massachusetts Colleges Online (MCO), sums up the work those faculty, administrators, and technologists will do during a day packed with presentations and hands-on training. Carlos Santiago, state commissioner of Higher Education, will present the keynote address.

Featured at the conference will be the Courses of Distinction Award Showcase, sessions describing online and hybrid courses recognized by the MCO institutions as representing the best uses of online instructional technology to enhance student success. Hybrid courses combine online instruction with classroom time. GCC Social Sciences faculty member Linda McCarthy and Medical Office Management instructor Jeanne Dodge will receive Courses of Distinction Awards for courses they teach at GCC: McCarthy for her fully online course “Principles of Sociology” and Dodge for her hybrid course “Medical Terminology.”

The conference sessions will address increasing access to higher educational opportunities through online and blended learning and managing the dramatic growth of online and blended programs in Massachusetts public higher education. Conference attendees will also discuss reaching students in new pedagogical ways, meeting the technical demands of online education delivery, and the administrative and student-services challenges related to online education.

“This conference will pull together the best practices from campuses across the state,” said Lynn Zayac, director of the Center for Instructional Technology at Westfield State University and chair of the MCO conference committee, adding that attendees will learn from each other and return to their campuses with strategies they can use to improve online learning at their institutions.

“This is a crucial time to have thoughtful discussions about online higher education,” said GCC President Bob Pura. “Done well, online education is an important tool for both access and excellence. Measuring the impact of online education is not as easy as some want to suggest, yet it is critical that we do that. Focusing on best practices and challenging ourselves to do it better is at the core of this conference.”

Country Bank Sponsors Credit for Life Fair

WARE — Country Bank recently sponsored a Credit for Life Fair at Ware High School. Credit for Life is a financial-literacy exercise where more than 350 seniors from Ware, Palmer, Belchertown, and Pathfinder Regional high schools are asked to make decisions on how to spend their money.

Students role-played a 25-year old adult with a career, salary, and credit score. They were assigned a mock checking and savings account and possibly a student-loan payment, depending on the career they selected. Based on their mock salary, they made decisions that affected their finances, such as renting an apartment on their own or having a roommate, buying or leasing a vehicle, purchasing furniture, and saving for their retirement.

“The goal of this event is for students to gain a better understanding of their future fiscal responsibilities. They learned about balancing a budget and making choices about their finances. They also learned how one financial choice can greatly impact another,” said Jodie Gerulaitis, financial education officer at Country Bank.

More than 70 volunteers from Country Bank and the business community staffed the booths and offered advice on money management. Every booth included choices that would be encountered in real life. Students had the option to ‘buy’ a high-end set of furniture, for example, or opt for furniture at a more affordable price. This approach blends real-life scenarios with everyday financial decisions in an organized, hands-on format. Seeing the actual cost of things leaves students with a new perspective on true financial management.

Country Bank sponsored four Credit for Life Fairs in 2016, reaching more than 1,500 students at 11 high schools. To learn more about this program, visit countrybank.com/student/high-school.

Local Habitat for Humanity to Partner with Faith Organizations

SPRINGFIELD — Greater Springfield Habitat for Humanity (GSHFH) announced an upcoming Circle of Faith build on 479 Allen St. in Springfield. This project is a partnership between GSHFH and 11 local faith communities who have come together to raise the funds for a Habitat home, and who will also contribute volunteers, in-kind materials, and amenities for the project. As an intentionally interfaith project, this build incorporates Christian, Islamic, and Jewish communities.

These 11 faith communities include First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, Sinai Temple in Springfield, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in East Longmeadow, St. Andrews Episcopal Church in Longmeadow, the Islamic Society of Western Mass. in West Springfield, Christ the King Lutheran Church in Wilbraham, East Longmeadow United Methodist Church, Mercy Medical Center and the Sisters of Providence Health System in Springfield, St. Cecilia’s Parish in Wilbraham, and Foster Memorial Church in Springfield.

Ellen Tougias, the point person for First Church of Christ in Longmeadow, says her church is “proud to be a part of the Circle of Faith Build for Habitat. We have committed to this project as part of our 30th-year celebration. It is one way that we have chosen to give back to our community in honor of this special year.”

Mohammad Bajwa of the Islamic Society of Western Mass. referenced a piece of Scripture in relation to the project: “cooperate with one another, for doing good deeds and righteousness … surely God’s mercy is upon the good doers.”

To kick off this partnership, the Circle of Faith communities and GSHFH are hosting a “House Wrapped in Love” event at the Islamic Society of Western Mass. on June 1 at 6:30 p.m. This event is family-friendly and invites kids to paint what home, family, and love means to them on sheets of plywood that will then be used to build the walls of the new habitat house at 479 Allen St. Following this event will be several days of building on the job site, where the exterior walls of the home will start to take shape.

Celebrity Bartender Event on June 9 to Benefit the Gray House

SPRINGFIELD — On Thursday, June 9 from 5:30 to 8 p.m., the Student Prince at 8 Fort St., Springfield, will host a celebrity bartender event to benefit the Gray House. All tips and a portion of food and drink proceeds will be donated to the Gray House.

Fifteen community leaders will volunteer their time to serve drinks and help the Gray House raise money through their tips. Bartenders will work in 30-minute shifts. They include:

• 5:30-6 p.m.: District Attorney Anthony Gulluni; Melinda Phelps, Bulkley Richardson; Ellen Freyman, Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C.;

• 6-6:30 p.m.: State Rep. Carlos Gonzalez; Vanessa Otero, Partners for Community; Tony Cignoli, A.L. Cignoli Co.;

• 6:30-7 p.m.: Kateri Walsh, Springfield City Council; Dan Walsh, city of Springfield; Michael Fenton, Shatz, Schwartz & Fentin, P.C. and Springfield City Council;

• 7-7:30 p.m.: Mark Dupont, Diocese of Springfield; Michael Kogut, Kogut Law, P.C.; Tom Ashe, Springfield City Council;

• 7:30-8 p.m.: Peter Ellis, DIF Design; David Chase, Freedom Credit Union; Jeremy Casey, Name Net Worth.

The Gray House is a small, neighborhood human-service agency located at 22 Sheldon St. in the North End of Springfield. Its mission is to help neighbors facing hardships to meet their immediate and transitional needs by providing food, clothing, and educational services in a safe, positive environment. For more information about the celebrity bartending event, visit grayhouse.org/celebrity-bartender-event or contact Dena Calvanese, Gray House executive director, at (413) 734-6696, ext. 100, or [email protected].

Lexington Group Welcomes Anastasia Ezequelle

WEST SPRINGFIELD — Anastasia Ezequelle recently joined Lexington Group in West Springfield, bringing more than 20 years of experience in the contract furniture industry.

Ezequelle’s design background allows her to manage projects from conception through completion, including field measurements, space planning, product specification, and assisting clients with color and finish selection. She has an in-depth knowledge of the Herman Miller line and the many other furniture lines Lexington Group represents. She is a LEED green associate and hopes to be involved with the growing green-building movement that is thriving in this region.

Lexington Group has been providing new and used office furniture to the region since 1989.

Conference on June 16 to Address Potential Changes in Estate Planning

SPRINGFIELD — Shatz, Schwartz and Fentin, P.C. announced that attorney Michele Feinstein will lead a full-day Massachusetts Continuing Legal Education (MCLE) symposium at the Hotel Northampton on Thursday, June 16.

With game-changing case decisions and new emerging regional trends, this day-long conference will provide attorneys with an in-depth update on Massachusetts estate planning. The event, running from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., will explore how the governor’s budget has potential to influence elder-law planning in conjunction with Medicaid.

MCLE is a nonprofit corporation that provides hands-on educational programs and reference materials for attorneys. This continuing-education program arranges more than 250 presentations annually in a variety of in-person and online formats.

Feinstein concentrates her practice in the areas of estate planning and administration, elder law, probate litigation, health law, and corporate and business planning, including all aspects of planning for the succession of business interests, representation of closely held businesses and their owners, and representation of physicians in their individual and group practices. She is a cum laude graduate of the Western New England University School of Law, and earned her bachelor’s degree and master of laws in taxation at Boston University.

To register for the conference, visit mcle.org/store/cart. MCLE will offer a new-lawyers discount for attorneys who were admitted after 2013 and law students.

The Creative Opens Office in Thornes Marketplace